Employees Encourage Others to 'Love Your Brain'

June was Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month. To help bring awareness to the cause, some employees set up a variety of activities to encourage brain health. The following was submitted by employees of the North Central Family Resource Center.

Since June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness month, the NCe Live Well Committee went “purple” to support and honor our relatives and/or friends who have been affected by the cause.

NCE Live Well Committee constructed a wall in a common walking area that included some facts about Alzheimer’s from ALZ.org and we laid out cards for people to complete to show why they went purple for Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness.

We also had North Central FRC complete mental workouts in order to “love your brain” by completing a crossword puzzle from for a chance to win a prize and just challenge themselves!

“Did you Know?!” fact sheets were also sent to the office that included sources from alz.org on what type of foods to eat to boost your brain health and tips and information on “10 Ways to Love Your Brain.” This also included how to achieve key lifestyle habits not only for your brain, but for your overall wellbeing.

We are very proud of this project and learned a lot about brain health!

Audacious! Employee Treks 222-mile Trail in 7 Days

Eric Gerhardt had let himself down. He was falling behind in one of his goals: to hike the John Muir Trail straight through in just one week without re-stocking on his supplies.

To the average person, this goal might seem lofty, nearly unattainable. But to the Housing and Community Development IT analyst, the challenge of it is what’s so fun.

“Everyone approaches a long-distance hike for his or her own reasons, and with a different set of standards or personal rules,” Gerhardt said. “There is an acronym hikers often reference during long-distance hikes, HYOH (Hike Your Own Hike).”

So that’s what he did. After completing the John Muir Trail two years ago in 9.5 days, with a pit stop in Mammoth Lakes that included a night in a hotel, the avid hiker recently set out to achieve his original audacious goal – and did it. He trekked the 222-mile trail solo in just seven days. Or six days, 21 hours, if you want to get technical.

“The official JMT is 211 miles and runs from the Mt. Whitney Summit to Yosemite Valley,” he said. “However, the Whitney Summit is 10.5 miles from the Whitney Portal Trailhead so most people just include these miles in the JMT total – there is no tram to the top of Whitney.”

This time around, though, there was no resupplying and no hotel nights.

For those looking in, the most grueling part might seem like the 51-pound pack he carried (it weighed 30 pounds at the end of the trip). But for Gerhardt, the hardest part was actually the snow. In fact, it was so treacherous that the 11-year County employee almost turned back after the first day of his May 30-June 5 trip.

The Muir Hut, located on the John Muir Trail

“Ideally, you would get over the pass just as the snow began to soften from the warming day,” Gerhardt said. ”Too early and it’s icy and dangerous. Too late and you’re post-holing (sinking into the snow with each step), sometimes up to your waist – post-holing is extremely tiring.”

Because of his aggressive schedule, Gerhardt needed to go over two passes on most days. This meant going over one in the morning, which was ideal, and one in the afternoon, which was not.

“These afternoon passes tested my physical stamina and mental drive to go on. The third and seventh days were probably the toughest. I would sink into the snow about six inches on good steps and three feet on bad ones – exhausting,” he said. “There were also sections of flat trail following the contour line along a mountain slope that was made much more difficult with continual snow drifts of three to six feet deep. Instead of walking a level path, I’d have to climb up and over these drifts while trying to avoid sliding down the slope.”

While the experienced hiker pushed through the snow, the solitude wasn’t lost on him. He was grateful for the quiet alone time and said it was a challenge to talk to other hikers when he came across them.

“Going alone, I get to make all decisions without compromise or collaboration… This level of independence really appeals to me in the outdoors,” Gerhardt said.

By night four of the journey, Gerhardt was starting to get behind schedule and knew he had to hike to make up some lost miles.

“As I lay in my tent that night, I wasn’t sure it was possible to cover the nearly 80 miles between me and Yosemite Valley in two days. But I found motivation in two places. One - I had worked really hard to cover the 140-plus miles behind me and didn’t want to waste that effort. And two - I was ready to get back home and eat some hot food.”

Gerhardt wound up waking at 3 a.m. and hiking 35 miles on day six. On day seven, he woke at 2 a.m. and hiked 43 miles. He finished the journey at 11 p.m. on day seven.

Though the short trip was “certainly an audacious goal” for Gerhardt, he said it came with years of careful planning and the ability to adapt – perhaps an insider tip for us and our own audacious goals.

“The process of achieving the goal started many years ago. I needed to develop the necessary skills and build a level of experience,” he said. “Once on the trail, I had to be adaptable… Finally, I had to motivate myself and really push my limits to stay within the timeframe I had set for myself.”

Gerhardt has more upcoming hiking challenges planned, including a long trail in New Zealand and hiking each of the 11 peaks in California over 14,000 feet.

