September 19, 2013 (San Diego) – Dear EarthTalk: What is the new documentary film A Fierce Green Fire about and what does the title refer to?                                                                           

-- Gloria Howard, Washington, DC

A Fierce Green Fire is a new film documenting the rise of the modern environmental movement from the 1960s through the present day. It premiered at last year’s Sundance Film Festival and will be playing at select theaters across the country beginning in September 2013. Educators, environmental groups and grassroots activists also will be showing the film at small and large events from coast to coast over the course of the fall. Written and directed by Mark Kitchell, Academy Award-nominated director of Berkeley in the Sixties, A Fierce Green Fire (the film) is based on the 1993 book of the same name by environmental journalist Philip Shabecoff.

By Miriam Raftery

September 20, 2013 (San Diego) -- Over 100 San Diegans will gather outside the Federal Building downtown on Saturday to call on President Obama to reject a permit for the Keystone XL Pipeline, which would carry tar sands oil from Canada to Texas for refining and export. San Diego’s event is one of roughly two hundred “Draw the Line” events planned around the country, part of a nationwide day of action sponsored by 350.org and other climate action groups.

President Obama has said he would approve completion of the 1,700-mile pipeline from Alberta to Gulf Coast refineries only if it would not “significantly exacerbate” carbon pollution, adding that the pipeline’s net effects on the climate would be “absolutely critical” to his decision. 

350.org contends that the pipeline would increase pollution by the equivalent of adding 9 million cars to the highways, also creating water pollution and other problems.

September 18, 2013 (San Diego ) – On September 26, the Green Experts Academy presents a panel focused on green jobs, the clean tech sector development, renewable energy, climate mitigation, solar and the vision for America’s Finest Green City.  Participants include mayoral candidates David Alvarez, Nicole Capretz, Office of Interim Mayor Todd Gloria, Deanna Sphen, Office of Assembly Majority Leader Toni Atkins, and other green experts.

September 18, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – The San Diego Astronomy Association (SDAA) Program Meeting will be held at the Mission Trails Regional Park today. The Program meeting begins at 7:00 PM.

Dennis Mammana will be lecturing on the The Seven Wonders of Our Universe. For more than three decades, Dennis Mammana has delivered the wonder and mystery of the cosmos to stargazers the world over. The lecture will run an hour, and is accompanied by the photography of noted astro photographers and astronomers. 

photo, left: Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds

September 17, 2013 (La Mesa) – On September 27 from 5 to 7 p.m., costumed “Steampunk” fans are expected to join the celebration of “A Day in the Life,” an art show opening at O’Dunn Fine Art.

 “Colorado artist Joe Bonomo has taken the characters from the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’ album and interpreted them as Steampunk characters…totally original,”  gallery owner Shannon O’Dunn told ECM.  The artist will be on hand at the opening, which will also feature live music, food and beverages.

“Even if you don’t speak Steampunk (or the Sixties, for that matter) these oil paintings are gorgeous,” said O’Dunn. The exhibit will also feature a replica of the time machine seen in the 1960 movie Time Machine  and in The Big Bang Theory.

September 17, 2013 (Julian) – The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has issued a Boil Water Order and Public Notification for the Calvary Chapel Julian water system located at 3731 Wynola Rd., Julian, CA 92070 effective immediately.  The water system serves a camp that includes visitor cabins, staff housing, public restrooms, dining hall with kitchen, swimming pool and a chapel.

Environmental concerns, conflict of interests by Lightner raised

By Miriam Raftery

September 16, 2013 (San Diego) – San Diego’s City Council will hold a hearing today at 2 p.m. on the controversial Castlerock housing project.  The project is proposed by Pardee Homes near the boundary between Santee and San Diego.   The Planning Commission previously recommended annexing land for the project to Santee. Council has the option to approve, modify or disapprove the project and if approved, to determine whether or not it should be transferred to Santee’s jurisdiction.

Campaign contribution forms reveal that Council President Sherri Lightner accepted $4300 in donations from 12  Pardee Homes employees during her primary challenge. “If Pardee reimbursed its employees, the contributions would be illegal. Regardless of the contributions legality, we believe Pardree’s contributions are an inappropriate attempt to purchase your vote for a quadruple up-zone on Castlerock,”  wrote Van Collingsworth, executive director of Preserve Wild Santee, in a letter to Lightner.

