SNAP cuts in America and the future impacts on California

Inmate firefighters get pay raise under bill signed by Governor

Passages: Donuts to Dollars, Mary Hennessy had a sweet life

County approves negotiations to buy land for Troy Street Sleeping Cabins in Lemon Grove

ECM World Watch: National and global news

La Mesa Police officer killed while aiding motorists after collision on I-8

County approves purchase of firefighting helicopter with nighttime capabilities

Twelve-year-old killed, two other children critically injured crossing street in San Carlos

La Mesa raises parking meter fees

Health and Science Highlights

Artillery round from Camp Pendleton celebration explodes over I-5, hits CHP vehicle

Trump aims to slash refugee admissions and add racist criteria

FILNER DENOUNCES BRIDGEPOINT’S VETERANS EXPLOITATION

 
May 5, 2012 (San Diego) – Shortly before the start of the Chamber of Commerce and Bridgepoint Education Mayoral Forum at the “Sunroad” Building recently, U.S. Congressman and Mayoral candidate Bob Filner issued a statement denouncing predatory practices of Bridgepoint and its taxpayer-funded targeting of veterans and their G.I. Bill funds.  

DUCHENY CALLS ON OPPONENT TO PASS STRONG HOMEOWNER BILL OF RIGHTS

 

Ducheny Chastises Vargas for "Special Interest" Favors

May 5, 2012 (San Diego) -- Congressional Candidate Denise Moreno Ducheny took issue with Senator Juan Vargas's recent voting record and called on the Senator to back a strong set of foreclosure protection bills being discussed in the Senate this week. "The recent voting record of my opponent is a disservice to the residents of San Diego and Imperial Counties," Ducheny said in a statement. "He should be spending more time focusing on the needs of his constituents, not just those special interest groups who write his campaign checks."

 

3 DAYS LEFT TO QUALIFY A BALLOT MEASURE AGAINST HEALTH INSURANCE RATE HIKES

May 4, 2012 (San Diego) – The California Insurance Commissioner, Dave Jones, is seeking public help to collect enough signatures to qualify a measure for the ballot that will stop excessive rate hikes by health insurers and HMOs.  The deadline for signature collection is Monday.

54 NATIONAL PARK AREAS JEOPARDIZED UNDER DECEPTIVE "NATIONAL SECURITY” BILL ADVANCING IN U.S. HOUSE

 

“This legislative proposal is perhaps the most direct assault on national parks ever to be advanced at any level in any Congress in U.S. history.” – Maureen Finnerty, Chair, Coalition of National Park Service Retirees


 May 4 2012 (Washington D.C.) -- Legislation pending in the U.S. House of Representatives is falsely touted as improving U.S. border security. Instead, it would “have the potential to devastate 54 of America’s national parks, historic sites, national monuments and other popular park icons and negatively impact the nation’s economy,” according to a warning issued April 18 by the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees (CNPSR).

 

SAN DIEGO RESTAURANTS RECOGNIZE CELIAC AWARENESS MONTH

By Kate Yapjoco

May 4, 2012 (San Diego) – Terra American Bistro in East County is among area restaurants highlighted as part of Celiac Awareness Month in May.  An estimated 3 million Americans suffer from celiac disease, which is an autoimmune digestive disease.  People with celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye as well as many other food products.  During Celiac Awareness Month San Diego restaurateurs will be offering a wide, delicious, healthy array of gluten-free dining options.

MILAGRO FARMS VINEYARDS AND JEREMY’S ON THE HILL WINEMAKERS DINNER MAY 11

May 4, 2012 (Julian) -- Jeremy’s on the Hill and Milagro Farm Vineyards are starting Mother’s Day weekend with a very special wine pairing event on May 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Jeremy’s, 4354 Highway 78, Wynola (just outside of Julian).

PASSAGES: RAMONA RESIDENT THOMAS (BO DONOVAN) BECKER, CAREER BROADCASTER

May 4, 2012 (Ramona) -- Thomas (Bo Donovan) Becker, who lived in San Diego Country Estates, passed away on April 24 surrounded by his family.  A noted radio broadcasting personality, he also founded the award-winning Silvertree Inc. creative services firm and has been active in organizations ranging from United Way to the Better Businses Bureau. 

