March 13, 2011 (La Mesa) –A vehicle stolen in a violent carjacking in the Skyline area of San Diego last was recovered in La Mesa, San Diego Police report. The victim was invited to a party at a home on Shorewood Drive, but arrived to find no party. Instead, three black men in their early 20s approached the victim and one struck him in the back of the head with a handgun.
March 12, 2011 (San Diego) -- The massive 9.1 earthquake-fourth worst in recorded history--and subsequent tsunami in Japan Friday has left the world reeling. More than 1,300 are dead, Modern Tokyo Times reports, and 88,000 missing according to Business News. Today, 150,000 have been evacuated due to emergencies at nuclear reactors.
Dog Licenses, Microchips, Rabies Vaccinations and Free Gifts at Sunday Event
Pet owners are encouraged to have their animals microchipped, vaccinated and licensed this Sunday, March 13 from 12-2 p.m. at the County Department of Animal Service’s San Diego shelter, 5480 Gaines Street. Pet owners who take advantage of the services will receive a variety of free pet gifts.
“Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day early and give your pets a lucky charm by having them microchipped,” said Dawn Danielson, Director of County Animal Services. “The chance of a lost pet being reunited with an owner is increased if the pet is microchipped.”
Reservations Now Open for New Campground; Splash Park Invites Kids to Play
March 11, 2011 (Bonita)--County Supervisor Greg Cox joined County Parks and Recreation staff and community members Friday to celebrate the grand opening of over $10 million in additions to Sweetwater Regional Park’s Summit Campground and Eastview Park. Reservations opened Friday for the park’s new 63-spot Summit Campground.
“This has become the crown jewel in the County Parks system with something here for every San Diegan,” Supervisor Cox said. “If you want to get away and enjoy nature without traveling far, Sweetwater is perfect.”
March 11, 2011 (San Diego) – San Diego Police Officer Anthony Arevalos has been arrested by the department’s sex crimes unit for sexual battery, false imprisonment and assault under the color of authority, San Diego Police announced today.
According to police, Arevelos stopped a female motorist, 32, as she was driving out of downtown after Tuesday night’s Mardi Gras revelry. She was suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and the officer is accused of sexually battering the woman during the traffic stop.
March 11, 2011 (Otay Mesa) – A woman talking on her cell phone walked against a red light into the path of a tractor trailer on Paseo De Las America at Sempre Viva Road in Otay Mesa. The truck ran over the woman, 31, as the driver, 37, made a right turn.
March 11, 2011 (Washington D.C.) – The Senate has passed S.388, a bill coauthored by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Bob Casey (D-PA). The bill would prohibit Congress or the President from getting paid in case of a federal shutdown by the federal government.
“I am hopeful that this bill will help convince our colleagues to work together to prevent a government shutdown, and I urge the House of Representatives to quickly pass it and send it to the President,” said Senator Boxer.
March 11, 2011 (Rancho Penasquitos) – A would-be thief opened the car door and stole a purse from a woman, 53, in a parking lot outside Union Bank at 13200 Black Mountain Road yesterday, San Diego Police report. A witness armed with a taser chased the suspect and zapped him with the taser at Paseo Montalban and Twin Trails Drive.
March 11, 2011 (San Diego) – There is a moment towards the end of The Last Lions when I experienced an emotion called elevation. The term may be unfamiliar to most readers but the feeling isn’t. If you get tears in your eyes, a lump or tightness in your throat, and you feel uplifted, that’s what elevation is. Cocoon and Harry & Tonto are the few movies to have such power over me.
March 11, 2011 (Alpine)--The Alpine Unified School District will face tough decisions when it comes to passing its annual budget. Like many other school districts, AUSD is facing a budgetary gap that could force the district to enforce deep cuts and increase class sizes. The preliminary budget was passed in February, with the official budget on the docket for June.
ECM has learned that many teachers have already received their pink slips, with one e-mail from a teacher stating that 40% of Joan McQueen Middle School’s staff had received the lay-off notices as of March 4. The district must issue lay-off notices prior to March 15 to comply with state law for any positions that may be cut this year.
