Inland Empire Community Newspapers • January 23, 2014 • Page...
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Inland Empire Community Newspapers • January 23, 2014 • Page A11 Workforce Investment Board announces 60 training places @LIKE S ix months ago the future looked bleak for 24-year- old Jeanette Rivali. Jeanette had three children, and was without a job. Today, she is working full- time in the medical field and is going back to school to further her career – all thanks to @LIKE, a no- cost job training program from the County of San Bernardino Work- force Investment Board. The @LIKE project, Linking In- novation, Knowledge, and Educa- tion, was launched in February 2013 and has already enabled and inspired 66 young adults, ages 18 to 24. @LIKE provides resources and encourages participants to im- prove career and life skills, attend vocational training programs, pur- sue higher education, and find jobs. Jeanette was provided with train- ing and placed in an @LIKE paid work experience opportunity at St. Mary’s Medical Center. After com- pleting 125 hours of training, she was hired permanently. In addi- tion, Jeanette received help with college costs, transportation sup- port, and a work clothing al- lowance through @LIKE. The County of San Bernardino Workforce Investment Board has announced 60 openings for 22 to 24-year-olds in the @LIKE pro- gram. “We are delighted with the pro- gram’s success so far and are glad to have the funding for more young people to take part,” said Emily Petrus of the Workforce Investment Board. The @LIKE initiative is funded by a $6 million grant, spread throughout four counties, from the U.S. Department of Labor Work- force Innovation Fund. In the case of 23-year-old mother of two, Maurilia Alonso, the @LIKE program helped with ob- tainment of a high school diploma and assisted her to complete na- tional certifications in customer service and safety. As a result of the program she was hired in a retail store and within a short time was recognized as Employee of the Month. Maurilia is now preparing to study at the College of the Desert for an Associate of Arts degree in Sociology. She plans to become a social worker. Sandy Harmsen, Executive Direc- tor of the Workforce Investment Board, believes there are more great success stories to come: The @LIKE program is currently seek- ing youth, ages 22-24, that have not been in school, employed, or in the military for at least 90 days. For more information call (909) 387- 9859 or email [email protected] county.gov. To apply visit www.atLIKE4U.com Thrill-seeking fans gear up for Monster Jam in Anaheim By Yazmin Alvarez R edlands’ Charlotte Thompson stands at 5- feet-10-inches, has plat- inum blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. But much like her idol, the monster truck driving “Madusa,” Thompson is “no typical girl.” “You can literally describe us the same,” said Thompson, 35. “Only difference is she smashes cars with a 1,500-horsepower en- gine and I fling dirt with my bike. Either way, we’re both leaving boys in the dust,” said the compet- itive motocross rider as she pulled out a hot pink tutu from her closet for her daughter, Angela, 8. But the two weren’t preparing for a dance recital. Instead, they were getting out their “gear” in preparation to see Madusa at this weekend’s Monster Jam at Angel Stadium in Anaheim Jan. 25. “When that engine revs, man it’s an uproaring experience. Then watching her pink truck leave the boys in the dust, it’s so great. Madusa—she’s no dainty girl,” Thompson said. “I’m excited we get to see her again.” Madusa, the ex-female wrestling superstar champion, is making her way back to Anaheim after four- years for the event. Her name is a play on “Made in the USA” and the blonde-haired blue-eyed driver takes pride in sitting behind the wheel of her hot pink frame adorned with stars and stripes. But don't let her look fool you be- cause the last thing Madusa said she wants to be is “treated like some diva.” “Pink is strong, powerful and means you’re a survivor. I came in as the only woman driver in Mon- ster Jam,” Madusa said. “I was out there working on the truck and get- ting dirty… there were sabotages— nothing was going to stop me. I made sure that I kept going and I spit them out every night.” The determination to not be looked at as a “typical girl” is what Thompson said makes Madusa a true role model. “That’s why I believe in her,” Thompson said. “It’s the reason why my daughter likes her, because she’s not afraid and she’s strong.” For Madusa, true fans like Thompson and her daughter are what keep her to strive in the male- dominated sport. “If it wasn't for my fans, I would- n't have the enthusiasm that I do. They make me who I am,” she said. “And I’m gonna blow the doors