Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, June 24, 2023

MVNews this week:  Page 8

8


Mountain View News Saturday, June 24, 2023 

Peter Dills Knows 

COACHES CORNER By Clint Moore


JUNE FOOD MONTH

Recently I picked up some cherries at Vons, and, boy, were they 
ready to eat! You see, I have a secret love affair with the cherry 
-- it is my all time favorite fruit. When they are good they are 
oh soooo good; when they aren’t they just well… aren’t worth 
it. I got to thinking there must be a food day for most every day, 
and... I was right. 

June is National Fruit and Vegetable Month. Yes, I know, there 
are a million of these designated titles for the month of June 
(and every other month, too!) Half of them hold about as much 
weight as your doctor telling you that you should go to bed at 
the same time every night (like that’s possible…). There’s "National 
Rocky Road Day", "I drink too much day" and of course 
"I’ll have another day". 

Instead of letting the label slip your mind like all those other 
futile holiday labels, use this one as an excuse to mindfully 
"healthify" your diet. The upcoming months are filled with 
fresh, seasonal produce, which makes the process of eating your 
fruits and veggies a whole lot cheaper, easier, and tastier. 

 Fruits and Veggies in June

• Arugula * Broccoli * Blueberries *Cabbage *Cauliflower * Cherries * Dandelion
Greens *Kale *Leaf Lettuce * Okra * Peas * Rhubarb * Raspberries * Spinach * Spring Onions *
Strawberries * Swiss Chard.

• What does July hold for us? Listen to my
show on Sunday afternoon at 5PM on AM 830
AKA Angels Baseball Station

Fun cherry facts: Its name comes originally from
the Greek, and in Latin means of or for the birds,
due to the birds' obvious love of the fruit. The English 
word cherry originates from the Assyrian karsu 
and Greek kerasos. The tree was beloved by the
Egyptians, Greeks and Romans both for its beautiful 
flowers and its versatile fruit.

• Although a different species of cherry was already strongly established in America by
the time the first colonists arrived, the new settlers brought along their favorite European variety 
and eventually cross-bred the two. Today, 90 percent of the commercial cherry crop is
grown in the U.S., mostly in Michigan, California, Oregon and Washington.

FROM IMBALANCE TO EQUILIBRIUM: 
A TALE OF PERSONAL 
TRIUMPH

In the bustling commotion of the 21st century, 
the seesaw of life, work, and stud-ies often teeter. 
We often find ourselves dragged towards 
one end, losing sight of the central harmony. 
Balancing these elements is crucial for physical 
and mental well-being; achieving equilibrium 
is no mean feat.

Life in the modern age can be likened to a three-
legged race. Continued learning represents the 
quest for knowledge and personal growth; work 
stands for liveli-hood; and life offers a kaleidoscope of experiences to improve our 
existence.

Often, one exerts an excessive pull, tipping the scale and causing other aspects to 
suffer. Such a pull could ignite burnout, feelings of emptiness, or even the haunt-ing 
presence of unfulfilled dreams.

Consider the tale of a friend, whom we'll call Alex, who excelled professionally since 
high school. However, his love for work and unparalleled dedication com-promised 
his personal life and, eventually, his health. The imbalance manifested in sleepless 
nights and insatiable restlessness.

A revelation struck Alex; his relentless drive for professional success was rendering 
him one-dimensional. This realization prompted a radical redesign of his life. He 
carved out time for loved ones, reintroduced self-care, and pursued a part-time po-
sition after selling his company. He instilled discipline, carved out scheduled time, 
and compartmentalized commitments to keep one area from bleeding into another.

The transformation was remarkable. Alex reported improved concentration, deeper 
family relationships, and an enhanced mind-body connection. His professional per-
formance improved as well; he was happier and more fulfilled. His example illus-
trates the power of balance in our lives.

The benefits are plentiful when we balance work, life, and studies. Productivity 
soars, mental health improves, and personal relationships blossom. Like a well-oiled 
machine, each component works arm in arm, enriching our existence. In our fast-
paced, high-pressure society, balance is not merely desirable but imperative.

Here are steps to attain balance:

1. Prioritize: Understand what's essential; direct energy accordingly.

2. Time Management: Organize schedules ensuring each aspect gets its due.

3. Set Boundaries: Prevent one area from invading another; keep them sepa-
rate. Respect the limits.

Life is a juggling act; maintaining a healthy balance between work, life, and stud-ies 
prevents dropping any balls. As we navigate the maze of modern existence, re-member 
our goal goes beyond survival. We must aim to prosper. Balance, dear reader, is 
the secret to that recipe. May Alex's story inspire and guide you to a bal-anced life. 
Achieving equilibrium leads to personal fulfillment and resonates with everyone 
around you, creating a well-coordinated dance of existence.

Feel free to put my email address at the bottom again, "Clint@habitus.care", and if 
there is a way to add "Mindset Coach" as a title at the bottom, that would be great-ly 
appreciated.


PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY AWARDS VECTOR 

INSPECTORS OF THE YEAR

Middle school students complete mosquito surveillance, citizen science program


The San Gabriel Valley Mosquito & Vector 
Control District (SGVMVCD/District) 
proudly awarded 44 Vector Inspectors 
of the Year (VIY) from the cities of 
Sierra Madre, West Covina, and Monrovia 
for their participation in a mosquito 
surveillance program. Through Operation 
Mosquito G.R.I.D., students use the 
same tools as vector ecologists to determine 
the presence or absence of invasive 
Aedes mosquitoes. 

Aedes mosquitoes are vectors for dengue, 
yellow fever, Zika, and chikungunya 
which can circulate in San Gabriel Valley 
communities if mosquitoes remain unchecked. 
The students’ actions on their 
properties, during, and beyond the conclusion 
of the surveillance project, protect 
their entire neighborhood.

SGVMVCD Education Specialist Kriztian 
Luna Corona stated, “Operation 
Mosquito G.R.I.D. exposes students to 
real-life public health work. Their investigative 
efforts at home and exposure 
to data analysis build 21st century 
S.T.E.A.M. skills and prepare students to 
be public health heroes of tomorrow. 

VIY recipients committed to the program 
for the length of the school year. 
Operation Mosquito G.R.I.D requires 
them to sign up for the program, prepare 
their property for mosquito surveillance, 
and submit two types of surveillance 
data within the first six weeks. Additionally, 
students submitted stagnant water 
samples to look for evidence of aquatic 
stages of mosquitoes and lure papers for 
evidence of egg-laying Aedes mosquitoes. 
The VIY award recipients didn’t 
stop there, they continued to report findings 
through their 1-, 3-, and 6-months 
check-in surveys. The program is designed 
to make positive contributions 
to reducing public health risk in their 
communities. 

“My students benefited greatly from Operation 
Mosquito G.R.I.D.!” said Danny 
Woo, a teacher from San Jose Charter 
Academy. “We are always looking for 
ways to increase their scientific agency 
and the fact that they were able to apply 
the scientific process to a task that was 
helpful to their community was extremely 
meaningful.”

Above: Sierra Madre Middle School students 
with awards

Teachers interested in bringing Operation 
Mosquito G.R.I.D. sample analysis 
into their classrooms can visit www.
vectoreducation.org/professionaldevelopment. 
Registrationis 
now open for fall 2023 Operation 
Mosquito G.R.I.D. at www.vectoreducation.
org. 

 For more information, residents can 
contact the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and 
Vector Control District at 626-814-9466, online 
at SGVmosquito.org, or on social media: 
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com