May 27, 2012 (San Diego) – Young Actors’ Theatre is holding auditions for a production of Guys and Dolls on May 29, from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at 9620 Campo Road, Spring Valley for aspiring actors from Grade8 through college.
Oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops from Korea should be removed from the market, including canned products
May 27, 2012 (Washington D.C.) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has removed all Korean certified shippers of molluscan shellfish (oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops) from the Interstate Certified Shellfish Shippers List (ICSSL), following a comprehensive FDA evaluation that determined that the Korean Shellfish Sanitation Program (KSSP) no longer meets the sanitation controls spelled out under the National Shellfish Sanitation Program. FDA’s evaluation of the KSSP found significant shellfish growing area deficiencies including:
May 27, 2012 (El Cajon)--Women Give San Diego, a local nonprofit organization, has awarded Grossmont College’s Office Professional Training (OPT) program a $15,500 grant to assist with counseling services for OPT students.
The college’s OPT program provides up-to-date skills training for jobs in professional office settings in the accounting, insurance, and financial services fields. More than 2,200 students have graduated from the OPT program since it started in 1985.
Residents Urged to Clear Defensible Space Ahead of Peak Fire Season
May 27, 2012 (Jamul) – On May 22, Cal Fire and County officials, including County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, gave a tour with the homeowners of a correctly cleared space around a Jamul home.With vegetation drying out and summer drawing near now is the best time to make sure homes are protected by 100 feet of defensible space.Cal Fire Chief, Thom Porter led the tour and provided a map of high-risk areas that have not burned recently.
May 27, 2012 (San Diego) -- The San Diego Archaeological Center is hosting a trio of events in June starting with the Center’s Annual BBQ on June 2 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.The event is catered and will be held at the Center located at 16666 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido.For $6.00 you will receive smoked pork sandwiches, beans, coleslaw, drinks and dessert.Games and contests will round out the fun.
May 27, 2012 (Ocotillo) –The Protect Our Communities Foundation, Backcountry Against Dumps, and Donna Tisdale of Boulevard are suing the Imperial County Board of Supervisors and Pattern Energy.
Editor's note: After posting a story on an early election "lead" based on information posted by the San Diego Registrar on the 50th Congressional District race, we received a full list of purported "early results" from all San Diego races that casts serious doubt on its authenticity. It included a July '76 date and results in other races that seemed impossible, such as Senator Feinstein with less than 2% of the vote, Bonnie Dumanis in first place in the Mayoral race (polls have showed her trialing other leading candidates), and obscure candidates leading well-known and well-financed contenders in several other prominent races.
Barry Jantz at San Diego Rostra advised ECM that some Republican candidates also viewed the results and were contacting him with questions. The Registrar's office later confirmed with Jantz that the "results" were in fact a test mistakenly posted online, he said.The Registrar has now taken down the site.
May 27, 2012 (San Diego) -- San Diegans Richard Lederer and Caroline McCullagh are the proud parents of a bouncing baby book, American Trivia: What We All Should Know About U.S. History, Culture & Geography (Gibbs Smith Publisher, 2012). Over a span of a year, the co-authors will share with you their journey through American history. You can order inscribed and signed copies of the book by writing to richard.lederer@pobox.com.
A Capital Idea
Ironically, the only president who didn’t live in Washington was Washington. During George Washington’s administration the nation's capital was situated in Philadelphia.
May 27, 2012 (San Diego) – If you’re looking for a source of detailed information about candidates and initiatives on your ballot, two handy sites aret www.SmartVoter.org and www.vote-smart.org.
The SmartVoter site was created by the League of Women Voters of California and is now available in several other states. Enter your address and zip at www.SmartVoter.org to view your sample ballot, with arguments for and against ballot initiatives as well as information candidates have written about themselves and links to many useful sites related to the election.
Updated May 27, 2012, 10 a.m. -- The Banner Fire was held at 4,100 acres through the night and remains 65% contained. Fire suppression cost has reached $2 million. Excess resources are now being dismissed, according to Roxanne Provaznik with Cal-Fire.
