W I N T E R 2 0 16 VOLUME 21 • NUMBER 1
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County Workforce by the Numbers By Ann Hearty — DPW
SF 5%
Other 5%
Solano 5%
Alameda 6% Contra Costa 7%
Sonoma County 25%
The County of Marin’s workforce is 2,098 unique individuals who come together to serve the public with myriad skills and talents that defy quantification— Workforce unless you’re Residence by Cindy County Brown, Khanh Huynh, or Misha Miki (all Marin County 47% HR). If you have questions about our employee workforce, and the data exists, then these data team members can provide answers. ■ It starts with a simple business problem or question. Who is eligible and likely to retire in the next three years? Which department has the most employees? What is our make-up? One of the data team’s most important
recent reports is titled “Eligible and Likely to Retire.” Based on age and years of service, it is used by departments to prepare for succession across the county organization. ■ “Data is very important to recruitment and retention programs.” said Cindy. “Data tells us a story about our diversity: our average age, when we are likely to retire, and where we live.” ■ With 47% of employees living in Marin today, the majority reside elsewhere. By far the largest other-than-Marin group — 25% —lives in Sonoma County. After that, it gets complex. Most employees live in the Bay Area, but Misha reports that we have coworkers living in 30 different counties throughout the state. ■ Comparing 2011 to 2015, Marin residence dropped by 4% while Contra Costa and Alameda counties grew by an average 1.7% each as places that Marin County employees call home. Meanwhile, Sonoma County grew only by 0.6% as our employees’ home base. For more, see list at right. And wear your dataset proudly! ■
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Other interesting facts about regular-hire members of the workforce: Female 55% and male 45% ■ Average age: 48 years ■ Most common age: 78 employees are 52 years old ■ Age range: 22 (four individuals) to 78 (two individuals) ■ Employees hired before June 30, 1980, and still working: 16 people, including longest-serving employee Sheriff Robert Doyle, hired in 1969 ■ Most persons in a single job class: 144 deputy sheriffs ■ Departments with least turnover: Agriculture/Weights & Measures, County Counsel, Farm Advisor, and Retirement ■ Single most popular employee birthday: More employees have birthdays in September than in any other month (185 people), but there’s a tie for the mostshared birthday. We have 13 coworkers with September 28 birthdays and another 13 who turn a year older on October 21. And on every day of the year, including Leap Day (one person), someone on county staff has a birthday! ■
Photo by Chris Mai
Inspire and Be Inspired by Student Interns By Laurie Thompson—Library Student interns bring fresh ideas, creativity, and state-of-the-art tech skills to the workplace. ■ Civic Center Volunteers’ Student Internships Coordinator Joy Fossett (HR) is available to assist all departments looking to mentor a student and gain additional assistance through the county’s student internships program. ■ You will want Former student intern Jennifer Ancona, right, works to have a project or assignment in mind with Mohamadi “Sani” Sakande (both HHS). when you contact Joy, but don’t worry about the details. She supports in creating an internship to address your particular situation. Once she knows your needs,
Joy prescreens candidates for skills and experience. You decide whom to select. ■ Over the years, students have contributed greatly to the fabric of Marin County local government through our internship program, which is part of the Civic Center Volunteers program. ■ Public Defender Jose Varela has mentored scores of interns, including Mira Kirageorge, who, while a sophomore at Redwood High School, “helped send 300 letters to juvenile clients to make sure they got their records sealed.” Jose tells us that today Mira is a first-year attorney. ■ In 2014, Rachel Castro, a Dominican University intern for the Library, “revolutionized access to the California Room’s historic map collection by cataloging the collection in a searchable database,” says digital archivist Carol Acquaviva (Library). ■ After working 10 years in the private sector in Continued on page 2
2 FRANKLY SPEAKING
Student Interns Continued from page 1
Editorial Board Anne Starr, Editor-in-Chief, Human Resources (HR), Civic Center Volunteers (CCV), 415-473-7167 Heather Burton, IST, 415-473-6169 Mike Daly, Probation, 415-473-6662 Libby Garrison, Cultural Services, 415-473-6014 Jack Govi, County Counsel’s Office, 415-473-6117 Cio Hernandez, HHS, 415-473-2848 Shelagh Stewart-Chung, HHS, 415-473-6924 Design: Rob Roehrick, Roehrick Design Copy Editor: Angie Hisanaga, IST Photographers: Francie Hubert, IST, Susannah Clark, BOS Proofreaders: Joan Brown, Eleanor Lau, Kelley Litz, Leslie Miller, HR, CCV Online: Marin County Information Services and Technology Printing: Marin County Printing Services