off the place and give them the best show yet.” Monster Jam will roar through the stadium in two parts, a racing and freestyle segment. In the racing portion, drivers will go head-to-head in a mini-tourna- ment along the course. Drivers will match up with lap winners to com- pete in the finals for the ultimate race winner of the night. But the main event and biggest at- traction of Monster Jam is the freestyle event. This year’s truck lineup is high- lighted with appearances by Mon- ster Jam powerhouses and World Finals Champions “Grave Digger,” driven by Dennis Anderson and “MaxD,” driven by the highest awarded World Champion Tom Meents, performing a Max-D truck back-flip for the first time in South- ern California. Crownd can also prepare for “Clash of the Monster Jam Titans” as truck icons Grave Digger and Max-D compete head-to-head for the first time together in Anaheim for another show Feb. 8. Making their Anaheim debut ap- pearances will be all-new 2014 sea- son trucks “Cleatus” and “Police NEA” plus 2012 World Freestyle Champion “Northern Nightmare,” “Scooby-Doo” along with the fan- selected monstrous looking “Zom- bie” “back from the afterworld” to wreck havoc, according to organiz- ers. More fan-favorite trucks featured at the various Anaheim events in- clude World Champion Madusa, re- turning to Anaheim after four years, “Batman” featuring the return of veteran driver John Seasock, El Toro Loco and Captain’s Curse, El Diablo, Son-Uva Digger, Metal Mulisha, Monster Mutt, Lucas Oil Crusader, Team Hot Wheels Firestorm, Iron Man, Monster En- ergy, Mohawk Warrior, Captain USA, Tropical Thunder, Shocker, Devastator, Destroyer, Titan, Nitro Hornet, Double Trouble, Obses- sion, Time Fly’s and King Krunch to name a few. If fans want to get up-close-and- personal with drivers and their fa- vorite high-rised beasts, the Anaheim events will offer a “Party in the Pits” preshow. Fans will have access to view trucks up-close, meet the star drivers for autographs and photos, according to event or- ganizers. Ticker prices for Monster Jam at Angel Stadium, 2000 Gene Autry Way in Anaheim, start at $25 for adults and $10 for children ages 2- 12. Performances are scheduled Jan. 25 and Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. For ticket information visit mon- sterjam.com. Yazmin Alvarez is a reporter for Inland Empire Community News- papers and can be reached at [email protected] COURTESY PHOTO/FELD ENTERTAINMENT Madusa and monster Jam fans will have two oppotunities to check out car smashing thrills at this year’s Monster Jam in Ana- heim Jan. 25 and Feb. 8. COURTESY PHOTO/MONSTER JAM “Madusa” is scheduled to per- form this weekend at Monster Jam in Anaheim.
Transcript of Inland Empire Community Newspapers • January 23, 2014 • Page...
Inland Empire Community Newspapers • January 23, 2014 • Page A11
Workforce InvestmentBoard announces 60training places @LIKE
Six months ago the futurelooked bleak for 24-year-old Jeanette Rivali. Jeanette
had three children, and was withouta job. Today, she is working full-time in the medical field and isgoing back to school to further hercareer – all thanks to @LIKE, a no-cost job training program from theCounty of San Bernardino Work-force Investment Board.The @LIKE project, Linking In-novation, Knowledge, and Educa-tion, was launched in February2013 and has already enabled andinspired 66 young adults, ages 18to 24. @LIKE provides resourcesand encourages participants to im-prove career and life skills, attendvocational training programs, pur-sue higher education, and find jobs.Jeanette was provided with train-ing and placed in an @LIKE paidwork experience opportunity at St.Mary’s Medical Center. After com-pleting 125 hours of training, shewas hired permanently. In addi-tion, Jeanette received help withcollege costs, transportation sup-port, and a work clothing al-lowance through @LIKE.The County of San BernardinoWorkforce Investment Board hasannounced 60 openings for 22 to24-year-olds in the @LIKE pro-gram.“We are delighted with the pro-gram’s success so far and are glad
to have the funding for more youngpeople to take part,” said EmilyPetrus of the Workforce InvestmentBoard. The @LIKE initiative is fundedby a $6 million grant, spreadthroughout four counties, from theU.S. Department of Labor Work-force Innovation Fund.In the case of 23-year-old motherof two, Maurilia Alonso, the@LIKE program helped with ob-tainment of a high school diplomaand assisted her to complete na-tional certifications in customerservice and safety. As a result of theprogram she was hired in a retailstore and within a short time wasrecognized as Employee of theMonth. Maurilia is now preparingto study at the College of the Desertfor an Associate of Arts degree inSociology. She plans to become asocial worker.
