May 24, 2011 (Alpine) –Alpine Fire Protection District Fire Marshal Mary Tedesco advises that she received a phone call today from a resident who was called by a person claiming to be a representative from the Fireman’s Association—asking for a $500 donation.
“Firefighters DO NOT solicit for money,” Tedesco advised in a bulletin sent to the Alpine Community Network. “The only time we collect money is for the annual boot drive on the streets (in uniform) for the Burn Institute, and that takes place all over San Diego for just one day. Other than that.......NO PHONE CALLS OR ASKING FOR MONEY EVER!”
Festivities and Thank You Lunch Follow Trail Projects at Los Peñasquitos June 4
May 24, 2011 (Los Penasquitos) -- The San Diego County Department of Parks and Recreation invites the public to celebrate National Trails Day on June 4 at Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve by pitching in on morning trail improvements, then enjoying lunch and live entertainment.
Program Expands Coverage for Uninsured, Thanks to Federal Funds
May 24, 2011 (San Diego)--Today the County Board of Supervisors approved implementation of the Low Income Health Program (LIHP). The program will expand the successful Coverage Initiative program which the County's Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) has been operating since 2007.
The expanded program will provide access to primary care and mental health benefits to low-income, uninsured adults. The program will help improve health outcomes and decrease healthcare costs in the region. LIHP will serve single, medically indigent individuals at or below 133% of the federal poverty level, and provide them with a patient-centered medical home.
May 24, 2011 (Lake Murray) – Organizers of the annual Music Fest and Fireworks show at Lake Murray seek donations—large and small--to fund this year’s event on the 4th of July.
“We understand times are tight right now, so here's the deal,” a press release issued by Navajo Events, the organizer of the Music Fest, states. “If you and each of your neighbors were able to scrounge up just 20 bucks to donate we would be in great shape."
May 24, 2011 (Spring Valley)– The Otay Water District’s (the District) Board of Directors has approved its budget for fiscal year 2011-2012. The budget adopted by the District includes a rate increase of 7.7 percent for water service and a 7.5 percent rate increase for sewer effective January, 2012.
"The $78.1 million operating budget and $22.6 million Capital Improvements Projects (CIP) budget reflect the District’s ongoing efforts to lessen the impact of higher water costs on customers," a press release issued by the district stated.
May 24, 2011 (Santee) –Sean Breese, 28, of La Mesa has been arrested for attempting to rob a woman at the Santee Town Center this morning. The victim told Sheriff’s detectives that the suspect tried to forcefully grab her purse out of her hands as she stood in front of Panda Express.
“During the violent struggle with the suspect, the victim was able to scream, alerting others around her,” said Sgt. Tom Poulin.
May 24, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – One day after a deadly tornado destroyed one-third of Joplin, Missouri, killing over 100 and leaving 1500 missing, new tornado warnings have been issued for the plains states and Ozarks areas. Areas most apt to have severe tornados today and tonight include portions of Arkanasa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and northern Texas.
May 24, 2011 (San Diego) –San Diego City Council has approved the biggest cost cutting move in San Diego’s history: reforming retiree health benefits, which is estimated to save the City $714,000,000 in coming years.
“With this agreement the City is keeping faith with retirees and taxpayers by creating a sustainable benefit and freeing up hundreds of millions of dollars needed for City services like public safety, libraries and parks,” said Councilmember Marti Emerald, who announced the pending agreement during her recent State of the District address.
May 24, 2011 (San Diego) Parents from around the county, objecting to years of cuts to public school funding, will demand action from lawmakers at a 4:30 p.m. rally on Tuesday, May 24th at Park Boulevard and Presidents Way in Balboa Park.
May 23, 2011 (La Mesa) – A team of seventh graders from Day-McKellar Preparatory School in La Mesa will advance to the finals for the National History Day Competition in June 12-16 in Maryland. The team took first place at the California State National History Day Competition earlier this month with an award-winning performance on the 1980 U.S.-led Olympic boycott.
May 23, 2011 (San Diego) – Today’s Netflix Streaming Pick of the Week is inspired by this year’s Cannes Film Festival, which wrapped up yesterday. The film world has been abuzz with Cannes fever including, but not limited to, Lars Von Trier’s controversial Hitler remarks and the Palme d’Or going to Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life.
May 23, 2011 (Santee) --The Santee Chamber of Commerce is hosting its Third Annual Street Fair on Saturday, May 28, 2011 from 10am to 7pm to support the Santee Food Bank. The Street Fair will be on Riverview Parkway at Mission Gorge Road, next to the Trolley Square shopping center. Around 300 Food booths and vendor displays, and rides will be open from 10am to 7pm. A beer garden sponsored and operated by Santee Sportsplex will be open from 6 pm to 11pm.
May 23, 2011 (Lemon Grove) --The Lemon Grove Historical Society will hold a rummage sale on Saturday, May 28 from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot behind the Parsonage Museum. Lots of like-new Cal King comforters and shams and sheet sets, lighting new in the box, plastic toddler trike, clothing, household and more. To donate items, call 619-460-4353 for pickup or arrange drop-off. All proceeds benefit the Parsonage Museum and the H. Lee House Cultural Center.