the investment industry, Jennifer Ancona (HHS) was inspired to change careers following an internship with Health and Human Services’ Office of the Public Guardian. For Jennifer, serving Marin’s most vulnerable adults was a life-changing event. In fact, when her internship was over, Jennifer was hired as a deputy public guardian based on her administrative, planning, and businessrelationship skills. She now serves as a supervising deputy public guardian. Jennifer said that the internship allowed her to experience public service. She
finds her work deeply fulfilling; it “not only has a direct impact on people’s lives but also allows me to serve the community in which I live.” ■ Principal Landscape Architect Steve Petterle (Parks) has mentored several dozen interns during his career. Ting Li, an intern whom Steve recently mentored, has joined a prominent landscape architect firm in Santa Cruz. For Steve, supervising interns is an obligation of his profession. He relates, “I had help along the way; it feels right to pass that forward. Mentoring interns can change their lives. I’ve seen it happen and it’s so incredibly rewarding!” ■
Frankly Speaking is published three times a year for and by Marin County employees. It is accessible on the MINE homepage and at www.marincounty.org: enter Frankly Speaking in the search box. Email articles, photos, poems, and so on, to Anne Starr at
[email protected]. For photos, include all names and the photographer’s name. Digital photos must be shot at the highest-quality setting. Reporter Award: Francie Hubert (IST) Schedule Articles Due Friday, February 26 Friday, June 24
Publication Date Friday, May 20 Friday, September 23
Photo by Susannah Clark
Cultural Services Employee Joins Editorial Board The Frankly Speaking Editorial Board welcomes Libby Garrison (Cultural Services) and thanks departing board member Tina Torresan (Parks), who contributed her communications expertise while serving for three years. Libby’s regular work as a media manager includes editing the Marin Center magazine. She brings social media Libby Garrison experience and enthusiasm for Frankly’s mission of connecting employees across the county. Before joining the county in April, Libby coordinated communications at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco.
yees, Dear Fellow Emplo
Photo by Susannah Clark
Printed on 100% post-consumer paper
your As you remember Happy New Year. ss our ard wants to expre resolutions, our Bo u do yo rk important wo appreciation for the s ing br e every year all year long. Whil eable ll be especially notic wi e on s change, thi The r. nte Ce vic Ci ar the if you work at or ne g ttin ge ’re we d an ming SMART train is co teway ga ern rth no r Ou ready to welcome it. th new be transformed, wi a permanent to the campus will d preparation for an g, pin ca ds lan , ths ristmas tree lot. If sidewalks, bike pa rket on the gravel Ch Ma ers rm Fa see ed lov n spire, you might home for our be me close to the golde co ’t esn do the e ute for mm be yes your daily co downtown Point Re office expansion in the start of our HHS end of the year. p of 2016 with the startu ger county team in on str a ing ing ild nu nti bu o co We’re als tem, as well as our mputer business sys e recently ATOM, our new co ng opportunities. Th d other career traini an y em ad Ac d. ip rsh use Leade lp keep us all foc Business Plan will he completed 5-Year ahead is to made for the year ent our Board has itm mm co r communt ou rta d po an im e One in our workforc of human diversity lue va ng within shi the uri e flo niz og are rec inity groups that aff nic eth the of of grams in a number nity. We are proud excited by pilot pro are we as lut inc jus n e, ptanc our organizatio importance of acce signed to extend the our departments de y across the county. sion, and opportunit for excellence in the sh start. Let’s strive fre a all us s that ing br The new year e, and recognition tion in our workplac ac tisf sa , ide ov . pr ity un services we entire Marin comm s and supports the our work strengthen With appreciation,
F R A N K L Y
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Purpose and Priorities
C O M M U N I C A T I O N •D I V E R S I T Y •R E C O G N I T I O N •E D U C A T I O N •N E W S •F U N •I N T E R A C T I O N
The Marin County newsletter is intended for communication. The newsletter does not include partisan or non-partisan political activity, or issues related to labor disputes and grievances.
