Snider: Lots to do in October; ER training completed

The Arizona Division of Emergency Management recently honored Pinal County and our Office of Emergency Management for its achievement of a major milestone: 100 percent of our Office of Emergency Management has successfully completed the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Advanced Professional Series in emergency management and management skills.

This comprehensive training represents the highest level of training available from FEMA.

Why is this good thing?

Our Pinal office is not only the first EM department to have all of the staff so certified, but we’re the first to do so in the state of Arizona. In fact, not even the Arizona Division of Emergency Management has achieved this level of training.

But most importantly, this recognition should reassure county residents Pinal County government continues to strive to provide the best possible service – and comprehensive training is a key component to ensuring we’re able to respond to these critical incidents with knowledge and skills honed to high standards.

Even though our nighttime temperatures are dropping into the comfortable zone while daytime temperatures still hover around 100, October is also the time for the annual flu season’s start. In recognition of that, the Pinal County Public Health Department has begun providing flu shots to the public at all of its clinics this month.

To schedule appointments for adults, please call 1-888-431-1311 (Mondays through Fridays, 8-5). Children will be vaccinated on a walk-in basis. Adult shots are $15 – a bargain if you can avoid getting the flu.

For a complete list of clinic locations, addresses, and hours, click here. At the end of the day, however, we want to encourage everyone of all ages to get their flu shot this fall. Opportunities are all around and Pinal County Public Health Clinics are one option.

Since October is also the beginning of the civic and community events season, there’s a full calendar to consider.

• The Casa Grande Valley Historical Society’s 2nd annual Hot Wings for History Cook-off fund-raiser happens in front of the Museum (110 W. Florence Blvd.) on Oct. 7 and features great food and crafts from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• F.O.R. Maricopa Food Bank’s annual Grape Escapes event on Oct. 12 (the Province Community Center in Maricopa starting at 7 p.m.) kicks off Maricopa’s Stagecoach Days celebrations in style.
• The Boys & Girls Clubs of Casa Grande are holding their Fall Fashion event at Dillard’s (the Promenade Mall, I-10 & Florence Blvd.) on Oct. 14 beginning at 6:30 p.m. There’s a stylin’ fashion show and chances to win fabulous things.
• Meanwhile, in Maricopa there’s a concentrated dose of Stagecoach Days throughout Oct.18-21. Frazier’s Carnival happens on the 18th through the 21st – on the 19th there are community performances on the main stage that evening along with a Rotary Family Street Dance – the Stop The Violence 5K Fun Run starts at 7 a.m. on Oct. 20, with more performances and music that evening – the Second annual Historical Golf Tournament at the Duke (starts at 8 a.m.) while the Maricopa Motorcycle Riders inaugural rally begins at noon at Pacana Park’s north parking lot, followed by a community picnic 1 to 4 p.m., as well as an All Faiths Performances & Meet the Candidates forum on the Main Stage from 1 to 4 p.m.
• On Oct. 19, the Pinal County Air Quality District Office will present a seminar (from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) on Asbestos & Dust Control – designed for builders, contractors, and remodelers – to explain EPA rules and requirements for working around asbestos. Held in the County’s Emergency Operations Center (Building F) in the County complex in Florence, registration is required but attendance is free. To register, go to http://eia-az.org.
• Oct. 21 is the 26th annual Taste of Casa Grande at Eva’s on Pinal Avenue in Casa Grande. Thirty-plus local area restaurants will be serving their very best dishes to all who’ve had the foresight to buy a ticket from Against Abuse Board members (including me) or staff. In addition to some really spectacular food (from appetizers to desserts), there’ll be lots of awesome raffle prizes – not to mention great door prizes. Best of all: 100 percent of the proceeds go to support the programs and services of Against Abuse as they labor daily to aid victims of domestic violence and child abuse. For more information, call 520-836-1239 or go to http://against-abuse.org.
• Closing out this very busy month, is the St. Helen of the Cross Parish’s 60th Anniversary celebration on Oct. 27. The Parish is rightfully proud of its role in the greater Eloy area and has exciting events planned for both Oct. 27 and on Nov. 9 and Nov. 0. For more information, go to http://www.sthelenchurch.com.