Incident cost local restaurant money , highlights risk to ratepayers with medical needs
March 14, 2012 (La Mesa) – After ECM received a question from a reader about a power outage that began Friday night, March 2 and extended until Saturday morning, March 3, we contacted SDG&E.SDG&E spokesperson Alison Zaragosainitially said that all2800 customers left in the dark were notified via letters mailed February 14 of the planned outage to repair an underground cable.
But after La Mesa Patch ran a story about losses incurred by Riviera Steakhouse, whose owner said he was never informed of the outage, other community members came forward to say that they, too, did not receive notification.So we called SDG&E again.
“We did investigate and we did miss 200 to 300,” Zaragosa told ECM.
By Connie Frankowiak, candidate, 50th Congressional District
March 14, 2012 (Julian)--The U.S. soldier who had that mental breakdown and killed all those Afghans reveals what happens when men are given long tours of combat duty one after another without enough leave time. The soldier involved already had a serious brain injury and was displaying serious mental problems and should have been in a veterans hospital receiving intensive care instead of a combat zone.
Water agencies and community leaders take a stand against proposed water rate increases
March 14, 2012 (Spring Valley) – On Monday,Otay Water District’s (the District) Board President, Jose Lopez, and General Manager, Mark Watton, joined elected officials, business leaders, other public water utility representatives, and the San Diego County Water Authority (CWA) to protest proposed water rate hikes and the rate-setting structure of the Metropolitan Water District. MWD has raised its rates by 75 percent since 2006.
392 Suicides Reported; County Officials Urge People to Get Help
March 14, 2012 (San Diego) -- A total of 392 suicides were reported last year, the highest number in 23 years. This and the tragic suicides reported recently prompted County mental health officials to remind the public to learn the warning signs of suicide and to seek help.
March 14, 2011 (San Diego)--As gasoline approaches $5.00 a gallon, the public continues to wonder “Where’s the Solar”? The fact is Big Oil and Big Energy has been dragging their feet to keep their energy monopoly alive.
March 14, 2012 (Alpine) – The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce is kicking off spring with a March Madness Mixer and New Member Orientation on March 21. The event is being held at Viejas Casino, Dreamcatcher Lounge, 5000 Willows Rd., Alpine from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Appetizers and cocktails will be served.
March 14, 2012 (San Diego County) -- E.D.I.T.H. stands for EXIT DRILLS IN THE HOME and CAL FIRE wants to know if you have a home fire escape plan. If not, draw one up today. Discuss with your family the following strategies: Always sleep with the bedroom door closed, and know two ways out of every room. If the smoke detector goes off (or if you see or smell smoke) feel the door for heat before opening it. If the door is hot, use your alternate escape route. Crawl low in smoke, and meet in a predesignated location. Call 911 from a neighbor's house. Remember once you’re out, stay out. Be fire safe, not sorry!
March 14, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--A recent study from Spain estimates bird mortality to be 6-18 million birds and bats annually from their 18,000 installed wind turbines with an installed capacity of 20,676 MW. This works out to a staggering total of 333-1000 birds and bats per turbine or 290-871 mortalities per MW for wind energy in Spain. In America, on the AWEA web site the reported bird death rate from wind turbines is 2.9 fatalities per MW.
March 14, 2012 (La Mesa/Spring Valley) -- When 51 year old Michael Joseph Morris of La Mesa set fire to a Spring Valley hillside, little did he know security cameras were rolling. The video captured him gathering a pile of combustible material and starting the blaze that endangered lives and property.
March 15, 2012 (Washington D.C.) - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Lenovo, today announced a voluntary recall of 50,000 Lenovo ThinkCentre M70z and M90z computers. A defect in an internal component in the power supply can overheat and pose a fire hazard. The firm received reports of one fire incident and one smoke incident in the U.S. No injuries have been reported.
March 14, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Hooley’s Irish Pub & Grille invites you to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at HooleyFest, a party that takes place from 5 p.m. to midnight at Hooley’s locations in Rancho San Diego and La Mesa.
The event includes a variety of live bands performing Irish music and rock and roll. Cost is $15 in advance or $20 day of event.VIP passes are also available for $30 (in advance only) which include private bar and seating.
