All rise for the National Anthem. Deputy Roland Garza sang "The Star Spangled Banner" at Petco Park on Friday during a special salute to first responders. The salute featured a thank you to San Diego Sheriff's Department for keeping the community safe. Have a listen.
Running Man Challenge - San Diego County Sheriff's Department from San Diego County Sheriff on Vimeo.
A Parks and Recreation activity for children participating in the Spring Valley REC Club made quite the splash this week. Children traveled to Mission Bay on Monday to try log rolling and made their way onto TV.
Watch the Fox 5 clip above.
Travel back to the 1970s for this Throwback Thursday find. In this black and white photo, children play on "Activity Hill" at San Dieguito County Park. Much has changed in the past 40 years, so enjoy this concrete slide down memory lane.
Share your old County department photos by emailing communications@sdcounty.ca.gov.
The last few weeks, we've all watched a seemingly non-stop rash of horrific, violent incidents unfold. As one has followed another, our hearts have grown heavier, swollen by a gamut of emotions.
Sorrow. Anger. Despair. Shock. Bewilderment.
You may be having any of those reactions or a mix. Most likely, you're feeling the impact of these events in a somewhat different way than I am. The same goes for the person next to you or any of your co-workers.
When we come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, as County employees do, we're going to perceive and feel things in a variety of ways. A violent event may touch you more deeply the more you can say, “that could have been me.” They’re all troubling, but attacks on police, the assault at a nightclub, the shootings of young black men, the massacre at a beach – each may strike us differently.
Having the understanding that reactions vary is the fundamental point of our commitment to diversity. Respecting each other's response and saying there is room for them all to exist here is what we mean by inclusion.
It's only by that inclusion that we can all stand as one. And while we each may have a unique view of events, we must stand united in opposition to violence. It is simply, without question, never the answer.
That was the message in one of the most moving displays of solidarity I've ever seen in San Diego. Law enforcement, government officials and community leaders came together in Balboa Park last week to denounce the recent wave of violence targeting police.
A good portion of our County family is law enforcement officers, and they deserve our wholehearted support. Sheriff Gore told the gathering how much it means to them to know they have the backing of those they're sworn to protect.
The expression of support at the rally was coupled with a pledge to work even harder at strengthening ties to the community. It's only by engaging with and listening to the people we serve that we can build the mutual trust and respect needed as a foundation for public safety. Having this kind of dialogue - understanding residents' perspectives and feelings, involving them in making strategy - is part of the Live Well Communities effort I talked about earlier this year. The recent events add gravity and urgency to that conversation.
That collaborative approach is at the heart of the Collective Impact concept that we embrace and promote. It's all about working with the community and numerous partners to achieve our goals.
The recent events prompted a few NBA players to open the ESPY awards with a powerful message. They too spoke against violence and the need to unite communities to bring about change. They ended with LeBron James saying, “We all have to do better.”
We do. I demand excellence from our organization, and receive it, but I also demand that we keep improving. We can be better partners, be more responsive to the people we serve. We can learn more from each other and work harder to ensure an inclusive culture that embraces our differences to build a united team of dedicated public servants, supportive of our public safety heroes and committed to ensuring our region is safe, healthy and thriving for all.
Adopt Fenway from the San Diego Region shelter. His ID number is A1687888.
Save a little dough taking care of Fido.
You can get discounts on pet supplies at local San Diego retailers such as Petco through PerkSpot. And if you’re looking for a furry friend, check out the available animals for adoption at the Department of Animal Services.
PerkSpot offers benefits and discounts to County employees through hundreds of service providers and retailers from movie theaters to florists and jewelers. Using PerkSpot is both easy and free! Simply go to SDCounty.PerkSpot.com and shop. If you are new, click on “Create an Account” to complete the registration process.
Each month, one of the most popular PerkSpot deals will be highlighted on InSite.
SouthEast Family Resource Center dressed up for Comic-Con in 2015.
With Comic-Con in town, it’s hard not to tap into your own inner superhero. Whether you are celebrating the annual pop culture and comic book convention by attending the event or just wearing your favorite Superman t-shirt, share your photos.
Email pics to communications@sdcounty.ca.gov.
All trails lead to your success. Sign up for Employee Wellness’ next health challenge—HealthTrails. This exciting eight-week program encourages individual and team participants to commit to their wellness by tracking their healthy habits.
