Lunch Honors Employees That Keep County Afloat

They keep the County afloat and Wednesday, 340 County administrative professionals took to the seas for a lunch honoring all they do.

The annual Administrative Professionals Luncheon was held aboard the Inspiration Hornblower; and as it circled the bay, the admins enjoyed a three-course meal, heard from guest speaker Richard Lederer and took part in a raffle for prizes.

Chief Information Officer Mikel Haas spoke to the group of admins with appreciation for all they do.

"You run this County," Haas said.

The event was put on by the Finance & General Government Group and headed by Committee Chair Leslie Albrecht.

Check out the slideshow above for photos from the event or view the gallery here.

Hiking Their Way to Friendships, Fulfillment

 Some members of the hiking club take a break for a photo on a recent outing at Daley Ranch in Escondido last month.

Sande Pence hadn’t been with the Department of Environmental Health long when she got to talking with a co-worker about one of her favorite topics: hiking.

Pence, a Supervising Environmental Health Specialist, has always been drawn to the outdoors. So had co-worker Brita Lum, then an Environmental Health Specialist. Both yearned to get back into the activity, after years of focusing more on other parts of life: marriage, children, careers. But they didn’t want to take the trails alone.

“We said how great it would be to have somebody to else to hike with,” Pence said.  

They agreed to go together sometime.

Nearly six years later, the duo continues to hit up the trails of San Diego County—and beyond—on a regular basis. Their passion has spread. Pence and Lum formed a hiking club and now dozens of current and former co-workers in DEH, Agriculture, Weights and Measures and the Department of Public Works join them on monthly hiking adventures. The group has hiked so many trails that they’ve started to double back and do the same ones a second time. They’ve done the well-trod trails at Torrey Pines State Reserve and Cowles Mountain, but then moved to more enterprising hikes like at Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve near Julian, the Cuyamaca and Laguna Mountains and the County’s Hellhole Canyon Preserve near Valley Center.

These aren’t just casual walks. While the tone is fun and casual, the group is serious about getting a good workout. Hikes usually run at least three to five miles, but some have gone a lot farther. A few years ago, a group even made it to the summit of Mt. Whitney, the tallest peak in the lower 48 states, in the Inyo National Forest.

Last month, about 10 hiking club members met at 8 a.m. on a Sunday morning at Daley Ranch in Escondido. Under hazy skies, they showed up in comfortable exercise clothes, some with hiking poles, maps and jugs of water. From there, the group hiked about seven miles, doing a big loop across the ranch’s beautiful, rocky green terrain.  

Their next hike will be at Rattlesnake Canyon in Poway on May 10.

Members of the club have ventured far beyond just hiking, into other types of exercise, too. They go on bike rides together, and some even participate in a triathlon together once a year.

This all adds up to a lot of calories burned. And in some cases, dramatic health improvements.

“We’ve seen people’s bodies and health transform,” said Mary Lou White, a member of the group and a Rural Generalist for DEH. The group has helped inspire one member with diabetes to get out and exercise.

A combination of exercise and better eating have helped Pence to lose 50 pounds since she co-founded the group. She got so into bicycling that she now rides her bike to work every day from her home in Escondido to the DEH office in San Marcos. The changes have pushed down her blood pressure and cholesterol, and she is no longer at risk for diabetes or high blood pressure like before.

“I think for me anyways, having motivation and support from people who have similar interests helps me stay, on track and stay focused,” Pence said. “I think it is part of my success.”  

Lum, who left her position at DEH in 2010 to focus on caring for her children, said it was her love and appreciation for nature that initially drew her to hiking. The friendships she has formed with others who share that same enthusiasm has been the biggest benefit.

When you’ve hiked “endless miles” with a person you get to know “all the little things about them,” she said.
And “it is incredibly therapeutic talking to people who may be struggling with the same issues that you have or have had in the past,” she said. “Not only is it good for your physical health but your mental health as well.”

Lum, who is training for a marathon now, said after she and Pence finish a big hiking trip together, “we literally feel like the mountain has washed us clean. It’s the best feeling ever!”

