Local Boy Scouts Help Ready New Ramona Library

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Boy Scout Scotty Barber and his fellow Scouts are working hard to make sure Old Glory is flying in front of the new Ramona Library when it opens next month.

Scotty’s Eagle Scout project is to install the flagpole in front of the new Main Street library. The nearly 21,000 square-foot community center is almost ready to welcome patrons, with a ribbon cutting scheduled for Feb. 15.

 With that deadline approaching, Scotty and other Scouts from Ramona Troop 130 devoted Saturday to constructing the flagpole’s base. They dug into the ground, shaped a form for the foundation and reinforced it, then poured and finished the concrete. The Scouts plan to return Saturday, Jan. 15, to set the flagpole.

Quick Thinking HHSA Employees Protect Child From Harm

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Quick action by Human Service Specialist Veasna Ngan, left, and Protective Social Worker Brian Piepenbrink ensured the safe return of a child from Washington whose parents were fleeing authorities there and were suspected of abusing him.

On November 2nd, Veasna Ngan, a Human Service Specialist from the Central Region Cal Works General Task Group, was processing a referral for Food Stamps for a family who had just relocated to San Diego from Washington State. The family consisted of two parents and their 18 month old son. Like many families who come to the FRC for assistance, this family was in need of housing support and food stamps. After the HOT team assisted the family with temporary shelter, Ngan began processing their application for food stamps.

Following protocol, Ngan first called Washington State to ensure that the family was not receiving other government assistance. In doing so, he came across information that the couple’s child was registered in as a missing child. Because the Cal Works General Task Group and Child Welfare Services (CWS) are located together, Ngan was able to immediately contact CWS Supervisor Jaime Pineda for assistance. Upon further research, CWS learned that the Washington  Juvenile Court had issued a pick up and detain order for the child due to abuse and neglect; however, the parents had fled with him and CWS in Washington had lost contact with the family.

Thanks to the quick thinking by Ngan and collaboration with Protective Service Worker Brian Piepenbrink, the child was located and taken into protective custody within 24 hours. He was safely returned to Washington after spending the night at Polinsky Children’s Center. The child welfare worker in Washington was relieved to see the child and said “You don’t know how worried I’ve been about this little guy and how relieved I am to know that he’s okay.”

Computer and Technology Training for Older Adults

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Don’t let those technology gifts you received from well-meaning younger relatives stay in boxes this year:  pull them out, plug them in and tune in to a computer class or other technology training programs available for older adults.  Once you become familiar with some of these products, you’ll see how they can make your life easier and more enjoyable. 

The new Technology & Aging Coalition of San Diego County can help you learn where to go for classes. The web site – www.AgeTechSD.org -- provides a listing of many technology education options that are available. There is also a list of computer clubs for older adults.

If you know of other great learning opportunities that you would like added to the list, be sure to let us know and we’ll include those on the list.

The goal of the Technology & Aging Coalition is to encourage older adults to explore the many technology products and services available to them. The group was formed after the County’s Aging Summit on Technology last June and is working to increase technology education as well as work with technology developers to create products with the older adult in mind.

The coalition’s steering committee includes representatives from the County’s Health & Human Services Agency, the San Diego Futures Foundation, San Diego Continuing Education, AARP, Access to Independence and Aldea Communications, a consulting business on technology products for older adults.

For more information about the Technology & Aging Coalition of San Diego County and to see listings of classes and computer clubs, visit www.AgeTechSD.org, and look under “Resources.”