Our Hometown Chula Vista / Bonita November 2022

SBHIS was founded in Pat’s home in Chula Vista in 2005. The agency came about because there was a strong need in the community to help patients with Medicare and Medi-Cal to get coverage for their prescriptions. The agency grew with the support of the many hundreds of Medicare beneficiaries that trusted SBHIS with their Medicare coverage needs. They moved to their location on L street next to Social Security in 2006 and from there became the largest Medicare Advantage Agency in San Diego County. As the years passed, SBHIS continued to grow and expanded into the rest of California with 26 offices in various parts of the State serving Medicare recipients. Today SBHIS is a national agency with offices in multiple States but it all began here in our town of Chula Vista and corporate remains by the Bayfront.

SBHIS is different from other agencies because they only serve Medicare Beneficiaries, they are highly specialized and incredibly good at what they do. Their purpose is to Make Medicare Easier and their entire team rallies around Simplifying Medicare for their clients. Every decision the agency makes revolves around the member.

Salas tells us that working with seniors allows her and her team to help, give back to the community and serve. They are eternally grateful for the trust so many thousands of patients have placed on them and they show their appreciation by providing excellence in service with heart to each and every one of those they have the honor to assist and serve.

All of SBHIS’ services are free of charge. If you have Medicare or are soon to become eligible call them, they will care for you and help you like you were family as they welcome you to theirs. SBHIS can be reached at (619) 934-7227.

Free

Come see Santa arrive on the holiday express train, Saturday, December 10 at 1 p.m. Then enjoy free train rides, free face painting, a free craft activity and free balloon sculptures. Be sure to bring your camera or mobile device to record that special moment of your child with Santa.

Children ages 12 and under will enjoy decorating a wooden Gingerbread House. All materials will be provided free of charge. Children will also marvel at the incredible balloon sculptures as they can request their favorite character! Everyone can enjoy the special musical entertainment provided by local community groups that begins at 1 pm and ends at 4 pm with these featured

Linking people with technology.

SPONSORED BY:

Kevin Marshall, Copy Link President and Pat Salas, CEO of SBHIS Insurance Services

Village Walk’s Sunday Fun Days

Sunday, Dec 4 & Dec 11 (4-6 pm)

Village Walk’s Sunday Fun Days on December 4 and 11 offers a number of free family activities including free photos in a life-size photo frame, special appearance by costumed character, Frosty, a free holiday craft activity and free musical performances.

LIFE-SIZE PHOTO FRAME & FROSTY

Looking for a unique photo for your holiday cards and social media posts? Stop by our Life-Size Photo Frame and meet our costumed character Frosty. Our professional photographers will use your camera or mobile phone to take photos of you with your friends and family members. And it’s FREE!

FREE HOLIDAY MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT

Discovery Charter School Choir will perform Sunday, December 4. Three groups from EastLake High School—the Titan Concert Choir, Spotlight! (show choir) and Titanium—will provide a wide array of holiday music on December 11.

LIFE-SIZE PHOTO CUT-OUTS OF SANTA, THE SNOWMAN AND ELSA & OLAF

Use your camera or mobile phone to take selfies with our life-size cut-outs of Santa, the Snowman and Elsa & Olaf.

FREE CRAFT ACTIVITIES

Children ages 12 and under are invited to make a snow globe on December 4 and a Santa, Snowman or Elf holiday container on December 11.

Headed Home For The Holidays?

Bags packed and headed home for the holidays this year? Many will be flying or driving the miles to visit family and old friends this holiday season. But how long has it been since you’ve seen your aging loved ones?

If you are visiting an aging loved one for the holidays and haven’t seen them for a while, there are four main areas you will want to pay special attention to.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

Someone’s physical space or environment can tell you a lot about what’s going on in their lives. How does home look when you get there? What does it smell like? Does it appear clean and tidy? Are there tripping hazards present (throw rugs, electrical cords, etc.)? My mother keeps her home clean and tidy, yet she is a huge fan of throw rugs. She has small dogs and tells me the rugs are more for the dogs than they are for her. Either way, throw rugs are one of the primary causes of falls in the home. How does the exterior of the home look? Is the place falling into disrepair? Our homes are typically one of our biggest investments so keeping the home in good repair – inside and out – benefits not only the person living there but the initial investment put into the home (which has likely skyrocketed in to day’s housing market).

