The Los Angeles County Health Officer, Dr. Jonathan E. Fielding, released the schedule for the first round of Public Health vaccine clinics, which will provide free H1N1 vaccine to residents who do not have health insurance or a regular source of health care, and are in a priority group.

H1N1 Vaccine Clinic Schedule:

By Date
By City

Increasing amounts of H1N1 vaccine are expected to arrive in Los Angeles County on a weekly basis. Public Health’s vaccine clinics will provide vaccine free of charge to residents in the H1N1 vaccine priority groups who do not have health insurance or a regular source of health care, said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Director and Health Officer.

For those with health insurance and a regular source of health care, all of the more than 3,000 healthcare providers in the county who ordered H1N1 vaccine should receive it. Starting at the end of this week, these residents may wish to contact their doctor to find out when the H1N1 vaccine will be available to them.

The priority groups for H1N1 vaccine are:

– Pregnant women

– People living with or caring for infants under six months of age

– Emergency medical services personnel and health care workers

– Children and young adults from six months through 24 years

– People aged 25 through 64 years with chronic medical conditions like heart or lung disease, asthma, diabetes, or weakened immune systems

Public Health’s H1N1 vaccine clinics will begin on October 23, and will have H1N1 vaccine in many formulations, including injectable flu shots, FluMist nasal spray, and thimerasol-free vaccine. A list of dates and locations can be found on the Public Health website or by calling the LA County information line at 2-1-1 from any landline or cell phone. The vaccine clinic schedule will be released two weeks at a time. Residents are urged to check back often if they do not immediately find a clinic that is conveniently located near them. Vaccine clinics will be scheduled from late October through at least December.

Influenza, more commonly known as the flu, causes approximately 36,000 deaths and more than 200,000 hospitalizations each year in the United States. While the average case of H1N1 is no worse than other types of seasonal flu, some individuals are at a higher risk for serious complications. Since the spring, there have been 57 deaths in Los Angeles County attributed to H1N1.

The best way to prevent the spread of flu is to wash your hands often; cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze; avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes; and get vaccinated, Dr. Fielding said. If you are sick, stay home until at least 24 hours after the fever has gone away without the use of anti-fever medications. The same recommendation applies to children who go to school, daycare, or after-school programs.

Talk to your doctor about H1N1 vaccine if you have any of the following:

– Severe allergy to chicken eggs

– Severe reaction to influenza vaccination in the past

– Guillain-Barr syndrome (GBS)

– Moderate-to-severe illness with a fever (wait until recovering before getting vaccine)

The viruses in the flu shot are inactive (killed) so you cannot get the flu from the flu shot. Some minor side effects could occur, usually lasting only one to two days.

These include:

– Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given

– Low-grade fever

– Aches or pain

The viruses in the vaccine nasal spray are weakened and cannot cause the flu. In children, side effects are usually mild and can include runny nose, wheezing, headache, vomiting, muscle aches or fever. In adults, side effects can include runny nose, headache, sore throat or cough.

Most cases of H1N1 and seasonal flu can be treated by staying home, getting plenty of rest, drinking plenty of fluids and treating fever and aches and pains with over-the-counter medication, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen (but not aspirin).

Residents should see a doctor if they have any of the following symptoms along with flu-like symptoms such as fever, coughing,

tiredness, runny nose, etc:

For children:

– Fast breathing or trouble breathing

– Bluish skin color

– Not drinking enough fluids or stopping urinating

– Not waking up or not interacting

– Being so irritable that a child does not want to be held

– Flu-like symptoms that improve, but then return with fever and worse cough

– Fever with a rash

For adults:

– Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

– Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

– Sudden dizziness

– Confusion

– Severe or persistent vomiting

Supervisor Don Knabe, Chairman of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, issued the following statement today on Governor Schwarzenegger’s efforts to reach a deal on California’s water system:

"The time to talk is over and the time to act has arrived on a comprehensive investment in upgrading California’s water system. Plans have been discussed for years, but it is time to end our State’s ongoing water crisis once and for all by building a water system that balances the needs of our residents with ecological and environmental needs, and build a system that can withstand natural disasters."

