ANIMAL ADVOCATES CELEBRATE HOUSING COMMISSION DROPPING PROPOSED NEW LIMIT ON PET OWNERSHIP

COUNTY WINS NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS

LA MESA CITY COUNCIL APPROVES RENOVATIONS FOR GROSSMONT CENTER

ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

SAN DIEGO NAMED CANDIDATE HOST CITY FOR INVICTUS GAMES 2029

STATE PARKS PHOTO CONTEST RUNNING THROUGH SEPT. 30

GROCERY WORKERS AT RALPHS, ALBERTSONS, VONS, AND PAVILIONS VOTE TO RATIFY NEW CONTRACTS

SUNCREST TRUCK TRAIL NOT A VIABLE OPTION FOR FIRE EVACUATION ROUTE IN CREST, ACCORDING TO FIRE OFFICIALS

ADVANCING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES: INSIDE THE BINGE AND UNDERAGE DRINKING INITIATIVE’S 2025 ANNUAL STATUS REPORT FOR COUNTY

DEAF MONGOLIAN IMMIGRANT HELD BY ICE IN OTAY MESA FOR MONTHS WITHOUT ACCESS TO INTERPRETER

HEALTH AND SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS

WALMART RECALLING OZARK STAINLESS STEEL WATER BOTTLES

USING RADAR TO CONTROL WIND TURBINES AND REDUCE BIRD KILLS: DOES IT WORK?



By Serena Scaglione and Miriam Raftery

April 22, 2012 (Ocotillo)-One of the major criticisms of wind energy facilities is the deadly impact of the fast-whirling blades on birds.  Most notoriously, thousands of golden eagles have been killed at the Altamont wind farm; however significant numbers of bird deaths have occurred at many other wind facilities.

Now, wind farm developers are touting radar systems similar to those used by the U.S. Air Force and NASA.  In aviation, the technology detects large flocks of incoming birds and is sold to avoid bird collisions with aircraft.  At wind facilities, avian radar in theory offers the potential reduce bird kills by shutting off turbines before birds reach the blades. 

Just how effective these systems are at wind facilities, however, remains debatable.

FUNDRAISER APRIL 25 IN SANTEE FOR INJURED BICYCLIST GRANT FISHER

April 22, 2012 (Santee) -- Join family and friends of Grant Fisher on April 25 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Joe’s Old Fashion BBQ, 205 Town Center Parkway, Santee to help raise funds for his financial recovery. 

Fisher, a San Diego County Credit Union employee, has spent most of this year confined to a hospital bed recovering after he was run over by an elderly driver in the bike lane of Sorrento Valley Boulevard during a lunchtime bike ride.

APPELLATE COURT SUMMARILY DENIES MWD WRIT PETITION TO PREVENT DISCOVERY IN WATER RATE CASE

 
April 22, 2012 (San Diego) -- California’s 1st Appellate District Court of Appeal Thursday summarily denied a writ petition by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California seeking to prevent discovery in a lawsuit filed by the San Diego County Water Authority challenging MWD’s 2011 and 2012 rates.  MWD filed the writ petition March 6, 60 days after San Francisco Superior Court Judge Richard Kramer granted a motion by the Imperial Irrigation District and the Water Authority to permit discovery in the case.

 

REVAMPING THE RADIO DIAL: MORE LOCAL PROGRAMMING ON THE HORIZON

San Diego Community Radio Project also gets set to launch from Descanso; seeks funds and volunteers
 
By Miriam Raftery
 
April 21, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) –“Every once in a while, government does something that is not only good news, but refreshing,” local author and former public radio producer Walter Carlin said of last month’s decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to open the airwaves up for community radio stations, rather than reserving that space for mega-networks with concentrated ownership and opinion-shaping power.
 
The decision, however, presents a new challenge, Carlin notes. “Can and will local radio respond?”

READER’S EDITORIAL: CAN THE UT FAIRLY COVER EL CAJON’S SCHEME TO TEAR DOWN ECPAC?

 

 By Art Lane
 
April 14, 2012 (El Cajon)--So just how independent will the San Diego Union-Tribune (now reincarnated as the “San Diego U-T”) be when it comes to covering news stories involving local real estate project developers? This whole question may be borne out in El Cajon in coming months, when the city council considers a proposal by Lakeside developer Neal Arthur to raze the historically management-and-fiscally troubled East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC) and in its place build a four story, 107 room “luxury” (business class) hotel managed by Courtyard by Marriott.

Citizens have started a website to save the theater at  www.SaveECPAC.org 

RATTLESNAKE STRIKES TODDLER IN DEERHORN VALLEY

Family vehicle breaks down on way to hospital; officials offer tips for what to do if  bitten

April 21, 2012 (Deerhorn Valley) –San Miguel Fire has issued a reminder to the public about the importance of calling 9-1-1 if you or a family member is bitten by a rattlesnake. The warning comes after a two-year-old boy was struck by a rattler while playing in the yard at his Deerhorn Valley home today.