Is there adequate lighting if y our loved one were to go outside af ter dark? Does your loved one still possess the things you are used to seeing when you have visited previously? A family member of my client started noticing that every time they visited, more and more pieces of art were missing. Where once there was a mantle full of hand carved pieces of ar twork, the number of pieces were slowly dwindling with no explanation or recollection of where they had gone or who they may have been given to.

MENTAL/EMOTIONAL STATE

Having conversations with your aging loved ones can help to uncover what may be going on for them mentally. Has your loved one forgotten your spouse’s name or the names of your kids? I had a client tell me tha t he called his mother on the phone and instead of asking how each grandchild was doing, she asked him “how is your family?”

This occurred as odd to him at the time, but once he started putting

the pieces together, he finally realized that his mother was in the beginning stages of dementia.

Are they forgetting to take their medication(s) as prescribed? Having a medication box is a great way to tell if someone is taking their medication as directed. Are they showered and wearing clean clothes or is the bathroom – particularly the bathtub – being used as extra storage? When a client of mine finally let me into her home, I asked to use the bathroom. I found she was using the tub/shower enclosure for storing paper towels, toilet paper and garbage bags full of clothing. There was no way she had been using the tub or shower. I now understood her lack of personal hygiene and found the right kind of help for her.

Have they given up arts, crafts, or hobbies they used to love to do? It could be a matter or physicality, or it could be more of a mental issue… or a combination. Especially during the pandemic, the focus on mental health and how damaging social isolation can be to one’s mental and physical health cannot be overlooked nor taken lightly.

PHYSICAL ABILITIES

While home for the holidays, keep a close eye on how your aging loved one is doing physically. Are they having increased difficulty sitting down or standing up? Do they have stairs in the home they are afraid to navigate? My great aunt lived in an older home and at a certain stage of her aging (and moderate dementia), she stopped going downstairs. The only issue with this was her washer and dryer were downstairs. This meant she was no longer doing her own laundry, which explained why her bed sheets were so dirty. Are they still using that old step stool to reach items being stored in high places? Perhaps it’s time to find alternate storage options.

Is personal hygiene becoming an issue? This will especially be noticeable if your aging loved one is becoming incontinent of bladder and/or bowel. Skin breakdown, due to prolonged contact with urine or feces, can become a very serious and life-threatening matter if left unnoticed or unattended.

Does your loved one have unexplained bruising on their body? Often the person can neither remember how or where they got the bruising, or they have been falling and have been afraid to share that with you.

NUTRITIONAL STATUS

Malnutrition in our aging adult p opulation is on the rise. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, up to half of all adults 65 years and older are at risk for malnutrition. And malnutrition is the “leading cause of morbidity and mortality, especially among older adults.” Malnutrition in our aging population has various causes, many of which overlap with the person’s physical abilities and mental capacity.

Is your aging loved one mentally able to plan, shop for and cook nutritious meals each day? Often, a simple lo ok through the refrigerator or glance at what’s in the garbage can alert you to how well your loved one is eating – or not. Prepackaged and highly processed foods are often eaten by seniors because of their convenience. But the downsides to these prepackaged and “convenient” foods are numerous and often dangerous (high levels of sodium and trans fats, contain high fructose corn syrup and/or high amounts of sugar, levels, and additives like aspartame, monosodium glutamate, and nitrates/ nitrites). Any foods with the words “low fat”, “low carb” or “heart healthy” should be an immediate red flag; it means

that fat, carbohydrates, and other real foods have been eliminated and replaced with chemicals and chemically derived additives.

With a bit of observation and some meaningful conversation with your aging loved one, you can help to ensure they are aging safely. Enjoy this joyous holiday season, hug your loved ones often and remember that our aging population is a precious gift that we have the privilege of knowing and listening to, if only we take the time.

Happy Holidays to all!

Aging Well Partners empower aging adults in finding vetted and trusted resources and services that meet their specific needs.

Local partners

Certified Senior Advisors™

FREE SERVICE Call us to get started (619) 789-1839

agingwellpartners.com References

https://www.eatrightpro.org/newscenter/in-practice/dietetics-inaction/adult-and-seniormalnutrition

Every Body is Different

By LinDee Rochelle

We all know that bodily aches and pains are part of life.

At different stages, sports injuries, a serious fall, or the natural aging process, can lay you up for a while. Despite standard treatment, do you experience stubborn, chronic pain that just doesn’t want to go away? Are you considering an alternative approach?

