C H U L A V I S TA - B O N I TA
FREE
MARCH 2018
CHULA VISTA'S OFFICE OF
Sustainability Clean Team
e t a d p u
CITIZEN OF THE MONTH: DAN GRAYSON CORDERO BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT: EASTLAKE CHURCH CHILDREN’S CENTER
CONTENTS/
MARCH 2018
EDITOR'S LETTER Every year, Our Hometown Magazine devotes a feature story to environmental issues. This year, I’m reminded of my teaching experience during my Teach For America years in the Baltimore City Public School System. As a musician and arts lover, I often taught my students their lessons, such as the parts of speech and multiplication tables, by singing them. Here are the lyrics, sung to the tune of “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” that teach children how to reduce, reuse and recycle. Working on the Trash We've been working on REDUCING, All the trash we can. We've been working on reducing, It's a very simple plan. Don't go wasting any products, Use exactly what you need. Don't buy things in extra wrapping, Reduce and you'll succeed! We've been working on REUSING, All the trash we can. We've been working on reusing, It's a very simple plan. If it's a paper bag you're using, Don't use it once, use it twice! Give old clothes and toys to someone, To reuse them would be nice! We've been working on RECYCLING, All the trash we can. We've been working on recycling, It's a very simple plan. Separate your glass and paper, Separate your plastic and tin. Take the trash that you've recycled, To your recycling bin! -Author unknown If only it were so easy to teach adults about the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling! But remember that children learn best by example. Check out efforts that the City of Chula Vista is doing in this issue and identify how you can participate. Then communicate your contribution to your family, and lead by example. Together we can be good stewards of this earth for generations to enjoy.
—AMBER WEBER, editor
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF CHUL A VISTA
04 BRAVO Announcements
06 NEWS On your Doorstep
14 FEATURE Office of Sustainability Clean Team Update
20 SCHOOL NEWS Zero Waste Program at Southwest High
23 CALENDAR Out & About
24 BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT EastLake Church Children’s Center
26 CITIZEN OF THE MONTH Dan Grayson Cordero
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BRAVO
. . . great things happening in our community
PUBLISHED BY
Send us your good news! Email editor@ourhometownmag.com prior to the 15th of the month and we will do our best to put the good news in an upcoming issue.
MICHAEL MONACO, Publisher
AMBER WEBER, Editor
MELISSA MONROY, Design
› To JANET FRANCIS, the newly hired Executive Director of the EastLake Educational Foundation. Janet brings 27 years of nonprofit leadership to her new role, which includes a strong background in business development, marketing, fundraising and community relations. Her initial priorities include working with the Board of Directors to develop a new strategic plan which will guide the nonprofit into the next stage of growth, expanding technology and STEAM partnerships, and overhauling the website into a vibrant, dynamic resource. A lot has changed since the EEF was founded in 1995. The EEF has grown up alongside the community at a time when technology also expanded rapidly. The mission has always been to help the schools, students and families succeed. Over $2,000,000 in private money has been raised to support public education.
notably, Victoria was a student at EastLake Middle School the year it opened. Board President Amanda Gregory added, “We are so excited that Janet has joined the Eastlake Educational Foundation. Her experience and leadership will be an amazing resource for us and our community. The Eastlake Educational Foundation has been a bridge between the schools and the community for 24 years. We are now evaluating how we best continue our mission to benefit the community--we are widening the bridge! › To EDDIE FLORES , Principal Traffic Engineer for the City of Chula Vista, for being awarded membership as a Fellow by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE). The membership grade of Fellow is the highest designation by ITE and is presented to those who have attained significant professional stature.
