February 22, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) -- ECM columnist Cate Sacks, owner of the local shelter rescue and dog training company, Shelter Dogs to Dream Dogs, is no stranger to odd animal antics. But bad behavior hit close to home when Scooter, her seven-pound pet Maltese, was mauled by a stranger dog while out in public with the family.
The attack left a two-inch hole in Scooter's chest cavity and lungs. He also almost lost his eye and more.
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February 21, 2012 (Bonita) – Johnathon Richard Kordylas, 18, of Bonita has been identified by the San Diego Medical Examiner’s office as the driver who died February 18 following a car accident in the 2400 block of S. Woodman Street in San Diego.
Events feature discounts on low-water-use plants, information from gardening experts
February 21, 2012 (San Diego County) -- San Diego County residents interested in making their yards and gardens more attractive and water efficient will have an opportunity to get information from gardening experts and save up to 50 percent on select varieties of low-water-use plants at San Diego County Garden Friendly Plant Fairs this spring at select The Home Depot locations.
February 20, 2012 (San Diego)--2012 will prove to be an interesting electoral cycle, perhaps one for the history books. With the Occupy Movement, the Coffee Party, the Tea Party and now Be Your Government (http://beyourgovernment.org/) we are seeing a rise in a challenge to the Beltway Establishment.
February 20, 2012 (Ramona) – Several witnesses saw a man enter Nancy’s Cleaners at 1688#A Main Street in Ramona at 12:45 a.m. yesterday. According to Sgt. Daniel Vengler with the San Diego Sheriff, the burglar took the cash register and left, but dropped it outside. He picked up a small amount of cash and fled northeast from the shopping center on foot.
Authorities seek info on shooter; owner found but relinquishes dog
February 21, 2012 (Alpine)—A dog found lying on the side of Viejas Grade Road near Willows Road in Alpine with a bullet in its chest remains in extremely serious condition following surgery.The 40-pound retriever mix was found by a passerby and a Viejas firefighter yesterday morning around 7:30 a.m.
February 21, 2012 (San Diego) -- Timeshare owners across the country are being scammed out of millions of dollars by unscrupulous companies that promise to sell or rent the unsuspecting victims’ timeshares, the FBI has warned.
Lakeside, Fallbrook, Spring Valley Community Centers Promote Fun Heart Health Feb. 29
February 21, 2012 (San Diego East County) -- Leap year presents us with an extra day this February — which is also American Heart Month. In celebration, the San Diego County Department of Parks and Recreation is inviting people to do some literal leaping on Feb. 29 with free exercise classes at its three community centers.
Choose from Zumba, Boot Camp, Fitness Fusion or Fitness Yoga. Take the free day to try a fun class — it might just inspire you to return often and keep your heart healthy for many leap years to come.
February 21, 2012 (La Mesa) - A 17-year-old boy was struck by a trolley in downtown La Mesa today after attempting to beat the trolley by running across the tracks. La Mesa Patch reports the teen suffered "survivable" injuries and was conscious when rescued shortly after 11 a.m. today.
February 21, 2012 (Spring Valley) – A 28-year-old man was arrested this morning for assaulting his girlfriend, 35, and his mother at 1635 Canyon Road, #40, in Spring Valley. Deputies from the Lemon Grove Station responded to a call regarding the attack shortly after midnight. According to Sergeant V.J. Rivera, the suspect “wanted to hurt himself and he had a knife with him.”
February 21, 2012 (Jacumba) – Three-year-old Destiny Pierce is a survivor. Born with no trachea and with organs on the wrong side of her body, she defied doctors’ predictions that she would not live 24 hours and survived heart surgery.
"Mr. Pierce left his job and stopped his education of becoming a nurse so that he could stay at home and take care of his little angel, Destiny,"
said Lorrie Ostrander, a Jacumba resident who started a fundraiser to help the family in this small high-desert town in East County. Anthony Pierce needs a car to transport his "miracle" daughter to her medical appointments.
February 20, 2012 (La Mesa)—Two suspects, one armed with a silver handgun, forced three employees at the Lake Murray Café into the kitchen and stole their personal cash after they were unable to open the restaurant’s safe on February 17 at approximately 9:45 p.m. The suspects were last seen running westbound away from the business, located at 5465 Lake Murray Blvd. in La Mesa.
February 20, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--As a real estate agent, I’ve seen firsthand frustrations with factors that are needlessly driving down housing prices. Below are some of those factors, along with potential solutions.
Federal Government Asks for Additional Time to Process Proposal that Will Launch the Community-Based Adult Services Program
February 20, 2012 (Sacramento) -- The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) today announced that the elimination of the optional Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) benefit will be delayed until March 31. The one-month delay is in response to a request by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for more time to process California’s amendment to the existing 1115 “Bridge to Reform” waiver to implement the new Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS) program.
February 20, 2012 (La Mesa) – at 5:45 a.m. on February 18, La Mesa Police officers responded to a radio call of a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of 7484 University Avenue. As officers arrived, the suspect vehicle fled and failed to yield to officers. A short vehicle pursuit ensued, ending when the suspect vehicle collided with a utility pole at Lowell Street and Normal Avenue. As the primary officer exited his vehicle, the suspect put his vehicle in reverse, driving at the officer and striking the officer’s patrol car.
February 20, 2012 (La Mesa) Former Grossmont High School head football coach Ron Murphy passed away on Tuesday after a battle with skin cancer. Murphy was 48 years old.
Grossmont High School dedicated its basketball game against Helix High School in honor of Murphy. Grossmont High School also held a celebration of Murphy’s life on Saturday morning at the football field on campus.
