Weekly Insights

For most people the State Fair is about food, rides and exhibits. For dozens of Wake County employees, it is just another day at work, and not always an easy one.

From Sheriff's deputies and paramedics to food and water quality inspectors, Wake County employees worked hard to keep visitors safe at the North Carolina State Fair. This year, Wake County environmental health specialists permitted and inspected 160 food booths, and 406 campers and food stands for temporary sewer and water connections. The Sheriff's Office had at least 100 deputies at the Fair during its 10 day run.

Environmental Health Supervisor Ed Duke was up to his ankles in mud, from that day's rain, as he inspected water and sewer lines. Each day he and his staff checked the connections on more than 400 trailers brought in to house fair workers.

Duke says the daily inspections are critical; "If we don't check the lines, many of these folks will let the water and sewer from their trailers drain out onto the ground. Then they are walking through it, spreading it everywhere they go and what doesn't get carried across the Fair on their boots ends up in our water. And that is a tremendous public health risk."

Meanwhile, Environmental Health Supervisor Frances Breedlove and Environmental Health Specialist Naterra McQueen are ducking in and out of concession booths. They are among 18 Wake County environmental health specialists who visit each of the 160 temporary and permanent restaurants on the fairgrounds on a daily basis.

While McQueen checks the temperature of midway refreshments and makes sure food is properly stored, Breedlove takes notes. The team says they did not have any major problems at this year's fair.

"People are out here to have fun," said Breedlove. "It's our job to make sure that the turkey legs, hot dogs and Italian sausages do not make them sick and ruin their fair experience."

On the midway, Sheriff's Deputies Alfredo Hicks and Ashley Bledsoe melted under the hot fall sun. The pair were among about a dozen off-duty deputies keeping an eye on fair visitors. They spent most of their time giving directions and talking to younger children.

"There are a lot of people out here, especially at night," Bledsoe said. "Most of them do not come out here to cause trouble, but sometimes something happens, and that is why we are here, to keep everyone safe."

For all Wake County workers, safety was the name of the game at the North Carolina State Fair. And with a record-setting crowd, they protected more people than ever before in 2007.

A High-Tech Ride

Paramedics had high-tech help getting through the crowds at the State Fair this year. They used a Global Electric Motorcar, or "GEM," recently acquired through a grant by Wake County General Services, outfitted with an ambulance stretcher, an equipped paramedic and even flashing red lights to respond to calls.

"We didn't actually transport to the hospital in the GEM," says EMS District Chief Jeffrey Hammerstein. "But we used them to move injured or sick patients through the heavy State Fair crowds to a treatment point or to a conventional ambulance if they needed to go to a hospital." Of the 152 patients seen by paramedics over the course of the fair, 45 were transported to the hospital.

With their small size, the GEMs are able to negotiate the crowds more quickly and safely than full-size vehicles. Paramedics working the fair say they hope to use the GEM at next year's fair as well as other large events throughout the year.

25 Human Services' Learning Communities Empowered

Wake County Human Services (WCHS) kicked off its Professional Learning Community concept on October 15 at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh. The event brought together more than 560 Human Services employees from a variety of divisions, programs and disciplines, to begin planning to improve agency performance.

County Manager David Cooke addressed those in attendance and Human Services Director Ramon Rojano commissioned the committees while giving them their "charge." Dave Filipowski brought greetings from the Human Services Board and Royce Hathcock, executive director of the local nonprofit Neighbor to Neighbor, ended the day by discussing the importance of individuals coming together to make change.

Each one of the 25 WCHS Professional Learning Communities will work as a committee to focus on a particular field, function or action that is important to the agency.

The Second Annual Garner Mayor's Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness was a success, raising $2,180.00 for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure - N.C. Triangle Affiliate and increasing public knowledge of breast cancer education and mammography resources.

The Health Promotion Chronic Disease Prevention Program cosponsored the event with the Town of Garner. Members of the Wake County Human Services (WCHS) Health Promotion Chronic Disease Prevention Program staff participated with the event, including Sonya Reid, Yolanda McMillan, Lidia Tiller, Denise Hicks, Joycelyn K. Thomas and breast health lay health advisors, Josie Jones.

In Wake County 430 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year and 80 will die from this disease.

Contact Sonya Reid, interim program manager at 250-4553 for more information about the walk and Breast Cancer screening programs available in Wake County.

Marbles Kids Museum is now open. Wake County employees are invited to bring their families and tour the museum. In appreciation of the County’s support for the museum, Marbles Kids Museum is offering buy-one-get-one-Free admission to the museum and documentary films at the Wachovia IMAX Theatre during the month of November.

To take advantage of buy-one-get-one-free admission, show your Wake County employee ID at the welcome desk or the IMAX box office (limit four free tickets per transaction).