“As the innovation economy emerges, there is a lot we can do to leverage resources and The Institute of Transportation partnerships to help kids be Engineers is an international enthusiastic and prepared membership association of Advertising inquiries: for a world of opportunities Michael Monaco at transportation professionals Janet Francis, Executive Director Sales@OurHometownMag.com. that await them,” stated who work to improve of the EastLake Educational Foundation Janet. “I look forward to mobility and safety for all Editorial Contributions: talking to parents, educators transportation system users Amber Weber at and the community about and help build smart and Editor@OurHometownMag.com. their ideas, hopes and livable communities. Founded Visit us online at dreams. I’m excited about the new relationships we in 1930, ITE consists of more than 15,000 members www.OurHometownMag.com. will build and the impact we will grow together.” such as transportation engineers, transportation planners, consultants, educators, technologists and Copyright 2018. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form, in Janet’s body of work includes closely collaborating researchers working in 90 countries. whole or part, without written with the education and business communities permission is prohibited. OHTM while at the U.S. Olympic Training Center and In Southern California, only a few agencies have Inc. is not responsible for the the Coronado Historical Association, where she more than one ITE Fellow in their organization. views of contributing writers and collectively worked for over 20 years. She has Chula Vista is one of those exclusive few with the assumes no responsibility for been an educator at Southwestern College and has award to Eddie and previously selected Fellow errors appearing within. Opinions expressed are those of the served on the Board of Directors at the Coronado member Frank Rivera, Principal Civil Engineer for writers and not necessarily those Chamber of Commerce and the Coronado Tourism the City. Eddie has been employed by the City of of the Publisher or advertisers. Improvement District. Janet’s two children, Lauryn Chula Vista for one year, and Frank has been with OHTM Inc has the right to refuse and Victoria, both attended EastLake schools; the City since 1984. advertising. OHTM Inc. at• MARC H 2 0 18 4 O UContact R H OMETOWN ARIANNA PINTADO, Contributor / Intern
(619) 840−7722.
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NEWS
/ On your Doorstep
The “Why” In The YMCA
From February to mid-March, the YMCA reaches out to the community to raise funds to provide scholarships to individuals who cannot afford memberships or programs through its Annual Campaign. These scholarships help children learn to swim, provide a place for people to exercise and offer a community hub for older adults to socialize. Sharing stories about how the YMCA has impacted South County is perhaps the best way to demonstrate how the funds raised help with some of the critical issues facing South San Diego. Here are some of those stories.
PREVENTING DROWNING One in five people who die from drowning in the United States are children under the age of 14. Childhood drowning is easily preventable by learning to swim. This statistic becomes more alarming when you consider that San Diego has numerous pools and beaches that are accessible year-round due to its temperate climate. The Border View Family YMCA offers free swim lessons to fourth grade students at San Ysidro schools to help more children learn this life-saving skill. “Most of the kids from our community have never been exposed to a pool or taken swim lessons,” said David Mangat, Aquatics Director at the Border View Family YMCA. “Due to this, offering swim lessons in our community can really help save lives.” Additionally, the YMCA offers its Safety Around Water program that provides free swim lessons to children every Saturday in the month of May.
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1 in 5 people who die from drowning in the United States are children under the age of 14.
From 2010 to 2016, obesity decreased by 17.1%.
REDUCING OBESITY In 2010, the body mass index of over 30 percent of the students in the Chula Vista Elementary School District was at an obese or overweight level. Children who are overweight are likely to remain overweight as adults, putting them at a higher risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. The Chula Vista Elementary School District partnered with the YMCA by sharing data and working with them to enhance physical activity and nutrition education in their after-school programs. “The Y became our partners in this quest to reduce obesity,” said Dr. Francisco Escobedo, Superintendent of the Chula Vista Elementary School District. “We have had significant success. If you compare the data from 2010 to 2016, we were able to decrease obesity by 17.1%. That is incredible.”
On your Doorstep
Scholarships help children learn to swim, provide a place for people to exercise and offer a community hub for older adults to socialize.
SUPPORTING SENIORS Susan McClure, an older adult who is a member at the Border View Family YMCA, attending a water exercise class.
Studies show the most effective programs that keep seniors active and healthy have an educational or training component such as a book club or exercise class. Susan McClure, an older adult who is a member at the Border View Family YMCA, claims the YMCA literally saved her life. In 2013, Susan was diagnosed with breast cancer and a myriad of other health issues and decided to change her life. Susan began attending water exercise classes at the Y and exercising regularly. “I got my health back,” said Susan. “I lost 20 pounds, dropped two clothes sizes, my primary doctor didn’t recognize me and that’s why I am still
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here.” Susan also became friends with many of the people in her classes and socializes with them after class. “Socialization with older people is extremely important,” continued Susan.
