By Brian Lafferty

June 24, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- Knight and Day was a movie that gave me fits. That’s something I did not expect from a movie starring either Tom Cruise or Cameron Diaz. These two stars are reunited for the first time since Cameron Crowe’s Vanilla Sky in 2001. That movie, while not their best, was at least interesting, thought-provoking, well-acted, and most of all, not the least bit boring. The same cannot be said for Knight and Day, which tries to be like James Cameron’s 1994 action flick True Lies but winds up only paling in comparison.

June 23, 2010 (9:55 p.m.)  - California Highway Patrol announced shortly after 9:30 p.m. that it would reopen Highway 54, which was closed this evening due to a brush fire near Plaza Bonita and I-805.

The fire started in the Sweetwater River bed near a homeless encampment. According to some reports, explosions were hurt that may have been from propane tanks.  No structures were lost.

Nearly 5,000 students on waiting lists due to 50% cutback in classes;
veterans on G.I. bill and students on financial aid risk losing funds

East County News Service

June 21, 2010 (El Cajon) – Higher education funding cuts due to the California state budget crisis have forced Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District to severely reduce summer course sections, despite growing demands for classes from students seeking to retrain for new careers and complete general education requirements to transfer to four-year universities and colleges.

Despite efforts to keep budget cuts from harming students, the colleges have been forced to slash summer offerings by 50%.

June 23, 2010 (La Mesa) -- The 10th annual Summer Healthcare Saturday, East County’s largest free health fair, held  June 19th at Grossmont Center, was by far the most successful ever, according to Mike Cully, president/CEO of the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce.  The event was organized by the Chamber and co-sponsored by Grossmont Healthcare District, Sharp Grossmont Hospital, Alvarado Hospital and Grossmont Center.

Economy, bank bailout, war, and oil spill among concerns discussed

By Miriam Raftery
 

June 22, 2010 (Rancho San Diego) – Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-El Cajon) had a breakfast meeting with members of the Rancho San Diego-Jamul Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors yesterday morning at the Press Box Sports Bar & Restaurant to discuss the business climate and provide an update from Washington D.C. for Chamber leaders.

Local tragedy on Father's Day serves as grim reminder of need for pool safety

East County News Service

June 22, 2010 (San Diego's East County) - As the Father's Day drowning of an East County child tragically illustrates, pool safety is an important matter for all pool owners and parents to follow. In California, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in toddlers ages one to four. 

George e. Lucia Sr., Valley Center Fire Prevention District Captain/Fire Marshal, offersthis advice to prevent child drownings, including pool safety and rescue tips:

June 22, 2010 (San Diego) - A Mexican court has suspended operations of a liquid-natural gas (LNG) plant operated by Sempra, parent company of San Diego Gas & Electric Company.  The order follows a dispute over ownership of a parcel adjacent to the terminal site.  

By Kelly Wieboldt

June 21, 2010 (Rancho San Diego) - This month's "4th Friday" sun-up breakfast sponsored by the Rancho San Diego-Jamul Chamber of Commerce will feature leaders of local law enforcement agencies and fire officials offering tips on safety and crime prevention for businesses and residents. 

By Brian Lafferty

June 18, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- I remember the day I saw Toy Story in the theater way back in 1995. Back then I was used to the traditional animated fare. Nothing could prepare me for it. That movie was unlike anything I had ever seen. I sat in the theater simply mesmerized. Fifteen years later Pixar has released the third installment in this series. It is a rarity: a third movie in a trilogy that is as successful as its prequels.

June 20, 2010 (Escondido) – Lake Wohlford Road is closed at Valley Center and Oak Vale, where residents are being evacuated due to a brush fire that began in a canyon shortly after noon today, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Bill to limit fee increase to be heard Monday in Legislature

By Miriam Raftery

June 18, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – The California State University Board of Trustees today voted to raise CSU fees by 5% for undergraduates and graduate students and by 10% for doctoral education students. For full-time undergraduates, that amounts to a $204 annual increase—bringing total CSU fees to $4,230 starting in fall 2010.

Gavin Newsom, Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor, called the hikes “unacceptable” and noted that CSU has raised fees seven times in eight years—including a 32% hike last year alone.

“That cost is pricing very many would-be students out of the chances of getting a college education,” said Pat Washington, an instructor at San Diego State University and a leader with California Communities Unitied Institute.

June 18, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) -- Campbell Soup Supply Company is recalling approximately 15,000,000 pounds of "SpaghettiOs with Meatballs" canned products due to possible under-processing, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced yesterday.

CORRECTION:  Our newsletter contained an incorrect date for the Powerlink town hall meeting. The event will be held on Wednesday, June 23. 

June 18, 2010 (Alpine) – Supervisor Dianne Jacob and The Protect Our Communities Foundation will host a town hall meeting Wednesday, June 23 in Alpine to provide the public a forum for comments to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), which is considering whether to allow the controversial Sunrise Powerlink high-voltage power lines to cross 19 miles of Cleveland National Forest in East County.

Declares proposed reservoir site a sanctified Native American cemetery

By Miriam Raftery

ECM photo by Leon Thompson: Padre Dam contractor defies Native Amerian Heritage Commission order and desecrates sacred site.

June 17, 2010 (San Diego) – At a hearing in San Diego yesterday, the state's Native American Heritage Commission declare the site of a proposed reservoir and pumping station to be a sanctified Native American cemetery. The Commission called for the site to be protective and ordered a halt all construction.

If construction is not stopped, the Commission  urged the California Attorney General to file suit against Padre Dam Municipal Water District.