There’s a quote by the iconic naturalist John Muir that perfectly sums up what Pence said draws her to the outdoors and what inspired her and Lum to set off on hikes in the first place. It’s from Muir’s 1918 book, “Steep Trails,” a collection of his writings about traveling the American West: “But in every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks.”

For more information, or to join the hiking club, contact Sande Pence at Sande.Pence@sdcounty.ca.gov.

A view from the hiking club's most recent outing at Daley Ranch in Escondido last month.

March of Dimes: Blazing Trails for Babies

Whether you plan to walk in the March for Babies 5K at Balboa Park this Saturday, donate to a participating co-worker or organize a fundraiser, your support of the March of Dimes makes a huge difference.

But do you know about the nonprofit’s trailblazing history? Are you familiar with where your donations go?

The 76-year-old organization has a long and distinguished record of working to improve the health of mothers and babies--and being at the forefront in doing so. Turns out, the March of Dimes has funded some of the biggest medical advances of the 20^th and 21^st centuries. Research it helped fund has been recognized with 13 Nobel Prizes.

County employees are again participating this year in the March of Dimes' biggest annual fundraiser, the March for Babies. This Saturday, the organization will hold its second local 5K walk of the year at Balboa Park, starting at 8 a.m. Another 5K walk took place April 12 in Oceanside. When it began in 1970, the event was the first charitable walk held in the U.S. To register for one of the events or make a donation to your group’s team, visit the March for Babies page on InSite.

Founded by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1938, the March of Dimes' original mission was to end the polio epidemic. With that goal achieved by the 1950s, the nonprofit’s focus shifted to discovering the genetic causes of birth defects. It also worked to promote newborn screenings and educate medical staffs and the public on healthy pregnancies. The March of Dimes supported research for surfactant therapy to treat newborn’s respiratory problems, helped initiate a system of regional neonatal intensive care for premature and sick babies and helped dramatically reduce birth defects by encouraging mothers-to-be to take folic acid.

In recent years, the March of Dimes has focused on preventing the increasing problem of premature births. It launched a multi-year campaign to raise awareness and research the causes. According to the March of Dimes website, the rate of premature births in the U.S. has risen by 36 percent over the past 25 years. Each year, more than half a million babies are born too soon.

Each year in San Diego and Imperial Counties, nearly 8,900 pregnant women receive late or no prenatal care. Of the 47,910 babies born, more than 9 percent are born pre-term.

In an effort to prevent such premature births, the March of Dimes funds research to look for its causes. The organization also supports legislation to improve care for moms and babies.

Among the nonprofit’s initiatives making a difference locally:

• A three-year grant totaling almost $150,000 called the Scripps Mercy Family Practice Residency Program aimed at improving perinatal care for underserved women in the San Diego border region. The grant helps provide education and clinical services to pregnant Latina women in South County.
• Funding for three research grants at UC San Diego and the Salk Institute that total $813,000.
• A $6,875 award to three organizations that focus on professional education and bereavement support for newborn intensive care unit families.

For more information or to participate, visit the March of Dimes page on InSite.

10 Plants to Perk Up Your Workspace

For many of us, working in a small space indoors can get a little… gray. But a couple experts have some plants and tips for County employees that can help perk up your workspace and make it a little more colorful.

Master Gardeners Laura Starr and Lisa Rini offered a list of plants that fare well indoors. They both note that no plant will do well indefinitely in an office environment, due to the lack of natural light and fresh air. But there are steps you can take to ensure the plants live as best as they can.

There is no Countywide policy regarding having plants at your desk, but be aware a department or site may have guidelines about bringing in something green.

Aside from making things more aesthetically pleasing, Starr said some of the plants below have been shown to clean the air. All are inexpensive and pretty easy to get.

