“Passport to the Future” brings together La Mesa, Santee and East County Chamber for business showcase on September 23
August 20, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- Applications are now available for the East County’s largest Business Showcase and Expo to be held on Thursday, September 23 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Elk’s Lodge, 1400 E. Washington Avenue, El Cajon, 92019.
August 21, 2010 (Lakeside) – 2:50 p.m. – Two rock climbers were trapped 1,500 feet up the side of El Capitan, dangling on the sheer rock face in El Monte Valley with a wildfire burning toward him. Moments ago, Sheriff's Lieutenant Munsey informed ECM that the climber has been rescued. Cal-Fire reports that a total of 10 people have been evacuated via helicopter, including 8 residents and the two climbers.
August 21, 2010 (Lakeside) 1:55 p.m. - The fire in El Monte Valley is now 100 acres, actively burning to the north, into steep terrain, away from structures, Cal-Fire's Roxanne Provaznik reports.
ECM photographer Dennis Richardson, on the scene, reports the fire is burning up the face of El Capitan. A radio scanner report indicated that hikers on a trail expressed concerns about becoming trapped.
August 21, 2010 (Lakeside) -- CAL FIRE is on scene of another brush fire on the north side of El Monte Road near the community of Lakeside (T.B. Map 1213 B6). The fire is currently 10 acres in size and burning at the base of El Cajon Mountain.
August 21, 2010 (Spring Valley) - A small fire on Anlee Street is burning along the backside of several homes in the Spring Valley area; firefighters are on scene attacking the blaze, Incident Page Network reports. Watch for details.
August 21, 2010 12:50 p.m. (Santee) - A fire in the vicinity of Prospect in Santee briefly threatened homes, ECM learned from our fire spotter in the field. Firefighters brought the blaze under control within minutes and aerial support requests have been cancelled.
August 21, 2010 (Santee) - Free dental exams for children will be offered today from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pathway Community Church in Santee, thanks to a program through Rady Children’s Hospital. The free exams aim to help parents meet state requirements for youngsters entering kindergarten or first grade to have a dental checkup before starting school.
August 20, 2010 (El Cajon) – Police seek a bank robber who held up Wells Fargo Bank, 475 Fletcher Parkway, at 9:07 this morning. The thief got more than cash, tripping a red dye pack to explode. Police are seeking the suspect, a white man in his late 20s to early 30s with blond hair and a goatee. He wore a black-and-white camouflage sweatshirt, glasses, and a black baseball cap with white logo.
August 20, 2010 (San Diego) – The Salvation Army Kroc Center’s Verge Teen Theatre company will present Les Miserables School Edition, the first show for this teen-organized theatre company.
August 19, 2010 (San Diego's East County) – The races are on for mayor and council positions in East Couny. Two local mayors’ seats are up for reelection in November. Both face challengers vying for the leadership spots in El Cajon and La Mesa. In addition, a pack of contenders is vying to run for council seats in East County’s cities of El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, and Santee. Here's the lineup:
Helix Water District raises rates in contentious hearing
By Kristin Kjaero
August 19, 2010 (La Mesa) – “Get used to it. We’re going to pay more each year,” Helix Water District Board member John Linden told the audience, shortly before the board voted 3-2 to raise the three-tiered rate structure an average of 8% more starting in November. Last year rates increased 21+%.
Discussion at the rate increase hearing was lively to say the least, as tempers frayed and the public, General Manager and Board members accused one another of not being truthful and of micromanaging. The room was filled to capacity, and occasionally members of the audience called out and were gaveled back to order. A La Mesa Policeman stood in the back quietly observing.
Hundreds of thousands now face starvation as crops, soils washed away
Rescue Task Force seeks help to save lives of Afghan women & girls at literary schools
By Miriam Raftery August 19, 2010 (San Diego) –“The same floods that are hitting Pakistan are hitting Afghanistan. It’s just horrific,” said Gary Becks, founder of Rescue Task Force, a San Diego-based nonprofit that has its roots in East County.
Becks has led relief efforts in some of the worst disasters on earth including the Asian tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, major earthquakes, and the Cedar Fire. But the scale of devastation in Afghanistan goes far beyond even those catastrophes. Threats from the Taliban make relief efforts dangerous—and with farmlands washed away, the very survival of the Hazara people is at stake.
4 million homeless, 20 million people impacted, one-fifth of nation underwater in disaster worse than Hurricane Katrina, Haiti earthquake, or Asian tsunami
By Miriam Raftery
ECM intern Tasneem Kassamali also contributed to this story.
August 19, 2010 (San Diego) – San Diego State University finance student and software engineer Omed Habib was cleaning his closet when he heard about the floods devastating Pakistan.
