April 3, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)-- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• 'Step forward' in skin cancer fight (BBC)
• Anti-vaccine movement pays disastrous dividends (UT San Diego)
• Guinea confirms Ebola in capital (BBC)
• Smartphones are 'damaging' eyes (BBC)
• Polio casts a shadow over the Middle East (BBC)
• Brain Changes Suggest Autism Starts In The Womb (NPR)
• Run When You're 25 For A Sharper Brain When You're 45 (NPR)

SCIENCE

• Chile earthquake: Is the 8.2 temblor only a foreshock? (CS Monitor)
• Should We Close Part Of The Ocean To Keep Fish On The Plate? (NPR)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

By Miriam Raftery

By Miriam Raftery

April 2, 2014 (McCain Valley) – U.S. District Judge Janis Sammartino has issued a ruling denying summary judgment sought by the Protect Our Communities Foundation, Backcountry Against Dumps and Boulevard resident Donna Tisdale. The plaintiffs had sought to block construction of Iberdrola’s Tule Wind project in McCain Valley, a ruggedly beautiful federal recreation preserve in San Diego's East County.  The court also granted Tule Wind and the federal government’s cross motions for summary judgment.

“Our attorney is recommending an appeal of what I describe as Judge Sammartino’s basic rubber stamping of the Bureau of Land Management’s biased and weak support for Iberdrola’s Tule Wind project,” Tisdale told ECM.  She added that she, too, is recommending an appeal, though that decision will be up to the boards of directors of the two nonprofits.

By Miriam Raftery

April 2, 2014 (Washington D.C.) – The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down limits on how much money an individual can donate overall during elections.  By a 5-4 vote in the case, McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, the court’s majority tossed out restrictions on how much a person can donate to political parties, political action committees or PACs, and candidates in any two-year period, though limits on how much one can give to any single candidate remain in place.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the opinion, finding that the limits intruded on what he called a “citizen’s ability to exercise the most fundamental First Amendment activities.”

But Common Cause, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to transparency in government and helping ordinary Americans have their voices heard, denounced the high court’s ruling as a “decision against democracy.”

By Miriam Raftery

April 1, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – Soitec’s four proposed solar projects on 1,490 acres in the Boulevard area of East County could negatively impact migratory birds, eagles, endangered butterflies and wildlife corridors,  Karen Goebel, assistant field supervisor with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife concludes in a comment letter sent to the County regarding the projects’ draft Enviornmental Impact Report (DEIR) on March 11, 2014. The letter also indicates studies have been inadequate and cumulative impacts of projects across a broader area need to be evaluated.

AT&T  and FCC plan to eliminate landline phone service to be discussed, along with major energy projects and more

April 3, 2014 (Boulevard) -- An incorrect agenda was inadvertently sent to our media outlet for tonight’s Boulevard Planning Group.  The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the Boulevard Fire Training Room on 39919 Ribbonwood Road in Boulevard. 

The agenda will include possible actions regarding FCC and AT&T plans to eliminate landline phone service nationwide. ECM recently reported on grave problems experienced by some rural residents who switched from landlines to cellular, in one case resulting in a barn burning down because the resident could not reach 911.

Other agenda items include the following:

By Shelly Trails

April 1, 2014 (La Mesa) –  La Mesa is gearing up for the unveiling of its Centennial Legacy Project – larger than life snail sculptures honoring the area’s species of  snails  (Helix aspersa) for which Mt. Helix was named.  But that’s not all.  Now a local entrepreneur has announced that she will launch “Escargot To Go,” a culinary delivery service specializing in farm-raised snails served up in buttery French tradition. (click "read more" below to read the full story.)

Source: Pala Rez Radio 91.3 KOPA

April 1, 2014 (Pala) – “Tuesday is here!  And newly appointed Rez Radio Program Director Olaf Prilos is proud to announce our new format ... Rez Radio LOL.  All comedy, all day long,” reads an announcement issued today by  John Fox, station manager at Rez Radio 91.3 KOPA at the Pala Indian reservation..

The release continues, “In addition to every novelty song you've ever heard and some you probably haven't, Rez Radio LOL will feature standup and comedy bits.  And sprinkled throughout the day, you'll hear not one, but two classic comedy radio series featuring Native American characters ... "The Adventures of the O.B. Ranger" written and performed by Gary Allyn and Neil Ross, and Arigon Starr's creation, "Super Indian" will air in sequence throughout the day.”

