More than 33% of the graduating physicians will perform their residencies in the Inland Empire and 78% are matched to programs in California, according to a news release.

Match Day is the culmination of the National Resident Matching Program, in which all graduating medical students seek residency positions in their chosen specialties. At the same time across the country, this year at 9 a.m. Pacific Time on March 15, graduating medical students learned where they will spend the next three to seven years of their lives.

“Medical school is rigorous and challenging every day. But Match Day is the most emotional and fulfilling day of the medical school journey,” Dr. Paul Lyons, dean and president of the California University of Science and Medicine, said in the news release. “It is the culmination of years of study, commitment and intensity. It is the next chapter in their journey to becoming caring and compassionate health-care providers.”

At the California University of Science and Medicine, graduating students and their families gathered on campus for Match Day, to celebrate with their colleagues.

Of this year’s graduating medical school class of California University of Science and Medicine, 89 class members were matched to residencies in California, and of those, 38 were matched to residencies in the Inland Empire, according to the news release.

The top specialties chosen include internal medicine, family medicine, emergency medicine and psychiatry.

“I am ecstatic that so many of our students will remain in the Inland Empire and Southern California communities to continue their medical journey,” Lyons said in the news release.

California University of Science and Medicine is a not-for-profit health sciences university established in 2015 through a private-public partnership with Arrowhead Regional Medical Center as its teaching hospital, San Bernardino County, the city of Colton and Prime Healthcare Foundation.

For information, go to cusm.edu.

This made national news, including the New York Post, Forbes, USA Today and the Washington Examiner (headline: “Murrieta police sent to Lego jail”).

Now HBO’s “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” has piled on. Oliver opened his March 31 show with a few jokes about police use of Legos.

“Well, that is shocking for a number of reasons,” says Oliver. “One, that they were doing it, and two, that Lego was mad at them, because it is one of the most pro-cop toy franchises I’ve ever seen.”

California police agencies since Jan. 1 have been barred from releasing photos of people arrested for non-violent crimes. The suspects haven’t even had their day in court, remember. Murrieta got creative by obscuring their faces with images of emojis, Shrek and then Legos, to generally positive reactions on Instagram.

“But that’s not the police’s job at all,” Oliver asserts. “There is a reason they have mottos like ‘to protect and serve’ and not ‘to protect, serve and get to 1 million followers. Please hit like and subscribe.’”

Well, maybe. But I can see how the Murrieta Police Department might be a little confused by this criticism. Usually comedians tell police to lighten up. Here’s a comedian telling police to be more serious.

More Oliver

The Murrieta jabs came almost a year to the day from Oliver’s last Inland Empire reference. In a March 2023 segment on a federal welfare program, he digressed for three minutes to mock a Riverside County-commissioned batch of “work-ethic” songs in the 1990s that were played to callers on hold.

OIiver described one song as a mating of “We Are the World” with “a cheap motivational poster.”

Hey, maybe that reflected local sensibilities. Riverside County wouldn’t take inspiration from some gold-plated-Cadillac motivational poster, you know!

Fried day

Friday, always the busiest day of the week for me, was extra hectic last week. With most of my Sunday column left to write, I interrupted my day to drive to Corona to give a lunch talk to the Rotary Club.

One of my first comments from the lectern was to ask how many of the 30 community-minded people in the room had read my column that morning, which by coincidence was about Corona. Only two or three had.

I chided everyone else and read it aloud, explained how I’d come to write about the filming of 1953’s “The War of the Worlds” in their city, and then talked more generally about the state of newspapers and my own passion for my role.

To the club’s credit, they took the teasing well, listened actively and asked good questions. By the end, a few people said they’d subscribe. I’d put that in the win category. Thanks, Corona Rotary.

One of the subscribers in the room, by the way, was Ross Newhan. The former baseball writer, who retired to Corona, was celebrating his birthday that very day. At age 87, he made this 60-year-old feel like a kid.

Lunch concluded, I drove back to Ontario to resume work on my column on the California Jam rock festival. With that accomplished by 5 p.m., my afternoon ended with my finally reading my morning newspapers. Then I drove home to Claremont.