May 26, 2012 (Alpine) -- The public is invited to enter to win 4 tickets for a harbor or whale watching cruise aboard Hornblower Cruises & Events simply by stopping by the California Welcome Center-Alpine, 5005 Willows Rd., Ste. H110, Alpine. Visit on Memorial Day Weekend and enter for a chance to win a prize package valued at $148.00.
By Miriam Raftery
Kristin Kjaero also contributed to this report
May 26, 2012 (La Mesa) – “La Mesa May End Prohibition” proclaimed a headline in La Mesa Today this week, after Council voted 4-0 to ask staff to prepare an ordinance to legalize making wines and craft beers within the city limits.
May 26, 2012 (El Cajon) -- More than 2,300 students will be receiving their degrees or certificates from East County’s two community colleges at month’s end, capping a year marked by the state’s ongoing budget crisis.
Cuyamaca College will honor 695 students receiving associate degrees and certificates of achievement Wednesday, May 30, at the 34th annual commencement at the college’s student center quad. On Thursday, May 31, Grossmont College will laud 1,664 students receiving their degrees and certificates at the college’s 51st commencement at the main quad. The ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m.
May 26, 2012 (La Mesa)—On May 22, La Mesa Police arrested two subjects for burglarizing a residence in the 4400 block of Carlin Place. Earlier in the morning, LMPD received a report that two subjects parked their vehicle in the 4400 block of Upland Street and began walking around looking at residences. One resident in the area saw this suspicious activity and notified the police.
Ducheny’sDonations Come Primarily from Individuals versus Special Interests
May 26, 2012 (San Diego)-- FEC Reports filed yesterday by top congressional candidates in the 51st showed that Denise Moreno Ducheny outraised her primary opponent, State Senator Juan Vargas, for the second time since she entered the race. Ducheny raised over $52,780 dollars, while her main opponent raised only $46,344. Almost 85% of the money Ducheny has raised to date has come from individuals, most of whom live and vote in the 51st Congressional District. By contrast, just under half of Vargas’ contributions have come from Political Action Committees, like the insurance and banking lobbies.
May 26, 2012 (San Diego)– Camping in the southern California’s national forests can be a year-round endeavor, but for many people, the up-coming Memorial Day weekend is the time to air out the tents, dust off the hiking boots and load up on the makings for s ‘mores.
The school year is nearly over, and the days are warmer and longer, making it a perfect time to start reintroducing yourself and your family to the fun and excitement, and the calm and peacefulness of the Cleveland National Forest.
May 26, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--The Mount Miguel High School JROTC Memorial Day Ceremony on Wednesday, May 23, paid tribute to all of the men and women who have fought and died to protect our freedom as well as those who are presently serving our country.
Vermont’s latest energy statute expands its statewide Clean Local Energy Accessible Now (CLEAN) Program and removes program cap for projects with locational benefits to the power grid.
May 26, 2012 (Montpelier, Vermont)– On May 18, Vermont’s Governor Shumlin signed into law the 2012 Energy Bill, which contains a groundbreaking acknowledgment of the locational benefits of distributed generation and more than doubles the amount clean local energy that will be brought online through the state’s CLEAN program. Similar programs could well be applied in places such as San Diego to encourage locally-generated rooftop solar and other local power as alternatives to massive industrial-scale energy projects and high-voltage transmission lines running long distances.
May 26, 2012 (Alpine) -- The Alpine Historical Society presents Alpine History Day Celebration on June 2 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 2116 Tavern Road, Alpine.The event will feature new displays in Dr. Nichols’ carriage house, tours of two pioneer houses, a Model T and an organ concert on the veranda.
San Diego Jewish Academy junior Melissa Fagan placed first at the Intel International Science and Engineering. Intel is the largest and most prestigious high school science competition in the world.
May 26, 2012 (San Diego)–Last week, San Diego Jewish Academy (SDJA) student Melissa Fagan received first place at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Seven million students compete annually to receive an invitation to Intel as it is considered the top high school science competition in the world.
