Rev. Dr. James Steele Receives Honors for Service to Community

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by Katrina Siverts

I met the Rev. Dr. (Bishop) James Steele almost three years ago, and have worked with him on many of his (and my own) charitable endeavors.
Known more casually as “Father James,” he is an ordained minister/ priest in the Orthodox Church Tradition in the Greek Faith, with such notable titles to his credit as missionary, chaplain, HAM radio operator, and CEO of the non-profit MOSAIC.

His character of moral integrity, honesty, credibility, work ethic, and having an excellent relationship and knowledge of all faith denominations/ non-denominational and World Faith Groups has been well-established in our local area over the past three years.

Fr. James focuses on empowering individuals, families, caregivers to create recovery solutions for those who are underserved, downtrodden, homeless, and are affected with challenging conditions (e.g., debilitating chronic-disease(s) such as HIV / AIDS, mental illness, and/or any disabilities).
He has character of moral integrity, honesty, credibility and work ethic of giving it one’s all, along with having an excellent relationship and knowledge of all faith denominations / non-denominational and World Faith Groups (WFGs).

As a Filipino missionary, he has experience working with those with leprosy established a compassionate World Faith Groups outreach to those less fortunate than ourselves.

Fr. James also had executive positions in companies such as Office Depot, where he was a problem-solver, including challenging customer service issues and striving for customer satisfaction, with skills in leadership stability, supervision and direction to operational activities of staff, sales and payroll forecasting, financial operations of the store, and enhancing store management team support functions.

As a hockey player he was the unmasked goalie of the California Western Hockey League leading Rebels, is worldly. Because of his penchant for financial success, a non-denominational, self-help program eventually will benefit underprivileged people throughout the globe. He later became a hockey agent for a few professional and NHL players.

In addition, Fr. James was instrumental in patenting inventions of Dr. Wallace Shute for the Parallel Forceps (for a better, safer way for mothers giving birth to their child), and also the Tri-celco instrument. He also made the injection molds for these items.

Through his non-profit, MOSAIC, Fr. James has assisted many businesses and organizations with creating business plans to take them to a higher level of success in their respective industries or fields.

The concept of MOSAIC is to assist All World Faith Groups, Community Faith Agencies & Organizations, Corporations and Industries with a Master Business Plan (MBP).

MOSAIC has successfully created, developed and implemented many MBPs, for the VFW, Veterans SSVF & Medical Services, numerous Faith Denominations such as UMC, and assisted USC KECK School of Medicine in an HIV & AIDS Program, and for Corp.’s/ Businesses such as Siverts Publishing/ MRV News Group, and many others.

Through MOSAIC, Fr. James has worked with government agencies and private charities to help with providing jobs/careers, training, mental health support and adapted residential homes / communities for our veterans and their families in support of the U.S. Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF), a Department of Veteran Affairs, which offers a continuum of services to eligible homeless Veterans and much more.

The Senior News and Desert News Post has published several articles to bring attention to the good work done in our communities by Fr. James.
These include: “Land of the Free” Veterans Monument Installed by Spring Valley Lake Vets Club; USS IOWA Restoration Volunteers Hold Reunion; MRV TEAM conducts Needs Assessment Survey Results outlining areas of public concern, USS Iowa Survey for Health & Wellbeing; Spring Valley Lake Amateur Radio Club; Fiesta Educativa (Autism Parent Education Program); Emergency Preparedness Program given at RCA Meeting; Day of Prayer Celebrated by Interfaith Council; Amateur Radio Enthusiasts Enjoy Palm Springs Hamfest; Spring Valley Lake Amateur Radio Club; First Annual Banquet Held for Spring Valley Lake Veterans Club; and Bishop James Welcomed to the High Desert.

Many certificates have been bestowed on Fr. James for his volunteer efforts both locally and nationally, including one from President Trump for “Volunteer of the Year 2018.” Fr. James will be speaking at the Friday, Feb. 1 meeting of SWIM (Seniors With Inquiring Minds), at 1pm at Redeemer Church, 22434 Nisqualli Rd, Apple Valley, CA 92308.

*Fr. James accepts an award from the Town of Apple Valley Mayor Art Bishop, Fr. James, Councilman Scott Nassif, and Councilman Curt Emick*.

Neighborhood Cleanup Scheduled at Lion’s Park

Neighborhood Cleanup Scheduled at Lion’s Park In 2018, the Apple Valley Code Enforcement Department collected approximately 520,000 pounds of yard waste, household trash, broken small appliances, furniture, metal and other items at six Community Clean-up events held at Lion’s Park. Previously, clean-up events were offered to address targeted neighborhoods that were identified as areas of blight.

Now, anyone in Apple Valley can participate in the clean-ups. “The response was astounding. More than a half million pounds of debris and trash were collected that could otherwise have potentially ended up in our desert,” said Code Enforcement Manager Guy Eisenbrey. “By opening them up Town-wide, we have seen a reduction of illegal dumping in our area. We would like to see this decline in dumping cases continue its downward trend.”