Steve Kinsey BOS President
F R A N K L Y S P E A K I N G — W I N T E R 2 016
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E M P L OY E E O F T H E Y E A R Photo by Johanna Good
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MARY WAHLBERG
By Janis West — CAO
Office Assistant Mary Wahlberg of the Agriculture, Weights & Measures Department is the Marin County 2015 Employee of the Year. She manages multiple administrative duties, often using her insight and quick wit as she gets things done. Mary brings breadth of knowledge, outstanding efficiency, and great people skills to her front-office role. She joined the county in 2011. Coworkers say that she keeps them on track, and her calm demeanor puts customers at ease. According to Director Stacy Carlsen, “She’s a problem-solver, does it in a fun manner, and willingly supports all the staff.” The annual honor includes formal recognition by the Board of Supervisors. Congratulations, Mary! ■ F R A N K L Y S P E A K I N G — W I N T E R 2 016
P E T T E R L E ’S By Steve Petterle — Parks Meetings can occupy a good portion of our schedule during a day. I use a variety of methods to keep meetings short and on task. Here are a few of my strategies to encourage meeting brevity: ■ First, don’t schedule one-hour meetings—make them shorter. Predetermining meeting length creates an expectation. Make that expectation less than an hour. A 45-minute meeting saves 15 minutes. Second, arrange for meetings to start at an odd time. We have a tendency to think in onehour increments, but the real world doesn’t work that way. Start at 10:25 instead of 10:00. The meeting will end at 11:00 more often than not, and you’ve just picked up another 25 minutes. Third, have meetings right before mealtime or quitting time. You’ll find these meetings have a tendency to end promptly when it’s time to go. This can save 10 minutes. Fourth, remove all chairs from the meeting room. Meetings tend to move more quickly when participants remain standing. This tip saves at least 10 minutes. Fifth, select meeting rooms where the ambient temperature is maintained around 45° Fahrenheit. It’s amazing how quickly people can talk when they’re cold, and you can reduce meeting time by another 10 minutes. ■ So, to summarize, start your next meeting at 11:55 a.m. in a cold room with no chairs. The meeting will last five minutes. Admittedly, it will take 15 minutes to recover from the cold, but your schedule will still realize a net savings of 40 minutes. ■ In 40 minutes, you could conduct eight more meetings. Something to think about. ■
Illustration by Phoenicia Thomas
children’s programming in the new location. Previously, Nathan explained, a storytime would impact the entire library. Now SNO has an open area with a colorful rug and modular seating. “This space is designed to accommodate various programs,” says Nathan. ■ Additional programs and services are still on the horizon. SNO is part Children’s Librarian Laura Kennett reads aloud during of a complex of buildings that, storytime in the South Novato program area. in partnership with Novato By Margaret Miles — Library Unified School District, will be known as the Community Education Center. Staff members at the South Novato The center will offer a recording Library (SNO) are used to unpacking by studio, a computer learning center, now; they’ve done it twice in the past and a makerspace (a do-it-yourself year. From the hangars at 6 Hamilton area where patrons can gather to Landing, to a “pop-up” in a tiny tempocreate, invent, and learn) that supports rary building, to their new location at collaboration and knowledge sharing 931 C Street, employees have been within the community. The library will involved in many changes. And it looks also soon provide a Veterans Resource like many more are on the horizon. Center where veterans can meet with “We’re excited about the bigger space, trained volunteers in small meeting the new furniture, and a larger collecrooms. Janet Doerge (Library), who tion,” says SNO Community Library manages the Novato and South Specialist Nathan Kelly (Library). With Novato branches, commented that 6,000 square feet, the modular structure “this is still a work in progress, with is twice the size of the old space and is lots of novel programming possibilities located next to Hamilton Elementary because of our unique partnership. School. “We’re already seeing more We’ll be finding many new opportunikids coming in after school,” said ties to serve the community.” ■ Nathan. ■ Staff likely will increase
P ERSPECTIVE
Photo by Terry Peck
New South Novato Library Has Room to Grow
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Photo by Elmer Jan
This is definitely worth a mention! Elmer Jan (Library) earned a thirdplace finish in the Men’s 60–69 Age Group at the Surfers Point Marathon in Ventura on November 15, 2015. ■
Elmer Jan
The Courts are keeping track! Ed Ramazzini (Courts) reports that he and his wife Marina now have seven grandkids. Ed’s daughter Catharine and her husband Sean Haynes adopted Natasha on November 6, 2015. “The boys are still winning 4 to 3,” Ed said of the youngest generation in the extended family. ■
