March 2014 - Vol.07, No.03 
In This Issue
March is National Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month
Meet Our Neighborhood Resource Officers
Sunnyvale Challenge Team
Sunnyvale PAL and the Junior Giants
2014 Sunnyvale Fit & Fun Fair
CHAMP CAMP 2014

Events Calendar

March 26               

Sunnyvale Challenge Team Meeting 7:00 - 8:00 a.m.

ChallengeTeam.inSunnyvale.com

 

April 15                  

Tip a Cop Breakfast/Lunch at  

Country Gourmet  

8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

 

April 26                  

Sunnyvale Fit and Fun Fair

 

April 30                  

Challenge Team Meeting  

7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.

ChallengeTeam.inSunnyvale.com

 

 

Message from the Chief 

Are you ready for some football? It sounds funny to hear that question in March, but it is a question that staff from the City of Sunnyvale have been asking for the last several months in preparation for the opening of Levi Stadium. In fact, preparation between Sunnyvale staff, City of Santa Clara staff and the 49ers have intensified over the last year. Part of this effort has been the facilitation of several community outreach meetings presented by the collaborative planning entities. Information related to the on-going planning efforts can be found on the City of Sunnyvale's website at http://sunnyvale.ca.gov/ under featured projects (49ers Levi's Stadium). Included in the information is a newly published document titled "Levi's Stadium Frequently Asked Questions - City of Sunnyvale" that was produced in response to questions received during the public outreach. The Levi's Stadium link will continue to be updated into the future to ensure that the community is kept abreast of the latest information.

 

One other item of note, directly related to Levi's Stadium is the Department of Public Safety Nixle messaging system. The Nixle messaging system is a community information service that allows DPS to send important information to members of the community via text message, email or the web. This service will be the main communication method from DPS to the community regarding stadium related events such as traffic conditions, road closures and other public safety operations. The Nixle messaging system is a voluntary subscription service in which the subscriber chooses how to receive information and what type of information they want to receive. Subscribers may choose to unsubscribe at any time. There is no fee for this service, but subscribers should consider message and data rates of their personal carriers. Information related to the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety Nixle messaging service can be found at  http://sunnyvale.ca.gov/Departments/PublicSafety.aspx  

 

Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable month!

 

Chief Grgurina         

TEL (408) 730-7140
TDD (408) 730-7501            

or email to: [email protected]    


March is National Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month   

 

Preventing Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) 

This March, in recognition of Brain Injury Awareness Month, CDC is working to raise awareness about traumatic brain injury. Improved prevention, recognition, and response can help address this important public health problem.

 

Understanding TBI

Have you ever hit your head as a result of a fall, car crash, or other type of activity and just "did not feel right" afterwards? After a few days, you returned to your normal activities, but continued to experience headaches sensitivity to noise, or difficulty concentrating and remembering things. Does this sound familiar?

 

A TBI can disrupt the normal functions of the brain. TBIs ranging from mild concussions to severe, life-threatening injuries can be prevented. The burden of TBI can be reduced through primary prevention strategies and improvements in the health and quality of life for TBI survivors.

CDC's researchers indicate that in the United States:

  • Males have the highest rates of TBI
  • The youngest children and older adults are at highest risk for sustaining fall-related TBIs
  • Adolescents and young adults (i.e., persons aged 15-24 years) have the highest rates of motor vehicle-related TBIs
  • Adults aged ≥75 years have the highest rates of TBI-related hospitalization and are more likely to die from TBI (either TBI alone or along with other injuries or illnesses) than any other age group
Learning the Signs and Symptoms

Most people with a TBI recover quickly and fully. But for some people, symptoms can last for days, weeks, or longer. And in severe cases, a TBI can lead to coma and even death. In general, recovery may be slower among older adults, young children, and teens. Those who have had a TBI in the past are also at risk of having another one and may find that it takes longer to recover if they have another TBI.

 

Click here for more information regarding TBI.  

 

Meet Our Neighborhood Resource Officers   

The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety (DPS) Crime Prevention Unit (CPU) provides public safety services to 31 public and private schools within four school districts: Sunnyvale Elementary School District (SESD), Fremont Union High School District (FUHSD), Cupertino Union School District (CUSD) and Santa Clara Unified School District (SCUSD).   

  

Public Safety Officers assigned to the CPU are called Neighborhood Resource Officers (NROs). NROs work closely with school and district staff to combine the concepts of prevention, intervention, and education to meet the diverse needs of the more than 20,000 students in the Sunnyvale Schools. Additionally, the NROs are responsible for developing and maintaining positive relationships between DPS and the schools in our community.   

