Story and photos by Christopher Mohr

(EL CAJON) October 9 - Minutes after Christian's 36-22 win at El Cajon Valley Friday night, the Patriots' coaching staff brought up the topic of winning ugly in the team's post-game meeting on the field. The gist of the discussion was that it did not matter that the team won by playing less than stellar football. What was important was that they found a way to win.

Ugly was the first word that came to mind after watching the Patriots' first three possessions of the game, which all resulted in fumbles lost to the Braves. Even more deflating for Christian was that ECV scored 14 points from these turnovers.

 By Miriam Raftery

October 15, 2009 (Sacramento) – A lobbyist scandal in Sacramento has given new meaning to the term “pork” in politics. Ever since former Assemblyman Mike Duvall squealed on tape about bedding two lobbyists, critics have called for an investigation. Now the non-partisan citizens watchdog group Common Cause has called on the Fair Political Practices Commission to open an investigation into whether the female lobbyists violated state law by engaging in affairs with Duvall, an Orange County Republican who resigned in disgrace after his boasts were made public. An Orange County newspaper has identified one of the women as a lobbyist for Sempra Energy/SDG&E.

“Voters need to know how widespread this practice is of lobbyists literally getting into bed with legislators, and since the Legislature and Attorney General have both abandoned any investigation it is now incumbent upon the FPPC to take this on,” said Derek Cressman, Western States Regional Director for Common Cause.

CITY OF EL CAJON TERMINATES MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH CHRISTIAN THEATER GROUP; POSTPONES CLOSURE UNTIL AT LEAST MID-2010 TO HONOR CONTRACTS FOR SHOWS

By Miriam Raftery

October 14, 2009 (El Cajon) – El Cajon City Council members voted unanimously yesterday to terminate its agreement effective January 1st with ArtBeat Management, a subsidiary of Christian Community Theater, which has managed the East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC) for the past four years. The theater is slated to close for approximately two years for renovations including a new roof, improving access for the disabled, and moving the entrance to open onto Main Street, generating traffic toward local merchants and restaurants.

At yesterday’s Council hearing, Grossmont Community Concerts Association (GCCCA) president Ron Shelby pleaded with Council members to keep the theater open through the groups’ 2010 concert season, which is sold out. “We were in panic mode because we couldn’t find any place that can accommodate all of our performances,” said Shelby.  After the hearing, he expressed gratitude that Mayor Mark Lewis pledged to honor all contracts signed by CCT, assuring Shelby that the theater will remain open at least through the end of the GCCCA season in May

The City hailed the renovation plans with a press release today proclaiming “exciting changes planned for the East County Performing Arts Center.

October 14, 2009 (San Diego's East County)-- Animal Control Officers rescued a Muscovy duck that had been shot five times with a crossbow this morning at Chollas Lake in East San Diego, near Highway 94.

The duck, with the arrows still in its body, was transported to the County’s Animal Shelter on Gaines Street. One of the arrows penetrated the bird’s head so a special avian veterinarian will be examining the duck to see if the animal’s life can be saved.

 
Teams from around the country cook up a good time at free “Smokin’ in the Park” Festival

October 14, 2009 (Alpine) – Looking to spice up your week?  Viejas Casino & Outlet Center will host California’s largest BBQ cooking championship again this year in one of East County's most popular free events of the season. The “Smokin’ in the Park” BBQ Championship & Festival (www.viejasbbq.com) is back for its fifth year…bigger and better than ever. This year, more than 60 teams will compete for $23,000 in cash and prizes, making it the largest competition of its kind in the state.

All-day forum joins industry with education in ‘greening’ the classroom

EL CAJON – With all the buzz surrounding the burgeoning green industry and the promise it holds for a flagging jobs market, Cuyamaca College is hosting a forum this week aimed at helping local high school and community college educators ride the wave of the green economy.

The free symposium, “Growing Green Careers,” is planned for 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, inside the new communication arts theater for instructors, administrators and counselors to hear experts talk about the vital link between emerging green industries and education, and to share ideas on preparing students for promising jobs on the horizon.