“I am a child of Afghan refugees,” said Habib, whose parents came to the U.S. during the Soviet-Afghanistan War in 1981. Knowing what it’s like for a family to lose everything, he asked a friend involved in relief efforts how he could donate three bags of his clothing to Pakistan flood victims. Then he posted a notice on Facebook asking 500 friends for more help.
August 20, 2010 (La Mesa) – A woman walking in the Costco parking lot in La Mesa on Wednesday shortly before noon had her purse stolen As the suspects drove past the victim, one suspect hung out a passenger window and forcibly grabbed her purse, causing burn-type abrasion to her arm. The suspects were last seen speeding away through the Costco parking lot.
“Senate Democrats are proposing a fair and practical budget that includes an intelligent tax reform proposal and more local control of services… Our Republican colleagues seem to view even more cuts to schools, public safety and women and children’s services as a virtuous end in itself. They are not – cuts hurt Californians and the economy.”
“Democrats' idea of increasing taxes delays REAL budgetary reforms and stalls true economic recovery in State.”
By Mike Cully
President/CEO, San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce
August 19, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) -- It is disappointing that the Democratic Legislative Leaders continue to delay California’s economic recovery by increasing taxes and delaying serious budgetary reforms.
Event Production and Management Company Introduces New Brand Identity: VE&P
August 20, 2010 (San Diego) – Building on 17 years of experience producing and managing hundreds of events annually at Viejas Casino, Viejas Entertainment & Production is taking its services to the next level as VE&P.
Formally changing its name to VE&P, the company will use its staff of more than 40 seasoned professionals and inventory of top-end equipment to produce and manage off-site events for clients throughout Southern California.
August 19, 2010 (Spring Valley) -- Does your funny bone need tickling? Young Actors Theatre invites you to bring the whole family for a performance by well-known comedy magician/ventriloquist Steve Taylor and his ventriloquist characters Alli The Crocodile, Pokey The Possum and Rudy O'Riley. Attendees are featured on stage with Steve as he selects a member of the audience to star on stage as a “living ventriloquist dummy.”
As last combat troops leave Iraq this week, Salas seeks to expedite help for veterans in need of medical and other services
August 19, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- Assemblymember Mary Salas’ Assembly Bill 1925, which authorizes superior courts to develop and implement veteran’s courts for eligible U.S. veterans, is now on the Governor’s desk. If signed into law, AB 1925 will allow returning veterans a greater chance for succeeding in civilian life in the aftermath of combat.
August 18, 2010 (Ramona) – San Diego Sheriff’s ASTREA helicopter rescued five hikers last night, including a 20-year-old who was experiencing heat exhaustion symptoms. One of the hikers used her cell phone to call for help and advised they were not sure if they were on the correct trail. She also reported that one of her friends was unable to walk any further.
August 18, 2010 (La Mesa) – Aesthetic Arts Institute of Plastic Surgery hosted a 100th birthday to celebrate the centennial of Morrison House, 8415 Grant Avenue in La Mesa, where the business has its offices.
August 18, 2010 (San Diego) -- As we commemorate the 75th anniversary of Social Security, we are reminded of the profound transformation that Social Security has left on our society. Since its enactment in 1935, Social Security has provided a critical national safety net that Americans have come to value.
Prior to enacting Social Security, the concept of retirement and “the golden years” did not exist. The elderly either worked until they died, lived with family or were relegated to live in “poor houses” and “poor farms.”
August 18, 2010 (Washington D.C.) – The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announces a four-fold increase in salmonella cases nationwide since May, including outbreaks in California and other states linked tocontaminated eggs. Wright County Egg of Iowa has recalled eggs distributed nationwide under the brand names Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph’s, Boomsma’s, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemps.
August 18, 2010 (El Cajon) -- Heritage of the Americas Museum on the campus of Cuyamaca College in El Cajon offers a special program including both a hieroglyphs workshop and an extended tour of Egypt. Students will practice their new skills, reading the ancient writing that they find on museum artifacts--as well as in temples and tombs. Participants may attend the workshop or the tour, or both.
August 18, 2010 (Sacramento) -- Assemblymember Marty Block (AD-78) announced today that his AB 2314 has been signed by the Governor. A bipartisan measure overwhelmingly approved by the Legislature, this legislation makes it easier for disabled veterans to receive a special property tax exemption available to them by extending the time frame for filing a claim.
August 18, 2010 (Ramona) -- The birthright debate that Congress now wants to engage we Americans in is, in fact, a smokescreen designed to divert our attention from the real issue: what to do with 12 million illegal aliens currently working across America. The real responsibility for this problem falls squarely on those that employ the illegals--not on Mexico, not on the border leaks, and not our welfare system. Here’s why.
