MOST EVACUATIONS LIFTED IN STEELE FIRE; DRONE HAMPERED FIREFIGHTERS

COTTONWOOD SAND MINE BACKERS FAIL TO DREDGE UP ENOUGH VOTES, AS PLANNERS DEADLOCK

OVER 4,700 UNDER EVACUATION ORDERS FROM STEELE FIRE

YOU'RE INVITED! JULY 17 FEAST AT HIMALAYAN CUISINE IN LA MESA WITH EAST COUNTY MAGAZINE'S DINING CLUB

COUNTY TO SPRAY FOR MOSQUITOS IN ROLANDO AREAS OF LA MESA AND SAN DIEGO TO REDUCE RISK OF WEST NILE VIRUS

RAMONA ROBBERY VICTIM SPOTS SUSPECT AT BANK, LEADING TO ARREST

ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ: A FLORIDA `CONCENTRATION CAMP’

OWNER IDENTIFIED IN DOG-DRAGGING CASE; ANIMAL CRUELTY CHARGES TO BE FILED

TRUMP SIGNS BUDGET BILL ON JULY 4 THAT INFLATES DEFICIT, CUTS SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME AMERICANS AND MAKES TAX CUTS FOR WEALTHY PERMANENT

READER’S EDITORIAL: THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM IS MORE URGENT THAN EVER BEFORE

HAUTE WITH HEART FASHION SHOW AUG. 2 BENEFITS ST. MADELEINE SOPHIE’S CENTER

A LAVENDER AND CAMEL OASIS IN RAMONA

BLACK HISTORY MONTH COMMEMORATIONS FILL CALENDARS AT CUYAMACA, GROSSMONT COLLEGES

 

Photos by Phu Nguyen/Cuyamaca College photographer

February 9, 2013 (El Cajon)-- A library exhibit featuring John Robert Clifford, a seminal figure in African American history and a forefather of a Cuyamaca College administrator, and a stepping demonstration by members of a historically black fraternity are part of the commemoration of Black History Month at Cuyamaca College.

Danene Brown, interim vice president of instruction at Cuyamaca College, poses next to a campus library exhibit about her great-great-great uncle, John Robert “J.R.” Clifford, a seminal figure in African American history. The display is part of the college’s commemoration of Black History Month.

CONGRESSWOMAN SUSAN DAVIS INTRODUCES BILL TO INCREASE DIVERSITY AMONG TEACHERS

 

February 9, 2013 (Washington D.C. -- Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-CA), joined by her colleagues Reps. Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), and Kathy Castor (D-FL), has introduced legislation to increase diversity among America’s teaching ranks.  The Diverse Teachers Recruitment Act would help establish programs to recruit new male teachers and teachers from minority groups into the profession.

FINANCIAL WELLNESS CAN BE YOURS IN 2013

 

By Erika Lawrence

Social Security District Manager, El Cajon

February 9, 2013 (El Cajon)--January is Financial Wellness Month — a great time to think about your own financial future. It also happens to be at this time that many people make resolutions for the New Year. Why not combine the two and make your own financial wellness a resolution for 2013?

READER’S EDITORIAL: GREGORY LANDFILL – IT IS TIME WE LISTENED

 

By Roy Hales

http://www.sandiegolovesgreen.com/articles/gregory-landfill-it-is-time-we-listened/

February 9, 2013 (San Diego)--An editorial, written in defense of the proposed Gregory Landfill, recently complained that, “…the Pala decided to claim the entire mountain is a sacred site.” I sometimes wonder how much the people who do, or say, things like that know of their own ancestry? Without resorting to a genealogist, can they tell us where their paternal great, great grandfather lived? How about their maternal great, great, grandmother?

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: HOW TO SPOIL A GOOD PICTURE

 

February 9, 2013 (Ocotillo) -- Photographer Jim Pelley brings us this perspective of how the Ocotillo Express Wind Facility has marred the beauty of nature in his desert community.

"The snow can been seen from Ocotillo and it used to be a good picture from my house," he writes. "Now the picture is littered with these monstrosities."

INDUSTRIAL SCALE WIND & SOLAR PROJECTS: WHAT WORKS? AND WHAT DOESN'T?

