Halloween Festivities Draw Near

The hour is drawing near for The Haunted Plaza for County employees, and the clock is ticking for you to enter contests for the Halloween festivities.

All employees are invited to attend the Haunted Plaza at the County Operations Center on October 31. From 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., a transformed Commons will host a spooktacular array of attractions. Uncover clues as you follow the trick-or-treat trail of Uncle Schmedley’s Final Farewell, and you’ll wind up with a grab bag of wellness goods.

Or get more chances at prizes by joining games such as a scary face contest; a Monster Mash dance; a “candywalk” (very much like a cakewalk); guessing numbers of candies in jars; and a “mummy wrap” with rolls of tissue paper.

And prizes will be awarded to the winners of various contests.  

• Cubicle Decorating Contest. The deadline for this has been extended until Monday, October 28 at noon. Email a picture of your spooky workspace, and it will be added to a slideshow on InSite. A Halloween committee will choose five finalists for best overall decoration. All employees will be able to vote for the winner via an InSite poll. The committee will also award prizes for cutest, funniest, most creative and scariest cubicles. See more in contest rules

There are two contests that will be judged at the COC during The Haunted Plaza. But if you want to compete, you need to register before the event by emailing the contacts listed below by Wednesday, October 30 at noon. There are a limited number of entries for each contest, and the submissions will be taken by first received.

• Pumpkin Carving. Pre-carved pumpkins will be judged in two categories: freestyle and pattern, with 25 submissions each. Awards will be given to the top three in each category. See more in contest rules

• Register: Freestyle Pattern

• Costumes. The judges for this one will be the County’s top executives: CAO, ACAO, and the Group General Managers. There are five categories to enter, and 10 submissions per category. The judges will also choose one Best Overall from the five categories. See more in contest rules

• Register for one of the following: Cutest Funniest Most Creative Scariest Best Group (for Best Group, please coordinate with your group to make sure there is only one submission per group)

(A cake decorating contest has been cancelled)

Pictures of winners will be posted to InSite following the event.

Get Swabbed and Save a Life!

Employees swab samples for the marrow registry during a drive at the COC in August.

It’s easy.

All you have to do is get your mouth swabbed. That’s the first step to saving a life.

The nonprofit Be The Match will hold a bone marrow drive Tuesday, Oct. 29 at the County Administration Center in downtown San Diego in search of potential donors for its national registry. Using that, it matches donors to patients suffering from diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma or sickle cell anemia and in need of bone marrow transplants. The samples collected will help the nonprofit expand the registry.

Test whether you may be able to help at the upcoming event, which will be held between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on the first floor of the CAC, located at 1600 Pacific Highway.

No appointments are necessary. Both County employees and the public are invited. Donors must be between the ages of 18 and 44.

For more information on the bone marrow drive, or to make a donation or get involved, contact Shelley Baker at Be The Match at (714)296-8479 (cell) or sbaker@nmdp.org.  You can also visit the organization’s website.  

Open Enrollment to Close Soon

It’s time to move Open Enrollment up on your to-do list!

You’ve got a week left to make any benefits changes or stash away more money into a health savings account.

Open enrollment ends Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 11:59 p.m. The benefits you select will become effective Jan. 1, 2014 and last through the calendar year 2014.

Open Enrollment is optional except for a few cases. If you participate in the Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), you need to re-enroll in benefits each year. Or, if you are waiving the County’s health insurance coverage but are covered by a qualified high deductible plan, it’s time to take action! You will need to make changes manually. Contact the Benefits department at (888) 550-2203 or by email at dhrbenefits.fgg@sdcounty.ca.gov.

As always, if you want to change your health insurance plan or put more money in a health savings account, you can also do so during this Open Enrollment period.

Otherwise, if you are happy with your current benefits and don’t need to make any changes, no actions are necessary. Your 2013 designations will automatically roll over into 2014.

