The Capistrano Insider

Lung Association Says OC Lagging in Anti-Smoking Effort; Pushes for Higher Tax

STATE OF TOBACCO CONTROL REPORT SHOWS ORANGE COUNTY FALLING BEHIND IN KEY TOBACCO CONTROL PRIORITY AREAS

Report card clearly illustrates importance of passing upcoming
California Cancer Research Act ballot measure

(Tustin, CA, January 19, 2012) – The American Lung Association released the State of Tobacco Control 2012, an annual report that provides grades to the federal government and all 50 states and the District of Columbia on four key tobacco control areas. In conjunction with this national report, the American Lung Association in California released the State of Tobacco Control 2012 – California Local Grades, which issues grades to all cities and counties in California on local tobacco control policies including those for smokefree outdoor environments, smokefree housing, and reducing sales of tobacco products. To view the complete report, visit www.lung.org/california.

In 2011, Costa Mesa made advances in protecting their residents from secondhand smoke by restricting smoking in recreation areas.  Laguna Hills and Laguna Woods each received an overall C grade, which is the highest grade in the county. The cities of Santa Ana and Seal Beach both earned an overall D grade. However, more still needs to be done at the local level to protect residents from the harmful effects of tobacco. The American Lung Association is working to increase public knowledge about local policies that protect residents, recognize leadership where steps have been taken, and continue to encourage leadership and political will where improvement is needed.

Once a national leader in tobacco control policies, California’s efforts are now lagging. The state received an F for failing to adequately fund tobacco prevention and control programs and a D for its low cigarette tax. California currently ranks 33^rd among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for its $0.87 per pack tax, far below the national average of $1.46. While California earned an A for smokefree air policies, the state received another F for poor coverage of smoking cessation and treatment services.

Both the state and local grades demonstrate the need for California to pass the California Cancer Research Act on the June 2012 ballot. “Now is the time for California to raise the grade,” said Jane Warner, President and CEO, American Lung Association in California. “The California Cancer Research Act is an historic opportunity for California voters to provide more than $855 million annually to fund research for cancer and other tobacco-related diseases as well as proven tobacco prevention, education, and law enforcement efforts which will prevent 228,700 kids in California from becoming addicted smokers.” The California Cancer Research Act is strongly supported by the American Lung Association in California, the American Cancer Society, and the American Heart Association. More information can be found at www.californiansforacure.org.

The California Cancer Research Act ballot measure would increase the state’s tobacco tax by $1.00 per pack and dedicate revenues to the treatment, prevention and, ultimately, cures for lung disease, heart disease and stroke, cancer and other tobacco-related illnesses. The measure also would triple state funding for tobacco prevention and cessation efforts.

In 2011, a total of 45 cities and counties adopted new tobacco control policies to protect their citizens from the harmful effects of tobacco. While many jurisdictions took action to adopt strong policies and improve their grades, a total of 355 cities and counties – 66 percent of all jurisdictions in the state – received an F for their overall tobacco grade.

“In 2011, cities in Los Angeles County, and especially Baldwin Park, Compton and Pasadena, continued to make tremendous strides in protecting residents from secondhand smoke exposure and keeping tobacco products out of the hands of kids,” said Sue Padernacht, member of the Leadership Board of the American Lung Association in California – Los Angeles. “But in 2012, elected officials and all California voters can do even more to raise the grades and save lives by passing the California Cancer Research Act.”

About the American Lung Association

Now in its second century, the American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. With your generous support, the American Lung Association is “Fighting for Air” through research, education and advocacy. For more information about the American Lung Association or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or visit www.lung.org/california.

Capistrano Hires Risk Manager Away from Irvine

From the city:

New Human Resources Manager named

Tom Bokosky has been selected as San Juan Capistrano's new Human Resources Manager. He comes to the city with a wealth of experience in both the public and private sectors. He begins his new post on Jan. 25.

Tom has worked as a Risk Management Administrator for the city of Irvine since May 2001. In his role with Irvine, a city of more than 219,000, he prepared and managed human resources and risk management budgets and determined the appropriate type and amount of property and casualty insurance protection required along with negotiating policy terms, conditions, and premiums with insurance companies. Among many other duties, Tom investigated liability and workers' compensation claims, negotiated employee benefits and implemented the city's first Injury & Illness Prevention Program. He serves as board member and Underwriting Committee Chairman for the California Insurance Pool Authority, a public agency insurance pool.

Before Irvine, Tom worked in the private sector as the Director of Risk Management for Remedy/Temp; a Workers Compensation Specialist for Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.; and as the Corporate Safety Director for College Health Enterprises. He has a bachelor's in Organizational Leadership, a Masters of Labor Relations from the California Public Employers Labor Relations Association and is a Certified Professional in Human Resources and a Certified Self-Insured Administrator (State of California).
Tom also served his country as a United States Navy Reserve Intelligence Specialist from 1986 to 1992.


Tom said he is excited about his new position.

"I look forward to working with a great team of professionals to transform beautiful and historic San Juan Capistrano's culture into a more service-oriented culture and to help make this unique city a better place to live and work," he said. "I am excited to use my experience in both the public and private sector to ensure our employees have the tools and support they need to increase customer service while saving the city money to better serve the community."

City Manager Karen Brust said Tom is a welcome addition to the San Juan Capistrano team.

"In addition to Mr. Bokosky's 21 years of risk management and human resources experience, he has the organizational development background to assist me in instilling an attitude of service-oriented performance to achieve a culture in the city focused on our customers," she said.