 

By Roy L Hales  sandiegolovesgreen.com

February 8, 2013 (San Diego's East County)--As problems with the large wind and solar projects in East County continue to surface, I suspect there will be a tendency to say Big = Bad. I’ve been doing that myself the last few weeks. I think we need to isolate the problems and deal with them one at a time.

The wind farm at Ocotillo appears to lack the necessary wind, but am also aware that one of the problems with wind farms in East Germany has been too much wind. The Czech and Polish governments are said to have flipped the switches, to cut off the flow of surplus energy into their countries.  The alleged lack of wind at Ocotillo could be an insurmountable problem, which raises serious questions about how the facility came to be built in the first place. The alleged surplus in East Germany will cease to be a problem once we develop a method of storing the excess energy for months rather than minutes.

SEVERE WEATHER CAUSES TRAFFIC HAZARDS , WHITE OUT CONDITIONS

February 8, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Avoid I-8 east of Alpine. White-out conditions are reported on I-8 at Crestwood/Campo. At Pine Valley, multiple vehicles have spun out due to snow and ice on the freeway. 

Chains are required on Palomar Mountain and Sunrise Highway,  and in other locations above 3,000 feet for two-wheel drive vehicles. 

In Valley Center, Woods Valley Road is closed overnight due to a power pole down.

A winter storm warning remains in effect countywide until 3 a.m.,with rain and snow falling. Stay off roads if possible and use extreme caution if you must travel.

FEBRUARY IS MUSEUM MONTH IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY

February 8, 2013 (San Diego) – Once again Museum Month is happening in San Diego County including five East County Museums.  During the entire month of February individuals can pick up a free Museum Month Pass at any local Macy’s store and receive half-off admission to 42 San Diego County museums.  Guests with passes may bring up to three people with them to any participating museum.

COUNTY CLERK WELCOMES COUPLES TO VALENTINE’S DAY TRADITION ON THE BAY

 

February 8, 2013 (San Diego)--It’s the most romantic day of the year… and San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk, Ernest J. Dronenburg, Jr., wants to make sure that all romantic couples wishing to “tie the knot” or renew their wedding vows come down to the historical County Administration Center overlooking beautiful San Diego Bay for their wedding ceremony.

“Valentine’s Day wedding ceremony reservations are filling up quickly,” said Ernie Dronenburg. “We are planning on added staff at our downtown location for Valentine’s Day to accommodate all those wanting to be married on this special day. Call right now so we can plan on helping you.”

ROLLING READERS CELEBRATES 2ND ANNIVERSARY OF “SHARE YOUR LOVE OF READING” EVENT ON VALENTINE’S DAY

 

Elected officials, education leaders, celebrities to read aloud at underprivileged schools throughout San Diego County on February 14 

February 8, 2013  (La Mesa)--Rolling Readers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping low-income, at-risk children enjoy reading, will celebrate the 2nd Anniversary of its “Share Your Love of Reading” event on Valentine’s Day.

ON THE SILVER SCREEN: THE UNBEARABLE SADNESS OF BEING (SIDE EFFECTS)

By Brian Lafferty

February 8, 2013 (San Diego) – The press screening announcement for Side Effects read "Please note that due to the non-linear nature of this film, we will not let anyone into screenings of Side Effects if they arrive LATE.”  The impression I got was that Soderbergh's last theatrical release - his final project is a Liberace biopic that will air on HBO later this year - would be a mind-bender like Cameron Crowe's Vanilla Sky or Christopher Nolan's Memento.  I was wrong, but the publicity people were right to deny entry to latecomers.  (Even if they didn't, I can't grasp how any critic could feel comfortable reviewing any movie they're late for.  In many cases and for many reasons too irrelevant and lengthy to list, the first few minutes are a film’s most important.)

BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR TRIPLE HOMICIDE SUSPECT CHRISTOPER WARNER

By Nadin Abbott

Vehicle found in Poway; sighting in Lakeside believed to be a hoax

February, 8 2013 (San Diego)--Police agencies all over the state of California are on high alert.   The manhunt for Christopher Dorner, 33, a former Los Angeles police officer  wanted for three murders in the L.A. area, has spanned multiple counties including San Diego.  Citizens across Southern California are asked to not engage and call 911.  Dorner is considered extremely dangerous and well armed.