The County’s 2014 benefits line-up contained only minor changes. Those include:

• Employees can contribute more to their Health Savings Accounts (HSA). Maximum contribution levels have increased to $3,300 per year for an individual or $6,550 for an employee +1 or more. Employees who are 55 years or older can contribute an additional $1,000 per year.
• The monthly cost for an HSA account has dropped from $3.50 to $2.75 for accounts with a balance of less than $5,000.
• Anthem Blue Cross will replace CVS Caremark as the pharmacy vendor for Anthem Blue Cross traditional plans (non-high deductible plans), starting Jan. 1, 2014. All Anthem Blue Cross traditional plan members will receive a new medical card in the mail that can be used at doctors’ offices and pharmacies.
• Most employees received a 5 percent flex credit increase for 2014. For employees in bargaining units AE, CL, FS, HS, MM, PR, PS, RN, SS, CM or CR, flex credits will increase 5 percent plus an additional 2.5 percent.
• Some monthly premiums will increase while others will stay the same or drop. Premium increases for County medical plans are the most modest in recent years. Plans with rising premiums include Anthem Blue Cross’ Full Access, Select and PPO Plans and Kaiser Permanente’s Traditional HMO and High Deductible plans. Premiums for Anthem Blue Cross High Deductible Plan will remain the same. Meanwhile, premiums for the County’s VSP Vision and United Concordia DHMO and PPO Dental Plans will decline.

For more information, visit the County’s Human Resources Open Enrollment website or call the Benefits office at (888) 550-2203 or by email at dhrbenefits.fgg@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Building Better Futures Together in North County

Taking a community-wide look at protecting residents by reducing crime was the focus of the Building Better Futures conference in Vista Thursday.  More than 160 residents, law enforcement officials, educators and community organizations joined County Supervisors Dave Roberts and Bill Horn for an in-depth look at gangs in North County, and strategies for promoting school and community safety in the region.

The conference was hosted by the North County Gang Commission, the San Diego County Office of Education and the County in support of Live Well San Diego, the County's ongoing initiative to improve the health and safety of residents.

The journey out of gangs: ex-gang members (from left) Jorge Rodriguez, Agner Medrano and Marilyn Fernandez share their stories and their current gang intervention work with Victory Outreach.

Deputies, Parks and Pancakes?

Teenagers and Sheriff’s deputies: you can bet one doesn’t want to get in trouble with the other. But if there’s anything that will bring the two together, it’s breakfast.

In a first for County Parks and the Sheriff’s Department, the two are offering a free pancake breakfast Saturday to teenagers in the teen program at Park’s Spring Valley Community Center. Their families are also invited with the idea they can all meet the deputies and get a better understanding of their role in the community. Most of the deputies who will be chowing down with the teenagers work out of the Lemon Grove substation near Spring Valley.  

By working together, the two County departments strive to improve our communities. They plan to make the pancake breakfast an annual event at the Community Center.  

Celebrate Living Well Tuesday

Residents are invited to get a close-up look at what the County and its partners are doing to support health and safety in the region at the Live Well in Action fair on Tuesday, Oct. 22.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the County Administration Center, 1600 Pacific Highway (East Plaza). What’s in store?

Blood pressure and depression screenings? Check.
Yoga and zumba sessions? Check
Healthy cooking demonstrations? Check.
Worm bins for composting? Check.

The fair will celebrate Live Well San Diego, the County’s ongoing initiative to improve health and safety of residents in the region. In the spirit of Live Well San Diego and due to limited parking, visitors are encouraged to walk, ride a bike or use public transportation to come to the fair. The event is free and open to the public.

“People can check their ‘mood’ and their blood pressure completely free,” said Chairman Greg Cox, County Board of Supervisors. “The fair is also a great opportunity for the public to learn about Live Well San Diego and how they can get involved.  Everyone is welcome!”

The first 100 people to arrive will receive a calorie-counting jump rope. Visitors will also be able to meet representatives of County departments and community organizations that have signed on as Live Well San Diego partners.