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interests of more than 30,000 women in all facets of the legal profession, including lawyers, educators, students, and judges. ■ Sean Kensinger (DA) and neighbor Martin Pucci’s “Samuel Heights Lowbrow Chili” won first place in the 18th Annual Great Petaluma Chili Cook-off on May 9, 2015. The cook-off is a fundraiser for Cinnabar Theater in Petaluma. Their smoked-rib chili was also the judges’ choice in the category of individual entry. Among the secret ingredients: smoked back ribs, brewed coffee, chipotle peppers, and bittersweet chocolate. ■
Ivonne van Buuren (Probation) visited Hawaii’s Garden Island, Kauai, in October to celebrate her birthday. ■
Photo by Francie Hubert
Waimea Canyon, Kauai
Victoria Lau (Probation) married Merle McIntosh on September 5, 2015, in Woodside. Merle’s family hosted a second reception in Maine at their campground (since they couldn’t make it out to California), so it was kind of like a honeymoon! ■ Cassie Folan (HR) and Erik de Wit were married on September 26, 2015, in Tiburon. ■
Photo by Georgestreet
Photo by Arkansas State Treasury Office employee
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Sara and Mike Aycock (HR) and their two sons Riley and Liam welcomed a new baby girl, Ariel Fawn, born November 3, 2015. ■
Meloni Gail Page (HR) is over the moon about becoming a first-time Glam-Ma to baby Marley born December 4, 2015. ■ In honor of her 50th birthday on December 3, 2014, Phyllis Gray (ARCC) and husband Dennis visited all 50 state capitals between then and December 3, 2015. She finished early at her last capital, Columbia, SC on Phyllis holds a stack of cash at the Arkansas Saturday, November 21. State Capitol’s Treasury in Little Rock. Her longest trip included a flight to Salt Lake City, a drive to nine capitals, and a flight home within 12 days. ■
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Cassie and Erik
Nang and Chris Mai (HHS), along with big brother Noah, welcomed a baby girl, Anaya Grace, on September 2, 2015. ■
Mari-Ann Gibbs Rivers (Co. Counsel) has been appointed to the Board of Governors of the California Women Lawyers (CWL), the only statewide bar association for women. CWL advocates for the concerns of women in society and, since 1974, has represented the
Steve Marthinsen
Photo by Louis Pepin
Drone in Chambers
Cultural Services’ Libby Garrison, who is working on a docent-tour app about Frank Lloyd Wright and the Marin County Civic Center, partnered with Marty Hollis of DPW’s maintenance crew and Talia Smith (CAO), and Christophe Meneau (IST) to arrange a drone video shoot inside the Civic Center. The camera-equipped drone buzzed through the long empty hallways, hovered in Board chambers, and flew around the Library on a bright October Sunday when the building was closed. Watch for the footage in the new app—which will support the Civic Center Volunteers-led building tours later this year. ■
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Photo by Ivonne van Buuren
Photo courtesy of Libby Garrison
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Halloween 2015: Reenactor Steve Marthinsen (IST) looked official as a WWII Royal Air Force officer. ■
Actor Maria Grazia Affinito (HHS) performs a solo show, Eating Pasta off the Floor, at The Marsh in San Francisco this spring. She portrays 18 characters in the play, which she wrote to dramatize her experience as a first-generation member of a family that came from Naples, Italy. The play has received critical acclaim Maria Grazia Affinito from tours in New York, Florida, and Canada. An employee since 2008, Maria is a social service unit supervisor with the Children and Family Services team. ■
Please email adventures, events, and department happenings to Cathy Selmi,
[email protected]. F R A N K L Y S P E A K I N G — W I N T E R 2 016
Photo by Janice Hughes
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Youth Court Earns Praise California Chief Justice Tani G. CantilSakauye was the keynote speaker at Marin Youth Court's 10-year anniversary luncheon last year. She commended the program, noting that it had incredible promise, and highlighted its unprecedented 95% successful completion rate. ■ Superior Court Judge Roy O. Chernus has volunteered for and presided over Youth Court cases for 10 years. “I am a strong believer in Youth Court,” he said. “It is very powerful watching teens serve as jurors and advocates for their peers. The vast majority of participants never appear in our justice system and that is a huge positive outcome for everyone.” ■ Now going strong in its 11th year, Youth Court is run by Don Carney of the Marin YMCA. First-time misdemeanor offenders aged 10 to 17 who have broken the law and admitted their guilt are referred to the program by the
Marin County Probation Department, local police departments, and schools. There are 50 cases a year. Youths appear before a jury of their peers to answer questions, and are given a restorative plan to complete within three months. The plan incorporates community service and risk-analysis training that teaches how to safely navigate an environment infused with alcohol and drugs, and how to think clearly about risks before acting. Also, each offender serves as a juror on two to five subsequent Youth Court cases. The court is run by youth under age 18 with the exception of a single judge—usually a local judge or attorney. The collaborative approach highlights how a youth’s unlawful actions can adversely affect those around them. The entire process is meant to restore and not to punish. ■ “I’m proud to be a part of Marin County’s ground-breaking Youth Court,” said Superior Court Judge Paul M.
