Paving on Tamarack Ave. this Saturday
Tamarack Avenue from James to Park Drives will be paved on Saturday as part of the Tamarack Storm Drain Improvement Project. Work will take place between 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tamarack Avenue will be open with lane closures and traffic control in place, but no parking will be allowed in the construction zone. In addition, Valley Street will be closed from Tamarack Avenue to Andrea Drive, and Park Drive will be closed from Tamarack Avenue to Monroe Street. Please avoid the area if possible and use the posted detour. For more information, please visit the project website.
“Ditch the Disposables” to reduce food waste On Saturday, September 28, I Love A Clean San Diego in partnership with the City of Carlsbad Recycling and Trash program held the 2nd outreach event to the “Ditch the Disposables” campaign. Three booths were set up at the Forum Shops and over 200 residents stopped by to learn about the benefits of limiting food waste, how to eat out or cook in a less wasteful way, and increasing the use of reusables. Residents who signed the “pledge” to Ditch the Disposables were providing free bamboo utensils or reusable straws. Ditch the Disposables campaign is part of the city’s recycling and trash program efforts to encourage residents to reduce waste and increase the amount of reusables in our daily routines.
Interstate training for Carlsbad Municipal Water District staff
The Utilities Division sent several employees to the 34th Annual Tri-State Seminar last week held in Las Vegas. Since 1985, Tri-State Seminar LLC has been providing affordable, high quality education to water and wastewater operators from the Western United Sates through an annual three-day seminar designed to provide professional development, continuing education, and technology transfer. Keeping our maintenance and operations staff at the forefront of the industry helps us responsibly manage our precious water resources.
Community Centers get Wifi
The IT department, in collaboration with Parks and Recreation, recently completed the installation of wireless services in the Stagecoach and Calavera Hills Community Centers. This enhancement will provide staff with the ability to wirelessly use City devices while roaming the facilities. The public will also now be able to get free Wifi access which will undoubtedly be a welcome addition to all those smartphone addicted teens out there.
Annual Employee Health Fair
Human Resources held the Annual Health Fair on Tuesday October 2 where over 300 employees enjoyed over 40 booths with raffle prizes and a BBQ lunch served up by Carlsbad Firefighters Association. The annual event included health insurance providers, local health and fitness providers, and an open enrollment station with laptops at the HR booth where more than 50 employees completed their open enrollment elections. An employee perks program, BenefitHub, was introduced, and employees were asked to complete a Wellness Survey. Please help us design this new program by completing the survey. Everyone had a great time; see you there next year!
National Public Lands Day at Lake Calavera Preserve Sept 29, 2018 Event
The Parks & Recreation Department hosted a very successful event at the Lake Calavera Preserve on Saturday, September 29 for National Public Lands Day. Staff, along with about 30 volunteers, spent the morning doing erosion repair, installing interpretive signs, boardwalk sweeping and vegetation trimming at various points along the trails. Volunteers also installed new fencing at the view point by the lake, and a new dog waste station in the south-east part of the preserve. Volunteers dedicated 99 hours while maintaining Carlsbad’s public lands and having a great time together. Thanks to all the volunteers that spent their Saturday morning with us giving back to their community. We hope to see you at the next Saturday trail event, held on Oct. 20 from 8:30 a.m. till 11:30 a.m. at the Harbor Drive Trail.
Weekend Events
The Parks & Recreation Department has been busy permitting several events this month including the annual Lancer Day Parade on Friday at 2 p.m. Later in the evening, Carlsbad High School will host a firework display at their Homecoming football game against Oceanside High School. On Saturday, bring the whole family to the Shoppes at Carlsbad from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. to help eliminate drunk driving on our roadways, by participating in the 5K fundraiser for Mothers Again Drunk Driving at Carlsbad Walk Like MADD 2018. After the walk, head down to Holiday Park and join the Carlsbad Rotary Clubs for their 36th Annual Oktoberfest & Family Fall Festival from noon to 10 p.m. Enjoy an authentic German dinner, costume contests and musical entertainment, including great dance music and the famed "Chicken Dance!" Children will enjoy the pumpkin patch and pumpkin decorating, inflatable jumpers, face painting, an antique fire truck and much, much more!
Staff Development Day
Last Thursday, Library & Cultural Arts staff participated in its annual staff development day. This year, the department focused on a major initiative of succession planning, working in partnership with The Centre for Organization Effectiveness to develop the training with the theme, Oh, the Places You’ll Go! Developing our Talent & Preparing for our Future. The day provided an opportunity for all Library & Cultural Arts staff to come together to discuss their vision for the future and learn how they can prepare to grow as individuals and as an organization. The day included remarks from Assistant City Manager Gary Barberio, presentations from The Centre for Organization Effectiveness, a panel discussion with selected staff who shared their path to success, brag stations on the work of each division and World Café small group workshops. Special thanks to our HR colleagues for their support of the day’s activities!
Literacy Program Conference – Carrie Scott Last week, Community Outreach Supervisor Carrie Scott made a presentation on literacy tutor training at the California Library Literacy Services (CLLS) Coordinators Conference at the Tsakopoulos Library Galleria in Sacramento. Approximately 130 attendees representing the 108 CLLS literacy programs attended the two-day event. Carlsbad’s Library & Cultural Arts Director Heather Pizzuto was one of several directors recognized as a California Library Association’s Outstanding Librarian in Support of Literacy. The highlight of the conference was a Carlsbad learner, Nyla H., winning the 2017 Beginning Writer award. In a Writer to Writer panel, Nyla read her winning letter to an appreciative audience of 30, then joined a panel to share the benefits of the program. One of the most exciting things about Nyla’s involvement was not only her presentation, but the fact that this was the first trip where she flew, rode a tram and caught a cab by herself. She credits the literacy program with giving her the skills and confidence to be able to do that.
Launch of the Good Life Lectures Series The library’s Good Life Lecture Series launched on Tuesday with a talk by Carlsbad Marathon founder (and resident) Lynn Flanagan. Lynn discussed the challenges she faced as one of the first women to put on a major marathon in the U.S. and her new book A Life in Motion. The series continues each Tuesday in October on topics such as nutritional brain boosters, stress relief and a sustainable income in retirement.
Legoland Active Shooter Drill
Last week, the fire and police departments, in collaboration with Legoland staff, participated in a simulated active shooter, multi-casualty drill. Done annually, this training is designed to prepare personnel to be response ready in the instance of a major, mass casualty incident. A special thank you to the numerous CERT volunteers who increased the realism of the drill by acting as patients.
Fire training held at Maerkle Dam
Fire departments from throughout North County participated in training held at the Maerkle Dam last week. This training focused on confined space and trench rescues, as well as hazmat incident response. Having multiple agencies train together further solidifies common practice when responding to an emergency.