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

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

A LAVENDER AND CAMEL OASIS IN RAMONA

PIZZABILITIES IN ALPINE SERVES UP BUILD-YOUR-OWN PIZZA AND INCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYEES

ANIMAL SERVICES SEEKS HELP TO FIND ANIMAL ABUSE SUSPECT WHO DRAGGED DOG BEHIND JEEP CHEROKEE IN SPRING VALLEY

FESTIVE FOURTH OF JULY EVENTS AND FIREWORKS

“ICE OUT” MARCHERS IN EL CAJON TAKE STAND FOR IMMIGRANTS AS CONCERNS OVER ICE RAIDS AND ABUSE OF DETAINEES GROWS

GLORIA CHADWICK RESIGNS FROM GROSSMONT HEALTHCARE DISTRICT BOARD

A CALL FOR RECALL AT AZTEC PARK

JAMUL CASINO RESORT PULLS OUT OF SAN DIEGO PRIDE PARADE AMID ANTISEMITISM CONCERNS

TESLA DRIVER CHARGED WITH MURDER OF MOTORCYCLIST, INJURING OTHERS INCLUDING EL CAJON MAN

COUNTY BUDGET INCLUDES MANY EAST COUNTY PROJECTS

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES – DEADLINE TO APPLY IS JULY 15

July 5, 2012 (San Diego) – The Central San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce is offering 5 $1,000 scholarships.  The deadline to apply for the scholarship is July 15.  The application is available for download at www.csdbcc.com.

The scholarships will be given away on August 9 by Magic Johnson at the State Black Chamber Convention.

ULTIMATE FIELD TRIP: FARM TOUR DISHES UP AN UP-CLOSE LOOK--AND TASTE--OF LOCAL AGRICULTURAL

 

 

By

Miriam Raftery

 

July 4, 2012 (Valley Center and Pauma Valley)– San Diego Farm Bureau’s latest farm tour offered guests the opportunity to visit four unique farms including a citrus ranch, vineyard, cactus farm, and ranch raising turkeys and other livestock.  Tour-goers met with farmers, took a tractor-ride, and learned about the joys and challenges of local farming.

It may surprise you to learn that San Diego County is home to more small farms (under 10 acres) than any other county in America.  Some are generations old, while others are new businesses sprouting up in the fertile soils of our sunny inland regions.

ECM WORLD WATCH: GLOBAL AND NATIONAL NEWS

 
July 5, 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:    
 
 

 

WORLD
  • Al Jazeera: tests suggest Arafat died of radioactive polonium poisoning (USA Today)
  • Mexico’s president-elect may double security spending – aide (Reuters)
  • Iran long range missiles attack ‘mock’enemy  bases (ABC news)
  • Report describes brutal torture centers in Syria (CNN)
U.S.
  • Obama, Romney campaign to square off over energy (The Hill)
  • Congress passes student loan bill (Huffington Post)
  • The bomb buried in Obamacare explodes today – Hallelujah! (Forbes)
  • More state leaders considering opting out of Medicare expansion (Washington Post)
  • Romney campaign enters ‘message mayhem’ on insurance mandate (USA Today)
  • The Nation: Guns blamed for started wildfires in parched west  (North County Times)
  • This summer is ‘what global warming looks like’ (AP/Associated Press)
  • Deadly land hurricane strikes Midwest, Atlantic states  (Accuweather)
  • A health care Judas recounts his conversion  (CNN)
 
Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: TOP LOCAL AND STATE NEWS

 
July 5, 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: 
 
 

 
 STATE
  • CA Wildfire liability bill emerges from the ashes (Sacramento Bee)
  • This summer, electric cars are merging into California’s traffic (New York Times)
LOCAL
  • Citizen protests $11 million no bid contract; Grossmont school district (UT San Diego)
  • La Mesa war hero survived wounds, not runaway car (UT San Diego)
  • Plug pulled on San Diego power plant (KPBS)
  • 16-year-old driver in SR 52 crash pleads guilty to vehicular manslaughter (Santee Patch)
  • How Darrell Issa’s pursuit of Attorney General Eric Holder is playing back home (Daily Beast)
  • Great white shark sighting closes beach (UT San Diego)
  • San Onofre workers lack whistleblower protections (KPBS)
  • County makes a disaster of the Brown Act (CityBeat)

SHERIFF ANNOUNCES NEW PROGRAM FOR KIDS: OPERATION CHILL

July 5, 2012 (San Diego)--FREEZE! Do a good deed and get a cool treat from Sheriff's Deputies.

Sheriff's Deputies are issuing a different kind of "ticket" to children this summer.

Don't be alarmed if deputies stop you along a bike path or sidewalk or call you over to the patrol car, a release issued by the Sheriff’s office cautions. This summer, deputies will "ticket" kids caught in the act of doing a good deed with Slurpee© beverage coupons.