Marin County Celebrates GIS Day By Laurie Williams — DPW They can tell you precisely where to go and exactly how to get there —within the global three-to-six-inch margin of error, of course. On November 18, members of the Marin County GIS User Group transformed the Board of Supervisors lobby to showcase the many ways a Geographic Information System (GIS) is used to conduct county business. It was a chance to celebrate with GIS users worldwide, commemorating International GIS Day. Bridgit
Van Belleghem, Lauren Armstrong, and Mehmet Cuhadaroglu (all CDA) were on hand to interpret for the spatially challenged. ■ GIS is a computer mapping process that uses data with ground-based coordinates to help design scenarios, analyze data, and produce communicative, visual displays in both paper-based and digital formats. The Map Gallery included posters depicting projected sea level rise and adaptation strategies, the Santa Venetia Community Plan, and
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proposed flood-risk reduction in Ross Valley. Also showcased were animated demonstrations such as a sea level Stephanie Lapine and Eric Steger (both DPW) ponder a map showing flood reduction in Ross Valley. rise app, a web-based Novato watershed tour, and an online system for managing county emergency response called WebEOC. ■
M O N T H
SYDNEY FOWLER (RETIREMENT)
KARA AMESTOY (HR)
DECEMBER
Photos by Janis West
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Haakenson. “The program, its leader Don Carney, and all of its volunteers are setting the standard across the state and beyond in applying the principles of restorative justice to youthful offenders. The program’s success is remarkable. I truly believe that the program not only directs straying youth to the right track in life, but in some cases saves lives of those bound for disaster.” ■ Attorneys interested in serving as volunteer Youth Court judges are welcome to contact Don Carney: 415459-9622 and
[email protected]. ■
NOVEMBER
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JOANNE O’GRADY (CDA)
OCTOBER
SEPTEMBER
CAROL HEANEY (PD)
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Superior Court Judges Haakenson and Chernus volunteer with Marin Youth Court.
Photo courtesy of Laurie Williams
By Michael Wear — DA’s Office
6 WEST MARIN LIBRARIES
Photos by Susannah Clark
By Susannah Clark — BOS
Jennifer Livingston at Pt. Reyes Library
Collaboration, communication, and community make each West Marin branch of the Marin County Free Library a vibrant part of the fabric of the areas in which they are located. ■ Branch Manager Bonny White (Library) oversees rural West Marin’s four libraries: Bolinas, Stinson Beach, Inverness, and Pt. Reyes Station. As single-staff branches, they offer a sense of ownership and community connection to the five community library specialists: Jennifer Livingston and Dan Carr of the Pt. Reyes Station branch, Ann Bertucci of Inverness, Jane Silvia of Bolinas, and Kerry Livingston of Stinson Beach. “Running a branch by oneself requires staff to be motivated, independent, and know when to ask for help,” said Bonny. ■ West Marin library patrons enjoy music programs, Lego programs, book clubs, and origami workshops. One branch has a wildly popular knitting club; another, a long-standing quilting group. Stinson Beach hosts prose writers, poets, and a weekly teen gathering. At the Inverness Library’s weekly coffee klatch, residents share favorite reads. Inverness shares space with the Jack Mason Museum, offering room for community-generated programs including a recent one on wildflowers. Bolinas Library offers English Learners classes. A Latino photographers group uses the Pt. Reyes Library as their classroom. “It is said that the library is the community’s living room,” said Bonny. “Sometimes we feel like the heart,” as when the power goes out in the surrounding community and people convene at the library to stay dry and safe. ■ The Pt. Reyes branch hosts the monthly West Marin Collaborative, where agencies and residents together work on local problems. Jennifer said, “We are in regular contact with community partners like West Marin Community Services, West Marin Senior Services, Tomales Bay Youth Center, and many others.” She added, “It’s nice to have county colAnn Bertucci at leagues nearby at the offices of West Marin Health and Human Services; Inverness Library physical proximity helps us work together to accomplish community as well as library goals.” ■ There is something special about these branches and the dedicated staff members who keep them warm and welcoming. Each is unique and worth a visit! ■
Photo by Janis West
Outstanding Employee Team of the Quarter October–December 2015
A joint group from the Department of Public Works and Marin County Parks is the Team of the Quarter for outstanding effort in cleaning, polishing, painting, pruning, and planting to prepare the Marin Civic Center for formal evaluation for the UNESCO World Heritage List. The building maintenance workers, custodians, and landscape services workers received many appreciative comments as they made the historic Civic Center gleam. The Civic Center is among a group of 10 Frank Lloyd Wright-designed buildings being considered for the prestigious UNESCO list. A decision is expected later this year. L to R, front: Virginia Beauchamp, Harry Thorgersen, Donald Gallerani, Darren Taurins, Michael Gibson, Aaron Malilay, Glenn Samson, Judy West, Julio Cifuentes, and Jordan Rosenberg. Back: Dennis Galvin, Peter Norman, Allison Birrell, Rich Leahy, Ross Cascio, Chris Shand, Anthonio Swan, David Dibble, and Martin Hollis. Not pictured: Matthew Ballinger, Jeff Bedoya, Aniceto Cayanan, Eric Kress, Justin Martens, Michael Moline, Gerson Navarrette, Thomas Thorgersen, Brodie Thurmon, and Edmund Violago.