The Y is an organization that is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all people and communities. In South County, the Y plays a critical role in bringing families together and keeping people healthy through its many fitness facilities and programs. At the Y, we will never turn anyone away for financial reasons, which is why it is so important for us to seek our community support and ensure we are accessible to all. If you would like to support the YMCA's Annual Campaign, visit YMCA.org/Give-Y.
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On your Doorstep
Celebrate National Reading Month with Freebies from Retailers at Otay Ranch Town Center Custom Reading Log Offers Incentives to Read One, Two, Three and Four Books
March is National Reading Month and to celebrate, Otay Ranch Town Center is partnering with the Chula Vista Library for a special reading log full of great rewards! From March 1-31, local kids can pick up their reading log at the Chula Vista Library’s Otay Ranch branch with rewards from great retailers at Otay Ranch Town Center:
Read one book: 10 bulk candy pieces of your choice from Added ReadCity one book: 10 bulk candy Party bonus: pieces of your choice from Party City Show your
Read two books: Three chocolate chip mini cookies reading Read Threefrom chocolate or kids two scoopbooks: of ice cream Nestle Toll House Cafe
log and chip mini cookies or kids scoop of ice get 10% cream from Nestle Toll House Cafe Read three books: Free small snack wings from off a book Buffalo Wild Wings of your Read three books: Free small snack choice at wings from Buffalo Wild Wings Read four books: Free single menu item from Barnes & Hot Dog on a Stick Noble all Read four books: Free single menu month. item from Hot Dog on a Stick Added bonus: Show your reading log and get 10% off a book of your choice at Barnes & Noble all month.
The center will also celebrate National Reading Month with a used book sale and donation drive for "The Hub" at the library branch in the mall on Tuesday, March 6 during the weekly Farmer's Market from 4 to 7 p.m.
About Otay Ranch Town Center: With nearly 100 of the country's top specialty stores, Otay Ranch Town Center is one of San Diego's most exciting outdoor shopping and entertainment destinations. This urbane, bustling, open-air center also features a wide variety of amenities including outdoor cafes, fountains, a petfriendly setting and adjacent dog park, food pavilion, party space and more. Otay Ranch Town Center is conveniently located 4 ½ miles east of the I-805 or just off the South Bay Expressway SR-125 in Chula Vista at Eastlake Parkway and Olympic Parkway. Otay Ranch Town Center is open Monday–Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information about Otay Ranch Town Center, call (619) 656-9100 or visit www.otayranchtowncenter.com. 8 OU R H OMETOWN • MARC H 2 0 18
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On your Doorstep
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On your Doorstep
Nominations Open for Chula Vista CLEAN Champion Awards
Nomination forms are due on Friday, March 30 by 5 p.m.
Nominations are now being accepted for the Chula Vista CLEAN Sustainability Champion Awards. The initiative of the City of Chula Vista’s Sustainability Commission is designed to recognize individuals and groups who are helping to achieve clean air, clean water and clean land within Chula Vista. Any person or group living or working in Chula
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Vista is eligible to be nominated for an award and potentially recognized for their local environmental achievements. To submit a nomination, please go to http://bit. ly/2E2mBVp. Nomination forms are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 30. Award winners will be recognized at the City Council meeting on April 24 beginning at 5 p.m.
The Sustainability Commission hopes that the annual awards help celebrate local environmental champions and inspire others to keep Chula Vista CLEAN for future generations. More information on the City of Chula Vista's environmental programs and services can be found at www. chulavistaca.gov/clean.
