Join a Guided Wildflower Walk at Edgewood Park

You are invited to take a free guided walk to view wildflowers in Edgewood Park and Natural Preserve every Saturday and Sunday through June 3, 2012.

Walks begin at 10 a.m. and end at approximately 1 p.m. Meet at the Education Center near main parking lot off of Edgewood Road near Redwood City.

The serpentine grasslands of Edgewood Park and Natural Preserve are renowned throughout California for their lush wildflower carpets and rich biodiversity. You might see dozens of species of flowers on a single walk! Our walks vary according to what’s in bloom–covering about 3 miles, at a moderate pace, with frequent stops.

Bring water, a hat and sunscreen, and a snack if you wish. Restrooms and water are available only at the main entrance. No reservations are needed.

To find out when your favorite docents are leading walks, or to request a hike for your group, visit www.friendsofedgewood.org, where you can download a schedule.

Walks start from the Education Center every weekend throughout the season. In addition, on April 21 and April 28 walks will also start from the Clarkia Trailhead for easier access to the grassland flowers. Learn more about Edgewood Park and view a map on the Parks website.

Public invited to “Behind the Smiles” Filipino community health forum

The Filipino Mental Health Initiative, in collaboration with the Autism Hearts Foundation, is hosting a community forum that will focus on Filipino health issues. The health forum entitled Behind the Smiles will highlight mental health and substance use issues in the Filipino community that tend to be hidden, ignored, or misunderstood.

Members of the Filipino community in San Mateo County are invited and encouraged to attend this event to learn more about these health issues. Various health organizations and agencies will also be in attendance to share resources and information. This is a free event for all, and food will be provided. The Filipino Mental Health Initiative is sponsored by San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services’ Office of Diversity and Equity.

WHEN: Thursday, April 26, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Registration will begin at 5:30 pm. Dinner will begin promptly at 6 p.m.
Presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Café Doelger (Westlake Park), 101 Lake Merced Blvd. Daly City, 94015

WHO:  Speakers: Dr. Chris Esguerra, Deputy Medical Director, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services; Dr. Jei Africa, Health Equity Initiatives Manager, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services; Various community members

WHY: The mission of the Filipino Mental Health Initiative is to reduce the stigma around mental health and substance use in the Filipino community that is often a barrier to seeking treatment. This event will educate the Filipino community about the true nature of mental health issues among Filipinos and provide resources for those who need assistance. Currently, more than 70,000 Filipinos live in San Mateo County. This is about 10% of the total County population, yet only 4% of the clients who received treatment from Behavioral Health and Recovery Services between 2000 and 2010 were Filipino.

RSVP: Contact Joyce Diloy: joycediloy@yahoo.com, or (650) 201-0949; RSVPs encouraged, but not required

MEDIA CONTACT: Robyn Thaw: rthaw@smcgov.org or (650) 573-3935

Controller Wins Award for Comprehensive Annual Financial Report

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – San Mateo County Controller Bob Adler reports the Controller’s Office has again been awarded a “Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting” by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. The award is for County of San Mateo’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2011.

This is the 12th consecutive year that the County has received this prestigious award. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.

The CAFR was judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program. Controller Adler stated, “We are pleased to receive this award on behalf of the Board of Supervisors, Department Executives and the fiscal staff of the County. It evidences their commitment to the highest standards of transparent and accurate financial reporting for the taxpayers of San Mateo County.”

The CAFR contains the County’s audited financial statements and other financial information. It also contains information about the local economy, the structure of the County government, the County’s future financial plans, the County’s financial policies, and significant County projects. The public can access the County’s financial information online at http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/controller/cafr.

Free Admission to County Fair before 11 a.m. on Disaster Preparedness Day

Please mark your calendars and save the date – Saturday, June 9, 2012 — for the 8th Annual San Mateo County Disaster Preparedness Day at the San Mateo County Event Center, 2495 South Delaware Street, San Mateo.
 
Once again this year the event will be held on Opening Day of the San Mateo County Fair, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., and free parking and free admission to the Fair will be offered to everyone who arrives before 11 a.m. that day. This is a fabulous opportunity to collect and hear about the latest emergency preparedness updates, take a short but important free CPR course and bring your friends and family to the San Mateo County Fair!
 
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the office of Board President Adrienne J. Tissier at (650) 363-4572, or the Office of Emergency Services at (650) 363-4790.

View the event flier for more details: Disaster Preparedness Day June 9

Dads Count Breakfast and Awards Ceremony

Tickets are available for the April 20 Dads Count Breakfast and Awards Ceremony sponsored by the San Mateo County Fatherhood Collaborative.

The event celebrates the importance of fathers and presents Father Friendly Business Awards to organizations that support fathers with policies that support a family-friendly work environment.

