People Power

Inspiring Stories from San Diego's Eastern Region

UNION BANK AND KPBS HONOR SEVENTEEN LOCAL HEROES

 
January 25, 2012 (San Diego) -- As part of its ongoing commitment to cultural diversity and responsible banking, Union Bank, N.A., has partnered with KPBS to honor 17 local individuals who are making a difference to enrich the lives of others.  The honorees were announced as part of the 2011 Cultural Diversity Partnership, which recognizes and pays tribute to local heroes from eight diverse communities who are making a difference by improving their workplace, profession, neighborhood, community, region and the world.  The year-long celebration of diversity culminates with an awards ceremony on  February 8, 2012, where recipients will be formally recognized.

 


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BILL AND NORMA VERBECK HONORED FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO EAST COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS

                                      

January 26, 2011 (La Mesa)--Officials of many East County organizations recognized the contributions made by Bill and Norma Verbeck at a special luncheon eeting of the Kiwanis Club of La Mesa today at the La Mesa Community Center.
 
Bill Verbeck was awarded the Kiwanis International 50-Year Legion of Honor at the meeting. Tony Zambelli, president of the La Mesa Kiwanis Club, mad the presentation.

 


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SANTEE SANTAS TO RECEIVE $1,000 DONATION FROM FRESH & EASY

 
January 21, 2012 (Santee) – The 2012 holiday season may be almost a year away, but Santee Santas are getting an early holiday gift.  The all-volunteer, non-profit organization that has been bringing the spirit of the holidays to the Santee community for more than fifty years was informed that they will be the recipients of a $1,000 cash donation from Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market.

 


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BLIND SPRING VALLEY WOMAN DRAWS NATIONAL ATTENTION, WEAVES MATS FOR HOMELESS AND MORE OUT OF PLASTIC BAGS

By Miriam Raftery

January 21, 2012 (Spring Valley) –More than 70 homeless people in San Diego have a clean, dry mat to sleep on – thanks to the tireless efforts of Wilma Groh. 


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PLEDGE DRIVE MOUNTED TO SAVE PALOMAR STATE PARK FROM CLOSURE

 

Update: 20% of $60,000 funding goal met so far; pledges sought from public

New! View a video of what may be lost:  http://palomarsp.org/friends/save_palomar_video_standard.htm

By Miriam Raftery

January 16, 2012 (Palomar) –  Friends of Palomar Mountain State Park has submitted a plan to the California Dept. of Parks and Recreation that could prevent the park from closing permanently on July 1 due to budget cuts. The group seeks pledges from inidividuals in hopes of reaching $60,000.  [Editor's note: 16% of the goal was met when we posted this. Now on Jan. 17, 20% of the goal has been met. Thanks to our readers who helped! I made a pledge and hope many more of you will help save this beautiful place!)

 To pledge, visit www.friendsofpalomarsp.org. (You won't be asked to pay unless State Parks agrees to the plan.) To  learn more and see photos of what’s at stake, see ECM’s story on Palomar State Park at http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/5539


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SEASON FOR NONVIOLENCE: AZIM KHAMISA, FATHER OF SLAIN SON, TO SPEAK JANUARY 29 IN EL CAJON

January 17, 2012 (El Cajon)--World-renowned speaker Azim Khamisa on January 29, 2012 will kick off the 15th annual "Season for Nonviolence" at Christ Church Unity in El Cajon. Khamisa, who has been praised by dignitaries including the Dalai Llama and former President Bill Clinton, delivers his inspirational message following the senseless-gang-related death of his son, Tariq in 1995.


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ON THE GO: TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS FOR OLDER ADULTS CELEBRATES 100TH RIDE MILESTONE

 

January 17, 2012 (San Diego)On the Go:  Transportation Solutions of Older Adults, founded in 2008, a division of Charitable Adult Rides & Services, Inc. delivered its 100,000th  ride last week to Sara “Suzanne” Tell, 80 years old. She received her most recent ride from Bill Farrar, retired police officer who has been volunteering since 2010 and has provided about 100 rides. 


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JEREMY’S ON THE HILL TO HOST FUNDRAISER JAN. 25 TO HELP CANCER PATIENT BROOKLIN BUTTS, 3


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HAWK WATCH WINERY SEEKS DONATIONS FOR LIVING FREE ANIMAL SANCTUARY

 
Buy a bottle of “Sequoia” wine and help save animals at a no-kill shelter

 
By Millicent Arko
 
January10, 2012 (Warner Springs) -- During January, the owners of Hawk Watch Winery in Warner Springs will be accepting donated items for Living Free, a nonprofit no-kill animal sanctuary. Dog and cat collars, beds, food, scratching posts, treats, biscuits, and items the staff needs to maintain the animals’ living spaces and grounds are all needed. In fact, Living Free has an animal “wish list” posted on its website www.living-free.org/about/our_wishlist.html 

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EAST COUNTY ACTIVIST ESTELA DE LOS RIOS TO RECEIVE ASHLEY WALKER SOCIAL JUSTICE AWARD JAN. 16 AT MARTIN LUTHER KING BREAKFAST

 
January 6, 2012 (East County) --  Estela De Los Rios, social justice advocate from El Cajon, has been selected to receive the Ashley Walker Social Justice Award from the San Diego Human Relations Commission.  She has championed battles to end human trafficking, hate crimes, and discrimination in our region. 