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On your Doorstep
Measure P Pays for Recreation Upgrades and Street Paving
Hoop stars and tennis buffs will be happy to learn that the resurfacing of 38 courts throughout the City of Chula Vista has begun. The resurfacing and re-striping of the basketball and tennis courts is just one project funded by Measure P—the 10-year, half-cent sales tax that will raise $178 million for infrastructure needs. One of the first basketball courts to be resurfaced was at Harborside Park, 670 Oxford Street. Courts at Veterans Park at 785 East Palomar Street, Los Ninos Park at 150 Teal Street, Connoley Park at 1559 Connoley Avenue, and SDG&E West
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Park at 1450 Hilltop Drive are also now completed as part of the $200,000 project. In addition to the basketball and tennis courts, City parks are also receiving upgrades. Thanks to City crews and volunteers from the Chula Vista Youth Sports Council, several hundred sprinkler heads and nozzles were recently replaced at Chula Vista Community and Discovery Parks. Materials and equipment have been paid for with Measure P funding. This irrigation upgrade will eventually be implemented at all sports fields in the City. The new sprinkler heads and nozzles will provide water and energy savings with
smart technology that can be operated remotely. Plus they have flow sensors and master valves in the ground that can detect leaks. The technology also shuts itself off if it runs too long or uses too much water. Staff from Hunter Industries, Ewing Irrigation and Graf Irrigation provided installation training to 150 volunteers on two recent Saturday mornings. City staff will manage all the equipment using new intelligent irrigation controls. Special thanks go to the Youth Sports Council for volunteering during the sports fields and park upgrades.
On your Doorstep
Measure P raises $178 million through a 10-year, half-cent sales tax.
Paving, repair and replacement of City streets also will soon be underway in Chula Vista. More than $15 million in Measure P funds are designated for the project focusing on repairing the worst residential streets in the City. The list of streets to be repaired can be found on the Measure P website along with all other projects at www. chulavistaca.gov/MeasureP.
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WRITTEN BY MARTIE SOLOMON
CHUL A VISTA'S OFFICE OF
Sustainability Clean Team
update
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OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY CLEAN TEAM UPDATE
O RG A N I C S R E C OV E R Y:
by Chula Vista Police Chief Roxana Kennedy
Helping the City Comply with Waste Reduction Mandates At the Otay Landfill’s green waste processing facility, a Republic Services food waste collection truck empties its load of food waste. It will then be mixed with ground-up yard waste and go through a composting process to break down into a nutrient-rich soil amendment we can add to our gardens. This activity is part of the City of Chula Vista’s plan to comply with the state’s recent mandate for organics recycling. California has a long legacy of sweeping environmental protection efforts and holds itself as a model to other states. Cities and counties were required by the state to divert 50% of the solid waste away from the landfill by 2000. The City of Chula Vista aggressively sought to comply with this requirement through creative recycling programs, environmentally sound disposal strategies, and innovative education efforts. It fulfilled the state’s requirement on time and currently has a 63% recycling rate. Backed by the 2008 California Statewide Waste Characterization Study, a more aggressive recycling goal of 75% by 2020 has been set. Results of the study determined there is the ability to recover a much greater amount of recyclable material from solid waste. Included in this goal was a greater focus on the recovery of organics. Cities and counties throughout the state have collected “green” waste from residents and businesses for many years, but legislation now focuses on the collection of food waste to avoid the release of methane emissions from the decomposing organics in landfills.
The collected food waste is a key component in the process that will convert the waste into a compost product that provides many benefits of carbon storage, added nutrients in soils, and the reduced use of fertilizers, pesticides and water. Adding food waste collection seems simple; however, an advanced level of processing is needed to process the food waste and requires an infrastructure that is currently not available in San Diego County. The City of Chula Vista began planning for organics processing and the development of this infrastructure years ago with the understanding that the process will take time and investment by the City, Republic Services, businesses and residents. As with recycling, there is a hierarchy of actions to be taken. Reduce, reuse, recycle is not just a tag line; it is the order in which efforts must be followed. Food waste has a similar hierarchy. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) encourages organizations to follow its Food Recovery Hierarchy in their efforts to prevent and divert wasted food. Source reduction is the first step. Everyone creates wasted food, but it is just as easy to avoid wasting food with simple planning. The Ad Council, in partnership with the Natural Resources Defense Council, produced the “Save the Food” public service campaign in April 2016. San Diego Food Systems Alliance (www.sdfsa.org/savethefoodsd/) coordinates the county-wide effort for this campaign.
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OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY CLEAN TEAM UPDATE
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OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY CLEAN TEAM UPDATE
This partnership found the following alarming
statistics: 40% of the food produced in the U.S. is not eaten. This translates to $218 billion lost on wasted food at both the consumer and retail level. By weight, 43% of the wasted food is generated in the home and costs a family of four an average of $1,500 per year or $125 per month!