March 11, 2011 (San Diego) – Southern California beaches are closing this morning as a precaution following a powerful 8.9 earthquake that rocked Japan last night, killing hundreds from the temblor and a tsunami that subsequently struck Japan.
Photos by Ron Logan, Miriam Raftery, and Merton Gaudette
March 10, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Candy Jenkins was looking forward to seeing environmental evidence presented to a federal judge in San Diego on Monday. “I live on El Capitan Mountain,” said the Lakeside resident, who alleges that SDG&E is building Sunrise Powerlink towers only 2,000 feet from an eagles’ nest. She has photos, and says the eagles are tagged and the locations documented by the County. “Towers weren’t supposed to be within 4,000 feet,” she said. “We’re bringing this out today in court.”
Told by this reporter that the hearing had been cancelled because Judge Michael Anello announced that he will be ruling on the written record only, Jenkins expressed shock. “It’s heartbreaking,” she said. “Whatever happened to democracy in America?”
March 10, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) --ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecting all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views.
Top global and national news stories include:
• Saudi Arabia police open fire at protest in Quatif (BBC)
• Wisconsin Gov. bypasses Legislature, cuts collective bargaining
• Iran’s Rafsanjani ousted as head of state
• Damaging boulder auctioned for charity
• One dead as Muslims, Christians clash in Cairo
March 9, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- You just never know what you might encounter on the trails in East County! Photographer Daren Sefcek headed out to the Anza-Borrego Desert to take photos of wildflowers in bloom--and captured a close-up of this yellow-backed spiny lizard on the trail.
March 10, 2011 (Lakeside) --After a courageous battle with cancer complicated by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Richard “Rick” Allen Smith, 67, passed away peacefully at his home in Lakeside on February 18th. He held leadership positions on Lakeside's fire and planning boards, as well as the Chamber of Commerce and other organizations.
“His dedication to the community of Lakeside will have a lasting affect for many years to come and his experience and wisdom will be sorely missed by all who knew him," said his daughter-in-law, Michelle Dimsey. "He maintained his trademark sense of humor and “can do attitude” all the way to the end.”
March 9, 2011 (Anza-Borrego) -- The rains have come and gone, leaving fresh air and sunshine to blanket the majesty of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Anza-Borrego Desert Park Foundation invites you to spring into action with activities to fulfill your sense of wonder and appreciation for the park.
March 10, 2011 (Lakeside) – San Diego River Park Foundation and Family Kayak Adventure Center invite you on a guided tour of East County’s El Capitan Reservoir, one of the only places where you can kayak on the San Diego River.
Cost is $50 for adults, $35 for children and includes kayak, paddles, life vest, basic instruction, lake entrance fee, guide and a light lunch. The event launches on Sunday, March 13 from 9-11 a.m., with lunch to follow.
March 10, 2011 (Alpine) – A gardener working behind Alpine Pizza and Pasta in the vicinity of Alpine Blvd. and Arnold Way yesterday shortly before 10 a.m. was attacked by an "aggressive" swarm of bees and stung repeatedly on the head and neck, Alpine Fire Chief Bill Paskle reports.
School was in session Saturday morning at Granite Hills High School, as over 300 middle school students and around 100 Granite Hills students took part in S.T.I.N.G. (Student Teachers Igniting The Next Generation), where classes were created and instructed by the participating Granite Hills juniors and seniors.
The brainchild of Granite Hills senior, Andy Keller- who modeled the event after the SPLASH programs at MIT, Stanford, and University of Chicago (where college students teach high school students), S.T.I.N.G. aimed to “instill a love of learning for a lifetime.”
March 10, 2011 (Lakeside) -- Lakeside Fire Department responded to a reported multi-family residential structure fire at 8810 Winter Gardens Blvd at 38 minutes past midnight. Units from El Cajon and Santee also responded, along with medics. Heartland Fire Dispatch reported to the responding units en route that the fire was located in the storage units in front of the Mountain View apartments.
March 10, 2011 (Lemon Grove) –Three people were stabbed at the Sportsman’s Pub in Lemon Grove last night at 11:22 p.m. According to Sgt. William Hout with the San Diego Sheriff’s substation in Lemon Grove, two are in critical condition and the third victim is in serious condition.