That, however, wasn’t the end.

A student protest was taking place at Pomona College. We didn’t have a photographer or reporter available to go.

I ambled over from my house and took photos of students being arrested and led to a jail transport vehicle by police in riot gear. Notepad in hand, I faithfully transcribed some of the protest chants and passed those along to an editor for inclusion in a news story.

Reading her Sunday paper carefully, Tammy Woodman of Upland, for one, noticed my twin efforts.

“So on the same day,” Woodman phoned to say, “you write about the 50th anniversary of a rock and roll concert and also a political demonstration at Pomona College. Well, you certainly are becoming the college of knowledge for the Inland Empire.”

All in a (rather long) day’s work. It was more stressful than usual, but strangely fun.

brIEfly

Cecil “Chip” Murray, the prominent Los Angeles pastor who died April 5 at age 94, got his start in the Pomona Valley. He graduated from the Claremont School of Theology in 1964 and from 1964-1966 pastored Primm Tabernacle Church, a tiny Black congregation in Pomona said to have had just seven members. How small was it? For his pulpit, Murray used his sister’s dresser.

David Allen writes Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, to which you can come as you are. Email dallen@scng.com, phone 909-483-9339, like davidallencolumnist on Facebook and follow @davidallen909 on Twitter.

The Broadway at the Fox in Riverside series, run by The American Theatre Guild, will also include a musical featuring songs from The Temptations as well as a magic show.

“Starting with the premiere engagements of two Tony Award-winning productions, ‘The Book of Mormon’ and ‘Ain’t Too Proud,’ the Tony-award winner for Best Revival of a Musical, ‘Chicago’ and Tina Fey’s hit musical, ‘Mean Girls,’ this season will offer something for both current and new fans of Broadway,” Amy Hamm, president and executive director of The American Theatre Guild said in a news release.

Here’s a look at the season’s highlights.

• “Mean Girls” — Dec. 30 and 31. Fey’s musical is a satire about teenage girls in high school. It was also a movie in 2004 and 2024.
• “The Book of Mormon” — Jan. 28 and 29, 2025. The musical was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creative duo behind the animated “South Park,” as well as Robert Lopez. It follows two young missionaries sent to Uganda to convert people to the Mormon religion.
• “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations” — March 4 and 5, 2025. The musical follows the singing group’s rise from Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The show includes hit tunes such as “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination” and “Get Ready.”
• “Chicago” — March 18 and 19, 2025. The musical, set in the city’s jazz age, tells a tale about fame and fortune and features plenty of dancing and singing.
• “Champions of Magic” — April 29 and 30, 2025. The touring magic show will feature new illusions along with humor.

For ticket and other information, visit BroadwayAtTheFox.com, Ticketmaster.com or the Fox Performing Arts Center’s box office.

For information on season memberships, click here.

Just after 10 a.m., the moon began crossing between the sun and the Earth, and students in Fontana joined a massive watch party for the solar eclipse that was visible for most of North America.

At the aptly-named Shadow Hills Elementary School, students safely checked out what caused the darkened sky with solar eclipse viewing kits provided by the Fontana Unified School District.

“This is definitely a special day; something that doesn’t happen all the time,” Shadow Hills Elementary Principal Leonard Fisher said. “There is a vibe in the air, and we are all excited.”

In Fontana and the Inland Empire, viewers saw about 50% of the eclipse Monday. To the east, the “path of totality,” the band where the sun is completely blocked from view, passed over 13 U.S. states between Texas and Maine.

“This was a great opportunity for students to personally view a natural phenomenon, connect it with what they’re learning about science in the classroom,” Fisher said. “We had to take advantage of this time; hopefully our students take away some curiosity and a love of science after today.”

Stage Red — a Sammy Hagar Venue will replace the former Center Stage Theater, which closed in August 2022.

Hagar, also known as the Red Rocker, grew up in Fontana. The musician and songwriter was inducted to the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Van Halen in 2007.