“Live Well San Diego is a collective effort that involves local residents, healthcare providers, cities, community organizations, schools, businesses and many other partners,” said Nick Macchione, director of the County Health and Human Services Agency.  “By working together, we can achieve meaningful change and improve the lives of San Diego County residents.”

Treat Yourself, and Local Charities!

Dinner for two at Stone Brewing Company. An iPad. A tour of San Diego Central Jail and lunch with Sheriff Bill Gore.

These are just a few of the dozens of items that will be up for bid starting Monday as part of a silent auction for County employees. The best part? All sale proceeds will go to an important cause: charities supported by San Diego County Employees’ Charitable Organization (CECO). The non-profit organization gives donations from County of San Diego, Superior Court employees and retirees to local non-profit agencies and employees in crisis.

“Every single dime we raise will go to CECO funds,” said Mike Davis, a Senior Emergency Services Coordinator with OES who is co-organizing the event.

During lunch breaks, you can check out photos of the items and place bids by emailing: sdceco@sdcounty.ca.gov. Or, you can get a look at the items in person between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday at the County Operations Center campus in 5560 Overland Ave., Room 172 in San Diego. The auction wraps up at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

As part of its first-ever silent auction, CECO will offer more than 60 items donated by County employees. They range from tours of County facilities such as the County Medical Examiner’s Office or two adult passes to the San Diego Zoo or Safari Park to a limited edition 50th Anniversary San Diego Chargers laser-printed football. Also included is a dinner for two worth up to $50 at one of the Stone Brewing Co. World Bistro and Gardens, a white iPad 2 and a tour of the San Diego Central jail and lunch with the Sheriff. Full list of items up for bid.

CECO contributions make a big difference in the community. In 2012, the organization distributed $269,614 in donations to nearly 100 agencies. The money bought a laptop for the Regional Task Force on the Homeless, food and bowls for Meals on Wheels San Diego, medical gloves for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and many other items. For more information, check out the organization’s 2013 campaign video.

So, you can feel a little less guilty about pulling out your credit card—at least to make these purchases. Thanks in advance!

ShakeOut, Don’t FreakOut!

Heads up that it’s almost time to cover your heads, while taking shelter under your desks or nearby tables.

Today at 10:17 a.m. more than 826,000 San Diego County residents and 9.5 million Californians will be taking part in the Great ShakeOut earthquake drill. Earthquake experts recommend the Drop, Cover and Hold on technique to keep safe. That means, when the ground starts shaking, people drop to the floor, scoot under a desk or sturdy table, use one arm to cover their heads even more and the other arm to hold onto the furniture so that it doesn’t shake away and leave your head uncovered.

If no table or desk is nearby, move quickly to an interior wall away from windows, glass panels or mirrors, heavy furniture and overhead fixtures, slide down and cover your head.

If outside, find a clear area away from overheads utility lines, buildings, trees and bridges and sit down and cover your head.

It only takes a few minutes and it’s good to practice what to do in an earthquake, so the response becomes automatic and overrides fearful instincts. Learn more about preparedness at www.ReadySanDiego.org and www.ShakeOut.org.

Lending a Helping Hand

They spend their workweeks happily helping customers from behind counters, their office desks or out in the field.

So it’s no surprise that a bunch of Planning & Development Services (PDS) folks jumped at the chance to spend a little extra time on a recent hot Saturday morning to help a couple of special customers — two disabled veterans who are having custom homes built for them by the Homes for Our Troops program.

PDS Deputy Director Clay Westling, plans examiner Mario Aguinaga, permit processor Carol Gordon, land use technician Lea Gordon, engineering technician Dagmara Pine, administrative analyst Sue Spotts and Deputy Fire Marshal James Pine from the San Diego County Fire Authority were among nearly 200 volunteers from all around San Diego who gathered to landscape the homes in Rancho San Diego.

Together, they hauled and laid sod, dug holes, planted hundreds of trees and shrubs and groundcover, and even put in some irrigation.

“Honestly, it went very quick,” Westling said. “We did two houses in just a few hours.” 

The morning landscaping wasn’t the only part of the Homes for Our Troops project that went pretty quick.

