Our February 2014 shows are now online—including special reports on East County issues, holiday specials, interviews with top newsmakers and people making a positive difference in our community.  Click here to listen now online and to read a list of our interviews and guest.

Our guests in February included many local leaders, including Assemblywoman Shirley Weber, La Mesa Mayor Art Madrid, local authors, the Bayou Brothers, plus hear our latest investigative reports on issues ranging from wind farms to wildfires.

You can also hear our one-hour show live when it airs on KNSJ 89.1 FM on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 5 p.m. and reruns Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 9 a.m.  Or listen live online during those hours at www.KNSJ.org.

March 1, 2014 (San Diego)--Mike Lumpkin,  a Democrat who once ran against Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter for the district representing much of East County and San Diego, has been named Acting Undersecretary of Defense for Policy.  

March 3, 2014 (San Diego): The Fire Safe Council of San Diego County, in partnership with the Resource Conservation District of San Diego County, is offering a free Defensible Space Assistance Program (DSAP) for low income seniors or disabled residents.

March 2, 2014 (Poway)-- The Poway Chamber of Commerce will host an educational workshop for small business owners on Wednesday, March 12from 11:30 a.m.-1:00p.m. The workshop will feature guest speaker Nathan Craig of Lundy Insurance Services, and he will discuss the current status of the ACA, extended deadlines, and requirements that affect small businesses (under 50 employees).

By Miriam Raftery

March 3, 2014 (Ramona) – A man with a felony warrant who is also suspected of a vehicle theft in Ramona fled from deputies but eluded capture this evening,  according to Lt. Hank Turner.

By Mark Duchamp, World Council For Nature

March 1, 2014 (Denmark)--The World Council for Nature (WCFN) has been informed that Danish taxpayers’ money is being spent to the tune of €2,665,688 to spy on associations and citizens’ groups of windfarm victims (present or potential). The name of the program is “Wind2050 – Multidisciplinary study on local acceptance and development of wind power projects” (1). It is administered chiefly by the Danish multinational company Vestas, the Danish government, and Denmark’s Aarlborg University. Its aim is to break the resistance of windfarm neighbors and opponents to Big Wind in Denmark and around the world. Note: in Denmark alone there are more than 200 associations of neighbors fighting the windfarm scourge, and Vestas’ profits have taken a big plunge.

The first collaborative show will be on display from March 1 - 31

March 1, 2014 (Kensington) -- For the first time, Sophie’s Kensington Gallery and Kensington Gallery will collaborate to display the work of a local artist Joe Nyiri. His collection “Birds, Animals & Humans I Admire” will be featured in this joint public display the entire month of March, and a special public reception to welcome the artist will be held on Saturday March 1, at Sophie’s Kensington Gallery from 5-8 p.m. The gallery is open regularly on Tuesdays from 12-5 p.m., Wednesday- Saturday from 12-7 p.m. and Sundays 12-4 p.m.

March 1, 2014 (Rancho San Diego)—To celebrate the opening of its new Dorcas E. Utter Butterfly Pavillion, the Water Conservation Garden invites the public to a Butterfly Festival on April 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Source: Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce

March 1, 2014 (Alpine)-- Fire benefit fees will increase by 1.1 percent this year in Alpine as a result of a 3-2 vote by the Alpine Fire Protection District Board.  The increase would be about 71 cents a year for the average single-family dwelling and $1.80 annually for the average business to a total of $65.59 per home and $164 per business, according to district staff. Board members made the decision after their annual benefit fee review at their Feb. 18 meeting, when they also approved buying a new fire pumper with the help of a $127,802 Indian Gaming Local Community Benefit Grant.

March 2, 2014 (Sacramento)- - A federal court has ruled two laws passed as a result of ballot initiatives in Califiornia to be unconstitutional.  Both measures imposed more severe punishments than were in place when crimes were committed, ruled U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton.

March 1, 2014 (El Cajon) - Bring your new puppy to Camp Bow Wow in El Cajon on Monday, March 3rd for a puppy socialization hour. Puppies from 10 weeks to 4 months old can romp around with each other in an indoor play yard. The puppy social starts at 7 pm and ends at 8 pm. You will have a chance to meet Behavior Buddies trainer.

March 1, 2014 (San Diego) -- The storm that surged across our region Friday resulted in many accidents. California Highway Patrol reports 514 collisions during just 24 hours on Friday, far more than the normal 50 to 75 crashes on good weather days. Those statistics include San Diego County and Temecula to the north.  That included a multi-car crash on I-8 near Lake Jennings and a serious crash that briefly blocked Highway 67 near Slaughterhouse Canyon in Lakeside.

Why doesn’t San Diego County end revolving door situation?

Photo: Soitec's Newberry Springs project, which promised minimal enviornmental impacts, graded all vegetation on the site.

By Miriam Raftery

March 1, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)—Developers frequently put “spin” on project descriptions to emphasize benefits rather than negative impacts.  But certain statements by Soitec representatives regarding its proposed solar projects in Boulevard and a recent project in the desert fall into the “Pinnochio” category. In fact Soitec representatives misrepresented glare issues and the amount of land that is disturbed by their projects.

During a Soitec community meeting at the Manzanita Diner last month, ECM’s editor asked Soitec media and communications advisor Karen Hutchens specifically about a moratorium on solar projects approved by San Bernadino County Supervisors amid concerns about glare in Newberry Springs, where Soitec built a project very similar to its proposed Boulevard sites.  Hutchens responded, “That had nothing to do with our project. The moratorium was passed before our project was even built.”

But Robert Berkman, head of a citizens group in Newberry Springs called CEQA-NOW, told ECM that statement was a bald-faced lie.  “The moratorium came out because of the Soitec project—after it was built,” he said, adding that citizens invited Supervisors to visit the site.  Supervisors said, “’`Good grief, what has happened here? ‘ “ Berkman stated. “The moratorium occurred because we were able to bring them out and say `This is an example of solar done wrong.’” 

Soitec's Hutchens concedes that she erred in her statement on the timing of the moratorium, and agrees it was imposed after Soitec's project was built, but says Soitec's project was not the reason for the moratorium. ECM is seeking clarification from San Bernardino County's Land Services Department.

That's not the only disputed statement by Soitec.

February 28, 2014 (Lakeside) - Lakeside residents are invited to a Lakeside revitalization meeting on March 5^th from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Lakeside Community Center, 9841 Vine Street.