CECO/United Way Campaign a Success

The County Employees Charitable Organization (CECO) and United Way would like to extend their thanks and appreciation to all County of San Diego and Superior Court employees who contributed to making the 2010 Campaign a tremendous success! This year, we are projected to raise about $330,000 for the local community and employees in crisis.

Your generosity is truly inspiring and continues to be evident each year during the joint CECO/United Way campaign. For the past several years, these two charities have run their campaign jointly to maximize employee outreach and contributions to local non-profit organizations. In addition, the campaigns are the perfect complement to one another. Contributions to the United Way fund programs’ ongoing operational costs and creation of new local programs, while CECO contributions fund programs’ tangible items and provide one-time emergency assistance to County of San Diego and Superior Court employees and retirees in crisis.

To learn more about the programs and organizations County employee CECO and United Way donations have supported in the local region, please visit their web sites (CECO, United Way). And, to hear testimonial from County CECO volunteers and grant recipients view the CECO YouTube Video.

Thank you for your continued support.



County Health Wellness Screenings

Have you been meaning to get your blood pressure checked? Want to know your Body Mass Index? Maybe you're wondering why you've been feeling sluggish lately and if it could be related to depression.

Many of us are busy with work, family and friends and often don't take the time to stop and get regular health screenings. The County recognizes the importance of preventative health screenings and are brining them to a location near you!

You can get your blood sugar and cholesterol screened, blood pressure checked, height and weight measured, Body Mass Index calculated and get screened for depression at the March wellness screenings.

Please call 619-641-4194 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. to make an appointment. They highly recommend you schedule a time to come in, but walk-ins will be accomodated.

Here is the schedule of March Wellness Screenings. All screenings are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday, March 7

County Administration Center, 1600 Pacific Highway, South parking lot

Wednesday, March 9

County Operations - Annex, 5201 Ruffin Road, West - lower parking lot

Tuesday, March 15

North County Regional Center, 325 S. Melrose Drive, Vista, South parking lot

Friday, March 18

East County Regional Center, 250 E. Main Street, El Cajon, Back parking lot (off Park Ave.)

Monday, March 21

HHSA - Rosecrans Complex, 3851 Rosecrans, Right side parking lot area

Wednesday, March 23

HHSA - South Region, 690 Oxford St., Chula Vista, West side parking lot area

Monday, March 28

County Administration Center, 1600 Pacific Highway, South parking lot

Tuesday, March 29

Duffy Administration Center, 9621 Ridgehaven Court, Front parking lot area

Solar Panels Top Off New County Operations Center

The massive field of SDG&E-owned solar arrays atop the new County Operations Center parking garage will provide clean and renewable energy to the community, producing enough power for 107 households a year.

COC Shuttle Service for Commuters

On February 14th a Shuttle Bus began service between downtown San Diego and the County Operation Center (COC) in Kearny Mesa.

The shuttle will pick up twice each morning at One America Plaza Trolley Station which serves as a hub for trolley, Coaster and other public transportation riders.  It will deliver County employees directly to the COC campus without interim stops or transfers.  In the afternoon the service will return riders to One America Plaza for their commute home.

Between the morning and afternoon commutes, the shuttle will make multiple trips between the COC and CAC.  On return trips the shuttle will stop at the Administration Center (CAC) at 1600 Pacific Highway.

The shuttle is FREE to County employees.  If you would like to participate, please email leonard.gonzales@sdcounty.ca.gov and indicate the shuttle time.  Also, please email if you are interested in extending Shuttle Bus services to the COC Annex.

You can find the shuttle schedule by clicking here.

2011 Contribution Limits for the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan

We begin each year by making solemn New Year resolutions. Want to get fighting fit? Or kick a bad habit? Make a New Year resolution. The tricky part is sticking to these resolutions. The stricter the New Year resolutions, the tougher it is to hang on to them. Now is a great time to make commitment that is easy to keep; a commitment to your financial future.