Shawn Robek, DC, CCSP, ART, TPI, founder of FIX Medical Group, knows just how you feel. It was his own injury and persistent pain a couple decades ago that set him on a path to helping others get back to doing what they love.

“I got into the business,” said Shawn, “because I suffered a bad snowboarding injury twenty-seven years ago, and thought I was going to be left paralyzed. Though I recovered, the injury made me realize how horrible my quality of life would be without the ability to do the things I love with the people I love”.

Because of that painful experience, the mission for Shawn’s medical offices is based on “Getting people back to doing what they love.”

For some, in relation to medical treatments, “That premise can be confusing,” said Shawn, “but once they get our purpose, commitment and pas-sion, they understand what we are trying to accomplish.”

What Shawn and his elite staff of medical professionals are working to achieve is easier said than done. But their actions behind the words address a growing number of issues that plague the medical industry.

It’s no secret that our health system is in shambles. With so much misinformation, conflicting statistics, and wild claims professing miracles, how can you determine what health methods will work for you and your specific health goals?

After all, “every body is different,” and no two people will receive the same exact results from any given product or treatment.

RISING ABOVE STANDARD MEDICAL SERVICES

FIX Medical Group is an integrated team of medical professionals working with patients and addressing their needs to help them reach their goals. They FIX your body from the inside out, working with you to understand and listen to the messages your body is sending. As their website mentions, “This isn’t a quick fix, it’s a permanent one.”

Shawn has guided his organization in this manner since opening his first location in San Diego, in 1999. Since then, it has grown into four locations, with two each in San Diego, California and Scottsdale, Arizona.

As well as treating the general population in all locations, they also work with many professional athletes from the NHL, NFL, MLB, and PGA.

What is it that makes their services “well-rounded”? “We’re unique,” says Shawn, “blending multiple specialties to change the face of patient care. We believe that doctors should act like coaches, working side by side with patients to help reach their health and wellness goals.”

In traditional medical treatments, a patient may exhibit three areas of concern, yet each specialist in those areas is wearing blinders, looking only for the problem they have been trained to treat. In reality, our bodies are not compartmentalized. They’re made up of interconnected parts to create a whole, like pieces of a puzzle. With current primary care services, however, we’re schlepped from one specialist to another, searching for answers until someone yells, “Eureka!”

But Shawn doesn’t see patient

needs in that way. His clinics are comprised of clinicians, chiropractors, medical doctors, physical therapists, nurse practitioners and others, all working as a team to understand what your health goals are and help you to achieve them.

STIRRING UP A POT OF SPECIALTIES

“Very few clinics,” says Shawn, “offer an experience of so many specialists under one roof that all have the same mindset for the good of the patient.” They’re a unique, dedicated team, providing a premiere concierge field of treatment to facilitate getting you to a healthier destination, and back to doing what you love. Some of the core areas of expertise in FIX Medical Group include:

• Structural care: an athletic blend of physical therapy and chiropractic treatment. It has been described as “aggressive but fun.” As a chiropractic doctor, Shawn knows the value of blending these two areas of treatment for maximum benefit.

• Wellness care: This area incorporates their Restart Wellness Program which works

on your internal and external imbalances, enhances your mood, helps you sleep better, addresses weight issues, and provides results that last.

• Regenerative medicine: Perhaps you’ve heard of PRP (platelet-rich plasma) or stem cell treat-ments?

They’re the latest in medical advancements responsible for cell growth and repair for some injuries and illnesses. Though not yet flowing into mainstream medicine, Shawn’s orga-nization is equipped to provide these innovative, and well-tested treatments.

• Aesthetics: Shawn noticed in his patients, that there are times when after all the hard work for three to six months in an internal wellness plan, some patients wanted to also rethink areas of their external body for aesthetic reasons. To accommodate, he created this area utilizing “truSculpt iD,” a body-sculpting product that aids in muscle sculpting and fat reduction.

With a team of providers, FIX members have access to all services when needed. Whatever area of health change you choose—one or all—“Your clinician ‘walks

Shawn Robek, DC, CCSP, ART, TPI

shoulder-to-shoulder’ with you,” Shawn said. “We will encourage you through the tough parts, hold you accountable to your commitment, and be there to listen whenever you need.”

WHAT DOES “TEAM” MEAN?

