County Board of Supervisors Approves Rooster Ordinance in Effort to Curb Cockfighting

Here's a roundup of news from San Diego County for the week:

– The number of roosters residents in San Diego County can keep on their property has been limited after The San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved a rooster ordinance aimed at preventing cockfighting. “This action is another step in the right direction to combat illegal cockfighting,” said Supervisor Dianne Jacob, District 2. “This is a sick, cruel sport… (This action) will make it more difficult to continue their activity in our county.”

– The state’s new public safety realignment plan designates . Tuesday, the County of San Diego Sheriff, District Attorney, and Chief Probation Officer joined other local leaders to delineate the impacts of this drastic alteration to the justice system.

– On Thursday, more than 80 foster youth boarded a bus and headed to Julian for Camp Connect San Diego, a four-day camp intended to strengthen bonds of those foster siblings who could not be placed in the same home. The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) seeks to place siblings in the same home but unfortunately cannot always do so.  The camp features rock climbing, hiking, and other activities.

– Friday, August 5, County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, the County Parks and Recreation Department and the Ramona Boys & Girls Club had a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Collier County Park’s first soccer arena. The low-energy lighted, open-air, walled arena boasts a turf field and spectator bleachers.

– Six special pertussis booster (Tdap) clinics are being brought to areas throughout the county to assist parents meet the new state law which necessitates middle school and high school students to prove immunization during school registration this year. “Our public health centers are offering limited doses of the Tdap shot during special hours on specific days to help meet demand for the pertussis booster,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County Public Health Officer. “We continue to remind parents to take care of this early to avoid delays with enrollment.” A special clinic will be held Aug. 11 from 1 to 5 p.m. at , 3845 Spring Drive, Spring Valley; 100 doses available. Another clinic will be Aug. 9 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Central Elementary School, 4063 Polk Ave., San Diego; 300 doses available.

– Pearson Fuels on 4067 El Cajon Blvd. is having a program Thursday, August 11, 2011 from 4 to 6 p.m. to educate and equip government and commercial to integrate biodiesel and/or flex fuel in their fleets. To register, visit www.energycenter.org/flexfuel.

– The San Diego County Library, collaborating with Housing Opportunities Collaborative (HOC), is going to provide monthly HOME Clinics that offer free foreclosure prevention and housing support. County Library Headquarters, 5560 Overland Ave, will have the next HOME Clinic on Saturday, August 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

– Wednesday, The San Diego County Board of Supervisors . This will be the first all-encompassing improvement of the County’s development and growth plans in 30 years.  General plans direct community growth and determine the philosophies and policies of development.

– The Library Friends of San Diego County has launched their innovative foundation, the Library Foundation of San Diego County, to offer long-lasting financial aid for the San Diego County Library system’s 33 branches. The Library Foundation is affiliated with the San Diego Foundation and has a mission to "prudently use every donation in support of San Diego County Library." 

– In response to the fact that one in five San Diego County residents cannot read at the third-grade level, the San Diego County Library is offering the LEARN adult literacy program.  The El Cajon Library is hosting a free training session for those that are interested in becoming an English language literacy tutor on Saturday, August 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

– County and private planners and Ramona residents are having a week-long workshop next week to make “designer” building codes intended to revolutionize Ramona’s Main Street by merging Ramona’s rural character with development fit for pedestrians. “This is a great opportunity for Ramona residents to take part in a process that will help shape what their Main Street will look like in the future,” said Jacob, whose Second District includes Ramona. “People who live in our unincorporated communities, like Ramona, know how important it is to maintain their community’s unique character.”