March 10, 2011 (San Diego) - Steve Fisher, San Diego State men’s basketball head coach, has earned Mountain West Conference co-coach-of-the-year accolades, the league announced Monday. Fisher, in his 12th season at SDSU and 20th overall, garners his first-ever conference coach-of-the-year award and shares it with Brigham Young’s Dave Rose.
Fisher led the Aztecs to a share of the Mountain West regular-season title with a record of 14-2. He was previously named national coach of the year in 1992.
March 10, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) --On a serious-meets-funny note, Rep Duncan Hunter Jr's (R- El Cajon) newly-submitted "Life at Conception" bill, HR 374, would grant citizenship rights to pre-born human beings -- that is, from moment of conception, rather than at birth.
March 13, 2011 (La Mesa) –A vehicle stolen in a violent carjacking in the Skyline area of San Diego last was recovered in La Mesa, San Diego Police report. The victim was invited to a party at a home on Shorewood Drive, but arrived to find no party. Instead, three black men in their early 20s approached the victim and one struck him in the back of the head with a handgun.
By Jeremy Los
By Miriam Raftery
Pet owners are encouraged to have their animals microchipped, vaccinated and licensed this Sunday, March 13 from 12-2 p.m. at the County Department of Animal Service’s San Diego shelter, 5480 Gaines Street. Pet owners who take advantage of the services will receive a variety of free pet gifts.
March 11, 2011 (San Diego) – San Diego Police Officer Anthony Arevalos has been arrested by the department’s sex crimes unit for sexual battery, false imprisonment and assault under the color of authority, San Diego Police announced today. 
March 11, 2011 (Washington D.C.) – The Senate has passed S.388, a bill coauthored by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Bob Casey (D-PA). The bill would prohibit Congress or the President from getting paid in case of a federal shutdown by the federal government.
March 11, 2011 (Rancho Penasquitos) – A would-be thief opened the car door and stole a purse from a woman, 53, in a parking lot outside Union Bank at 13200 Black Mountain Road yesterday, San Diego Police report. A witness armed with a taser chased the suspect and zapped him with the taser at Paseo Montalban and Twin Trails Drive.
By Brian Lafferty
March 11, 2011 (Alpine)--The Alpine Unified School District will face tough decisions when it comes to passing its annual budget. Like many other school districts, AUSD is facing a budgetary gap that could force the district to enforce deep cuts and increase class sizes. The preliminary budget was passed in February, with the official budget on the docket for June.
March 11, 2011 (San Diego) – Southern California beaches are closing this morning as a precaution following a powerful 8.9 earthquake that rocked Japan last night, killing hundreds from the temblor and a tsunami that subsequently struck Japan.
TOKYO FLOODED BY TSUNAMI
lleges that SDG&E is building Sunrise Powerlink towers only 2,000 feet from an eagles’ nest. She has photos, and says the eagles are tagged and the locations documented by the County. “Towers weren’t supposed to be within 4,000 feet,” she said. “We’re bringing this out today in court.”
March 10, 2011 (Lakeside) – San Diego River Park Foundation and Family Kayak Adventure Center invite you on a guided tour of East County’s El Capitan Reservoir, one of the only places where you can kayak on the San Diego River.
March 10, 2011 (Lakeside) -- Lakeside Fire Department responded to a reported multi-family residential structure fire at 8810 Winter Gardens Blvd at 38 minutes past midnight. Units from El Cajon and Santee also responded, along with medics. Heartland Fire Dispatch reported to the responding units en route that the fire was located in the storage units in front of the Mountain View apartments.
March 10, 2011 (Lemon Grove) –Three people were stabbed at the Sportsman’s Pub in Lemon Grove last night at 11:22 p.m. According to Sgt. William Hout with the San Diego Sheriff’s substation in Lemon Grove, two are in critical condition and the third victim is in serious condition.
March 10, 2011 (San Diego) - Steve Fisher, San Diego State men’s basketball head coach, has earned Mountain West Conference co-coach-of-the-year accolades, the league announced Monday. Fisher, in his 12th season at SDSU and 20th overall, garners his first-ever conference coach-of-the-year award and shares it with Brigham Young’s Dave Rose. 
By Mike Copass
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