The City of Chula Vista is participating in this campaign and urges residents and businesses to use the resources on the website to educate themselves to reduce the amount of food they may waste.
For businesses in the food service industry, wasted food equals lost profits. Opportunities for businesses to reduce their “food print” are varied and include the EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge as well as Leanpath’s Food Waste Prevention system. Programs such as these are based on the activity of measuring and documenting food waste which allows actions for real, measurable results.
The second step in the Food Recovery Hierarchy is to “Feed Hungry People.” The San Diego Hunger Coalition estimates that 1 in 6 people in San Diego County are food insecure. This equates to 504,829 adults and children that need assistance to find their next meal.
There are easy-toimplement options to fight food insecurity. Grocery stores regularly glean their products from their shelves and displays due to freshness dating, a dented can or misshapen produce. Restaurants and catering businesses have unserved food at the end of the day. Food was grown to provide nourishment to people, so let’s take this leftover and gleaned food and donate them to the county’s network of organizations to distribute food to people in need.
The City of Chula Vista is currently focusing on creating a working group with local businesses, food banks and pantries that will help to improve and expand the food recovery and distribution efforts in the South Bay area.
The San Diego Food Bank and Feeding San Diego are the region’s two largest food banks that partner with numerous food organizations that provide thousands of meals for hungry people. It is vital that the upper levels of the Food Recovery Hierarchy are followed to the greatest extent possible. Only after these efforts have been exhausted will residual food waste make it to the Otay Landfill’s green waste processing site to be turned into a nutrient-rich soil amendment we can add to our gardens.
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OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY CLEAN TEAM UPDATE
A S M A RT C I T Y:
New Climate Action Plan At a council meeting on September 26, 2017, City Council adopted the Chula Vista 2017 Climate Action Plan (CAP). Implementing this new plan will aid in a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and will lower Chula Vista’s vulnerability to expected climate change impacts. As Mayor Mary Casillas Salas stated in the CAP, "This plan is the next step in our City's long history of working to address climate change and allows us to showcase that a clean environment and economic development can progress together." Thanks to great research being conducted by Climate Education Partners, the effects of climate change to Chula Vista are clear and a threat to our region’s high quality of life. In 2013, the average local temperature had increased by 1.3 degrees Fahrenheit since its 1985 baseline, and temperatures are expected to rise another 3.5 degrees by 2050 if action is not taken. But as the name climate change implies, not all of the changes will be as simple as the temperature getting warmer. Our region’s precipitation pattern can be negatively impacted with 16% fewer rainy days but 8% more rainfall during the biggest rainstorms. This means we will get less precipitation but face more risk of damaging floods. The fact that the entire San Diego County is now in a stage one moderate drought is a reminder that the “historic” drought of the past few years might not be so historic in the future. These changes can also impact the health of people that live in the region. Climate Education Partner researchers found that
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OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY CLEAN TEAM UPDATE
the focus:
WAT E R C O N S E R VAT I O N & R E U S E + WA S T E R E D U C T I O N + R E N E WA B L E & E F F I C I E N T E N E R G Y + S M A RT G R O W T H & T R A N S P O RTAT I O N
a 10°F increase in daily apparent temperature above the local average led to a 6% increase in respiratory and 4.9% increase in cardiovascular admissions at hospitals. The impacts of climate change are real but, so too, are the solutions.
bills. It also contains a variety of actions such as requiring new homes to have solar PV panels, increasing water reuse, completing bike and pedestrian infrastructure and adopting a Zero Waste Plan, just to list a few.
When the CAP is fully implemented, the new actions, or equivalent actions, are anticipated to reduce approximately 200,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, allowing the City to comply with state greenhouse gas goals and improve the quality of life for our residents. The plan was created with the assistance of a year-long stakeholder engagement effort called the Climate Change Working Group (CCWG), which was chaired by a member of the Sustainability Commission and comprised of residents, businesses, non-profits, academia, utility representatives and community-group representatives. In recognition of this innovative engagement, the San Diego chapter of the Association of Environmental Professionals awarded the CCWG its award for Outstanding Public Involvement.
