Why I volunteer?  

"I volunteer with the American Red Cross because it not only is an excellent way to help my community locally, but also on a national scale. Volunteering with the Red Cross gives me the opportunity to improve someone else's life. It really isn't about the volunteer hours, rather the aspects of life one takes away from this organization shape your future. I have been on the Red Cross since 7th grade and it has been a like a second family to me. I am thankful for all the leadership skills i have learned by volunteering with this organization, but mainly i am grateful for the strong friendships i have developed over the years. Despite my age, I know that through the American Red Cross i am given the opportunity to make a change in the world." 

-Shefali Patel   

"I volunteer for the American Red Cross because of the immense impact it has not only on my life, but on the lives of many of the people both in and around the community. Through the Red Red Cross, I have been able to make a difference in different parts of the community. From teaching middle and elementary schoolers about disasters and disaster relief, to simply playing bingo with the elderly at Brookdale, the opportunities are incredible. I have been part of the ARC for 7 years and in that time I have developed relationships that I hope will last throughout my entire lifetime.  

The people involved with Red Cross have the same goals as me and we all look towards a better future. Red Cross has taught me so many different things, primarily leadership. By allowing individual "executive committee" members to chair certain events, I understand what it takes to organize events, speak in front of people, and just how the smallest things can make the biggest impact. The situations that ARC members are put in may be uncomfortable at times, being in a new place with unknown people, but they soon realize that everyone in the ARC is their friend and hopes for the best. ARC has been a huge part of my life and I hope to continue it as I graduate from high school, and then college."

-Chinmaya Sharma

American Red Cross is not the only place where youth can volunteer. If you are a youth and want to become a volunteer for the city of Sunnyvale, Please call the Volunteer Resources Program at (408) 730-7533 or visit Volunteering.inSunnyvale.com. There are many exciting youth volunteer opportunities for you to choose from.  

On Tuesday, October 4, Governor Brown signed into law Senate Bill 929 which will require that children riding in any vehicle must be restrained in the back seat in a child restraint until their 8th birthday.  

Personnel with expertise in child safety restraint systems testified before the Senate and Congress at the State Capitol.  This new law brings California up to similar standards that have been in place in at least 30 other states.

Studies have shown that children are far more likely to be restrained in age-appropriate restraints, such as car seats and booster seats, if state law requires booster seat use for their age group.  Many people rely on state laws to guide them in determining how to best protect their children.

California's current child restraint law only protects children that are under the age of six or weigh less than 60 lbs.  After January 1, 2012, those vulnerable six and seven year olds will be required to stay in their car seats or booster seats until they reach the age of eight years old. 

After January 1, 2012, a violation of this section will be punishable by a fine of nearly $500.00 and one point on your driver's record.

The number one killer of children in the United States is vehicle collisions.  The Sunnyvale Public Safety Department wants to help parents best protect their children while they are traveling in vehicles.  Deaths are just the tip of the iceberg.  Young children are too small for seat belts that are made to fit adults, and are subject to severe injury or death if improperly restrained. 

Restraining a child with only a seat belt puts them at risk for serious injury.  If the belt is across the child's waist instead of across the hips or thigh bones, they could suffer damage to internal organs and/or a spinal cord injury if involved in a collision.

Booster seats are 60 percent safer than seat belts alone. A booster seat is a child restraint that raises a child up so that the vehicle's lap-shoulder belt is properly positioned across the strong bones of their body.

5-Step Test: Can your child....

1. Sit with his/her back flat up against the vehicle seat

2. While his/her knees are bent naturally over the seat cushion edge

3. With the lap belt across his/her hip or thigh bones

 4.And the shoulder belt across his/her shoulder (not crossing over his/her face or under  

    his/her arm or, behind his/her back

5. And, he/she can stay seated in that position the whole trip ?

If your child cannot achieve all 5 steps above, they need to stay in their booster seat.

Four Key Safety Points:

1.  Restrain your child on every trip, every time.

2.  Keep your child in the back seat.

3.  Use the best safety restraint for your child's size.

To schedule a safety check for your car seat, please contact (408) 730-7179 

On October 16, five members of Sunnyvale's Hazardous Materials Team participated in a day-long Urban Shield exercise.  Teams from 11 other agencies from around the Bay Area participated, testing their skills in mitigating hazards and identifying substances in a variety of situations.

The team first went to a water pollution control plant in Los Gatos.  At this venue, the Sunnyvale team was paired up with several other agencies to handle a simulated earthquake.  In this scenario, the teams had to deal with multiple chemical leaks due to damage to storage tanks, and performed rescue operations for workers injured in the quake and exposure to the chemicals.

In the afternoon, the team traveled to Pleasanton to perform several individual team exercises.  At this venue, our team had to handle a methamphetamine laboratory, in which several police officers were injured due to the chemical exposures.  They then had to respond to a chlorine tanker that exploded due to a terrorist act.  The final scenario was a big rig accident in which unidentified chemicals were leaking onto the roadway.

Sunnyvale's team performed extremely well, and gained valuable training and experience in this challenging and exhaustive day-long exercise.

 By Lt. John Hohmann, Scotts Valley Police Department

To really find out how special Law Enforcement is to Special Olympics (SO), one just needs to attend the Summer Games or the International Conference. Having just returned from the 30th International Conference in Canada, I thought this was an opportune time to share a few of the stories from this year's conference. I listened to many speakers consisting of professional athletes, motivational speakers, and SO athletes.

The speakers included Dave Rodney, the first Canadian to scale Mt. Everest, and one of only a very few people to do it twice. Also present was Derek Poundstone, a police officer and the most decorated American Strongman in four decades.

The most profound speaker in my opinion was Leonka. A young lady one would not recognize as a SO athlete today, but was not always the case. Leonka was born as an fetal alcohol syndrome baby with intel lectual disabi l it ies. Leonka was taken away from her mother and placed into foster care. Leonka's foster mother, Marilyn Ritchie, fell in love with Leonka even though she was told not to bond with her. Leonka had difficulties growing up because of her disabilities and did not do well in school. Marilyn described her as withdrawn, walking around with her head down and shoulders shrugged forward, with no self esteem or confidence. Leonka was not able to participate in any school related activities or sports and she was called names and made fun of. Leonka began helping out at various Law Enforcement Torch Run events and eventually decided to compete in the SO games. Leonka began competing in bowling, golf and floor hockey for many years. It was through SO that Leonka gained self esteem and confidence to overcome the many obstacles she faced. Leonka was named Calgary's female athlete of the year for 2011.

She has overcome many obstacles and as you can see from the photograph she is a confident young lady proud of her accomplishments. Leonka and Marilyn are so thankful for SO and especially all of the law enforcement officers who volunteer their time to raise money for SO and who treat them with the kindness and dignity they deserve. Leonka turned eighteen and the courts awarded her to be her own guardian. Marilyn thought Leonka was going to move out, however, to Marilyn's delight Leonka wished to remain living with Marilyn. Leonka's next goal is to complete a 5K run. I am looking forward to another great year and I hope all of you participate in this year's Torch Run as it is an honor to be a torch runner and considered a "Guardian of the Flame". 

The Bannister Family