Pattern has created an “imminent harm to public safety”, suit alleges
By Miriam Raftery
August 14, 2012 (Ocotillo) – The U.S. District Court in San Diego will hear a case filed by a group of Ocotillo residents, Community Advocates for Renewable Energy Stewardship [CARES] requesting a temporary restraining order to shut down construction on Pattern Energy’s Ocotillo Express wind project.
According to the suit, a Pattern Energy employee filed a declaration revealing that Pattern never engineered or submitted final grading plans. The wind developer claimed “very little actual grading” while in fact grading 149 acres of underground trenches, 286 acrsd of turbine pads and 42 miles of roads, some three times as wide as the project approvals allowed.
Plaintiffs allege that Pattern and the Bureau of Land Management “have created an imminent harm to public safety by approving the installation of the cheapest and weakest type of wind turbine foundation…without geotechnical or structural engineering to ensure compliance with State and Federal standards.”
August 13, 2012 (San Diego) -- Veteran and associate members of the San Diego Veterans For Peace will be launching a protest on Thursday, August 16 from 4-6 p.m.
San Diego County will unnecessarily lose hundreds of homes to wildfires this fall: An open letter to Cities' Councilmen, Supervisors, local State legislators, and activist groups
By John Scanlon
August 13, 2012 (San Diego)-- The Problem – We are past due for a repeat of the major fires in 2003 and 2007. There is an abundance of fuel in the back country after five years w/o a major fire. We are now in a very active fire season. July was the hottest it has been in the lower 48 since 1895. We continue to be grossly underfunded and under-prepared at all levels to handle another catastrophic fire season.
Update 5:30 p.m. - Evacuations are now mandatory due to spread of the Wilson Fire toward Ranchita. Reverse 911 calls have been made to 228 homes. An evacuation center has been set up by the Red Cross at Warner Springs High School, 30951 Highway 79. A large animal evacuation station has been established at Love Acre Ranch, 35490 Highway 79, Warner springs.
August 14, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Deerhorn Valley Antler reports that SDG&E fire mitigation grants will be available to those who lost homes in the 2007 fire after all. The utility had previously indicated that homeowners who had not rebuilt and are not living onsite cannot obtain funds.
While her remarks are tailored to Deerhorn Valley residents, Editor Kim Hamilton provides additional insights and updates of interest to many living along the Sunrise Powerlink. Here is her post:
August 14, 2012 (Spring Valley)- ECM recently visited a food distribution center at New Seasons church in Spring Valley that partners with Feeding America. Angela Kretschmar, who is in charge of the event at this distribution site, said that they have a food distribution center here because “this a home church that supports nonprofit.” Even Liz Landa from Feeding America came out to support this event.
August 14, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) -- Daren Sefcik photographed our own East County light show—the Perseid Meteor Shower illuminating the night sky above Blair Valley on August 11.
August 14, 2012 (Sacramento) —Assemblymember Marty Block (AD-78) today introduced Assembly Joint Resolution 46 urging the President and Congress to adopt an alternative spending plan to sequestration – automatic federal budget cuts of $1.2 trillion over 10 years scheduled to begin January 2013 because Congress has not achieved its budget targets.
“This measure is a plea to Congress for reason before it places the federal budget on automatic pilot, causing additional economic uncertainty and job loss in the San Diego region and across the nation,” Block said. “Congress would strike another body blow to our economic recovery if it allows sequestration to occur.”
August 14, 2012 (Boulevard)--Yep! Curious is my middle name. Some are curious about how to make things themselves, like woodworking, gardening, or handcrafts. Some are curious about how made stuff works, like mechanical, electrical, or electronics. Some are curious about bodies, like health practioners, or minds, like psychologists and psychiatrists. My own curiosity seems to be about seemingly random concepts and actions.
August 13, 2012 (Otay) – The Copper Canyon/Otay Mountain fire that started in Mexico has crossed the U.S. border and is currently 8 acres. No structures are threatened, Cal Fire reports. View a map:
Update 5:30 p.m. --There are multiple fires in the Vallecito Lightning Complex, the largest of these fires per Cal Fire are:
Vallecito Fire: 350 acres 0% contained South East of Julian, cause lightning
Wilson Fire: 600 acres 0% contained near Scissors crossing North East of Julian, cause lightning
Stewart Fire: 50 acres 0% contained near Scissors crossing North East of Julian, cause lightning
A reader advises that Pinyon Ridge is on fire between Shelter Valley and Ranchita (photo above, shot from Shelter Valley, shows Sentanec Cienega where Higwhay 78 enters Sentanec Canyon.
August 13, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – The Chihuahua Fire is 100% contained, after burning 2,007 acres according to Cal Fire’s final update.
Multiple new brush fires are burning in East County. Largest of these is the Vallecito Lightning Complexfire, which has charred 220 degrees and remains 0% contained. No structures are threatened.