Roving Reporter By Ann Hearty — DPW Which county job would you like to do for a day? Jason Baker, Court Processing Specialist, Courts: “The county administrator. He has access to so much information and knowledge. Even if it turned out I wasn’t able to do his job, I’d just like to observe it!” Blas Cancino, Office Assistant, HHS: “An eligibility worker. I like to help and connect with people. I would want them to know all the services the county provides and then teach them to take care of themselves.” Diana Glasco, Office Assistant, DOF: “A coroner’s investigator—to unearth questions of how someone died. I like mystery and would love to understand the process of an investigation. It would feel good to help bring closure for their loved ones.” John Gee, Dentist, HHS: “A fire engineer. I was a volunteer firefighter and I loved the excitement. We had a great crew and terrific camaraderie. Once they made me head of volunteers, I knew it was time to move on to dentistry!” Henry Bustamante, Firefighter, Fire: “An elected supervisor. I would like to hear what they really think about the topics they must decide. I would enjoy letting the other four know what I know from experience that goes beyond a staff report.” F R A N K L Y S P E A K I N G — W I N T E R 2 016
Photos by Ann Hearty
Beyond the Blue Roof —
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MAPLE Shares Diwali
Celebration Photo by Patty Okubo
By Patty Okubo — Courts MAPLE (Marin Asian-American
Public Local Employees) introduced county employees to the traditional Hindu celebration, Diwali, the festival of lights. The November 4, 2015, event was held in the Board of Supervisors’ chambers and included Diwali decorations, Indian music, Henna art clothes, dance, food, henna tattoos, and a sari demonstration. ■ The emcees, Anu Bagchi (DOF) and Chandra Gopisetty (IST) gave highlights of Diwali and India. Although India is made up of 29 states with different traditions, they all observe Diwali as a time for family, food, decorations, card-giving, gift-exchanging, and shopping, similar to the observance of Christmas here. ■ During her presentation for the Combined Charities Campaign, Registrar of Voters Lynda Roberts remarked that this kind of event is “a slice of sanity in a busy, crazy, work-a-day world.” ■ Ashmita Pindoria (IST) demonstrated the assembling of a sari,
MAPLE Diwali event organizers— L to R, front: Jacalyn Mah (CAO), Mathilda Leow (DOF), Nagasree Viyyuri (IST), Francie Hubert (IST), and Margie Roberts (DOF). Middle: Dongfen Gao (IST), Adora Gutierrez (DA), Rwena Holaday (IST), Chandra Gopisetty (IST), Ashmita Pindoria (IST), and Denise Lee (Retirement). Back: Supriya Menon (IST), Anu Bagchi (DOF)
a drape of six yards of fabric wrapped around the waist and draped over the shoulder over a petticoat and midriff blouse. She noted that the sari is worn differently from region to region. ■ Participants were invited to get henna designs associated with the festival tattooed on the back of their hands. Bollywood dancing was enjoyed by all! ■ Jami Brady (HHS) enjoyed the event and looks forward to more events like it. She especially enjoyed being able to meet and network with other county employees. ■
Photo by Janice Hughes
Weddings at the Civic Center
Groom Ocie kisses bride Loni Ward (CDA).