He has threatened additional violence and released a manifesto accusing L.A. Police Department of corruption, other misconduct as well as wrongful firing. ECM news partner 10 News has an edited copy of it, with names removed. 

CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT OCOTILLO WIND PROJECT ARRESTED FOLLOWING THREATS TO PHOTOGRAPHERS

 

 

Update February 8, 2013:  The court in Imperial Valley has issued a restraining order requiring Graham to stay away from Park Ewing, the photographer he reportedly attacked.

By Miriam Raftery

Jim Pelley and Parke Ewing contributed to this report.

February 7, 2013 (Ocotillo) –Russell Scott Graham, 48, a representative  at Pattern Energy’s Ocotillo Wind Express Facility, has been arrested after allegedly attempting to wrestle a camera away from an East County Magazine photographer and making violent threats, including one documented on  video during the attack. (Warning, coarse language.) According to the Imperial Valley Press and photographers documenting the project's daily progress for many months,  Graham is the construction manager at Pattern's site.

Freelance photographers Parke Ewing and Jim Pelley have spent months extensively documenting construction activities at the Ocotillo wind project.  Many of their videos and photos have been published by East County Magazine, including  photographic evidence that raised serious questions on whether the project is producing wind speeds claimed, as ECM previously reported in a story titled Where is the wind?

WINTER STORM TO DROP SNOW LEVEL TO 2500 FEET

 

February 8, 2013 (San Diego’s East County ) – A cold front will bring chilly temperatures, thunderstorms and in mountain areas, snowfall starting Friday.  Four to ten inches of snow are expected to fall above 4,000 feet, with snow levels dipping down to 2500 feet or even lower Friday night and Saturday. 

Travel may be hazardous on portions of I-8 as well as on mountain roads.

REP. SUSAN DAVIS SPONSORS MEASURE TO REPEAL CITIZENS UNITED RULING

 

February 7, 2013 (Washington D.C.)--Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) joined Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD) and more than two dozen of her colleagues in introducing a constitutional amendment to undo the Supreme Court ruling that allowed corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money on campaigns.

“We need to restore accountability in our political process,” said Rep. Davis. “We are supposed to have a government of the people, by the people, for the people. The integrity of our democracy is at stake when corporations can drown out the voices of the people in our elections.”

MEMOIR WRITING CLASS WITH MARSHA KAY SEFF

February 7, 2013 (San Diego) – Marsha Kay Seff, a former seniors writer for the Union Tribune, is teaching a class a class on storytelling at the College Avenue Older Adult Center, 4855 College Ave., on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 12:45 p.m.  The classes began February 6 and the next one will be Feb. 20.

ECM WORLD WATCH: GLOBAL AND NATIONAL NEWS

February 7, 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:

NATIONAL

WORLD

SCIENCE AND HEALTH

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: TOP LOCAL AND STATE NEWS

February 7, 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:

LOCAL/REGIONAL

STATE

 Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

EL CAJON LIBRARY TO HOST ONLINE DATING CLASS

 
February 7, 2013 (El Cajon)--Looking for love in cyberspace? Just in time for Valentine's Day, the El Cajon Branch Library, 201 E. Douglas Av, will host a class on online dating, Tuesday, February 12, at 6:30 p.m. The free session will cover a wide variety of tips and topics, and is open to those ages 18 and over.

LA MESA POLICE SERGEANT BITTEN BY POLICE K-9 FROM EL CAJON

 

February 7, 2013 (La Mesa)—La Mesa Police Sergeant Michael Pierce sustained lacerations to his left arm and wrist from a bite by a police canine during a search for a suspect on February 4. At 7:49 p.m. La Mesa Police responded to a report of a disturbance in the 8200 block of Orchard Avenue, where a suspect reportedly had threatened his brother with a hammer. An El Cajon Police K-9 responded to assist in searching for the suspect.

CONGRESSMAN PETERS COMPLETESFIRST MONTH, FOLLOWS THROUGH ON PROMISES

 

February 7, 2013 (Washington D.C.) – This week marks the completion of Congressman Scott Peters’ first month in office. Since Peters was sworn in on January 3rd, he has been appointed to two key committees, helped introduce bipartisan legislation to repeal burdensome medical device taxes, and voted to improve Congress’ preparedness and accountability.

