June 29, 2011 (Sacramento) -- Last week, the Senate Education Committee approved three bills authored by Assembly Higher Education Chair Marty Block (AD-78) aimed at improving the student experience at California’s public colleges and universities. This series of bills includes AB 620 aimed at creating safe college campus environments for LGBT students,AB 670 to establish clear appeals procedures for California State University (CSU) admissions decisions, and AB 743that creates a system-wide assessment tool to better place community college students.
June 29, 2011 (San Diego) -- Last week, 150 elementary school children in San Diego County were attending a new kind of summer camp -- the “Summer Engineering Experience for Kids” (SEEK) Camp, a concept designed by the National Society for Black Engineers (NSBE) in 2007 to build a pipeline to careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) for African-American and other under-represented minority children.
June 28, 2011 (El Cajon) -- Every summer the Heritage of the Americas Museum, located on the campus of Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego, has week-long classes for students going into fifth through ninth grade. All of the classes are taught by retired school teachers. The cost for each five-day class is only $50.00. For more information, you can call the Museum at 619-670-5194 or visit the web site at www.cuyamaca.edu/museum.
June 29, 2011 (El Cajon) – An injured man who called 911 after falling down an embankment last night has been found following an intensive search and will be transported to a hospital, Melissa Aquino, public affairs officer with the San Diego Sheriff’s Office, advises.
Poll shows strong public support for plan; Rep. Hunter visits Afghanistan to meet with military officers
By Miriam Raftery
June 29, 2011 (San Diego) – A Gallup Poll shows 72% of Americans support President Barack Obama’s plan announced last week to withdraw thousands of U.S. troops from Afghanistan this year. Just 23% opposed the troop drawdown plan, and some want to see an even faster troop withdrawal.
Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-El Cajon), a veteran of the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars and member of the House Armed Services Committee, visited Afghanistan this week and met with General David Petraeus. He has voiced support for troop withdrawals, citing erosion of public support. But he called for a shift in focus toward counter-terrorism utilizing special operations forces, intelligence gathering capability and air assets.
June 29, 2011 (San Diego)—The California Citizens Redistricting Commission heard input from area residents this month, including some residents of East County and Imperial County who objected to the redrawing of Congressional and state leglsiative district lines to lump the two regions together.
Update 2:55 p.m.: The fire is now 5-10 acres, burning at Otay Truck Trail.
June 29, 2011 (Otay Mesa) – A brush fire that originated in Mexico has burned three to five acres in Otay Mesa along Alta Road, Cal Fire reports. Currently one air tanker, one helicopter, one air attack plane, three engines and two handcrews are at the scene.
June 29, 2011 (La Mesa)--William Warnock, 59, is under arrest for assault with a deadly weapon and felony criminal threats after an eight hour standoff with police. La Mesa Police responded to a call at 6100 Blain Place, La Mesa, around 10 p.m. last night after Warnock's wife reported that her husband had threatened to hurt her and also threatened to kill their 20-year-old son with a large screwdriver.
June 28, 2011 (El Cajon) --On Thursday, June 23rd, 2011 at approximately 11:00 a.m., the victim was exiting the Wells Fargo Bank at 250 N. Second, El Cajon after just making a deposit when the suspect approached. The suspect physically assulted him, grabbed the victim's bank deposit bag, and fled on foot. The victim did not sustain any injury.
Santee Store Yields Top Total in Charity Campaign for People with Disabilities
June 28, 2011 (Santee) -- The Santee Vons store was named a top fundraising store by Easter Seals during Safeway Inc.’s charity campaign to benefit people with disabilities in April. The Santee store achieved the highest fundraising total in its district.
June 28, 2011 (La Presa) -- A near fatal mistake on June 15, 2011 put the lives of seven family members in danger. Sheer luck in the actions of a 13 year old girl saves them all from death.
June 28, 2011 (San Diego) -- Executive Chef Jeff Rossman’s farm-to-table cookbook-come-love story to local growers, From Terra’s Table: New American Food Fresh From Southern California’s Organic Farms (Chefs Press, 2010), adds a new honor to its list of accolades.