Originally, the city planned to open the renovated theater in time for Memorial Day 2023. Opening day was pushed back to March 2024 but budget issues again delayed the theater’s debut. Opening day it is now set for June 15.

The original timeline for the project was optimistic, according to Phil Burum, Fontana’s deputy city manager.

Construction was slated to start in October, which Burum said would have allowed the city to meet the March opening date. The lowest bid for the project, however, was $2.6 million — $1 million over the anticipated budget.

The City Council updated the budget, Burum said, and the city restarted the bidding process early this year.

The theater has a high rock ‘n’ roll club feeling, Burum said. The outside of the building has neutral shades of gray and white and at night pops with the use of red neon lights and signs.

Work on the exterior of the theater is nearly complete and crews are now focusing on the interior, Burum said. The Stage Red theme will be prevalent throughout the venue and Burum said the city is looking to add Hagar’s gold records and a couple of guitars.

“It’s just changing the whole sound and lighting system to a modern system,” said Burum. “And changing the interior design aesthetic and making it more Sammy-centric.”

The theater serves as a cornerstone for city leaders’ plans to create a regional draw in downtown Fontana.

“Stage Red is more than just a venue; it’s part of Fontana’s cultural resurgence,” Mayor Acquanetta Warren said in an email Wednesday, April 3. “With its rich history and vibrant future, Stage Red will bring world-class entertainment to our doorstep and will also enhance our economic growth.”

Historically, the theater has generated roughly $200,000 a year in ticket sales, Burum said. Once Stage Red opens, the city expects the venue to reach $2 million to $3 million in annual ticket sales. The sales tax generated will be a boon for Fontana’s coffers, according to Burum.

The theater will have three different ticket options for performances three to five nights a week, Burum said. Three ticket options are in the works.

Ideally, the theater will offer a general admission ticket for standing room by the stage for fans who want to be close to the action, a slightly elevated option with seating and cocktail service, and a VIP option which will put guests in balcony seats over the stage, Burum said.

Plans for a VIP meet-and-greet room are also part of the theater’s future, he said, allowing guests to meet with the artists in a lounge-like area for a fee.

“So it’s a little bit of a different type of a meet-and-greet experience and some artists like Sammy love that interaction,” Burum said.

Hagar, who is from Fontana, has partnered with the city to bring the theater to life.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Burum said. “It’s just gonna kind of be his own little personal Hard Rock Cafe.”

Burum anticipates shows to roll out slowly over the first couple months and pick up with time. The city has contracted ASM Global, a venue and event management company, to head the day-to-day operations of the theater.

The group manages programming for the Toyota Arena in Ontario, the Los Angeles Convention Center and the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, among other spaces throughout Southern California.

“That contract just started about a month ago,” Burum said. “With the grand opening scheduled, they’re now starting to line up acts.”

Hagar is expected to be the first performance on opening day.

The April 6, 1974 event — ticket price: $10 — had this concert lineup, in order of appearance: Rare Earth; Earth, Wind and Fire; the Eagles with guest Jackson Browne; Seals and Crofts; Black Oak Arkansas; Black Sabbath, led by Ozzy Osbourne; Deep Purple; and Emerson, Lake and Palmer.

If you’re keeping track, that’s two names with “Earth,” two with “Black” and one with “Purple.” Plus one “Browne.”

Imagine 200,000 people — essentially the entire present-day population of Fontana, and more than double a Coachella Festival weekend — gathering in Ontario for a rock festival. At the time, California Jam was said to have been the largest one-day gathering in state history.

ABC Entertainment produced Cal Jam and aired highlights over four nights. Showbiz professionals put on this rock festival, not idealistic amateurs. There were no breakout stars or touchstone cultural moments.

Some, like reader Ron Vander Molen of Pomona, fondly recall how Keith Emerson, behind his piano, rose into the air along with his instrument, and while suspended in mid-air, he and his piano rotated, end over end, as he continued playing, evidently without losing his lunch.

Still, Emerson didn’t light his piano on fire or chop it up with an ax.