The City recently was awarded 1st in the Overall Energy Score by the Georgetown University Energy Prize. This means that out of the 50 medium and small cities across the nation that were competing to save energy, Chula Vista saved the most. Thank you to all of the many residents who helped save energy during the competition. Now we need that same drive to help us fight climate change, and the City wants to help. Another new component of this CAP is the Appendix C: User Guide to Action. This is designed to translate the objectives and actions that the City will be taking at the community-level to actions individuals can take. For example, when the CAP talks about promoting energy efficiency in our community, the User Guide provides information about the City’s Home Energy & Water Check-Up that can provide you a nocost energy action plan for your house, or information about programs, rebates and financing that can help you make your home more energy efficient.
The CAP focuses on four major sectors including water conservation and reuse, waste reduction, renewable and efficient energy, and smart growth and transportation. Under each sector there are various objectives that will be achieved with implementation actions included in Appendix A. To build off past success, the CAP instructs staff to continue current outreach programs such as the CLEAN business, FREBE, Recreation’s Empower Hour, Library’s Energy Lounge and Home Energy & Water Check-Up programs that provide free information on how residents and businesses can save energy and water while reducing utility
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To review the full 2017 Climate Action Plan and all appendixes, visit www.chulavistaca.gov/clean. If you have any questions, please contact the Conservation Section at (619) 409-3893 or conservation@chulavistaca.gov.
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SCHOOL
/ News
Zero Waste Program: Southwest High School Leads the Way
The concept of going green has a powerful meaning at Southwest High School, where a Zero Waste Program (ZWP) has been implemented and is teaching students and staff about the benefits of recycling. “Nothing goes to waste on our campus,” says Dr. Hector Arias, Southwest High School engineering teacher. “Our students work diligently to ensure all food waste is accounted for.” Southwest High School adopted a ZWP in September 2015 where Dr. Arias developed a pilot program to reduce food waste in the Sweetwater District. Since then, the Southwest Engineering Academy and the Sweetwater District
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Nutrition Services Department have collaborated in this venture where students are given the opportunity to work on different activities and receive internship hours, academic credit or community service. Dr. Arias and his students also house 200 chickens on campus, all maintained by students. Organic eggs produced by the chickens are then sold to staff and community members, and all proceeds earned go back into the school. “The purpose of the program is to reduce the amount of food waste in our school and community and repurpose all food,”
said Dr. Arias. “Our Food Recovering Program has been essential in providing food for our chickens.” Projects included in the ZWP built and designed by Southwest High students include a composting station, organic garden, green house and Net Zero Farm with a barn and animal habitats. Dr. Arias and his students also manage a school garden that includes lemon, fig and mango trees. "By implementing the ZWP at our school we are dedicated to providing ethical, economical, efficient lifestyle and practices for our students, staff and their families.”
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march THE TASTE OF THIRD @ 4 – 8 p.m. Enjoy savory samples from assorted Village eateries, cocktail lounges, breweries and tasting rooms. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 the day of the event, if available. Ticket quantities are limited. For more information, including participating locations, visit thirdavenuevillage. com/taste-of-thirdavenue/.
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CHULA VISTA CHAMBER MIXER @ 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Mix, mingle, meet future business partners. $10 for members and $20 for non-members. Hosted by St. Pauls Plaza, 1420 East Palomar Street in Chula Vista. For more info or to RSVP, call (619) 591-0600. MARINE CORPS LEAGUE SOUTHBAY DETACHMENT 1207 MEETING @ 7 – 8 p.m. @ Bldg F, Chula Vista Veteran’s Home, 700 E. Naples Ct. Plan to join former and retired Marines, Navy, Army and Air Force veterans to welcome a special speaker. Call Commandant Jim Thomas at (619) 2279535 with questions.
OUT & ABOUT
SUHSD STUDENT ART EXHIBIT GALA AND AWARDS RECEPTION @ 6 – 7:30 p.m. @ South Chula Vista Library, 389 Orange Avenue in Chula Vista. The exhibit features middle and high school student artwork from throughout the district. Free admission. Exhibit runs through April 3.
EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA @ 9 a.m. – Noon @ On the field of Concordia Church and School, 1695 Discovery Falls Drive in Chula Vista. The Egg Hunt begins at 10 a.m. with 10,000 plastic eggs for 800 children. A free event with community games and food. For more information, please email melissa@ concordiachurch.com.
THE 6TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL MARIACHI FESTIVAL & COMPETITION @ 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. @ Pepper Park, 3299 Tidelands Avenue in National City. This daylong, community-friendly event celebrates San Diego’s Mexican heritage through mariachi music, colorful traditional ballet folkloric dancing, and a grand celebration of the arts, culture and culinary delights. Free admission.
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FREE TALK FOR THE COMMUNITY @ 2 p.m. @ First Church of Christ, Scientist, Chula Vista, 41 "I" Street. Hear Melanie Wahlberg, C.S., share “Never alone: How spiritual ideas work in us.” You will discover that by praying to God for help, we open up to receive divine ideas and feel the presence of God in tangible ways, ways that change our lives and our health for the better. Call (619) 422-6400 for further information. CESAR CHAVEZ DAY All Chula Vista city offices and facilities will be closed due to the city holiday.
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SUHSD DISTRICT DANCE CONCERT @ 7 – 8 p.m. @ Eastlake High School, 1120 Eastlake Parkway in Chula Vista. Presented by Sweetwater Union High School District's Visual and Performing Arts Department, which provides middle and high school dance programs throughout the district. Tickets are $5 with limited seating. Please contact a Sweetwater District dance teacher to purchase tickets.
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LAS PRIMERAS GALA @ 5:30 – 11 p.m. @ Coronado Cays Yacht Club. Join an all-volunteer group of women dedicated to the legacy of compassionate giving as they host “A Very Respectable Speak Easy” gala. $150 per person. Visit www. lasprimeras.org for more info.
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SAVE THE DATE 04/03: SOUTH COUNTY INTERNATIONAL GAMES @ 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. @ Chula Vista Training Center, 2800 Olympic Parkway. Active older adults (age 50+) team up with 3rd grade students from CVESD for a half day of fun educational and physical activities. For more info, email Marlene.Zavala@ sdcounty.ca.gov or call (858) 514-4920. 04/07: SOUTH BAY EARTH DAY @ 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. @ Chula Vista Marina (Bayside Park). Come shop green vendors, attend free yoga classes and test drive electric vehicles and bikes. The Go Green, Go Clean, Go Bike event will include a Fix-it Clinic, food trucks and organic fare, a tie-dye workshop and fun activities for the whole family. For more info, visit chulavistaca. gov/southbayearthday. 04/13: CHULA VISTA SUNRISE ROTARY TRIVIA NIGHT @ 6 p.m. @ The Venue at Eastlake, 871 Showroom Place, Suite #104 in Chula Vista. Great fun for clubs, school sites and business competitors. Entry fee is $25/person or $200/team. Don’t miss out on prizes, opportunity drawings and a silent auction. Proceeds from the fundraising event will benefit the Chula Vista Sunrise Rotary Club Community Benefit fund. For more information or to register, call (619) 207-8802 or email CVSR1@cox.net.
