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New Leader Selected at the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District

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Long-Term Water Supply Reliability and Regional Project Collaboration Continue to be Priorities

San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District did not have to look far to find its new General Manager. At its Board Meeting on Tuesday, December 17, 2019, after a statewide search for the best candidate to lead the regional water resource agency, Valley District’s Board of Directors announced the selection of Heather Dyer as its new General Manager. Ms. Dyer, who joined Valley District in 2014, is an experienced regional environmental planner who has been leading the District’s Upper Santa Ana River Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), a landscape-level planning effort that includes 11 water agencies in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. The District’s current General Manager, Douglas D. Headrick, ends his ten-year run at the helm of Valley District, effective December 30, 2019.

“It has been an honor to serve this District and our water retailers and cities over the last 13 years – with ten of those years as the General Manager,” stated Mr. Headrick. “I appreciate the opportunity to work with our elected leaders, our dedicated employees, and our constituents in order to ensure water supply reliability for our entire region.”

Effective December 31, 2019, Ms. Dyer will begin serving as Valley District’s General Manager, overseeing a team of 24 employees who manage the long-term water supply reliability for a 325 square mile service area.

“Ms. Dyer is the perfect candidate to lead Valley District into the future,” commented Valley District Board President T. Milford Harrison. “Her leadership and vision for the needs of the region, coupled with her experience working on regional and sustainable projects – like the Sites Reservoir Project and Delta Conveyance – have positioned her to propel Valley District forward in meeting the water needs of our constituents.”

Ms. Dyer began her career as a biologist in south Louisiana before moving to Southern California in 2010. Since coming to California she has focused on the complex ecological and water supply issues of the Santa Ana River Watershed while building cooperative relationships with a host of watershed agencies and stakeholders. Ms. Dyer worked as the Santa Ana River lead biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Carlsbad and Palm Springs offices, and through that position first became involved in the water projects being proposed by the various water agencies of the watershed, including Valley District.

“Valley District has a rich history of collaboration and success throughout the region and I am honored to have the opportunity to lead this organization into the future,” commented Ms. Dyer. “There is a lot of work to be done to ensure a sustainable, reliable water supply to support this vibrant community for many generations to come. Our agency will continue to build upon a strong foundation that has been established over our 65-year history and continue to foster the partnerships that we have developed throughout the watershed and the state.”

Valley District is a State Water Contractor, and has played a critical role in the planning and development of projects in San Bernardino County as well as throughout the State, including the Sites Reservoir and the Delta Conveyance Project. More locally, Valley District has completed significant projects to enhance groundwater recharge through the Enhanced Recharge Project, formation of a proactive Groundwater Council, and developing active recharge projects forthe San Bernardino Basin Area. Additional projects and partnerships include hydroelectric facilities, treating state water project water locally, regional recycled water pipelines and projects, and conjunctive use projects.

Most notably, however, is the District’s leadership role in planning a watershed-wide Habitat Conservation Plan over the last five years, which Ms. Dyer was tasked with heading. Since 2014, Ms. Dyer has led the development of the HCP which will protect and enhance habitat for 22 native species of the Santa Ana River, including the federally protected Santa Ana sucker. The HCP is co-funded by a consortium of 11 local water agencies that will receive long-term endangered species incidental take permits for construction and operation of over 70 new local water-supply projects. The HCP is instrumental in allowing Valley District to ensure long-term water supply reliability for the region, as well as enabling the project partners to complete the projects they need to meet their customer needs for the next 50 years.

“Having worked with Heather for the last five years, I am confident in her ability to take this District to the next level,” stated outgoing General Manager Douglas D. Headrick. “Her work on the HCP and her ability to build critical relationships to push projects through have helped this District over the last five years. This District – and the region – are in good hands.”

Ms. Dyer’s experience in the water industry is varying, including have served as Valley District’s Water Use Efficiency Coordinator and working on Northern California water supply projects such as the Sites Reservoir Project. Ms. Dyer has a Bachelor of Science in Resource Biology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a Master of Science in Marine and Environmental Biology from Nicholls State University. In 2019, she earned an Executive Masters of Business Administration from Claremont Graduate University with concentration certificates in Leadership, Strategy and General Management. Ms. Dyer is a vocal proponent of landscape-level, interagency collaboration as a successful management tool to solve complex problems often associated with water supply projects and the aquatic environment.

The Inland Empire Business Journal (IEBJ) is the official business news publication of Southern California’s Inland Empire region - covering San Bernardino & Riverside Counties.

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Tyler Ankrum World Wide Technology Raceway Race Preview

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Tyler Ankrum, driver of the No. 16 LiUNA! Toyota Tundra TRD Pro

Headed West … Tyler Ankrum rolls into the “Gateway to the West” as the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series invades the St. Louis area at World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR). As five races remain before the playoffs begin, Saturday afternoon’s contest at WWTR marks a pivotal moment for the driver of the No. 16 LiUNA! Toyota Tundra TRD Pro. Ankrum currently resides 15th in the championship standings and hopes WWTR is the gateway to his third-career playoff berth.

HRE at WWTR … The San Bernardino, Calif. driver has four appearances under his belt at the St. Louis-area 1.25-mile egg-shaped oval. Ankrum made his debut at WWTR in 2019 and scored a best finish of 12th in 2020. The No. 16 team has had a steady track record in the St. Louis region since debuting there in 2017 with Ryan Truex. The HRE squad has put up one top-five, two top-10’s, and led laps in three of the five events, which included a third-place result in 2020.

Season to Date … Through 11 of 16 regular season events, Ankrum and the No. 16 team occupy the 15th position in the championship standings, 63 markers behind the cut line. Ankrum’s season-best result came eight races ago at Circuit of the Americas and he has posted three finishes of tenth or better in the 2023 season.

