Wine Barrels

Wanda Haynes-Certified Sommelier Wine Barrels An important fact to keep in mind is that all wines aren’t produced using barrels. The use of a high-quality oak barrel is important, and three countries that dominate the wine barrel industry. French Oak French white oak is considered prized and the best oak to make into barrels.  The…

Author Kristen Amundson Explains ‘The Grandparent Effect’ and How It’s Helping Children Thrive Through Love, Support, and Connection

By Adam Shapiro Kristen Amundson has devoted her professional life to supporting students and parents throughout the education system. Previously, she authored “81 Questions for Parents” and “Unfinished Learning: Parents, Schools, and COVID School Closures.” Amundson, the former president and CEO of the National Association of State Boards of Education, is now turning her attention…

Event Preview: ‘Fashion v. Fascism’ – A Runway Revolution Is Coming to the Bay Area

By Dr. Y’Anad Burrell “Fashion vs. Fascism” (FVF) is a visually immersive evening of fashion, music and political theater exposing the rise of fascism in the U.S. and the need to resist. Democracy is under siege, and culture is one of our most potent defenses, organizers say. Called a live “runway revolution,” FvF premieres Oct….

Beyond Likes and Followers: Teen Author Explores Why Real Sisterhood Matters in the Age of Social Media

TUSTIN, Calif., Sept. 14, 2026 — For a generation growing up with friendship, identity and self-image playing out against the backdrop of social media, 17-year-old author and aspiring journalist Kavya Thakrar believes one thing remains essential: having a support system of women who know the person behind the profile. Her debut book, Bows and Ties, explores the…

Racial Healing Starts with Honest Conversations

INNER-CITY NEWSPAPER — WORD IN BLACK — Families, educators, and mental health experts are emphasizing that affirming a young person’s identity can help them process racism without internalizing its harm. Jacinay Coleman-Shelton, who has both Black and Hispanic heritage, shared how her family’s early messaging that “being Black is beautiful” provided a foundation for her…

 Pinot Noir 

Wanda Haynes-Certified Sommelier Fall is a terrific time of year to introduce Pinot Noir into the wine list Because its light enough to pair with fish, and heavy enough to pair with steak sandwiches.  Very elegant and a great wine for new wine enthusiasts, and here are a couple of my personal favorites. Bethel Heights…

Zero Proof Sparkling Wines

Wanda Haynes-Certified Sommelier What exactly is Non-Alcoholic Wine? Non-alcoholic wine contains little to no alcohol. It has similar flavor profiles, varieties, and smells, just without the alcohol. And may still contain small amounts of alcohol. Because of this, if you’re trying to avoid alcohol completely, you may want to also avoid these products. How is…

Money Matters: The State of Black Media – and Why Its Future Matters to Business

BlackPressUSA Newswire Black-owned media has long served as more than a source of news. It has been a trusted institution, an advocate for underserved communities, and an economic catalyst for entrepreneurs and neighborhood businesses. From covering the Civil Rights Movement to spotlighting local business success stories, Black media has consistently filled information gaps left by…

What Banking Actually Means for Young People

By BlackPressUSA Newswire Youth Financial Education Series This installment of MSR’s Youth Financial Education Series, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase, follows Hannah D. Williams as she describes learning to use bank accounts strategically after getting her first job at 15. With guidance from Game Time Budgeting founder Al Riddick, Williams developed habits around high-yield savings, credit…

EDD Makes Online Identity Verification Easier

At EDD, we’re continuing to improve the way customers access our programs and services. Customers applying for unemployment, disability, and Paid Family Leave benefits can now verify their identity through Socure directly online in myEDD. This streamlined process helps protect customers’ personal information while making identity verification faster and easier. Over 80% of customers complete…

The Mall of America Largest Shopping and Entertainment in the Western Hemisphere

Wanda Haynes-Certified Sommelier The Mall of America is the largest shopping and entertainment complex in the Western Hemisphere. Located in Bloomington, Minnesota, it spans 5.6 million square feet and has over 520 stores. Indoor theme parks, a fantastic vacation destination, drawing millions of visitors annually.  If you’re a shop until you drop type personality, Mall…

Over 300 People Attend the Splish Splash Water Safety Fun Day to Kick off a Kid Safe Summer

More than 300 parents, caregivers and children kicked off a Kid Safe Summer at Lake Gregory Regional Park for a day of family fun, hands-on activities, community connection and life-saving water safety education. Hosted by First 5 San Bernardino, in partnership with Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Safe Kids IE and San Bernardino County Regional…

Italian white wine in space

By Wanda Haynes Certified-Sommelier There is an exciting Italian dry white wine to try this summer and all year long.Grillo means “cricket” in Italian translation. Italian fairytales refer to Cavallo delleFate as “fairy horse” since crickets are said to ride fairies on their backs. This ischarming and add lore to an already amazing dry assessable…