DPW's Viejas Blvd. Bridge Project Almost Done

Library Helps People Struggling to Pay Mortgage

CTN.org profiles a local family struggling to pay their mortgage, and shows how the County is helping through a free foreclosure clinic at the library.

Read to Feed a Needy Pet This Summer

Animal Services Deputy Director Laurie Joniaux with one of the dogs available for adoption through the nonprofit Spay Neuter Action Project (SNAP).Pet owners facing tough financial times can get free food and services for their animals this summer thanks to the generosity of local readers.

“Our ‘Read for a Reason’ program gives readers a way to connect with those in need by earning rewards to benefit local pets,” said José Aponte, Director of the County Library.

“The program is in its fourth year, and it is rewarding to see how people are using their love of reading to make a difference in people’s and pets’ lives.”

Kids can sign up for the “Read for a Reason” program online. They track the hours they read on the site, working toward goals set for their age group.

For each person who registers, Hills Science Diet will donate a pound of pet food. It will be given to customers of the Spay Neuter Action Project (SNAP) Neuter Scooter, which provides services throughout the County, including a visit to the Lakeside library branch on June 29. More than 20 pet owners made appointments at the event to have their animals spayed or neutered before heading home with a free bag of food.Cute little dogs and reading - a great match.

Even those who can’t participate in the Read for a Reason program can still help by contributing to the Library’s pet food drive. Collection bins are located at all branches through the end of July. The food will be given to San Diego Food Bank and The Pet Food Bank.

The County Department of Animal Services will help deliver donated pet food to the organizations and will also have collection bins at its three shelters: the Central Shelter at 5480 Gaines Street in San Diego; the North Shelter at 2481 Palomar Airport Road in Carlsbad; and the South Shelter at 5821 Sweetwater Road in Bonita.

For a list of the Library’s branch locations, visit www.sdcl.org.

Leave Your Neckties and Pantyhose at Home!

It's the return of the much-loved summer business casual dress code.

Yes, our Chief Administrative Officer Walt Ekard has once again declared July, August and September as "Cool Summer Days in the County."

Thanks, Walt!

Until Sept. 30, the County’s business casual attire policy, normally in place only on Fridays, will be extended to apply to every workday.

But, Walt says, "if you are scheduled for meetings or other activities that require business attire, I would expect that you will dress in an appropriate manner."

Close Encounters of the Insect Kind

Have nerves of steel? How about a stomach of steel?

You'll have a chance to get up close and very personal with a variety of insects this weekend, when the County's Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures and Quail Botanical Gardens and Lloyd Pest Control host the Annual Insect and Garden Festival at Quail Botanical Gardens in Encinitas.

County Entomologist David Kellum will be on hand to answer questions about and introduce visitors to insects.  Insects will be available for holding, and for the brave, tasting.

There will also be crafts for children, bug collecting, gardening information and live animal demonstrations. “Regular food” will be offered for sale on site as well.

Children 12 and under are admitted free. Admission fees for adults are $12. For students, seniors and active duty military, admission is $8. Dollar-off coupons are available online at the Quail Botanical Gardens Web site at www.qbgardens.com, under “Events,” or by visiting County Agriculture, Weights, and Measures’ Web site at www.sdcawm.org.

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12

WHERE: 230 Quail Gardens Drive at the Quail Botanical Gardens in Encinitas

Watch CTN video of last year's fair

Henry Coker Named New Public Defender

County Chief Administrative Officer Walt Ekard appointed Henry C. Coker to the position of Public Defender, officials announced today.

Since 1996, Coker has been the Chief Deputy of Branch Offices for the County Public Defender’s Office. In this position, he supervised all branches of the Public Defender’s Office, which includes approximately 100 attorneys. Prior to that, Coker worked for the Public Defender’s Office as a trial attorney, Felony Team leader, and the head of the Child Advocacy Division.

Former Public Defender Steve Carroll is retiring after 22 years of service to the County.

"Henry's got a strong background as a trial attorney, community leader, and administrator - just the experience this office needs. As a Chief Deputy with the Public Defender's Office for over a decade, Henry's managed all of the branch offices, including the dependency program,” Ekard said.