Apple Valley Code Enforcement has scheduled six Neighborhood Clean-ups for 2019 on the following dates:   March 9  May 18  October 19  November 9  December 14 Items will be accepted free of charge at Lion’s Park on South Outer Highway 18 just east of Dale Evans Parkway from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. or until the bins have exceeded their capacity. The Neighborhood Clean-ups are scheduled in addition to Community Clean-up Day Events offered through the Parks and Recreation Department that will be held on April 13 and September 21 this year. The Community Clean-up events equip clubs, groups and individuals with cleaning supplies to adopt a street or an area in town to clean. For more information about the Code Enforcement Neighborhood Clean-up events visit www.AVCode.org. To sign up for the Community Clean-up Days, visit www.AVRecreation.org. No tires, refrigerators, TVs or hazardous waste will be accepted at Lion’s Park. However, household hazardous waste can.

CITY OF VICTORVILLE and VICTORVILLE DISPOSAL TO SPONSOR FREE DUMP DAY ON NOVEMBER 17, 2018

Victorville, Calif. – Do you plan to spruce up your yard or neighborhood? The City of Victorville and Victorville Disposal are joining forces to host a Free Dump Day on Saturday, Nov. 17. This event is free for all City of Victorville residents and will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Victor Valley Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), located at 17000 Abbey Ln. in Victorville.

Garden trimmings, broken fences, old furniture, toilets, mattresses, appliances, scrap metal, cardboard boxes, and extra trash can be disposed of free of charge during the event. No tires, hazardous waste, paint, oil, compressed cylinders, dirt, or asbestos materials will be accepted.

This Free Dump Day is for City of Victorville residents only, and proof of Victorville residency such as a current water or utility bill is required. No business waste will be accepted.

The City of Victorville provides additional convenient disposal options for residents throughout the year. City residents who have furniture/bulky items, tires, TVs, computers, or other electronic wastes can drop off these items for free at the City of Victorville Recycling Center located at 15164 Anacapa Rd. The Recycling Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Hazardous materials including paint and motor oil can be dropped off for free at the City of Victorville Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Center located on Loves Lane, off of Desert Knolls Drive, behind the County Fairgrounds. The HHW Collection Center is open every Wednesday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information about the Free Dump Day on Nov. 17 and other clean up and disposal programs, residents should call the City of Victorville Environmental Programs Division at (760) 955-8615 or visit VictorvilleCA.gov/

California’s First Maritime Heritage Trail Opens at Lake Tahoe

California State Parks and the Sierra State Parks Foundation are proud to debut California’s first maritime heritage underwater trail devoted to showcasing Lake Tahoe’s historic recreational watercraft and barges that now rest below the surface of Emerald Bay. Starting today, October 1, scuba divers can explore three newly revealed dive sites under Emerald Bay in addition to the Barge Dive Site established in 1998. The new Emerald Bay Maritime Heritage Trail (Emerald Bay Underwater Trail) is the first of its kind in California.

Emerald Bay, situated on the western side of Lake Tahoe, is and has been an American tourist destination for well over 150 years. It was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1969 for its brilliant panorama of mountain-building processes and glacier carved granite. Translucent blue-green water surrounded by vertical cliffs, green conifers, and granite boulders creates the quintessential Tahoe experience and one that has drawn people to the bay specifically for recreation since the 1860s.

“It’s no secret that Lake Tahoe is a world renowned tourist destination year round,” said Denise Jaffke, Associate State Archaeologist with California State Parks. “Now, visitors will be able to experience the beauty and wonders of Emerald Bay and learn about its fascinating past through this underwater trail.

The Emerald Bay Underwater Trail celebrates the history of Emerald Bay and Lake Tahoe’s culture of recreation by way of shipwrecks. The bay is the final resting place of several recreational boats, launches, and barges used on the lake during the early 20th century. This was the heyday of the Emerald Bay Resort (1920s and 1930s) and the con struction of the Scandinavian “castle,” Vikingsholm (1929). These boats were purposely scuttled (sunk) when they outlived their usefulness, but now serve as reminders of the golden age of recreation in Tahoe. This collection is the largest, most diverse group of sunken small watercraft, in their original location, known to exist in the nation.

The Sierra State Parks Foundation, the non-profit partner with seven state parks in the Lake Tahoe-Donner region, helped fund the Emerald Bay Underwater Trail.

“The Sierra State Parks Foundation is honored to be a part of this significant milestone and the impact it will have in the preservation of these underwater cultural sites,” said Heidi Doyle, Executive Director of the Sierra Parks Foundation. “This maritime heritage trail will provide a unique recreational opportunity for our visitors and offer educational opportunities for students and future scientists.”

