As a San Diego native, I was quite surprised to discover that my hometown had just last year surpassed Los Angeles to become the nation’s number one refugee resettlement location.
August 8, 2010 (San Diego)--Felix Booth (Robert DuVall) is an older, grouchier Boo Radley. It’s fitting, given that DuVall’s first movie role was the enigmatic recluse in the 1962 classic To Kill a Mockingbird. He is always the subject of gossip, which may or may not be true. Kids often trespass on his isolated property deep in the woods to see if the old man is there, only to be chased away with a shotgun.
Part II of a 5-part series on gardens featured in the Grossmont-Mt. Helix Improvement Association’s spring 2010 garden tour
By Miriam Raftery
August 7, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- “I like Disneyland, so I created an escape environment,” said Bob Caparas, who single-handedly planted all landscaping and built each masonry wall, bridge and waterway at his private Shangri-La complete with switchback trails through a tropical jungle filled with prehistoric-style artifacts off Grandview Road.
August 7, 2010 (San Diego)--The Other Guys works best when it focuses on Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg. I found their scenes droll because of the way the two played off each other. The Other Guys could have benefitted tremendously from a slight trim job and a comprehensible, less-than-convoluted plot but it in the end, it really doesn’t matter. The movie has enough laughs for me to recommend it, although it is not without its flaws.
August 7, 2010 (San Diego) – A 27-year-old motorcyclist riding northbound in the 5100 block of College Avenue yesterday struck the media at 1:54 this morning. He sustained serious head trauma and is in critical condition at Mercy Hospital, San Diego Police report.
August 6, 2010 (El Cajon) – Emergency room physicians described the condition of Jeremy Marlow, 28, as the worst case of neglect that they had ever seen. Paramedics brought Marlow, who lived on Graves Avenue in El Cajon, to Grossmont Hospital on January 21. He was unconscious, suffering from infections, covered in open pressure wounds, and weighed less than 100 pounds, according to the San Diego Sheriff’s Department. He died five days later of pneumonia.
Last night his mother, Deborah Marlow, 58, and his brother, Christopher Marlow, 26, were arrested. Both are charged with elder abuse, a crime that can be filed against caregivers for abusing a person of any age.
August 6, 2010 (El Cajon ) -- Former Coronado Police Chief Robert S. Hutton has joined the El Cajon Community Development Corporation as Urban Improvement Manager, according to Cindi Fargo, President and CEO of the non-profit organization that serves Downtown El Cajon redevelopment.
August 6, 2010 (Allied Gardens) -- Bring your blankets and beach chairs for free movie night at the Allied Gardens Community Park 5155 Greenbrier, on Saturday, August 7th. A showing of the family-friendly movie "Madagascar, Escape 2 Africa" will begin at dusk.
Donations sought for memorial fund to benefit new high school
August 6, 2010 (Alpine)-- Barbara Lowe, resident of Alpine, passed away on July 31, 2010 due to complications from liver cancer and Crohn’s Disease. She was the secretary for the Alpine High School Citizen’s Committee and an executive committee member for the past three years.
“Her commitment to seeing this local Alpine High School built, largely for her Alpine resident grandchildren to attend, had become just one of her many reasons she fought her disease with desire and dignity,” said Bill Weaver, chair of the Committee. “She loved her family and friends dearly.”
Flurry of new charter approvals raises questions over state funding priorities in an era of budget shortfalls
East County Magazine Special Report
By Miriam Raftery
August 5, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – In the 2009-2010 school year, California approved more than 88 new charter schools at a cost of tens of millions of dollars. Recent charters approved include middle schools opening in districts that already have schools with high academic achievements--new charters with oversight provided by a district with middle school test scores that rank in the bottom 10% statewide.
These findings, discovered by East County Magazine, raise serious questions about budget priorities at a time when the state faces a $20 billion deficit. What are the long-range consequences of approving numerous charters, all entitled to a portion of public education funds?
