Facing a looming deficit, Apple Valley seeks members for budget advisory committee
Victorville Daily Press
Two months after announcing budget-related cuts to services and staffing following the defeat of Measure O on the Nov. 3 ballot, Apple Valley officials are looking to increase community involvement in the town’s budgeting process.
The Town Council voted last week to create a Citizen’s Budget Advisory Committee that will provide input in the review and recommendation process for Apple Valley’s annual budget, which faces a looming revenue deficit estimated at $4.5 million.
The 15-member committee will include Apple Valley’s five Town Council members and ten community members who will be appointed at a rate of two per councilor. Each community member must reside within Apple Valley or within its sphere of influence, town officials said in a statement.
Snowline staff gives out nearly 35,000 meals to students for winter break
Victorville Daily Press
Last month, Snowline Joint Unified School District’s Nutrition Services Department distributed 26,380 meals to students enough to keep them fed every day over the Thanksgiving break.
On Thursday, during a drive-thru event at multiple Snowline schools, department staff increased their efforts to ensure that no child goes hungry throughout the Christmas break, handing out 34,959 meals.
That’s 36 meals per student, according to Nutrition Services Director Toni Chaffee, who said the giving extended beyond the students enrolled at Snowline schools.
“Any child 18 and younger could receive a meal,” Chafee said. “If you were not a Snowline student, you had to be present to receive the lunch, but if you were a Snowline student, your parent (or) guardian could simply give us your ID number and receive the meals.”
Victorville Daily Press
About 100 Providence St. Mary Medical Center health care workers received the first round of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, a day after an initial 15,600 doses arrived in San Bernardino County.
Providence St. Mary spokesman Bryan Kawasaki said hospital officials in Apple Valley administered the vaccine to roughly 18 caregivers per hour Thursday morning.
“The pace we were hoping for was 12 caregivers an hour,” Kawasaki said. “. We’re very excited for the turnout.”
St. Mary nurse Theresa Tate was the first of the hospital’s staff members to receive the vaccine, according to Kawasaki. Tate has worked at St. Mary for eight years, currently in the Labor and Delivery Department.