Live Well San Diego Newsletter - April 2015

County of San Diego, California sent this bulletin at 04/09/2015 09:55 AM PDT

April 2015 Newsletter | In Focus: Physical Environment

Taking Care of the Physical Environment in San Diego

If you work, live, play or even breathe anywhere in San Diego County, there is one part of County government that you interact with every day - the Land Use and Environment Group, or LUEG. LUEG is comprised of seven departments whose functions range from building and maintaining county infrastructure to protecting our environment and public health.

As one of the seven departments, The Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has been hard at work protecting the environment and enhancing public health by preventing disease, promoting environmental responsibility and, when necessary, enforcing environmental and public health laws. Our goal is "Healthy People in Healthy Communities Free from Disease due to the Environment."

This month’s edition of the Live Well San Diego newsletter features stories, events and resources for creating a healthy, safe and thriving physical environment in San Diego County:

Learn about the history of the County’s air quality
Read about the Foster Youth Mentor Program’s participation in the coastal clean-up at Lake Hodges
Learn how to properly dispose of Household Hazardous Waste
Read about a County employee that is helping us all take care of the environment
Hear how seniors and kids came together to celebrate Earth Day
Learn about the Beach and Bay Monitoring Program
Read how Linda Vista residents transformed parking spaces into a community plaza
Learn about the new water-wise landscaping project at the SDG&E Kearny Mesa headquarters
Learn about the Vector Control Program
Hear how Ramona Unified School District high school students are making a difference
Learn about the San Diego Parks Society and how you can give back to the community

We look forward to continuing our efforts to promote environmental and public health through leadership, partnership and science.

Elizabeth A. Pozzebon
Director of Environmental Health, County of San Diego

San Diego County Parks Society: Helping Support Parks and Open Spaces Countywide

The San Diego County Parks Society has been around for almost 35 years supporting county parks and open spaces to help provide an enriching experience for all park goers. A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the San Diego County Parks Society is committed to promoting the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation and assisting in the support of its programs.

Read More >>

Introducing the Live Well San Diego Champions

Coming soon! Stories from County employees about how they support healthy, safe and thriving communities will be posted on County worksites, LiveWellSD.org/Champions and YouTube. Watch the campaign teaser video here >>

Latest News

What's Up With Air Quality in San Diego?

Beach and Bay Monitoring Program Keeps People Informed

The Foster Youth Mentor Program is Helping Create a Better San Diego

Helping Us All Take Care of the Environment: Profile of Volunteer Coordinator Cheryl Wegner

Local High School Students Are Helping Save the World, One Food Scrap at a Time

Living Well Means Taking Care of Your Immediate Environment...Your Home

Intergenerational Earth Day Festival will be First in the County

Parking Spaces Transform Into a Community Plaza in Linda Vista

SDG&E Becomes an Official Live Well San Diego Partner

Tick Awareness Leads to Happy Trails

The Live Well San Diego Top 10 Indicators: Physical Environment

(This short article is a continuation in a series featuring the Live Well San Diego Top 10 Indicators.)

The quality of the community’s physical environment greatly impacts the health and well-being of the population. Our Live Well San Diego Top 10 Indicator featured this month - Physical Environment - measures the percent of days that air quality was rated as unhealthy. Expanded Indicators also measure the quality of drinking water and beach advisories and closures.

Air pollution can be particularly detrimental to vulnerable populations, including seniors and infants. Contrarily, lower levels of air pollution in a region correlate with better respiratory and cardiovascular health of the population.

Water is one of our most vital resources. Contaminated water can be devastating to the environment and human health. Toxic substances and increased bacterial levels in water can cause a number of illnesses and water borne diseases.

Polluted runoff/storm water is considered to be the greatest threat to clean water. By conserving water and avoiding runoff pollutants, we can all help to keep our local waterways clean.

Stay tuned as information about each Live Well San Diego Indicator will be highlighted in upcoming editions. Learn more about the indicators here >>

Upcoming Events

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

Check out this calendar of activities to do every day to show a child how much you care.

Aging & Independence Services Community Calendar - April 2015

South County Intergenerational Games
April 9, 2015
9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Olympic Training Center
2800 Olympic Parkway
Chula Vista, CA

March for Babies
April 11, 2015
Oceanside Pier Amphitheater

April 25, 2015
Balboa Park

Parent Summit - Parenting 2015
April 11, 2015
8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Jacobs Center, 404 Euclid Ave
San Diego, CA 92114

Healthy Garden, Healthy Home - Beginning Gardening Workshop
April 11, 2015
2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Lakeside Branch Library

Rancho Bernardo & Poway Intergenerational Games
April 16, 2015
8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Rancho Bernardo Senior Center
18402 West Bernardo Drive
San Diego, CA

San Diego Earth Fair 2015 - Reuse and Repair Fair
April 19, 2015
Balboa Park

The annual Earth Fair in Balboa Park is the largest free annual environmental fair in the world.

If you would like to participate, please email info@sdreuserepair.net

City of Chula Vista's Go Green and Clean Family Day
April 25, 2015
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Otay Ranch Town Center Mall
2015 Birch Road
Chula Vista, CA 91915

Healthy Garden, Healthy Home - Growing Fresh Herbs for Cooking
April 25, 2015
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

4-S Branch Library

2015 NAMI Walk & HHSA Wellness Expo
May 2, 2015
Register today!

The 2015 Forum for Healthy Minds Presents: From Hopelessness to Hope & Healing
May 9, 2015
8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

California State University - San Marcos
333 South Twin Oaks Valley Road
San Marcos, CA

Live Well San Diego 5K
May 30, 2015
NTC Park - Point Loma
Register here!

Vital Aging 2015: Boosting Your Brainpower
June 17, 2015
8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Click here for more information

Caregiver Support Group for Spouses/Significant Others of Service Members and Veterans
Third Thursday of Every Month
5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Wounded Warrior Battalion West, Camp Pendleton
The Hope and Care Center, Building #2783

ALPHA Project Senior Transportation
Service Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

The program provides non-emergency transportation to low-income seniors living within the City of San Diego and North County San Diego.

No fare is required and tips are not accepted.

To make a reservation, please call: 844-884-3574

Resources

San Diego Parks Society

Department of Environmental Health

Volunteer with the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation

New Partners

Solana Beach School District

Alzheimer's Association

Sweetwater Union High School District

San Diego Blood Bank

Operation Samahan

Live Well San Diego involves more than 90 recognized partners in all sectors – from government, to business, to schools, to faith-based and community organizations – through a shared purpose. Visit LiveWellSD.org for new resources and updates from our partners.

Learn more today >>

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