1. Sansevieria

2. Dracaena

3. Golden Pothos

4. Bromeliad

5., Spider Plant

6. African Violet

7. Anthurium

8. Chrysanthemum

9. Phalaeonopsis Orchid

10. Peace Lily

Master Gardener Office Plant Tips:

• All-things H2O: NEVER let a plant sit in water. Always have a drainage hole in the container to avoid overwatering. Rini said plants should be watered one time per week. Moisture meters can be purchased for about $6-$10 and can help you decide if your plant is thirsty or not. And remember, water only! No dumping soda or coffee into your plants.
• Don’t over-fertilize: You need to follow your plant’s label carefully to ensure the plant doesn’t get burned by the fertilizer. There are many online articles that can offer up recommendations for fertilizer.
• Scrub them down: Wash down the leaves periodically to rid the plants of dust and dead leaves.
• Let there be light: The fluorescent lights in an office should provide enough light for these plants, but if possible, set the plant near a window.
• Regulating temps: Air conditioning and heat can be drying to plants, especially the flowers, so make sure your plant is not placed directly in front of a vent.
• Check for pests: Check your plant carefully every week and note any changes — webs, sticky substances, ants and insects. If the problem cannot be easily groomed off of the plant, it may be best to replace the plant.

If a plant is starting to decline, rotate it out of the office and into an outside, shaded garden. When it starts to flourish again, move it back onto your desk and repeat as needed.

Sounds like too much work?  There’s no shame in simply replacing the plants periodically (especially if you like flowering plants).

The Master Gardener program is overseen by the UC Cooperative Extension, which staffs the County’s Farm and Home Advisor Department. If you have questions about your office plant, please feel free to contact the Master Gardener hotline at 858-822-6910.

Probation Employee Group Serves Families of Sick Kids

Some 20 members of the Asian Islander Probation Association recently prepared and served a free lunch for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House of San Diego.

The association served 150 family members at the “home away from home” for people whose children are receiving care in nearby hospitals for life-threatening illnesses.

“We have been working with the Ronald McDonald House for the last six or seven years. We enjoy talking with the families,” said association president Rosa Pagala, a retired probation officer. “We don’t tell them we’re probation officers, we just want to help these families who are going through a really, really tough time.”

Serving families at Ronald McDonald House of San Diego is the employee group’s signature event; they volunteer there on an annual basis, she said.

“The gratitude expressed to the volunteers made it a worthwhile event,” said member Irene Lilly, supervising probation officer. “They were very appreciative.”

The Asian Islander Probation Association (AIPA) was started 12 years ago and has increased cultural awareness throughout the Probation Department through its strong commitment to professional development and community service.  AIPA often partners with the Probation Department during the Juvenile Hall Open House and through the VIP Golf Tournament.  In addition, AIPA cooperates with the Probation Officers Association (POA) by assisting them with their annual summer picnic.

To learn more about the Asian Islanders Probation Association, contact Pagala at  rosapagala@hotmail.com.

Still Committed to Safety: Distracted Driving

Still Committed to Safety: Distracted Driving

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month and the County is reminding employees how they can be better drivers by getting rid of the distractions

Watch the video above to find out where you can take a free, defensive driving course.

Be a Part of History – Volunteer at the Waterfront Park’s Grand Opening

After more than 100 years, the dream for a waterfront park is finally becoming a reality. The grand opening celebration is taking place Saturday, May 10 outside the County Administration Center and volunteers are needed to help make this historic event a success.

Plans are in the works for a huge celebration with live music, a classic car show, farmer’s market, food truck pavilion, a sports zone with inflatable games, kids zone and more.  

If you’d like to help or know of any civic groups that would like to help mark this day in history, there are plenty of volunteer opportunities. The day-long party starts with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. but volunteers will be needed for three-hour shifts starting from the early morning hours until 7 p.m.

Help is needed at the stage, the kids and sports zones, and a beer and wine garden. Volunteers are also needed for the setup and breakdown of various booths, clean-up duty and crowd control. Each volunteer will receive a T-shirt commemorating the grand opening. Bragging rights for taking part in one of the County’s most momentous events are already a given!

Ready to pitch in? The countdown is on, so contact Volunteer Coordinator Cheryl Wegner as soon as you can at (858) 966-1335 or email her at cheryl.wegner@sdcounty.ca.gov.

[Recipe] Final Four Strawberry Spinach Salad

Sure, strawberries came out on top during Munch Madness, but the final four were so compatible, we thought it made perfect sense to combine them all for one healthy dish.