Just for fun - records kept by Gerhardt during the hike:

Day 1 (May 30):

• Started hiking at 1:40 a.m.; ended at 4:22 p.m.

• Miles hiked: 21.8

• Passes/summits: Whitney, Trail Crest

Day 2 (May 31):

• Started hiking at 4:20 a.m.; ended at 8:35 p.m.

• Miles hiked: 29

• Passes/summits: Forester, Glen

Day 3 (June 1):

• Started hiking at 4:33 a.m.; ended at 8:24 p.m.

• Miles hiked: 27

• Passes/summits: Pinchot, Mather

Day 4 (June 2):

• Started hiking at 3:30 a.m.; ended 9:10 p.m.

• Miles hiked: 35.5

• Passes/summits: Muir

Day 5 (June 3):

• Started hiking at 5:55 a.m.; ended at 7:47 p.m.

• Miles hiked: 26.3

• Passes/summits: Seldon, Bear Ridge, Silver

Day 6 (June 4):

• Started hiking at 3:17 a.m.; ended hiking at 8:30 p.m.

• Miles hiked: 34.7

• Passes/summits: none

Day 7 (June 5):

• Started hiking 2:13 a.m.; ended at 11 p.m.

• Miles hiked: 43

• Passes/summits: Island, Donohue, Cathedral

PerkSpot Alert: Save on Theme Park Admission

Cheetahs at the San Diego Zoo

You don’t have to travel very far to enjoy a day at a theme park. And as a County employee, you can enjoy some savings, too! Get discounted admission to Aquatica San Diego, LEGOLAND California, the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, and SeaWorld, through PerkSpot.

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. 

Juneteenth Event Honors Civil Rights Pioneer

Civil rights pioneer and civic leader Leon Williams spoke at the County Administration Center June 17, 2016.

Submitted by the African American Association of County Employees (AAACE)

On June 17, the African American Association of County Employees (AAACE) Employee Resource Group celebrated the 151st anniversary of Juneteenth at the County Administrative Center (CAC). Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

This year’s event was dedicated to honoring local civil rights pioneer and civic leader Leon Williams. Leon Williams was the first and remains the only African American Supervisor for the County of San Diego. He was also the first African American San Diego City Council member. Williams is known for his pioneering work in supporting public health efforts in AIDS prevention and smoking cessation, transportation, community safety and smart growth.

The hour long program focused on the rededication of the Leon Williams plaque in the east plaza of the CAC and announcement of the AAACE Leon Williams Scholarship. During the program County Supervisor Greg Cox (District 1) recounted the contributions that Mr. Williams made while serving on the Board and highlighted several ways that the he made a difference in the region.

Supervisor Cox also presented AAACE with a proclamation honoring Juneteenth.

In closing, the 90-plus-year-old civic leader encouraged all attendees to focus on what matters most—family and civic duty. 

Sign Up Now for Live Well San Diego 5K

A scene from last year's Live Well San Diego 5K. This year the event moves to the Waterfront Park.

Register now for the 2016 Live Well San Diego 5K!

This year, the event takes place on Saturday, July 30. The 2016 race will begin and end at the County Waterfront Park, which will be the location of an Expo featuring exhibits hosted by Live Well San Diego recognized partners and County departments, as well as other interactive displays, including a Kids’ Zone, an Innovation Zone, and a Pet Zone.

Proceeds from the Live Well San Diego 5K will benefit the lifesaving work of the San Diego Blood Bank.  Enjoy a fun-filled morning with County colleagues, Live Well San Diego partners, and the community as we come together to promote a healthy, safe and thriving region.

For more information visit livewellsd5k.com.

Throwback Thursday: Parks Says it with Flowers

This sweet Throwback Thursday image will have your heart blooming. See a park ranger hand wildflowers to a cute little girl in a photo from our archives. The date and park are unknown.

Share your old County department photos by emailing communications@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Sign-up for Healthy Cooking Classes

If you are looking for some new healthy recipes to spice up your summer, sign up for a Healthy Cooking Class. Employee Wellness is offering two lunch and learn classes this quarter.

For more information and to register for the June 21 class, visit Employee Wellness and click on the Lunch and Learn tab on the left. To register for the July 14 class at the COC, send anemail request. 

Philippine Independence Day Celebrated at COC

The County of San Diego Filipino American Employees Association hosted a lively Philippine Independence Day Celebration at the County Operations Center Friday. The festivities included cultural performances, Filipino food, resource booths, an opportunity drawing and book drive.

If you missed out on the fun, watch these videos:

• Christine Jody Umali singing Lupang Hinirang
• SAMAHAN Filipino-American Performing Arts & Education Center Kulintang Ensemble
• Closing remarks from Ardee Apostol and Tahitian dance performed by Katherine Carnacite

Learn more about the County’s Employee Resource Groups on InSite.