THE FACTS ABOUT CINCO DE MAYO

 
By Mayan Avitable
 
May 4, 2012 (East County) -- Perhaps the least understood celebration attributed to Spanish-speaking people is Cinco de Mayo. There seems to be an idea that it is the Mexican Independence Day. Many others believe that, if you speak Spanish, you celebrate Cinco de Mayo. It is neither.  Please keep reading for more information on:

 

 

EXTRA DUI PATROLS ANNOUNCED FOR CINCO DE MAYO

May 4, 2012 (San Diego) -- The Avoid the 14 San Diego County DUI Task Force will be deploying DUI saturation patrols on Cinco De Mayo, May 5th from 6:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. in Escondido and around San Diego State University.

Cinco de Mayo is a special opportunity to gather with friends and coworkers for chips, salsa and Margaritas, celebrating California’s rich cultural diversity. It is also a night when dangerous and often deadly outcomes occur because another impaired driver hits the road drunk.

SPOTLIGHT ON JULIAN AS 1ST ANNUAL WILD & SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL DEBUTS MAY 5-6

May 4, 2012 (Julian) – Through the beauty of films celebrating the environment, the Julian Wild & Scenic Film Festival promises to inspire activism and appreciation for the natural word. 

This weekend's May 5-6 festival in Julian, a historic gold rush mountain town, brings touring films from the famed Nevada City Wild and Scenic Film Festival. The fun debuts with a party tonight and another Saturday featuring lively tunes of Grand Canyon Sundown. Hikes on Volcan Mountain and in Santa Ysabel Preserve are also planned, as well as award-winning films, a non-fiction filmmakers workshop, and guest speakers.

Film highlights include Connecting the Gems, which tracks two National Geographic Adventures of the Year on a 520 mile trek through the Rockies’ premier wildlife corridors.  Chasing Water, winner of  Best Environmental Film and Best Documentary at other film fests, traces a Colorado watershed from river to the sea. 

LABOR COUNCIL SAYS NO ON “A” “B” AND “D”

 
By Nadin Abbott
 
May 4, 2012 (La Mesa) Evan McLaughlin from the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, speaking Wednesday night at the La Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club, urged El Cajon residents to vote “no” on Prop D, the charter city proposal. He also asked San Diego residents to vote against Prop A and Prop B.

 

STATE SCHOOLS CHIEF TOM TORLAKSON URGES LEGISLATURE TO PROTECT CHILD CARE

 
May 4, 2012 (San Francisco)  -- Joined by parents and teachers, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson called upon the Legislature to renew its commitment to quality early learning programs by rejecting more than $500 million in proposed budget cuts to California's child care and early learning programs.

 

MARKETING MATTERS: MARKETING WITH EVENTS

 
Tips and Tricks for Business Success and Growth
 
by Rama Beerfas
 
May 4, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) –  A powerful marketing tool that can elicit tremendous results when planned correctly, or can cause unexpectedly bad ramifications, is event marketing. This can be anything from an open house to a party to a sponsored stage event to a pop-up sampling and more.

MEDICARE CONSUMER GUIDE

 

May 4, 2012 (Menlo Park, CA) --  To help the nearly 50 million Medicare beneficiaries, families and caregivers make informed decisions about  health coverage, and millions more learn about Medicare before they become eligible, Kaiser Family Foundation has updated its online consumer guide with key information about the Medicare program, the benefits it provides, and the choices available.

 

AMERICAN TRIVIA: IT'S A GRAND OLD FLAG

 
May 4, 2012 (San Diego) -- San Diegans Richard Lederer and Caroline McCullagh are the proud parents of a bouncing baby book, American Trivia: What We All Should Know About U.S. History, Culture & Geography (Gibbs Smith Publisher, 2012). Over a span of a year, the co-authors will share with you their journey through American history. You can order inscribed and signed copies of the book by writing to richard.lederer@pobox.com.

 

SAVE ECPAC GROUP TAKES BACKSTAGE TOUR TO ASSESS THEATER'S CONDITION

May 3, 2012 (El Cajon) – It's been two years since the East County Performing Arts Center went dark.  But on Monday, a group of concerned citizens seeking to "Save ECPAC" took a behind-the-scenes tour last week to determine the extent of repairs needed to reopen the cherished community landmark. 