The ingredients are simple and cheap, so gather these up, toss it together and get munching!

Strawberry Spinach Salad with Almonds and Multi-grain Croutons (Serves 4)

What You Need

• 10-ounces fresh spinach
• 1 quart fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
• ¼ cup almonds, roasted and chopped
• 4 thick slices of stale or two-day old multi grain bread, cut into cubes
• ¼ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO), plus a tablespoon for the croutons
• 1 ½ Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
• 2 Tbsp. grainy mustard
• Salt and pepper, to taste

What You Do

1. In a large, heavy-bottomed skillet, drizzle the tablespoon of EVOO and heat over medium heat until the oil is shiny. Add the cubed, stale multi-grain bread and toss, adding salt and pepper to taste. Cook until golden brown.
2. In small mixing bowl, whisk together the ¼ cup of EVOO, balsamic vinegar and mustard until emulsified (the mustard will combine the olive oil and vinegar so they don't separate). Add salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside.
3. In a large glass bowl, toss together the spinach, strawberries and almonds. Drizzle the dressing over and toss to coat.
4. Serve on individual plates and top with croutons.

Add-ons

• Add crumbled feta cheese for a salty kick
• Reduce the balsamic vinegar with lemon juice and drizzle over the salad for a sweeter dressing
• Add a tablespoon of poppy seeds to the dressing mixture
• Toss the croutons with garlic salt or season salt
• Add goat cheese for texture and richness

Printable version of this recipe

Making it Easier to Learn at the County

You may not recognize it.

Almost everything about the County’s Learning Management System (LMS) just changed.

Launched this morning, the overhauled site looks more inviting and is a lot easier to use.

Those were two of the main goals in redesigning the site over the past few months, said Ciara Webb, a Senior Human Resources Analyst with the Department of Human Resources’ Employee Development division.

Check out the introductory video above on the newly redesigned site.

Webb said that in the past, employees have gone to the LMS because they needed to complete some type of training.

“Our goal is for employees to want to go into the LMS,” she said.

Among the aims of the site is to offer employees a broader range of resources and to even help change the way we approach learning.

“We’re focusing a lot more on opportunities for continuous learning,” Webb said.

A colorful geometric shaped graphic at the top of the new homepage will feature timely announcements and tips, inspirational quotes about learning, and other features.

Employees can also browse for classes or trainings by subject matter using a redesigned catalog. For example, you can search for “computer skills” or “supervisors” to find related opportunities.

So, take a look at the new LMS!

Blood and Bone Marrow Donors Needed!

Assistant CAO Don Steuer gives blood at the CAC Blood Drive April 2.

Saving a life can be as simple as setting aside an hour or less out of your day.

The 30th Annual County Employees Blood Drive kicked off this morning at the County Administration Center. The event, which this year also includes a Be The Match marrow registry drive, will make 12 stops at County offices throughout the month of April.

Your first chance to donate is today—until 3:30 p.m. in the CAC’s Bayside Rooms 1 & 2. If you’re interested, just stop by. Appointments are encouraged but not required. For details on when and where the drives will take place, visit the County Employee Blood Drive Web page and scroll to the bottom.

Donating blood takes about an hour and the drives are open to employees and the general public. No appointment is necessary to join the Be The Match registry, and the process takes just five to 10 minutes. The nonprofit is seeking donors between the ages of 18 and 44. This registry benefits patients fighting more than 70 different diseases including blood cancers or sickle cell anemia.

County employee Greg Murphy donates blood at the CAC Blood Drive on April 2.The County’s blood drive is one of the largest and most important in the region each year, said San Diego Blood Bank CEO David Wellis. Only two drives are bigger—the Chargers and the Comic-Con blood drives.

The donations allow hospitals to maintain a supply of blood that is so critically needed, Wells said.  
“There’s always a need,” he said.

For more information on the marrow registry, contact Shelley Baker at Be The Match at 714-296-8479 (cell) or sbaker@nmdp.org or visit the organization’s website. For more information about the blood drive or to sign up, visit the County Employee Blood Drive Web page, the San Diego Blood Bank website or call 1-800-MY-4SDBB (469-7322).