Because the project is in the unincorporated County, the contractor handling the work needed to submit the project’s plans and permit requests to PDS. Westling said the department immediately recognized it as a worthy cause and worked hard to speed up the plan-check process, getting the work done in three days.

And, Westling said, when the contractor called to see if anyone from PDS wanted to take part in the volunteer day the group was only too happy to help.

One of the highlights was getting the chance to work side-by-side with the two veterans whom Westling said had “sacrificed so much for the rest of us.”

Marine Cpl. Travis Greene and Army Sgt. Odin Ayala both lost their legs to bombs, Greene in Iraq and Ayala in Afghanistan. But that didn’t stop either of them from joining in the work at the event, loading sod on their wheelchairs and carrying it out to volunteers.

Homes for Our Troops is a national nonprofit that has been building free, customized homes since it was created in 2004 to help veterans who have been severely disabled in combat actions since 2001. The homes include features for people in wheelchairs, such as ramps, raised electrical outlets and lowered counters and sinks.

Westling said the mass volunteer landscaping event, which drew media coverage, was hard work, but also very gratifying.

“We really enjoyed doing it,” he said. “It was really good team-building and the staff loved it. Sue (Spotts) even brought her daughters, Kyrstin and Kaitlyn. It was fun!”

Editor's Note:
Here's a link to the story the UT San Diego wrote about the volunteer day.  And here's a link to see more pictures from the event!

County Employee Pitches in During Colo. Flooding Crisis

The expanse of water you see here is all the result of flooding and covers normally dry land. This picture was taken from the property of Jan Mazone's family.Jan Mazone’s roots run deep in Colorado. The Deputy Human Resources Director grew up near Denver and graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She often visits her family in the area.

Growing up, Mazone remembers plenty of rain and snowfall, and even some flooding. But she had never seen anything like the devastating floods that spread chaos and ruin there just a few weeks ago.

“It was very sad,” she said. “It was sad to see the destruction.”

Mazone had planned to spend a week vacationing in Colorado and South Dakota last month relaxing, sightseeing and riding motorcycles with her 89-year-old father.

But as her Sept. 21 departure date got closer, the flooding in her home state worsened. By the time she went to catch her plane, she couldn’t even reach her father—who lives alone--by telephone.

She never hesitated to go, though. She wanted to be there to help. And that’s exactly what she did. Mazone spent her vacation bailing water and mud out of the homes of family and friends, comforting her young grandnephew, and making sandwiches for National Guardsmen deployed to the disaster.

“I was busy,” Mazone said.

According to an NPR story this week, parts of the state are still recovering from what was the worst flooding to hit it in decades. Eight people were killed and the damage will cost hundreds of millions to repair.

For a few days, Mazone was one of 14 people staying at her sister’s suburban Denver home. In addition to her sister, brother in law, nieces and grandnephew, three additional families who lived down the street and had to evacuate stayed at the home.

That home was one of the relatively lucky ones, with about a foot of flooding in its basement.

Once the water had receded some from their neighbor’s homes, Mazone helped pump out water and remove damaged carpet and other possessions.

Jan Mazone and her grandnephew.Mazone spent a lot of time focusing on her grandnephew through the ordeal. He was scared, so Mazone tried to focus the nervous energy in productive ways. 

The idea came to her in the middle of the night. With a National Guard staging area nearby, why not team up with her grandnephew and prepare sandwiches to donate to these men working so hard to rescue trapped residents?

And so, each day the two of them would assemble dozens of sandwiches--peanut butter, baloney and ham--and hand-deliver them to National Guardsmen getting off 24-hour long shifts.

They were so sweet to her grandnephew, Mazone said.

Within half a day of arriving in Colorado, she was able to reach her father by phone too. She visited him a few times that week. His home escaped major damage, though many homes nearby had not.

Mazone is grateful that her family is OK, and that she could be there during such a trying time.

The experience reinforced in her mind the insignificance of material objects.  

“Things don’t matter,” she said. “It’s the people that matter.”