We "grow" in learning about mulching and watering, other gardeners' techniques, sharing harvests, and building community in an ongoing year-round opportunity. We participate in community garden projects, which keep our garden looking so nice. We share good old garden know-how and receive recreation and therapeutic hands-in-the-soil benefits. Sign up today - the wait is worth it. Call 927-6746. Come grow with us!
See you in the garden...
Stephen Connor
Larkspur Community Garden Coordinator
This year the walks will be held every Monday and Wednesday, with two groups walking each of those days. Walkers may walk at a 3-mile/hour pace, walking some hills and staircases, or at a somewhat slower pace on mostly level terrain. There will be a leader for each group.Come and walk with us, and then decide if this is a good fi tness program that fi ts your needs. You've all heard about the health benefi ts of walking. What you may not know is how much fun we have while doing something good for ourselves!
TIPS FROM YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT
Trustline: Checking Out Child In-home Caregivers
Typically, parents leave their children with babysitters or nannies, trusting them with the safety and well-being of their kids. Until recently, parents could only rely on references and word-of-mouth on choosing who would care for their children. Most babysitters are efficient and never have problems, but there have been situations where kids have been mistreated, abused and even killed.In order to minimize further tragedies, California now has "Trustline," a state government hotline that allows parents, for a fee, to run criminal and abuse background checks on potential babysitters. Caregivers listed with the registry have passed a background screening that includes a fingerprint check of records at the California Department of Justice. This means they have no disqualifying criminal convictions or substantiated child abuse reports in California. An FBI check can also be done for an additional fee.
A caregiver may register with Trustline prior to employment. Alternatively, a parent can request a set of fingerprints from a potential sitter, along with permission for Trustline to run a
background check. As of March, 1998, 26,990 applicants were cleared through Trustline. Additionally, 1,971 were not registered due to criminal activity in their backgrounds.
Here are some tips to keep in mind when choosing an in-home caregiver.
- Check candidates' references and work histories.
- Interview potential caregivers and observe how they interact
and respond to your children.
- Ask open-ended questions to understand how they care for
children. Questions such as, "How would you handle emergencies?" and
"What are your beliefs on discipline?"
- Ask if they are certified in first aid or CPR.
- Is their drivers license valid or have they had any accidents?
Trust your instincts. Hire someone with whom you and your children
feel comfortable.
Trustline can be reached at 1-800-822-8490, Monday through Friday,
9:00 AM-5:00 PM, or through their website, or you can contact Juvenile Officer Patty Monge, Twin Cities Police Authority, at 927-5173.
When School's Open: Drive Carefully
The problem:
- Children 5-15 years old represent just 15% of the United States population, but...
- In the United States, in 1996, 29% of the people killed or injured in pedestrian traffic collisions were in this age group.
- In California, in 1996, 53 children were killed and 3,862 were injured in pedestrian traffic collisions, and there were 22 children killed and 3,755 were injured on bicycles in traffic collisions in this age group.
The reasons:
The traffic risk for these children is increased at the beginning of the school year due to:
- increased exposure to traffic walking to and from school or the bus stop;
- excitable and unpredictable behavior at the beginning of the school year;
- a lack of traffic experience on the part of young students; and
- a motoring public that has grown accustomed to fewer children in the traffic mix during the summer months.
Countermeasures:
Here's how drivers can help reduce the risk to children:
- Slow down around schools and residential areas.
- Remember the speed limit in a school zone is 25 mph.
- Watch out for children! They may be running late, distracted and forget to look for cars.
- Understand that children are unpredictable and unexperienced in traffic.
- Look for clues that children may be in the area: safety patrols, crossing guards, bikes, school buses and school zone signs.
- Be alert for late students who are running or distracted.
- Be on the lookout for kids during early morning hours and late afternoon.
When You're Out and About
Be alert about where you are and who is around you.
Always lock your car when you are not in it. It is best to lock it when you are driving, too, so that no one will jump in your car with your when you come to a stop.
Put your packages in the trunk of the car, along with a pullout stereo if you have one. Live by the phrase, "out of sight, out of mind."
When waiting for public transportation or a ride with friends, stay in a well-lit place.
Teach your children to go to a store clerk and ask for help if you become separated while shopping. They should not go to the parking lot alone.