By Phyllis Gray — ARCC The grooms, William and Eugene, took a moment to compose themselves when their joy and excitement erupted in giggles. Officiant Olga Lobato (ARCC) is accustomed to emotional weddings. As senior deputy county clerk, she and her coworkers, Deputy County Clerks Jeanne Mannion and Claudia Sanchez, performed more than 500 ceremonies in 2015, some with noteworthy touches. “I’ve been asked to wear a pirate hat and a Giants shirt,” Olga recalled, “but usually I wear a judicial robe to look serious.” Claudia remembers a couple whose friends and family provided decorations that took much longer to prepare than the actual 5- or 10-minute ceremony. “There were balloons around the pond and rose petals in a heart shape.” Sometimes the couple is more casual. Jeanne remembers a pair who biked F R A N K L Y S P E A K I N G — W I N T E R 2 016
to the Civic Center from Fairfax, wearing typical biking gear, and the bride was nine months pregnant! ■ And sometimes, the bride is a county employee! In 2011, Ocie and Loni Ward (CDA) were married in the Civic Center courtyard by County Clerk Rich Benson. They brought only a few of their closest family members and friends, but Loni’s “Civic Center family was also there, peeking through the blinds, and behind doors, flashing thumbs up in the hallway.” Linda Witong (Ret. DA and current CCV) designed the floral arrangements, and Janice Hughes (DA) was the photographer. ■ While the County Clerk’s Office usually schedules weddings twice a day at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., for special dates they accommodate as many couples as possible. ARCC employees Sage Oliva, Mike Rakitnichan, Bruce Abbott, Torey Burris, Gabriel de la Torre, Gail Drury, Nestor Laboy, and Olga McKenna are deputized to perform ceremonies when needed. Valentine’s Day is particularly busy, as are dates with lucky or sequential numbers, such as 12/12/12 and 12/13/14. The garden outside the cafeteria is a popular spot, and there is a wedding room nearby on the second floor for inclement weather. When an elderly gentleman on oxygen was unable to leave his car, the couple was wed in the parking lot. ■ The beauty of Marin County draws many pairs to choose the Civic Center as their wedding site. William and Eugene, soon to relocate to Marin from Sonoma, wanted to start their life together in the same spot they will live. The morning light illuminated their jubilant smiles when Olga pronounced them wed. Another delighted couple wed by the Marin County Clerk’s Office! ■
Jeanne remembers a pair who biked to the Civic Center from Fairfax, wearing typical biking gear, and the bride was nine months pregnant!
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WELCOME FA R E W E L L ! Welcome to New Employees! Listed in order of hire date from August 2 to November 21, 2015 Aaron Malilay Aniceto Cayanan Bridgit Van Belleghem Talia Smith Jennifer Bates Kevin Lee Bianca Bustos Brodie Thurmon Hector A. Hernandez Justin Martens Kimberly Turold Laura Kennett Margarita Mc Kenney Mohamadi Sakande Shannon Bell Tsz Ying Chui Eileen Becker Jeremy Fonseca Alison Sexauer April Glisson Ashley Hart Mcintyre Emanuela Gyurics Emily Cordell Karen Walsh Matthew Jacobs Nicholas Bryant Rafael Herrera Ann Robinson Carly Post Emily Chourre Robert Oser T'erra Jones Lisa Santora Cynthia Falzon Danielle George Efrain Michel Ernesto Fernandez Kelsey Kress Kerline Gilles-Ngnitang Kristina Warcholski Mandy Gamarra Sharyn Jupp Tamara Bransburg Shawn Mooney Roy Olson Christy Mulanix Jacquelyn Roper Jesse Blea Josefina Godoy-Demattos Katie Estupinan Nancy Charlton Nicolle Lewis Rebecca Demastus Robert Smith