By Miriam Raftery



March 31, 2014 (San Diego's East County)-- The search for David Marquez, 73, who was reported missing on March 27 and was last seen March 23 by family and friends, has ended with the discovery of his body yesterday morning by a San Diego Search and Rescue team. The deceased man was found about two miles from his vehicle, which was parked on the shoulder of Interstate 8 near the Crestwood exit.

By Miriam Raftery

March 31, 2014 (San Diego's East County) -- Kathleen Hedberg is best known locally as an outspoken advocate for ratepayers on the Helix Water Board.  But in February, Hedberg's outgoing ways--along with a bright yellow banana costume--caught the eye of Let's Make a Deal's host. 

Hedberg was chosen as a contestant on the popular TV game show's 50th anniversary airing -- and won a gleaming new 2014 Chevrolet Spark car for her "a-peeling" efforts.

March 31, 2014 (San Diego County) - The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for San Diego County’s mountains and deserts from late afternoon Monday through Wednesday morning.  A low pressure system from the Gulf of Alaska will bring strong west winds with gusts up to 65 miles per hours.

Update March 31: The victim has been identified as Jordan Janway, 27.  Janway is the brother-in-law of NASCAR racing champion Jimmie Johnson and sister to Johnson's wife, Chandra.

By Miriam Raftery

March 30, 2014 (Otay Mesa) –A skydiving instructor in his 20s is dead after colliding with another skydiver this afternoon.  He may have been knocked unconscious and his parachute never opened.  

He was reported missing, prompting a search of the Otay area by Sheriff's deputies, Border Patrol agents, Cal-Fire firefighters and approximately 20 skydiving volunteers. The Sheriff's A.S.T.R.E.A. helicopter also responded and located the missing skydiver's body.

Ironically, a device that could have saved his life had reportedly been sent out for maintenance. A master parachutist and rigger with more than 1,000 jumps on record, he usually carried a device to automatically open his parachute in the case of emergency.

March 30, 2014 (La Mesa)--The Cheese Crisp Special was popular among Casa de Pico customers from the first day it was served in 1971. Diane Powers, owner and operator of Bazaar del Mundo Shops and the Bazaar del Mundo Restaurant Group, wanted to create a unique signature dish. The 40-year-old recipe consists of a crisp flour tortilla, topped with refried beans, two kinds of beef or shredded chicken, melted cheese, fresh avocado slices, tomato wedges, guacamole and sour cream.

“It’s popular because you taste lots of our Mexican flavors,” said Manager Lino Rodarte. The Cheese Crisp Special originated at Casa de Pico, which has since relocated to La Mesa’s Grossmont Center. It can also be found at all Powers’ restaurants – Casa Guadalajara in Old Town, Casa de Bandini in Carlsbad, and Casa Sol y Mar in Del Mar Highlands. 

Exclusive to East County Magazine, Casa de Pico has shared its signature Cheese Crisp Special recipe below.

March 29, 2014 (San Diego) - The San Diego Advertising Fund for Emergencies (SAFE), a volunteer, non-profit organization (501c3) providing confidential financial assistance to local advertising and marketing professionals and their families facing a life crisis emergency, will host its 13th annual fundraising party from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 3, at the Ivy Rooftop Lounge atop the Andaz Hotel, 600 “F” St., in the Gaslamp District in Downtown San Diego.

FAA may approve radar lighting systems, but won’t require Pattern to install

By Miriam Raftery

March 30, 2014 (Ocotillo) – State Senator Ben Hueso has taken heed of his constituents’ complaints about flashing red lights on wind turbines shining into people’s homes at night.  In a February 10, 2014 letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Hueso wrote that flashing red lights on over 100 turbines, each taller than a 40 story building, are harmful to the health of Ocotillo residents.

“As most of them live within two miles of these turbines, the steady light transmitted from these structures is causing them to suffer from migraines, vertigo and loss of sleep,”  Hueso wrote. He added that his staff has looked into the issue and found studies indicated that “residents living in such c lose proximity to turbines often suffer from illnesses including chronic sleep deprivation, hypertension and heart attack. Ocotillo is made up largely of senior citizens, a group which has been found to be exceptionally sensitive to the effects of the turbines.”