August 30, 2011 (Pala) - The Pala fire is 60% contained, with full containment expected today and complete control by tomorrow at 6 p.m. Thus far costs to fight the 300+ acre fire have exceeded $404,000, according to Cal-Fire spokesperson Roxanne Provaznik.
August 30, 2011 (Julian) -- Every September, the Julian Chamber of Commerce celebrates the harvest of the town’s grapes with a real, Old World-style grape stomp and festa at the Menghini Winery September 3 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. This grape stomp provides two barrels for stomping--one for adults and one for children.
Update 9 p.m. - The forward spread of the fire was stopped at 75 acres (downgraded from earlier estimates on acreage). A total of ten engines, 4 fire crews, 2 airtankers, 3 helicopters, 1 bulldozer, 2 water tenders, 3 Chief Officers and 100 firefighters have worked to battle the blaze, Cal-Fire reports.
August 28, 2011 (City Heights)—A shimmering dragon marched past, trailed by followers beating cymbals and carrying glow sticks. Hundreds of lanterns glowed softly against the night sky, accentuated by the streaming lights of carnival rides. I sampled Thai chicken-on-a-stick, along with fried bananas and yams—all at the third annual Lantern Festival in City Heights.
Update 11 p.m. – The Pala Fire is now 40% contained. A Red Cross Evacuation Center is set up at 12194 Pala Mission Road at the Jim Banks Sports Complex. Evacuation advisories have gone out to an additional 79 homes this evening within the following Thomas Bro. map pages/grids: page 999, grids G2 through G5, H2 through H5, J2 through J5 Page 409, D5 and E5 Total 79 numbers.
August 27, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – As I write this, the stock market is up.... sorry it's down... oops, I mean up.... no, it's down..... Yup, we are once again on that wacky roller coaster ride called, "The Economy."
While many businesses see this rock 'n' roll economy as a reason to cut back or eliminate marketing, I contend that is a knee-jerk response which will probably cause more problems than add to the bottom line.
Scholarship Luncheon to Benefit Julian High School Grads
August 28, 2011 (Julian) – The women of Julian have a long and proud history of community service dating to 1926, when Ada Hildreth gathered some of her friends and neighbors to form the Julian Woman’s Club, a chapter of the national Greater Federation of Women’s Clubs.
August 24, 2011 (San Diego) -- The Little Saigon Foundation, a local non-profit, hosts its second annual San Diego Lantern Festival and Street Fair August 26-28. Attendance is expected to be 20,000 – 30,000 guests. This year’s theme is “Light Up San Diego” and will feature nearly 6,000 traditional silk lanterns.
August 24, 2011 (San Diego's East County)--Local Democrats are rounding up voters, volunteers, elected officials, candidates and prospective candidates for local, state and federal offices for the Big Blue East County BBQ Roundup this Sunday, August 28.
August 27, 2011 (Santa Ysabel) – Two motorcyclists sustained serious injuries this afternoon in an accident on Highway 79 at School House Canyon, Incident Page Network reports.
The crash occurred at 1:12 p.m.; two victims were flown to a local hospital via medical helicopter.
August 27, 2011 (San Diego) – A Ford Explorer traveling northbound on Aldine Drive struck a curb while merging onto Fairmont Avenue and rolled over several times, San Diego Police report.
August 27, 2011 (Alpine) -- San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis announced first-degree murder convictions in a case where the defendants killed and robbed 73-year-old Eunice Cothron, the grandmother of one of defendants.
Update 8:30 p.m. (Barrett Junction)--Fire is now 100 acres with forward spread stopped for "several hours" according to Cal-Fire. Firefighters will be doing mop up through the night. Deerhorn Valley Antler reports approximately half of acreage is BLM land other half Cleveland Forest. 250 firefighters, 7 engines, 11 crews, 6 air tankers, 6 helicopters, 1 dozer, 4 water tenders. Air support returning to stations.
Update 2:15 p.m. - The fire is out, however some roads remain closed in the immediate vicinity.
August 27, 2011 (Ramona) 12:05 p.m. – A two-alarm fire is burning at the Craftstones company building at 505 Elm Street in Ramona. Incident Page Network reports chemical explosions have occurred and an evacuation of the area has just been ordered.
August 28, 2011 (San Diego) -- East County Magazine videographer Jack Winemiller has created this video tour of Mission Trails Regional Park. At over 6,150 acres, Mission Trails is larger than Balboa Park, New York's Central Park, and San Francisco's Golden Gate Park combined!
August 27, 2011 (Alpine) – Blossom and Delilah, two bears rescued from a closed zoo in Oklahoma have arrived at their new home at Lions, Tigers & Bears in Alpine.
The animals were destined to be sold to a game ranch where they could be hunted and killed if not for the intervention of Bobbi Brink, owner of LTB, a rescue facility in Alpine.
August 27, 2011 (Allied Gardens) – The public is invited to bring your blankets and low-backed chairs to enjoy a free showing of “Iron Man 2.” The “Movie at the Park” event will be held tonight starting at dusk at the Allied Gardens Recreation Center, 5155 Greenbrier Ave., in the Allied Gardens area of San Diego.
Millionaire offers help to Collier's widow who lost child, mother, and home
August 27, 2011 (El Cajon) – The San Diego Medical Examiner has confirmed the identities of three people found dead in a murder/suicide that also left an El Cajon police officer critically wounded.
August 27, 2011 (Alpine)—The Alpine and East County Rural Sheriff’s Stations will host a Community Permit & Licensing Awareness Forum on Thursday, September 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Blvd in Alpine.
August 22, 2011 (Julian, CA) -- Organizers of the fourth annual Julian StarFest announced the popular astronomy event will be held at the Menghini Winery from Thursday, Aug. 25 through Sunday, Aug. 28. Presented by the San Diego Astronomy Association and the community of Julian, the event draws thousands of Southern Californians to Julian to enjoy the dark skies.
August 26, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a flood advisory today for mountain areas in San Diego County. Strong and persistent thunderstorms are occurring with heavy rainful just west of the Eagle Fire burn scar between Anza Borrego and Warner Springs.
August 26, 2011 (San Diego) 6:15 p.m. – Multiple agencies have received reports of a strong natural gas odor in coastal areas all the way from Imperial Beach in the South Bay to San Diego's North County, Incident Page Network reports. An investigation is underway to find the source.
August 26, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – CalTrans announces a full closure of the southbound 125 connector to westbound Interstate 8 on Sunday morning from 3-10 a.m. Closure is needed to allow crews to safely perform repairs.
Detour signs will direct traffic onto Grossmont Blvd. to northbound SR-125, then to westbound I-8.
August 30, 2011 (Julian) -- Every September, the Julian Chamber of Commerce celebrates the harvest of the town’s grapes with a real, Old World-style grape stomp and festa at the Menghini Winery September 3 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. This grape stomp provides two barrels for stomping--one for adults and one for children.
By Miriam Raftery
August 27, 2011 (Alpine)—The Alpine and East County Rural Sheriff’s Stations will host a Community Permit & Licensing Awareness Forum on Thursday, September 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Blvd in Alpine.
August 26, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – CalTrans announces a full closure of the southbound 125 connector to westbound Interstate 8 on Sunday morning from 3-10 a.m. Closure is needed to allow crews to safely perform repairs.
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