Robert Hilburn covered the festival as pop music critic for the Los Angeles Times. He wrote that the festival bill didn’t have “the tension and overwhelming anticipation” that marked great festivals like Woodstock or Watkins Glen.

I emailed Hilburn, now 84, to ask how he views Cal Jam from 50 years on.

“It was an ambitious attempt to toast the growing popularity of rock ‘n’ roll in a massive setting,” Hilburn replied. “But the talent line-up (aside from the Eagles) doesn’t rank with my favorites. I much preferred the US Festivals at Glen Helen in the 1980s because the talent line-up was so much more memorable.”

To commemorate the festival’s 50th anniversary, I put out a call for your memories. Here are excerpts.

John Carvala, now of San Francisco: “I remember parking in a big dirt field to the east of the speedway. I got there before the music started. Of course the concert crowd area was huge, covering much of the infield, and there were speaker towers in the crowd so everyone could hear. It was dusty. There was litter and trash around and the smell of marijuana in the air.”

Janice Elliott, Upland: “I was 20, old enough to have common sense, but I chose style over practicality with my footwear choice: platform wedgie sandals. I think I had fun, lots of intoxicating smoke prevailing, in spite of my throbbing feet.”

Brian Uhl, Corona: “Ozzy Osbourne fronted the Sabbath with an enthusiasm that his band and the crowd lacked. The best part of the show was getting out. The 200,000 others had the same idea and exiting was chaotic. Groups waited at the on-ramp. I picked up two girls without any idea where they lived.”

Kent (Bayless) Romero, Eastvale: “At the end, Emerson, Lake and Palmer played ‘Karn Evil 9’ and I remember looking up through all pyrotechnic and other types of smoke and seeing what I thought were ping-pong balls bouncing up and down. What I was seeing was half-gallon plastic jugs (passed out earlier for water) being thrown up in the air by the thousands. It was quite a sight, especially when we determined that we might be in danger. Several people around us were struck by falling water jugs. We took cover and none of our group were injured.”

Nancy Jefferis, Ontario: “I was 15 years old. My friend and I were dropped off at the corner of Haven and Fourth on the morning of the Jam. I remember it being very, very crowded inside. The lines to the bathrooms, and to the concession stands, were at least 100 people deep. Needless to say, we somehow managed to not go to the bathroom or drink any water all day. We could hear the music the whole way home on the walk to Fifth and Baker.”

Philip Montgomery, Upland: “I knew all the little dirt roads. I had my truck, a couple of buddies, a couple of girls. We drove through the vineyards. A fence on the north side was down so we walked in. We only saw the night part of the show.”

Albert vande Steeg, then an Ontario police officer: “Many of our youths had their first exposure to and use of drugs at that event. I witnessed numerous people injecting, smoking or swallowing drugs and narcotics. Sexual perversion was rampant. Worst of all were the ‘bummer tents’ where those who overdosed were treated. The city sold its soul and our youths for money to save the speedway and lost.”

Mike Huey, Menifee: “Frankly, one of my most distinct memories was of standing in line waiting to enter for seemingly (and probably) hours just to get in. I think we heard at least the first two acts from outside the racetrack. Once we got in, our basic tickets entitled us to a small area of concrete on the track itself, roughly 100-150 yards from the stage. Safe to say we ended up attending more for the experience than the music.”

If you’re a fan of the festival, check out the California Jam Fan Club Facebook page, which has 20,000 followers. Kudos to group moderator Allen Pamplin, who was at the festival at age 15, for keeping the Cal Jam torch burning.

I knew the 50th anniversary was coming up but hadn’t yet looked up the date when reader Carlos Garcia of Rancho Cucamonga emailed to remind me.

“You always address the important IE anniversaries, openings, closures, celebrations, etc. I just need to make sure it doesn’t slip by without mention,” Garcia wrote. “As an attendee of the concert at the age of 16, it’s always great to see the once-in-a-lifetime experience mentioned in your column.”

He signed off this way: “Cal Jam alum ’74.”

