SPRINGS FIRE SPARKS EVACUATIONS IN JAMUL

TODDLER DIES FROM FALL OUT LA MESA WINDOW

LEMON GROVE COUNCILMAN AND HELIX FOOTBALL COACH STEVE FAIAI DIES

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

MOST EVACUATIONS LIFTED IN STEELE FIRE; DRONE HAMPERED FIREFIGHTERS

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

EAST COUNTY CASH MOB MEETS “PEDRO’S COCINA MEXICANA”

 

August 4, 2012 (Spring Valley) – The East County Cash Mob is targeting Pedro’s Cocina Mexicana, 3515 Sweetwater Springs Blvd., Spring Valley on August 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  A ‘cash mob’ is a large number of people organized via social media to draw customers to support a local business during tough economic times.

BLUES AND JAZZ CONCERT WITH THE ROBIN HENKEL BAND AUGUST 17

August 4, 2012 (La Mesa) – Dizzy’s presents Robin Henkel band with Horns! Blues and Jazz Concert at the McCrea Music Company, 8361 Allison Ave., La Mesa on August 17 beginning at 8 p.m.  Henkel is an amazing blues slide guitarist and his music ranges from primitive Mississippi Delta blues to Texas style Swing. 

Tickets for the show are $15 and $10 for students.  Call 619-698-7272 for more information.  Or visit www.robinhenkel.com

GET IN THE GROOVE WITH SATURDAY NIGHT SAX AUGUST 18

August 3, 2012 (La Mesa) – San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room presents Saturday Night Sax on August 18 from 7 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at 8364 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa.  Enjoy the saxophone music of Aaron Valencia while sampling wine, cheese and crackers, and decadent desserts.  Admission is free.

For more information about San Pasqual Winery visit http://www.sanpasqualwinery.com/

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT IN ALLIED GARDENS: MOVIE AT THE PARK AUGUST 4

August 3, 2012 (San Diego) – Allied Gardens Recreation Council, Lake Murray/San Carlos Recreation Council and San Diego Event Professionals are sponsoring National Night Out Movie in the Park August 4 at the Allied Gardens Recreation Center, 5155 Greenbrier Ave., San Diego.  The movie is Cars 2 and will begin at dusk.  Arrive at 7 p.m. to be ready for the start.

COUNTY’S ACCESS AND CRISIS LINE RECEIVES NATIONAL ACCREDITATION

 
Crisis Center Recognized for High Quality Support to Individuals in Need
 
August 3, 2012 (San Diego) -- San Diego County’s Access and Crisis line has received national accreditation indicating that the crisis line is an effective resource to help people who are contemplating suicide. The Crisis Center Accreditation was awarded by the American Association of Suicidology.

HELIX WATER DISTRICT WILL HOLD PUBLIC HEARING AUGUST 15

 

August 2, 2012 (La Mesa) – The Board of Directors of Helix Water District will conduct a Public Hearing on proposed Water Rates August 15 at 6:00 p.m. at the Helix Water District Administration Office, 7811 University Avenue, La Mesa.  View the proposed water rate hikes here.

 

SAN ONOFRE STEAM GENERATOR FAILURE SUBJECTED TO REVIEW BY CITIZENS' OVERSIGHT

Watchdog group questions revelations of thinner tubes, "exploding" leak, and incorrect plugging threshold

August 2, 2012
 (San Diego) -- Citizens' Oversight Projects (COPS) today submitted a set of 87 questions to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission regarding the recent steam-generator failures and the Augmented Inspection Team (AIT) report, released on July 18, as well as the public meeting, conducted on June 18, 2012.

The submission from COPS included a number of stunning revelations, not previously addressed by the NRC or other oversight groups:

COMMUNITY MEETING AUGUST 13 ON REOPENING EAST COUNTY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

 

August 2, 2012 (El Cajon ) – The public is encouraged to attend a meeting hosted by the ECPAC Foundation on August 13 at 6 p.m. at the Palms Restaurant and Banquet Hall, 143 E.Main Street in El Cajon.

EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: TOP LOCAL AND STATE NEWS

 
 
August 2, 2012 --  (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
  • East County hit by 700 lightning strikes (UT San Diego)
  • Is boy, 10, competent to stand trial in killing? (UT San Diego)
  • Ailing nuke plant, San Onofre, may restart by 2013 (AP News)
  • $4 billion in unpaid hospital bills (Voice of San Diego)
  • Teen wins $25,000 for science fair project (UT San Diego)
 
STATE
  • Editorial: Is a sequel of Enron scandal scamming state? (Sacramento Bee)
  • Most California for-profit colleges lose Cal Grants  (Sacramento Bee)
  • Cal-State reaches tentative agreement with faculty (Sacramento Bee)
  • Gov.. Brown: Earth’s future more important than preserving East County Vistas (La Mesa Patch)
  • Californians consume 4th lowest amount of energy in nation (Scoop San Diego)
  • Scientists looking for large local quake (KPBS)
  • Leaue of California Cities touts openness but shuns disclosure requirements (Reader)

    Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

2 LANES REOPENED ON I-8 EAST AFTER CREWS SLOW BRUSH FIRES IN ALPINE

Update:  3:40:  Cal Fire has cancelled resources not yet at the scene; fires have totalled less than half an acre, per latest estimate.  Two lanes of I-8 east have been reopened, CHP reports.

Update 3:25 p.m.: Multiple small fires are burning on both sides of Alpine Blvd., Cal Fire's Roxanne Provaznik reports.  The fire is spreading slowly and there are no immediate threats to structures. 

ANOTHER WIND TURBINE FIRE –THIS TIME, IN TEHACHAPI

 
By Miriam Raftery
Photos by Donna Moran
 
August 2, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – For the second time this summer, an industrial wind turbine sparked a grass fire in Southern California. On Friday night, July 27, a large wind turbine burst into flame in the Tehachapi are above the Mohave Desert. In June, as ECM previously reported, a wind turbine fire in the Whitewater area of Riverside County spread into a wildland fire that charred 367 acres and forced evacuation of homes.

DOGS KILL EMU ON JAMUL-AREA RANCH

 
August 2, 2012 (Deerhorn Valley) – Two dogs running loose attacked and killed an emu inside a pen on the Hornsby ranch on Sierra Cielo in Deerhorn Valley on Tuesday. According to the Deerhorn Valley Antler, the dogs were described as a pit bull mix (white with brown spots) and a brown Shepherd mix. 

EAST COUNTY CHURCH HOSTS FORUM ON SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

 
By Jane Inglese
 
August 2, 2012 (La Mesa) –An evangelical church led by a prominent conservative pastor may seem an unlikely place for a forum on same-sex marriage featuring prominent voices on both sides of the controversial issue.  But on Sunday, July 29, Skyline Church in La Mesa featured “A Conversation on the Definition of Marriage” Sunday, July 29, moderated by Skyline’s Senior Pastor Jim Garlow. 

LA MESA RESIDENT NAMED HONORED HERO FOR LIGHT THE NIGHT WALK

 
Brianna Henritze aims to raise funds, attract walkers for November 2 event at Petco Park 
 
August 2, 2012  (La Mesa) -- Thirty-five-year-old La Mesa resident Brianna Henritze was named an Honored Hero for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s annual Light The Night® Walk on Friday, November 2 at Petco Park.
 
 
 
Brianna on the right with best friend of 22 years, Sheila Seideman.

BOOK SIGNING AT HERITAGE OF THE AMERICAS MUSUEM AUGUST 4

 

August 2, 2012 (El Cajon) – Heritage of the Americas Museum presents a discussion and book signing by James E. Thomas of us book Corps of Discovery Lewis and Clark on August 4 at the Museum Conference Room on the Cuyamaca College Campus, 12110 Cuyamaca College Drive West, El Cajon.  The discussion will begin at 1:00 p.m.

READER’S EDITORIAL: FLUSH THE WATER BOARD! CANDIDATES NEEDED TO CLEAN UP HELIX DISTRICT

By Kristin Kjaero

August 1, 2012 (La Mesa)--The deadline to run for Helix Water District Board is August 10 and no challengers have returned papers. We need good candidates to replace incumbents!

This is the Board that CalAware forced to redo a rate hike for Brown Act violations.

STAGE READING FOR RESCUE AT PINE RIDGE TONIGHT

Novel celebrates Buffalo Soldiers’ historic rescue of the 7th cavalry

August 2, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Camp Lockett in Campo, a now-sleepy border town in San Diego’s East County,  was the last home of the Buffalo Soldiers.  Best known as the all-black cavalry brigade that fought valiantly in the Civil War, the 9th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers were also lauded for their rescue of  7th Cavalry soldiers from hostile Indians.  The novel Rescue at Pine Ridge, by Erich Hicks, culminates in this rescue,  also shining light on the heart-wrenching  and often brutal resettlement of Native American tribes 14 years after the massacre at Little Big Horn.