  

Along with giving numerous presentations to students, parents and school staff, NROs also assist with:

  • Assuming responsibility for handling calls for service from the school and in coordinating the response of other police resources.
  • Addressing crime and disorder problems, gangs, and drug activities occurring in or around the school.
  • Making arrests and issuing citations on campus.
  • Responding to off-campus criminal mischief that involves students.
  • Serving as liaisons between the school and the police and providing information to students and school personnel about law enforcement matters.
The Crime Prevention Unit
Lieutenant Ryan Yin joined the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety in 2002.
During his time as an officer he has served in police, fire, traffic enforcement
and as a detective in investigations. Lieutenant Yin was promoted in 2011 and is currently assigned as the supervisor for the Crime Prevention Unit. 
 
NRO Todd Fekete
Officer Fekete joined the Department of Public Safety in 2003. He has previously been assigned to both the police and fire services, has participated in the department's honor guard and is a member of the bicycle patrol unit. Officer Fekete is assigned to Braly, Nimitz, Laurelwood, Ponderosa, Stocklmeir and West Valley Elementary Schools, Peterson Middle, Stratford Schools, Appleseed Montessori and Silicon Valley Academy. 
 
NRO Brian Gantt
Officer Gantt has been in law enforcement since the year 2000. He was a California Highway Patrol Officer for seven years before coming to Sunnyvale DPS in 2007. Officer Gantt has worked as a Field Training Officer, DUI Instructor, and Vehicle Theft Investigator. Officer Gantt is part of the Crisis Negotiations Team, Bike Patrol Unit, Crisis Intervention Team and Critical Incident Stress Management Team. Officer Gantt is assigned to Bishop, Ellis, Fairwood, Lakewood, and San Miguel Elementary Schools, Columbia Middle, and Kings Academy.
NRO Amy Pistor
Officer Pistor joined Sunnyvale Public Safety in 2003. She has served in both police and fire services and is a member of the Mobile Field Force Team. Officer Pistor is assigned to Fremont HS, Homestead HS, FUHSD Community Day School, FUHSD Educational Options, Cupertino Middle, Hebrew Day School, and French American School.
NRO Eric Fujii
Officer Eric Fujii began his law enforcement career in 1992 as a police officer in the city of Alameda. In 2001 he was hired as a Sunnyvale Public Safety Officer. During his time at Public Safety, he has served in police and fire services. He was assigned to the Investigations Unit as a Child Abuse Detective and is a member of the Critical Incident Stress Management team. Officer Fujii is assigned to Cherry Chase, Cumberland, and Vargas Elementary Schools, Sunnyvale Middle and the Catholic Academy.

Sunnyvale Challenge Team    

Where we've been...

The Sunnyvale Challenge Team was developed under the guidance of the Department of Public Safety's (DPS) Captain Doug Moretto to address an increase in gang activity in the community. That was seven years ago. Today, even with a decline in crime rates, the Challenge Team continues to meet -- every month. Every month, the collaborative comprised of leaders from private and public sectors - including educational, judicial, health, community-based and faith-based organizations - come together to discuss the various challenges facing youth and families and look for creative and compassionate ways to bring positive influences into the lives of youth to guide them away from the damaging influences of gangs and drugs.

 

Where we are today...

The Challenge Team shares the responsibility of surrounding youth with pro-social influences and understands there is no single approach or system that can eliminate the negative influences affecting young people today. A balance of prevention, intervention and enforcement is essential to continued success and sustainability. With that comes the need for individuals, agencies, organizations and systems to "talk the same language" and to have a mutually understood framework. The Challenge Team is committed to the healthy development of youth within a context of community safety and security and looks to the 40 Developmental Assets as its guide.

 

The 40 Developmental Assets, as defined by the Search Institute www.search-institute.org/, are essential building blocks for young people's achievement. Children, youth, and adults need positive external support and internal strength in order to succeed in life. Youth with more assets are least likely to engage in patterns of high-risk behavior, including problem alcohol use, violence, illicit drug use, and sexual activity. When they have more assets, they are more likely to do well in school, be civically engaged, and value diversity. The Challenge Team supports activities designed for youth at risk and families, along with other projects involving elementary, middle and high school aged youth from Sunnyvale's public and private schools.

 

Where we are headed...

On February 26, 2014, the Challenge Team hosted a two-hour interactive strategic planning session at the Sunnyvale Community Center. Led by an outside facilitator, representatives from over 20 agencies/programs - city, non-profit, community-based and faith-based agencies, schools and clubs participated in fun and focused candid conversation. The convening of the Challenge Team represented the desire of the group to reconfirm commitment, strengthen relationships, evaluate past and current work efforts, and begin discussion around the possibility of formalizing a plan for future evaluation and sustainability. The core themes of discussion were Communication, Attendance, Evaluation and Impact, Coordination and Future Direction. An organized summary of action items will be presented at the next Challenge Team meeting in March.