August 5, 2010 (Rancho San Diego) - “This has been a very big undertaking,” Valerie Harrison, president of the Rancho San Diego-Jamul Chamber of Commerce, said of the first-ever Summer Music & Culture Festival set for this Sunday, August 8 starting at 11 a.m. in the Water Conservation Garden. “The Chamber has been working on this for nearly a year."
August 5, 2010 (San Diego) -- Pierre Martel Terry, 18, was arrested today by San Diego Police homicide detectives for the murder of Jonathan Pleasant, 24 in late June. He was taken into custody in the 3500 block of College Avenue and booked into County jail.
August 5, 2010 (San Diego) – The San Diego City Council voted 6-2 in a special session Wednesday to let voters decide whether the City should have a temporary (five year) half-cent increase in sales tax. The “Reform before Revenue” measure, proposed by Councilmembers Donna Frye and Todd Gloria, will require that key pension and financial reforms be met before the tax increase would take effect.
August 5, 2010 (San Diego) – The FBI seeks 14 individuals, including a former San Diego man indicted this morning by the U.S. Department of Justice for aiding the foreign terrorist organization al-Shabaab.
Update 11:30 a.m. The gas line has been repaired and all roads are now open.
August 5, 2010 (El Cajon) – Road closures and evacuations are being ordered in El Cajon due to a damaged gas line at 613 Mundy Terrace.
Judge to hear arguments today on whether to issue a stay extending ban on gay marriages pending appeal; weddings could resume as early as tomorrow
East County News Network
August 4, 2010 (San Diego) – Over a thousand people celebrated in the streets of San Diego today after a federal judge declared Proposition 8, the initiative banning gay marriage, to be unconstitutional. Same-sex marriages could resume as early as tomorrow--or not at all, depending on a judge's ruling on a request for a stay to extend the ban pending appeal.
"Yesterday when the ruiling came out, our phones starting ringing off the hook," San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/Clerk Dave Butler told East County Magazine. Then word got out that the judge had issued a temporary stay until he hears arguments today and issues a decision on the stay. "The phones have been quiet today," Butler said.
Aide workers voice fears over impact of cuts on East County’s growing refugee population; San Diego’s Congressional representatives have thus far declined to take action to extend benefits
By Miriam Raftery
August 3, 2010 (San Diego) – Over 3,800 disabled and elderly refugees who came to the U.S. legally, all victims of persecution or torture, have been notified that they will lose Supplemental Security Income (SSI) on October 1st. Those slated to lose benefits include about 1,800 Iraq War refugees living in East County.
“They don’t have any other income. They want to find work and they can’t. They are too old and too sick,” said Joseph Ziauddin, president of the East County Refugee Center in El Cajon. Ziauddin estimates that there are around 40,000 Iraqis now living in East County. Asked how many of East County’s Iraqis are currently refugees, he replied, “Ninety percent.”
August 4, 2010 (El Cajon ) – Joseph Ziauddin, president of the East County Refugee Center, rolls up his sleeve to reveal deep scars on his forearm acquired during a daring escape. “This saved my life,” said Ziauddin, who said he was thrown in jail and tortured daily for three months because he loaned money to a friend who opposed Saddam Hussein, then president of Iraq. “I am the only one who fled from the secret police prison.”
Today, he dedicates his life to helping fellow refugees, teaching English classes at the Refugee Center. He has funded his efforts out of his own pocket, he said, but seeks help for the growing number of refugees in East County. Many of them, like himself, have endured torture or other horrors.
Watch Perseid Meteor Showers at Stargazer Plateau, Sacred Rocks Reserve: Aug. 12-14
August 4, 2010 (Boulevard) Sacred Rocks Reserve, a 163-acre wilderness park with RV and tent camping sites, will offer “Streakin’ Star Party” packages for guests who want to view the Perseid Meteor Showers streak through the night sky from Thursday, August 12 through Saturday, August 14.
Hunter representative defends vote on cost, transparency issues
August 3, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Ray Lutz, Democratic candidate for the 52nd Congressional district, slammed incumbent Rep. Duncan D. Hunter (R-El Cajon) for voting against the Tribal Law and Order Act HR 725), calling it a “vote protecting rapists.” President Barack Obama signed the bill into law on July 30, as ECM previously reported.
