Injured Woman Remains Hospitalized

July 2, 2011 (San Diego County) -- The owners of two pit bull dogs that attacked and seriously injured a 75-year-old woman were arrested this evening for owning dogs that caused serious bodily injury, a felony. Carla and Alba Cornelio (ages 19 and 39 respectively) were taken into custody after an arrest warrant  was issued following  an investigation  by County animal control officers into the June 18 incident.

July 1, 2011 (La Mesa) – Two alleged gang members have been arrested and charged with attempted murder of a 16-year-old boy who was shot in the head while riding his skateboard in La Mesa. The youth, who was from Arizona, was robbed and shot around 1:49 a.m. on June 27 outside a motel where he was staying with his family.

July 1, 2011 (Washington D.C.) - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc. yesterday announced a voluntary recall of about 300,000 Hamilton Beach classic chrome 2-slice toasters.  The heating element in these toasters can remain energized indefinitely when an item is placed in the toaster which may ignite the contents, posing a fire hazard if the toaster is near flammable items.
 

July 1, 2011 (Alpine) -- East Count Magazine editor  Miriam Raftery will be a guest this evening on Billie Jo Jannen's "TGIF" radio news show from 6-7 p.m.  

Livestream at www.my1079.com wherever you are, or listen live at 107.9 on your FM radio dial (heard in parts of East County). 

Hot topics to be discussed include today's court ruling on the Sunrise Powerlink, the new state budget and how it may impact your, smart meters, Senator Joel Anderson's bill to eliminate Cal-Trans, and where to find fireworks and family fun this 4th of July weekend.

Story, photos and video by Elena Peña

June 29, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--Nestled in between slopes in the Cleveland National Forest lies a gem known as Cedar Creek Falls, often referred to as The Devil’s Punch Bowl. A wondrous waterfall is the picturesque background to the swimming hole at the end of this approximately four-mile hike.  The location used to be accessed mainly from Julian.  But due to a newly revamped trail out of Ramona, it’s now more accessible than ever before--and more populated, especially on weekends and holidays. 

By Miriam Raftery

June 30, 2011 (San Pasqual) – Capable of accelerating from 0 to 70 mph in just seconds, the world’s fastest land animal bounded across a track at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s Cheetah Run in a premier run for media this morning.

(View our Cheetah Run video by Miriam Raftery.)

This adventure will be unleashed to the public starting Saturday, July 2nd at 5 p.m. daily.

Fire parcel fee, redevelopment cuts, tuition hikes, freeze on teacher lay-offs, and "crippling" cuts in border crimes enforcement among the budget impacts on our region

By Miriam Raftery
 

June 30, 2011 (Sacramento) –Governor Jerry Brown and Democrats in the state Legislature have approved a majority-vote budget without a single Republican vote. The move ends a months-long impasse in which Republicans held out for an all-cuts budget, while Democrats sought revenue increases to prevent slashing programs ranging from healthcare to law enforcement. The budget includes $7.9 billion in cuts which aim to reduce the state’s $26 billion deficit to $5 billion.

June 30, 2011 (Spring Valley) -- The Mount Miguel Covenant Village has come to the rescue, helping to save the San Miguel Fire District's Tactical Paramedic program. The continuing budget crisis has impacted District funding for this critical program.

Story, photos and video by Miriam Raftery

June 30, 2011 (San Pasqual)--A talented troupe of Tanzanian acrobats is the newest attraction at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, performing Saturdays starting this weekend through late August.  

June 30, 2011 (La Mesa) -- On June 24, 2011 a woman was walking in the parking lot of the Bank of America at 512 Fletcher Parkway to go inside the bank and deposit receipts from her employer. The suspect approached her from behind, grabbed the bank bag from her hands, and fled on foot.

June 30, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecting all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views.

Top global and national news stories include:

U.S.

