Introduce A New Companion

Into Your Home and Life

This is your chance to bring companionship into your life – for free. Through Saturday (Sept. 1), the county is waiving all fees to adopt, microchip and vaccinate cats and dogs currently in the shelter system. This offer is only good for cats 6 months or older and dogs 5 years and older. You can only adopt a maximum of two animals. The offer is being made to help reduce crowding at the county’s three shelters, including the one on Palomar Airport Road in Carlsbad.

All animals will be neutered or spayed, microchipped and vaccinated prior to going home with their new family. To view photos of adoptable animals, visit www.sddac.com/adoptions.asp

It’s That Time Again – Be Aware Of West Nile Virus!

Even as the weather promises a perfect Labor Day weekend, you need to be wary of mosquitoes when enjoying San Diego County’s numerous parks, lagoons and beaches. This is the time of year when mosquitoes are back on the attack, and that means there is a risk of contacting West Nile Virus from an infected insect. This region has been lucky this year, with only one documented case of the virus in a human, an 85-year-old man who contacted it near his home in Los Angeles County. He remains hospitalized in stable condition.

Residents are also advised to keep a close eye on their pets and livestock. A third horse has tested positive for the virus in Jamul and birds have been found with the virus in Tierrasanta, Santee and El Cajon.

 A vaccine is available to help prevent West Nile virus infection in horses. Owners should check with their veterinarians to ensure their horses are properly vaccinated. West Nile virus is primarily a bird disease, with 25 birds in the County testing positive this year alone. This disease can be transmitted to humans and horses by infected mosquitoes. Contact your veterinarian immediately if your horse shows any signs of the virus, which include stumbling, staggering, wobbling, weakness, muscle twitching or inability to stand.

To prevent contacting the virus, you are advised to:

• Eliminate mosquito breeding sites around your home, and use mosquito-eating fish in horse troughs, unused swimming pools, ponds and fountains. Free mosquito fish are available from County Vector Control.

• Wear long sleeves and long pants when outside, especially at dawn and dusk, and stable horses during those hours.

• Wear insect repellent containing DEET, Picaridin or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.

• Maintain windows and screens to keep mosquitoes from entering your home.

For more information, or to report dead birds, call the county toll-free at (888) 551-4636. More information and updated incidents are listed on the county website at www.SDFighttheBite.com.

Put Your Story To Video …

Five $10,000 grants to help local non-profit and community groups produce half-hour video programs that will be featured on CTN (the County Television Network) were recently approved by the county Board of Supervisors. The goal of this program is to develop diverse and innovate programming that highlights the county’s Strategic Initiatives:

·         Children.

·         The Environment.

·         Safe and Livable Communities.

Grant recipients are required to partner with a county department or agency to inform the public about current issues facing the community. Past grant-funded videos focused on disaster preparedness, volunteer search and rescue programs, exercise and health programs, responsible pet ownership, and the environmental diversity of the San Diego region. Application deadline is 5 p.m. Nov. 19. Recipients will be announced next March.

To apply for a grant, go to www.ctn.org and click on “Grant Program.”

At The County of San Diego…

The Board of Supervisors meetings are on a partial summer recess. I am using this time to meet with constituents and community leaders from the Third District.

Big things in the district: On Saturday, Sept. 15, there is a Woody Car Show and Pancake Breakfast at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas. This popular annual celebration sponsored by the Encinitas Lions Club marks the end of summer. A week later, the Lions Club will host its 11^th annual surfing clinic for the visually impaired/blind. The event at South Ponto Beach brings out members of the San Diego Surf Academy and Swami’s Surfing Association who offer their time and expertise, guiding surfers from blind centers throughout San Diego County (including the La Jolla Leo’s Club that assists sight-impaired teens).

… And In The Third District!

I want to extend my congratulations to the three new appointments to the 22^nd District Agricultural Association (Del Mar Fair Board). The governor reappointed Vivian Hardage and Barry Nussbaum of Rancho Santa Fe, who will be joined by Kim Fletcher, also of Rancho Santa Fe. All three are extremely active with local non-profit organizations, such as the San Dieguito Boys and Girls Club or the United Way. The fair board oversees the Del Mar Fairgrounds and the annual county fair.  … A lifetime of living continues for Gladys McDonald-Holm of Escondido, who just celebrated her 106^th birthday! Her family moved to Escondido when Gladys was 13. Gladys also has the distinction of seeing the terms of 19 U.S. presidents!

In Remembrance…

We have lost a true hero, a man who served his nation as a Marine commander whose troops fought their way across the Pacific during World War II and, later, used his knowledge and experiences to teach politics at USD. Col. John Chambers was 88 when he passed away at his Clairemont home. He served in the Marines from 1940 to 1963, leaving as commander of the 1^st Marine Division, 1^st Battalion, 5^th Marine Regiment at Camp Pendleton. He taught U.S. and Middle East politics at USD during an era that included the 1979 seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, upon which he was often called upon to analyze the hostage stalemate that lasted for more than a year and a resulted in a party change in the White House. Col. Chambers enjoyed other activities, including playing the trumpet, and served a two-year presidency of the Junipero Serra Museum in Presidio Park.

My condolences go out to the family and friends of Mary Macdonald Rule of Rancho Santa Fe, formerly of Del Mar, who contributed to our region for five decades. Ms. Rule dedicated 20 years of her life to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Del Mar, where she retired as executive assistant. … Lee Hess of Encinitas wrote more than 19 books in his 66 years, mostly dealing with his chosen profession of real estate appraisal. Mr. Hess was also a popular soccer coach, having coached teams at San Dieguito and La Costa high schools. … The sad faces at the Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA in Encinitas are due to the passing of Lester “Less” Vaughn, who helped raise funds to expand the popular center for almost four decades. Mr. Vaughn was 77.

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