May 23, 2011 (San Diego) – Police are searching for a dark blue PT cruiser, license 4YCB000, that was carjacked last night at 11:26 p.m. at 2340 El Cajon Blvd in University Heights. The suspect, who was known to the 21-year-old victim, put a taser to her neck and demanded that she get out of the car, according to San Diego Police Officer Delimitros.
May 22, 2011 (Ramona) – A major accident involving two vehicles, one over the side, at 15714 has shut down Vista Vicente Drive inboth directions.A medical heliciopter is en route.CHP reported at 7:09 p.m. that one subject is “combative.” No further details are yet available.
May 22, 2011 (La Mesa) --The City is currently looking for a youth representative to serve on the Environmental Sustainability Commission. Applicants must live within the city limits of La Mesa and not be more than 21 years of age. Applications may be obtained by accessing the City of La Mesa website, www.cityoflamesa.com or from the City Clerk’s office in La MesaCity Hall, 8130 Allison Avenue, during normal business hours.
The purpose of the Commission is to advise the City Council on how the actions and policies of the City may preserve and enhance the quality of La Mesa’s environment, address the effects of climate change and assist in the identification of measures that will improve environmental sustainability in La Mesa and the region.
May 22, 2011 (La Mesa)Applications are now being accepted for positions on the City’s boards, commissions, and committees. The deadline for submission of applications is 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 7, 2011, in the City Clerk’s office at La MesaCity Hall, 8130 Allison Avenue. Applications may be obtained at City Hall, the La Mesa Library or by accessing the City of La Mesa website, www.cityoflamesa.com.
May 22, 2011 (La Mesa) -- Do you have a budding artist or a child that loves to act?What about your sports enthusiast or do they love math and science?La Mesa Community Services is offering these fourteen “memories-to-be-made” camps that will put a smile on any child’s face ages five years and up:
*Art Smarts Art Camp, *Creative Theatre Camp, *Day Camp, *Engineering Camp, *Flag Football Camp, *Fencing Camp, *FRESHi Flix Filmmaking Camp, *Jump Rope Camp, *Mad Science Camp, *Math Zoom Camp, *Princess Camp, *Rock Star Camp, *Surf Camp, and *Tennis Camp.
Summer is just around the corner!For more information, please visit www.cityoflamesa.com/classes or contact La Mesa Community Services at (619) 667-1300
May 22, 2011 (Lakeside) – A 29-year-old man was found lying on a walkway outside a home in the 9000 block of Bubbling Wells Road in Lakeside on Wednesday, May 18, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a hospital via ambulance, where he died the next day from his injuries.
May 21, 2011 (Otay) – Last weekend, I took a drive to explore the southeast section of our readership area. I headed south on Highway 94, then west on Otay Lakes Road, passing a parachute center before meandering among the various lakes that make up this close-to-the-border region. This area has a colorful—if largely forgotten—history.
May 21, 2011 (La Mesa) – How do you outdo a sold-out crowd of 400 at a Taste of La Mesa event featuring foods and wines from 28 local vendors?
“Next year we’re expanding to host the Taste of the Century,” promised La Mesa Chamber of Commerce president Mary England. Held at the La Mesa Community Center, the savory event will expand across the hall --with room to double the size during La Mesa's centennial celebration in 2012.
This year’s Taste of La Mesa featured some new vendors as well as familiar favorites.
May 21, 2011 (La Mesa)--On Tuesday, May 24, 2011, the City of La Mesa will host the Grand Opening of the Allison Avenue streetscape improvement project. The event will take place in front of and just east of the La Mesa Library (8074 Allison Avenue) at 4:30 pm.
Allison Avenue is located in the heart of La Mesa’s downtown and Civic Center providing access to shopping, the Trolley Station, bus stops, Civic Center, the Library and Post Office.
The award winning Allison Avenue project includes many new urban smart growth design concepts; including enhanced crosswalks with inlayed flashing pavement markers, decorative streetlights, walkability features, street trees,landscaping, diagonal parking and improved bus shelters.
May 21, 2011 —Recently, U.S. Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) personally viewed photographs of Osama Bin Laden after he was killed by U.S. Special Forces in Pakistan. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Hunter was provided the opportunity to view the photographs along with other selected House members at the Central Intelligence Agency headquarters in Langley, Virginia.
“The series of photographs clearly show Osama Bin Laden from the time after the raid to his burial at sea,” said Congressman Hunter. “Our nation’s Special Forces did an exceptional job and deserve great credit for their work.”
Product sold nationwide as thickener to mix with formula, breast milk
May 21, 2011 (Washington D.C.) -- The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is warning parents and caregivers to not feed SimplyThick to premature infants younger than 37 weeks. The product, a thickening agent for swallowing disorders, has been found to cause necrotizing enterocolitis, a life-threatening condition characterized by inflammation and death of intestinal tissue. At least two infants have died as a result, the FDA reports.