Each FIX Medical Group location relies on the clinic director and exceptional staff to treat their esteemed clients. However, aboveaverage treatment is not limited to your health. “We really live by, and all of our decisions are made, according to our core values, says Shawn. This is especially true when hiring:

• Clinic directors must have been with the organi-zation at least five years and know how to create an environment where both patients and staff can thrive. They will also be an incredible practitioner that drives patient results, with extraordinary leadership skills.

• Providing fanatical customer experience is expected of the elite staff, as well. Along with the clinic director, they must understand what that means and

work diligently to make sure each cli-ent or potential patient has that experience—”not simply doing their job.”

• Any provider who is hired must also be selfless and do for others without expecting anything in return.

• Demonstrate radical transparency. “We’re an open office organization,” says Shawn.

“We speak to one another in a way that we feel the person needs to hear the information. No worries about hurt feelings from miscommunication. We speak freely.

• Everyone hired is expected to realize how much suffering there is in the world and how little they have likely suffered in comparison. “We want our doctors (especially), to be excited to truly ‘see’ people,” says Shawn, “and be as passionate as they are about their goals.”

• Show unconditional gratitude. Each staff member is expected to understand that everyone there is very lucky to be on this earth, doing what they’re doing. “So,” said Shawn with a chuckle,

“there is very little whining in our offices.”

While that stringent list may seem a big ask, Shawn is aware that the professionals who come to them pay with the energy they provide, which was based on their efforts outside of the office. That reality is respected, and gratitude is shown for choosing to work there.

Shawn’s fourth quarter goals are to redefine the patient experience and to spread their doctor-coach approach throughout the medical industry, one patient at a time.

Unlike traditional medicine, “We stay in touch with people whether they’re in care, or not,” says Shawn. “We know it’s typically difficult to get answers from doctors, but we’re here for them if they need consulting or guid-ance, by phone, email, text, or face-to-face, regardless of if they’re an active patient.”

The FIX Medical Group difference is their commitment to clients and patients that extends beyond the initial recovery. They are not abandoned after a treatment plan is over.

At a Glance:

Shawn Robek, DC, CCSP, ART, TPI phone: 619.295.9791 fax: 619.297.6901

https://www.fixmedicalgroup.com/

Mission Valley

5030 Camino De La Siesta Suite 404, San Diego, CA 92108

Rancho Bernardo

11717 Bernardo Plaza Ct. Suite 102, San Diego, CA 92128

Scottsdale

11333 N Scottsdale Rd. Suite 140, Scottsdale, AZ 85254

Scottsdale – Inside Gainey Village Health Club & Spa 7477 E Doubletree Ranch Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85258

Unlike

whether they’re in care, or not”

California Research Foundation

California Research Foundation (CRF) has been a leader in clinical trials since 1966, performing hundreds of protocols covering most areas of Internal Medicine. CRF is a multi-specialty group of private practice Board-Certified specialists supported by a full-time staff dedicated solely to clinical research.

California Research Foundation has completed over 500 FDA sanctioned clinical investigative studies covering all phases, with enrollment totals of over 3,000 patients.

Healthy volunteer and vaccine studies are a specialty and the CRF Vaccine Unit has over 30 years of experience performing geriatric, adult, and pediatric vaccine

protocols, including vaccines for COVID-19, Influenza, Pandemic Flu, H1N1 Flu (Swine), H5N1 & H5N6 Flu (Avian), Meningitis, Dengue Fever, HPV, CMV, Pneumonia, RSV and more.

During the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, CRF earned the honor of being recognized as one of the top three sites in the world for their work on Pfizer’s landmark

COVID-19 vaccine protocol, the first COVID-19 vaccine approved for emergency use in the United States and the first FDA approved COVID-19 vaccine in the United States. We consider this recognition a salute to our dedicated and committed research staff and the real heroes of the pandemic - the study volunteers who stood up during this worldwide emergency and selflessly offered to join the effort to find a safe and effective vaccine to counter a virus that was affecting everyone around the world.

Milan L. Brandon started his medical career in San Diego when the Navy brought him here in 1956. He worked at the U.S. Naval Hospital until 1959 when he entered private practice with a local San Diego physician. Then, in 1964 he started his own Allergy and Internal Medicine practice where he worked for the next 52 years, serving tens of thousands of patients.