February 20, 2012 (Alpine) – The Alpine Community Planning Group’s agenda for February 23 includes addressing SDG&E’s request for a noise variance to fly helicopters on Sundays through May. Also on the agenda is a subcommittee recommendation for Albertson’s Park, a presentation by the County on streetscape improvements (phase 2) for Alpine Boulevard, and an update from SDG&E on Powerlink, streetscapes and underground utilities.
February 20, 2012 (San Diego)--Last weekend at the Democratic State Convention, Senator Dianne Feinstein discussed her agenda for Congress as well as her aspirations for the United States. The Senator, who has served for 20 years, seeks reelction in November.
February 19, 2012 (El Cajon) -- A residential fire in the 500 block of Millar Avenue in El Cajon early Saturday morning threatening neighboring homes briefly. Heartland Fire & Rescue crews arrived five minutes after receiving a call and found heavy fire and smoke coming from the front windows of the single story residence.
Fire crews stretched hose lines to the interior of the house and aggressively fought the fire while a truck crew simultaneously cut a hole in the roof to ventilate the structure. The coordinated quick attack by firefighters confined the fire to the residence, saving nearby homes.
February 18, 2012 (Sacramento)--Senator Joel Anderson (R-El Cajon)- has sent letters to Governor Jerry Brown and Attorney General Kamala Harris raising concerns over Cal-Trans regarding what he terms the “Bay Bridge phony inspection” scandal at Caltrans.
The Sacramento Bee and the Mercury News ran front page stories (“Caltrans worker 'unfired,' allowed to resign”, “Caltrans wants prosecution for forged tests”) about Caltrans re-hiring Duane Wiles, the safety inspector found to be falsifying bridge safety tests, as well as the Caltrans cover-up and efforts to avoid public scrutiny,” Anderson wrote in a newsletter to constituents.
February 17, 2012 (San Diego) – State Senator Juan Vargas will join with California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones to co-host a town hall meeting Thursday, February 23 from 6-8 p.m. Topics will include how to file complaints with the Dept. of Insurance, disaster preparedness and recovery, and senior issues such as annuities, Medicare advantage and supplements, scams, and long-term care insurance.
Update June 24, 2012: The new location fo the East County Produce Exchange is the parking lot between the Jamul Hardware Store and the new Jamjul Cafe. The exchange has also changed its hours, from 4-5:30 p.m. on the last Saturday each month.
By Ariele Johannson
February 18, 2012 (East County) -- We have all seen oranges or lemons abandoned under trees in someone’s yard or even our own. Some of us have olives or pomegranates but no time to process them. Now there is a local solution. It is called the East County Produce Exchange, created by two Steele Canyon High School students in Jamul, John Chapman and Blake Powers. ECPE teamed up with Alpine Ranch Creative & Ecological Solutions, Inc. or A.R.C.H.E.S to organize and sponsor the Exchange. The venture has been wildly successful. You can visit their website at http://www.archesinc.org/east-county-produce-exchange.html .
February 17, 2012 (San Diego) – The California Democratic Party has posted videos on its website of speeches by comedian-turned-Senator Al Franken as well as by Governor Jerry Brown and all statewide office holders at this website: http://www.youtube.com/user/cademorg?ob=0&feature=results_main .
February 17, 2012 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon has two great museums to visit during February - museum month. The Knox House has a wealth of information about the 100-year history of the City of El Cajon, displaying photos and artifacts. The Knox House was the first commercial building in El Cajon, built in 1876 as a hotel for travelers on their way to the Julian gold mines. The Knox House Museum will be open each Saturday in February, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at 280 N. Magnolia Avenue in El Cajon. Admission is free. You can also schedule private tours for your class or organization. For more information, please call (619) 444-3800, or visit www.elcajonhistory.org.
Freshman catcher Brian Lockey hits game-winning 3-run double in eighth inning
February 17, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)— On February 10, the count was three balls and two strikes. In the bottom of the eighth inning, the bases were loaded with two outs. With Grossmont College trailing Pasadena City College 8-6, freshman catcher Brian Lockey (Bonita Vista HS) dug into the batter’s box as he got ready for the pitch.
February 17, 2012 (San Diego)-- San Diego Police Department Robbery Unit detectives confirmed the arrest of Harvey Henry Duson, 45, in connection with the violent home invasion robbery that occurred last month at the Sandburg Avenue residence of former City Councilmember Harry Mathis.
February 17, 2012 (Kitchen Creek) -- The name Kitchen Creek brings up many thoughts of times gone by. One can only imagine gold miners giving this creek its name.
By Joel A. Harrison, PhD, MPH “If we had free market competition, SDG&E would have to absorb the costs of the fire. Quite simply, if
they raised their rates, consumers would switch to other providers.”
February 17, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) -- Sempra-owned utility San Diego Gas & Electric wants “San Diego-area utility customers to pay for nearly all of an estimated $463 million in cost not covered by insurance from the catastrophic 2007 wildfires that were triggered in large part by its power lines,” the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. “At stake is who ultimately pays for the fire’s destruction — ratepayers or shareholders.” SDG&E wants the ratepayers to cover 95 to 100 percent of excess wildfire and related litigation costs.
Authorities seek info on shooter; owner found but relinquishes dog 
February 21, 2012 (Jacumba) – Three-year-old Destiny Pierce is a survivor. Born with no trachea and with organs on the wrong side of her body, she defied doctors’ predictions that she would not live 24 hours and survived heart surgery. 
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