Sandy Harmsen, Executive Direc-tor of the Workforce InvestmentBoard, believes there are moregreat success stories to come: The@LIKE program is currently seek-ing youth, ages 22-24, that have notbeen in school, employed, or in themilitary for at least 90 days. Formore information call (909) 387-9859 or email [email protected]. To apply visitwww.atLIKE4U.com
Thrill-seeking fans gear up for Monster Jam in Anaheim
By Yazmin Alvarez
Redlands’ CharlotteThompson stands at 5-feet-10-inches, has plat-
inum blonde hair and piercing blueeyes. But much like her idol, themonster truck driving “Madusa,”Thompson is “no typical girl.” “You can literally describe us thesame,” said Thompson, 35.“Only difference is she smashescars with a 1,500-horsepower en-gine and I fling dirt with my bike.Either way, we’re both leavingboys in the dust,” said the compet-itive motocross rider as she pulledout a hot pink tutu from her closetfor her daughter, Angela, 8.But the two weren’t preparing fora dance recital. Instead, they were getting outtheir “gear” in preparation to see
Madusa at this weekend’s MonsterJam at Angel Stadium in AnaheimJan. 25.“When that engine revs, man it’san uproaring experience. Thenwatching her pink truck leave theboys in the dust, it’s so great.Madusa—she’s no dainty girl,”Thompson said. “I’m excited weget to see her again.”Madusa, the ex-female wrestlingsuperstar champion, is making herway back to Anaheim after four-years for the event. Her name is aplay on “Made in the USA” and theblonde-haired blue-eyed drivertakes pride in sitting behind thewheel of her hot pink frameadorned with stars and stripes. But don't let her look fool you be-cause the last thing Madusa saidshe wants to be is “treated likesome diva.”“Pink is strong, powerful andmeans you’re a survivor. I came inas the only woman driver in Mon-ster Jam,” Madusa said. “I was outthere working on the truck and get-ting dirty… there were sabotages—nothing was going to stop me. Imade sure that I kept going and Ispit them out every night.”The determination to not belooked at as a “typical girl” is whatThompson said makes Madusa atrue role model.“That’s why I believe in her,”Thompson said. “It’s the reasonwhy my daughter likes her, becauseshe’s not afraid and she’s strong.”For Madusa, true fans likeThompson and her daughter arewhat keep her to strive in the male-dominated sport. “If it wasn't for my fans, I would-n't have the enthusiasm that I do.They make me who I am,” she said.“And I’m gonna blow the doors offthe place and give them the bestshow yet.”
Monster Jam will roar through thestadium in two parts, a racing andfreestyle segment.In the racing portion, drivers willgo head-to-head in a mini-tourna-ment along the course. Drivers willmatch up with lap winners to com-pete in the finals for the ultimaterace winner of the night.But the main event and biggest at-traction of Monster Jam is thefreestyle event. This year’s truck lineup is high-lighted with appearances by Mon-ster Jam powerhouses and WorldFinals Champions “Grave Digger,”driven by Dennis Anderson and“MaxD,” driven by the highestawarded World Champion TomMeents, performing a Max-D truckback-flip for the first time in South-ern California. Crownd can also prepare for“Clash of the Monster Jam Titans”as truck icons Grave Digger andMax-D compete head-to-head forthe first time together in Anaheimfor another show Feb. 8.Making their Anaheim debut ap-pearances will be all-new 2014 sea-son trucks “Cleatus” and “PoliceNEA” plus 2012 World FreestyleChampion “Northern Nightmare,”“Scooby-Doo” along with the fan-selected monstrous looking “Zom-bie” “back from the afterworld” towreck havoc, according to organiz-ers. More fan-favorite trucks featuredat the various Anaheim events in-clude World Champion Madusa, re-turning to Anaheim after four years,“Batman” featuring the return ofveteran driver John Seasock, ElToro Loco and Captain’s Curse, El
Diablo, Son-Uva Digger, MetalMulisha, Monster Mutt, Lucas OilCrusader, Team Hot WheelsFirestorm, Iron Man, Monster En-ergy, Mohawk Warrior, CaptainUSA, Tropical Thunder, Shocker,Devastator, Destroyer, Titan, NitroHornet, Double Trouble, Obses-sion, Time Fly’s and King Krunchto name a few.If fans want to get up-close-and-personal with drivers and their fa-vorite high-rised beasts, theAnaheim events will offer a “Partyin the Pits” preshow. Fans will haveaccess to view trucks up-close,
meet the star drivers for autographsand photos, according to event or-ganizers.Ticker prices for Monster Jam atAngel Stadium, 2000 Gene AutryWay in Anaheim, start at $25 foradults and $10 for children ages 2-12. Performances are scheduledJan. 25 and Feb. 8 at 7 p.m.For ticket information visit mon-sterjam.com.
Yazmin Alvarez is a reporter forInland Empire Community News-papers and can be reached [email protected]
COURTESY PHOTO/FELD ENTERTAINMENT
Madusa and monster Jam fans will have two oppotunities tocheck out car smashing thrills at this year’s Monster Jam in Ana-heim Jan. 25 and Feb. 8.
COURTESY PHOTO/MONSTER JAM
“Madusa” is scheduled to per-form this weekend at MonsterJam in Anaheim.