Are you maximizing the retirement savings options available to you through the 457 deferred compensation plan? In 2011 plan participants can contribute up to $16,500 in pretax dollars to their 457 account. Participants who are age 50 or older are eligible for a catch-up provision which allows them to contribute an additional $5,500, for a total of $22,000 in 2011. Although you are automatically eligible for the catch-up provision if you are 50 or older, you will need increase your contributions to utilize the higher limit. Payroll deductions will stop automatically once you hit the annual limit.

To increase your contributions, sign up for an account review, or learn more about retirement planning call the local Nationwide office at 858-569-0295 and ask to speak to a Retirement Specialist.

New Energy-Efficient Ramona Library Opens Its Doors

Members of the public joined County Supervisor Dianne Jacob and County officials Tuesday to celebrate the grand opening of the new Ramona Library, a solar-panel-crowned building in the center of town destined to become a cherished hub of culture and community.

"This beautiful new library is the start of a thrilling new chapter for Ramona," said Supervisor Jacob, who represents the people of Ramona on the Board of Supervisors. "The hard work and collaboration between the community and the County have finally turned the dream of a new library into a reality," Jacob said.

Over 21,000 square feet — and four times as big as the old building — the Tuscan and Southwestern-style Ramona Community Library is an inviting sanctuary with cozy lounge seating and a fireplace. With special spaces including a teen area, a children's space and read-aloud room, community meeting rooms, a homework and tutoring center, and a Poet's Patio for live performances, the library will serve diverse patrons.

"We're so excited to open this rich community center for learning, working and meaningful entertainment in the middle of Ramona," County Library Director José Aponte said.

Public-use computers and free wireless service provide library visitors internet access. Automated checkout stations make it easy to borrow one of the San Diego County Library system's 33 million books, DVDs and CDs.

A model of green building, the new library is expected to become the only library in the County to achieve Gold LEED certification, an international standard for sustainable design. Three solar panels on the roof cover some 5,000 square feet and will produce about 20 percent of the energy the library needs. Inside, patrons can track the library's energy consumption and production on a digital display.

C.W. Driver, Ferguson Pape Baldwin Architects, and Manuel Oncina Architects were the library's design-build team. The project cost about $11.6 million, with $966,000 contributed by the Friends of the Ramona Library.

Animal control officer’s tracking dog passing every test

County animal control Officer Robin Sellers is spending countless off-duty hours helping her German Shepherd Panzer follow his nose. Her goal is to have a pet who’s also a skilled tracking dog making a difference in the community.

Sellers and her 6-year-old canine are proving an elite team. On Feb. 2, Panzer completed a difficult rural tracking course in what may have been record time, earning the American Kennel Club’s rating of “Tracking Dog, Excellent.” Sellers said only about 10 percent of the dogs who attempt it actually earn the title.

 The challenge at Hollenbeck Canyon Wildlife Preserve in Jamul required dogs to follow the scent of a person who hours earlier had walked a winding path on varied terrain that included a muddy creek bed and tall, dry weeds. To confuse the dogs, a few other humans had walked across the fading scent trail. The course was 805 yards long with five turns. Panzer collected four items including a pillowcase and a slipper that showed he followed the course.

With Sellers holding Panzer’s leash and offering encouragement along the way, the dog found the right path with undaunted purpose.

“Every time he comes to a turn you can watch him and his head will come up, and he’ll scent the air, and he’ll make a decision, depending on the wind or weather conditions,” Sellers said. “I’m just the dope on the end of the rope.”

It took Panzer just 8 minutes to finish the course.

“One of the judges said she has never judged a dog who tracked that fast and he may have set a record,” Sellers said.

In March, Panzer will try for the Kennel Club’s top rating, Champion Tracking Dog. In this difficult test at UCSD, Panzer will have to follow a single human scent across terrain that’s been polluted by hundreds or thousands of students.

But Sellers said Panzer’s ready. She’s been working with him intensively to prepare, and he’s already shown he can follow a single person’s scent on the UCSD campus, she said.