Avoid carrying more cash than you will need. If you have to carry cash, don't keep it all in the same place.
If you make purchases with a credit card, make sure the salesperson destroys any carbons or waste containing an imprint of your credit card number. Others can use the number to charge purchases to your account. Notify issuers and the police immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen or misused.
Purses and wallets are special targets for crime in crowds, at bus stops, and on public transportation vehicles, even inside stores. Grab-and-run thefts are a continuing problem in supermarkets, too. Keep wallets in an inside or front pocket. Keep your purse in your control with the strap secured to your arm or body. Do not display the contents of your purse or wallet.
Avoid overloading yourself. It is important to have clear visibility and freedom of motion to avoid mishaps.
Have your key out and ready to go before you get to the parking lot of your car.
If you know you will return to your car when it gets dark out, park near a street light.
At Home
Lock windows and doors when you leave home even for a few minutes. Leave lights and a radio or television on so the house appears occupied. Put your lights on a timer so they can go on when it is dark and you are not at home.
If someone calls and wants to verify or obtain your credit card number because you have won a prize or a free vacation, hang up! Anyone who has your credit card number can charge purchases to your account. Also, report this to the police for information.
Immediately mark new items with your driver's license number. You can borrow an engraver from Twin Cities Police Department by calling Patty Monge at 927-5153.
To schedule an appointment, call 927-5150 and ask for Patty Monge.
FIRE SAFETY SPRINKLERS: A Simple Way to Protect Lives
Today, most businesses and many homes are equipped with fire safety sprinklers. These "early extinguishing" appliances are suspended from the ceiling. Modern models are available with either recessed or designer heads that can blend with the aesthetics of a building.
Fire sprinklers have been attributed with saving many lives and incredible amounts of property dollar loss. Because of their proven past performance, many cities now require them in commercial buildings and some new homes. Larkspur is one of those cities. "We are fortunate to be in an area where practical fire prevention is a priority. That forethought helped create our fire sprinkler ordinance," commented firefighter Matthew Cobb.
They operate on a simple principle. They are actually similar to sprinkler heads found in lawns or gardens, with the exception that they are engineered to very specific standards. They are hung from a series of pipes within the ceiling framework. These pipes are connected to a water supply on the exterior of th structure. Each "pendant" or sprinkler head has a fusible link in it that will melt away or burst at a pre-designated high temperature. When this happens, the water supply from the exterior runs through the pipes and to the site of the activated head where it is sprayed onto the fire. As the water flows in the pipe, it passes a mechanical alarm bell. This bell will sound as long as water is moving in the system. The system can also be linked to a private alarm monitoring company that can notify the fire department in case of activation.
False activation is very rare with fire sprinkler systems. They do have the ability to hold fires in check that otherwise would be out of control until the fire department can arrive to extinguish the fire. Cobb commented, "The benefits that these sprinklers possess far outweigh any disadvantages."
Practice fire safety and don't burn paper wrappings in your fireplace.
FROM YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT
Not Just Firefighters Anymore
by Scott Shurtz, Larkspur Deputy Fire Chief
I'm always surprised when someone comments: "Things must be slow for you guys now with all that rain." It's true that winter is not considered "Fire Season," because the threat of a catastrophic vegetation fire is all but gone. But combatting vegetation fires and working to prevent them is just a small part of what your firefighters do throughout the year. In fact, the fire department helps to mitigate just as many emergencies during the winter as we do in the summer. As an example, the number of structure fires nationwide actually increases in the winter due to the increased use of heating systems, fireplaces and candles.
Also, many people may not realize that over the past several decades, the fire service has grown from a strictly "firefighting" service into what is now called an "all risk" service. This means that firefighters are called upon to help with just about any type of emergency that one can imagine. The most common emergencies we respond to are medical emergencies. Over 70% of our calls involve medical emergencies. The severity of these emergencies can range from a stubborn nosebleed to a full cardiac arrest. If you or anyone near you is ever in need of emergency medical help, you should know that all Larkspur firefighters are trained and certified at or above the level of Emergency Medical Technician.