May 26, 2012 (Santee) -- The Santee Street Fair is back May 26 at RiverView Parkway from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.This year’s featured bands include Atomic Groove, Creedence Relived and Liquid Blue.
There will be rides, entertainment, arts and crafts, vendor booths, a variety of food and a Beer Garden. The free festival is open to all ages.
May 25, 2012 (San Diego) – San Diego Police have issued a warning that on three occasions in the past two weeks, a man in a red vehicle has attempted to abduct children near Emerson Elementary School in the Mountain View neighborhood in southeast san Diego.
May 25, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – The military has dealt a major blow to the wind industry, announcing that it may soon oppose wind projects in the Mojave desert due to interference with military radar tracking aircraft.
May 25, 2012 (Poway) – San Diego Sheriff’s office has revealed details in a high-speed chase that ended in a crash in Poway on May 22. Two of the occupants were on probation while a third had an outstanding arrest warrant; all now face new charges.
May 25, 2012 (San Diego) -- Today the Desert Protective Council is filing a lawsuit in Federal Court in San Diego to stop the Ocotillo Wind Energy Facility Project (OWEF) from causing damage to fragile desert lands in western Imperial County, adjacent to the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the largest state park in the U.S.
The lawsuit, naming the Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar, the County of Imperial, California, and the Project Permittee, Pattern Energy of La Jolla, CA as defendants, alleges that the Secretary violated the right-of-way provisions of the Federal Lands Policy Management Act (FLPMA) when he approved the Project.
May 25, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--A 20 year old man from Poway was traveling northbound on SR-67 north of the Poway city limits in a Chevrolet Silverado truck today when he lost control, causing a deadly crash that claimed the lives of four people and injured three others, including a five-year-old girl.
“According to witness and physical evidence, he was traveling at a high rate of speed and failed to maintain control of the Silverado,” Officer Brian Pennings with the California Highway Patrol said. “The truck traveled across the solid double yellow lines into the southbound lanes and directly into the path of oncoming traffic.”
May 25, 2012 (San Diego)--A red flag warning has been issued for the desert, with high wind warnings and possible rain forecast for other areas across East County this weekend. Get the latest weather update from Your Online Weather with Gary Kelley.
Update 5:10 p.m. - The forward spread of this fire has been stopped.
May 25, 2012 (Dulzura) – A brush fire titled the "Pink Fire" is burning in the 17000 block of Highway 94 near Sycamore Canyon in the Dulzura area.
“It’s burning under power lines,” Battalion Chief Nick Schuler informed ECM.Currently the fire is approximately three acres in size, burning in a canyon to the east.
May 25, 2012 (Shelter Valley)--The Banner Fire flared up at the eastern end this afternoon, prompting mandatory evacuation of the Stage Coach Trails RV Resort at the south end of the Shelter Valley community.
May 27, 2012 (San Diego) – Young Actors’ Theatre is holding auditions for a production of Guys and Dolls on May 29, from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at 9620 Campo Road, Spring Valley for aspiring actors from Grade8 through college.
Residents Urged to Clear Defensible Space Ahead of Peak Fire Season
May 27, 2012 (San Diego) -- The San Diego Archaeological Center is hosting a trio of events in June starting with the Center’s Annual BBQ on June 2 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
May 27, 2012 (Ocotillo) –The Protect Our Communities Foundation, Backcountry Against Dumps, and Donna Tisdale of Boulevard are suing the Imperial County Board of Supervisors and Pattern Energy. 
May 26, 2012 (Alpine) -- The public is invited to enter to win 4 tickets for a harbor or whale watching cruise aboard Hornblower Cruises & Events simply by stopping by the California Welcome Center-Alpine, 5005 Willows Rd., Ste. H110, Alpine. Visit on Memorial Day Weekend and enter for a chance to win a prize package valued at $148.00.
May 26, 2012 (Alpine) -- The Alpine Historical Society presents Alpine History Day Celebration on June 2 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 2116 Tavern Road, Alpine.
May 26, 2012 (Santee) -- The Santee Street Fair is back May 26 at RiverView Parkway from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
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