Amid firefighting cuts, County Fire Chiefs voice concerns

By Megan McGlamery

January 13, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--On January 5, the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center released the United States Seasonal Drought Outlook for January 5- March 31. The forecast map reveals that drought is likely in southern California and the southwest. View map.

Restricted water usage and rate hikes were among the impacts the last drought had on local residents. But in East County, drought also brings heightened risk of wildfire-- a potentially alarming prospect at a time when firefighting resources are spread thin.

Fraudulent Activity Reported in Other Service Territories

By Brian Lafferty

January 13, 2012 (San Diego) – Contraband is a goofy mess. It inspires laughter at the wrong moments and reticent admiration for its actors, who display a work ethic not unlike the horse in Animal Farm, but are deserving of a better film. Part of me wants to tell you to see it for its awfulness, but I can’t. Time and money are precious. Maybe it when it comes out on home video.

 
Chula Vista Police becomes first local law enforcement agency to use high-tech system—and offers tracking devices free

By Miriam Raftery

January 13, 2012 (El Cajon )—The Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation has moved a step closer to its goal of tripling the size of its one-square-mile reservation along the Sweetwater River in Dehesa.

January 13, 2012 (Lakeside) -- Lakeside's River Park Conservancy, along with the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps, is planning a San Diego Riverbed Clean-Up in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service.

This event will take on Monday, January 16 from 9am to noon. The meeting place is at a lot on the corner of Lakeside Avenue and Channel Road in Lakeside.

By Miriam Raftery

January 12, 2012 (Jamul) – Looking for some tasty ways to cook up winter vegetables from your garden? Alpine Ranch Creative Health and Ecological Solutions, Inc., a nonprofit organization, is sponsoring a garden-to-kitchen winter harvest cooking class on Saturday, January 21 in Jamul.

January 12, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – View the planet Jupiter, star constellations, and the Andromeda Galaxy at a stargazing party this Saturday, January 14 at Mission Trails Regional Park from 5-8 p.m. Join trail guide and resident stargazer George Varga for this star-studded free event.

 Update February 3, 2012:  Sgt. Polk's death has still not been reported by the Dept. of Defense, nor has any notice of his death appeared in his family's hometown newspaper. A source has further informed ECM that his name has not been provided for addition to a memorial that honors fallen special services soldiers. Thus at this point, it appears likely that Polk did not die in service overseas. Perhaps he faked his death, or possibly someone else posted misleading information on his Facebook account.

 
January 12, 2012 (San Diego)—Platinum Equity, which recently sold the San Diego Union-Tribune (now U-T San Diego), has donated $300,000 to San Diego State University’s School of Journalism & Media Studies. The donation will create the Platinum Project in Digital News Literacy and support instruction in digital and social media for undergraduate SDSU students and professionals in the community.

January 12, 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:   

• Referendum drive to overturn California Dream Act fails (Sacramento Bee)
• California Supreme Court tackles redistricting (Sacramento Bee)
• Gov. Jerry Brown proposes axing traditional kindergarten (Sacramento Bee)

• Algae biofuels inject money in San Diego’s economy (LPBS)
• County Supervisors back Sycuan pact (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• 5 charged in Sweetwater school corruption (KPBS)
• Susan Davis meets her new constituents (Mount Helix Patch)
• SOHO buys historic Santa Ysabel store (Ramona Journal)
• Merchant alleges city, PBID violations of Brown Act (La Mesa Patch)

 
By Miriam Raftery

By Miriam Raftery

January 11, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Lemon Grove Councilwoman Mary England announced today that she will seek a seat in the state Legislature. She is running in the newly redistricted 79th Assembly District, which has no incumbent. England is also president of the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce.England said her priorities will be to encourage private sector job growth, balance the state budget without raising taxes, and reform of the state’s public pension system.

 
By Lori Holt Pfeiler, Associate Vice President of Our Greater San Diego Vision