SOLAR ECLIPSE VIEWING PARTY

ATMOSPHERIC RIVER TO DRENCH REGION OVER EASTER WEEKEND

GROSSMONT HIGH SCHOOL BOARD SLASHES STAFFING, OVER OBJECTIONS OF VOCAL CROWD

CONSUMER ALERT FOR SAFELY FILING YOUR TAXES

VIEW OUR INTERVIEW: LA MESA ACTIVISTS OBJECT TO CITY COUNCIL BANNING REMOTE PARTICIPATION

WINTER STORM WARNING

EASTER BRUNCH AND EGG HUNT MARCH 30 IN EL CAJON

BIA SAN DIEGO PARTNERS WITH WORKFORCECONNECT TO UTILIZE JOBS PLATFORM, WHILE ADDRESSING CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WORKFORCE SHORTAGE

RECENT FIRE DEATHS HEIGHTEN CALLS FOR FIRE PROTECTION BALLOT MEASURE IN SANTEE

MISSION TRAILS REGIONAL PARK COMMUNITY NIGHT SLATED FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 4

COUNTRY MUSIC LEGEND TANYA TUCKER LIVE AT THE MAGNOLIA MAY 19

UNOFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS SHOW FLIPS IN TWO KEY RACES HOLDING

EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: TOP LOCAL AND STATE NEWS

 
March 8, 2012 --  (San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media.  This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:    
 
 
 
 
 
STATE
  • Jerry Brown pushes his tax proposal
  • Redevelopment demise leaves CA housing money in limbo (Sacramento Bee)
 
LOCAL
  • Scripps warning on Statin-induced diabetes (UT San Diego)
  • Would you buy gas in Mexico? It’s $2.91 a gallon  (UT San Diego)
  • Barona Fire Captain arrested on molestation charges (UT San Diego)
  • Madrid opposes county taxes to help build Chargers Stadium (La Mesa Patch)
  • Poway reps to oppose water rate increases (Pomerado News)
  • Bonnie buys some open government cred (CityBeat)
  • SDG&E helicopter has hard landing (10 News)
  • Tire surcharge funds paving projects that use old tires (KPBS) 
 
Scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories. 

LA MESA SEEKS VETERANS TO VOLUNTEER FOR AGING AND VETERANS COMMITEE

March 8, 2012 (La Mesa)--The City of La Mesa seeks  two veterans to serve on the newly reorganized Aging and Veterans Commission.

Applicants must live within La Mesa city limits and be either an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. armed forces, an active duty armed forces member serving in a civilian capacity, or a member of a veterans service organization based in La Mesa which is federally chartered and/or recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs for claim representation.

THIS LAND WAS YOUR LAND: EAST COUNTY SUFFERS LOSS OF OUR PUBLIC PROPERTIES

 

 

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

March 1, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – What are the cumulative impacts on our region from the loss of federal, state and county public lands?  In the span of just  a few short years, we’ve lost vast tracts of our most beautiful properties once set aside by the federal, state and county governments as preserves for future generations. Wildfires, budget cuts, and now, massive energy projects are destroying our region's scenic wonders. 

 East County Magazine has sent our photographers into the wilds of San Diego’s East County, as well as just over the border into neighboring Imperial County, to document the destruction of our inland treasures. 

EDGEMOOR UNVEILED A NEW COMMUNITY GARDEN

March 8, 2012 (Santee) -- County officials and community partners unveiled the new volunteer garden at Edgemoor in Santee yesterday.

The volunteer garden, located at 255 Park Center Dr., is open to both community residents and County staff to increase access to fresh produce and physical activity. Residents of Edgemoor, will be involved in the garden through the Recreational Therapy Unit.

CONGRESSIONAL ENDORSEMENTS ANNOUNCED BY LA MESA FOOTHILLS DEMOCRATIC CLUB

 

Saldaña wins endorsement after impassioned pledge to fight for women’s rights; Secor gains unanimous support

By Miriam Raftery

March 8, 2012 (La Mesa) – The largest Democratic Club in East County last night heard from candidates running for Congress, State Legislature, and local offices before holding endorsement votes.

Former Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña received overwhelming endorsement over ex-Council president Scott Peters by a 48-7 vote. Both are running in the new 52nd Congressional District against incumbent Republican Brian Bilbray. 

THE DESERT’S PAST COMES ALIVE AT “VALLECITO DAYS” MARCH 10, 11 WITH CIVIL WAR REENACTORS

 March 1, 2012 (Julian) -- Imagine making a brutal desert crossing on a San Diego-bound stagecoach and coming to a station with water, food and the first sign of greenery for miles.  Or marching east across the desert during the Civil War as a Union volunteer from California, determined to reach Arizona or New Mexico to halt invading Confederates. 