JULIAN CLASSIC MOTORING SHOW: 'SALUTE TO THE 45TH BAJA 1000'

 
July 5, 2012 (Julian) -- Julian's Classic Motoring Show this year will be a blend of extremes, with pristine perfect exotics and down-to-earth and hard-charging off-road vehicles. The off-roaders' appearance is historically significant since they'll be saluting the 45th running of the internationally-famous Baja 1000. Show dates for the Julian Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event are July 14 and 15, 2012.

HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES PREPARE FOR HEALTH CARE CHANGES: NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHED

July 5, 2012 (San Diego) -- The federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, signed into law in 2010, will take full effect by 2014. In light of a recent Supreme Court decision ruling the law constitutional, you may wonder how the law will affect California's small businesses.

2 LIVE COMEDY EVENTS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR KNSJ RADIO JULY 15 AND 22

July 5, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)—Brew Ha HA comedians will host two live comedy events aimed at raising money to help a new radio station get on the air in East County.  KNSJ Radio, FM 89.1, has been approved for an FM license to broadcast from Descanso and also streaming live broadcasts online.  The network will focus on social justice issues while also providing an on-air forum to showcase community news, highlight local musicians’ works, and air local emergency alerts.   

BRIDGE JUMPER OVER HIGHWAY 94

Update 10 p.m.: This incident has been cleared.

July 5, 2012 (San Diego) – A possible bridge jumper is on the Federal bridge over eastbound 94. According to the CHP website, he is a white male adult wearing a black shirt and plaid shorts.

The man was spotted shortly after 8 p.m. putting his leg over the bridge rail.  San Diego Police has been dispatched to the scene. 

SHERIFF INVESTIGATING SERIOUS INJURY OF CHILD IN RAMONA

July 5, 2012 (Ramona) – San Diego Sheriff’s Child Abuse unit, Homicide Detail and Crime Lab are investigating the serious injury of a 7-month-old child.

Ramona deputies received a call at 11:27 a.m. yesterday to assist fire department paramedics in 2600 block of Southern Oak Road.  The child, injured inside the home, was transported via air ambulance to Rady Children’s Hospital but is not expected to survive, said Lt. Larry Nesbit with the Sheriff's Homicide Detail.

FRONT AND CENTER: TIME TO GIRLCOTT THE MILITARY

By Rick Rogers, DefenseTracker.com

July 3, 2012 (San Diego)--The scourge of sexual assaults in the military seemingly cannot be stopped.

With the military unable or unwilling to protect our mothers, wives, sisters and daughters, it’s time women refuse to join the military and to disband the farcical Uniformed Code of Military Justice – an inadequate and unequal court system more interested in protecting the military than dispensing justice.

Cut off from it fastest growing pool of recruits – women – we’d find out exactly how fast our military leaders could correct this national embarrassment.  

READER’S EDITORIAL: 10 POINTS FOR DENIAL ON JULY 19 TO SAVE MISSION TRAILS REGIONAL PARK

 

By Stephen Goldfarb

July 4, 2012, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--Ten points clarify why an initiation to amend the community plan and rezone from open space to industrial should be denied by the San Diego Planning Commission at the July 19th hearing.  Rezoning, if approved, would allow construction of the Quail Brush gas power plant near Mission Trails Regional Park.

TROLLEY TO COMICON, SAVE THE HASSLE

 

By Nadin Abbott and Tom Abbott
Photo Nadin Abbott
 
July 4, 2012 (San Diego)-- if you live in the East County, and you are planning to attend Comicon International, the Trolley has a deal for you. Metropolitan Transit will sell commemorative day passes, for $20.00, and decreasing amounts depending on how many days you ride. For the full Convention and the Preview night, cost will be $20 for the five days. 

SANTA YSABEL RESORT & CASINO SEEKS DEBT RESTRUCTURING

July 4, 2012 (Santa Ysabel) -- An official of the Santa Ysabel Resort and Casino announced that the facility will continue to operate as usual while it seeks to restructure its debt under Chapter 11 of federal bankruptcy law.

The tribeʼs attorneys filed the petition yesterday in federal bankruptcy court Southern District of California.

U.S. CITIZEN FROM SAN DIEGO LANDS ON NO-FLY LIST

 
July 4, 2012 (San Diego) – The San Diego chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is speaking out in hopes of aiding a San Diego citizen of Somali heritage who is stranded overseas—the second local Muslim in a month to be barred reentry to the U.S.   
 
Ali Ahmed, a student majoring in journalism  at City College, is an American citizen. He came here as a refugee  and recently sought to return to Africa to meet his father, who he became separated from during the war. The two were slated to meet in Kenya, where many Somalis sought refuge.

READER’S EDITORIAL: TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP: GUTTING AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH, TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATION, LAND USE, COPYRIGHT, AND LABOR LAWS

 
A Better World is Possible co-organizer speaks out
 
By Norrie Robbins
 
July 4, 2012 (San Diego) -- When a democratic country loses its ability to write and enforce environmental, health, transportation, communication, land use, copyright, and labor laws, it loses its sovereignty.  