His parents put the boy in their car and his mother dialed 9-1-1 on her cell phone while heading to a hospital. But a flat tire en route could have ended in tragedy. 

100 YEARS YOUNG: LA MESAN FRANK READ RECALLS A BYGONE ERA AS HE SHARES CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION

By Miriam Raftery

April 21, 2012 (La Mesa) – La Mesa resident Frank Read, former proprietor of Read Pharmacy, celebrated his 100th birthday in November 2011—shortly before the city of La Mesa ushered in its centennial year in 2012. 

In an exclusive interview with East County Magazine, he shared boyhood memories of our region—and recollections of his many adventures along the roads he’s traveled in his extended life.

NEW FILM HIGHLIGHTS IMPACTS OF MEDIA CONSOLIDATION ON LOCAL RADIO

“Save KLSD” film showings April 28 and May 19

By Miriam Raftery

April 21, 2012 (San Diego) – How does media consolidation impact American democracy?   The producers of the new documentary film Save KLSD: Media Consolidation and Local Radio present a case study suggesting that politics, not ratings, forced the San Diego region’s only progressive talk radio station off the air.

Two screenings of the film will be followed by question and answer sessions with producers John Monday and Jennifer C. Douglas, as well as radio host/narrator Jon Elliott and Shaun Spaulding of New Media Rights. 

IN THE SWIM: STEELE CANYON HIGH SCHOOL DEDICATES NEW AQUATICS FACILITY

School officials conduct a ribbon-cutting ceremony to honor the completion of the new pool 

April 21, 2012 (Spring Valley) -- Officials from Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) and Steele Canyon High School celebrated the completion of the new aquatics facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 17. The Steele Canyon High School Aquatics Facility is the third and final pool completed in the district this year.  

WEST NILE VIRUS AWARENESS WEEK DECLARED APRIL 22-28

San Diego County Has Fared Well, but Residents Need to Stay Vigilant

April 21, 2012 (San Diego) -- With warmer weather and mosquito season fast-approaching, California legislators have declared April 22-28 “West Nile virus and Mosquito & Vector Control Awareness” week, reminding us all to be smart and protect ourselves from the potentially-fatal disease.

STRIKE! BOWLING FOR CHARITY MAY 11

April 21, 2012 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club is sponsoring its annual Bowling Tournament on May 11, 6:00 p.m. at Parkway Bowl, 1280 Fletcher Parkway, El Cajon.  All funds raised will benefit the programs of the La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Foundation which includes the Lexington Ave. Peace Patrol, support for local foster families, literacy and nutrition programs locally and abroad, bringing clean water to a village in Kenya and more.

ANDREW MCALLISTER APPOINTED TO CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION

California Center for Sustainable Energy director tapped by Gov. Brown

April 21, 2012 (San Diego) -- Governor Edward G. Brown Jr. announced the appointment of Andrew McAllister of San Diego to the California Energy Commission on April 12. McAllister, 46, has held several positions with the San Diego-based California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE) since 2005, most recently as interim managing director. 

DRY LIGHTINING, CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS FORECAST FOR MOUNTAINS

 

Triple-digit temperatures forecast for local deserts

April 21, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a  Fire Weather forecast indicating a chance of thunderstorms as well as dry lightning over East County mountains Monday afternoon and early evening. 

Dry lightning, which occurs without rainfall, poses a greater risk of sparking wildfires than lightning during a rainstorm. However, the potential for a large fire remains low locally due to lack of strong winds. 

ALL CITY AUDITIONS DRAW ASPIRING ACTORS THROUGHOUT COUNTY

 
April 21, 2012 (San Diego) -- When you think of an audition, you probably imagine scores of actors vying for a precious few roles. But at the annual Actors Alliance of San Diego’s All City Auditions, held on March 26 at Old Town’s Cygnet Theater, a rare opportunity was provided to approximately 135 professional actors countywide to show what they had to offer to more than 60 local directors who were casting for upcoming projects.

GROSSMONT COLLEGE PRESENTS `ENTRANCES AND EXITS’ DANCE CONCERTS APRIL 26-28

 
April 20, 2012 (San Diego) -- The Grossmont College Dance Department will present "Entrances and Exits," a faculty-choreographed dance concert featuring performances by Grossmont College students performing salsa, tap, ballet, contemporary, modern and hip dancing. Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 26, Friday, April 27 and Saturday, April 28.

WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN 19TH ANNUAL SPRING GARDEN FESTIVAL APRIL 28

 

April 21, 2012 (El Cajon) -- Join the Water Conservation Garden, the Heritage of the Americas Museum and the Ornamental Horticulture Department at Cuyamaca College on Saturday, April 28  from 9a.m. to 4p.m. as they present the 19 th Annual Spring Garden Festival.