If Panzer becomes a Champion Tracking Dog, he’ll be ready to test for FEMA certification, which would qualify him to assist in emergencies nationwide.

 The FEMA certification would also prove Panzer’s ready to volunteer with the County, and Sellers said the dog’s training has always been with the goal of making a difference here.

 In fact, the Medical Examiner’s Office may have a tough but important volunteer position for Sellers and Panzer: helping recover the bodies of people who have died in remote locations.

“My ultimate goal, should I be lucky enough to obtain it, is to help people find closure,” Sellers said.

Up to $1,000 free money may be yours

The federal government wants you to invest for retirement so it’s giving you an incentive – The Saver’s Tax Credit. The income tax credit helps low and moderate income taxpayers save for retirement by reducing their federal tax bills by up to $1,000. If you qualify, the Saver’s Tax Credit gives you a credit on your federal income tax return – just for investing for retirement through your 457 and/or 401(a) plan.

The Saver’s Tax Credit is real money in your pocket, because it is subtracted from what you owe in taxes. Even if it’s more than what you owe, you keep the difference. So if you owe $400 in federal taxes, but you are eligible for a tax credit of $1,000, the federal government will give you $600!

Your eligibility depends on your filing status and your modified adjusted gross income.

This chart helps you find out if you qualify for the Saver's Tax Credit in 2011.

Filing Status/Adjusted Gross Income for 2011

Amount of Credit	Joint	Head of Household	Single/Others
50% of up to the first $2,000 deferred in your retirement account(s)	$0 to $34,000	$0 to $25,500	$0 to $17,000
20% of first $2,000 deferred	$34,001 to $36,500	$25,501 to $27,375	$17,001 to $18,250
10% of first $2,000 deferred	$36,501 to $56,500	$27,376 to $42,375	$18,251 to $28,250

So, for example, if you are single, make about $15,000 a year and invest $2,000 in your 457 and/or 401(a) plan, you may be eligible for a tax credit of $1,000. Or, if you defer only $1,000 for retirement, you would still get a $500 tax credit.

Now that’s free money! Want to learn more about this or other ways to make your retirement dreams come true?  Talk to your Nationwide Retirement Solutions Retirement Specialist at (858) 569-0295 to make an appointment or 1-888-DC4-LIFE (324-5433) from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pacific Standard Time to speak with a specialist over the phone. 

Environmental Health Protects Our Beaches

Ride along with the Dept. of Environmental Health as they test our ocean water so you can enjoy the beach.

Healthy Works Program Aims to Prevent Childhood Obesity

San Diego County officials and various community partners launched the Healthy Works initiative to combat childhood obesity today in Balboa Park.  

The Healthy Works program will be funded by a $16 million two-year grant to reduce chronic disease by promoting physical activity, nutrition, and a healthy school environment.  

“The need for this program is great. Obesity has become a national threat. It’s an epidemic. Right here in San Diego County, more than half of all adults and sadly, one in three middle school students, are overweight or obese,” said San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency Director Nick Macchione. “In order to affect change, we must try to ensure that all levels in our community support healthy choices. Government, businesses, neighborhoods, families and individuals all play a role in this effort.”

The initiative involves business and community partners who are taking various approaches to meet this goal, said County Supervisor Pam Slater-Price, the chair of the Healthy Works Leadership Team.

“We are excited about the systems and environmental changes that people are already beginning to see in their communities,” said County Supervisor Ron Roberts.

Some of the projects include planting community gardens, starting safe bike-to- school and work programs, introducing locally grown fruit and vegetables and better nutritional choices in schools, and offering more physical education at schools.

Community partners include: UCSD, the San Diego County Office of Education, the San Diego Association of Governments, Community Health Improvement Partners, and San Diego State University.

On Wednesday, Roosevelt Middle School students participated in a bicycle safety demonstration, which is part of a project to create safe routes to school and encourage physical activity.

San Diego County received the largest grant award in the nation from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The program is a component of the County’s “Live Well, San Diego! Building Better Health” initiative.