Sr. Custodian, DPW Custodian, DPW Planner, CDA Admin. Analyst I, CAO Mental Health Unit Supervisor, HHS HHS Planner/Eval., HHS Mental Health Pract.–Biling., HHS Bldg. Maint. Wkr. II, DPW Bldg. Inspector II, CDA Bldg. Maint. Wkr. II, DPW Library Aide, Library Librarian I, Library Office Asst. III–Biling., HHS Acctng. Assist., HHS Env. Health Spec. I, CDA Child Welfare Wkr. II, HHS Support Svc. Wkr. II, HHS Dep. DA II, DA Media Spec., HHS Crisis Spec., HHS HHS Policy Analyst, HHS Child Welfare Wkr. II, HHS Dep. DA I, DA Media Tech., Parks Dep. DA I, DA Elig. Wkr. II, HHS Legal Process Asst. I, DA Office Asst. III, DPW Court Process. Spec. I, Courts Court Investigator, Courts Court Process. Spec. I, Courts Court Process. Spec. I, Courts Dep. Public Health Officer, HHS Appraiser I, ARCC Mental Health Pract., HHS Mental Health Pract.–Biling., HHS Custodian, DPW Jr. Engineer, DPW Office Asst. III, HHS Consumer & Community Mediation Coord., DA Appraiser I, ARCC Env. Health Spec. II, CDA Mental Health Pract.–Biling., HHS Court Process. Spec. I, Courts Dep. Sheriff Trainee, Sheriff Comm. Dispatcher, Sheriff Comm. Dispatcher, Sheriff Engineering Asst., DPW Comm. Dispatcher, Sheriff Office Asst. III–Biling., HHS Admin. Asst. II, HHS Payroll Mgr., DOF Comm. Dispatcher, Sheriff Bldg. Maint. Wkr. II, DPW
Sarah Van Guilder Stephanie Maynard Suzanne Cervantes Torey Burris Sean Holcombe Aarin Crawford Joan Nilsen Mandy Carroll Rosa Rivera Mason Thomas Alla Fortenko Curt Garman Nicholas Parrish Patrick Butler Sarah Brown Thomas Vella Jennifer Sessi Charles Saldanha Ingrid Sandoval James Bidia Johnnie Terry Otmane Bennani Scott Armstrong Eddie Nghiem Christine Shaw
Comm. Dispatcher Trainee, Sheriff Comm. Dispatcher, Sheriff Sr. Public Health Nurse, HHS Appraiser I, ARCC Lic. Crisis Spec., HHS Dental Hygienist, HHS Acctng. Tech., Fire Sr. Nutritionist, HHS Registered Dental Asst., HHS Dep. Sheriff Trainee, Sheriff Sr. Programmer Analyst, IST Admin. Svcs. Tech.–Conf., CAO Admin. Asst. II, IST Road Maint. Wkr. I, DPW Admin. Svcs. Assoc., CDA Reprographics Tech., DPW Asst. Director, DCSS Medical Director–Mental Health, HHS Acctng. Asst., DOF Road Maint. Wkr. I, DPW Road Maint. Wkr. I, DPW Dep. Sheriff Trainee, Sheriff Chief Asst. Director, IST Dep. Sheriff Trainee, Sheriff Equal Employment Spec., HR
Farewell to Retirees! Timothy Miller Kim Turner Michael Brogan Stephanie Lent Wilcox Corbett Janet Mullin Linda Dahl Long Trinh Marissa Wertheimer Mir Saaid Fakharzadeh David Ball David Zoellner Mark Young Penney Wentland Gary Siegel Anita Erola Peter Coles Albert Powell Debra Mullaney Jennifer Lack Michael Martin Sheryl Rand Christina Taboryski Luisa Ward Lawrence Brown Ebrahim Azarbakhsh
Deputy Sheriff, Sheriff Court Exec. Officer, Courts Chief of Surveys, DPW Legal Process Spec., Sheriff Fire Engineer, Fire Sr. Env. Health Spec., CDA Marin County Parks Director, Parks Office Asst. III, HHS Mediation Coord., Probation Asst. Director, DPW Consumer & Community Mediation Coord., DA Bldg. Maint. Wkr. III, CS Lic. Mental Health Pract., HHS Court Mgmnt. Analyst, Courts Deputy Sheriff, Sheriff Human Resources Asst., HR Acctng. Technical Spec., DPW Ag/Wts. & Meas. Insp. III, Ag/Wts. & Meas. Admin. Svcs. Associate, HHS Deputy Sheriff, Sheriff Sup. Cadastral Mapping Tech., ARCC Staff Psychiatrist, HHS Admin. Svcs. Tech. Conf., HR Sr. Support Svcs. Wkr.–Biling, HHS Lic. Mental Health Pract., HHS Acctng. Tech., Sheriff
Compiled by Jane Crownover — Elections
In Memoriam Robert Wiese passed away November 21 after a stroke. A valued member of IST since August 2014, Bob was on the IST property team, which supports property-related work done by Assessor’s Office and Department of Finance staff. He helped build the new CAPPS2 system used by the Assessor’s staff to assess the value of vessels located in Marin. Bob was a second-generation county employee; his father, Jim Wiese, worked 25 years in DPW. Bob is survived by his wife Michele Wiese and mother Luella Wiese. He loved to vacation on the Big Island of Hawaii. In accordance with his wishes, his ashes will be spread there. Aloha, Bob.
Raul Munoz, a social services supervisor with HHS’s Children and Family Services team, passed away November 12 after a hard-fought battle against liver cancer. Raul dedicated his life to advocating for the wellbeing of children and families. During most of his 15 years working for the County of Marin he oversaw the Emergency Response Unit, helping to ensure the safety of countless Marin children. Colleagues remember Raul as a kind soul, a passionate leader, and a wonderful storyteller. He is survived by his wife Maria Munoz, kids Raul and Rammet, and grandkids Nico, Mateo, and Kalissi.
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