Often, when we arrive at the scene of a medical emergency we are asked, "Why did you bring that huge fire engine? I called for an ambulance." It is important to understand that while we've diversified and expanded the services that we provide, we do still need to remain prepared to fight fire at all times. This means that we take the fire engine everywhere we go. Also, in most cases, your closest medical resource is your local fire department. Which means that the firefighters on the fire engine will usually be the first to arrive and will quickly work to stabilize the medical emergency by triaging and treating the patient and, if necessary, prepare the patient for transport by ambulance. This is an example of where the term "first responder" comes from. Firefighters are the first responders to a wide variety of emergencies.
Like what, you ask? Just as a selection: confined space rescues, hiker/biker rescues, various water rescues such as boating and windsurfing accidents, flooding due to inundation or broken pipes, vehicle accidents, construction accidents, carbon monoxide emergencies, natural gas line breaks, electrical emergencies, storm-related emergencies such as fallen trees (occasionally into a structure), landslides and the endless variations of hazardous materials incidents including pollution control and chemical exposures.
In some cases, the firefighters must tackle more than one category at a time, such as a vehicle crash into a power pole with a badly injured passenger. The doors won't open due to the impact of the crash. Smoke is billowing from under the hood and beginning to enter the passenger compartment. Energized power lines have fallen, and gasoline is on the ground near the sparking power lines and headed for a storm drain. Not exactly a typical day at the office.
While that was definitely a dramatic example, there are plenty of less dramatic things going on as well. The firefighters conduct regular safety inspections of schools, commercial occupancies, apartment buildings and places of public assembly. They maintain the City's hydrants, fire stations, and firefighting equipment. The participate in regional specialty services such as Urban Search and Rescue, Fire Investigations, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing and the Hazardous Materials Response Team. The also participate in public education activities at the schools and at community events. But without a doubt, the greatest portion of their time is spent training and training and training. Which is understandable when one considers the breadth of experiences to which they need to be prepared.
So don't be too surprised the next time you hear a siren on a cold winter day. And if you happen to run into a few firefighters doing an inspection or picking up lunch, you can be assured they're not far from their office. It's parked out back - ready to go!
towns and unincorporated areas to prevent stormwater pollution, protect and enhance water quality in creeks and wetlands, preserve beneficial uses of local waterways, and comply with State and Federal regulations. The federal government, with the 1987 amendment to the Clean Water Act, has mandated a cleanup of stormwater pollution.
The County and each of Marin's 11 cities and towns have local ordinances that forbid dumping of anything but rainwater into storm drains. To protect local waterways, the ordinances also require businesses to take reasonable, practical steps to minimize pollutants running off parking lots, outdoor work areas, and construction sites.
Common sources of chemical stormwater pollution include spilled oil, fuel and fluids from vehicles and heavy equipment; landscaping runoff containing pesticides or weed killers; and materials such as used motor oil, antifreeze, and paint products that people pour into a street or storm drain. These pollutants are carried by water through the storm drain system. While water used in our homes and businesses drains to a sewage treatment plant, stormwater flows directly to local creeks, wetlands and the Bay, with no treatment.
In Marin County, catch basins are labeled to remind you of the water's final destination. Stormwater pollution is a serious problem for wildlife dependent on our waterways and for the people who live near polluted streams or wetlands. It can cause declines in fish populations, disrupt habitats and limit water recreation activities. Even more importantly, stormwater pollution poses a series of threats to the overall health of the ecosystem.
Another type of pollution is caused by decomposing leaves. Perhaps the single most important action a homeowner can take to prevent stormwater pollution is to properly dispose of cleared vegetation. Cleared vegetation, tree trimmings, and other plant material can cause environmental damage if it gets into creeks. Such "organic" material uses large quantities of oxygen as it decomposes, reducing the oxygen available to fish and other aquatic life.
Do not dispose of plant material in a creek or drainage facility or leave it in a roadway where it can clog storm drain inlets.
We hope you will join us by using the Best Management Practices Guides provided by MCSTOPPP. These brochures and other related materials can be picked up at Larkspur City Hall, 400 Magnolia Ave., second floor (927-5110). You can also call MCSTOPPP at 499-6528 for tips on how to prevent pollutants from entering our storm drains or check their website at mcstoppp.org.
To learn more about creek care, obtain printed materials and publications, or volunteer for creek care projects, please contact Friends of Corte Madera Creek Watershed at 454-8608 or 456-5052.
