Summer is Here in National City!

Well, it has happened. The dog days of summer are nearly upon us, though with the heat waves we've been experiencing, you might think they've already run up and licked our noses. Never fear, though. All the stuff that makes summer great in National City is still ahead of us. From Movies in the Park on the 2nd Friday of every month to our week-long 4th of July carnival to Automobile Heritage Day, summer is a fabulous time in National City. So get a tall glass of iced tea, head out to the shady porch with your favorite reading device and sit back to peruse all the news from your National City. This is the second edition of Your National City News. Enjoy!

Community Service Day a Success

More than 300 volunteers turned out on Saturday, April 26th for a National City-organized community service day. Community members gave their time to build 20 projects and clean up the neighborhood around Kimball Park. The Kimball Senior Center was made over, the ARTS center was improved, and Kimball Park was cleaned.

Volunteers came from the First United Methodist Church on 8th Street in National City, the Navy, the City of National City, Church of the Latter-day Saints, ARTS, and the community at-large. Volunteers displayed their skills in painting, landscaping, and art-making.

Events like this are necessary to improve the quality of life in National City. The City will continue to organize and promote community based events that utilize volunteers. If you are interested in participating in future events please sign up as a volunteer. Thanks to all the past and future volunteers. Get involved!

Summer Reading at the National City Public Library

Summer break for the National City schools will soon be here, and that means the Children's Library is gearing up for our annual Summer Reading Program, which this year will run from June 9th until July 24th.

Many studies have shown, and any teachers you ask will confirm, that children who set aside their books for the summer vacation tend to backslide dramatically in their reading ability. They often spend the first several months of the new school year just getting back to the reading level at which they ended the previous year. To counteract that alarming tendency, every year we encourage our kids to enroll in our Summer Reading Program, put down the remote control, and spend time with some good books to keep their “reading muscles” strong!

All children from pre-K through sixth grade are eligible to sign up for the program at the Children’s Room reference desk beginning June 9th. The kids who participate are given reading logs to keep track of their reading, and they earn small incentives – pencils, stickers, tops, etc. – based on how much they read. At the program’s conclusion, we will celebrate with our traditional party for all of the participants at the MLK Building, where we’ll have drawings for museum tickets, gift certificates and other prizes, and where the kids can enjoy some pizza while listening and dancing to the Raggle Taggle Band!

The Summer Reading Program, like all of the Children’s Library programming, is funded by money raised and donated by the good people of the Friends of the National City Library.

For more information, please contact the Children’s Room at (619) 470-5810. For all children’s programs offered by the National City Public Library, please visit our webpage.

National City Receives Public Health Champion Award

Live Well San Diego is an initiative of the County of San Diego to improve health, safety and well-being for all residents. National City became the first city in the south region to be designated as a Live Well San Diego city on June 18, 2013. Last month the City was presented the Public Health Champion Award.

National City was also recognized with the top score in San Diego County for walkability, National City is committed to enhancing access to the bay front and providing recreational opportunities through development of the Marina District, including quality of life facilities such as the Adventure Center (formerly known as the Aquatic Center) scheduled to open in January 2015.

National City is home to Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center which became the hub for community meetings to gather input on the Butterfly Park Restoration Project. Olivewood Gardens empowers residents to be healthy and active through organic gardening, environmental stewardship and nutritional education programs.

Designated as a Healthy Eating Active Living city, National City created a Wellness Committee to encourage employees to be more physically active, eat more nutritious meals, inspire and empower individual to take responsibility for their own healthy lifestyle choices. National City makes the health and wellness of its residents and employees a top priority. Earlier this month 23 National City employees participated in a 90 Day Weight Loss Challenge and lost a total of 113.5 lbs.

“The 90-Day Weight Loss Challenge was the extra motivation I needed to stick to my personal fitness goals." said Deputy City Attorney Jennifer Knight, who lost 26.5 lbs, "It feels great to have an employer that encourages its employees to achieve a healthy lifestyle by hosting fun, camaraderie-building challenges!”

The Live Well San Diego vision also calls on every resident to take action to improve their own health, safety and well-being, as well as that of their families and neighbors! So get out there National City and enjoy one of your many beautiful parks, recreation facilities, or stop by one of our local non-profits to find out more about how to Live Well.

Featured Department: National City Police Department

Meet the newest member of your National City Police Department in the video below.