August 13, 2012 (Santee) -- Around the world and here in East County, people are saying “yes” to the dress---a pillowcase dress. Sashay, spin, or strut in it! This dress is made out of a pillowcase (new or gently used).
Stubborn heat wave triggers another statewide Flex Alert; conservation critical!
August 13, 2012 (Folsom, Calif.) -- The week-long heat wave in California is picking up steam again and the mercury on the rise. A Flex Alert is in effect tomorrow and consumers are urged to reduce their energy use.
August 13, 2012 (San Diego) - East County Magazine editor Miriam Raftery was interviewed last week by KPBS radio regarding the County Supervisors' impending vote on Tule Wind and related issues.
August 13, 2012 (San Diego's East County) - The National Weather Service has isseud a flash flood warning for southeast San Diego County. Radar indicates flash flooding is occurring near the Live Oak Springs and Boulevard areas and other rural areas along the southern mountains. A lesser flash flood watch is in effect for a broader area that includes San Diego County deserts and mountain.
August 13, 2012 (Ocotillo) -- ECM photographer Jim Pelley shot this beautiful sunrise this morning from the yard at his home in Ocotillo.
Soon this dramatic landscape may be only a memory, vanished in the dust as towering ocotillo cacti are torn down and replaced by 112 wind turbines, each 500 feet tall.
August 12, 2012 (La Mesa)—A woman who claimed to be armed attempted to rob Cabrillo Credit Union at 7900 El Cajon Boulevard in La Mesa on August 9. The suspect, who wore a black and white polka dot scarf covering her head and face, left empty-handed after a teller refused to turn over the money.
August 12, 2012 (Lemon Grove) –The driver of a BMW who struck a bicycle last night at 9:48 p.m. lost control of his car and rolled over several times near Central Avenue and Federal Boulevard in Lemon Grove. He was partially ejected from his vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene, according to Sergeant Herbert Taft with the Lemon Grove Sheriff’s substation.
August 11, 2012 (San Diego) -- The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has issued a Boil Water Order and Public Notification for County Line BBQ and Cafe located at 23446 Highway 79, Warner Springs, CA 92086 effective immediately.
As a result of the boil water order, the restaurant has voluntary closed. The restaurant is situated close to the Chihuahua Fire currently burning in the area.
August 11, 2012 (El Cajon) -- Each year, Social Security announces the top baby names for boys and girls, based on Social Security card applications for babies born in the previous year. If you have children or you’re friends or relatives with those who do, chances are you might know a few babies with the “in” names.
Several San Diego icons strut the catwalk for charity on August 18, 2012
August 11, 2012 (San Diego) -- St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC) announced the lineup of celebrity models for its 35th Annual Haute With Heart Fashion Show today. On August 18, 2012 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel, San Diego icons including local news anchors, radio DJ’s and even a World Series winning baseball player will strut their stuff in the 35th Annual Haute With Heart Fashion Show. All proceeds from the fashion show, themed Let the Sunshine In, will benefit SMSC’s programs for nearly 400 adults with developmental disabilities.
Update: Flooding is reported in Campo on Buckman Springs Road and in the Warner Springs area, where a fire crew was briefly stranded, the National Weather Service reports. Largest storms have developed over Borrego Springs, Ranchita, Shelter Valley and Warner Springs.
August 11, 2012 (San Diego's East County) - A flood advisory has been issued at 4:40 pm. for San Diego mountains and deserts. Affected areas include Borrego Springs, Julian, Pine Valley, Agua Caliente Springs, Banner, Boulevard, Canebrake, Cuyamaca Peak, Live Oak Springs, Mount Laguna, Oak Grove, Ocotillo Wells, Ranchita, Santa Ysabel, Shelter Valley, Tierra Del Sol and Warner Springs.
Update August 11 5:30 p.m. - More than 500 lightning strikes have been reported countywide.
ECM reader Geoffrey Thomas sent us this reassuring eyewitness account from Chihuahua Valley: "Have surveyed the valley from a high vantage point and there is no smoke evident, especially at 30800 Chihuahua Valley Rd...We received and still are, multiple lightning strikes but due to volume of rain 0.2 inches in the last hour there doesn't appear to be anything igniting...There are no aircraft at all due to the severe thunder cells... Everything is very wet up here!"
By Miriam Raftery
August 13, 2012 (San Diego) -- Veteran and associate members of the San Diego Veterans For Peace will be launching a protest on Thursday, August 16 from 4-6 p.m.
By Rebecca J. Williamson
The Necromancers: Or Love Zombies of San Diego, by E.Z. Graves (Contemporary Instructional Concepts, San Diego, CA, 2012).
August 11, 2012 (San Diego) -- The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has issued a Boil Water Order and Public Notification for County Line BBQ and Cafe located at 23446 Highway 79, Warner Springs, CA 92086 effective immediately.
Recent comments