Don’t Miss Frighteningly Fun Flicks at Parks

This is no trick. Summer Movies in the Park continues with Halloween and Día de los Muertos films at parks across the county. They are sure to be a ghoulishly good time!  

Pack your own treats and bring along chairs or a blanket for the family. All movies are free and start 15 minutes after sunset. There is a $3 charge for parking at Flinn Springs and Otay Lakes County parks. 

This is the 14th year that County Parks and Recreation and sponsor cities have coordinated the event.  

• Oct. 22: Beetlejuice at Flinn Springs County Park in El Cajon

• Oct. 23: Hocus Pocus at Otay Lakes County Park in Chula Vista

• Oct. 23: Beetlejuice at Lindo Lake County Park in Lakeside

• Oct. 23: Monster University at Standley Community Park in University City

• Oct. 29: The Nightmare Before Christmas is virtual*

• Oct. 29: Goosebumps at Carmel Mountain Ranch Community Park in Carmel Mountain

• Oct. 29: Coco at Presidio Community Park in Old Town

• Oct. 30: Hocus Pocus at Waterfront Park in downtown San Diego

*Be sure to sign up for the virtual event ahead of time. A code will be emailed to you to participate! 

Find more fall events, including star parties, ranger led hikes and a Dia de los Muertos celebration at Guajome Adobe, in Parks’ October Program Guide. 

Share the Harvest—Submit Your Garden Photos

We’re well into harvest season, and we want you to see what you had growing this year. Share a picture of fruits, veggies, herbs or other foods you grew in a home or community garden.

A little celebration of your cultivation helps support the County’s sustainability goals. Planting your own food instead of buying it leads to reduced packaging waste reduced transportation emissions from fewer trips to the grocery store.

Another way to support the environment is eating seasonal produce. Eating seasonal produce means that you're more likely to be eating local produce from farms, gardens, and markets in your community - this also means that the food didn’t have to travel as far to get to your plate, leading to lower transportation emissions.

Gardens also promote sustainability by helping to alleviate the impacts of climate change, as plants are a natural filter where they take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through their process of photosynthesis.

On top of that, gardening is a great way to get outside, live an active lifestyle, and connect with nature.

Send a pic of your homegrown harvest to communications@sdcounty.ca.gov and we’ll share the bounty with employees!

Joycelyn Bernardo, Staff Accountant, grew bittermelon and eggplant.

Joycelyn Bernardo, Staff Accountant, grew long beans and tomatoes.

Michelle Mowad, Communications Specialist, grew cucumbers and jalapenos.

Christina Gall-Gonzalez, Supervising Human Services Specialist, is growing jalapenos, serrano peppers, yellow peppers, mint, peppermint, two kinds of grapes, tomatoes, cucumbers, blueberries, rosemary, basil, raspberries, nectarines, plums, apples, lemons, limes, avocados and oranges.

Liza Sarmiento, HHSA-Adoption, grew guava.

Florence M. Keitel, Protective Services Supervisor with Child Welfare Services, grew Cucumbers, Japanese eggplant, cherry tomatoes, Cherokee purple tomatoes and garden peach tomatoes.

Florence M. Keitel, Protective Services Supervisor with Child Welfare Services, grew Japanese eggplant, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, orange mini peppers and candy cane pepper.

Nancy Wickus, Senior Agricultural/Standards Inspector, grew apriums and blueberries.

Issa Quiogue, AIS Office Assistant, grew dragonfruit.

Liza Sarmiento, HHSA-Adoption, grew dragonfruit.

Liza Sarmiento, HHSA-Adoption, grew Calamansi.

Liza Sarmiento, HHSA-Adoption, grew Oranges.

Carey Riccitelli, Director of the Office of Strategy and Innovation, planted 27 different fruits and veggies this year.

Carey Riccitelli, Director of the Office of Strategy and Innovation, planted 27 different fruits and veggies this year.

Gwyn L Reed, Administrative Analyst I, Auditor and Controller, grew Zucchini, Carrots, Beets and Sugar Peas.

Laura A. Terry, Administrative Secretary II at Probation, grew peaches.

Gwyn L Reed, Administrative Analyst I, Auditor and Controller, grew Zucchini, Carrots, Beets and Sugar Peas.

Patricia Laffiton, Social Worker III, Office of Homeless Solutions, grew fruits, vegetables and flowers.

Patricia Laffiton, Social Worker III, Office of Homeless Solutions, grew fruits, vegetables and flowers.

Sharmin Ferdous, Library Technician, grows many plants.

Jescel Esteban, Environmental Health Specialist III, grew chilis, tomatoes, cucumber, moringa, hyacinth beans, Lavender and chili pepper.

Jescel Esteban, Environmental Health Specialist III, grew chilis, tomatoes, cucumber, moringa, hyacinth beans, Lavender and chili pepper.

TEgan Glasheen, Communications Manager, grew butternut squash.

Maria Victorio, Supervising Public Health Microbiologist, grew corn, roma and cherry tomatoes, poblano peppers, nopales and figs.

Sharmin Ferdous, Library Technician, grows many plants.

Sharmin Ferdous, Library Technician, grows many plants.

Yvette Urrea Moe, Communications Specialist, and her son grew carrots.

Justin Aquino, Senior Agricultural/Standars Inspector, is growing mangoes.

Anne Ulm, Supervising Office Assistant with Youth Development and Community Support Services, grew pears.

Kerri Matheson, Physical Therapy Consultant, grew tomatoes for canning.

Dario Lombardo, Agricultural Scientist, replaced half his front yard with lettuces.

Debbie Ordonez, Revenue & Budget Manager with HHSA, grew giant lemons from a dwarf lemon tree.

Yvette Urrea Moe, Communications Specialist, grew tomatoes and Jalapenos.