In 1966, he began performing Allergy related clinical trials as part of his practice. This clinical trial portion of the practice grew steadily through the years where he helped in the development of many new medications including novel Antihistamines and Asthma treatments. His role in the advancement of science made him a thought leader in the Allergy realm and he spoke at conferences all over the world.

His middle son, Jeffrey L. Brandon joined the research practice in 1980 with the goal of expanding its focus of primarily Allergy to all disciplines related to Internal Medicine. To better fit this goal, the research practice was renamed and that was the beginning of “California Research Foundation” (CRF). “CRF” is also short for Case Report Forms, the industry moniker for the forms used to store the data collected during the research trial. In 1992, Dr. Brandon’s youngest son, Donald M. Brandon, joined the medical practice as an Internal Medicine physician and also as a Principal Investigator at CRF.

While the variety of indications stayed quite broad, every period of time had certain indications covering the largest share of the work- bacterial infections, ulcers

Through the years, CRF was involved in bringing many successful medications and vaccines to market. Notable compounds like Motrin, Cipro, Singuliar, Miralax, Celebrex, Pepcid, Zyrtec, Floman and Claritin have improved so many people’s lives.

Through the 2000’s the vaccine focus grew and CRF became known as a leader in the industry. The research vaccines being studied have included everything from Anthrax to Zoster and Influenza to Pneumonia, covering all ages from infants to seniors

CRF’s vaccine portfolio extended with its work during the initial stage of the COVID-19 pandemic on Pfizer’s vaccine.

With CRF’s help, Pfizer competed with other pharmaceutical companies in the worldwide race to develop a successful COVID-19 vaccine during a very difficult time for the work with so many deaths due to the virus. The heroic efforts given by everyone involved in the project, both researchers and volunteers, lead to a very successful conclusion as Pfizer received the first Emergency Use Authorization to fight the pandemic with its vaccine. As a result of the work of CRF’s dedicated staff for this landmark study, CRF was designated by Pfizer as a “Super Site” and recognized as a top three contributor to the historic worldwide effort.

During the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, CRF earned the honor of being recognized as one of the top three sites in the world for their work on Pfizer’s landmark COVID-19 vaccine protocol

BEHIND THE BADGE Heart Heart THE

By Ari Pintado

Often the men and woman of the police community deal with criticism. The bad actions of a few have affected the reputation of many. These unfortunate events have led some community members to view police departments as detached from the community and only protecting the few, not the many.

The Chula Vista Police Department (CVPD) is trying to break that stereotype and introduce themselves to the community as a department that truly cares for every one of their citizens.

For decades, the CVPD has maintained a culture of community-based policing, innovative problem solving, community engagement and accountability. The need to provide public safety services to the community with fairness, equity and justice is not new to the organization. It is deeply engrained into their history and their shared culture. They uphold the highest ideals for the profession and are proud that their officers serve residents according to their community’s expectations and needs.

The CVPD promotes principles that are expected to be upheld by each of its officers. Some of these principles include embracing mutual respect for human life of all people and reinforcing progressive and transformative community policing strategies. They also require officers to intervene to prevent misconduct, report misconduct to superiors and their leaders. This consistently reinforces a compassionate and respectful interaction with our community. The police department’s chief, Roxana Kennedy, speaks directly to community members in one-on-one

interactions and frequent group communications to reinforce their shared vision. Their leadership and training personnel reinforce community expectations, policies, and decision-making guidance through progressive training strategies.

The CVPD strongly believes in their idea of “The Heart Behind the Badge”. The whole initiative is to tell the community that all their officers aren’t just crime fighting robots, they’re actual community members who truly care for their citizens and want to help keep them safe.

A big way they show this is through their community engagement. They uphold the values of transparency and accountability and maintain an open government website that includes their entire policy manual along with data and information related to their operations. They have focused on connecting actively with residents, business owners, students, community leaders and the unsheltered. This is done through a dedicated branch of the department headed by the Executive Captain called the Community Engagement Division. They also have several social media platforms, open input and dialogue, and community meetings and forums for the community to keep in touch. The Police Department Community Advisory Committee is made up of a diverse group of community leaders who provide CVPD with a variety of perspectives that guide practices and policies to meet the needs and expectations of the community.