October 14, 2009 (San Diego)—Experts on near-death experiences will be in town for the annual conference of the International Association for Near Death Studies from October 15 – 17. There will be a pre-conference Healing/Arts day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on October 15th, followed by the full conference for the next two days. In addition, several East County residents will be featured as speakers and panelists.

The Grossmont College Foundation, a fund-raising organization that supports Grossmont College students and educational programs, will host its 2009 Dinner Gala and Auction fund-raiser on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino. The public is invited to attend.

The Foundation’s Gala, the eighth annual, will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a reception and silent auction, followed by dinner starting at 7 p.m., live auction and live entertainment by student performers. More than 130 auction items will be available to the highest bidder.

By Francine Phillips
Photos courtesy of Helix Water Distict

October 13, 2009 (San Diego) – The Metropolitan Water District (MWD), which supplies water for most San Diegans, decided yesterday to re-visit labor negotiations rather than pass a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that outlined a pension arrangement that was retroactive and underfunded by 75 million. MWD’s action was the result of widespread public protest that the 11 percent rate hike coming in November would be partially funneled into pension debt for 2,000 employees.

October 14, 2009 (Otay) – Assemblymember Mary Salas, Chair of the Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee, will host a Veterans Health and Resource Fair at Southwestern College 900 Otay Lakes Road, Chula Vista, CA 91910.  Over thirty representatives from health organizations and Veterans service organizations will be in attendance offering information, body mass index, blood pressure checks, and glucose screenings.

October 13, 2009 (San Diego) -- The Center for Social Advocacy in El Cajon presents “Homeless in our Community, Homeless on our Border”, a free community awareness event on November 6th at 5:30 p.m. at the San Diego Women’s Club, 2557 Third Ave., San Diego. Keynote speaker John Carlos Frey, award-winning director of The Invisible Chapel, willlscreen his film.

October 13, 2009 (San Diego)--Bill Gore, Sheriff, San Diego County, announces the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department sponsorship of a free one day Landlord Training Seminar for Mobile Home Park managers and staff. It will be held on Thursday October 22nd, at 9621 Ridgehaven Court in San Diego beginning at 8:00 a.m. Light refreshments will be served.

The Landlord Training Seminar is the first step in becoming a certified member of the internationally known Crime-Free Multi-Housing Program. This voluntary program is designed to educate owners and managers on techniques to deter criminals and criminal activity from occurring on their properties.

Book Review: Nugget on the Flight Deck By Patricia Newman

New York, Walker and Company, 2009. Illustrated by Aaron Zenz. Hardback Picture Book, 40 pages, with Target Age: 4-8 years.

Reviewed by Deena While

“Welcome aboard, Nugget…I’ll bet you’ve never been aboard a carrier before…”

October 13, 2009 (La Mesa) -- San Diego may be the nation’s 9th largest city, but it is still a Navy town at heart. The graceful passage of San Diego’s homeport aircraft carriers down the harbor channel, past Ballast Point and out to sea is one of our area’s most awe-inspiring sights. And any one of those ships could have a nugget aboard.  Navy and Marine jargon is often heard in our community. In Navy-speak, a nugget is a new pilot on his first tour of duty. Patricia Newman’s just-released book is a fun-filled introduction to the basics of carrier operations, centered on the heart-warming story of one particular nugget.

AB 666 WOULD HAVE REQUIRED COUNTIES TO ENSURE THAT FIREFIGHTING SERVICES EXIST BEFORE APPROVING NEW BUILDING SUBDIVISIONS

October 13, 2009 (Sacramento)--Governor Arnold Scharzenegger has vetoed legislation by Assemblymember Dave Jones (D-Sacramento) to require counties to ensure that adequate fire protection exists before approving new subdivisions in high fire hazard areas.

“I am very disappointed that the Governor chose to ignore the safety of firefighters and residents in very high risk areas,” said Jones, a candidate for state Insurance Commissioner. “My bill simply required counties to make sure there is adequate local fire protection before approving new subdivisions in high fire risk areas. This legislation would have avoided putting the lives of firefighters and the lives and property of homeowners at risk.”