Click to find out more about your National City Police Department

Employee of the Month: Macario "Mac" Avila

There are lots of trees in our city. Mac Avila knows every one of them. Meet Mac in the video below.

Click to find out more about Parks and Tree Trimming in National City.

National City Fire Department Encourages Learning New, Easier Method of CPR

The National City Fire Department is encouraging all residents to learn a new, simpler method of CPR that could possibly save a life if and when the situation presents itself. The American Heart Association (AHA) changed its guidelines in 2010 based on more than 50 years of scientific studies.

“We want to teach simple recognition and a simple response to Cardiac Arrest,” said Frank Parra, NCFD Chief. “In the long run, Compression Only CPR is better for the victim and better for the rescuer so, next time you see this method being offered, stop and take a minute to learn this valuable skill.”

The AHA found that the most important part of providing CPR is compressions. That is why in 2010 it changed its longtime mantra of the “ABC’s” (Airway, Breathing, Compressions) to “CAB” (Compressions, Airway, Breathing). There are many benefits to providing the simple life-saving skills of compression- only or hands-only CPR.

Here are a few:
• It’s simple to do and simple to remember: 100 beats per minute at 1/3 depth of the chest. Use the same ratio on all people, adults as well as children.
• The new method is less to have to remember and removes the guessing game.
• More lay-rescuers and by-standers are apt to respond.
• There is less concern for communicable diseases during the process.
• It’s a simple skill that anyone can learn in a few minutes.

Click for more information from the National City Fire Department

Miss National City Pageant Set for July 5 in Kimball Park

The Miss National City Education Pageant is set for July 5, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. in Kimball Park.

Organizers list the following benefits of being selected as Miss National City or a member of her Royal Court:

• Educational Scholarship
• VIP status to city events and ribbon cutting ceremonies
• Serve as ambassador for the city at county wide events
• Networking opportunities
• Gain confidence
• Build your resume
• Make life long friends

Contestant must be a resident of National City at least four (4) months prior to the Miss National City Pageant. Residency is based on home address. Please submit a copy of current driver’s license or CA I.D. along with the “Official Qualifying Entry Form” to the Miss National City Liaison. If chosen as Miss National City or Royal Court, you must maintain physical residence in National City throughout your reign. If chosen as Miss National City or Royal Court and you choose to reside outside of the City of National City during such reign, the City of National City has the right to remove all crowns, titles as well as any scholarships, gifts or prizes that you have or may receive.

Click for more information and an application for the pageant.

National City Businesses Invited to Participate in Green Scene

As an National City business, you are invited to participate in National City Green Scene – a week-long, no-cost event supported by National City, city of Chula Vista, and South Bay Energy Action Collaborative.

• Your business will receive a no-cost energy evaluation and energy-saving products*. Businesses that participate will also be able to tout the positive community impact they’re making with a recognition poster.
• National City Green Scene takes place during the week of June 16th-20th and is a part of the South Bay regional effort to support and promote sustainable business practices.

Call 619-409-3893 or email conservation@chulavistaca.gov to reserve your spot and join other South Bay businesses that take sustainable action every day. Participating is easy, costs nothing and helps keep our city more vibrant and beautiful.

Click for a flier.

National City Fire Responds to Multiple Vegetation Fires

National City Fire, along with four surrounding fire departments, responded recently to several vegetation fires just west of Plaza Bonita. The fires occurred in and around known homeless encampments and are being investigated as suspected arson fires. These fires near a large shopping center, Plaza Bonita, and just east of a major highway, I-805, bring multiple challenges to our firefighters. Fighting these fires requires National City Fire, along with National City Police Department, to rapidly coordinate the evacuation of known encampments, followed by preventing the spread of fire or smoke that could potentially impact the shopping center or, depending on prevailing winds, impact and close a major highway.

The fires also have multiple hazards in and around the encampments due to supplies carried in by the homeless. Your National City Fire Department, along with City staff from all departments, continue to work to prevent these fires through comprehensive code enforcement efforts with staff from Fire, Police, Legal, Neighborhood Services and Public Works.

National City Fire Engine 34 and Engine 31 also recently responded as part of County Wide Strike teams to active fires in Carlsbad and San Marcos. Both companies worked for days fighting fire and protecting both commercial and residential properties.