Scripps Hospitals put interim visitor restrictions in place to protect against flu
On Jan. 12, Scripps Hospitals implemented several visitor restrictions at their five hospital sites in San Diego County aimed to protect against the spread of H1N1 influenza. The interim restrictions — issued in response to rising flu rates — went into effect at Scripps Mercy San Diego, Scripps Mercy Chula Vista, Scripps Memorial La Jolla, Scripps Memorial Encinitas and Scripps Green in La Jolla.
The restrictions include the following:
- All visitors will be screened. Visitors displaying symptoms of flu-like illness will be asked to leave.
- Children age 14 and under will not be allowed in the hospital unless they are patients receiving treatment or have appointments. This includes lobbies, dining facilities and common areas.
- Patients will be limited to a maximum of four visitors per day.
- Exceptions may be allowed by infection control and department supervisors for special circumstances.
For more information, visit scripps.org.
Congregants from different faiths to beautify Balboa Park on Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service
On Monday, Jan. 19, leaders and members of local Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Unitarian congregations will work together to clean and beautify Balboa Park in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service.
Registration starts at 9 a.m. outside the Marston House (3525 Seventh Ave., Balboa Park). Following an opening ceremony at 9:15 a.m., the groups will clear and haul brush, clean flowerbeds and plant items. The groups have been gathering together for this event for several years; last year over 500 volunteers participated.
Live music will accompany a complimentary picnic of hot dogs and chips afterwards for participants starting at 11:30 a.m.
For more information and to register as a volunteer visit fumcsd.org/MLKDAY.
HRC and San Diego Youth Services team up for MLK Jr. Day of Service event in North Park
HRC members and volunteers will gather at The Lafayette Hotel (2223 El Cajon Blvd., North Park) on Sunday, Jan. 18 to collect donations and assemble care bags for LGBT homeless youth served by San Diego Youth Services. They will be collecting donations from noon – 2 p.m. and assembly of the bags will be from 2 – 4 p.m.
Items needed include:
- New and unused thick socks and underwear, athletic clothing, and shoes
- Unopened travel-sized toiletries including toothbrushes, feminine hygiene products, dental floss, chapstick, lotion and wet wipes
- Disaster kits
- Drinks and nonperishable snacks
- Diapers, baby clothing, strollers, car seats and booster seats
- Arts and crafts supplies
- Blankets, pillows, sheets for twin/full beds, towels, pots, pans and cooking utensils
- Hats and gloves
- Bus passes, phone cards, electronics, gift cards and batteries
For more information visit hrc.org/sandiego and visit volunteersignup.org/XRMB8 to sign up for a shift.
Gloria proposes changes to referendum process
San Diego’s voter referendum system is ripe for abuse and needs reform, according to City Councilmember Todd Gloria.
Citing the business community’s successful drive to postpone the city’s minimum wage increase and push it to a public vote in the 2016 primary election, Gloria wrote in a memo to City Council President Sherri Lightner that “corporate interests” are using their deep pockets to “buy results that could not be attained through the public legislative process.”
Gloria said he would like the City Council to consider supporting reforms, including placing limits on the use of paid signature gatherers; raising the number of signatures needed for a referendum to qualify; requiring signature gatherers to tell the truth when soliciting signatures; requiring earlier disclosure of information on the financing of signature gathering campaigns; allowing proponents and opponents to observe the signature verification process at the county Registrar of Voters office; and updating and clarifying language in the city’s municipal code regarding referenda.
In response to Gloria’s announcement, Ryan Clumpner, executive director of the conservative Lincoln Club of San Diego County, wrote a commentary for Voice of San Diego that described the proposal as a nebulous plan to “make the process so difficult and cumbersome that no one will ever have the means to challenge the Council majority again.”
Lightner has not yet announced whether she will add a discussion of Gloria’s proposal to the agenda of the City Council’s Charter Review Committee.
Uptown Relay For Life seeks volunteers
The Relay For Life of San Diego Uptown recently released a call for volunteers to assist with varying tasks in advance of the June 27 5K promoting cancer prevention and treatment. The nonprofit also seeks several motivated individuals to serve on its Event Leadership Team, a planning committee for the event. Other volunteers are needed to make phone calls, searching for sponsors, managing social media pages, or maintaining the event’s website. Volunteers of all ages, schedules and capabilities are accepted.
Relay For Life is a worldwide fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. Created in Tacoma, Washington, in 1985, more than 5,000 Relay For Life events now take place across 20 countries. American Cancer Society estimated it has raised nearly $5 billion from the event to date.
For more information or to volunteer, contact Katie Foster at 619-682-7423 or [email protected].
SDHS taking nominations for 3rd annual ‘Animal Compassion Awards’
This summer, the San Diego Humane Society (SDHS) will once again honor people and businesses for extraordinary acts supporting animals in San Diego County. The nonprofit organization is asking for nominees that have “demonstrated an exceptional level of compassion towards animals.”
Nominations are open through Feb. 13 in twelve categories. From those categories three awards will be given: the Animal Impact award will honor how an animal has impacted a human life or vice versa; the Humane Hero award will be given to an individual, group or business that creates positive awareness of animals; and the Pet-Friendly Business award will recognize a local business that promotes and supports a pet-friendly environment in one of 10 business types.
Winners will be featured in the July issue of “San Diego Pets Magazine.” Nominations can be made at sandiegopetsmagazine.com/animal-compassion-awards-nomination. Visit sdhumane.org for more information on the awards and the organization.