 
Scenes like these from the 1850s and 1860s frontier will come to life at the sixth annual “Vallecito Days” at Vallecito Stage Station County Park Saturday, March 10 and Sunday, March 11. The festival runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.

 

FATHER AND TEEN DAUGHTER FOUND DEAD IN CAMPO HOME

Update March 8, 2012: The deceased have been identified as Jim Simmons, 41, and Donna Simmons, 16.

March 6, 2012 (Campo) – Yesterday morning, Sheriff’s deputies discovered the bodies of a man and his 16-year-old daughter at a home in the 2600 block of Cameron Truck Trail in Campo. 

“The reporting party told deputies that he read a text message on his phone,”  Sgt. David Martinez said. The message, from the father found dead, “essentially read that the man’s daughter committed suicide and the man was going to be with his daughter.”

HUMANE SOCIETY LEADS EFFORT TO OUST CA FISH & GAME PRESIDENT OVER MOUNTAIN LION SHOOTING

March 6, 2012 (Sacramento) -- In January, California Fish and Game Commission president Dan Richards shot a mountain lion on a guided hunt in Idaho, after dogs drove the big cat up a tree. A guide took a picture of Richards smiling as he held up the slain animal. Richards sent it to a hunting newspaper, which posted the photo.

CONGRESSWOMAN SUSAN DAVIS FILES TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION IN NEW 53RD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT; POPADITCH TO OPPOSE

 

March 8, 2012 (San Diego)-- Upon filing the necessary paperwork with the San Diego County Registrar of Voters, Congresswoman Susan Davis qualified for the 2012 ballot making it official that she will be running for re-election in the newly drawn 53rd Congressional District.

 

SAN DIEGO STATE MEN’S AND WOMEN’S BASKETBALL HEAVILY REPRESENTED ON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS

 
Aztecs Sweep Player of the Year and Coach of the Year Awards
 
By Ryan Schuler
 
March 8, 2012 (San Diego)--Everyone knew the San Diego State men’s and women’s basketball teams had great seasons. Both won regular-season titles and are No. 1 seeds heading into this week’s Mountain West Tournament in Las Vegas, Nev.

 

LA MESA ANNOUNCES "MEMORIES TO BE MADE" SUMMER CAMPS FOR KIDS

March 8, 2012 (La Mesa)-- Do you have a budding artist or a child that loves to act?  What about your sports enthusiast or do they love to work with wood and tools?  La Mesa Community Services is offering these 12 “memories-to-be-made” camps to put a smile on children's faces. Camps are offered for ages four years and up:  

 *Art Smarts Art Camp, *Arts and Crafts Camp, *Creative Theatre Camp, *Day Camp, *Engineering Camp, *Fencing Camp, *Flag Football Camp, *FRESHi Filmmaking Camp, *Jump Rope Camp, *Mad Science Camp, *Tennis Camp and * Woodworking Camp.

ATARA-BAKER: AFRICAN MASK SERIES PAINTINGS, COLLAGE & SCULPTURE

 
Meet the Artist Thursday March 15, 5 pm to 8 pm
 
March 8, 2012 (La Mesa)--Israeli-born artist Atara-Baker has brought her African Mask Series to O'Dunn Fine Art in La Mesa. This body of work centers on color and the primeval, inspired by the integrated tribal lifestyle and artifacts of the original South Africans, the San people of the Kalahari.

 

AZTECS SOFTBALL SCORES A WIN IN WALK-OFF FASHION

 
SDSU Downs Old Conference Foe BYU, 1-0
 
By Ryan Schuler
 
March 8, 2012 (San Diego)--For six and a half innings, the game remained scoreless. It was an old-fashioned pitcher’s duel: San Diego State’s Rebecca Arbino versus BYU’s Hannah Howell, squaring off at the SDSU softball stadium on March 1. Not until the bottom of the seventh inning did the first run of the game cross the plate. It proved the gam
e-winning run. 

JONES BILL WOULD GIVE CONSUMERS ACCESS TO PUBLIC NOTICES ONLINE

 

By Miriam Raftery

March 8, 2012 (Sacramento) –An antiquated California law written before the Internet was invented restricts the running of public notices to only print newspapers.  Today, with the majority of Americans seeking out news online, Assemblyman Brian Jones (R-Santee) has introduced legislation to update the law and allow online media outlets to publish public notices such as new business announcements.