"I encourage the Legislature to work with the Governor towards approving a water deal, but beyond that, it is my utmost hope that lawmakers focus on the critical needs of local government when the Senate reconvenes next week."

"State leaders only have one week left to maintain the commitment they made to local government when they promised to pass Senate Bill 67 before October 15. In order to weather the financial storms that lay ahead in Fiscal Year 2009-2010, hundreds of cities, counties, and local government agencies across California need to be able to securitize their Proposition 1A obligations, meet the deadlines to sell bonds in November, and ultimately keep their budgets afloat."

"Keeping California’s water system afloat for the future is critical, but our future looks far more bleak if we can’t keep our local governments afloat first."

The mood this week was one of elation and relief as residents and local elected officials marked the arrival of a $22.6 million storm drain project in Long Beach. After years of planning and numerous public meetings, the flood relief that had been just a pipe dream for East Anaheim Business Corridor residents and business owners is finally materializing in the form of 12,190 linear feet of underground storm drain pipe.

This is a landmark project for the City of Long Beach and one of the Flood Control District’s largest storm drain projects in recent memory, said Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe. Getting this project over numerous hurdles was a monumental task and a true testament to the hard work of the men and women of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works in partnership with the City of Long Beach and the community.

During severe winter storms, city streets have acted as swollen tributaries carrying vast amounts of storm water into this busy southeast Long Beach neighborhood. The existing storm drain system could not keep up, and the resulting flood-like conditions engulfed cars and caused severe damage to local homes and businesses.

Today we celebrate the construction of an underground storm drain system that will accommodate a 50-year rain event and help alleviate flooding in the surrounding neighborhood, said City of Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster. The Termino Avenue Storm Drain also will clean our oceanfront through the system’s filters and sponges to keep trash and pollutants such as grease and oil out of our City’s beaches and waterways.

Flooding in this neighborhood has gone on for far too long and caused far too much damage, Long Beach City Councilmember Gary DeLong said. Today is a safety milestone for residents and businesses in this community and a turning point for improved water quality for the City of Long Beach.

In addition to the mainline drain and six lateral drains servicing adjacent streets, the project includes water quality improvements that will protect Long Beach’s surface waters from harmful pollutants. These project elements include a low-flow diversion structure that will redirect flows away from coastal waters and into the septic sewer system for treatment and retractable screens to keep trash from entering catch basins.

Project construction will begin in mid-October near Marine Stadium and is slated for completion by November 2011. During construction, Appian Way, Nieto Avenue, Colorado Street, Park Avenue, 8th Street, Mayfield Street, and 11th Street, near the storm drain alignment, may be closed to through traffic. Sixth Street may be closed to through traffic during construction hours from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Local access will be permitted at all times.

Supervisor Don Knabe announced today that District Attorney Investigators assigned to the Child Support Arrest Warrant Project recently apprehended Los Angeles County Most Wanted Delinquent Parent, Sautele Jones. Jones was added to the Most Wanted list in May of 2008, and has long been a target of investigators. He was arrested on a bench warrant issued in 2000.

In June, 1999, Jones pleaded no contest to a charge of failing to pay court ordered support for his then 7 year old daughter. He was placed on probation, but was later found in violation of the terms of probation. The court issued a warrant for his arrest when he failed to appear at a hearing on May 24, 2000. Jones owes more than $119,000 in unpaid support and interest.

Investigators had believed that Jones was living at an apartment building on Vinton Avenue in Los Angeles. During the course of a recent visit to the apartment, one of the investigators observed a male matching Jones’ description in the parking lot of the building. Shortly thereafter, the investigator and his partner detained the male. At first, the suspect provided the investigators with a false name. After further questioning, however, he admitted that he was Sautele Jones. He was immediately taken into custody and was later booked at the downtown County Jail.

The Los Angeles County Child Support Services Department maintains the Most Wanted Delinquent Parent List. It was developed as a result of an appropriation by the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors on the initiative of Supervisor Don Knabe.

