One-of-a-kind equine-assisted rehab sessions provided by women for women

By Shirley Clukey
 

July 25, 2010 (Alpine) -- “This is too beautiful, too simple, too good not to share with others,” said Catherine Hand, founder and director of Dream Rider, at a recent training of volunteers. Dream Rider is an equine-assisted rehabilitation program for breast cancer survivors.

Don’t be fooled by the program’s name; it does not involve horse riding lessons and no horse experience is necessary. Using human to horse contact, music and the movement of the horse, a client is led through a gradual progression of exercises designed specifically for her rehabilitation needs. It starts with the simple act of lying prone on the horse’s back, and aligning her breath with that of the horse.

East County Officials, Residents Reduce Alcohol and Drug Impact on Neighborhoods
 

July 15, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- The East County Community Change Project recently honored more than a dozen outstanding East County community leaders for their efforts to fight crime and increase safety in the east region. The awards were presented at the East County CommunityChange Project’s Second Annual Progress Report to the Community at the First United Methodist Church in El Cajon.

July 14, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Over 1,000 Beanie Babies will be distributed through Spirit of America projects to bring smiles to children in war-torn Afghanistan, thanks to the efforts of Parkway Middle School children, Fletcher Hills Kiwanis Club, and local author Diana Lindsay.  Lindsay, author of guide books on the Anza Borrego desert, is also the mother of Lt. Commander Jon Lindsay, a former Spirit of America volunteer.

By Miriam Raftery

July 13, 2010 (Sa Diego’s East County) – El Cajon Sunset Rotary Club hosted an English high tea amid an African motif at a La Mesa home on Sunday—all to raise money to bring clean, safe drinking water to villagers in Kenya. Currently, children in the Machakos District near Nairobi must walk five to ten miles each morning before school to fetch water for their families.
 

“The water is not clean. Often it is contaminated with parasites and other problems. The money we raise will allow us to go to Kenya and provide rainwater collection tanks in the Machakos District,” said Dominic Gunder, who added that the El Cajon Sunset Rotary Club can obtain matching grants through Rotary International. Providing clean water not only saves lives, it also allows children to spend more time studying, he added.

Beads of Courage Arts-in-Medicine Program Coming to San Diego

July 10, 2010 (El Cajon) -- Local area leaders have teamed up with Beads of Courage to host a 2nd Annual Journey to Fight Cancer Golf Tournament & Luau at the Cottonwood Golf Course in El Cajon on Friday, July 23 starting at 11:30 a.m. with a shotgun start and scramble.

This year’s tournament will raise funds to start the first Beads of Courage program in San Diego County, bringing hope and inspiration to children battling serious illnesses in our community and throughout Southern California.

July 9, 2010 (Lakeside) – The Lakeside Highway Lions Club is hosting a fundraiser on all “to go” orders placed July 12-14 at Mario’s Restorante Italiano, 12440 Woodside Avenue in Lakeside. Mention the Lakeside Skatepark and the restaurant will donate 20% of proceeds to help build a premier skatepark where skaters can exercise in a clean, safe environment.

July 7, 2010 (La Mesa) -- Saddle up and head on over for an evening of innocent fun at the tables at Home of Guiding Hands 1st Annual Wild West Casino Night, Friday, July 16, 7–11 p.m. at Gio Bistro Wine Bar in La Mesa. Ticket includes hors d'oeuvres, a beverage of your choice, and $200 of gaming credit, opportunity drawings and door prizes. Net proceeds benefit San Diegans with developmental disabilities.

July 5, 2010 (San Diego) -- Jeff Hall has been selected 2010/2011 President of the Rotary Club of Southeast San Diego, starting July 1st. Originally from Atlanta, he settled in San Diego after serving 10 years in the US Navy. He is currently an independent insurance agent representing Aflac.

July 1, 2010 (Campo) – The second annual Robert Rosas Memorial Off-Road ride will be held on July 10th. Proceeds will benefit the family of slain Border Patrol Agent Rosas, who was shot and killed while on duty in July 2009 near Campo.

By Kristin Hobbs Kjaero

June 30, 2010 (San Diego) -- What kind of “brain food” does the San Diego Jewish Academy feed its students? Whatever it is, it’s working!

Eighth grade student Sara Frank recently won first place in the Medicine category, four professional society awards, as well as the Sweepstakes Award at the San Diego Science Fair for her project, “Do You See What I See,” before going on to compete at the California State Science Fair. It is a truly impressive accomplishment for the eighth grader.

At the same time, the school’s team of 9th and 10th grade students won first prize nationally for inventing a system that purifies gray water from your washing machine for use in irrigation, and will go on to compete internationally in the Gildor Project’s final round in Israel.