This year’s theme is “Urban Farming” and will include experts on raising urban chickens, beekeeping and vegetable gardening. Garden professionals will be on hand to answer the most puzzling gardening and landscape design questions, the college will offer horticulture demonstrations along with its biggest plant sale of the year and the museum will offer free tours throughout the day.  Plus, live music and dance, an international food court and animal encounters for the kids make this a fun, family-friendly event.

GROSSMONT COLLEGE FRIENDS OF MUSIC TO HOST FUNDRAISER APRIL 28

 
April 21, 2012 (El Cajon) -- The Grossmont College Friends of Music will host its second annual Friends of Music Gala fundraiser to benefit the Grossmont College Symphony and Master Chorale from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 28, at Griffin Center, Grossmont College’s new Student Center.

 

PARENTS URGED TO MAKE SURE INFANTS GET VACCINES

 
April 21-28 is National Infant Immunization Week

April 21, 2012 (San Diego County) -- There  are 14 childhood diseases that could sicken children. The good news is that all of them can be prevented by vaccines. April 21-28 is National Infant Immunization Week which was created in 1994 to remind parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers to ensure infants are fully immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases.

POLICE SEEK MISSING SUICIDAL MAN

April 21, 2012 (San Diego)—San Diego Police are seeking a missing man believed at risk. Hassan Haft, 62, threatened to commit suicide by overdosing with medication, according to a bulletin issued by SDPD.   Hassan is described as an Iranian man with grey hair and hazel eyes, 5 feet 11 inches tall, 210 pounds with a medium build.

STUDENT FOUND DEAD AT SDSU FRATERNITY IDENITIFIED AS SANTEE RESIDENT

 

April 20, 2012 (San Diego) – The County Medical Examiner has identified Barzeen Barzanji, 20, a student from Santee as the man found dead this morning at a San Diego State University fraternity house. 

A 2009 graduate of West Hills High School, Barzanji planned to graduate next year from SDSU and worked as a waiter at P.F. Chang's restaurant, according to his Facebook page.

FAMILY OF ANASTASIO ROJAS TO WATCH BRUTALITY VIDEO WITH THE COMMUNITY APRIL 20

April 20, 2012 (San Diego) – San Diego resident Anastasio Hernandez Rojas was beaten and Tasered to death in a 2010 incident involving Border Patrol.  Tonight at 7:30 p.m. members of his family, civic and faith leaders will gather to watch new footage on “Need to Know”, a film that will raise the issue of border brutality to national attention.

CITIZENS BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ISSUES ANNUAL REPORT ON HOSPITAL BOND EXPENDITURES

 
April 20, 2012  (La Mesa) -- A volunteer citizens group that is overseeing how the taxpayer-supported Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is spending millions of dollars in voter-approved public financing for infrastructure improvement construction projects at Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa has issued its 2011 Annual Report to the Community.

 

PADRE DAM BOARD APPROVES NEW MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING WITH EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATIONS

 
April 20, 2012 (Santee) -- The Padre Dam Municipal Water District’s Board of Directors approved new Memorandum’s of Understanding (MOU) between the District and the Padre Dam Employees’ Association (PDEA) and the Mid-Management and Confidential Association (MMCA) today. The new MOUs will facilitate a significant change, requiring employees’ to pay a larger portion into the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) among other items that will save ratepayer dollars.

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES PROVIDER NETWORK’S 8TH ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE COMMUNITY FORUM

 
A no cost community event with your elected officials to discuss the state of services to people with developmental disabilities in our community
 
April 20, 2012  (San Diego County) -- East County residents with developmental disabilities, their families, caregivers and those who support people with developmental disabilities are encouraged to join the Developmental Disabilities Provider Network (DDPN) for its 8th Annual Legislative Community Forum on Friday, April 27 from 9:30a.m. to 11:30a.m. at the Balboa Park Club, 2144 Pan America Road West, San Diego.

EAST COUNTY ARTISTS FEATURED AT “ARTWALK” FESTIVAL APRIL 28 IN LITTLE ITALY

April 20, 2012 (San Diego) -- San Diego’s original fine art festival, Mission Federal ArtWalk is back for its 28th year. Featuring artists who live in the East County area as well as San Diego, the event will be held on Saturday and Sunday , April 28 and 29, when 17 blocks of Little Italy will be transformed for this free festival. ArtWalk offers a unique opportunity for members of the public to engage directly with over 350 artists who will be there to display their original works for exhibit and sale. The art on display will include a wide range of paintings, sculpture, mosaics, glasswork and photography.

RIVERVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL & LAKESIDE UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT INTERNATIONAL FAIR APRIL 28

 
Community Event Offers Food, Games, Music and Family Fun
 
April 20, 2012 (Lakeside) -- Riverview Elementary School and Lakeside Union School District will be holding their 4th Annual Riverview International Fair on Saturday, April 28from 11a.m. to 5p.m. Visitors will travel around the world and learn about other cultures, watch traditional country dances, play carnival games and taste exotic foods without leaving San Diego County.

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