November 2010
On the Internet at www.MissionValleyNews.com
Volume IV – Number 11
WANTED: Antique or Classic Cars and Convertibles! Seeking owners of convertibles, roadsters, and antique or unique cars to transport a Dignitary in the Parade
AED Saves Physician’s Life At Lake Murray Tennis Club By Loralee Olejnik When Dr. Ken Anderson went into Sudden Cardiac Arrest while playing tennis, it took the seemingly healthy Scripps Ranch physician by surprise. “I was pretty shocked by it all because I’ve never had any heart problems,” said Anderson, who specializes in sports medicine and family practice. Shocked indeed. It was an Automatic External Defibrillator, or AED, that saved Dr. Anderson’s, life. Anderson, 52, and his wife, Sandy, were playing doubles tennis with friends on Sunday, Sept. 26, at the Lake Murray Tennis Club, when he suddenly grabbed his chest and collapsed. His wife and friends, Sue and Todd Sprague, began chest compressions and grabbed the AED out of the clubhouse. The AED delivered two shocks before paramedics arrived and transported him to the hospital. None of his rescuers had formal instruction in CPR or AED use. In fact, the only person trained to respond to this emergency was the victim. AEDs administer a shock to the victim of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) to restore a heart beat to a normal rhythm. AEDs are made to be very simple to use, and their clear voice prompt instructions make them friendly even for a non-trained responder. “It all started with the members being aware we had the AED,” said Kathy Emmerson, manager of the Lake Murray Tennis Club. “(This incident) enlightened us all, not just staff members, but all our members. It was amazing. It takes so little time and you could save a life just like they did.” The Lake Murray Tennis Club, a non-profit tennis facility, has about 600 members of all ages and levels. Emmerson said they have had the AED for more than five years now, since it was gifted by Bobbi Cohen, a local AED advocate. Cohen’s husband, Stuart, died of Sudden Cardiac Arrest after dancing See AED, page 8
2006 Veterans Day Parade photo courtesy of Clint Steed
Volunteers are asked to reply to Scott Langhoff, Parade Vehicle Coordination Subcommittee Chairman, at sdvetsparade@cox.net or by calling (619) 884-5917 anytime. You can also visit our website at www.sdvetparade.org to obtain the volunteer form online. Please include the make, model and year of your vehicle and maximum passenger capacity. The 24th Annual San Diego County Veterans Day Parade Thursday, November 11th, 2010 at 11:00 A.M. Pacific Coast Highway, Downtown San Diego - Cedar Street to Harbor The Distinguished Flying Cross Drive Society, San Diego Lindbergh Each year, on the appointed day, Chapter & 1961 Corvette from the and at the specified time, San Diegans Corvette Owners Club of San Diego pause to honor our Nations’ Veterans, by participating in or observing the Parade in San Diego. This Parade includes entries from across San Diego County, composed of Honor and Color Guards, JROTC Drill Units, Military and High School Marching Bands, Military units and vehicles, Veterans Organizations, and of course, Dignitaries. This year, we are especially honoring our “Cold War Veterans”, all of the men and women that served during the Cold War outside of the Korean & Vietnam Wars and Operation Desert Storm, as our Honorary Grand Marshals! Our Parade Grand Marshal will be announced in the near future. *Drivers have the final decision on placement of the Dignitaries in their vehicles, and are encouraged to decorate their vehicles in patriotic themes should they desire to do so.
Just In Time for Foster Youth Just in Time helps three brothers create a first home after foster care to launch annual campaign for the holidays. After mobilizing a team of volunteers to contribute thousands of dollars in in-kind donations that turned a foreclosed house into a home for the holidays, Just in Time for Foster Youth begins a campaign from November 1 thru December 4, 2010 to help over a hundred more transitioning foster youth have a safe, stable first home. Former foster youth, Juan, Mario and Jose Robles, used every penny they had to purchase a home together, fulfilling a dream to reunite after growing up in separate households in foster care. They purchased a “fixer-upper” home to reunite their family and planned to make repairs slowly, as they could afford it. Instead, Just in Time for Foster Youth rallied volunteers and local businesses behind the young men to turn their home into a showcase just in time for the holidays, garnering local coverage and national attention from CBS Evening News with a planned pre-Thanksgiving “Assignment America” story by Steve Hartman. The list of contributing businesses can be found at www.JitFoster Youth.org. “Operation 3 Brothers” was launched by the local 501 (c) (3) charity as part
of their mission to provide support at critical junctures for youth transitioning out of the foster care system, acting as an “extended family” of caring adults. “We want to celebrate the Robles brothers’ incredible determination and success while also turning the community’s focus on the plight of the hundreds of young people who are also trying to create a home without any family support,” explained Don Wells, Executive Director for Just in Time for Foster Youth. The “Just in Time for Foster Youth My First Home for the Holidays Drive” runs from November 1–December 4 with volunteer-created mini-drives supplying the needed cash and in-kind donations. Items collected will be everything from gift cards, pots, pans and small kitchen appliances to desk lamps, mops, brooms and bedding. A list of items can be found at www.JitFosterYouth.org. “We are incredibly grateful for the community’s generous response to the Robles brothers and hope it extends to help other youth in need,” said Diane Cox, Board President of Just in Time. “The assistance this drive will generate See Just in Time, page 4
Possible Budget Cut: Closure of Mission Trails Campground Staff, Visitor Centers, Pools, Rec Centers, After-school Programs Also Identified The City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department has identified 59 possible fiscal year (FY) 2012 budget reduction proposals including the closure of the Kumeyaay Lake Campground at Mission Trails Regional Park. In an Oct. 13 memo to all Parks and Recreation Department employees, Stacey LoMedico, Park and Recreation Director, said the campground could be closed and converted to “day use only.” As of Sept. 1, 2008, the campground is only open on Friday and Saturday nights. Another possible cut is the closure of two visitor’s centers (locations unspecified), nine recreation centers and a 50% reduction in the hours of remaining rec centers. Rec centers are currently open 40 hours a week over 5-6 days. If the reduction were approved, the centers would be open just 20 hours a week over three days. Other possible cuts include closing 12 out of 13 pools, eliminating five specialized after-school programs, eliminating 12 specialized teen programs, eliminating all turf watering from Nov. 1 thru February, a reduction in median maintenance, a reduction in brush thinning contracts and the elimination of 25 management and administrative staff positions. The memo to City staff emphasizes that these “possible reductions are only the beginning of the budget process. In previous years, our original reductions proposed at the beginning of the budget cycle were much larger than the final reductions adopted by the City Council.” According to the Parks & Recreation Department’s records, the department budget has been reduced by more than 30% since FY 2005.