Comments submitted jointly by the Chaparral Institute and Preserve Wild Santee raised serious concerns over water supplies, traffic, environmental and public health impacts if the project is built near Mission Trails Regional Park.

September 15, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – The East County Economic Development Council (ECEDC) will host a bus tour of East County to learn about business opportunities, existing and future plans in the cities of El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, Santee, and the communities of Alpine, Lakeside, Rancho San Diego, and Spring Valley. The tour will be held on Wednesday, September 25.  Those interested in attending must register by Friday, September 20. 

September 15, 2013 (San Diego's East County)--The non-profit San Diego Renewable Energy Society’s 13^th San Diego Sustainability Tour features free, open house tours of 10 energy-smart homes showcasing the gamut of energy efficiency and solar solutions San Diegans are employing to slash utility bills, power their electric vehicles (EVs), improve property values and reap rich tax credits and cash rebates as they hedge against September’s rising energy costs.

Residential: Homeowners and qualified contractors will be on-hand at 10 winning residential sites across the county. In a unique twist, join the East County Solar Guy for a boots-on-the-roof solar installation in progress in La Mesa on September 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., plus you can see two other solar homes in East County.

September 14, 2013 (San Diego's East County) -- Looking for a job?  Seeking business and economic updates on our region? Check out tapes of our recent "Job Talks" broadcasts from our East County Magazine radio show, now available to hear online. 

Recent guests include Tom Lemon with the San Diego Building Trades Council, Johnny Simpson with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, East County Chamber leader Eric Lund, job hunting experts Reina Menasche and Antonio Villana, Cindy Gomper Graves with the South Coast Economic Development Council, and La Mesa Chamber of Commerce president Mary England.  Click "read more" and scroll down for links.

September 14, 2013 (Alpine) – The 2^nd Annual Wine & Cheese “Friend-Raiser”, a benefit for the Back Country Land Trust at Wright’s Field is today from 6 – 9 p.m.  This event benefits land conservation, watershed stewardship and environmental education in East County.  Hosted bar, hor’doeurves, fruit and dessert plates will be available.

September 14, 2013 (San Diego) – Activist San Diego is holding a general meeting on September 16, beginning at 7 p.m., at Joyce Beers Center, 3900 Vermont St., San Diego.  The meeting will address climate change and the XL Keystone Pipeline.

September 11, 2013 (La Mesa) - Soon the sounds of polka music, as well as rock and roll, will be heard throughout the downtown area of La Mesa, as the 40th Annual Oktoberfest kicks off October 4-6. Barbecues will be heating up for bratwurst and  kegs in the Chamber's "big beer garden" during downtown La Mesa's popular fall tradition.

Thousands of people come to La Mesa during this three-day event to enjoy German-style food, live music and vendor booths. The La Mesa Chamber hosts its "family-friendly" beer garden sponsored by Sycuan Casino, located on Allison Street between Pine and Palm Streets, where you can hear live music all weekend, enjoy games for the entire family and sit while eating "the best food this side of the Mississippi," says Chamber president Mary England.

The entertainment lineup for this year’s event includings a Germand brass band on a national tour and much more.   Full schedule:

Concerns remain among residents over traffic impacts from proposed casino at Jamul Indian Village

September 12, 2013 (Jamul) – The Jamul/Dulzura Community Planning Gorup has received a Notice of Preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Report for roadway improvements to Highway 94.   These would include widening of the highway to provide access to the Jamul Indian Reservation, where a casino is proposed, as well as improvements to intersections of Highway 94 and Jamacha Boulevard, Jamacha Road, Steel Canyon Road, Lyons Valley Road, and Maxfield Road.  deerhornvalley.net/CaltransNOP.pdf

“These improvements would be necessary to help handle the 10,000 extra casino-bound vehicles daily,”  Deerhorn Valley Antler editor Kim Hamilton said in an e-mail.

Cal Trans will hold a meeting on Tuesday, September 17 from 5-8 p.m. at  Cottonwood Golf Club, 3121 Willow Glen Drive in EL Cajon.

September 12, 2013 (San Diego) – Campus police at San Diego State University have issued a crime alert bulletin to warn students about robbers who struck a victim in the head last night.   Around 10:25 p.m.,  four males approached two SDSU students in the patio area of the Senor Poncho’s Mexican Grill  at 5100 College Avenue.  Two suspects took the victim's cell phone and fled.  The victims gave chase.  One victim was able to get his cell phone from the suspect; the other victim was struck in the head while confronting the second suspect.