Hicks has completed a screenplay for a film trilogy based on the book, garnering support from acclaimed actor/director Bill Duke.  Tonight at 7 p.m., a stage reading will be held at the Mayme A. Clayton Library and Museum, 4130 Overland Avenue in Culver City. The event is open to the public; RSVP at (818)760-9948. 

Actors in the production Table Read are:

Starring: Keith David in the role of Sergeant George Jordan / Medal of Honor recipient & Certificate of Merit.
Starring: Richard Gant in the role of Sergeant Thomas Shaw / Medal of Honor recipient.
Starring: Brent Jennings in the role of William Othello Wilson / Medal of Honor recipient.

ANOTHER POWER OUTAGE SATURDAY MORNING IN LA MESA

August 2, 2012 (La Mesa)—For the second weekend in a row, La Mesa residents will experience a scheduled power outage, SDG&E has announced. The power will go out at 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 4 and is expected to last up to five hours. 

A previous planned outage occurred July 28.  Traffic signals will be affected at University and Lowell Street as well as University Ave. and Parks Avenue. 

HEALTH CARE LAW’S PROVISIONS FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH TAKE EFFECT; FREE PREVENTATIVE CARE NOW AVAILABLE

August 2, 2012 (Washington D.C.)  Effective August 1, 47 million women across America have access to eight new prevention-related health care services without paying more out of their own pocket, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced yesterday.  

ECM WORLD WATCH: GLOBAL AND NATIONAL NEWS

 
August 2, 2012 --  (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 world and U.S. headlines include:   
 
 
 

U.S.

  • Romney would let wind energy tax credits expire, campaign says (Denver Post)
  • Leaders have agreement to avoid pre-election government shut-down (The Hill)
  • Scathing report on for-profit colleges and their $32 billion in tax dollars (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
  • Congress warned that Al Qaeda in Iraq is coming to America (Jewish World Review)
  • Scalia: Guns may be regulated (National Journal)
  • More worries for the wealthy? Inheritance taxes to jump unless Congress acts (Christian Science Monitor)
  • U.S. raises taxes on Chinese wind turbine makers (NY Times)
  • 14 reasons why this is the worst Congress ever (Wonkblog)
WORLD
  • India blackout affects millions, grid failure among world’s worst power outage (Reuters)
  • Japan utility gets $12.8B nuclear crisis bailout (UT San Diego)
  • Cuba broadens economic reforms, plans new measures (Reuters)
  • In pictures: Olympics opening ceremonies (BBC)
  • Thousands flee amid growing ethnic violence in India (NPR)
 
Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

VINTAGES TO SAVOR AT THE BACK COUNTRY WINEMAKING TOUR


By Miriam Raftery

July 29, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – It’s one of our region’s best-kept secrets.  The Back Country Winemaking Tour, which swiftly sells out each year, is a great way to meet local vintners and savor the fruits of their labors—all with a designated driver aboard an air-conditioned bus.

This year’s tour rolled into four diverse wineries in Ramona and Warner Springs, where participants sipped, savored, and partied their way across the sun-drenched countryside in East County.

ALPINE KEYBOARD ARTISTS WIN NATIONAL COMPETITION

 

By Suzie Steenbergen 
 
 
August 1, 2012 (Alpine) -- Every year, over 100,000 piano students from all across the country participate in the National College of Musicians’ piano auditions. This year, Alex Speck, Ashley Hoffman, Avery Howard, Mia Moran, Sophia Parsons, and Rhianna Speck  entered the competition. They each played several songs in the presence of a professional adjudicator chosen by the Piano Guild of America. All received the highest scores possible for their level.

 

THE FUTURE OF THE SOLAR INDUSTRY

 
By Leon Dale Thompson
 
August 1, 2012 (San Francisco) -- The future for solar power is bright—based on the exciting innovations at the InterSolar North America conference for solar energy professionals. Consumers can also look forward to solar that’s more affordable than ever before, thanks to advances exhibited at the world’s largest trade show in the heart of North America’s biggest solar market.

EARTHTALK® E - THE ENVIRONMENTAL MAGAZINE

 
Written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss
 
August 1, 2012 -- Dear EarthTalk: I couldn’t believe my ears: “genetically engineered mosquitoes?” Why on Earth would they be created? And I understand there are plans to release them into the wild?
                                                                                      -- Marissa Abingdon, Sumter, SC

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