Although challenges are steep, the good news is that the cost for critical repairs appears to be significantly less than the estimates  provided by the city for a more ambitious renovation.

NUCLEAR DISASTER SURVIVORS AND EAST COUNTY RESIDENTS JOIN PROTEST AT SAN ONOFRE

 
By Nadin Abbott
 
May 3, 2012 (San Onofre)—Residents from across Southern California and as far away as Japan turned out for a protest at San Onofre this week to call for a permanent shut down of  nuclear reactors which have been offline since January 31 amid growing safety concerns following a steam leakage and discovery of cracked tubes. 
 
Yesterday, however Southern California Edison however announced its intent to bring the facilities back online by mid-June, if the Nuclear Regulary Commission grants approval. 

COMPASSION WITHOUT BORDERS: THE DALAI LAMA AT SDSU

 
"The Dalai Lama's response to oppression is not despair, but compassion." – Laurene Powell Jobs
 
Story and photos by Ron Logan
 
May 3, 2012 (San Diego) – For the first time ever, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, Tenzin Gyatso, made an appearance in San Diego to promote the theme of Compassion Without Borders.
 
His whirlwind two-day visit included speaking events at the University of California San Diego to discuss the global impact of climate change, at University of San Diego to lecture on the topic of cultivating peace and justice, and at San Diego State University to discuss upholding universal ethics and compassion in challenging times. 

¡CELÉBRATE! THE JEWISH EXPERIENCE IN SPANISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES

 
May 3, 2012 (San Diego) -- On three days in May, the Anti-Defamation League San Diego Regional Office with special support provided by the Consulate General of Mexico in San Diego will be presenting a festival of film, music, and lectures highlighting the historic, and contemporary journey of the Jewish people.

‘NOW THAT YOU’VE BEEN LAID OFF’ AT GROSSMONT COLLEGE’S CAREER CENTER ON MAY 9

 
May 3, 2012 (El Cajon) -- The Grossmont College Career Center’s Adult Reentry Program will host “Now That You’ve Been Laid Off,” a free seminar featuring tips on getting hired again, from 2 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 9, in Griffin Center, the new student center building, Building #60, Room #140, on the college campus. Admission is free.

 

15TH ANNUAL SAGE & SONGBIRDS FESTIVAL & GARDEN TOUR MAY 4-6

April 25, 2012 (Alpine) – The Center to Help Instill Respect & Preservation for Garden Wildlife, Inc. (CHIRP) is hosting the 15th Annual Alpine Sage & Songbirds Festival & Garden Tour May 4-6 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m at the Show Court at Viejas Outlets, 5000 Willows Road, Alpine.  This year’s theme is Waterwise & Butterflies and the garden tour will include 6 bird and butterfly friendly gardens, a place of worship habitat garden and a raptor rehabilitation facility.

CUYAMACA COLLEGE’S COYOTE MUSIC FESTIVAL LEAPS ON STAGE MAY 5

 
Free event put on by students as term project showcasing nine Southern California bands

May 2, 2012 (El Cajon) --A free music festival that is the culmination of a Cuyamaca College course on the music industry will feature nine bands rocking at the grand lawn at the Rancho San Diego college from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 5.

Now in its fourth year, the Cuyamaca College Coyote Music Festival is the end result of a semester-length project of students in the Music Industry Studies program.

COMMUNITY MOURNS LOSS OF NFL CHARGERS STAR JUNIOR SEAU

By Miriam Raftery

Flowers, banner at Junior Seau Sports Complex in La Mesa pay tribute to football legend

May 2, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) –East County and San Diego leaders reacted with shock and sadness to news that former Chargers star Junior Seau, 43, was found dead at his Oceanside home today of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.  

A former resident of Mt. Helix and supporter of local charities, Seau also frequently visited the Junior Seau Sports Complex at La Mesita Park in La Mesa that was named in his honor.

“He was always here for us,” La Mesa Art Madrid said, La Mesa Today reported.  “He was part of the family in this town.” 

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