Chassis Selection … Chassis No. 008 will make it’s third start of the season at World Wide Technology Raceway. This Toyota Tundra TRD Pro made its last start at Darlington Raceway, where Ankrum would run around the top-10 most of the day, settling for a 15th place finish at the track too tough to tame.

Tune In … Fox Sports 1 has complete coverage of the Toyota 200 at World Wide Technology Raceway, beginning with practice and qualifying on Friday at 6:00 pm ET (FS1), followed by the green flag on Saturday at 1:30 pm ET (FS1). Stay connected with the No. 16 LiUNA! team by following @Hattori_Racing on Twitter, @hattoriracing on Instagram, and Hattori Racing Enterprises on Facebook.

Tyler Ankrum Quote on World Wide Technology Raceway:
“Gateway is such a unique racetrack from where we’ve been racing the last month or so. It’s like a big short track with flat corners, a lot of braking, and we’ll for sure need our LiUNA! Toyota Tundra TRD Pro to turn in the center of the corners. It races similar to Phoenix, but Turns one and two are really tight while (turns) three and four are kind of wide and sweeping. Pit road is extremely narrow and how you get in and out of your box could be critical. Hopefully we can start to regain some points as we get closer to the playoffs.”

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June 15th Foster Care & Adoption Virtual Online Orientation

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Children’s Bureau is seeking foster families and now offers two virtual ways for individuals and/or couples to learn how to help children in foster care while reunifying with birth families or how to provide legal permanency by adoption.

If you or someone you know may be interested in learning more about becoming a foster or foster-adopt parent, join us on June 15th from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. for an English online virtual orientation. To sign up, visit https://www.all4kids.org/foster-care-and-adoption-inquiry-form/ or call 661-289-4231 or 833-983-2837, or email Rfrecruitment@all4kids.org and a link to the meeting will be sent to you.

A Spanish Zoom Orientation is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on July 20th for those who prefer Spanish.

Children’s Bureau partners with over 200 foster-adoptive families annually to help at-risk youth by giving them a home that is nearby and inclusive to their foster siblings. Lisa and Michael began their foster-adoptive journey by providing a stable home to a sibling set of three, two girls and a boy. They worked to keep the family together and have experienced a bond like no other. “If adoption is in your future, there is no need to look any further than our surrounding county. So many local children need a family. If you are wanting to “make a difference” with your life, consider adopting from foster care. You could be saving generations,” said Lisa.

In the 1940’s, Children’s Bureau opened adoption services and found homes for refugee children orphans from World War II. The agency continues to meet the needs by offering a wide array of programs in areas related to adoption such as foster care, prevention, and mental health. Children’s Bureau has multiple locations operating throughout Southern California.

“Right now, children in San Bernardino County who have experienced trauma and have been separated from their birth family need our help,” says Leslie Oropeza, Children’s Bureau Director of Foster Care and Adoption. “We are looking for families who can open their homes and hearts to these children. Families who have extra space and the willingness to keep them together. Statistics show siblings kept together in foster care and adoption do better later in life.

They heal quicker from their trauma, have better attachments, and develop healthy self-images,” she adds.

Children’s Bureau welcomes all individuals regardless of race, age, religion, disability, marital status, ethnic background, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression to become a resource for children. Qualifying families receive training and support throughout their journey. Foster Care and Adoption Programs are available in Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Ventura counties.

For information about Children’s Bureau and the other critical services the agency provides , visit all4kids.org. To stay connected with Family Foster Care and Adoption services, visit www.all4kids.org/foster.

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City of San Bernardino Receives SCAG Sustainability Award for Its Clean Fleet Policy

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The City of San Bernardino has received the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Sustainability Award for Alternative Fuels and Infrastructure for its Zero Emission First – Clean Fleet Policy. The City was recognized at SCAG’s regional conference, held in Palm Desert. Mayor Helen Tran and Council Member Damon Alexander were on hand to receive the award.

“We are pleased and honored to be recognized by SCAG for our Clean Fleet Policy,” said San Bernardino Council Member Damon Alexander, who also sits on the SCAG Regional Council. “It not only speaks to San Bernardino’s commitment to sustainability but is a roadmap to make a difference.”

The award was one of seven sustainability awards presented by SCAG recognizing excellence and innovation to improve mobility, livability, prosperity, and sustainability. SCAG is the nation’s largest metropolitan planning organization, encompassing six counties (Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura), 191 cities, and 19 million people in an area covering more than 38,000 square miles.

San Bernardino’s Clean Fleet Policy was unanimously adopted by the City Council on December 7, 2022. It serves as the City’s first initiative to reduce emissions from its daily operations. The policy establishes a framework for transitioning the City’s fleet from gas powered vehicles to zero to low-emission vehicles. The policy represents San Bernardino’s commitment to environmental responsibility.

The core objectives of San Bernardino’s Clean Fleet Policy include:

  • Procure new and replace existing fleet vehicles with alternative fuel vehicles, with a focus on procuring all electric vehicles.
  • Optimize the fleet size by eliminating unused or underused vehicles through review and evaluation of vehicle utilization and redundancy reports.
  • Limit the procurement of gasoline and/or diesel-powered vehicles.
  • Execute a plan to expand the network of charging stations city-wide.
  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants through the elimination of fossil fuel combustion.
  • Decrease costs associated with fleet vehicle operations, which can be reinvested into the community.

The Clean Fleet Policy is the first of a series of strategies and initiatives the San Bernardino intends to pursue to support the City’s efforts to achieve net zero emissions in its operations.

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