February 14, 2013 (San Diego) --The excitement and glamour of Hollywood are coming to San Diego on Oscar Night.  Residents of San Diego can experience the thrills and surprises of the 85th Academy Awards on Sunday, February 24, at San Diego’s premier Oscar Experience. 

A viewing party benefiting Community Campership Council Inc will be held in Celebration Hall at Market Creek Events & Venues beginning at 5:00 p.m. More information about the event and the Community Campership Council can be found at www.kidstocamp.org; tickets are on sale.

Join the most fun event in town!

LIMITED SEATING -- RESERVE SPACE (619) 922-9057 

By Caprice Harrison

February 22, 2013 (La Mesa) – Bring friends and come on out for some terrific comedy tonight (Feb. 22) at Holiday Inn Mesa Grill,  8000 Parkway Drive to benefit East County Magazine (ECM).  Brew Ha Ha’s hilarious comedy team, Chris Clobber from HBO and Comedy Central and internationally known comic Diane Jean, will perform stand-up comedy for an evening of laughs. Show starts at 7 p.m., or come early to mix and mingle at 6 p.m. with our staff, readers and comics. Win prizes and surprises--including a Viejas gift basket, a winery tour, restaraunt gift certificates and more!

By Brian Lafferty

February 15, 2013 (San Diego) – In preparation for this film, I spent over six hours of my Saturday binging on the Die Hard sequels (I saw the first a couple of years ago).  The experience was like riding a train careening at speeds upwards of 200 miles an hour.  Following the massive adrenaline rush was an equally intense feeling of euphoria.  It took a few days to recover.

February 13, 2013  (San Diego)--Mylar balloons can make great Valentine’s Day gifts, if they’re kept indoors or securely tied down, but they can also pose a safety hazard.  San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) today urged customers to be aware of the dangers that can arise when Mylar balloons touch power lines. 

The metallic coating on Mylar balloons is an excellent conductor of electricity. If a Mylar balloon touches a power line, it could cause a power outage in your neighborhood, and even an electrical fire.

February 13, 2013 (La Mesa)--The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is seeking nominations for its 2013 Healthcare Hero Awards, the annual program honoring residents whose volunteer efforts help advance the delivery of quality healthcare in the East County region. Nomination forms are attached or available at www.grossmonthealthcare.org. Deadline for submission of entries is 3 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 25, 2013, at the GHD offices, 9001 Wakarusa St., in La Mesa.

Alcohol Policy Panel of San Diego County working to reduce youth access to alcohol

February 13, 2013 (San Diego) – Girls and young women throughout San Diego County share common drinking habits with their counterparts elsewhere in the country. About one in five high school girls in San Diego County reported binge drinking on the latest California Healthy Kids Survey, mirroring national statistics on binge drinking released recently by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Administration is opting to needlessly turn multiple-use public lands into permanent industrial zones. Solar development belongs on rooftops, parking lots, already-developed areas, and on degraded sites, not our public lands."- Janine Blaeloch, Western Lands Project

February 12, 2013 -- Three public-interest environmental organizations have filed a legal challenge against Interior Secretary Ken Salazar’s decision to keep millions of acres of public land available to industry for siting of destructive utility-scale solar plants.

In the complaint filed Tuesday, the Desert Protective Council based in San Diego, Western Lands Project in Seattle, and the Western Watersheds Project cited the government’s failure to consider alternatives that would focus solar development on degraded lands and in the already-built environment.  The government’s analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) ignored alternative approaches that would be less damaging to the environment, more efficient, and less costly to taxpayers and ratepayers.

February 8, 2015 (Warner Springs) - Nestled in the mountainous wine region of East County on the boundary of San Diego and Riverside Counties along state route 79, the County Line BBQ is offering a surf and turf special for Valentine's Day, available from 12 noon to 7 p.m.  The owner trained under chefs in Europe, before bringing his culinary talents to East County.Feast your eyes on the menu below:

February 12, 2013 (San Diego)--This morning, ratepayer advocate and former San Diego City Attorney Michael J. Aguirre revealed details behind a new legal action against Southern California Edison (SCE) with what he terms “smoking gun documents showing how SCE executives have unlawfully levied multiple rate hikes on San Diego and Southern California ratepayers without formal approval from regulators.”

Aguirre is demanding refunds from Southern California Edison and SDG&E for ratepayers in our region, which is home to the highest electric rates in the USA.

“Public lands should be managed for natural resource sustainability - not offered to private energy profiteers for destruction at public expense.”—Van Collingsworth, Preserve Wild Santee

“Our bill is a common-sense way to create jobs and provide renewable energy the same opportunities as oil and gas while increasing our national security.”—Senator Ton Tester (D-Montana), coauthor

By Miriam Raftery

February 12, 2013 (Washington D.C.) – Western legislators in the House and Senate have introduced the Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act. The measure would establish a leasing pilot project to streamline permitting of renewable projects on public lands. The measure aims to level the playing field between oil and gas companies and renewable energy developers.

It would also assure that funds from energy development on public lands will benefit states and counties, as well as some conservation efforts.

But environmentalists, tribes, and residents who have battled industrial-scale wind and solar projects on public lands have contended that recent fast-tracking of such projects has already gone too far, pushing through projects without adequate scrutiny of serious issues and impacts.

Developer failed to provide system that keeps lights off except when planes approach

By Miriam Raftery

February 11, 2013 (Ocotillo)--Why are Ocotillo residents being subjected to 94 turbines each with red lights flashing all night long into windows of homes?  View videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AHA7u4AurQ , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP7OeAP58So

Update February 13:  The CPUC has postponed its decisions until February 28.  This is the fourth delay on the controversial projects.

February 12, 2013 (San Diego)—The California Public Utilities Commission is expected to decide this Wednesday, February 13 on whether or not to approve three gas-powered “peaker” plants in San Diego County, including Quail Brush near Mission Trails, as well as facilities in Otay and Escondido. The meeting will be held in San Francisco at 9 a.m. 

If you wish to send a letter to the CPUC, Save Mission Trails has information posted here.

By Janis Mork

February 11, 2013 (El Cajon)- Tomorrow’s El Cajon Council will consider an agenda introduced by Pro Tem Mayor Bill Wells regarding the city’s red light camera program, which has been in effect since 1996 (see http://www.utsandiego.com/uniontrib/20051216/news_1m16red1.html).

The agenda item, if approved, would direct the city manager to bring back information on the program, including information on possibly ending it. It’s also been recommended that the city council set an advisory meeting for 2 p.m. on March 12 and an information session at 7 p.m. the same day to hear public opinions.

February 11, 2013 (San Diego’s East County ) – Several major traffic issues pose problems for motorists this afternoon:

Sunrise Highway and Los Huecos Road on Mt. Laguna -- Boulders are blocking the roadway; road crews are en route.

Eastbound Highway 94 west of I-14:  A multi-vehicle accident is blocking several lanes.

A SIG alert remains in effect in Lakeside at Wildcat Canyon Road and Willows, due to yet another accident involving power lines.

Lori Abbott, California News Service