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BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT
EASTLAKE CHURCH CHILDREN'S CENTER
For nearly 20 years, EastLake Church Children’s Center has been providing a safe, nurturing environment where kids thrive and prepare for school while learning the lifelong skills of sharing, compassion and respect. From their humble beginnings in two classrooms with only 24 children, to 11 classrooms and a full staff of teachers, some who have been with the center for more than 10 years, EastLake Church Children’s Center remains focused on the Chula Vista community. “Over the years we have continued to adapt to meet the needs of parents in our community,” said Director Denise Cruz. “We recently expanded our hours to 6:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. in order to accommodate those parents who have to commute for work,” said Denise. Providing all snacks and hot lunches are additional perks to enrollment at the Center. “My son has been at EastLake Church Children’s Center for almost two years and the thing I like most about it is that I have felt the genuine love that the teachers have for him,” said Karla, mother of two. “I was hesitant about starting him in preschool at age two, but they have worked with his unique personality and internal needs, and are constantly showing him and us so much love and respect; I am confident I made the right decision.” Serving children ages 2-6, EastLake Church Children’s Center has a unique approach to teaching that includes STEAM activities and a regular healthy lifestyle habits and fitness program designed for early childhood. “My son loves KID-FIT days,” said Miriam, mother of two and a local health coach. 24 O U R HOMETOWN • MARC H 2 0 18
“I enjoy hearing about what he is learning about healthy food choices and how our body and organs function. And, he has fun, too!” Along with engaging academics and a fun fitness program, EastLake Church Children’s Center also offers a weekly chapel program, which includes music, movement and age appropriate devotionals. “As a Christian school, we focus on a child’s spiritual development as well as academics, partnering with parents to develop children who are empathetic and bright,” said Denise. As the Founding Director, Denise finds the personal relationships that form over time with the families and staff to be rewarding. “Seeing former parents and their children when they are out in the community, or teens who attended as toddlers, graduating from High School, is so heartwarming. Finding a preschool that is a fit for each child can be difficult, but we enjoy assisting parents in this process.” "We'd love to invite any families looking for a preschool to come in and take a tour of our facility and meet with our staff. It's a great chance to get a feel for our program and the kind of interaction we have with our students and parents. We will answer any questions as well as talk through the opportunities for personal, social and academic growth that you can expect for your child at the EastLake Church Children's Center."
Registration for the 2018-2019 school year begins March 1. EastLake Church Children's Center offers year-around enrollment for preschool, Kinder-Prep and Kindergarten. Visit EastlakeChildrensCenter.com for details or follow them at facebook.com/EastlakeChurchChildrensCenter.
On your Doorstep
OU R H OM E TOW N MAG. CO M 25
CITIZEN OF THE MONTH
DAN GRAYSON CORDERO
Dan Grayson Cordero is a trans Chicanx artist, activist and student currently studying LGBTQ+ studies. He is Councilman Steve Padilla’s selection for Citizen of the Month.
An avid comic book reader since his youth, Dan credits printed superheroes as his earliest source of inspiration and strength when beginning his own gender transition over ten years ago. This affinity for comics directed him toward an education focused on art until his early college career, where he served over two years as a cartoonist for the nationally recognized collegiate newspaper, The Southwestern College Sun. During this time, he also wrote pieces on transgender issues and began to guest speak about his community in different classes across campus. Desiring to connect with fellow queeridentifying youth, Dan joined Southwestern College's LGBTQ+ student organization two years ago, then known as The Gay Straight Alliance (GSA). At GSA, he was committed to focus his efforts on helping to build a more prominent and active student organization and community. Since then, they have renamed themselves The Sexuality and Gender Acceptance club (SAGA), and Dan has spent the last two years serving as President. SAGA's work at Southwestern includes hosting LGBTQ+ panels, awareness events, fundraisers, outreach to South Bay high school GSAs, efforts to get an individual LGBTQ+ center built on campus as well as organizing and hosting the first LGBTQ+ focused prom at Southwestern College. In addition to his work within SAGA, Dan continues to guest speak across several college
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campuses and works alongside faculty as a certified workshop facilitator for the LGBTQ+ SafeZone program at Southwestern College to bring awareness to community-specific issues. Outside of Southwestern College, Dan spent a year serving on the California Trans Youth Council (TRUTH), in association with the Transgender Law Center and GSA Network. As part of the council, he learned, organized and trained with fellow trans youth leaders across the state to advocate for intersectional racial and gender justice, the empowerment transgender and nonbinary youth within the community. Efforts of the TRUTH council include social media campaigns, organizing and hosting webinars for LGBTQ+ youth, resource compilation, holiday card campaigns and spreading awareness of unique and individual trans narratives through their storytelling movement. Dan's immediate goals include transferring to SDSU with the intent of earning a master's degree, along with continuing his efforts in educational activism. He is also working to find new ways to integrate his passion for art into his activism, hoping to better integrate the intersectional aspects of identity into his work. In the future he hopes to be a professor of LGBTQ+ focused topics as well as an artist for works intent on increasing intersectional representation for LGBTQ+ people and people of color.