HealthTrails is the new and improved Thrive Across America program, which has been offered in years past. However, this year’s program is about more than just moving along a trail. HealthTrails now includes four goals: improved fitness, stress management through meditation, enough sleep and volunteering. And you select your path—there are several virtual trails to choose from across the world, including Denmark’s West Coast Trail, or trails in Dubai and Florence, Italy. The program is completely customizable making it perfect for your preferences!
Participants log their activities to move themselves along a virtual trail. As trekkers progress along a map, they’ll see photos and vivid descriptions of that location as if they’re right there.
HealthTrails has a social aspect, too. Participants can comment on message boards online or through the app available in iTunes and Google Play, make plans with trailmates, cheer on fellow employees, and review healthy recipes.
Plus, participants can sync their FitBit to automatically log activities.
For more information and to register, visit cosd.healthtrails.com. The program starts August 1.
Employees requiring accommodation should email DHRWellness.FGG@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Happy trails to you!
Several County departments participated in Saturday’s Pride Parade in Hillcrest. Many marched in their law enforcement uniforms and others dressed up in the colors of the pride flag. An estimated 100,000 people attended the annual event.
San Diego County Libraries
San Diego County Sheriff's Department
San Diego County Sheriff's Department
San Diego County Office of the Public Defender
San Diego County Office of the Public Defender
San Diego County Probation Department
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, & Allies Association
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, & Allies AssociationChief Deputy County Counsel George Brewster has some advice for any of you aspiring comic-strip creators out there: Don’t do it for the money – or fame!
If the advice seems a bit gratuitous coming from a lawyer, you should know that the 28-year County employee has some well-rounded experience to back it up. He was the editorial cartoonist for his college’s weekly paper for four years and later for the San Diego Daily Transcript for 10 years!
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“My creative side kicked in when I was young. I was an early subscriber to Mad Magazine, and remain so, and would copy anything Mort Drucker drew for Mad. In high school, I took art classes and started drawing posters and illustrating for different publications,” Brewster said.
In college, the artistic Brewster studied journalism, but a careful look at the job market for newspapers had him changing courses. He was interested in working in first amendment matters, possibly as in-house counsel for a large newspaper. He ended up finding something that could still incorporate his love for storytelling.
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“Cartooning is a passion that I have and always will enjoy, but it is very difficult for a cartoonist to make an actual living at it,” he said. “Both cartooning and the law involve storytelling—in both you have to convey a message very quickly to your audience, or you will lose them. So I ended up in tort litigation, telling stories for a living, while keeping cartooning as my hobby.”
Of course, that “hobby” was nearly like a second job. Brewster drew four strips a week (in a series dubbed “Cheetum & Howe”) for the Transcript – a bit demanding for a man with a full-time job and family.
“This became too much with young kids, trial demands, so I cut it back to three a week,” the cartoonist said. “I drew upon my legal practice—things would come up in depositions, or in trial, or just around the workplace. I am amazed I did 1,200-plus strips! It just shows you what you can do when you have a passion for something.”
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With Comic-Con about to make its way back to San Diego, Brewster will once again sit up on a panel for Law & Comics, an event held by the County Law Library for the past seven years.
“I have been the moderator in all but one of the panels. John Atkins (director of the County Law Library) is very innovative. He called upon two lawyer cartoonists that he knew of—me and Stu Rees—and from there we have brought in other members of the cartooning/publishing community to round out the panel.“
Brewster has been active with the Law Library for over 20 years and sits on its Board of Directors. He is also a member and past president of the Law Library Justice Foundation. He said he enjoys meeting other people who work in comics – artists, writers and even publishers. The most interesting part of the Law & Comics panel, he says, is the Q&A.
“A very diverse audience turns out for these programs. As moderator, I have the freedom to improvise – and I generally find a way to fit in a ridiculous gag,” Brewster said. “I used to worry about the future of publications, but the comics industry is flourishing.”
He may not be tirelessly producing cartoons for publications any more, but for this lawyer, his love of comics continues on. Here are Brewster’s three pieces of advice for cartoonists:
If you want to go see Brewster on the “Law & Comic: Rise of the Independent” panel, RSVP for the free event online. It takes place at 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 19 at the San Diego Central Library downtown.
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