 


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ALPINE SQUARES RAISE $3700 FOR CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL; PLAN OPEN HOUSES FOR SQUARE DANCE INTRODUCTION

 

January 6, 2012 (Alpine) -- In  December, the “Alpine Squares” square dance club held their 27th annual Christmas Sock Hop for the benefit of Rady Children’s Hospital.  Over $3700 was raised at this event, to be used for recreational therapy for the severely medically challenged children being treated there.  The dance was co-sponsored again by Toyota of Santee, and held at their showroom.

 


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NATIONAL NOT-FOR-PROFIT ANNOUNCES THOUSANDS OF YOUNG LOCAL JEWS TO VISIT ISRAEL IN 2012



January 5, 2012 (San Diego
) – Birthright Israel, the national not-for-profit that provides free trips to Israel for young adults from around the world, has announced that thousands of San Diego area Jewish youth will have the opportunity to make a pilgrimage to the holy land in 2012 to discover their history and culture for the very first time.


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SAN DIEGO VETERANS' GROUP HELPS HOMELESS FOR SECOND YEAR; DONATIONS SOUGHT

 
January 4, 2012 (San Diego) --In the beginning of its second year, the San Diego Veterans For Peace (SDVP) group’s Compassion Campaign has coordinated the efforts of a few dedicated veterans in an effort to help some of the most needy veterans. The Compassion Campaign established in December 2010, is the nonprofit group’s crusade to provide sleeping bag sets and waterproof gear to San Diego’s homeless population.

 


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OCCUPATION 101: INTERVIEW WITH AN OCCUPIER

 
A former mortgage industry insider from La Mesa shares why he joined the Occupy movement

Story and photos by Ron Logan

 
"When you get presidential candidates saying that the first thing we should do is take a bath, and then go get a job, they really don't understand the movement." – Mike Garcia
 
January 2, 2012 (San Diego) – Even though the Occupy Movement has lasted for more than three months now, most people do not comprehend the importance of the movement or understand what the protests are even about. 

 On December 19, I sat down with Mike Garcia at Downtown Johnny Brown's at the Civic Center Plaza. Garcia is a La Mesa resident and Committee Member of Occupy San Diego (OSD). I asked him some straight-forward questions. His answers were eye-opening and offered insight into what OSD is all about, its struggles and its evolutions-- and how he first became involved in early October.


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DONATIONS SOUGHT FOR FAMILY THAT LOST HOME IN FIRE

January 1, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Rose Hooper and her two teenage children lost their Jamul home in a fire December 29, two years after Rose’s husband died of cancer. Now Nick Baldwin, an El Cajon business owner, has started a drive to collect donated items to help this family in need.


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TRUST FUND SET UP TO HELP CHILDREN OF MURDERED ALPINE MOTHER

 
A memorial service is set for December 31 in Alpine
 
December 30, 2011 (Alpine) --A trust fund has been set up at Chase Bank for the two young sons of Debbie Meltzer, who was killed December 23 by her husband, Justin Meltzer. (story:  http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/8213)
You can donate at any Chase bank to the Jacob and Lucas Meltzer fund. The account number is 3010155215.

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WHAT I’VE LEARNED AS A SURVIVOR OF A 7.5 EARTHQUAKE

 Travels in time to Bucuresti, Romania

 
By Iolanda Scripca

December 29, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--After a warm visit with my grown son, I tell him “Good bye !” He hugs me and jumps into his car. We wave back and forth and I still do not go back into the house until the curve fades away his presence.  Life is so precious and, when you think I could have died decades ago, at age sixteen, the  memories of that evening still give me goose bumps. ..My son, Christopher, would have been just an undefined wish of energy wandering in this infinite universe.

 


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IN SEARCH OF A MIRACLE


A La Mesa woman seeks an angel investor to buy her home—saving her disabled mother and a recently homeless friend from being thrown out in the streets

By Miriam Raftery
 


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PROJECT WILDLIFE WINS $25,000, MISSION TRAILS $10,000 IN SDG&E ECO AMBASSADOR’S PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD


December 11, 2011 – By just eight votes (15,885 to 15,877), Project Wildlife captured first place in the SDG&E Eco Ambassador’s People’s Choice Award.  Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation, which won second place, will receive a $10,000 grant. 

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BROWNIES PITCH IN FOR ARBOR DAY PLANTINGS AT MISSION TRAILS

 
December 11, 2011 (San Diego) --  On Saturday, December 3, the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation held its annual Arbor Day by planting 10 oak trees and 10 shrubs along the Oak Grove Trail. 