The museum was created by merging Exploris and Playspace and is located at 201 E. Hargett Street in Raleigh. Marbles Kids Museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Regular admission to the museum is $5 per person. Visit www.marbleskidsmuseum.org for more information including IMAX film listings and show times.

Roll Up Your Sleeve to Fight Flu

Free flu shots will be given to Wake County employees again this year. You are eligible to receive a free vaccination if you work 20 or more hours per week in a regular position. Dependents of employees are not eligible. Be sure to bring your Wake County identification card with you to the Flu Shot Clinic. Shots will be given from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Flu Shot Clinics will be held on the following dates:

Windshield Tour

Wake County Human Services escorted five first-year Master's students from the University of North Carolina Health Behavior and Health Education program on a "windshield tour" of the Brentwood/Mini-City area in Raleigh on Friday, October 13. For the next eight months, the students will work with preceptors from Human Services to complete an Action-Oriented Community Diagnosis (AOCD) for the area.

The AOCD process includes interviews, a collection of statistical data, a community forum and an action plan to improve health and well-being in the community. The Brentwood/Mini-City area was chosen because of its rapid transition and growth. The County is interested in locating more services and teams to the area to provide better access to Human Services clients.

If you would like to provide the field team with information about Brentwood/Mini-City or have questions, contact Kevin Wu at kjwu@email.unc.edu, Regina Petteway at 250-1199, or Caroline J. Harper at 212-7162.

Pirates Haunt Harris

Harris Lake County Park held its 5th Annual Haunting at Harris event on Saturday, October 20. More than 300 kids and their families cruised the park and searched for buried treasure aboard the pirate ship, "The Last Hope." They encountered pirates and sea monsters along Broom Sedge Sea before returning to land for pirate-themed games and pumpkin carving. Thanks to all the volunteers and staff that help to continue the success of this event.

The Library is Alive. With the Sound of Music

Who said the library is a quiet place? Musical Monday at the Cameron Village Library is an opportunity for local musicians to perform in the atrium and greet patrons as they enter the building. Instrumentalists and vocalists share their talents several Mondays each month.

The program began on opening day of the newly renovated Cameron Village library in January 2006. "The string quartet who performed sounded so fantastic in the atrium. It made us realize that we could feature music, dance, and theatre on a somewhat routine basis using our new facility," recalled Regional library manager Dale Cousins. "Far more people have complimented the addition of the performances than have complained, so I think we've found a great addition to our library."

The next Musical Monday is scheduled for October 29, at 6:00 p.m. DJ Veal will spin gloomy Halloween tunes!

If you know anyone whose talents should be showcased, or if you have a musical talent you would like to share, please contact Cameron Village Library at 856-6710.

Calling All Artists

Are you an artist? Is one of your family members? The City of Raleigh Arts Commission and the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County need your best work for the fifth annual National Arts Program TM Exhibition.

The exhibit will be December 7, 2007, through January 10, 2008, at the Avery Upchurch Government Complex, but intent to enter forms must be returned to the Arts Commission office by November 16. The forms are available here on WakeEmployees.com and at the City of Raleigh Arts Commission office.

This art exhibit, in collaboration with The National Arts Program TM Foundation, Inc., of Malvern, Pennsylvania, showcases the diverse and artistic talents of municipal employees of Raleigh and Wake County and their families. Recognized artists and arts professional will judge all works and cash prizes will be awarded in five classifications: amateur, intermediate, advanced, youth ages 12-17, and youth under 12 years.

For more information about the National Arts Program exhibition, call Carol Mallette, City of Raleigh Arts Commission office at 857-4372; Eleanor H. Jordan, United Arts Council of Raleigh & Wake County, at 839-1498, ext. 226; or Lauri Arntsen, Wake County Public Affairs Office, 856-6680.

View more details on the National Art Program.

A Win-Win: Give to the Combined Campaign, Be Eligible for Prizes

As of Friday, October 26, the 2007 Combined Campaign has collected approximately $50,000. With a goal of $80,000, it appears to be driving toward a great effort by Wake County employees. The campaign continues through November 13. Here are some of the win-win opportunities when you give:

HR Policies: Where to Find It

The updated Human Resources Administration Manual is now online at www.wakeemployees.com! Contents are indexed and searchable, and you may easily print individual items or the entire document, which is in PDF format.

If you have questions about any Human Resources policy, please contact Laurie Turner Jenny Rice or Cecelia Farrell in Human Resources, 856-6090.

Don't Miss the Deadline!

Want to get your event or division news in Insights? E-mail your story suggestions to Insights@wakegov.com. Submissions are due the Thursday before Insights comes out on Tuesday. Stories are generally limited to 150 words. The publication schedule for the rest of 2007 is below!