March 14, 2012 (Lakeside) -- Join the Lakeside Union School District and the Lakeside PTA Council for the 14th annual Run for the Arts on Saturday, March 24, 2012 at Lindo Lake Park. Registration begins at 8am and the run/walk starts at 9:00 a.m. All proceeds will benefit the award winning L-E-A-P arts education program in Lakeside District schools that provides artists-in-residence programs, field trips to view artistic performances and arts assemblies. For more information please call Sarah Grosskreutz at (619) 390-2662 ext. 425 or download entry forms at http://www.lsusd.net under the “News” section on the front page.
March 14, 2012 (San Diego) – The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Citizen’s Academy is offering classes beginning March 24 to provide the community with information which will familiarize them with CBP’s mission and goals. CBP is one of the Department of Homeland Security’s largest and most complex components, with a priority mission of keeping terrorists and their weapons out of the U.S.
March 14, 2012 (El Cajon)--Students at Grossmont College may be surprised to see who's hanging out just off campus. ECM editor Miriam Raftery spotted these deer grazing on a sunny slope adjacent to the community college.
March 13, 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.
State joblessness rate dips to lowest level since ’09 (SF Chronicle)
U.S. extends its run of strong job growth another month (NY Times)
Drones over America: What can they see? (NPR)
Voters blame Obama for gas prices, but experts say not so fast (Washington Post)
WORLD
Rampage in Afghanistan puts long-term US Presence in peril (Christian Science Monitor)
Afghans urge US exit after killings; US says timetable unchanged (Reuters)
Syrian opposition calls for international intervention (CNN)
‘Arab revolts led to Islamization, instability’ (Jerusalem Post)
Israel and Gaza factions ‘agree on truce’(Al Jazeera)
SCIENCE & HEALTH
Loss of Greenland ice could become irreversible, scientists say (Los Angeles Times)
Study: Red meat raises risk of dying; risk higher with processed meats (CBS)
Scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.
By Anat Tour, math teacher and children’s author/illustrator
March 1, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--Do you have children, relatives, friends, or neighbors who are planning to go to college? Make sure to check out the scholarships available below.
In addition, here are my picks for this month’s top education stories of interest to local students, teachers, and parents:
March 13, 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
Fukushima fallout: fire hazard could be state’s tsunami (UT San Diego)
Fukushima fallout: lessons not learned by the U.S. government (UT San Diego)
Nuke quake study on hold over $64 million cost: utility wants ratepayers, not shareholders, to pay (Sacramento Bee)
Whistleblowers, Aguirre sue utility watchdog (Voice of San Diego)
Water agencies decry “secret society” of agencies (San Diego Union-Tribune)
La Mesa school shooting plan foiled (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Mary England denies being evicted in family home foreclosure case (La Mesa Patch)
Local nonprofit group’s video parks worldwide movement (10 News)
View the video: Kony 2012, Invisible Children
STATE
Chamber takes no position on Gov. Brown’s tax plan, opposes rivals (Sacramento Bee)
California revenues 3.2 percent shy in February (Sacramento Bee)
Scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.
March 13, 2012 (Potrero) – After many years, the San Diego County Park system has agreed to make part of the Potrero Regional Park a community park.There will be a celebration of the community park on March 24 from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.Everyone is welcome and access is free.
March 13, 2012 (Jamul) – Nine Girls Ask? is holding its Tee-Off for Ovarian Cancer golf tournament on May 4 at Steele Canyon Golf Club, 3199 Stonefield Drive, Jamul.The event registration will begin at 11:30 a.m. and the tournament will start at 1:00 p.m.
March 13, 2012 (El Cajon) – The East County Chamber is holding its 10th annual Grip It and Rip It golf tournament on May 17 at Sycuan Resort, Pine Glen Executive Course, 3007 Dehesa Road.The golfing begins at 11:30 a.m. and the dinner follows at 5:00 p.m.
March 13, 2012 (Boulevard) -- What is the distinction between sound and noise? Wikipedia tells us in common use, the word noise means any unwanted sound, but sound can be desirable. Cacophony is ‘noise’ while euphony is sound.
March 13, 2012 (El Cajon) -- Zimbeat brings the dynamic village music of Zimbabwe, Africa to Cuyamaca College for a one-night-only performance on Thursday, March 22, at the Cuyamaca Performing Arts Theatre.