Assemblymember Jerry Hill will introduce the keynote speaker, Judge Leonard Edwards, a retired Santa Clara County Supreme Court Judge and current Judge-in-Residence with the California Office of the Courts, who will discuss his relationship with his father during the civil rights movement and their time together in Mississippi in 1964.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for fathers and everyone who supports fathers to learn about the work of the Fatherhood Collaborative,” said Dave Pine, a member of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. “The organization hosts a variety of events throughout the year and helps increase awareness about the value of fathers spending time with their kids.”

The breakfast and awards ceremony will be from 7:30a.m. to 9 a.m. on Friday, April 20, at the Hotel Sofitel, 223 Twin Dolphin Drive, Redwood City.

Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/229491

Tickets must be purchased by Tuesday, April 10. For more information, contact Yen Pang at 650-802-5090 or at ypang@smchsa.org

The event is co-sponsored by the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors and the Judges of the San Mateo County Superior Court. The Fatherhood Collaborative advises the Board of Supervisors and consists of organizations and individuals dedicated to supporting fathers in taking an active role in the lives of children and families.

 

Community Survey Contributes to Health of County

SAN MATEO, Calif. — Every three years, San Mateo County conducts a Community Needs Assessment Survey to determine the health of its residents, which in turn helps determine the priorities for the Health System and all County hospitals.

Sponsored and funded by members of the Healthy Community Collaborative of San Mateo County, the Community Needs Assessment Survey kicked off in early March. The survey is scientifically valid, randomly selecting 1,900 county residents and asking them to spend 35 minutes answering questions about their health and quality of life.

“We want people to take the time to answer these questions as thoroughly and thoughtfully as possible,” said Dr. Scott Morrow, San Mateo County’s Public Health Officer. “Directly asking the people we serve what they need, want, and how they feel is invaluable for helping us set priorities, and plan health programs and services to better serve the public.”

In 2008, the survey results revealed several significant trends affecting the health of our community, including that obesity rates were beginning to level off and youth violence was increasing. Community members participating in the survey also expressed concern about the large number of aging baby boomers in the County.

Since that time, the hospitals and community groups have been working to address these issues with new programs and initiatives, such as Get Healthy San Mateo County, a countywide obesity prevention initiative. Other efforts include the Sequoia Health Care District’s Healthy Schools Initiative, and launching the Sequoia Hospital Program, which coordinates care for older adults when they are discharged from the hospital. The 2012 data will help us evaluate if these efforts are making a difference.

Members of the Health Community Collaborative of San Mateo County include the Hospital Consortium of San Mateo County, San Mateo County Health System, San Mateo Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers in Redwood City and South San Francisco, Mills-Peninsula Health Services, Peninsula Health Care District, San Mateo County Human Services, Sequoia Hospital, Seton Medical Center, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford Hospital and Clinics, and Health Plan of San Mateo.

Free Activities, Classes During Public Health Week Beginning April 2

Join us for a week of free activities, classes and presentations to celebrate Public Health Week 2012 in San Mateo County.

Whether it’s a Pilates class, power walk, presentation on what you should know about diabetes, or how to safely handle raw chicken, there’s something for everyone.

The Health System is offering a wide variety of activities happening April 2-7. You’re invited to participate in as many activities as you want.  They are all free and being held in locations across the County.

Learn more about activities during Public Health Week by visiting the Health System website.

Meeting to Discuss Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Parking Lot Rebuild

On Monday, March 26,  at 7 p.m., San Mateo County Parks will hold a public meeting to discuss conceptual plans for rebuilding the existing parking lot at the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve main entrance.

See the two proposed project conceptual plans.

Foreclosure Prevention Fair, Saturday, March 31

Learn about the foreclosure process, loan modifications, foreclosure rescue scams and much more at a free foreclosure prevention fair on Saturday, March 31.

The fair will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at the Silicon Community Foundation, 1300 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo.

The fair is sponsored by the office of Supervisor Carole Groom in cooperation with Community Legal Services of East Palo Alto, Project Sentinel, AFL-CIO Community Services, San Mateo Country Central Labor Council, United Way of the Bay Area and Housing and Economic Rights Advocates.

At the fair attendees will:

Hear about the new Attorney General settlement and other programs that might help you save your home.

Hear from a panel of experts including attorneys, tax professionals and certified housing counselors.

Learn about important tax issues related to foreclosures, loan modifications, the foreclosure process and more.

For additional information, call Housing and Economic Rights Advocates at 510-271-8443, ext. 307, or send an e-mail to inquiries@heraca.org.

To contact Supervisor Groom’s office, call 650-363-4568.

View a flier about the Foreclosure Prevention Fair.

Sawyer Camp Trail Closed Friday, March 16, for Maintenace

Sawyer Camp Trail, the popular hiking trail between San Mateo and Millbrae, will be closed Friday, March 16, for fire hydrant relocation. The trail will reopen Saturday morning.

Another one-day closure is expected at the end of March to complete the fire hydrant work.

The work is part of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s Water System Improvement Project. Please call the 24-hour Water System Improvement Program hotline with any questions or concerns:  (866) 973-1476.