July 13, 2011 (San Diego) – Colby Shigley, 26, a Cal-Fire firefighter stationed at the Lyons Valley station in East County, has died of injuries sustained in an accident July 8th. Shigley was driving a 2000 Cadillac while visiting his terminally ill father in Munro Township, Michigan, when he struck trees and was killed.

Shigley, who lived in Alpine, leaves behind a wife, Justine, and their three children, Jaylynn, 4, Wyatt, 3, and Dylan, 8 months. A fund to help the family, the Firefighter Colby Shigley Memorial Fund, has been established at Navy Federal Credit Union in Santee.

By Miriam Raftery

July 13, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – As controversy burns around the new fire parcel fee signed into law by Governor Brown, many area residents have asked which communities and what types of structures are subject to the fees. East County Magazine spoke with Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant in Sacramento. We have answers--and a detailed map.

“The assumption is that you cannot find a qualified man or woman to lead the university unless paid twice that of the Chief Justice of the United States. I reject this notion. “—Governor Jerry Brown

“The sad truth is that California isn’t prioritizing its education.” – Gregory Washington, president, California State University Student Association

 By Billie Jo Jannen

July 13, 2011 (Campo)--I can vividly describe every one of the four fires that has burned through my property over the past 25 years. Notably, every one was started by someone who doesn’t live here. Causes include burning objects thrown from passing cars and trains, illegal fireworks by drunk Navy men, and border smugglers intent on their own agendas.

Also notable is that my family’s home survived every fire because of our personal efforts -- both costly and time-consuming -- to plan and execute our own defenses. Not a single fire department, including CalFire, has ever managed to arrive at my house before the fires did; the distances are simply too great and the fires too unpredictable.

July 12, 2011 (Santee)--The Santee Fire Department along with units from Lakeside and La Mesa responded to the report of a residential structure fire at 9117 Fonteyn Ct. in Santee this afternoon. The first fire unit arrived just over eightminutes after the time of dispatch; 19 firefighters quickly brought the blaze under control and restricted the damage to the garage area.

 Proposal that could halt Alpine high school construction will also be heard by board

July 11, 2011 (El Cajon) – The Boundary Committee for the Grossmont Union High School District has adopted recommendations for shifting high school boundaries throughout the distirct.  The recommendations will be presented Thursday, to the GUHSD Boardat 6 p.m. in the East County Regional Education Center, 924 East Main Street in El Cajon.

Lines will be changing across East County. For example, on Mt. Helix many students now in the Grossmont High School district are proposed to shift to Monte Vista, a school with a far poorer academic record, to ease overcrowding at Grossmont. In Blossom Valley, proposed new lines would similarly shift some students to a poorer performing school, in Lakeside sparking protests from parents.

By Clyde Jennings

July 10, 2011 (La Mesa)--If you're not aware of the "green movement", you just haven't been paying attention. More than ever, and growing every year, homeowners not only are asking the age-old questions of price, features and style, but they seriously want to know the green attributes of a project. In other words, does the project in question impact the environment as little as possible?

July 12, 2011 (Sacramento) – The stakes are high.

SB 40, the Gambling Control Act introduced by Senator Lou Correa of Orange County, seeks to legalize intrastate Internet poker while cracking down on illegal online poker operations. Supporters say the bill would created a new source of revenues and jobs in California to ease budget deficits and high unemployment. But opponents contend it would undermine Indian tribal gaming operations and hurt tribal economic development.

July 12, 2011 (El Cajon) -- If your dream is to stop renting and own your first home – the City of El Cajon may be able to help you fulfill that dream with its newest housing development: Birchwood Lane, a Weiland Development project. 

All units will be affordable to low-and moderate-income “first-time” homebuyers and substantial first-time homebuyer assistance will be available.

By Matt Butler

July 12, 2011 (San Diego, CA) – The San Diego River Park Foundation will be celebrating its tenth birthday on July 17 from 4-7p.m. at Mosaic Wine Bar

July 12, 2011 (San Diego) – The hilarious comics from Brew Ha Ha will present a rollicking comedy show tonight, Tuesday July 12 at 7 p.m. feature top comic Albert Linton. The show is at San Diego Desserts & Bistro, 5987 El Cajon Blvd. in San Diego 92115.

Half the proceeds will benefit Haitian charities. Donations are suggested; No cover charge.

July 11, 2011 (East County) --The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District’s (GCCCD) Continuing Education and Southwestern College’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will host a free workshop on “Checklist for Business Success” from 7 to 9 a.m. on Friday, July 15, at the East County Chamber of Commerce office, 201 S. Magnolia Ave., El Cajon. 

By Cate Sacks

July 11, 2011 (Blossom Valley)--This wonderful 1 year old pure Rhodesian Ridgeback female is loving and sweet.  She loves to play with other dogs, and bonds closely to her family.  She is safe with dogs and people she does not know.  Comes when called, sleeps happily in a crate at night.  She loves both big and small dogs, and doesn't have aggression towards people or pets.  She has not been cat tested.

July 11, 2011 (San Diego) -- San Diego Police Department Homicide Unit detectives have arrested two suspects for the October, 2010 shooting death of Aaron Robinson inside his 54^th Street apartment.

“$40 billion has been stolen. Let’s get it back.” – Mike Aguirre

Plaintiffs ask public to urge Senators to press Dept. of Justice to join suit; say federal government should recover bailout funds to reduce deficit instead of slashing Medicare and Social Security

Story and photos by Miriam Raftery

July 7, 2011 (San Diego) – Derek Casady, former editor of the Daily Californian newspaper in East County and his wife, Nancy, have filed a lawsuit against several of the world’s biggest financial institutions alleging that AIG and others engaged in fraudulent practices and misled the federal government to get bail-outs. The suit documents fraudulent practices alleged in detail. It also seeks return of bailout monies paid for with taxpayers’ money—plus triple damages and a jury trial.

July 8, 2011 (Alpine) -- Come enjoy the performers at the Viejas Outlet Centers Live Music in the Park on Saturday and Sunday nights in July. The acts range from jazz to country, to flamenco and more. The list of performances is below; for more on acts performing, check our calendar. 

July 10, 2011 (San Diego) -- San Diego Police Gang Unit detectives have arrested 18 year old Anthony Penn and a 16 year old juvenile for a shooting that occurred yesterday in the Emerald Hills neighborhood. Two victims, 21 year old Martin Barnett, who was confronted by the suspects, and 7 year old Laura Castello, an innocent bystander who was playing in her yard nearby, were wounded. Both victims are expected to survive their injuries. 

July 10, 2011 (San Diego) – Jose Antonio Carrillo, 49, a resident of Encanto, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he had a sexual affair with a 16-year-old female student. Carillo served as a volunteer field hockey coach at Bonita Vista High School in Otay and also was an instructor at Jackie Robinson YMCA in San Diego.

by Miriam Raftery

July 10, 2011 (San Diego)--“Hunger is at record levels here in San Diego,” John Lucero Criswell with the San Diego Hunger Coalition told members of the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce during a breakfast Friday at Mission Trails Regional Park.

Three food banks distribute 31 million pounds of food a year to the needy in our region, but demand has increased 10% in the past year as more people lose jobs and fall into poverty.

July 9, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- Joan McIntosh captured the fragile beauty of these night-blooming cereus at her backyard in Lakeside.  

The ghostly cactus flowers blossom just once in the warmth of a mid-summer's night, then wither and perish.