The measure allows tribal councils to prosecute criminals including rape victims when the defendant is an outsider and the U.S. Department of Justice has declined to prosecute. A study by Amnesty International found that one in three Native American women is raped during her lifetime; 86% of those rapes are committed by non-native men, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
August 4, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – This week, our Political Wrangler brings you the lastest from those smoke-filled rooms in Washington and San Diego. Amid pressing world issues, which of your U.S. legislators has a bill to ban marijuana brownies? Who is drawing fire for cozy ties to tobacco lobbyists after backing a cigar club for legislators?Which Congressman is fighting to make it easier to send cigarettes to our troops?Did a certain Supervisor break the law in doling out $80,000 in taxpayer money to a special interest group?
August 4, 2010 (El Cajon) -- Grossmont College Athletics Dept. and men’s basketball coach Doug Weber invite boys and girls entering the 3rd through 8th grades to Grossmont College’s annual youth summer basketball camp from 8 a.m. to noon, Monday through Thursday, Aug. 9-12.
August 3, 2010 (San Diego) – A employee at Wings and Things, 6715 El Cajon Boulevard in the Rolando area, was shot in the leg during an attempted robbery at 9:08 p.m. last night. The suspects, three black male adults in their 20s, were all armed and had their faces covered.
August 3, 2010 (San Diego) -- "Oh my, isn't fashion fun?" is the theme for the 33rd annual Haute with Heart fashion show. The program will benefit St. Madeleine Sophie's Center in El Cajon, which meets the needs of developmentally disabled adults.
The benefit event will be held August 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina.
August 3, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) board of directorshas unanimously approved a $25,000 grant to the non-profit San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency Services Foundation.
As a San Diego native, I was quite surprised to discover that my hometown had just last year surpassed Los Angeles to become the nation’s number one refugee resettlement location.
By Brian Lafferty
Owner hand-crafts fantasy environment![](/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/resize/Sunshine%20dancing-200x254.jpg "Sunshine Horton, 65, "shakin' it for a good cause."")
East County News Service
August 6, 2010 (El Cajon) – Emergency room physicians described the condition of Jeremy Marlow, 28, as the worst case of neglect that they had ever seen. Paramedics brought Marlow, who lived on Graves Avenue in El Cajon, to Grossmont Hospital on January 21. He was unconscious, suffering from infections, covered in open pressure wounds, and weighed less than 100 pounds, according to the San Diego Sheriff’s Department. He died five days later of pneumonia.
August 5, 2010 (San Diego) -- Pierre Martel Terry, 18, was arrested today by San Diego Police homicide detectives for the murder of Jonathan Pleasant, 24 in late June. He was taken into custody in the 3500 block of College Avenue and booked into County jail.
East County News Service
August 5, 2010 (San Diego) – The San Diego City Council voted 6-2 in a special session Wednesday to let voters decide whether the City should have a temporary (five year) half-cent increase in sales tax. The “Reform before Revenue” measure, proposed by Councilmembers Donna Frye and Todd Gloria, will require that key pension and financial reforms be met before the tax increase would take effect. 
August 5, 2010 (San Diego) – The FBI seeks 14 individuals, including a former San Diego man indicted this morning by the U.S. Department of Justice for aiding the foreign terrorist organization al-Shabaab.
East County News Network
East County News Network
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
August 3, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Ray Lutz, Democratic candidate for the 52nd Congressional district, slammed incumbent Rep. Duncan D. Hunter (R-El Cajon) for voting against the Tribal Law and Order Act HR 725), calling it a “vote protecting rapists.” President Barack Obama signed the bill into law on July 30, as 
August 3, 2010 (San Diego) -- "Oh my, isn't fashion fun?" is the theme for the 33rd annual Haute with Heart fashion show. The program will benefit St. Madeleine Sophie's Center in El Cajon, which meets the needs of developmentally disabled adults. 
August 3, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) board of directorshas unanimously approved a $25,000 grant to the non-profit San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency Services Foundation.
Recent comments