People Encouraged to Protect their Properties, Keep Roadways and Storm Drains Clear

December 12, 2012 (San Diego County)--Winter rain is on its way, and San Diego County’s Department of Public Works (DPW) is once again giving away free sandbags to people in unincorporated communities to help them protect their homes, neighborhoods and streets from flooding, erosion, mud and debris flows.

December 11 2012 (La Mesa)—In this centennial year, La Mesa’s annual Christmas in the Village celebration will also feature a holiday parade.  The parade will roll down La Mesa Boulevard at 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, December 14 at 15. 

During the celebration, the entire downtown village transforms into a winter wonderland complete with horse-drawn carriages and bonfires, strolling minstrels, carolers and street entertainers.  Kids will also enjoy puppet shows, carnival and pony rides, and visits with Santa.

Neighbor who reported fire says rooster crowing alerted him to the blaze

By Miriam Raftery

December 9, 2012 (La Mesa) – “It sounded like really big thunder,” ECM writer and La Mesa resident Ariele Brooks said of propane tank explosions that damaged the exterior of Gingham’s Restaurant on La Mesa Boulevard downtown.  “First my back door rattled two times about 5 or 10 minutes apart…Nothing was out there, so I thought maybe it was an explosion.  But then there was this very loud sound.”

Another neighbor, Bob James, told La Mesa Today that a rooster crowing awakened him. Spotting flames, he called 911.  "The rooster is a hero!" he proclaimed. (No word on whether the plucky foul who saved the downtown village will sway councilmembers on the merits of owning roosters, which is currently prohibited in La Mesa.)

By Miriam Raftery

December 8, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)—The public’s right to know what’s on the agenda for local government boards is now fully restored--thanks to a provision tucked within the fine print of Proposition 30, the tax measure to aid schools passed by voters in November.  

Back in July, the cash-strapped California Legislature suspended a section of the Brown Act that required local government boards to post agendas at least 72 hours before a meeting.  Because the law required the state to reimburse local governments for such costs, the state simply eliminated citizens’ right to know what actions government bodies had scheduled.

“Since the election, the Brown Act mandate is fully back in force and agencies can no longer claim reimbursement for mandated costs.  That's a side effect of the passage of Prop 30,” Terry Francke, general counsel at Californians Aware (CALAWARE) told ECM.

December 6, 2012  (Campo)--A mouse trapped in Campo during routine monitoring has tested positive for the potentially deadly hantavirus, officials from the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health said Thursday.

County officials said it was normal to find rodents carrying hantavirus in San Diego County, but that they rarely posed a threat to people if they remained in the wild. However, they said people should protect themselves whenever cleaning up after rodents if they found them in their homes or on their properties.

December 8, 2012 (La Mesa)--East County freeways are socked in by fog described as "pea soup" by ECM journalist Paul Kruze. Kruze reports zero visibility at 10:10 p.m. through La Mesa including the junction of Interstate 8 and State Route 125. Kruze said he relied on speed bumps to avoid going off the roadway due to the thick fog.

The National Weather Service has forecast heavy fog for tonight across much of the county, as well as high winds.  Avoid driving if possible and be sure to use low beam settings on your headlights if you encounter fog.

San Diego’s County Clerk “ready to respond immediately”; marriages could resume soon if court finds Prop 8 challengers lack legal standing to appeal

By Miriam Raftery

December 7, 2012 (Washington D.C.) – The U.S. Supreme Court today announced that it will review  two cases involving same-sex marriage, including an appeal by petitioners seeking to overturn Proposition 8 including former San Diego State Senator Dennis Hollingsworth. 

California voters initially voted to legalize same-sex marriage, but later passed Proposition 8 which banned same-sex marriages. California’s Attorney General refused to appeal Prop 8 to the Supreme Court after the 9th circuit court of appeal found it unconstitutional. Thus other petitioners appealed including Hollingsworth, leader of the group Protect Marriage, asking the high court to strike down the 9th court ruling.

Firefighters removed 500 tons of trash to extinguish the blaze 

By Nadin Abbott and Miriam Raftery

Photos by Billy Ortiz and Nadin Abbott; view video by Billy Ortiz

December 7, 2012 (El Cajon) -- A large fire is now under control at a Waste Management facility at 1001 West Bradley Avenue near Gillespie Field in El Cajon. 

"There are flames shooting out of a big pile of trash," Councilman Gary Kendrick told ECM shortly after the fire was reported at 5:48 p.m. to Heartland Fire dispatch.  "It smells pretty bad and there is a lot of smoke."  The facility is a transfer station, he said, adding that a large number of emergency vehicles are at the scene.

December 9, 2012 (El Cajon)--Where else can you have fun, and do great things for kids at the same time? Sign up for the December 12 golf tournament at Cottonwood Golf Club, and bring an unwrapped toy for East County Toy and Food Drive. For a fee of $49.00, the tournament includes:

Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa Brings Holiday Fun to Easter Seals & Local Children

December 13, 2012, (San Diego)--The Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa hosted their 6th Annual Tree of Hope Celebration and Christmas Carnival for Easter Seals Southern California and San Diego County children and adults with disabilities on Saturday, December 8.The guests and their families were treated to an afternoon of visits with Santa & Mrs. Claus, dancing with elves, crafts, cookie decorating and carnival games.  Guests also enjoyed seasonal treats such as hot chocolate, popcorn, hot pretzels, cookies and cider all compliments of the Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa.

East County residents Mary & Megan Alexander and members of  Lakeside Girl Scout Troop 6398 visited with some of Santa’s elves

Money spent on lavish personal expenditures as well as community causes

By Miriam Raftery

December 6, 2012 (El Cajon) – “What I did was so shameful, and I will have to live with what I did for the rest of my life,” former El Cajon Councilwoman Jillian Hanson-Cox stated tearfully at her sentencing hearing last Monday.  Federal judge Michael Anello sentenced her to 30 months in prison after she admitted embezzling money from her former employer and failing to report the income to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  Hanson-Cox is also ordered to pay more than $3.6 million in restitution to her ex-employer, Century Design Inc. (CDI) and another $1.2 million to the U.S. Treasury. 

“While embezzling millions of dollars from CDI, former Councilwoman Hanson-Cox not only traded on her reputation as a public official but also betrayed every citizen who expected her to act honestly in both her private and public affairs,” said U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy.

December 7, 2012 (San Diego) – Guests from more than 20 nations were on hand as Elizabeth Lou, founder and CEO of Nile Sisters in San Diego, received the prestigious Eleanor Roosvelt humanitarian award from the United Nations Association USA in San Diego. 

The award, presented at the Asmara Eritrean & Ethiopian Restaurant in San Diego in October, recognizes Lou’s dedicated work to help refugee women in our region. Accepting the award from UNA San Diego President Karen Longstreth, Lou said the award honors all supporters of the Nile Sisters.

East County Magazine has previously profiled Lou's remarkable achievements in a September 15, 2011 story:

Memorial service planned December 8 in Lakeside

December 6, 2012 (San Diego's East County) – Maria Ines Heimpel, who taught  languages for more than three decades at Helix High School in La Mesa and volunteered for humanitarian causes in San Diego and Tijuana, died peacefully in her home on November 27, 2012.

Her lifelong concern for those in need led to her involvement with a clinic and an orphanage in Tijuana. She also participated as an interpreter with the Mercy Outreach Surgical Team, a group of doctors performing free surgical procedures for poor children in Mexico.

“She was a people person and as a teacher, genuinely interested in each of her students, going out of her way to help them,” fellow teacher and  friend Jean Costa said.  “She was a positive influence on the lives of so many young people and on the lives of people who knew her.”