The four dive sites of the Emerald Bay Underwater Trail at Lake Tahoe range in depth from 10 to 60 feet. Underwater interpretive panels have been placed at the four dive sites so divers can learn about the sunken ships they are exploring. Waterproof information cards created for divers will be available at the park’s visitor centers, local dive shops, and on State Parks and Sierra State Parks Foundation’s websites. Because of the remote location, access by boat is advised.

Scuba divers are advised to invent their adventures safely and responsibly at the Emerald Bay Underwater Trail. Use caution and adhere to safe diving practices at all times. Lake altitude is over 6,000 feet in elevation. Divers should be prepared for extreme cold water temperatures year round.

Please help prevent diving accidents by observing the following safety precautions:

Be properly trained and equipped for conditions.
Always dive with a buddy.
Ensure altitude diving safety practices are followed.
Check weather and diving conditions ahead of time.
Be prepared to render assistance in case of emergency.
Follow boating safety guidelines and regulations.

On Friday, September 28, State Parks dive teams introduced the Emerald Bay Underwater Trail across its social media platforms from one of the four dive sites, using remote audio and video technology. Scuba divers are encouraged to view the video to get a sense of what their experience at the underwater trail will look like. The video and additional information on the Emerald Bay Underwater Trail are available on State Park’s at www.parks.ca.gov/EmeraldBayUnderwaterTrail.

Job Training Helps Small Manufacturers Meet Labor Needs

As a small manufacturing firm in a tight labor market, Affordable Plastics Inc. in Ontario knew it had to do something different to acquire the advanced skills and expertise needed to grow its business and stay competitive.

It found its solution through the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board (WDB) Incumbent Worker Training Program. This program is designed to help small manufacturing businesses provide advanced technology training for their employees. Working with NTMA Training Centers of California, the WDB offered employers the opportunity to enroll workers in 288 hours of hands-on training in computer-aided manufacturing.

“A company of our size couldn’t do this on our own,” said Aldo Villalpando, vice president at Affordable Plastics, a bottle manufacturer with 10 employees. “We want to grow our business, and in order to do that, we need to bring in injection molding and produce product differently that we have. This program gave us the training to do that.”

Villalpando felt strongly enough about the program that he enrolled himself – along with three other Affordable Plastics employees. They were part of a unit of seven workers from different companies that took part in the four months of training in how to use CNC Machining and Mastercam software.

For Affordable Plastics, the training has given it the technical and mechanical expertise it needs to make its own molds and hard-to-find parts. It also has allowed the company to increase the capacity of its staff without having to hire additional personnel.

Charles Meisner Inc., a commercial products manufacturer in Ontario, was another company that took advantage of the training offered through the WDB program. “Finding qualified workers in the open market can be a formidable challenge during robust economic times,” said Chris Meisner, vice president.

“This kind of training is extremely valuable,” Meisner said. “It’s harder and harder to find qualified people out there to do the work. We need to train our own.”

Affordable Plastics and Charles Meisner Inc. were among four companies that took advantage of the WDB program sending employees to the training.

Tony Myrell, WDB Chairman, said the program is an example of the type of innovation WDB is bringing to meet the labor needs of the region’s growing businesses.

“The irony is that a booming economy can make it even more difficult for companies – especially smaller ones – to find the workers they need. For those same small businesses, the cost of training workers can be prohibitive. Here, we’ve created an opportunity for companies to become part of a collaborative training program, free of charge to them,” Myrell said.

The CNC Mastercam training is funded through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and WDB’s Slingshot program, which engages businesses to identify their specific workforce needs. Information on future sessions is available by contacting the WDB at (800) 451-JOBS.

About the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board

The San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board (WDB) is comprised of private business representatives and public partners appointed by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. The WDB strives to strengthen the skills of the county’s workforce through partnerships with business, education and community-based organizations. The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors is committed to providing County resources, which generate jobs and investment in line with theCountywide Vision.

The Workforce Development Board, through the San Bernardino County Economic Development Agency and Workforce Development Department, offers a variety of programs designed to help youth and adults identify career pathways and get the appropriate training and skills. Programs funded through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) provide eligible youth, ages 16 to 24, access to a variety of career and educational services designed to help enhance job skills, develop leadership qualities, explore career options, participate in adult and peer mentoring opportunities, and take advantage of work experiences. In addition, the WDB operates San Bernardino County’s three America’s Job Centers of California (AJCC). The AJCCs provide individuals with job training, placement and the tools to strengthen their skills to achieve a higher quality of life. The AJCCs also support and provide services to the county’s businesses, including employee recruitment and business retention programs.

Employers and job seekers who are interested in the Workforce Development Board programs may call: (800) 451-JOBS or visit www.sbcounty.gov/workforce. Also follow us on: Facebook www.facebook.com/SBCountyWDB; Twitter @InlandEmpireJob; LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/sanbernardinocountywdb; and YouTube https://www.youtube.com/SBCountyWIB