Know the Code: What Is PII?

By the Office of Ethics and Compliance

Know the Code is a monthly series highlighting different sections of the County of San Diego Code of Ethics. The mission of the Office of Ethics and Compliance (OEC) is to assist in fulfilling the County’s commitment to the highest standards of ethics and compliance. This month, in recognition of Cyber Security Awareness Month, we are highlighting the Code of Ethics requirements regarding protecting confidential information and some of the tools that are provided by the County to help educate staff and keep County data secure.

TechBlog – What is it, and is it for someone like you?

The County of San Diego strives to provide you with all the resources you need to be successful in your role serving our residents. 

Since handling County data is a component of all our roles, we want to ensure you have the knowledge and awareness necessary to successfully protect the data entrusted to us.  

In addition to policies on InSite, security awareness training modules in the Learning Management System, communications like OEC’s Know the Code microlearning “What is Personally Identifiable Information,” the County Technology Office highlights information security in their TechBlog.

Although it may sound like it, TechBlog is not just for techies. It is a resource for all County employees to learn about technology initiatives, review tips and tools to safeguard County of San Diego data and network infrastructure, learn about communication and training opportunities, and provide input and feedback.

• Stories in the TechBlog highlight the different ways you can protect your data and the County’s data and some of the common vulnerabilities for both.

• Monthly security awareness newsletters provide topics that are timely and of interest.

• Users may also submit department implemented new or emerging technologies to showcase on the TechBlog. The ideas should already be implemented or in production status.

Visit TechBlog

Also, check out the OEC webpage on InSite for information about upcoming Ethics & Compliance Program events, training and resources including monthly “Know the Code” articles and micro-training videos.

If you have questions about Ethics & Compliance training or how to access the training and other Ethics & Compliance resources, please contact the OEC team at oec@sdcounty.ca.gov or 619-531-5174. HHSA staff may also contact the dedicated HHSA Compliance and Privacy team at compliance.hhsa@sdcounty.ca.gov or 619-338-2807.

Celebrating Our County Pharmacy Team

The Board of Supervisors recognized the County’s pharmacy workers with a proclamation at Tuesday’s board meeting. The proclamation coincided with National Pharmacy Week, an annual celebration that acknowledges the invaluable contributions pharmacists and pharmacy technicians make to patient care in hospitals, ambulatory care clinics, and other health care settings.

As many other County divisions, the County’s pharmacy department stepped up its efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, working extended hours to ensure medications and COVID-19 vaccines are available to patients seven days a week. 

The County is grateful for its hardworking pharmacy team this week and every week!

Don’t Miss Benefits Open Enrollment

Time is running out! Open Enrollment ends Thursday, Oct. 21 at 5 p.m. If you have not already made your elections for 2022, enroll now!

Visit the Open Enrollment Website to learn What’s New with benefit plans and review the Open Enrollment Guide. Plus, there are FAQs and instructions to help guide you through the enrollment process.

Did you miss the Open Enrollment information fairs? You can watch them now.

If you have any questions, reach out to your Benefits Ambassador.

Don’t forget—if you want to waive medical coverage, you must do so in eBenefits/PeopleSoft by 5 p.m. Oct. 21.

CSDFEA Virtual Short Film & Book Discussion

It’s Filipino American History Month! CSDFEA is celebrating with an online discussion of the book “Letters to a Young Brown Girl” and the short film “Lolo.” Join us on Thursday, October 28, starting at 5:00 p.m..

Register to attend at Eventbrite - Letters to a Young Brown Girl. Online details will be sent out to registrants before the event date.

Open to County employees, family, and friends! For any questions/comments, please contact CSDFEA@sdcounty.ca.gov

Paint Night to honor Dia de los Muertos

Please join us for Paint Night to honor Dia de los Muertos, a cultural celebration of family, friends and love ones who have passed. Local artist Maira Meza will lead us in painting a traditional Dia de Los Muertos image.

The paint night event is a fundraiser for our scholarship program. Everyone is welcomed. Seats are limited. Please RSVP by emailing sdcla@sdcounty.ca.gov. We will send you info to make your ticket purchase. Each ticket is $35. Each guest will receive painting supplies, an art easel, painting instruction from our master artist and appetizers.

Our event will be held in the patio area of Cafeina Café located in City Heights. Coffee and non-caffeinated drinks will be available for purchase. Parking is limited to street parking. We highly encourage car pooling when available.

We look forward to seeing you at our fundraiser Paint Night Dia de los Muertos on Thursday, November 4, 2021 at 530pm @ Cafeina Café (4011 46th St. San Diego CA, 92105).

Again RSVP by email to sdcla@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Observing National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day

The County Administration Center was lit in pink and blue on Friday in support of National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.

Help CECO Raise Some Dough

Hey! “Donut” miss this sweet occasion! County Employees’ Charitable Organization is hosting a doughnut fundraiser, so you can get delicious doughnuts and help people in your community. Buy a dozen or two Krispy Kremes to support CECO and all proceeds will go back out to the community in the form of grants to local nonprofits or to support the Employee Crisis Fund.

Ordering is simple as one-two-three.

First submit your order. Use the QR code on the flyer below or this link to order. It is $11 for one dozen glazed doughnuts.

Two; make your payment. To pay with Venmo or PayPal, use the QR codes below. To pay with cash or check (made payable to CECO), interoffice your payment to Mail Stop A-47 Attn: Detra Williams, Dept: CECO.

Three - get your doughnuts and support your community! Supporters will be emailed a digital voucher the first week of November that can be redeemed anytime at any Krispy Kreme location.

Have a question, contact CECO at sdceco@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness

The County Administration Center was lit in pink Wednesday in recognition of National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day.