The Human Relations Commission collaborates on strategies to enhance the lives and ensure the rights of every inhabitant of the City of Chula Vista. The department’s police leaders and Community Liaison Officers

proactively build and maintain collaborative relationships with a diverse cross-section of our community. The department also proactively collaborates with community rights and privacy advocates on department policies and practices.

When hiring new officers, the CVPD focuses on diversity and inclusion. They strive to recruit and hire quality officers that are representative of the diverse community they serve. They advocate and participate in the “30x30 Challenge” which aims to increase the number of women in law enforcement by 2030. CVPD has historically had more female officers than the national average. One hiring practice that they have stuck to includes a personal interview by the Chief of Police to be sure police officer candidates hold the values of equity, inclusion, and diversity.

Once hired all recruits go through various training courses to ensure they will best serve the community. The CVPD was the first law enforcement agency in the County of San Diego to require that every officer completes four hours of training on implicit bias. They were also the first agency in the county to require that each officer attends eight hours of de-escalation training, including a variety of de-escalation tactics. CVPD officers train four times more than required by California’s robust standards. All their officers receive training in Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE). This training seeks to prevent misconduct, avoid mistakes, and promote officer safety and wellness. CVPD officers are also taught to incorporate the tenets of procedural justice-helping people understand the law, remaining neutral, allowing others to have a voice, and respecting all parties.

One of their biggest goals for their officers

The Human Relations Commission collaborates on strategies to enhance the lives and ensure the rights of every inhabitant of the City of Chula Vista.

Top

P

Sponsored by:

Epis Chu Mar Epis Man Vis

Epis Chi

Epis Nei

Di

Top and

Chief Roxana Kennedy discussing 21st century technology to protect the community.

is to uphold transparency and accountability. Their policies require officers to de-escalate and may only escalate as reasonable for changing circumstances. All incidents involving use of force are comprehensively reviewed by supervisors and subsequently reviewed by technical experts to ensure proper tactics and adherence to policy. When necessary, appropriate disciplinary or corrective measures are taken immediately to ensure compliance with the community’s values. Their policies require officers to intervene and stop unreasonable force and report such incidents to a supervisor immediately. The CVPD were among the first in the region to issue and require the use of bodyworn cameras for all officers. They also maintain a comprehensive early warning system intended to flag officers with excessive complaints.

Another groundbreaking program of the CVPD is called Drone as First Responder (DFR). Its success has become internationally recognized. Now numerous other police

departments nationally and internationally have started to use the Drones as First Responders program. One key benefit is that drones allow officers to view potential hazards and develop sound strategies and tactics before rushing into potentially dangerous situations.

The drones feed live-steaming video to the commanders and first responders. From there certified teleoperators evaluate the situation remotely and relay information to officers.

An incident back in 2019 is a perfect example of the benefits of having the drones as an aid. A call came in stating that a man was outside a Chula Vista taco shop and was waving around what appeared to be a handgun. Within 90 seconds CVPD had a drone at the site livestreaming the event to police officers. After analyzing the footage, they realized that the man had a gun shaped lighter in his hand not a real gun. Thanks to the use of a Drone as First Responder no one was hurt, and nothing escalated.

A major worry often brought up by

community members is the invasion of privacy. CVPD policies prohibit drone operators from intentionally recording or transmitting images of any location where a person would have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as private backyards or inside private buildings, except where authorized by a warrant issued by a judge or in emergency situations. Any photos or videos considered part of an investigation are not available to the public under the California Public Records Act.

The Chief of the Chula Vista Police Department, Roxana Kennedy says, “the oath taken by the men and women of law enforcement to protect and serve is a responsibility we take seriously.” This is the stance all the members of CVPD hold true and stand by when serving the people of Chula Vista. They want to ensure that the citizens of Chula Vista know they are in good hands by officers who have received some of the best training and want to protect the human life of all people.

Another groundbreaking program of the CVPD is called Drone as First Responder (DFR). Its success has become internationally recognized.

The Chief of the Chula Vista Police Department, Roxana Kennedy says,“the oath taken by the men and women of law enforcement to protect and serve is a responsibility we take seriously.

Smashing Success

SUHSD Hosts Historical Fall Themed Spectacle Pumpkin Smash Event

n Saturday November 5, dozens of students gathered at Eastlake Middle School for the Inaugural “Game of Throws” Pumpkin Smash event. This event is presented by the Sweetwater Union High School District (SUHSD), the STEAM Ahead Foundation, and Friends of Chula Vista Park & Recreation Foundation.

