With all of San Diego, we mourn the loss of Padre great Tony Gwynn. The prominent baseball player, affectionately known as "Mr. Padre," was honored by the County back in 2007 in a very grand way.
On July 25, 2007, a giant replica of Gwynn’s 1984 Padres jersey was unveiled on the bayside tower of the County Administration Center to honor his Hall of Fame induction.
Share your memories and words of remembrance for Tony in the comments below.
It’s only a month old, but the Waterfront Park at the County Administration Center has already attracted quite the crowds. From kids to parents, workout enthusiasts and sunbathers, “San Diego’s Front Porch” has something to offer for everyone. And most recently, the new park has become a stage.
Brian Grams visits the south side of the Waterfront Park nearly every morning to practice his flute and saxophone, putting on a morning show for early risers.
“I told myself three years ago that I was going to try to play every day for a year,” Grams said. “I did that, and then said I’d try for another year. I’m now on my third year.”
The English teacher, who also teaches music at the San Diego Youth Symphony, works just two blocks away, but was unaware of the new park until a friend mentioned it to him.
“He told me to go play by the waterfront, and I thought I’d go on the pier. Then I saw [the Waterfront Park] and thought it was the perfect place to play!” Grams said. “It’s so cool and pretty empty in the morning. And no one complained!”
In fact, the musician, who’s been playing for about 30 years, said he’s gotten only praise by County employees who happen to walk by in the morning when he’s filling the air with notes.
“I’ve been getting pretty positive feedback,” he said.
Grams, who played free jazz in Berlin at one point, can be found most mornings in the Waterfront Park with his two instruments at the picnic tables near the playground on the south side from 7-8 a.m.
Have you heard Grams play on the way into work? Would you ever bring your musical instrument to the park to treat strangers? Tell us in the comments below!
June 12 was officially proclaimed as Philippine Independence Day in San Diego by Supervisor Greg Cox during an hour-long celebration held at the County Administration Center.
The Philippine Independence Day event, hosted by the County of San Diego Filipino-American Employees' Association (CSDFEA), included performances by Manila Ice of both the American and Filipino national anthems; tinikling by the Philippine American Youth Organization (PAYO); and an inspirational speech by Chef Johnny Itliong, son of Larry Itliong, who was a prominent figure in the mid-sixties during the Delano Grape Strike.
Four scholarships, totaling $2,500, were given out to high school and college students for showing excellence in leadership and learning. The awards were officially renamed by CSDFEA to the Larry Itliong Scholarship Awards.
CSDFEA presented their new logo at the ceremony, which features the sun from the Philippine flag and blue waves, representing San Diego's surf and beach culture.
Mabuhay!
Forget about being in the top 20. Now General Services’ Fleet Management Division is the fourth most leading fleet in the nation according to Government Fleet Magazine. Just two years ago, the County fleet ranked in the top 100 at 78. Last year, it leapfrogged to 17. Now the fleets ranking one, two and three better look out. Our fleet is at number four and revving up to take the lead.
The award program recognizes ‘operations that are performing at a high level, particularly in fleet leadership, competitiveness and efficiency, planning for the future, and overcoming challenges.’
Fleet Manager Sharyl Blackington credits her staff for the award.
“Our dedicated workforce and all of their hard work over the past five years led us to this point,” said Blackington. “We always strive to be number one in everything we do.”
The award was announced Wednesday at the Government Fleet Expo and Conference which took place at the San Diego Convention Center this year. As part of the conference, County Fleet Services offered to host a tour of its operations and more than 130 fleet professionals took part. They checked out the newly remodeled fleet center at the County Operations Center featuring a modernized training facility and new vehicle servicing equipment.
Fleet Management has a staff of 56 and operates a fleet of nearly 4,000 vehicles and mobile equipment including fire apparatus, law enforcement vehicles, snow plows and lawn mowers as well as cars, trucks and vans.