David Allen writes Sunday, Wednesday and Friday, your college of IE knowledge. Email dallen@scng.com, phone 909-483-9339, like davidallencolumnist on Facebook and follow @davidallen909 on Twitter.

The Citrus Fest, hosted by California State Parks and The Friends of California Citrus Park nonprofit, took place on Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6.

The event included live music, food, vendors, cooking demonstrations, presentations and tastings of the namesake fruit.

The park opened in 1993 “with a vision of being a living outdoor historical museum that tells the far-reaching story of the citrus industry,” the nonprofit’s website says, and spans about 250 acres on the south edge of Riverside.

The Wizards will play against a team made up of Redlands Unified School District teachers, principals and administrators in the Redlands East Valley High School gym, 31000 E. Colton Ave. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the game will begin at 7 p.m.

Proceeds will benefit Redlands Educational Partnership, a nonprofit founded in 1987 that supports education in the Redlands Unified School District through a variety of programs.

The event will feature a variety of interactive extras to complement the Wizards’ demonstration of hoops artistry, including a pregame “Wiz Kids” warm-up, contests, comedy, slam dunks and audience participation.

Redlands Community Hospital is partnering with Redlands Educational Partnership in sponsoring the game.

“We are delighted to once again host the Harlem Wizards. The Wizards deliver fantastic all-agesentertainment for a great cause,” Jennifer Moore, president of Redlands Educational Partnership, said in a news release. “Funds raised from this event will help REP continue to support education in RUSD with our Grants for Teachers and Grants for Principals programs.”

General admission is $18 in advance and $20 at the door, if available, and student tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door.

Reserved tickets are $35, limited-availability Courtside Plus tickets are $55 and limited-availability Courtside Plus Player Package tickets are $130, all available online only.

To purchase tickets, go to harlemwizards.com/tickets/redlandsca or rep4schools.com/harlem-wizards/.

For information about the Wizards, go to HarlemWizards.com. For information about Redlands Educational Partnership, go to rep4schools.com.

The program is free and open to the public.

Tolber’s presentation will include an update on the Redlands Police Department and information on community trust-building programs in the department, and she will discuss social, philosophical and practical impacts of increasing numbers of women in law enforcement, according to a news release.

Tolber has served as a sworn police officer in the Redlands Police Department for 26 years and was named chief of police in June 2023. She had been serving as interim chief and, before that, as a commander for the Special Services Bureau. She has served in positions including patrol officer and supervisor, detective, investigations supervisor, crisis negotiator, field training officer and training manager.

Tolber received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from the University of Redlands; a master’s degree in criminology, law and society from UC Irvine; and a master’s degree in applied criminology from University of Cambridge.

Her areas of expertise include research on evidence-based policing, re-entry issues, restorative justice, technology and women in policing, according to the news release.

The program is preceded by a 9 a.m. brunch. Cost is $25, payable upon arrival. Brunch reservations are required by April 10 by calling 909-362-4955 or emailing AAUWrsvp@AAUWRedlands.org, with name, phone number and email address.

Primary votes in Riverside and San Bernardino counties took almost a month to count, a process drawn out by policies to ensure accurate results and make voting widely accessible.

The results show a local electorate that showed up in relatively low numbers, but made choices that shook up city councils and perhaps set the stage for a mini-political dynasty. California’s secretary of state is expected to certify election results by April 12.

Here are five takeaways from the Inland Empire’s primary.

Lower than low

Primaries tend to have lower voter turnout than general elections. California’s 2024 primary is no exception.

Statewide, 35% of voters cast ballots on or before March 5, according to the secretary of state. Turnout was even lower in the Inland Empire, with just 30.8% of Riverside County voters and 26.2% of San Bernardino County voters mailing in a ballot or voting early or on Election Day.

A number of factors could explain voter apathy. Before the primary, we pretty much knew Joe Biden and Donald Trump would be their respective parties’ White House nominees, depriving California of a hotly contested and attention-drawing race that could have lured more voters to the ballot box.