Science, technology, engineering, arts, and math loving students enjoyed a smashing good time, in a day filled of fun, and flying pumpkins.

“No batteries required, no programming necessary, pure imagination and the use of basic tools and simple machines to bring STEAM in action,” said Jesus L. Ulloa-Higuera, SUHSD Launch Academy Principal and former SUHSD STEAM Programs Coordinator.

The annual renaissance themed popular event originated in November of 2016 by event creator and coordinator Michael Monaco, community member and Publisher/Owner of Our Hometown Magazine. Organized to bring together school communities across the South Bay with a fun and engaging STEAM activity the event involves school site teams that build a catapult and use it to compete for awards. This years

Oteams of students collaborated to research, design, build, test, and adjust a medieval mechanical device “trebuchet” capable of launching pumpkins in a competition of accuracy.

“A true STEAM activity involves multiple standards, collaboration, inquiry, and scientific exploration. The Pumpkin Smash Game of Throws added a sense of community, fun, and competition. It was truly a fun STEAM activity!” said Brahim Wahib, Sweetwater District STEAM Coordinator.

Participating School Teams include: Montgomery Middle School, Granger Junior High School, Eastlake Middle School, Hilltop Middle School, Mar Vista Academy, Imperial Beach charter, Boys and Girls Club, Sunny Slope Elementary School, Mendoza Elementary School, SWEnext, Club (Eastlake High School), Bonita Vista Middle School.

Huge thanks to event sponsors and supporters: San Diego County Supervisor, Nora Vargas, Republic Services, Our Hometown Community Newsprint, Baldwin & Sons, Chula Vista Police Activities League, Structural Engineers Association of San Diego, Chickfil-A, the Rotary Club of Chula Vista-Eastlake, and the Chula Vista Fire Department.

Congratulations all participants.

SUHSD is proud to collaborate with community organizations to provide students a day full of fun, flying fruit, and a smashing good time!

Carbon Sequestration Through the Use of Compost

First, what is carbon sequestration? it is the process of capturing, securing, and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and it shows tremendous promise for reducing the human “carbon footprint.”

Carbon is sequestered in soil by plants through photosynthesis and can be stored as soil organic carbon (SOC).

About 25 percent of global carbon emissions are captured by plant-rich landscapes such as forests, grasslands, and rangelands. When leaves and branches fall off plants or when plants die, the carbon stored either releases into the atmosphere but a lot of it is transferred into the soil.

Unfortunately, wildfires and human activities like deforestation reduce a forest’s ability to sequester carbon. While forests are commonly credited as important carbon “sinks”, they also serve as carbon sources due to rising temperatures and the impacts of drought and wildfires we’ve experienced in recent years. Grasslands and rangelands are more reliable for carbon sequestration than forests mainly because they don’t get hit as hard as forests by droughts and wildfires. Unlike trees, grasslands sequester most of their carbon underground. When they burn, the carbon stays fixed in the roots and soil instead of in leaves and woody biomass. Forests have the ability to store more carbon, but in unstable

conditions due to climate change, grasslands stand more resilient.

Farms can also help sequester carbon. When compost is applied in farmlands, soil health improves as microbes grow which help sequester carbon all while also helping crop yields, water retention and even workers’ health from decreases in pesticide use.

Barriers do exist for increasing compost use to meet the current scale of conventional agriculture. While there have been some increases in compost usage, the common variable when discussing compost application with farmers is cost. If costs are too high, farmers may not be able to use compost at an optimal rate for the environment, or their farms. As composting proves to be an effective method of sequestering carbon on a large scale, it could have major implications for agriculture by providing farmers with financial benefits in the form

of additional revenue-generating carbon credits.

You too can make compost at home that can help alleviate the effects of climate change. Composting workshops are available from the City of Chula Vista to teach you how to make your own compost for your lawn or garden. You can also help by continuing to place all food waste, lawn and garden discards and food soil paper in your green cart or bin. The Otay landfill makes compost from your organic wastes which are then marketed to farmers and land managers. Equally important is to make sure compost stays clean of contaminants like plastics, glass, and metals. Plastics in particular pose a great danger and everyone’s help is sorely needed to keep compost clean, so contaminants do not come back to us when this material is applied to our soils.

For more information please visit www.chulavistaca.gov/sustainability.

FEED THE GREEN

Otay Landfill composting facility.