 


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PCI COMMUNITY HOLIDAY OUTREACH SERVES OVER 200 GUESTS

Global humanitarian organization served over 230 people, including 160 children, with holiday gifts and community health resources

 

December 8, 2011 (San Diego, CA) -- PCI (Project Concern International) and the Strong, Healthy Empowered (SHE) group of PCI volunteers hosted their third annual Santa party and health fair in collaboration with PCI’s California Border Healthy Start (CBHS) Program on December 7, 2011 at the Jacobs Market Creek Plaza.  Other community agencies that participated include Logan Family Health Center at Logan Heights, American Red Cross WIC, La Maestra Family Health Center at National City, and the Family Health Centers at Lemon Grove.


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VIEJAS CASINO TEAM MEMBERS AND GUESTS DONATE OVER 3,000 TOYS FOR LOCAL SALVATION ARMY


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ST. MADELEINE SOPHIE’S CENTER PARTICIPATES IN GIVEBIG 2011

 The center for adults with developmental disabilities urges supports to give BIG on December 14-15

 
December 7, 2011 (San Diego) -- St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, the non-denominational adult day-training facility for adults with developmental disabilities, is participating in giveBIG 2011. On December 14-15, the public will have an opportunity to make online donations to the non-profit. The total donation amount will be matched by The San Diego Foundation, which strives to make San Diego a better place to live, work and play.

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THE CHARLES I. CHENEWETH FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES PLANS TO CEASE OPERATIONS AND JOIN HOME OF GUIDING HANDS

 
The mission is to strengthen and enhance services to those with developmental disabilities in San Diego County


December 7, 2011 -- Home of Guiding Hands (HGH), which provides quality services, training, and advocacy for people with developmental disabilities, their families, and others who will benefit, has announced plans to assume the operations and assets of The Charles I. Cheneweth Foundation (CICF).  

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"MEATBALL" THE BEAR FINDS TEMPORARY HAVEN AT LIONS, TIGERS AND BEARS IN ALPINE

 

 
August 31, 2012 (Alpine)--Earlier this week, the infamous Glendale bear known as "Meatball" returned to the La Cañada Flintridge area near L.A. to scavenge for food and was filmed in at least two locations and seen in a homeowner's swimming pool.
 
In response, the California Fish & Game Department dispatched a game warden to set culvert traps baited with bacon and honey to capture the bear. The compassionate decision was made to re-locate Meatball rather than to euthanize him, which is often the fate of what DFG calls an "habituated" bear - one that's not afraid to enter areas of human habitation.

 


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HONESTY PAYS: GOOD SAMARITAN GIVEN MONEY HE FOUND AND TURNED IN TO POLICE

November 29, 2011 (Chula Vista) -- Even in challenging economic times, people do the right thing. On June 30, 2011, a construction worker at Sharp Hospital in Chula Vista found $700 in cash. He brought the money to a hospital staff member, who notified police.

 


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STARS VIE TO RAISE MONEY FOR CHARITY AT VIEJAS CELEBRITY SLOT TOURNAMENT MONDAY NOV. 28

November 25, 2011 (Alpine) -- Gretchen Rossi of Bravo's hit reality series "The Real Housewives of Orange County" will join 11 other local celebrities at Viejas Casino on Monday, November 28 in a Celebrity Slot Tournament at Viejas Casino.  100 percent of the winnings from the tournament, which begins at 10:30 a.m., will be donated to the local Salvation Army.


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A PURR-FECT THANKSGIVING TALE: TRAPPED KITTEN RESCUED IN EL CAJON

Firefighter who saved kitten will adopt it, if owner not found

Story by Miriam Raftery

Photos by El Cajon Police Captain Jim Redman


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THANKSGIVING DINNERS SOUGHT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE HOMELESS TODAY

 

November 24, 2011 (San Diego)—Do you have an extra meal to spare as a Thanksgiving dinner for a homeless person? 

Jennifer Hughes, a local attorney, is partnering with friends at a local Buddhist temple to deliver Thanksgiving dinners to the homeless.  Hughes has offered to arrange pick up of meals before 4 p.m. today to deliver them to those in need. For pickup, call 619-840-7797.  Alternatively, donated food may be delivered to the temple before 5 p.m.


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FOOD HANDOUT: LARGEST IN EAST COUNTY

Samoan Independent Pentecostal Church feeds Lemon Grove needy, with help of Mt.Miguel football team.
 
By Bill Pogue
 
November 21, 2011 (Lemon Grove) -- The largest, annual free food distribution in East County occurred on Friday, November 18, was made by the Samoan Independent Pentecostal Church, where they rent church accommodations from the Lemon Grove Lutheran Church at 2055 Skyline Drive. This is the 8th consecutive year that Pastor Ulalei Tausaga, his wife Mai and son Smith, and their congregation performed this feat.

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