🌱 State Of The County Speech + California Climate Credit Payout

Hello again, friends! It's Saturday in San Diego and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on all the most important things happening in the community, including news about...

• New chair of San Diego Board of Supervisors delivered her State of the County address.
• California Climate Credit payout will be coming your way sooner, rather than later.
• Love orchids? Visit the World of Orchids at the San Diego Botanic Garden.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny.🌤️ High: 65, Low: 48.

📢 I'm looking for business owners and marketers in San Diego who want to build awareness, connect with customers and increase sales.

I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that's you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

Here are four of the top stories today in San Diego:

1. County Board of Supervisors chair Nora Vargas gave her State of the County speech, stating that she supports residents of the county, and she promises to listen to all San Diegans: parents, immigrants, small business owners and those struggling to get by in our region. Vargas also wants to address the homelessness, start a program to aid seniors in need, make childcare more accessible, encourage more transit options, work to address gun violence, plant more trees, and prepare for the lifting of Title 42 immigration restrictions. (Voice of San Diego)
2. Still upset over your recent SDG&E natural gas bill? Well, relief is now on the way! Residential utility ratepayers will receive about $104 in credit on their next bill. The funds will be an advance payout from the California Climate Credit. All SDG&E, as well as community choice aggregation customers, will receive the credit automatically. (San Diego Patch)
3. The third annual World of Orchids is returning to the San Diego Botanic Garden Mar. 11 – Apr. 9. The exhibit will take place in the Dickenson Family Education Conservatory, an 8,000 square foot, walls of glass facility. A one-day ticket or an annual membership includes admission to the World of Orchids exhibition. Locally grown hybrids and rare species of orchids will be on display. Reservations are required. For more information, visit https://sdbg.org/world-of-orchids/ (Times of San Diego)
4. San Diego County Assessor’s Office wants lovebirds to make their appointment now if they want to wed on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14. Offices in downtown San Diego, Chula Vista, Santee and San Marcos will be open 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. for marriage license and ceremony appointments. Appointments can be made online at www.sdarcc.gov or by calling (619) 237-0502. Spaces are filling fast! Walk-in services without an appointment will be offered at the Waterfront Park downtown office. (Times of San Diego)

Today in San Diego:

• SD Zoo Lunar New Year Celebration 2023: San Diego — San Diego Zoo. (9 a.m.)
• DO YOUR HOMEWORK @ THE LIBRARY — San Ysidro Branch Library. (10 a.m.)
• Gardening Exchange — Rancho Peñasquitos Library. (10 a.m.)
• FREE Women's Self-Defense Workshop — North San Diego Business Chamber. (10 a.m.)
• Dance Pants Bash! — Mission Hills Branch Library. (10 a.m.)
• Paws to Read — Mira Mesa Branch Library. (11 a.m.)

From my notebook:

• Celebrate the history and culture of Black Americans: "Black History Month celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Black Americans. To mark the occasion, the San Diego Public Library invites the public to experience a series of thought-provoking programs to broaden our knowledge and experiences of Black Americans. More info https://bit.ly/40wCeiK" (City of San Diego via Facebook)
• Organic Waste Recycling program: "Have you heard, San Diego’s new Organic Waste Recycling program is underway and the green bins are being rolled out. Organic Waste Recycling provides an opportunity for every resident and business to easily recycle food scraps, food-soiled paper and yard trimmings through weekly pickup." (City of San Diego via Facebook)
• It's a wildlife baby shower: "You're invited to participate in our Wildlife Baby Shower! Every year, San Diego Humane Society is flooded with injured and orphaned baby wildlife — and we need your help to give them a second chance! By donating a special gift from our baby registries at sdhumane.org/babyshower you’ll help us prepare for the thousands of young animals we’ll welcome in the coming months." (San Diego Humane Society via Facebook)
• SD Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force: "Please join the San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and SDPD for a film screening of Maria Demeshkina Peek’s, 'Sextortion: The Hidden Pandemic,' on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, at 6 p.m., at the Rock Church, Pt. Loma." (San Diego Police Department via Facebook)
• Pairings with a purpose: "Today is the LAST DAY to get advance tickets for Feeding San Diego's Pairings with a Purpose Dinner Party. Ticket prices go up tomorrow, Feb. 3. We're so excited to bring back our Pairings with a Purpose culinary event that supports our year-round hunger-relief programs." (Feeding San Diego via Facebook)
• Post-Baccalaureate training: "Looking for research experience in plant science after graduation? 🔬🧬🌱 We are now accepting applications for RaMP: Post-Baccalaureate Training and Research Program in Rare Plant Science and Conservation. This one-year research experience program is intended for individuals who were not able to participate extensively in research during their undergraduate degree program." (San Diego Botanic Garden via Facebook)

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Events:

• Take a sneak peek at Virtual Tour and photo Album. (Feb. 5)
• San Diego Reverse Mortgage Myth or Fact Dinner. (Feb. 9)
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Alrighty, you're all good for today. I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with your next update!

— Bettyann Pernice

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming San Diego Daily? Contact me at sandiego@patch.com