In preparation for the coming flu season, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has launched a campaign to promote vaccine distribution to healthcare providers in the county. Public Health encourages health care providers to vaccinate their patients who are members of groups that are at risk for serious flu complications and order sufficient pandemic H1N1 flu vaccine to vaccinate all at-risk patients.

Private physicians, community health centers, hospitals, and student health centers at colleges and universities can all do their part to protect their patients and Los Angeles County communities by ordering their vaccination today, said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH; Director of Public Health and Health Officer. Because healthcare providers can spread pandemic H1N1 to their patients, it is also important that they get vaccinated and urge all staff who come into contact with patients to do so as well.

Pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccine can be ordered at no charge from the federal government through a statewide web-based ordering system, along with supplies required for vaccine administration, such as safety syringes, alcohol swabs, and sharps disposal containers. Participating providers will be eligible to receive a vaccine administration fee from public and private health plans when they vaccinate eligible members. Private and non-profit health care providers throughout Los Angeles County are encouraged to participate in this program. This is the only way for health care providers to order this vaccine. Initial delivery of vaccine will be around October 15th

To order the no-charge vaccine and supplies, providers may complete the simple online vaccine ordering process at
www.CalPanFlu.org. For more information on pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccine, providers may
click here.

Healthcare providers – especially those who treat patients who are most at risk for serious H1N1 complications – should plan now to vaccinate throughout the influenza season, said Dr. Fielding. Pediatricians, obstetricians/gynecologists, internists, family practitioners, and physicians who treat individuals with underlying chronic illnesses should order vaccine now and develop systems for vaccinating their patients.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, has released pandemic H1N1 vaccination recommendations that prioritize groups that are at greatest risk for contracting the flu, spreading it, and suffering from serious complications. Priority for receiving the H1N1 vaccine should be given to:

Pregnant women

People living with or caring for infants under six months of age

Emergency medical services personnel

Health care workers

Children and young adults from six months through 24 years

People aged 25 through 64 years with chronic medical conditions like heart or lung disease, asthma, diabetes, or weakened immune systems

Residents seeking the H1N1 vaccine are encouraged to do so from their regular healthcare provider or local pharmacy. Individuals in Los Angeles County who are uninsured and do not have a regular healthcare provider may be able to receive low- or no-cost immunizations at a community health center, public health center or community vaccination event. Residents are encouraged to
click here or call the county’s info line after October 5th at 2-1-1 to locate such providers.

The Department of Beaches and Harbors announced recently that the Marina del Rey WaterBus wrapped up the summer season with its most successful year ever. Overall ridership for the weekend service was 40,365 – the highest passenger number in WaterBus history.

The 2009 season increased approximately sixty-five percent over the same period last year. The service, provided by Hornblower Cruises & Events, utilized four new pontoon boats and the vessel Cabaret to shuttle riders to seven boarding locations around the Marina. The water-based transportation alternative offered WaterBus passengers a scenic and relaxing trip to their destinations and has become part of a summer commuting experience for thousands of residents, boaters and tourists.

This past summer its value as a public transportation option was made very clear when the WaterBus shuttled more than 2,100 commuters during the extremely busy and popular Fourth of July holiday, proving its worth as an important transportation alternative for all.

Since its inception in 2002, the WaterBus has delivered more than 145,000 riders to their destinations throughout Marina del Rey.

Due to necessary maintenance, the Marina del Rey Used Oil Collection Center located at 13483 Fiji Way, Marina del Rey will be closed for a two-week period from Monday, August 31 through Friday, September 11.

During the temporary closure period, the public will not be able to dispose of used motor oil/used oil filters at the collection center. It is illegal to leave items on the ground at or around the center, and any items left on the ground pose a safety hazard and will delay the maintenance project. There will be no pick-up service scheduled at this time. The center is for residential waste only, no business waste is allowed.

An alternative disposal center at the Hyperion Treatment Plant is available during the closure and is located at 7660 West Imperial Highway, Gate B, Playa del Rey for items that require immediate disposal. Hours of operation are Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

For additional information about the closure, call the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works at (626) 458-2505.

