June 29, 2013 (Lakeside) – An Amateur Radio class is being held on July 27 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Lakeside Fire Protection District Office, 12216 Lakeside Avenue, Lakeside. Testing for the Amateur Radio License will be held immediately after class at 5 p.m.
Obtaining an amateur radio license enables people to communicate during a local disaster such as a fire or earthquake when traditional land lines and cell phones may stop working. License holders can help their local community during times of need as well as get up to date information about the disaster from local authorities. It’s also a great way to communicate with people around the world.
June 29, 2013 (Santee)---Exploding propane tanks fueled a fire in the 10500 block of Prospect Avenue in Santee yesterday, ECM news partner 10 News reports.
The fire began in a trash pile or container , according to Heartland Fire & Rescue spokeman Sonny Saghera. The blaze damaged a home, a garage and several vehicles, Santee Patch.com reported.
June 29, 2013 (Deerhorn Valley) -- Rustlers have struck at a ranch in Deerhorn Valley -- stealing not livestock, but a corral. Approximately 20 panels of pipe corral, including a gate, were stolen in a brazen theft last week. Each panel is 12 feet long, the Deerhorn Valley Antler reports.
Citizens are asked to report any appearances of similar pipe corral panels elsewhere in the region, as well as any other information on this crime.
"The corral was assembled, standing and used for training and riding lessons. Apparently the thieves came on more than once occasion to dismantle and carry away the panels. In all, half the corral has been stolen, a significant expense for the owners," the Antler reports.
June 28. 2013 (San Diego’s East County)-- The smoke that residents in East County have seen in recent days is coming from a fire in Mexico, about 17 miles (28 kilometers) south of the international border. The fire has consumed 1,235 acres (500 hectares) and it is about 50% contained.
June 28, 2013 (San Diego)--Consumers are urged to throw away specific lots of Woodstock Frozen Organic Pomegranate Kernels, the second product sold in San Diego County associated with a national outbreak of hepatitis A, according to the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA).
The recalled lots contain pomegranate seeds imported from Turkey that were also used in Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend of frozen berries. Although the Woodstock product has not been linked to any illnesses here, the Townsend Farms berry blend has sickened 127 people nationwide, including 15 San Diego County residents.
“If you ate a product containing these pomegranate seeds in the past two weeks and you have never been vaccinated for hepatitis A or had the disease, you should contact your health care provider to discuss hepatitis A vaccine or immune globulin,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “Anyone who ate these products should be aware of the symptoms of hepatitis A and seek medical attention early if they appear.”
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures...” U.S. Bill of Rights, Amendment IV
June 28, 2013 (San Diego)—A new nonpartisan movement called “Restore the Fourth” has been formed to seek restoration of Constitutional rights to privacy under the Fourth Amendment. The effort is prompted by revelations that the federal government has secretly accessed phone and Internet records for millions of American citizens.
On July 4, Restore the Fourth is organizing protests in cities across America. Restore the Fourth invites the public to join a rally and march to Senator Dianne Feinstein’s office. Marchers will meet at 11 a.m. at the Balboa Park fountain near the Reuben H. Space Theater.
June 28, 2013 (San Diego) – The Heat is on and looks like it will be with us for a while!
If you work or play outside, you should know about heat stress safety tips. Heat stress is caused by over exposure to hot climates. You might not think it is possible, but you can suffer from heat related injuries inside as well as outside. Heat stress occurs when your bodies core temperature rises above normal.
June 28, 2013 – Keys Creek Lavender Farm is holding English High Teas on June 29, July 12 and 13. The teas begin at 2 p.m. and feature 3 courses, including appetizers, sandwiches and petite sweets. All courses are served with an assortment of rich flavored teas.
Tickets are $35 per person and can be purchased here.
June 28, 2013 (Ramona) – Join Jim, Milagro Farms winemaker, on June 29 at 4 p.m. for a guided hike around Milagro Farm Vineyards & Winery’s 20 acres of grapes. This is a moderately strenuous hike and will finish at the tasting room with a private tasting.
Tickets are $10 per person or free with a bottle purchase. RSVP to Audrey@milagrofarmwinery.com. The winery is located at 18750 Littlepage Road, Ramona.
June 28, 2013 (San Diego) – Neil Jordan’sByzantium is cinema’s best answer to the Twilight series since Tomas Alfredson’s Swedish vampire masterpiece Let the Right One In (not counting Matt Reeves’ equally crafted American remake Let Me In). It takes the now all-too-familiar forbidden vampire-mortal love story and breathes into it an intoxicating mix of realism, atmosphere, and wicked sexiness.
June 28, 2013 (San Diego's East County) - Lighting can transform a scene into a magical display. Milt Cyphert captured one of those golden magic moments with this photo, taken at a Laguna Mountain meadow.