 

For more information or to get involved, please visit:  http://sunnyvale.ca.gov/Departments/PublicSafety/GetInvolved/ChallengeTeam.aspx  

 

Sunnyvale PAL and the Junior Giants  

Last year, Sunnyvale PAL and Junior Giants Baseball teamed up to bring youth baseball back to Sunnyvale. It was a huge success with over 150 boys and girls between the ages of 5-10 years participating on ten different teams. This year, we will be adding an 11-13 year old division and hope to double the number of participates and teams!

 

The Jr Giants program was created by the Giants Community Fund in 1994 and has over 85 leagues throughout California, Oregon and Nevada. The program is non-competitive and free for the participants. The Giants Community Fund provides all of the uniforms, equipment and training, as well as tickets to select Giants games so players can experience a major league baseball game. In addition to the fundamentals of baseball, the Junior Giants Program focuses on the Four Bases of Character Development: Confidence, Integrity, Leadership and Teamwork. Furthermore, the program emphasizes the importance of proper Health, Education and Violence Prevention. Team members can earn prizes for practicing a healthy lifestyle, reading throughout the season, and practicing respect for others.

 

Coaches & Team Parents Needed!

We hope to expand to 20 teams this year. However, having 20 teams or 50 teams won't matter if we do not have enough volunteer coaches and team parents. Please consider volunteering your time to help with the program.

 

Prior coaching experience is not necessary. Most of our volunteer coaches have never played organized baseball before, so being organized, patient and dependable are the only prerequisites. You will attend a one day Coaches' Clinic provided by the Giants to give you the necessary tools and resources to be successful.

 

The time commitment is minimal. Teams have one practice and one game per week, both approximately 1� - 1� hours each. A background check and fingerprints are required.  If you are interested in becoming a volunteer coach, please send an email with the subject line "Volunteer Coach" to:  [email protected] 

 

Thank You!

 

2014 Sunnyvale Fit & Fun Fair    

Sunnyvale celebrates wellness at the annual Fit & Fun Fair on Saturday, April 26, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Columbia Neighborhood Center. An estimated 50 vendors will offer health screenings, share wellness, safety and nutrition resources and engage guests in fitness programming and skills clinics. Kids can sign up for Sunnyvale's Junior Giants program and then try tennis with the U.S. Tennis Association's free skills clinic. 

This fun-filled, event features carnival games, a rock wall, an obstacle course, an open playground, a gourmet food truck and giveaways. In addition, the Department of Public Safety's Bicycle Rodeo is back with the Safe City, Perfection on Wheels Bike Stunt Team, Smoothie Bikes, Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Information, Helmet Fitting, Bike Safety Check-ups and the Slowest Race in the World!

Residents can meet Public Safety personnel and learn about programs and services available through the Neighborhood Preservation, Fire Prevention, Crime Prevention, Office of Emergency Services, Sunnyvale Neighborhoods Actively Prepare, and Sunnyvale Amateur Radio Emergency Service groups. Residents can dispose of expired or unneeded pharmaceuticals at the MedDrop booth. And, parents can have their child safety seats inspected by certified technicians.

 

CHAMP CAMP 2014   

Champ Camp is the largest burn camp worldwide and Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation (AARBF) is recognized widely for the quality of its recreational programs. If you are interested in becoming a Champ Camp counselor, please click here for more information and application form.

Ready for adventure?
----Champ Camp 2014 

What is Champ Camp?
The Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation's Champ Camp is the largest summer camp for burn injured children in the United States. Champ Camp promotes healing and confidence-building experiences, which are especially important for children who have experienced burn injuries. This year, AARBF is looking forward to providing the 29th year of fun for approximately 150 burn-injured children, ages 5-16.

Who are we looking for?
Champ Camp is currently accepting camper applications. Anybody ages 5-16 that has spent at least 24 hours in a California burn unit or is a burn survivor that currently resides in California is eligible!

Why go to Champ Camp?
This fun and relaxing experience is an opportunity to meet other burn survivors. At Champ Camp survivors are able to embrace who they are and learn from fellow burn survivors.

When is Champ Camp?
Champ Camp takes place from June 7 - 14, 2014.

Where is Champ Camp?
Champ Camp is held at Wonder Valley Ranch in Sanger, CA.

For more information please contact: Daniel "Apollo" Chacon, Regional Manager - Northern California
4534 Mission St. Suite 5 | San Francisco, CA 94112
P: 415-495-7223 E: [email protected]
www.aarbf.org  

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