March 13, 2012 (San Diego) -- March is National Nutrition Month and while most of us are focusing on how we can develop sound eating and physical activity habits, there are many who are wondering how they will be able to shop or cook their meal tonight. Why? Because they are suffering from a debilitating illness such as HIV/AIDS or cancer that doesn’t enable them to live an everyday existence.
March 13, 2012 (El Cajon)--The Cajon Valley Republican Women Federated will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 20th at 7:00 a.m. at The Pancake House restaurant, 1000 North Second Street. The guest speaker is Attorney Jim Miller a candidate for Superior Court Judge Seat 25. Mr. Miller is experienced in both civil and criminal law ,and has been certified as an arbitrator by the Better Business Bureau and the San Diego County Bar Association.
March 13, 2012 (San Diego) – Foreclosures and notices of default remain a problem for many in the county. The San Diego County Library is sponsoring HOME Clinics at branches throughout the county during 2012 to help homeowners get the information they need. The clinics provide homeowners in distress with the opportunity to speak with professionals regarding their options as well as educational sessions on how to keep their home.
March 13, 2012 (San Diego) – “What if we can have food and water sustainability here? “ Congressman Bob Filner, also a candidate for Mayor, asked. Filner reiterated his plan to make San Diego a national model of sustainability for energy, water and food, the unveiled a new vision: “What if we had a food hub in San Diego?”
March 13, 2012 (Santee) – Assemblyman Brian Jones (R-Santee) announced last week that he is running for reelection.In an exclusive interview, the conservative legislator shared highlightsand frustrations from his first term in the Legislature, as well as his priorities for the future if reelected in November.
With reapportionment, Jones 77th district will become the 71st Assembly District. The district picks up some new areas including Pine Valley, Julian, Ramona, and Borrego Springs in San Diego County, as well as portions of Riverside County.
March 12, 2012 (Washington, D.C.) -- The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning on March 6, 2012 about skin creams, beauty and antiseptic soaps, and lotions that may contain mercury. Skin products containing mercury have been found in at least seven states. They are manufactured in other countries and marketed as skin lighteners and anti-aging treatments that remove age spots, freckles, blemishes and wrinkles.
March 12, 2012 (San Diego) – What criteria should news outlets use in determining who should be included in political debates—and who should be left out?
Ten candidates have thrown their hats in the ring to seek the newly redrawn 52nd Congressional District seat currently held by Republican Brian Bilbray. But which ones receive a seat at debates to bring their messages to voters has become a key point of contention with some debate sponsors restricting the number of participants.
March 12, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--A member of Vietnam Veterans for Peace, Mr. Patterson joined about 300 activists yesterday coming up from San Diego, down the coast from Eureka, and across the ocean from Japan. They converged at the San Onofre nuclear power plant for two reasons.
One was to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the March 11, 2011 earthquake, tsunami and Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster.
The other was to demand the permanent shutdown of the San Onofre nuclear power plant.
March 14, 2012 (La Mesa) – After ECM received a question from a reader about a power outage that began Friday night, March 2 and extended until Saturday morning, March 3, we contacted SDG&E.
March 14, 2012 (Lakeside) -- Join the Lakeside Union School District and the Lakeside PTA Council for the 14th annual Run for the Arts on Saturday, March 24, 2012 at Lindo Lake Park. Registration begins at 8am and the run/walk starts at 9:00 a.m. All proceeds will benefit the award winning L-E-A-P arts education program in Lakeside District schools that provides artists-in-residence programs, field trips to view artistic performances and arts assemblies. For more information please call Sarah Grosskreutz at (619) 390-2662 ext. 425 or download entry forms at 
Deadline to R.S.V.P. is Friday, March 16
By Miriam Raftery
Education news and notes
March 13, 2012 (Potrero) – After many years, the San Diego County Park system has agreed to make part of the Potrero Regional Park a community park.
March 13, 2012 (Jamul) – Nine Girls Ask? is holding its Tee-Off for Ovarian Cancer golf tournament on May 4 at Steele Canyon Golf Club, 3199 Stonefield Drive, Jamul.
March 13, 2012 (El Cajon) – The East County Chamber is holding its 10th annual Grip It and Rip It golf tournament on May 17 at Sycuan Resort, Pine Glen Executive Course, 3007 Dehesa Road.
By Miriam Raftery
An ECM exclusive interview by Miriam Raftery
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