June 28, 2011 (Padre Dam) -- Padre Dam Municipal Water District’s Mountain Top Reservoir Retrofit Project recently received the 2010 Project of the Year Award from the San Diego & Imperial County chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA) and the 2010 Award of Merit in Water Treatment by the San Diego Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).
June 28, 2011 (Scripps Ranch) – A brush fire at Scripps Ranch Blvd. and Carroll Canyon Road has burned two acres as of 3:25 p.m. A helicopter is now making a water drop and command has requested a brush engine response and arson investigators, Incident Page Network reports.
Conservation and Demand-Response Programs Still Key
June 28, 2011 (San Diego) – San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) today announced it has secured adequate electricity supplies and required reserves to meet customers’ expected energy needs this summer, barring extreme weather conditions.
The California Independent Systems Operator (Cal-ISO), the agency responsible for managing the statewide power grid, has issued its 2011 Summer Assessment confirming adequate supplies to meet the projected electricity demand across the state – even if hotter-than-average temperatures occur.
June 28, 2011 (La Mesa) -- Sharp Grossmont Hospital’s Senior Resource Center offers free or low-cost educational programs and health screenings each month. The Senior Resource Center also provides information and assistance for health information and community resources. For more information, call 619-740-4214. For other programs, call 1-800-827-4277 or visit our web site at www.sharp.com.
June 27, 2011 (Sacramento) – The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today issued an update to its preliminary incident report on two 16,000 pound Sunrise Powerlink towers dropped by an air crane earlier this month.
According to the updated report, a new air crane has been provided by the manufacturer, Erickson. The new helicopter has undergone test transporting and lifting heavy loads, and has now been approved to resume construction activities in East County.
June 27, 2011 (Borrego Springs) – A motorcyclist traveling eastbound on State Route 78 this morning in Borrego Springs crossed the center lane after entering a curve. He struck the driver’s side of a BMW traveling westward, then skidded across the roadway.
June 27, 2011 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Police detectives today arrested Derek Patterson, 22, for the armed robbery of Zales Jewelry in Grossmont Center. The robbery occurred on June 14th, when the suspect stole 19 rings valued at nearly $77,000 from a display case, according to La Mesa Police.
June 27, 2011 (Lemon Grove) – A fire that started in a barbecue smoker at Coops West Texas Barbecue in Lemon Grove on June 23 spread to the roof. However Heartland Fire & Rescue firefighters quickly contained the blaze in about 15 minutes.
June 25, 2011 (El Cajon) --Whether you're looking for swim lessons, youth sports, instructional classes or an exciting summer camp, El Cajon Recreation has it all! Log onto the website at www.elcajonrec.org to secure a spot for your child. Forgot your password? Just click on the "eRecreation" icon then "Forgot My Password".
Late Registration began June 6 which means registrations are accepted online, by mail or by walking into one of our Recreation centers during operation hours. For more information on instructional programs and general registration questions, call (619) 441-1516. For information on aquatics, call (619) 441-1672; and for information on youth sports, call (619) 441-1678. Our professional and dedicated Recreation Department staff will be happy to assist you.
County Animal Services Offers Independence Day Safety Tips
Family pets can become frightened and frantic because of the noise and commotion of Independence Day celebrations, County Animal Services officials warned today.
June 27, 2011 (La Mesa) A 16-year-old boy was shot in the head early this morning at 1:49 a.m. after being robbed in front of 7366 El Cajon Boulevard. The victim is from Paradise Valley, Arizona, and was staying at a local La Mesa motel with his family.
The boy was riding his skateboard when the robbery and shooting occurred. The suspects took a personal item and a small amount of cash during the robbery.
June 25, 2011 (Bonita) – The bodies of Sean Fuchs, 15, and Kyl Fuchs, 13, were found inside their burning home at 3641 Bonita Verde Drive in Bonita on June 21st. Both died of gunshot wounds to the head, according to the San Diego Medical Examiner’s Office.