Assemblymembers Nava & Cook Work to Prevent Future Child Abductions
August 18, 2010 (Sacramento)--A package of bills sponsored by Moe Dubois, father of slain Escondido Amber Dubois and founder of MoreKids, has been unanimously passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee recently and will be considered by the full Senate in the coming weeks.
August 20, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- Applications are now available for the East County’s largest Business Showcase and Expo to be held on Thursday, September 23 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Elk’s Lodge, 1400 E. Washington Avenue, El Cajon, 92019.
August 21, 2010 (Lakeside) – 2:50 p.m. – Two rock climbers were trapped 1,500 feet up the side of El Capitan, dangling on the sheer rock face in El Monte Valley with a wildfire burning toward him. Moments ago, Sheriff's Lieutenant Munsey informed ECM that the climber has been rescued. Cal-Fire reports that a total of 10 people have been evacuated via helicopter, including 8 residents and the two climbers.
August 21, 2010 (Lakeside) 1:55 p.m. - The fire in El Monte Valley is now 100 acres, actively burning to the north, into steep terrain, away from structures, Cal-Fire's Roxanne Provaznik reports. 
August 21, 2010 (Lakeside) -- CAL FIRE is on scene of another brush fire on the north side of El Monte Road near the community of Lakeside (T.B. Map 1213 B6). The fire is currently 10 acres in size and burning at the base of El Cajon Mountain.
August 21, 2010 12:50 p.m. (Santee) - A fire in the vicinity of Prospect in Santee briefly threatened homes, ECM learned from our fire spotter in the field. Firefighters brought the blaze under control within minutes and aerial support requests have been cancelled. 
August 21, 2010 (Santee) - Free dental exams for children will be offered today from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pathway Community Church in Santee, thanks to a program through Rady Children’s Hospital. The free exams aim to help parents meet state requirements for youngsters entering kindergarten or first grade to have a dental checkup before starting school.
August 20, 2010 (El Cajon) – Police seek a bank robber who held up Wells Fargo Bank, 475 Fletcher Parkway, at 9:07 this morning. The thief got more than cash, tripping a red dye pack to explode. Police are seeking the suspect, a white man in his late 20s to early 30s with blond hair and a goatee. He wore a black-and-white camouflage sweatshirt, glasses, and a black baseball cap with white logo.
August 19, 2010 (San Diego) –“The same floods that are hitting Pakistan are hitting Afghanistan. It’s just horrific,” said Gary Becks, founder of Rescue Task Force, a San Diego-based nonprofit that has its roots in East County. 
By Miriam Raftery
Police and Sheriff officials to arrest all DUI drivers
August 20, 2010 (La Mesa) – A woman walking in the Costco parking lot in La Mesa on Wednesday shortly before noon had her purse stolen As the suspects drove past the victim, one suspect hung out a passenger window and forcibly grabbed her purse, causing burn-type abrasion to her arm. The suspects were last seen speeding away through the Costco parking lot.
August 19, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- Assemblymember Mary Salas’ Assembly Bill 1925, which authorizes superior courts to develop and implement veteran’s courts for eligible U.S. veterans, is now on the Governor’s desk. If signed into law, AB 1925 will allow returning veterans a greater chance for succeeding in civilian life in the aftermath of combat.
August 18, 2010 (Ramona) – San Diego Sheriff’s ASTREA helicopter rescued five hikers last night, including a 20-year-old who was experiencing heat exhaustion symptoms. One of the hikers used her cell phone to call for help and advised they were not sure if they were on the correct trail. She also reported that one of her friends was unable to walk any further.
By Francine Busby and Tracy Emblem
August 18, 2010 (Washington D.C.) – The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announces a four-fold increase in salmonella cases nationwide since May, including outbreaks in California and other states linked tocontaminated eggs. Wright County Egg of Iowa has recalled eggs distributed nationwide under the brand names Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph’s, Boomsma’s, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemps.
August 18, 2010 (El Cajon) -- Heritage of the Americas Museum on the campus of Cuyamaca College in El Cajon offers a special program including both a hieroglyphs workshop and an extended tour of Egypt. Students will practice their new skills, reading the ancient writing that they find on museum artifacts--as well as in temples and tombs. Participants may attend the workshop or the tour, or both.
August 18, 2010 (Sacramento) -- Assemblymember Marty Block (AD-78) announced today that his AB 2314 has been signed by the Governor. A bipartisan measure overwhelmingly approved by the Legislature, this legislation makes it easier for disabled veterans to receive a special property tax exemption available to them by extending the time frame for filing a claim.
By Dave Patterson
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