"He's got unique skills and a collaborative spirit and I know he's going to serve the County well."

Before joining the County, Coker worked as a Senior Personnel Analyst in the Human Resources Department at the UCSD Medical Center where he managed 1500 employees. Coker began his career teaching English and literature at a high school in North Carolina.

Coker earned his bachelor’s degree in English literature and has a master’s degree in educational administration. His law degree is from the Thomas Jefferson College of Law in San Diego.

County Tries on Compost Socks

The County is looking at an innovative way to control storm water runoff. It's eco-friendly, it's effective, and uses something that's usually thrown away. Recycling Program Coordinator Wayne Williams explains in this County Chronicles story.

County Landmark Celebrates 70 Years

County employee Kellie Barclay holds a faded photo of herself taken in front of the “Guardian of the Water” fountain, showing a four-year-old girl who has no idea that she will someday work in the historic building behind her.

View the photo gallery

“It’s amazing how it came full circle. I never thought I’d be working for the County or the Clerk of the Board,” said Barclay as she attended the monument’s 70^th anniversary celebration. {Watch it!}

She was joined by her mother, who took the photo more than 40 years ago after a trip to the County building to get her daughter’s immunizations, and dozens of others who gathered in front of the statue to mark its dedication on June 10, 1939.

Clerk of the Board of the Supervisors Thomas Pastuszka opened the ceremony, noting the changes that the 12-foot sculpture has seen as she’s looked out over the bay for seven decades, including the passing of military ships headed to conflicts, and later returning home safely.

He then ceremoniously turned on the fountain below the statue, as it was done at the original dedication. The water has been turned off since June 1 to comply with the city of San Diego’s level two drought alert.

Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Dianne Jacob was joined by Vice Chairwoman Pam Slater-Price and Supervisor Greg Cox, each one talking about the County’s efforts to conserve water and other natural resources, as well as what the public can do to reduce water use.

“The statue is an ever-present reminder of how precious this resource is,” said Jacob.

She noted that low-usage devices had been installed on toilets, faucets and showerheads at the County Administration Center, reducing water use at the building by 40 percent during the first four months of the year, compared to the same time period in 2008.

The event even sparked a little rivalry. While the 22-ton piece of granite for the sculpture came from Lakeside in Jacob’s district, Cox was quick to remind the crowd that “it may have come from District 2, but it’s in District 1 now!”

The Supervisors ended the ceremony by turning off the fountain, as the steel drum band from the Monarch School played “Happy Birthday” and cake was served.

For more information about the “Guardian of the Water” sculpture created by local artist Donal Hord, as well as the history of the County Administration Center, visit the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors.

Storm Spotters Needed

The County of San Diego is in the process of becoming certified as a StormReady County. This means that the County has taken steps to assure that when severe storms and storm-related disasters occur, the County will be prepared to respond to the event.

One of the requirements of the program is for the County to be actively engaged in soliciting for County workers to help be the eyes and ears of the National Weather Service so they can issue timely weather warnings. These people are called Storm Spotters.

Storm Spotters are volunteers who observe the weather in their town or workplace, and report their observations to the National Weather Service (NWS). Storm Spotters serve as the eyes and ears of the NWS on the ground and are important because the information they provide helps the NWS spot hazardous weather conditions and allows it to quickly issue severe weather warnings. The Storm Spotter program is a volunteer -- not a required -- County activity. Participation in the program will help the NWS to issue more timely warnings to county residents.

Storm Spotters are asked to report on:

   · Rainfall (amounts and intensity)

   · Flooding (location and depth)

   · High winds (30 mph or greater)

   · Fog (when visibility is near zero)

   · Any weather related damage

If you are interested in becoming a Storm Spotter, the County will be hosting one or more free Storm Spotter Training Classes put on by the NWS. If you are interested in participating, please contact Rand Allan with the Flood Control office at (858) 495-5557 or email him at rand.allan@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Once a sufficient number of people have show an interest in attending, Allan will contact Storm Spotter candidates with training dates and times. Additional information about the Storm Spotter program can be found here.