“Our popular ‘Movies in the Park’ series offers free box office hit movies and fun activities for the public at our terrific County parks,” said Brian Albright, Director of County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation.

The series, which started June 4, features 29 movies at local parks and pools and is the largest free movie event in San Diego County.

 “Movies in the Park” takes a brief intermission after this weekend but resumes on July 16 with a showing of “The Tooth Fairy” at Spring Valley Park. Future listings include: “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel,” “Avatar,” “How To Train Your Dragon,” and “The Blind Side.” The movies will be presented in high-quality on 28-foot inflatable widescreens designed for large audiences.

Just prior to showtime, families can enjoy karaoke challenges, games, contests and music. Audience members are reminded to bring their own chairs, blankets and refreshments.

The movies are free and open to the public. Showtimes start at dusk. Some locations have a parking fee. For a complete list of dates and locations for the “Movies in the Park” series, visit sdmoviesinthepark.com.

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Looking for something closer? Then check out this month’s featured park, Dos Picos. Located in the Ramona area, this park is sheltered by steep, boulder-strewn mountain slopes, and is designed to highlight the ancient oak groves that will surely make your stay here memorable.

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Earthquake Preparedness: Lessons Learned from Haiti and California

The Community Preparedness Webinar Series is conducted in DHS’s HSIN Connect system. You do not need to register in advance, nor do you need a HSIN account in order to view our webinars. Audio for this webinar will be broadcast within HSIN Connect; there will not be a concurrent, phone-based teleconference. Questions and answers will be moderated via text-based chat inside the webinar. In order to ensure that your computer is capable of viewing our webinars and webcasts, we highly recommend that you read the below documents and perform the compatibility test prior to the start of the event. In addition, please ensure your computer’s speakers are working prior to the webinar. If for any reason you have trouble accessing the system, please send an email to citizencorps@dhs.gov.

Accommodations for Those with Special Needs

If you need special accommodations or require additional assistance to view or listen to this webinar, please email us at citizencorps@dhs.gov no later than 5pm EST on Tuesday, February 16th and we will provide you with additional resources so you may participate.

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More than $4.3 million is going to local programs that help homeless individuals find shelter and deal with challenges such as mental illness, disabilities and domestic violence.

The County Department of Housing and Community Development applied for the funds from the Supportive Housing Program of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD.  The County identified the greatest needs in the community by working with local governments and nonprofit agencies.

The money will go to programs in the unincorporated areas and local cities, except for the City of San Diego, which applies for its own funds.  This regional effort has resulted in close to $150 million in federal homeless funding in the county over the past 15 years.

This year’s award includes renewal funding for 25 existing projects throughout the County sponsored by a variety of agencies that provide services including job training, health care, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment and child care.  Grants are awarded competitively to local programs that provide transitional and permanent housing services for homeless persons and families.

This year’s recipients include: Alpha Project, one project; City of Oceanside, one project; Community Housing Works, three projects; Community Resource Center, one project; County Department of Housing and Community Development, two projects; Crisis House, two projects; Mental Health Systems, three projects; North County Interfaith Council, four projects; North County Solutions for Change, one project; Regional Task Force on the Homeless, two projects; South Bay Community Services, three projects; Vietnam Veterans of San Diego, one project; Volunteers of America, one project.

The County is awaiting HUD’s review of one new project sponsored by Mental Health Systems, which would use the money to help provide long-term housing and support services to homeless people in the North County who are chronically homeless and disabled.  HUD is expected to award funds to new projects nationwide early this year.

A complete list of local recipients is on the following page.  For more information about homeless resources, visit the Housing and Community Development Web site.

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The 5.8 magnitude earthquake centered in Guadalupe Victoria, Mexico today just before 11 a.m. serves as a good reminder to San Diego County residents to be prepared for natural disasters.

Fortunately, there was no damage reported as a result of the earthquake, but it may have left you feeling uncertain about what to do if the big one hits.

“As we were reminded today, earthquakes can occur at any time, so we need to be ready to respond in the event of a true emergency by having a Family Disaster Plan, practicing earthquake responses, and having an emergency kit ready to go in your home and vehicle,” said Ron Lane, Director of the County Office of Emergency Services.

To learn more about how to prepare for an earthquake at home and work, or to download a copy of a Family Disaster Plan (PDF), get a list of items to include in your emergency kits, and learn about earthquake preparedness, visit the Family section of ReadySanDiego.org. You can also learn more about securing your home by clicking on the earthquake logo and going to the “More Earthquake info” link.

Residents can also register their cell phones on the ReadySanDiego site for AlertSanDiego, the County’s emergency notification system to receive emergency information or instructions during an emergency.

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The County Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA) is offering “Senior Expo: Protect Yourself & Your Wallet” sessions to help older adults protect themselves from both physical and financial attacks.

“Violence and financial crimes against seniors are heart-wrenching and have no place in our community,” said Chairwoman Dianne Jacob, San Diego County Board of Supervisors. “With these tough economic times, physical and financial attacks may happen more frequently and the County feels it’s important to give our seniors the tools necessary to protect themselves.”

‘The Expo sessions feature Mary Davis, a 70-year-old, third-degree black belt in Karate, who will talk about ways to avoid physical attacks and demonstrate techniques to use when an assault occurs. Speakers from the HHSA Adult Protective Services and the District Attorney’s office will address ways to avoid scams, fraud and other financial abuse. Participants will receive helpful materials to take home, and a no-cost lunch.