ERGs Share Statement on Orlando Attack

All County employees are shocked and saddened by the attack in Orlando, Florida. Members of the County’s LGBT & Allies and Middle Eastern Employee Resource Groups have together provided the following statement and resources.

The LGBT & Allies and Middle Eastern ERGs would like to offer our heartfelt condolences to all those affected by the recent tragedy in Orlando. LGBTA & MEERG stand together in condemning this senseless and violent attack against our brothers and sisters in Orlando that occurred during LGBT Pride month and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. We are committed to working together with all groups to build diversity, inclusion and respect in our workplace and peace in our communities. Please reach out to us if you need further support. 

LGBT & Allies ERG | Middle Eastern ERG

Resources

• County-provided EAP Program: website or call 888-777-6665
• The LGBT Center also has behavioral health counselors ready to assist. You can email onduty@thecentersd.org or call 619-692-2077, ext. 208
• For young LGBTQ people struggling they can visit The Trevor Project or call 866-488-7386
• The Council on American-Islamic Relations’ local chapter  is offering support and assistance: website or call 858-278-4547

Responses

• The Muslim Community Center

MCC condemns the Florida Nightclub Shooting (San Diego, CA 06/12/2016)

On behalf of the Greater San Diego Muslim Community Center (MCC) in Santa Luz, San Diego County, we express our heartfelt condolences for the victims and their friends and families in this tragic event that happened early morning in Orlando, Florida.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased and the injured.

We condemn this heinous act of senseless violence against innocent people.  Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance.   Under the teachings of Islam, every life is sacred regardless of individual beliefs and practices.  We stand with our fellow Americans in protecting this principle.

We reiterate our commitment to peace, safety, and security of our nation, as well as our solidarity with fellow Americans.

• San Diego LGBT Community Center

San Diego LGBT Community Center Responds to Orlando, Florida Shooting

Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their friends and families. This weekend, and over the coming days, our community around the country will hold vigils and other commemorations of support, solidary and strength.

In light of this tragic event, the San Diego LGBT community and its allies will gather together at The Center, 3909 Centre St., on Monday, June 13 for the San Diego United: #OrlandoStrong rally.
 
The doors to The Center will open at 6:30pm, with a short program, followed by a candlelight vigil stopping at the Hillcrest Pride Flag and ending at Rich's nightclub. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join us to stand together and unite in support of all those affected by this tragedy. For more information, call (619) 692-2077.

• If you wish to donate money, Equality Florida has a GoFundMe and all funds will go directly to victims and families.

 “Listen with ears of tolerance. See through eyes of compassion. Speak with the language of love.”
–Rumi, 13th Century Persian Poet

County Employees Earn CSAC Credential

Several County employees earned a special recognition Friday at the County Operations Center for their dedication to expanding their knowledge of effective government.

Fourteen staff members completed 60 hours of coursework as part of the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) Institute for Excellence in County Government credential program, which focuses on professional development in the areas of leadership and policy.

Geoff Patnoe, director of Office of Strategy & Intergovernmental Affairs, helped bring the CSAC Institute to San Diego County in 2014. It was the first year CSAC held courses outside of Sacramento. Since then, 20 courses have been held at the COC—allowing more San Diego and other Southern California county officials and senior staff to attend training closer to home.

Don Steuer, Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, applauded both CSAC’s willingness to bring its unique training on the road and the larger number of local participants.

“This is an investment not only in our employees, but more an importantly it is an investment in the future of our organization,” Steuer said.

Nearly 300 County employees have taken at least one CSAC course in the last two years. Ten received certificates last year and another 14 earned the distinction on Friday.

Past courses covered topics such as financial reporting and budgeting, building and maintaining a team culture, and managing crises and emergencies. 

2016 CSAC Institute awards were given to:

• Jessie Bishop, PSG Executive Office

• Melanie Caramat, Purchasing and Contracting

• Charles Cinnamo, Sheriff’s Department

• Thomas Ledford, Strategy and Intergovernmental Affairs

• Richard McWilliams – HHSA Executive Office

• Mel Millstein – District 3

• Nadia Moshirian-Binderup – CSG Executive Office

• Jessica Newmyer – HHSA Central and South Regions

• Giang Nguyen – HHSA Executive Office

• Haley Peterson – District 5

• Damien Quinn – FG3 Executive Office

• Dustin Steiner – District 5

• Amber Tarrac – Auditor and Controller

• Candyce Yee – District 5

In addition, Linda Holt, Group Human Resources Director with the Community Services Group, received the CSAC Institute Fellows recognition. Holt, who completed the CSAC Instiute credential last year, has since completed additional coursework– examining enduring problems facing California counties.  She focused her efforts on the Advanced Recovery Initiative, which gets County employees prepared to fill a variety of roles in a disaster response.