Lower-than-average turnout continues to be a challenge locally. Voting tends to happen more regularly among wealthier, highly educated people, both populations the Inland Empire lacks in comparison to coastal counties where turnout is usually higher.

Hard no on Prop. 1

One of the primary’s top stories is how Proposition 1, a $6.4 billion bond measure to fund treatment centers and supportive housing for those struggling with addiction and mental illness, is barely squeaking by.

While Prop. 1 appears headed for a narrow win, Inland voters, as they’ve done with previous statewide initiatives, voted no in fairly strong numbers.

San Bernardino County voters rejected Prop. 1 56% to 44%. In Riverside County, Prop. 1 lost 54% to 46%.

It’s risky to draw deep conclusions from low-turnout elections. But the Prop. 1 results are another bullet point for the argument that the Inland Empire is not as blue as California as a whole despite Democrats making up a plurality of registered Inland voters.

While Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Biden won Riverside and San Bernardino counties in their presidential races, the Inland Empire also is home to GOP strongholds like southwest Riverside County and outspoken conservatives like Assemblymember Bill Essayli, R-Corona, and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.

“The electorate that did turn out was more conservative, with (Republican U.S. Senate candidate) Steve Garvey outperforming expectations and doing especially well in the Inland Empire,” Marcia Godwin, a professor of public administration at the University of La Verne, said via email.

“Presumably, the general election turnout will be more Democratic than the primary, but it may or may not be more Democratic than in 2022.”

One bright spot for Democrats? Western San Bernardino County, where legislative and congressional races “have gone from being competitive to being dominated by Democrats,” Godwin said, noting that Assemblymember James Ramos, D-Highland, ran unopposed and Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-San Bernardino, won a “safe majority” in the primary.

Also, the open 50th Assembly District “only attracted Democratic candidates” and Democrats Judy Chu and Norma Torres hold safe seats representing San Bernardino County, Godwin said.

Storm blows over

Following San Bernardino County’s initially chaotic response to the winter storms that hammered San Bernardino Mountains communities in February and March 2023, a great deal of anger was directed at Third District Supervisor Dawn Rowe, who represents those communities and also chairs the Board of Supervisors.

A talked-about recall effort never materialized, but Rowe faced three challengers in the primary, all of whom talked about the county’s response to the storm, which mountain communities have still not fully recovered from.

In the end, it wasn’t close. Rowe won 59% of the vote, decisively defeating her would-be rivals.

Cervantes strong

Clarissa and Sabrina Cervantes’ roots go back to the Coachella Valley, where their father, Greg, served as a Coachella city councilmember.

Their political future is rooted in western Riverside County, a region the sisters could represent in the legislature for the next few years after advancing out of their primaries.

Sabrina, a Democratic assemblymember from Riverside, finished second in the 31st Senate District primary, while Clarissa, a Democrat and Riverside city councilmember, held on to the second and final Nov. 5 ballot spot in the 58th Assembly District.

Both sisters overcame bitter intraparty fights to advance to November. Clarissa faced a negative ad blitz focused on her two DUI convictions, while Sabrina traded attack ads with Democrat and Riverside school board member Angelo Farooq.

City hall overhaul

Incumbents largely did OK in the primary. The same can’t be said for Inland city councils, where voters in Riverside and San Bernardino ousted incumbents.

In Riverside, Councilmember Gaby Plascencia lost to Sean Mill, while Councilmember Erin Edwards did not seek reelection. Philip Falcone avoided a runoff to win Edwards’ seat.

San Bernardino councilmembers Damon Alexander, Kimberly Calvin and Ben Reynoso also lost.

The Riverside City Council could see more change in November.

Councilmember Ronaldo Fierro gave up his seat in his unsuccessful bid for the 58th Assembly District. Clarissa Cervantes, who will be on the November ballot in the 58th, would have to give up her council seat if she becomes an assemblymember.

Staff writers Mercedes Cannon-Tran and Sarah Hofmann contributed to this report. 

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct an error. Pomona City Councilmembers John Nolte and Elizabeth Ontiveros-Cole will compete in November runoffs and seek to retain their seats.