June 27, 2013 (San Diego)—The United States Senate passed a comprehensive immigration bill today with 68 Senators voting for it, and 32 Senators voting against it.
In addition to citizenship for some undocumented immigrants and other provisions, the bill contains many provisions that would impact many in East County, including businesses, agriculture, and bolstering medical personnel.
It also calls for a border security “surge” including hundreds of miles of new border fencing and 18,000 additional federal agents on the U.S.-Mexico border. Former Republican presidential candidate John McCain, who supports the bill, said it would create “the most militarized border since the fall of the Berlin Wall.”
June 27, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for our region, with record high temperatures possible. Extremely hot weather is forecast Friday through Sunday, with temperatures reaching 116 to 122 in the lower deserts and 110 in the upper desert areas. In the mountains and foothills, temperatures could hit 100 to 105,
Hot temperatures will continue Monday and Tuesday, though slightly cooler than the weekend.
June 26, 2013 (San Diego) – Commemorating the 53rd anniversary of Somali independence, the 9th annual Somali American Cultural Fest will be held on Saturday, June 29 from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Market Creek Plaza at Jacob Center in City Heights, 3- 8 p.m.
Thousands of Somali refugees and immigrants now call San Diego home. The event will feature music, dance, poetry, a fashion show, children’s activities, food and vendor booths as well as free health screenings. The event is organized by Somali Youth United.
June 27, 2013 (San Diego)--The San Diego State athletic department has announced the 2013 promotional and giveaway schedule for the defending Mountain West championship football program's six home games.
More fires are reported on July 4 than any other day of the year; fireworks also cause many serious injuries each July
With the Fourth of July approaching, the Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit reminds San Diegans that it's illegal to possess and use fireworks in the county. It's also illegal to transport fireworks from elsewhere into San Diego County or to make homemade fireworks or explosives.
Under California law, illegal fireworks include sky rockets, bottle rockets, roman candles, aerial shells, firecrackers and other items that explode, go up in the air, or move across the ground in an uncontrollable fashion. Those convicted can be fined up to $50,000 and sent to prison or jail for up to one year.
June 27, 2013 (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 reflect 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 world and U.S. headlines include:
June 27, 2013 (San Diego) – The San Diego County Department of Animal Services (DAS) impounded the animals May 23 when they were found without food and water. DAS had been monitoring the herd since May 20 when several of the horses were found on the highway. The California Highway Patrol and Intermountain Fire and Rescue safely moved the horses off the road and returned them to a nearby property. Intermountain Fire and Rescue also filled the horses’ empty water containers. DAS could not take any action then, but when animal services officers checked on the horses May 23, they found the herd was again out of water and lacked food so they seized the animals.
June 27, 2013 (San Diego's East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:
Governor Brown orders county clerks to begin same-sex marriages as soon as 9th Circuit Court lifts stay
By Miriam Raftery
June 26, 2013 (Washington D.C.) – The U.S. Supreme court, in closely divided 5-4 rulings, handed down decisions today in two landmark same –sex marriage cases. The rulings are being hailed as victories for supporters of same-sex marriage, while opponents vow to continue the battle at the state level. In California, however, the high court's dismissal of the Proposition 8 case opens the door for weddings between same-sex couples to resume soon.
For Dayna Dunbar of Spring Valley, the news sparked an emotional chord. She and her partner, Brenda, have been together since 2001 and have an adopted son, Jesse (photo, left).
“We were just holding each other, in tears,” she told ECM today. When their son heard news of the court decision, Dunbar added, “He was so excited, he hugged us about three times each.”
Columnist's elation over marriage equality rulings is tempered by dismay over high court's ruling on Voting Rights Act
June 26, 2013 (San Diego)--The sun is shining this Wednesday, June 26 and it’s a beautiful, if rather hot, day in San Diego. I sent my husband Charles off to work this morning after we both got up early to watch MS-NBC broadcast news of the United States Supreme Court’s rulings on two cases involving the rights of same-sex couples to marry each other. It was a personal story to us because Charles and I are legally married.
June 26, 2013 (La Mesa) – “Isn’t this amazing?” Linda McWilliams, winemaker at San Pasqual Winery, exclaimed, standing inside the company’s new winery in a former industrial building in La Mesa. Hundreds of guests packed into the 4,500 square foot space for the winery’s grand opening celebration last weekend, savoring the fruits of McWilliams’ labors.
Those labors are yielding some impressive results. At this year’s San Diego County Fair, San Pasqual Winery picked up six awards, including a gold medal for the winery’s most popular offering, Habañera passionfruit wine.
