Upon my invitation and that of Supervisor Ron Roberts, a top executive presented the "State of the Life Sciences Industry" to the Board of Supervisors at our Tuesday meeting.

Joe Panetta, president and CEO of Biocom, told us that the industry is alive and well in San Diego County and is responsible for nearly 60,000 jobs.

The industry encompasses biopharmaceuticals, biofuels, research and education and medical devices, he said. It is known for employing a highly-skilled and well-paid workforce.

In addition to creating jobs, the life sciences sector draws positive, international attention to the region.

In his remarks, Mr. Panetta often referred to Biocom's 2013 Southern California Economic Impact report, which can be found here.

And click here to see a video of Mr. Panetta's presentation.

Flight schools and flight instructors at County-owned airports must show that all foreign students have completed federal background checks, my colleagues and I agreed on Wednesday.

The federal government has legal authority over aviation in the United States and requires any flight student who is not a citizen to undergo background checks before training can begin. 

Federal officials, however, remain concerned about gaps in the background-check system.

The County's ordinance, which is scheduled for a second reading Feb. 26, requires that flight schools and instructors sign a form every year to state their compliance with the federal background-check law.

Fourteen private flight schools and nearly 1,200 aviation instructors work at County-operated airports.

The County of San Diego and many of its healthcare partners are hosting free blood pressure screenings on Friday at locations throughout the county. 

The screenings are planned at dozens of locations and are part of the county's regional wellness initiative, Live Well San Diego. Click here to see a full list of locations.

For residents of inland North County, the Rancho Bernardo Community Council is hosting screenings at the Ed Brown Center, 18402 West Bernardo Drive.

Participants can gather wellness plans and other educational materials with tips on developing healthful habits, such as exercising regularly and consuming less salt.

To learn more, visit www.loveyourheartsd.org or call 211.

During the next 10 weeks, Child Welfare Services is hosting a series of forums to gather testimony from adoptive parents about their experiences of adopting children from the County of San Diego.

County officials want to hear from parents about all aspects of the adoption process, with a goal of making improvements.

Refreshments will be provided and attendees can receive a $10 gift card.

Reserve a spot at one of the forums by contacting Laura Frutos at (800) 515-0562 or [email protected]

The times, dates and locations of the forums are as follows:

• 7 p.m. Feb. 19 and March 19, 6950 Levant St., San Diego
• 6 p.m. March 28, 200 Michigan Ave., Vista
• Noon March 28, 5333 Geneva Ave., San Diego
• 6:30 p.m. April 7, 3845 Spring Drive, Spring Valley
• 6:30 p.m. Feb. 10 and April 14, 690 Oxford St., Chula Vista
• 7 p.m. Feb. 20 and March 20, 1072 Abarca Ct., Chula Vista
• 6 p.m. Feb 11 and March 11, 839 W. San Marcos Blvd., San Marcos
• 6 p.m. Feb. 27 and March 12, 2081 Newcastle Ave., Cardiff-by-the-Sea*
• 6 p.m. March 5 and April 23, 10433 Reserve Drive, San Diego*

Community groups are invited to apply for grants of $1,000 to $5,000 provided by The San Diego Foundation's Center for Civic Engagement. Is your group ready for the Great Neighborhood Challenge? Visit the San Diego Foundation's Web site for details. Good luck! 

Today: Exhibition opening in Del Mar

The Oceanside Museum of Art, which maintains exhibit space in Del Mar, is opening its Artist Alliance II exhibition at 6 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Herb B. Turner Galleries, 2010 Jimmy Durante Boulevard. A free reception is scheduled. The work of OMA's Artist Alliance members will remain on display through May 11.

Tomorrow: Chocolate festival in Escondido

Hungry? Be sure to visit the Downtown Business Association's fourth annual For the Love of Chocolate festival, which runs from 1 to 5 p.m. in downtown Escondido. Click here for details.

Feb. 12: Human Trafficking workshop

A workshop on the Department of Homeland Security's campaign to end human trafficking is set for 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Oceanside Civic Center Library, 330 North Coast Highway, Oceanside. RSVP by writing an e-mail to John Ramirez:

[email protected]

Feb. 9 & Feb. 21: Shows to benefit Loren Nancarrow Healing Garden

Television newsman Loren Nancarrow died of brain cancer last month, and two concerts in February will raise funds for the Loren Nancarrow Healing Garden. The garden, which is planned at a Scripps cancer center in La Jolla, is a great way to celebrate Loren's legacy. Loren's son, Graham, will play with his band, Nancarrow, on Feb. 9 at the Belly Up Tavern and on Feb. 21 in Balboa Park. These will be great shows. Click the links for program information.

Feb. 22: Book sale in Cardiff-by-the-Sea

Great deals are in the bag at the Friends of the Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library book sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 22 at 2081 Newcastle Ave. Shoppers can fill a paper grocery bag with books from designated tables for $3 or buy individual books for 25 cents each. For more information, call (760) 635-1000 or write an e-mail to [email protected].

March 5: North County Economic Summit

I support working together to bring jobs to the region and helping local businesses. That's why I'm looking forward to San Diego North Economic Development Counci'l's First Annual North County Economic Summit from 7 to 10:30 a.m. March 5 at the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa, 5480 Grand Pacific Drive, Carlsbad. The summit will include an analysis of local, state and national economies, with a focus on North County industry clusters.