The Senior Expo is coordinated by HHSA’s Aging & Independence Services in partnership with the San Diego District Attorney’s office and the County Library. Funding is provided by the Barona and Sycuan tribal governments.

Events are held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Early registration is recommended; space is limited.

•Jan. 11 (Monday) – County Library, Lemon Grove Branch, 8073 Broadway, Lemon Grove
•Feb. 25 (Thursday) – Bayside Community Center, 2202 Comstock St., Linda Vista
•March 24 (Wednesday) — Valley Center Branch Library, 29200 Cole Grade Rd., Valley Center
Reservations are required; call (800) 510-2020 and press “4” when you hear the menu. Leave your name, phone number and the date or location of the event you wish to attend.

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People could be making unhealthy mistakes when they cook, according to the results of an online survey done by the County Department of Environmental Health.

“Our department keeps the public healthy by monitoring local restaurants and food retailers, and we wanted to know if people are using safe practices in their own kitchens. We discovered a few common mistakes that people should keep in mind, especially as they get ready to cook during the holidays,” said Gary Erbeck, Director of the Department of Environmental Health.

One mistake: tasting cookie or cake batter. Almost 25 percent of those surveyed admitted to this bad habit. Eating raw, partially cooked or unpasteurized products can make you sick, and it’s especially risky for kids, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.

Other unhealthy habits: More than 60 percent of people didn’t promptly store leftovers in the refrigerator, and about 35 percent didn’t verify the internal temperature of meat with a thermometer.

Health officials say simple tips will keep you and your guests healthy.

• Thaw your turkey properly: Thaw a frozen turkey in the refrigerator, placing it in a tray in its original wrapper. Allow approximately 24 hours per four to five pounds of turkey. You can also thaw a turkey by submerging it in cold water and changing the water every 30 minutes. Allow about 30 minutes of defrosting time per pound of turkey.
• If you’re buying a fresh turkey, purchase it one to two days before cooking.
• Thoroughly clean and disinfect cooking surfaces, countertops and utensils.
• Cook turkey at a minimum oven temperature of 325 degrees, and use a meat thermometer to make sure it has an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees.

For more food safety information:

Department of Environmental Health Food Publications

FoodSafety.gov

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A continued drought, 500,000 acres of aged unburned brush throughout the County, and cutbacks in fire service have put us all on high alert.  Beginning Saturday, July 25, from one end of the County to the other, 400,000 “Before The Threat” DVD prevention and preparedness packages will be delivered door-to-door in the County’s high-risk urban interface areas.

Teams of first responders from 55 fire agencies and as many as 3,000 volunteers will rally at Qualcomm Stadium Saturday before fanning out to neighborhoods to deliver the packages. 

“The fires of 2003 and 2007 will never allow us to forget the importance of a well-prepared, well-educated community,” said Augie Ghio, President of the San Diego County Fire Chiefs Association. “After reviewing the Before The Threat preparedness package, residents will have a better understanding of what to do before, during and after a wildfire.”

This first-time regional effort is made possible through a $200,000 grant from the Farmers Insurance Group.

“Farmers Insurance is proud to be a supporter of the San Diego County Office of Emergency Services and the San Diego County Fire Chiefs Association,” said Steve Feely, Farmers Senior Vice President of State Operations and a San Diego resident. “We know this program will save lives and property in San Diego County and working together, we can all make a difference.”

Campaign organizers plan to have the packages delivered by early August.

“The County urges residents to take the time to view the DVD and accompanying materials and then make a plan to get prepared before the next big wildfire,” said Ron Lane, Director of the Office of Emergency Services. “A fire‐prepared region starts at the individual level and builds to the community level.”

Volunteer San Diego is also joining the partnership by helping to organize the massive number of volunteers this project will depend on.  County residents interested in donating their time to the effort should contact their local fire agency or Volunteer San Diego.

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The San Diego County Sheriff’s Senior Volunteer Patrol program is designed to draw upon the experience of senior citizens from our community. The men and women participating in the program provide valuable assistance to existing staff as it strives to increase the quality of life in the community.
 
 Among the services available at no cost to residents of the department’s contract cities and surrounding unincorporated areas are:
 
 HOME VACATION CHECKS
 A senior volunteer will check your home regularly while you are away on vacation, providing you with peace of mind knowing that your home is being checked by trained personnel.
 
 YOU ARE NOT ALONE
 The department’s YANA (“You Are Not Alone”) program ensures a weekly personal visit from a Volunteer Patrol team plus a daily telephone call to disabled or home-bound senior citizens living by themselves.
 
 ABANDONED VEHICLE ABATEMENT
 These programs are conducted by the Senior Volunteer Patrol. Contact your local Sheriff’s station’s Senior Volunteer Patrol to help rid your neighborhood of vehicles that have not been moved for some time.
 
 ALZHEIMER’S DIRECTORY
 A Alzheimer’s directory is maintained at each San Diego Sheriff’s station. A senior volunteer will come to your residence and take a photograph and description of your loved one. The log book is strictly confidential but will assist law enforcement personnel to identify and return the citizen to their home if they wander and become disoriented.
 
 CHILD ID FINGERPRINT & ID CARD
 A senior volunteer will visit your school, church or Scout organization to fingerprint youngsters from toddler to 15 with parental permission. The prints and ID cards will be given to each family.
 
 For more information about any of these free services, call or visit your local San Diego County Sheriff’s station.

 Learn how to join the San Diego County Sheriff’s Senior Volunteer Patrol

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