Page 8 CALDWELL PERSPECTIVE
Our Community
Executive Movement at the YMCA!
by Leora Summers
Scott Curtis
Dave Morris
Claudia Suastegui & Erik Bullock
We have certainly seen movement in the top positions of our Caldwell YMCA since its inception. When it first opened 11 years ago in October of 2005, Scott Curtis became its first Executive Director. Then in 2013, Scott Curtis was promoted to senior vice president of the Treasure Valley YMCA in Boise with Dave Morris replacing him at our Caldwell Y in August of 2013. In June of 2015, Erik Bullock replaced Morris when Morris moved into a new leadership position as the Executive Director of Membership for the organization. Bullock felt that he had “come home” after taking this position with the Y where he had great experiences with the organization in the past. Recently Erik has acquired a new Y title as Executive Director, Caldwell Branch and Y Camp @ Horsethief Reservoir. This additional duty with the Y Camp seems to fit in well with his past history. His experience with the YMCA began with the Boise Y, as a camp counselor. After graduating, he worked with youth in Kuna as a summer camp and after school site coordinator and later moved to Georgia as a senior program director, overseeing a camp facility there. This new title seems to be a good fit for both him, the Treasure Valley YMCA and the Y’s Camp Horsethief. Since his new title change and obligations, Claudia Suastegui has stepped into the role of Associate Branch Director to be able to give Erik support with his duties at the Caldwell Y to maintain the quality of programs already established there allowing him to attend to his additional duties at Camp Horsethief. Claudia will oversee operations of the facility as well as staff development, member experience, and program enhancements. This change is a win-win for Caldwell. The Y Camp team will now work out of the Caldwell branch during the off season and provide new opportunities for local youth, build relationships with families, and exposure of a resident camp experience. Dave Morris has recently been moved into the Executive Director position at the downtown YMCA. Yes, there is a lot of movement in the Treasure Valley YMCA, but as organizations change and evolve, progress is made.
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October 2016
PUBLIC SAFETY-Winter Travel by Ted Brumet, Public Safety and Prevention Specialist
The Holiday Season is upon us. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or even Kwanzaa, most people will be traveling during the holiday season, or you might have guests coming in. Considering that a number of people may be traveling and may be faced with unpredictable weather, I thought it might be a good idea to cover some basic traveling safety tips. Plan Ahead: I am notorious for breaking this rule, even though we have made the same trip every year. So besides knowing where you are going, and how you are going to get there, take some time to check for road construction, road conditions, and expected weather conditions. I failed to do this once and as a result, I ended up paying more money for snow chains, because I failed to pack the ones I already had. Don’t post news that you are out of town: The majority of people reading this, have social media of one type or another. If you haven’t changed your security settings for each site, then your profile is probably public. That means potential criminals can see when you are out of town, just by the information you post. Have someone watch your house: Potential criminals can tell if someone is home by looking for tell-tell signs. Such as newspapers not being picked up; mailbox is full; even that there are never any lights on in the house. There are a few things you can do here. You can ask your local post office to hold your mail for the days you are gone. Call the
newspaper and ask them to stop delivery until you get back. Use an automated timer to turn your lights on and off randomly. I have found that it is usually easier, just to ask someone you trust to check on your house daily. Be sure to give them the key if you choose this option. Be sure to pack blankets and a warning kit: Anything can happen on the road. Although I had forgotten the tire chains, I did remember to pack a warning kit. Included in most of these kits are warning triangles, a flashlight, and some basic tools. If I had not packed that kit, I’m pretty sure I would have ended up spending more money for something I already have. The blankets are in case you have car problems that keep the vehicle from running. Use these to keep you and your passengers warm until help arrives. Some even suggest packing food and water for the same scenario. Be sure to service your car before you leave: Sometimes a potentially bad event can be avoided by performing basic vehicle maintenance. At a minimum, I check the antifreeze, change the oil, and check the wear on my tires. There are a few businesses that will be willing to help make sure your car is road trip ready. Until next year I wish each and every one of you a safe and joyous Holiday Season.
The Pest Guy–Don’t let the bed bugs bite!
During the holiday season, many of us travel to the ancestral abode to spend time with family. Many of us also realize that the ole’ homestead isn’t as big as it used to seem, and sleeping on the bottom bunk with cousin Eddy on top isn’t as fun as it once was. Inevitably, a hotel becomes the best option to maintain familial bliss. Actually, who are we kidding-it’s mostly about our own sanity! While a hotel enables you to sleep more soundly, you may want to take a few precautions to avoid an even worse problem than cousin Eddy’s snoring: Bed bugs! Bed bugs have been living in close proximity to humans for a long time. In the early 1990s, bed bugs were found at an Egyptian
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archeological site that went back 3,500 years. Fast forward to the 1950s. A pesticide called DDT, together with modern vacuums, washing machines, and driers, made serious inroads on bed bug populations, almost to the point of eradication in the U.S. Shortly thereafter, DDT was banned, and bed bug populations have been slowly climbing ever since. The Boise area has not been untouched. Ten years ago, I would’ve laughed out loud (literally LOL’d, maybe even ROTFL’d) if you would have told me that there was a bed bug infestation in the Treasure Valley. But now I see bed bugs on a weekly basis. So, when you check into that hotel, take a quick look around (quick tip–use a flashlight; your phone’s flashlight works great). Here is what you should be looking for: Adult bed bugs are reddish brown and are 1/5 inch long and about 1/8 inch wide. During the day, the adults typically stay out of sight and are therefore difficult to find. However, you can still
by Kirk Dean
detect bed bugs by the spots of fecal matter or dried blood they leave on mattresses, etc. Start with the bed. Remove the sheet and take a look at the tufts, folds, and seams of the mattress and box spring. Inspect the bed frame for any signs. Next, inspect the headboard, the wall behind the headboard, behind pictures, the luggage rack, and the seams of any upholstered furniture. All this should take you no longer than 5 minutes. If you find anything, report it immediately to the hotel staff, and ask for another room. If you don’t find anything, start to take it easy. Begin relaxing by going early to the pool with your kids, and then staying there for 6 straight hours while you listen to earsplitting screams of joy whilst you sweat profusely from the humidity of the pool room. Aren’t vacations fun?
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