The County of San Diego hosted its first Live Well San Diego Young Master Chef Competition recently, featuring 16 youth from the County’s contracted group homes. The kids participated in the final round of the contest on May 30 at Polinsky Children’s Center. The contest was judged by the County of San Diego’s Child Welfare Services Director Debra Zanders-Willis, Health and Human Services Agency Director Nick Macchione and Assistant Chief Administer Officer Donald Steuer.
The Young Master Chef competition was comprised of multiple components and aimed at motivating a cook off within the group homes to select a finalist from each group home to compete in the meal presentation portion of the contest. Group homes could also select an additional finalist to prepare and present a healthy dessert option with less than 200 calories to accompany the healthy meal submission.
Youth arrived at Polinsky Children’s Center with their submissions prepared and ready for plating. The center’s renowned Chef Isa aided them in the task and when the plates were deemed ready, volunteers brought the contestants to a waiting line just steps away from the presentation area. A few battled last-minute nerves, while others eagerly awaited the challenge ahead of them. Serving their creations to the judges’ panel was the culmination of months of preparation.
The “cheftestants” entries ranged from “a new spin on a family favorite Chicken Adobo” to finding inspiration to make something healthy and new like “Domos Zesty Granola Bars.” The winning meal was presented by Rossy, whose Healthy Stir Fry was a big hit with the judges. And Marco’s Peach Sherbet satisfied every sweet tooth in the house, while still being a little guilt free. In total there were four top prizes that included Kindle Fire HD’s, Beats by Dre headphones and $100 Gift Cards from Sports Authority. Every “Cheftestant” left with a Live Well San Diego Young Master Chef apron, prize bag that included various gift cards and sports equipment and some fun Live Well San Diego favors. The prizes were provided by the County’s ILS unit, Polinsky Children’s Center and Promises2kids.
The youth were excited to show off their culinary talents during the contest. They also benefitted from education about nutritional guidelines for healthy meal preparation, grocery shopping skills, portion size and measurement awareness, reading and following recipes, cooking times and plate presentation.
“The young finalists had so much fun participating in the contest,” said José Gonzalez, Protective Services Worker with the County’s Health and Human Services Agency. “They were really creative in their plate presentations, and we were honored to acknowledge their talents and encourage them to explore healthier lifestyles.”
The “cheftestants” expressed how much fun they had and were happy to participate in a contest just for them.
“It was exciting to see their faces go from nervous to proud when the judges tried their food and enjoyed it,” said Senior Protective Services Worker, Jenifer Black. “They were also happy to be able to keep the aprons and that everyone got a prize!"
The youth demonstrated great sportsmanship throughout the competition as well.
“It was impressive how supportive the children were of each other before presenting their dishes,” said Protective Services Worker. Andrea Hernandez. “They were encouraging and wishing each a ‘good luck’ behind the scenes.”
The County consistently explores opportunities to enrich the lives of children and youth and promote opportunities for their success. Healthy food choices and physical activity are important focal points when crafting needs and services plans for youth in out-of-home placement. The group homes under contract with the County of San Diego support youth in developing and maintaining healthy lifestyles. Contractors work with community partners to remove barriers inhibiting youth from participating on sport teams and other extracurricular activities promoting physical and mental health and provide nutrition education and healthy "kid friendly" food choices.
Adorable kittens beTWEEN the ages of 4 and 7 seven weeks are now getting a good start thanks to County employees and other volunteers. They’re acting as foster parents until the furry felines are old enough to be put up for adoption. So far, more than 180 Tweenies have come into the shelters, and many are finding temporary homes with our colleagues.
Foster parents make all the difference to these little ones. They’re usually the first to be adopted because they’re used to being around people. The tiny balls of fur are playful and friendly, and adopters like to see those characteristics in a new kitten.
Meet some of the County employees who are volunteering their time to foster these little guys and if you’re a Tweenie foster, please feel free to send your own feline photo to Communications@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Like most locals, you were likely glued to wildfire coverage on TV last week, and you may have missed a salute to firefighters on the "Price is Right," which aired Friday, May 16. Some of San Diego County’s firefighters and emergency dispatchers answered the call to “Come on Down,” and came away with thousands of dollars in prizes.
