Lemon Grove resident Kim German, 30, who has multiple sclerosis, is hosting a lemonade stand to raise money for multiple sclerosis from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, at the Lemon Grove VFW Hall, 6873 Federal Blvd., in Lemon Grove. The public is invited to drop by Kim’s lemonade stand, which will be one of more than 100 lemonade stands located in different neighborhoods throughout San Diego County and open at various times that are participating on May 30 in the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s “The Stand Against MS” fund-raiser.

By Miriam Raftery

May 6, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)—The May 19 election includes six statewide ballot initiatives (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, and 1F) that are among the most confusing in recent memory. The stakes are high: stability of California’s budget process and the ability to fund vital services such as education, healthcare and public safety for the future.

May 2, 2009 (El Cajon)—Speaking at an East County Chamber of Commerce breakfast at Grossmont College yesterday, Supervisor Dianne Jacob took a cue from President Barack Obama and offered her own “100 days” post-election report. But she noted one key difference, “I did not take over any banks,” she quipped, then offered her own “to do” list. Mayors of several East County cities also offered their perspectives.

By Miriam Raftery

May 3, 2009 (San Diego)—Now your home can be beautiful—and green! San Diego designer Laura Birns, ASID, LEED AP, has launched LauraBirdsDesignEco-Furnishings. Named among the “Top 10 Green Gurus” by Innovative Home Magazine, the nationally published designer is a Certified Green Build Professional, USGBC,and Sustainable Furnishings Council member. Now she has created home and commercial furnishings that use only certified renewable and sustainable green resources.

May 3, 2009 (San Diego)—Health authorities have traced origins of the H1N1 swine flu outbreak to a 10-year old son of a military family in San Diego, UPI reports today. The Centers for Disease Control conducted tests on samples from the boy, revealing the never-before-seen strain of flu virus on April 15, though his brother had symptoms two weeks earlier. Today, the County Health & Human Services Agency confirms four new cases of the flu, bringing the total of cases locally to 15, with several more suspected.

BIG RIDE: Rancho San Diego-Jamul Chamber of Commerce leader Valerie Harrison (front) joins East County Magazine Editor Miriam Raftery and Caroline Braun from Supervisor Dianne Jacob’s aboard an elephant at the Carson & Barnes Circus.

May 3, 2009(San Diego’s East County)--Hosted by the Rancho San Diego-Jamul Chamber of Commerce, the world-renowned Carson & Barnes Circus presented a dazzling performance in La Mesa last week. For over 70 years, the circus has been a source of entertainment, bringing joy to people of all ages—and East County proved no exception. Performers, including a menagerie of exotic and domestic animals, captivated the crowd and gave smiles to youngsters and the young at heart. View our videos: Flying High: Trapeze Artists and Jumbo Stars: Elephants!

By Miriam Raftery May 2, 2009 (El Cajon)—El Cajon Police Chief Pat Sprecco was inducted into the Grossmont College “Walk of Fame” yesterday at a ceremony in which he was honored by Congressman Duncan D. Hunter (photo) and other local leaders. Sprecco, a 1976 graduate of Grossmont, praised his fellow police officers, then revealed that he drew inspiration from his parents--who were both law enforcement officers.

May 2, 2009 (San Diego)—It sounds too good to be true—but it’s real! Operation Fairy Godmother, a program offered by the Soroptomists International of Valle de Oro, will be giving away free prom dresses to all girls who present a valid high school I.D. card today. Now you can be like Cinderella. (Sorry, Prince Charming is not included.) The Soroptomists do, however, provide beautiful shoes and jewelry to accessorize your dream dress.

May 1, 2009 (Washington D.C.)--The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers to immediately stop using Hydroxycut products by Iovate Health Sciences Inc., of Oakville, Ontario and distributed by Iovate Health Sciences USA Inc. of Blasdell, N.Y. Some Hydroxycut products are associated with a number of serious liver injuries and at least one death. The manufacturer has agreed to recall Hydroxycut products from the market.

Our Guide to the Best Disability-Based Websites on the Net

By Janelle Eckardt

May 1, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)--The concept of having a “social life” doesn’t exactly mean the same thing it did twenty, ten, or even five years ago. Interfacing with family and friends seldom actually involves meeting face-to-face, and meeting someone new is only one click away. Chat room chat-ups and instant messaging marathons have, whether or not many of us would like to admit it, become integral elements to our link to the world around us.

May 1, 2009 (El Cajon)--The Grossmont College Theatre Arts Department will present “Charley’s Aunt,” the classic stage farce about a disguise that doesn’t turn out as planned, on May 7-9 and 13-16 at 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday, May 9 and 16 at 2 p.m. at the Stagehouse Theatre, located on the college campus, near Parking Lot #1 and the exterior Aztec wall mural.

THE INTERNAL CUSTOMER--MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU MAY THINK> By Rama Beerfas May 1, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) --In our previous installment, we looked at customer service as your #1 marketing tool. (If you missed it, check it out at http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/?q=taxonomy/term/310.) This month, we focus on what exactly an internal customer is--nd why internal customers are just as important as your external customers to the success of your business.

Coalition to stop Sunrise Powerlink has 78,000 members, organizers report; protest song implores Cleveland National Forest supervisor to save forest, block Powerlink

By Miriam Raftery

May 31, 2009 (Lakeside) – Mountain Echo gave a debut performance of their new Powerlink protest song during a fundraiser at the Hazy Meadow ranch yesterday. East County Magazine has the exclusive videotape of the song performed at the event, where more than 350 people gathered in opposition to the high-voltage powerlines proposed by San Diego Gas & Electric Co. View it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mwSZZ9zzxg

The protest song calls on William Metz, supervisor of the Cleveland National Forest, to “stop this shameful mess.” For the project to be built, Metz must first approve the final segment of Sunrise Powerlink through Cleveland National Forest.