• U.S. strikes Al Qaeda affiliate in Somalia (CNN)
• Leading Senate Democrat says Medicare, Medicaid are off table in debt ceiling negotiations(Business Insider)
• Senate set to work next week on debt limit impasse (NBC)
• Obama to do Twitter session on economy July 6 (Reuters)
• Has Bachmann replaced Palin in the Tea Party’s heart? (CNN)
• Nuclear weapons lab closes due to danger (Reuters) – New Mexico
• TSA dismissed concerns about increased cancer diagnoses from body scanners (RawStory)
• The entire state of Texas has been declared a natural disaster area (Business Insider)

WORLD
• Kabul hotel attack: NATO forces kill Taliban (BBC)
• Tons of radioactive water leak from damaged Japan plant (Reuters)
• Gaza flotilla makes Internet splash (Reuters)
• Democracy protesters sexually assaulted, beaten in Iraq (Christian Science Monitor)

June 30, 2011 (San Diego County) -- On June 29th between the hours 8:30 a.m., and 10:00 a.m., the Sheriff's Bomb Disposal people held its annual fireworks disposal day. Local fire marshals, Burn Institute personnel, and news media were invited to the event. The yearly event reminds all of the dangers posed by using fireworks. In the East County area, the vegetation is especially dry. So that in addition to causing injuries from using fireworks, there is an additional danger due to the dryness of the vegetation.

By Jeremy Los and Miriam Raftery

“Californians can no longer afford to build roads and infrastructure with golden shovels. We need to send the money where the rubber meets the road. Literally.” –  Senator Joel Anderson

“Eliminating Caltrans would result in an ineffective and scattered patchwork of local projects, hamper the movement of goods and people, and ultimately hurt our economic competitiveness… During the 2007 wildfires, we partnered with first responders and helped with emergency road repairs and evacuations.” --Matt Rocco, Caltrans

June 27, 2011- State Senator Joel Anderson (R-El Cajon) is revved up over his new bill to cut state spending by eliminating the California Transportation Department (Caltrans).  SB 851 would shift responsibilities for highway building and maintenance onto local cities and counties, also allowing local governments to outsource to private companies.  

Can local communities afford those cost?  How will motorists and taxpayers be impacted?

Supporters say the bill would save money and cut waste.  Opponents question whether public safety could be jeopardized, particularly in San Diego--where a Grand Jury investigation found roadway conditions "appalling" and where local agencies have relied on Caltrans for quick highway repairs during major wildfires and other disasters.

June 29, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Expect traffic delays if you are traveling on I-8 through east County this afternoon. A two-car rollover on I-8 east at Pine Valley Road sparked a brush fire, forcing 150 cars to be turned around at Sunrise Highway and diverted onto Old Highway 80. The U.S. Forest Service is currently mopping up that blaze.
 

In addition, on I-8 near Crestwood Drive, further east, a vehicle has rolled three times and is on its side in the center divider, according to the San Diego SIG Alerts website.

Nothing but the truth! 

June 29, 2011 (San Diego)--The US Supreme Court made two important health care rulings last week. 

June 29, 2011 (Sacramento) -- Last week, the Senate Education Committee approved three bills authored by Assembly Higher Education Chair Marty Block (AD-78) aimed at improving the student experience at California’s public colleges and universities. This series of bills includes AB 620 aimed at creating safe college campus environments for LGBT students,AB 670 to establish clear appeals procedures for California State University (CSU) admissions decisions, and AB 743that creates a system-wide assessment tool to better place community college students.

Local Science Camp a “First” on the West Coast


June 29, 2011 (San Diego) -- Last week, 150 elementary school children in San Diego County were attending a new kind of summer camp -- the “Summer Engineering Experience for Kids” (SEEK) Camp, a concept designed by the National Society for Black Engineers (NSBE) in 2007 to build a pipeline to careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) for African-American and other under-represented minority children. 

June 29, 2011 (El Cajon) – An injured man who called 911 after falling down an embankment last night has been found following an intensive search and will be transported to a hospital, Melissa Aquino, public affairs officer with the San Diego Sheriff’s Office, advises.

Poll shows strong public support for plan; Rep. Hunter visits Afghanistan to meet with military officers

By Miriam Raftery

June 29, 2011 (San Diego) – A Gallup Poll shows 72% of Americans support President Barack Obama’s plan announced last week to withdraw thousands of U.S. troops from Afghanistan this year. Just 23% opposed the troop drawdown plan, and some want to see an even faster troop withdrawal.

Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-El Cajon), a veteran of the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars and member of the House Armed Services Committee, visited Afghanistan this week and met with General David Petraeus. He has voiced support for troop withdrawals, citing erosion of public support. But he called for a shift in focus toward counter-terrorism utilizing special operations forces, intelligence gathering capability and air assets.

By Miriam Rafery

June 29, 2011 (San Diego)—The California Citizens Redistricting Commission heard input from area residents this month, including some residents of East County and Imperial County who objected to the redrawing of Congressional and state leglsiative district lines to lump the two regions together.

Update 2:55 p.m.:  The fire is now 5-10 acres, burning at Otay Truck Trail.

June 29, 2011 (Otay Mesa) – A brush fire that originated in Mexico has burned three to five acres in Otay Mesa along Alta Road, Cal Fire reports. Currently one air tanker, one helicopter, one air attack plane, three engines and two handcrews are at the scene.

June 29, 2011 (La Mesa)--William Warnock, 59, is under arrest for assault with a deadly weapon and felony criminal threats after an eight hour standoff with police. La Mesa Police responded to a call at 6100 Blain Place, La Mesa, around 10 p.m. last night after Warnock's wife reported that her husband had threatened to hurt her and also threatened to kill their 20-year-old son with a large screwdriver.

"...The ACPG bent rules with both the Powerlink and High School Ad Hoc subcommittees that cost our community dearly."

By Lou Russo, Alpine Planning Group Member

June 29, 2011 (Alpine)--I began my tenure as an Alpine Community Planning Group (ACPG) member in 2007. In 2009, I resigned my seat for employment reasons, which took me out-of-state. Thankfully, my employer brought me back to our lovely community.

When I left, it seemed our community was set to get a beautiful new full service high school and reasonable  compensation/beautification for the Sunrise Powerlink project. I continued to hear that while I was gone.

Upon returning, I learned we are likely not getting a high school and all we are getting are sidewalks and parking spaces for the millions in lost business revenues along Alpine Blvd, not to mention the daily dirt, noise, wasted time and general inconvenience to those transiting our main street.

June 29, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)—East County Roundup highlights top news stories of interest to East County and our region, published in other media. Latest Roundup headlines include:
 

• Big Supreme Court win for Indian tribes (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Democrats pass austerity budget (Los Angeles Times)
• Study: strawberries offer many health benefits (10 News)
• City school board lays off hundreds (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• A battle over charter school freedoms (Voice of San Diego)
• Council delays decision on sound wall for La Mesa Meadows (La Mesa Patch)

 Santee Store Yields Top Total in Charity Campaign for People with Disabilities 

June 28, 2011 (Santee) -- The Santee Vons store was named a top fundraising store by Easter Seals during Safeway Inc.’s charity campaign to benefit people with disabilities in April.  The Santee store achieved the highest fundraising total in its district.

June 28, 2011 (La Presa) -- A near fatal mistake on June 15, 2011 put the lives of seven family members in danger. Sheer luck in the actions of a 13 year old girl saves them all from death. 

June 28, 2011 (San Diego) -- Executive Chef Jeff Rossman’s farm-to-table cookbook-come-love story to local growers, From Terra’s Table: New American Food Fresh From Southern California’s Organic Farms (Chefs Press, 2010), adds a new honor to its list of accolades. The San Diego Book Awards Association just named the tome Best Cookbook 2011 in the Seventeenth Annual San Diego Book & Writing Awards, tying with Ancient Wisdom, Modern Kitchen.

From Terra’s Table was a labor of love, written not only for home cooks, but in homage to the growers who labor so we can eat healthfully,” said Rossman, who also owns Terra American Bistro. “We're humbled to be recognized by the San Diego Book Awards Association for this.”

From Terra’s Table contains just over 200 pages of wine- and beer-paired recipes from Rossman’s 14 years of professional cooking, first for Terra Restaurant in uptown San Diego’s Hillcrest and, now, Terra American Bistro in San Diego’s East College Area. Rossman also highlights the stories of the local growers and artisans from which he sources and outlines resources for food activism and advocacy.

For more information about From Terra’s Table (Chefs Press, 2010), visit www.fromterrastable.com. To learn more about Terra American Bistro, visit www.terrasd.com .