East County News Service

June 29, 2010 (Poway) – The public is invited to participate in the 22nd annual Make-A-Wish Golf Class July 23 at the Maderas Golf Club in Poway. San Diego County Credit Union is presenting sponsor of the event, along with the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

June 25, 2010 (La Mesa, CA) -- The cities of La Mesa and Santee will hold their second annual fashion show fundraiser,“Fashion Rocks the East,” to benefit the Miss La Mesa and Miss Santee Pageants Scholarship Fund. The fashion show will be held on Sunday, August 8th at the La Mesa Community Services Arbor Room at 3 p.m.

Former contestants and titleholders in the Miss La Mesa and Miss Santee programs will model wardrobe items provided by local businesses.  Ramshakle, a popular East County band, will provide live music.

June 10, 2010 (El Cajon) -- Agent Richard Agundez, who won the Medal of Valor for his heroic efforts to stop the Granite Hills High School shooting, will retire tomorrow after 30 years of service with the El Cajon Police Department. He is one of the Department’s most highly decorated officers.

Staff members of Anderson & Kriger, a La Mesa-based law firm, volunteered their time on Saturday, April 24 by delivering two car loads of supplies and about $1,750 in contributions to El Centro and Calexico to help survivors of the Easter Sunday earthquake. 

“We found out that going across the border with supplies is a bit of a challenge, but there are plenty of opportunities to provide help on this side of the border," senior partner Clayton Anderson said.“There are thousands of residents of Calexico who were driven from their homes, many of them children, and they are struggling to get back to normal. Donations and supplies are still needed, and we may focus primarily on providing transportation of supplies being gathered in San Diego as part of the earthquake relief effort."

May 29, 2010 (Jamul)- Harmonica John and the Reggae Band PSYDECAR will perform at a post-Memorial Day gathering Tuesday, June 1 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. across the street from the fire station at 14024 Peaceful Valley Road in Jamul.

The Chaparral Institute is organizing the rally to help Vietnam Veteran and artist Joseph Diliberti’s efforts to stop the County of San Diego from seizing his land over unpaid weed abatement costs.  The group has already had success in raising partial funds through a Facebook Page devoted to helping Diliberti.

May 27, 2010 (Lakeside)--The Lakeside Relay for Life wil be held on Saturday June12th 9am thru Sunday June 13, 9am 2010 at the Lakeside Middle School on Woodside Ave in Lakeside. This event that is open to the public  to raise funds and awarness about cancer. Several teams will be camping out and walking around the track for 24 hours straight to demonstrate their support.

By Miriam Raftery

May 27, 2010 (San Diego) – It’s billed as the toughest bike race in the world: 3,000 miles in just 13 days. On June 8th at noon PST, Amy Xu will depart from Oceanside, pedal through San Diego’s eastern regions and ride a grueling 20 hours a day in her quest to become the first solo Asian-American woman to complete the Race Across America (RAAM). She is representing Team Strong Heart—raising funds for Camp Odayin, a special camp for children who have undergone open heart surgery.

For crew member Dennis Richardson of Lakeside, the cause is personal. “My grandson was born with his arteries not connected. They were backwards,” he recalled. “Doctors went in and changed them so they were plumbed right in the first couple weeks after his birth. Now he’s fine-it’s amazing.”

Next on tap:  A Pirates of the Caribbean Party for Haitian earthquake relief

May 23, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Yo, ho, it was a pirate’s night on the town last night as “Sam the Pirate” Mejia led a group of revelers on a pub crawl through East County in celebration of his birthday.

Best known for his uncanny resemblance to Johnny Depp and the Captain Jack Sparrow character popularized by Depp in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie, Mejia started the evening off at his favorite place for grog and grubb: Hooley’s Irish Pub & Grill in Rancho San Diego.

May 22, 2010 (Rancho San Diego)—Cub Scouts from the Wolf Den of Pack 391 donned gloves and helped pick up trash around Steele Canyon Bridge earlier this month—all as part of their recycling requirement to earn Wolf badges.

The Pack includes students at local elementary schools in first through fifth grade. Second graders from the wolf Den picked up three bags of trash as well as some items to be recycled.

City of La Mesa and City Heights Community Center also among honorees in San Diego's eastern regions

May 22, 2010 (San Diego) – Walk San Diego’s recent Golden Footprint Awards included a special recognition to Lemon Grove’s Mayor Mary Sessom for “outstanding vision and leadership in promoting walkable communities.”

Donations, supplies also needed to help children who survived quake

May 21, 2010 (Mt. Helix) – Dr. Carolle Jean-Murat gives a grim update on the plight in Haiti. “Only a few people have received tents, tarps, or food to sustain them. Many are presently dying of disease, malnutrition, or simply checking out mentally or dying with a broken heart.”