WILDLIFE KILLERS: BIRDS KILLED AT COUNTRY CLUB, COUNTY TAXPAYERS PAY

Editor’s Note:  If you have any information on wildlife killed by tax-funded trappers in East County, please send your tips to editor@eastcountymagazine.org.

 

Reprinted with permission from Voice of San Diego.

By Rob Davis, for voiceofsandiego.org

A country club near Chula Vista’s Eastlake had a gnawing problem.

Coots. Lots and lots of coots.

The small, black bird that looks like a duck was chewing greens and fairways on the club’s golf course, pooping so much near the snack bar that it occasionally closed for cleanups. Birds are attracted to golf courses’ open space, a common problem in heavily developed Southern California. The private country club — records aren’t specific about which one — suspected the coots were hurting their bottom line.

EL CAJON HOSTS MEETNG ON ALCOHOL LICENSING FEB. 8

More local control of alcohol-licensing process possible, experts say

Alcohol Policy Panel of San Diego presents model business policy as a case study

 

February 7, 2013 (El Cajon)-- Local community leaders, police and health officials will meet on February 8  with officials from Ventura County to discuss a model program that has successfully reduced alcohol-related problems by improving retail practices at bars, clubs, restaurants and liquor stores. The event, held by the Alcohol Policy Panel for San Diego County, will be held at the Ronald Reagan Community Center, 195 East Douglas Avenue in El Cajon, from 9-11 a.m. Friday.

CHICKEN RANCH OWNER, 12 OTHERS ARRESTED IN BURGLARY RING

 

$44,000 in stolen property seized along with explosives, drugs, guns, and stolen cars

February 6, 2013 (Ramona) – Mark Ertman, an ex-convict, has been arrested along with 12 others after a search warrant found stolen property at his residence at 2411 San Vicente Road in Ramona. 

“The property, known as the "Chicken Ranch," was used by a burglary ring operating in the East County to conceal and dismantle stolen property,” Sergeant B. Hout with the San Diego Sheriff said.  “The ring is believed to be responsible for over 20 burglaries during the course of the last year.”

The burglaries ranged from early morning residential hot prowls to commercial burglaries targeting the Girl Scouts of America.

U.S. POSTAL SERVICE DROPS SATURDAY DELIVERY

Congresswoman Davis questions legality of action

February 6, 2013 (Washington D.C.) – The U.S. Postal Service has announced plans to end Saturday mail delivery as a cost-saving measure. 

The announcement drew swift criticism from Congresswoman Susan Davis, who also noted that since Congress mandated Saturday delivery, eliminating it should require Congressional action.

EL CAJON POLICE SEEK LEADS IN FATAL DOG SHOOTING

February 6, 2013 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon Police are asking for the public's help to identify a suspect in the shooting of a dog in the 600 block of Millar Avenue last night. A witness reported hearing a shot at 7:55 p.m. and saw a medium-sized, mixed breed dog run about 25 yards before collapsing.  A vehicle was leaving the area, but the witness saw only headlights.

It is unknown who owned the dog, which did not have a collar but appeared to be clean and well kept, said Lt. Mark Coit.

The El Cajon Police Department is investigating this cruelty to animals crime.  There is no suspect or vehicle description at this time.  Anyone with information is encouraged to call the El Cajon Police Department at 619-579-3311.

HOMEOWNER'S GURU: IS IT A GOOD TIME TO BUY OR SELL A HOME?

 

 

By E.V. Small

February 5, 2013 (San Diego County)--For the past two years this question was extremely easy to answer. The combination of historically low interest rates and abundant inventory due to the record number of foreclosures has resulted in the lowest housing cost in decades.

A “RAISE” FOR PEOPLE WHO GET SOCIAL SECURITY

 

By Erika Lawrence

Social Security District Manager, El Cajon

February 5, 2013 (El Cajon)--As we ring in a new year, we can expect to see a number of changes. Social Security is no exception: in 2013, people who receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments will see their benefits increase.

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