Tom will begin with a starting salary of $112,896 plus benefits. Similar to the city manager, he will contribute 100 percent of the employee's share of the retirement benefit with the Orange County Employees' Retirement System.

A Day on the Beat: What Those Deputies Face ...

You go through the Orange County Sheriff's Department Academy. You work your stint in the jail system for at least six years. You finally get your assignment to patrol the streets of a community, making San Juan Capistrano a safe place. Taxpayers shell out more than $115,000 to have you there, too.

And what do you do?

From this week's Sheriff's Blotter:

KEEP THE PEACE

Ridge Road, 29500 Block (12:47 p.m.)

Deputies were asked to stand by while a man and woman exchanged their cat. Dispatchers told the deputy the cat’s name was Miowi and that it was a 6-year-old orange tabby, “similar to Garfield.” The exchange did not go through, though – the man was not home.

Capistrano Librarian Announces Movie, Hints at Retirement...

From the coolest Librarian, Teri Garza ...

San Juan Capistrano Library First Friday Film, January 6 at 7 pm  "Last Play at Shea" - (2010)  90 min. documentary that chronicles the last concert/event to play at Shea Stadium headlined by hometown Long Island boy, Billy Joel.  Besides great music, also provides historical footage on American suburban life, Billy Joel's career as well as Met's baseball.   http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1262986/

Greetings & happy 2012!  Hope you all had a great holiday time.  I am approaching 2012 with a great deal of excitement because it is signaling the start of a new phase in my life.  I recently celebrated a milestone birthday which has put me in a category where retirement is there if I want to take it.  I haven't set the exact date but it will be sooner than later.

 But meanwhile, the First Friday Film program at the San Juan Library is not retiring and with the continued support of the SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO ROTARY CLUB, will continue to bring for your entertainment and/or educational pleasures, movies you won't catch at your neighborhood theater plus all the fresh popcorn you can eat in one sitting.  Unlike most of the films I show, I've  already seen this one because I happened to have watched it in the comfort of my own home theater.   I thoroughly enjoyed it & thought it would be perfect for the Friday night crowd.   So come Friday evening at 7 pm, the La Sala Auditorium, just north of the library, will be filled with not only the music of Billy Joel, narration by Long Island's other favorite son Alec Baldwin, but the greatest band of all The Beatles will be seen, and barely heard about all the screaming girls, when they played Shea in 1965.  And since Shea's primary purpose was for baseball, you also get to relive the triumphant '69 World Series & Game 6 of the '86 Series.  There's just something for everyone!  And unlike last month's film, I don't think there will be any tears shed because no one dies in the end. 

Well, I've already spent too much time composing this reminder and I didn't even have time for "shop talk".  Suffice to say, while I like the extended shopping hours that the holiday time brings and additional coupons my favorite retailers put out, I resent the crowded parking lots & amateur shoppers messing up my clearance racks.  My holiday shopping mantra is get in early & get out by noon.  I also take advantage of the lax return policy in cases where I've misplaced my receipt.  It's also the only time I venture outside of the "ladies & shoe departments" to do my gift buying for my "loved ones".  Shopping for oneself eliminates the problem of "will they like it" or "will it fit". 

Another reminder that "An Evening at the Academy Awards" with my favorite Hollywood Couple, Robert Kline & Stephanie Heredia is returning bigger & better Friday February 24.  By bigger and better, as my final Oscar night as the "hardest working librarian in show business", we're upping the ticket price but expanding the snack bar to include dinner, beverages beyond water, and the opportunity to win a big flat screen TV.  It will be $20 well spent and tax deductible since it will go toward the latest Friends of the Library project MTB ( Move The Bookstore!). 

For you cartoon lovers, the Saturday film for the kids the next day, January 7, will be "Kung Fu Panda 2" at 11 am.  You come at your own risk because there's going to be a room full of noisy kids who, if we didn't close the snack bar down half way through the movie, would consume 1/2 of the 50 lb. bag of popcorn that I go out & buy every other month.  For more information or shopping tips, just reply back to tegarza@ocpl.org or call 949-248-5132 where you can leave a message.

Teri Garza, Librarian and soon to be full time "Buyologist"
                        www.ocpl.org     

                        San Juan Capistrano Regional Library

                                 31495 El Camino Real

                          San Juan Capistrano,  CA  92675

                                       949-493-4984

Capistrano Councilman Reeve at it Again: Questions Integrity of 'Middle Eastern' Students

San Juan Capistrano City Councilman Derek Reeve, who just weeks ago ignited a firestorm of controversy by announcing from the dais that he'd named his dog "Muhammad," has now questioned the integrity of 'Middle Eastern' students on his Facebook page.

Reeve was also in the news when it was discovered he'd plagarized dozens of passages for a political column he wrote for the Patch news site. He dismissed those allegations, contending while he'd used other's work without attribution, the same standards didn't apply to blogs as other forms of writing.

An attorney and college teacher, Reeve, who portrays himself as an arch-conservative, lost his job teaching political science at Concordia University after those revelations. Saddleback College kept him on board, however.

It's apparently students there that spurred his latest Facebook post. The page is open to friends only, but the post was sent to several media outlets.

On his Facebook page, Reeve questioned "Are my international Middle Eastern students less honest or just really bad at cheating?"

We'll contact Reeve, Saddleback and others tomorrow for comment. See earlier reports of the other episodes at www.thecapistranodispatch.com ... Also, a college watchdog has a post at http://dissenttheblog.blogspot.com/