May 17th deadline looms for non-profits to file returns

May 11, 2010 (San Diego) Congressman Bob Filner (D-San Diego) advises charities in San Diego and Imperial Counties that they could be threatened by a rule requiring organizations to file a yearly return with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to keep their non-profit status. Organizations that go three years without filing an annual return will automatically lose tax-exempt status.

East County Magazine found that 1,525 nonprofits in San Diego County are listed as “at risk” of losing their tax-exempt status, including many in East County. The list includes youth sports booster clubs, service clubs, faith-based organizations, groups helping seniors or the disabled, and even such stalwart long-time organizations as a local Daughters of the American Revolution chapter. To view those at risk in our area, see: http://nccsdataweb.urban.org/PubApps/990search.php.

Nichole Miller honored for helping abused mothers and their children

May 8, 2010 (El Cajon) -- Nichole Miller, 17, of El Cajon has been named a semi-finalist in the 2010 search for Huggable Heroes®. Nichole is one of 75 young leaders recognized, honored and cele-bear-ated by Build-A-Bear Workshop® for helping make their communities and the world a better place.

Search held to find replacement

May 5, 2010 (El Cajon) -- The Board of Directors of Home of Guiding Hands announced that long-time Executive Director Carol A. Fitzgibbons has resigned to accept a position with Inland Regional Center. Fitzgibbons will become the Executive Director of the center, which contracts with the state to offer case management services to people with developmental disabilities in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.

VIP party honored achievements by local citizens and community leaders

By Miriam Raftery; photos by Julie Edwards

May 3, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – During a “Celebrate our Citizens” VIP party at Cuyamaca College on April 28, East County Magazine presented awards to honor local citizens’ achievements in five categories: Humanitarian, Community Organizing, Education, Business Leadership, Environmental Protection, and Community Heroes. In addition, a special award recognized Viejas Fire Chief Don Butz and the Viejas Fire Department for their efforts to keep our communities safe from wildfires.

May 5, 2010 (Lakeside) - Hundreds of runners and walkers will gather this Saturday in Lakeside to celebrate the 3rd Annual Run for the San Diego River 5K Trail Run and Walk. The event starts at 8 a.m. with registration at 6:30 a.m and celebrates local efforts to preserve and restore the biological integrity and beauty of the San Diego River in Lakeside.

April 21, 2010 (La Mesa) –Clayton Anderson, senior partner at Anderson & Kriger, a La Mesa law firm, is organizing volunteers to bring relief supplies to earthquake victims and help clear rubble in Mexico this Saturday. Thousands have been left homeless in Baja, Mexico from the earthquake and flooding that it has caused.

“My goal is to punch south of Mexicali and get to some of the villages being ignored by the Mexican government and international agencies,” Anderson told East County Magazine. “I want to do this every month if it works out.”

Sand volcanoes pose new hazards for quake survivors; thousands left homeless
 

Photos: Joe Espinoza

April 20, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Rescue Task Force (RTF), a nonprofit international relief organization founded in El Cajon and now headquartered in Carlsbad, seeks donations of tents, supplies and money to help quake survivors in Baja, Mexico including the hard-hit Cucapah Indians.  “RTF is working with our local Indian tribes to bring relief,” said Gary Beck at RTF. “Friday we will be delivering 80 long-term use tents to 80 families suddenly left homeless.”

Besides direct damage to buildings and infrastructure, the quake has caused a new and bizaare hazard.  "Thousands of sand volcanoes were errupting very hot muddy water during the earthquake in the Mexicali Valley," Patricia Robles wrote to a former colleague who teaches in Calexico.  "The erruptions reached at least six feet above the ground, don't know how deep they came from. They happened everywhere, even inside people's homes and caused a lot of panic." Photos were taken by Joe Espinoza, an eyewitness to the erruptions.

Viejas pledges challenge grant to match community donations

April 14, 2010 (Alpine) – “This has been a dream of ours—to honor or veterans with the great respect and admiration they all deserve,” says Dan Foster, chairperson of the Alpine Veterans Wall of Honor committee, which is raising funds to create a monument to Mountain Empire area military veterans. “It is their sacrifice and commitment that has kept our country strong. We can give a little of our time and money to build a permanent place where we express our thanks and appreciation. It’s worth it—and none of us should hesitate in showing our gratitude.”

April 11, 2010 (San Diego) -- Yesterday, volunteers from San Diego were met with gratitude by earthquake survivors , delivering food, water, tents, toys and hope for thousands left homeless near the epicenter in Mexico—including a one-day-old infant christened “America.”