“AB 1902 will provide residents greater access to legal notices, and will more appropriately fulfill the intent of the law to insure the public is adequately made aware of public notices,” a fact sheet on the bill provided by Jones’ office states.   “Permitting online publications to sell and post public notices is a reasonable response to changing technology."

HOW THE U.S. MILITARY IS GOING GREEN

 

By Miriam Raftery

March 7, 2012 (San Diego)—The U.S. military is tackling a major battle: striving to rely on renewable energy to meet half of all energy that it uses by 2020. 

“That’s a tall order,” Captain Marko Medved, Operations Officer for Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest.  Marko spoke last weekend at Forging a Sustainable Future, a two-day symposium sponsored by UnitedGREEN.  Captain Medved’s job? Makinge the military bases of the Southwest energy efficient.   That’s over one million acres—and he reports, “We’ve made significant gains.”

TOYOTA RECALLS CERTAIN CAMRY, VENZA AND TACOMA VEHICLES

Warning lamp and switch failures may cause airbag failure or inability to start vehicle

March 8, 2012 (Torrance, CA)– Toyota Motor Sales, USA announced yesterday that it will conduct two voluntary safety-related recalls. 

One involves air bag warning lamps that may fail, preventing deployment of airbags in a crash. The second is a stop lamp switch that may result in vehicles behind unable to start or shift out of park.

CA ATTORNEY GENERAL & ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS SUE SANDAG OVER REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN

 

By Megan McGlamery

March 8, 2012 (San Diego)—“Our biggest challenge is to stabilize climate change,” Mike Bullock, chairman of the Transportation Committee for Sierra Club’s San Diego chapter, told attendees at the Forging a Sustainable Future Conference hosted by UnitedGREEN at San Diego State University last weekend. 

To accomplish that, the state has set ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions--and mandated that counties reduce driving and encourage public transportation. 

But the San Diego Association of Government (SANDAG) failed to meet those goals in a Regional Transportation Plan(RTP) that it approved last fall. Now, California Attorney General Kamala Harris has joined with the Sierra Club, the Cleveland National Forest Foundation, and other environmental groups to sue SANDAG. 

THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER – A MUSICAL PRODUCTION BY YOUNG ACTORS’ THEATER – MARCH 16 – 25

 
March 7, 2012 (Spring Valley) -- The classic novel by Mark Twain is brought to stage in song and dance at the Encore! Theatre at 9620 Campo Road, Spring Valley, on March 16 – 25. Performances will be at 7 p.m. on March 16, 17, 23, 24 and at 2 p.m. on March 17, 18, 24, 25.

“ALL ABOARD!” AT CAMPO RAILROAD MUSEUM AS THE CHEFS FIRE UP THE IRON HORSE MARCH 24

 

March 7, 2012 (Campo) -- The Chefs de Cuisine and Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo are celebrating over fifty years of service to the San Diego community, together with The San Diego County Vintners Association. This savory event will be at the Campo Railroad Museum, located at State Highway 94 and Forrest Gate Road in Campo from 12:00--5:00 p.m. on March 24.

 

PARADISE PLUNDERED: BOOK REVEALS POLITICAL MISMANGEMENT HAS LEFT SAN DIEGO REGION STILL VULNERABLE TO CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRE

 
By Walter G. Meyer
 
What residents of East County are likely to find most frightening in this book is how the head-in-the-sand attitude left—and still leaves—the entire region vulnerable to the next firestorm. Erie and his co-authors make clear that almost nothing has been done to make the inevitable fire any less cataclysmic. – Walter G. Meyer
 
March 7, 2012 (San Diego)--Paradise Plundered is not a fun read. Far from it. The book will likely leave the reader angry at past mismanagement by San Diego elected officials and frustrated at mistakes that local government seems about to make--with little likelihood that they will avoid the same pitfalls that have dotted San Diego’s landscape like potholes left unfilled due to budget cuts. 

VETERAN WITH POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) DEPARTS ON 3,800 MILE CROSS COUNTRY BICYCLE RIDE MARCH 10 IN LA MESA

 

March 7, 2012 (La Mesa)--Tom Skinner, an Army veteran, will depart on Saturday. March 10, 2012 at 9:00 A.M. from the United Church of Christ, 5940 Kelton Avenue, La Mesa on 117-day cross country ride covering over 3,800 miles ending at White River Junction, Vermont the National PTSD Headquarters.

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH INFORMATION NIGHT PRESENTED BY LA MESA POLICE MARCH 8

 

March 7, 2012 (La Mesa) -- On March 8, 2012, the La Mesa Police Department will be hosting an informational meeting on how to start Neighborhood Watch. This meeting is open to the public and will outline the process of forming a new Watch group.

 

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