The City of Temecula is honoring Slow Food Temecula Valley with a proclamation for their School Garden program. Proclamation was accepted by the President of Slow Food Temecula Valley, Leah Di Bernardo (local Business Owner and celebrated Chef). The ceremony took place January 24^th at 6 PM with well known food activist Alice Waters attending by live feed to the City Council Chambers. Recognized nationally as a leading advocate for organic foods and healthy diets Ms. Waters has authored several books on food and cooking and established the Edible Schoolyard at the Martin Luther King Middle School in Berkeley, California.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that Medicare is adding coverage for preventive services to reduce obesity.  This adds to Medicare’s existing portfolio of preventive services that are now available without cost sharing under the Affordable Care Act.  It complements the Million Hearts initiative led jointly by CMS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in partnership with other HHS agencies, communities, health systems, nonprofit organizations, and private sector partners across the country to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes in the next 5 years.

“Obesity is a challenge faced by Americans of all ages, and prevention is crucial for the management and elimination of obesity in our country,” said CMS Administrator Donald M. Berwick, MD.  “It’s important for Medicare patients to enjoy access to appropriate screening and preventive services.”

by Officer John Thomas

There is a new trend among youth (age 18-24) looking for a new social activity. It is called Hookah. A hookah is a water pipe used to smoke materials including tobacco and dried fruit. Water pipes have been used throughout the Middle East, India and Asia for centuries. According to a 2005 World Health Organization (WHO) report, the hookah was invented during the late 15^th or early 16^th century by a physician in India. This physician incorrectly believed the water would eliminate the negative effects of tobacco.