To watch the full episode, click on this link. Otherwise, keep reading to get the scoop.
Who among these San Diego Sheriff, San Diego Police and Escondido Police, and California Highway Patrol dispatchers won the biggest prize package on the show? Sheriff’s lead dispatcher Ann McCorkell, that’s who! She nabbed a trip for two for 7 days, 6 nights at a bed and breakfast in Tuscany, Italy worth more than $12,000!
“It’s a trip of a lifetime,” said McCorkell, who plans to take her daughter, who will turn 21 in the fall. McCorkell has been a dispatcher for nearly 19 years.
Every year, dispatchers arrange a bus trip to the Price is Right show, and they are on a winning streak. So far, someone from the group has been called up for a chance to play on each trip, said McCorkell. She never imagined she’d hear the announcer yell out her name this time around.
And, she had good reason to be skeptical. This was her second time playing on the show and her second win! She played in 2003 with Bob Barker and won a $72,000 showcase that included a big screen television, 10 1-pound gold bars, $10,000 cash, and two Chrysler Sebring convertibles.
When Barker was in charge, his rule was no one can go on the show again after a win. But, that rule changed to a 10-year wait when Drew Carey came on as host. She waited 11 years, and she told the show’s pre-screener all this, so she assumed they would not choose her again.
So, why did she get called? She guesses it was her energy and enthusiasm during the pre-screen interview.
Another winner on the show was Palomar Volunteer Fire Chief Clifford Kellogg, who has been a firefighter for 17 years, 11 years with Palomar. He was one of the first four contestants called and he won three wristwatches worth approximately $500.
Kellogg had been asked to coordinate the bus trip up for the San Diego County Fire Authority Volunteer Program. He admitted he is not a regular viewer of the show, so he never expected to be called up and he felt a little lost.
“I lost the dice game so I didn’t win the car,” Kellogg said. “All in all, it was a very interesting experience.”
But that’s not all; it turns out everyone in the audience won a two night stay at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas. Furthermore, after the show taping stops, the show does a few more giveaways with the audience. San Diego County Probation Officer Dionne Murphy won $100 cash.
You may remember another San Diego County volunteer firefighter won big on the Price is Right during last year’s Salute to Firefighters show: Joe Pellegrini, 22, who was then assigned to rural fire stations, won an iPad, iPad mini and a new car. He gave the Honda Civic LX to his mother as a belated surprise Mother’s Day gift.
RELATED: Volunteer Firefighter Wins Big on Game Show
Thanks for reading this and don’t forget to get your pets spayed and neutered and help control the pet population.
It may be San Diego's front porch, but for some County employees, the Waterfront Park is also their workplace.
Check out photos from your colleagues from the Grand Opening on May 10 and send in your own snapshots to communications@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Greg Murphy was one of hundreds of County employees who donated blood last month as part of the 30th Annual County Employees Blood Drive.
Employees donated far more blood during this year’s 30th Annual County Employees Blood Drive than last year’s, giving a total of 341 pints. That easily tops last year’s total of 288 pints.
In addition, 43 people registered for the Be The Match marrow registry, which benefits patients fighting more than 70 different diseases, including blood cancers or sickle cell anemia.
The drive made a total of 12 stops at County offices throughout the month of April. It is one of the largest and most important in the region each year, according to the San Diego Blood Bank. The donations allow hospitals to keep a critically needed supply of blood.
Many first-time donors showed up at the County’s drive this year, said Juan Olmeda, a Communicable Disease Investigator/Border Health Assistant and leukemia survivor who helps organize the blood and marrow drives at the County. Of the 397 potential blood donors who came forward, 111 were first timers.
There’s yet another chance to donate blood this Saturday at the Waterfront Park Grand Opening. The San Diego Blood Bank’s Bloodmobile will be available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. along Harbor Drive near Ash Street at the County Administration Center. Appointments are recommended but walk-ins are welcome. To sign up or for more information, visit the San Diego Blood Bank website or call 1-800-MY-4SDBB (469-7322). The County also keeps an Employee Blood Drive Web page.
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