SWEET NEWS: NEW LEMON GROVE LIBRARY RECEIVES MAJOR DONATIONS

 
By Miriam Raftery
 
July 1, 2012 (Lemon Grove) – A new public library is now under construction in Lemon Grove at the corner of School Lane and Lincoln, thanks to Prop W bond funds.   
 
On June 27, Friends of the Lemon Grove Library presented the county library with a check for $60,000 to purchase the “First Day Collection for the new library. During the ceremony, the group also gave $5,000 from the City of Lemon Grove raised by Rosemary Putnam.

PUBLIC NOTICE OF FEDERAL FUNDS UNDER THE EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER NATIONAL BOARD PROGRAM

 
The deadline for applications to be received is July 16, 2012 at 5:00 p.m.

July 4, 2012 (Sa Diego) -- San Diego County anticipates being awarded funds under the Emergency Food and Shelter (EFSP) National Board program. The amount to be received has not yet been announced.

BOTTLE BOMB HURLED AT TROLLEY EXPLODES IN LA MESA

 

July 4, 2012 (La Mesa) –A bottle bomb thrown at a passing trolley at the Spring Street station (4250 Spring Street) exploded shortly before 8 p.m. last night.  There were no injuries and the trolley was not damaged. 

Police seek tips to identify the individual who committed this crime.

READER'S EDITORIAL: TAKE ACTION TO STOP INSURANCE RATE HIKES

 By Dave Jones, California Insurance Commissioner

July 2, 2012 (Sacramento) -- The Supreme Court decision regarding the Affordable Care Act was good news for Californians. It means that Californians with health insurance will continue to enjoy the its  benefits. Now we can move forward with reforms to provide health insurance to those without it. 
 
There continues to be a major missing reform in the Affordable Care Act, however. There is still no authority to reject excessive health insurance and HMO rate hikes. And without this reform, rates for individuals, families, and businesses will keep climbing.

 

HOMEOWNER BILL OF RIGHTS HEADS TO GOVERNOR'S DESK

Updated July 5, 2012 with roll-call votes for San Diego legislators

July 2, 2012 (Sacramento) – “Sometimes David beats Goliath...Just a few minutes ago, the Homeowner Bill of Rights was passed by the California State Legislature," the Alilance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) annouced. "This means that Wall Street Banks are on notice: California will no longer tolerate the unfair and abusive foreclosure practices of the big banks." 

The legislation sought by California Attorney General Kamala Harris is now on Governor Jerry Brown’s desk awaiting signature. Hailed as a victory for homeowners, the landmark legislation passed despite the banking industry spending $70,000 a day on lobbying efforts to defeat the bills.

TRANSPACIFIC TRADE NEGOTIATIONS COME TO SAN DIEGO

 
By Nadin Abbott
Photos Nadin Abbott
 
Conference sparks protests over proposed new free trade pact
 
July 2, 2012 (San Diego) -- The 13th round of negotiations for the TransPacific Trade Negotiations (TPP) is being held in San Diego at the Bayfront Hilton Hotel. This treaty will expand free trade across the Pacific Rim. 

OUT OF ASHES, INTO THE FUTURE: BLUE SKY RANCH

By Leon Thompson

June 30, 2012 (Lakeside)--In October 2003 the Cedar Fire incinerated 280,000 acres, destroyed 2820 homes and killed 15 people.  Like many others, Lakeside’s Wildcat Canyon resident Ingrid Coffin was alerted in the middle of the night that she was in the path of the most devastating firestorm our state had ever seen.

“SAVE MISSION TRAILS” EFFORT LAUNCHED TO STOP POWER PLANT: 2 KEY MEETINGS ON JULY 19

 

 By Miriam Raftery

June 30, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – A new website, www.savemissiontrails.org, has been launched to oppose the Quail Brush Generation Power Plant.  The group asks the public to send e-mails to decision makers and attend two key upcoming meetings, both on July 19. 

MOST RESIDENTS UNAWARE OF KEY UNDERAGE DRINKING LAWS, “SOCIAL HOST” ORDINANCES

 

July 3, 2012 (San Diego) –In recent months, police and community groups have stepped up efforts to educate residents about an important law to prevent underage drinking – the Social Host law, often called the house party law.

The awareness push is needed, according to local health professionals. Social Host Laws have been in place throughout the San Diego County for close to a decade. Despite this, many residents are still unaware of the laws – and penalties they hold for those who host underage drinking parties.

DEPUTIES ARREST SUICIDAL POWAY MAN WITH ARSENAL OF GUNS

 
July 3, 2012 (Poway) – Sheriff’s deputies from the Poway station responded to a report of an armed man trying to kill himself yesterday afternoon at his home in the 13700 block of Powers Road. The man, a convicted felon, told deputies he would not be taken into custody alive and that he had booby-trapped the inside of his home with explosives.

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