June 24, 2011 (san Diego County) -- Dream Rider Equestrian Therapy in Alpine has room for six more ambulatory children between the ages of five and thirteen for its weekly therapeutic lesson program. Therapy pony Treasure takes children under 10 who weigh 100 pounds or less, especially younger children. She is also available for beginning riding lessons for able-bodied young children. Therapy pony Sailor can take children up to 13 who weigh less than 140 pounds.
June 24, 2011 (San Diego) – 3 Backyards tackles one of my favorite movie subjects: A seemingly quaint, picturesque small town that masks a dark undercurrent. This foreboding, unsettling subtext is displayed in the opening title sequence, which is set against an ironic canvas of woods, houses, cats, and hummingbirds,
Tricultural Pop Musician Carlos Olmeda Featured as Headliner
June 24, 2011 (El Cajon) -- World Music fans of all ages are invited to enjoy free acoustic music and dance, crafts for children, refreshments and more at the El Cajon Library’s Summer Music Festival, 201 E Douglas Ave, Saturday, June 25, from 1 – 6 p.m. The festival will take place on the front lawn of the library, and is free and open to the public. A limited number of chairs will be provided, and attendees are welcome to bring lawn chairs or blankets.
June 23, 2011 (San Diego) – An attorney representing local groups opposed to Sunrise Powerlink presented arguments in U.S. District Court yesterday in San Diego, seeking to halt construction of the line on lands in East County owned by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
Plaintiffs’ attorney Stephen Volker represented the Protect Our Communities Foundation, Backcountry Against Dumps and the East County Community Action Coalition. Volker argued that the BLM’s environmental review was inadequate and that its approval of Powerlink will increase the number of acres of protected lands open to development from 51 acres to 41,000 acres in McCain Valley, a scenic federally owned wilderness area.
June 29, 2011 (San Diego) -- Last week, 150 elementary school children in San Diego County were attending a new kind of summer camp -- the “Summer Engineering Experience for Kids” (SEEK) Camp, a concept designed by the 
June 29, 2011 (La Mesa)--William Warnock, 59, is under arrest for assault with a deadly weapon and felony criminal threats after an eight hour standoff with police. La Mesa Police responded to a call at 6100 Blain Place, La Mesa, around 10 p.m. last night after Warnock's wife reported that her husband had threatened to hurt her and also threatened to kill their 20-year-old son with a large screwdriver. 
so, Alpine Planning Group Member
June 28, 2011 (La Presa) -- A near fatal mistake on June 15, 2011 put the lives of seven family members in danger. Sheer luck in the actions of a 13 year old girl saves them all from death.
June 28, 2011 (San Diego) -- Executive Chef Jeff Rossman’s farm-to-table cookbook-come-love story to local growers, From Terra’s Table: New American Food Fresh From Southern California’s Organic Farms (Chefs Press, 2010), adds a new honor to its list of accolades.
June 28, 2011 (Scripps Ranch) – A brush fire at Scripps Ranch Blvd. and Carroll Canyon Road has burned two acres as of 3:25 p.m. A helicopter is now making a water drop and command has requested a brush engine response and arson investigators, Incident Page Network reports.
June 28, 2011 (San Diego) – 
June 27, 2011 (La Mesa) A 16-year-old boy was shot in the head early this morning at 1:49 a.m. after being robbed in front of 7366 El Cajon Boulevard. The victim is from Paradise Valley, Arizona, and was staying at a local La Mesa motel with his family. 
June 24, 2011 (san Diego County) -- Dream Rider Equestrian Therapy in Alpine has room for six more ambulatory children between the ages of five and thirteen for its weekly therapeutic lesson program. Therapy pony Treasure takes children under 10 who weigh 100 pounds or less, especially younger children. She is also available for beginning riding lessons for able-bodied young children. Therapy pony Sailor can take children up to 13 who weigh less than 140 pounds.
By Brian Lafferty
June 23, 2011 (San Diego) – An attorney representing local groups opposed to Sunrise Powerlink presented arguments in U.S. District Court yesterday in San Diego, seeking to halt construction of the line on lands in East County owned by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
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