www.encinitaschamber.com
Volume 6, Issue 8
Routing slip Share Encinitas First with others in your organization:
Doctors talk keeping kids fit for fall By Lillian Cox t’s back-to-school season again, time to think about shopping for new clothes and school supplies. Even more important, but often overlooked, is anticipating health issues which may arise in the new school year. The Encinitas Chamber of Commerce is hosting a pediatrician panel titled, “Fit for Fall” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 26 at the Encinitas Library. There will be food and drinks served at the moderated event. Dr. Nick Levy, medical director at El Camino Pediatrics, will discuss attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, a condition that affects between 2 and 5 percent of children and adolescents to the extent that it affects educational DR. NICK activities and social LEVY interactions. “It can also interfere with other areas of a child’s life such as team sports,” he said. “Many of these children have below average handeye coordination which impacts athletic ability as well.” Children who suffer from ADHD have trouble suppressing impulses, thoughts, feelings and ideas and tend to act on them even when they know that they shouldn’t. While some may have physical activity associated with this lack of
I INSIDE The chamber’s interim executive director talks leadership philosophy and plans for the future PAGE 4
Many turn out for the food, music and fun at the Encinitas Elks Lodge’s three-day Hootenanny event PAGE 13
A national executive gives tips for keeping your IT expenses from eating up your business’ budget PAGE 2
The new chamber office played host to the July Sundowner with food and prizes donated by local businesses
AUGUST 2010
A continuing series
ENCINITAS for world-class health care
We have it all. suppression (i.e. hyperactivity), others will tend to follow a train of thought unrelated to the academic or social situation in the moment and so they “daydream.” These patients (who used to be labeled ADD and are now called ADHD inattentive-subtype) are often missed in their younger years as they are not disruptive in the classroom. Many times they are girls. “If they are also of high intelligence, they may manage to get through their schoolwork and even achieve adequate grades early on,” Dr. Levy said. “By the time they
reach middle school, however, the academic demands generally prove too great and they begin to fail or not do nearly as well as expected.” Levy said these are children who should be straight A students but eventually have difficulty maintaining Bs. “Sometimes children are referred to their physician by a teacher who recommends that they be given medications for ADHD,” he said. “It is prudent at this time to do an evaluation that looks at all of these other areas so that children are not started on medications
without a good reason. While there is no one specific test for ADHD, it is wise to be as sure about the diagnosis as possible before considering the use of medications.” A pediatrician, Dr. Levy collaborates with Dr. Stephen Park, a licensed clinical psychologist in the assessment and treatment of patients with ADHD. This represents approximately 25 percent of his clinical practice. Levy says that while the goal is to avoid medication where possible, the response to medication in a true ADHD patient is remarkable and extremely beneficial. “There is essentially a normalization of neurological pathways and for these patients a sense of clarity and the ability to direct and maintain focus,” he said. Left untreated, adolescents with ADHD are at higher risk of drug abuse, petty theft and teen pregnancy. “If you know you have ADHD and address it properly your success is very high,” he said. “The disorder is inheritable and is often present in one or both parents of a child who has been diagnosed with it.” Levy adds that as adults many ADHD kids excel because of their ability to “think outside of the box.” Two distinguished physicians from Rady’s Children’s Hospital will ❚ see Fit on 12
Fire marshal’s son killed in Afghanistan
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED P.O. Box 232550 Encinitas, CA 92023
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ENCINITAS, CA 92024 PERMIT NO. 94
PAGE 11
left, Encinitas Project Manager Bryce Wilson; Encinitas Engineering Services Director STAMP OF From Peter Cota-Robles; American Public Works Association Peer Review Team member Steve Encinitas Project Manager Mark Hosford; APWA Accreditation Director Ann Daniels; Encinitas Public Works Director Larry Watt; APWA Peer Review Team member APPROVAL Pageau; Laura Brown; Encinitas Public Works Superintendent Shawn Atherton; APWA Peer Review Team member Mark Schoening; and Encinitas/SDWD Assistant Manager Victor Graves celebrate the Encinitas Public Works and Engineering Services Departments receiving accreditation following a comprehensive evaluation by the American Public Works Association. The accreditation program’s purpose is to objectively evaluate, verify and recognize compliance with the recommended management practices. Encinitas is the 59th agency in the country and the first in Southern California to receive this prestigious recognition. Courtesy photo
ENCINITAS — Many in the city of Encinitas were greatly saddened to hear of the recent death of Naval petty officer Justin McNeley while serving in Afghanistan. McNeley is the son of Encinitas Deputy Fire Marshal George McNeley. “It’s always sad to hear about a serviceman killed while performing his duty to serve our country, but since George is a member of our Encinitas family, that makes this incident particularly tragic,” Mayor Dan Dalager said. “Our warmest thoughts and prayers go out to his family and the family members of all military personnel killed in the line of duty.” “Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to the McNeley family,” Fire Chief Mark Muir said. “The fire department family ❚
see Killed on 13