You are invited to attend a public meeting next Wednesday, August 19 to learn about the construction phase of the Termino Avenue Drain Project. The meeting will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Wilson Classical High School Auditorium located at 4400 E. 10th Street in the City of Long Beach.

This public meeting is sponsored by City of Long Beach Councilmembers Gary

DeLong and Patrick O’Donnell, the City of Long Beach Department of Public Works,

and the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works.

The purpose of the Termino Avenue Drain Project is to construct a storm drain to relieve flooding problems. Construction is scheduled to begin October 13, 2009. To view the project’s final environmental impact report, please click here.

The Ford Amphitheatre is offering a leg up to Los Angeles County-based arts organizations who are interested in producing live performing arts events at the historic, open-air theatre in the Hollywood Hills in summer 2010. Applications are now available to apply for the 2010 summer season. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, September 9, 2009.

In this down economy, we are here to help, said Adam Davis, Ford Theatres Managing Director. Groups who are accepted into the Ford’s Summer Partnership Program receive significant presentation support and assistance for their productions.

Proposals are being accepted electronically through the Ford’s web site. Before opening a proposal application, prospective applicants should first read the program’s guidelines which include instructions to apply and information on eligibility, the partnership program and other opportunities that exist for presenting at the Ford.

Both the guidelines and application are available at www.FordTheatres.org, click on About Us then Apply.

A workshop about the Summer Partnership Program and how to submit a competitive proposal will be held on Tuesday, August 11 at 7:00 p.m. at the Ford, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, 90068, in the Hollywood Hills.

Parking for the workshop is free. Please RSVP with your name, organization, email address and phone number to publicevents@arts.lacounty.gov or call 323-856-5793.

The Ford is seeking proposals for a broad range of categories including, but not limited to, alt-rock, ballet, cabaret, circus, classical music, film, hip hop, jazz, multimedia, modern dance, theatre, world and folk music, and world dance. Similar to a grant program, proposals for the Ford Amphitheatre Summer Season are considered on a competitive basis.

The Ford is a renovated historic 1,245-seat amphitheatre located in a Los Angeles County Regional Park and is operated by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission. Over 100 performing arts and film events are presented at the venue each summer.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will conduct an extended closure this weekend on the northbound and southbound Long Beach Freeway (I-710) from the Artesia Freeway (SR-91) to the San Diego Freeway (I-405). The work is part of the Long Life Pavement Rehabilitation Project from the I-405 to Firestone Boulevard.

FULL FREEWAY CLOSURE:
Northbound and Southbound I-710 from SR-91 to I-405

1) Saturday, July 25, 2009, 12:01 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.

2) Sunday, July 26, 2009, 11:00 p.m. to Monday, July 27, 2009, 5:00 a.m.

CLOSED RAMPS:

Northbound I-710 on-ramps at Long Beach Boulevard and Del Amo Boulevard

Southbound I-710 off-ramps at Long Beach Boulevard, Del Amo Boulevard, and Artesia Boulevard

CLOSED FREEWAY CONNECTORS:

Northbound and southbound I-405 to northbound I-710

Eastbound and westbound SR-91 to southbound I-710

Beginning Saturday at 6:00 a.m. until Sunday at 11:00 p.m., between SR-91 and I-405, all vehicles will travel in southbound I-710 lanes while construction continues in northbound lanes throughout the weekend. During these times, all northbound and southbound I-710 traffic will flow in a reduced number of lanes.

Vehicle speeds will be reduced to 45 mph in the construction zone. Oversized loads are not permitted throughout the weekend due to narrower lane widths. To decrease delay time, motorists are advised to use alternate routes around the project area.

The work involves rehabilitating aging pavement to provide a roadway with several decades of service life, improved pavement performance and a smoother ride for the traveling public. Nine miles of pavement is being replaced with 10″ inches of Long Life Asphalt Concrete. Roadway widening will occur where possible to provide standard lanes and shoulder widths. Since the construction began in October 2008, Caltrans has completed pavement replacement on northbound and southbound I-710 between SR-91 and I-105.

More information on the Long Life Pavement Rehabilitation Project is available on the Caltrans District 7 website at www.dot.ca.gov/dist07