June 26, 2013 (Descanso) -- Get ready to kick up your heels, because there will be live music and dancing in Descanso on Friday evening, June 28, 2013. Mountain Empire Men’s Club presents their 5th Annual Scholarship Fundraiser at the Descanso Town Hall. The newly designated “historical” town hall is located at 24536 Viejas Blvd. in Descanso. The event is from 5-10 p.m.
Descanso Junction Catering is hosting the event and cooking up a delicious smoked barbecue dinner. This special event also features a silent auction and raffle prizes. All funds collected will go directly to the Scholarship Fund for students in the Mountain Empire School District, of which Descanso is a part.
June 25, 2013 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, will host a free senior discussion group presentation on “The Importance of Sleep,” from 10 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 26. The public is invited to attend, and RSVP is not required. The speaker will be Jason Chagnon, senior technician with Grossmont Hospital Sleep Disorders Center.
June 25, 2013 (El Cajon) – Grossmont College will offer a “family-friendly” schedule of theater productions in the 2013-2014 season, starting Oct. 3-12 with Pygmalion, the George Bernard Shaw play that was converted into the musical My Fair Lady, and ending May 8-17 with “a new spin” on Alice in Wonderland, according to Beth Duggan, chair of the Theatre Arts Department.
In between those two offerings, students will also act in, design costumes and build sets for such productions as To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday by Michael Brady (Nov. 14-23); Follow Me by artist Dominic Pangborn (Dec. 6-7, followed by a tour of local elementary schools); Inside the Actors Process by Grossmont faculty member Jerry Hager (Feb. 7 and 8, followed by a tour of local high schools); and You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown (March 13-22).
June 25, 2013 (City Heights) – Skateboarders in City Heights will soon be able to enjoy recreation at a Mini-Park and Skate Plaza. The site, designed as a safe place for families to enjoy outdoor activities, will also include a tot lot, playground, turf area and plaza with games, landscaping and trees. Construction will begin in October 2014 with completion due in November 2015.
The total site is slightly less than two-thirds of an acre, with the skate plaza 0.145 acre. A design phase will include community outreach and input.
June 25, 2013 (San Diego) -- San Diego ranks 9th on the list of most expensive cities. Kiplinger’s ranks the ten cheapest—and also the ten most expensive— US cities to live in based on the Council for Community and Economic Research’s calculations of living expenses in 307 urban areas. The Cost of Living Index measures prices for housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, health care and miscellaneous goods and services and also screens out cities with populations below 50,000.
June 25, 2013 (La Mesa) – The Senior Resource Center at Sharp Grossmont Hospital 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.
Originally posted Wednesday, June 19 at the Reno Dispatch
June 25, 2013 (San Diego) – The news of Michael Hastings' death comes as a total shock. Michael, 33, who was killed early Tuesday in a car crash in Los Angeles, was among the last of a disappearing breed of fearless investigative reporters. A friend and former colleague, he and I worked together often when we were fellow writers at Newsweek.
I'll never forget our marathon phone conversations about politics, war, civilian casualties and General David Patraeus. Michael was probably the general's most outspoken critic, as you can see in this article he wrote for Rolling Stone. Michael ripped the general in that story, and in others. I haven't exactly gone easy on Patraeus, either, but I've typically left it to my sources to evaluate him in stories such as this one for Newsweek/Daily Beast. Michael had no time for that. It just wasn't his style. He called it the way he saw it, and I admired him for it.
June 25, 2013 (Borrego Springs) - Hotel Managers Group (HMG Hotels) and Casa Del Zorro LLC., the ownership and management team for La Casa Del Zorro Hotel and Resort in Borrego Springs, CA. recently announced that Lure Agency and Jen Roche PR have been selected as social media marketing and public relations agencies of record respectively. The two agencies will work in concert to rebuild the brand of the iconic property, which will reopen in fall 2013.
June 29, 2013 (Lakeside) – An Amateur Radio class is being held on July 27 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Lakeside Fire Protection District Office, 12216 Lakeside Avenue, Lakeside. Testing for the Amateur Radio License will be held immediately after class at 5 p.m.
June 28, 2013 – Keys Creek Lavender Farm is holding English High Teas on June 29, July 12 and 13. The teas begin at 2 p.m. and feature 3 courses, including appetizers, sandwiches and petite sweets. All courses are served with an assortment of rich flavored teas.
June 28, 2013 (Ramona) – Join Jim, Milagro Farms winemaker, on June 29 at 4 p.m. for a guided hike around Milagro Farm Vineyards & Winery’s 20 acres of grapes. This is a moderately strenuous hike and will finish at the tasting room with a private tasting.
Highlight is KGB Sky Show August 31
(Christian Science Monitor)
Originally posted Wednesday, June 19 at the Reno Dispatch
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