Parents, caregivers and health care providers should immediately stop administering the product to premature infants.
May 21, 2011 (La Mesa)--The La Mesa Police Department, in a continuing effort to work in partnership with the community, is hosting a neighborhood forum on Monday, May 23, 2011, from 6:00-8:00 PM at La Mesa Dale Elementary School, 4370 Parks Avenue, La Mesa. This forum is part of a series of community forums to encourage public discussion and questions about issues specific to the individual neighborhoods within the City of La Mesa.
May 21, 2011 (San Diego) --As families across California plan for upcoming spring travel, there’s not much you can do to control the cost of filling up the gas tank, but you can avoid a costly ticket by making sure that everyone in the car wears their seat belt. Law enforcement throughout the state, including the San Diego Police Departmentwill be looking for unbelted drivers and passengers as part of the 2011 Click It or Ticket mobilization, May 23 – June 5.
The fines and fees for first time adult seat belt violations are a minimum of $142.For children under 16, the fine is $445 for a first time offense. In cases where an adult passenger is not buckled up, both the passenger and the driver will be ticketed.
May 21, 2011 (Spring Valley) – Two felony warrant suspects were taken into custody Thursday afternoon by deputies and investigators from the San Diego Sheriff’s Lemon Grove station. Josue Rodriguez, 32, was a documented gang member on state parole and was reportedly armed. Michele Salas, 33, who has been wanted since 2009, was also arrested.
After receiving information from California Department of Corrections parole agents about the suspects’ location at 829 Felicita Ave. in Spring Valley, a team of deputies, a Sheriff’s K-9 unit, and parole agents contained the area. The Sheriff’s Astera 1 helicopter assisted in aerial surveillance and announced that the suspects should surrender.
May 24, 2011 (Lake Murray) – Organizers of the annual Music Fest and Fireworks show at Lake Murray seek donations—large and small--to fund this year’s event on the 4th of July.
May 24, 2011 (Spring Valley)– The Otay Water District’s (the District) Board of Directors has approved its budget for fiscal year 2011-2012. The budget adopted by the District includes a rate increase of 7.7 percent for water service and a 7.5 percent rate increase for sewer effective January, 2012.
May 24, 2011 (Santee) –Sean Breese, 28, of La Mesa has been arrested for attempting to rob a woman at the Santee Town Center this morning. The victim told Sheriff’s detectives that the suspect tried to forcefully grab her purse out of her hands as she stood in front of Panda Express. 
By Miriam Raftery (guest columnist)
May 24, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – One day after a deadly tornado destroyed one-third of Joplin, Missouri, killing over 100 and leaving 1500 missing, new tornado warnings have been issued for the plains states and Ozarks areas. Areas most apt to have severe tornados today and tonight include portions of Arkanasa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and northern Texas.
May 24, 2011 (San Diego) Parents from around the county, objecting to years of cuts to public school funding, will demand action from lawmakers at a 4:30 p.m. rally on Tuesday, May 24th at Park Boulevard and Presidents Way in Balboa Park.
May 23, 2011 (La Mesa) – A team of seventh graders from Day-McKellar Preparatory School in La Mesa will advance to the finals for the National History Day Competition in June 12-16 in Maryland. The team took first place at the California State National History Day Competition earlier this month with an award-winning performance on the 1980 U.S.-led Olympic boycott.
By Brian Lafferty
May 23, 2011 (San Diego) – Police are searching for a dark blue PT cruiser, license 4YCB000, that was carjacked last night at 11:26 p.m. at 2340 El Cajon Blvd in University Heights. The suspect, who was known to the 21-year-old victim, put a taser to her neck and demanded that she get out of the car, according to San Diego Police Officer Delimitros. 
May 22, 2011 (Lakeside) – A 29-year-old man was found lying on a walkway outside a home in the 9000 block of Bubbling Wells Road in Lakeside on Wednesday, May 18, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a hospital via ambulance, where he died the next day from his injuries.
May 21, 2011 (La Mesa)--On Tuesday, May 24, 2011, the City of La Mesa will host the Grand Opening of the Allison Avenue streetscape improvement project. The event will take place in front of and just east of the La Mesa Library (8074 Allison Avenue) at 4:30 pm.
May 21, 2011 (San Diego) -- As families across California plan for upcoming spring travel, there’s not much you can do to control the cost of filling up the gas tank, but you can avoid a costly ticket by making sure that everyone in the car wears their seat belt. Law enforcement throughout the state, including the San Diego Police Department will be looking for unbelted drivers and passengers as part of the 2011 Click It or Ticket mobilization, May 23 – June 5.
May 21, 2011 (Spring Valley) – Two felony warrant suspects were taken into custody Thursday afternoon by deputies and investigators from the San Diego Sheriff’s Lemon Grove station. Josue Rodriguez, 32, was a documented gang member on state parole and was reportedly armed. Michele Salas, 33, who has been wanted since 2009, was also arrested.
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