Layout 7 - Inland Empire Community News

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2/1/12
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Page A8 • February 2, 2012 • Inland Empire Community Newspapers
Wave pool groundbreaking marks new era for park
shade,” said Briggs. So there will
be plenty of shade and twice as
much seating.
Many of the officials present expressed satisfaction with the
choice of Clearwater as the new
management of the park and their
vision. They have developed many
parks around the country including
Wild Rivers in San Dimas.
The city approved the new development at the park and is still
working with management on
other developments.
“This park offers so much opportunity as a gateway to the city,”
said Redlands Mayor Pete Aguilar.
He said he hopes it will be a good
IECN PHOTO
option for families in the Inland
Empire where there are not many
waterpark options. He also said
that the park’s opening will help
the city because it is a large parcel
of land and potentially strong tax
contributor to the city.
San Bernardino County Supervisor Neil Derry also expressed excitement about the new park and
the possibilities for the region.
“This is a great investment in the
community,” said Derry.
The park will open May 28 from
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information go to www.pharaohsadventurepark.com or call (909)
335-7275.
NAIMA FORD
Officials broke ground on the new wave pool at Splash Kingdom Waterpark at Pharaoh’s Tuesday. Pictured from left are Josh Hunter, Evan Gentry, San Bernardino County Supervisor Neil Derry, Redlands Planning Commission Chairman John James, Redlands Mayor Pete Aguilar, and Park
President Greg Briggs.
S
By Naima Ford
omething happened on
Monday, January 30 that
has not happened at Splash
Kingdom Waterpark at Pharaoh’s,
formerly known as Pharaoh’s Lost
Kingdom, in seven years. A water
fountain on one of the attractions
was turned on.
It was part of what new president
Greg Briggs calls a transition period at the waterpark.
The park originally opened in
1996 but has undergone a number
of transformations and is being operated by Clearwater Waterpark
Management.
On Tuesday, January 31 there
was a groundbreaking for the new
wave pool that will be the centerpiece of the renewed park.
“We couldn’t wait for this day,”
said Dave Simon, vice president
and general manager.
The wave pool will be a 16,000
square foot pool that will simulate
ocean tides but will be safe for
families with the majority of it
being two-and-a-half feet deep and
the deepest part being six feet
deep.
“Family friendly” are the keywords for the new operators as
they plan the park’s opening this
summer.
“We let everyone know we are
back and that we are family entertainment,” said Simon.
“It has always been my vision to
provide all families with a wholesome entertaining experience, it is
why I built it,” said owner Jim
Braswell. “I am very excited that
the experienced operators of
Clearwater who share the same vision of family entertainment will
be at the helm for future growth at
Pharaoh’s.”
According to Briggs when you
want to focus on families the key
is taking care of the needs of others.
“You need chairs and you need
IECN PHOTO
NAIMA FORD
Greg Briggs is the new president of Splash Kingdom Waterpark at
Pharaohs and partner at Clearwater Waterpark Development.
Ca rter a nnounce s fel lowsh ip for th ose who
aspire to be part of the legislative process
T
to apply to the 2012-2013 program
by Feb 22, 2012. Individuals must
have earned their undergraduate
degree by September 2012 to
apply.
eresa Acuña, a Rialto native, has worked on legislation that reduced 30-day
checkpoint impoundments, which
took advantage of some of the
most vulnerable members of society. She also secured a $2 million
state grant to clean up waste water
in a rural city.
These are two examples of the
progressive agenda Acuña has focused on since she came to the
State Capitol as a fellow in a prestigious legislative training program
that is now taking new applicants.
Acuña, a legislative director for a
state assemblymember, recommends the 11-month-long Jesse
Marvin Unruh Assembly Fellowship Program for any college graduate who aspires to be a part of the
legislative process.
"You gain invaluable exposure to
public policy formation and adoption by working as a professional
legislative aide to a legislator,"
said Acuña, who graduated from
Rialto High School before pursuing a double major in political science and Chicano and Chicana
Studies from San Diego State University. "I think that people see
government as such a separated,
disconnected entity and to actually
be working in it, where you can
IECN PHOTO COURTESY OFFICE OF
ASSEMBLY MEMBER WILMER AMINA
CARTER
Qiana Charles, a graduate of San
Gorgonio High School and Cal
IECN PHOTO COURTESY OFFICE OF ASSEMBLY MEMBER WILMER AMINA
State San Bernardino, learned as a
CARTER
fellow how public policy decisions
Assemblymember
Wilmer
Amina
Carter
with
Teresa
Acuña,
directly impact people and communities. After completing the legislative director for Assemblymember Luis Alejo, D-Salinas.
program, she served as a consultant to the State Assembly and then
a policy advisor to the office of a
state senator. Now she is a public
affairs representative for Southern
California Edison.
Qiana Charles, former policy
advisor to then State Senator Acuña is the daughter of MexiMark Ridley-Thomas, D-Los can immigrants. She says that
Angeles.
members of her extended family
and many Inland Empire residents
make a change, is important."
have benefited from the impoundThe Unruh Fellowship Program, ment legislation she helped shepwhich offers a $1,972 monthly herd through the State Legislature
stipend and health benefits, "pro- during her fellowship, she said. "I
vides a challenging professional just want to help the disenfranwork experience that serves as the chised. My cultural upbringing
foundation for successful careers puts me in a place where I can
in both the public and private sec- focus on policy and look at it
tors," said Assemblymember through the lens of people it will
Wilmer Amina Carter, D-Rialto, be affecting."
who has mentored fellows on her
To apply for the Jesse Marvin
legislative staff.
Unruh Fellowship Program, visit
Recent college graduates to ca- online: www.csus.edu/calst/asreer professionals are encouraged sembly_fellowship_program.html.
Sunday Morning Service 10 a.m.
Hutton Center, 660 Colton Ave, Colton, CA 92324
Pastor Frank Sanchez
Special Event :
Inductive Bible Study Seminar. Learning to study your Bible
for all it's worth! Taught by Pastor Dan Finfrock
Thursday Nights, 7-9 p.m.
February 9, 16, & 23, 2012
Frank Gonzales Center, 670 Colton Ave. Colton, CA 92324
More information: ph. 909 272-7322
email: ccfcolton@aol.com