January 2015 Articles

CONTROLLED BURN WEDNESDAY

 



Update: Click here for a map of the burn area, provided by CAL FIRE, which is assistant state parks with the burn.

 

February 3, 2015 (Cuyamaca) -- A 100-acre controlled burn is scheduled for this Wednesday, February 4 in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park at Middle Peak.  The burn has been cancelled several previous times, but could put out significant smoke visible across East County if it goes forward.

Another burn is slated on Mt. Laguna, ECM has learned.


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CIRCUS VARGAS IN EL CAJON FEB. 5-9

 

January 3, 2015 (El Cajon) - Circus Vargas wil bring its newest big-top tent circus performance, Arlequin, to the parking lot at Parkway Plaza shopping mall in El Cajon  February 5 through 9.


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FIREFIGHTER AND GIRL INJURED IN SANTEE APARTMENT FIRE

 

East County News Service

Photo courtesy of ECM news partner 10 News

January 31, 2015 (Santee) – A young girl was injured after a fire broke out in a unit downstairs from the apartment she was in with her grandmother  Friday afternoon on Mission Gorge Road in Santee. A firefighter battling the blaze also sustained injury, 10 News reports.


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JUDGE DENIES GROSSMONT DISTRICT REQUEST TO HALT INJUNCTION

 

By Miriam Raftery

January 31, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Superior Court Judge Joel Pressman this week denied a request by the Grossmont Union High School District, which sought a stay to halt a preliminary injunction issued to protect bond funds for construction of an Alpine high school.


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TREASURES OF EAST COUNTY: 4 SALES AT ONE LOCATION JANUARY 31 TO BENEFIT EAST COUNTY MAGAZINE REPORTING AND WILDFIRE ALERTS!

You're invited to East County Magazine's "Treasures of East County" event to benefit our nonprofit community news and wildfire reporting! 

 Saturday, January 31 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1625 East Main Street, El Cajon

You can help by shopping (just in time for Valentine's Day) and by donating items for our big event, which features 4 sales in one location!


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HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE FORMED IN SAN DIEGO

 

By Hayden Parsley

January 31, 2016 (San Diego) - In San Diego, the second most trafficked illegal commodity is human lives (after narcotics). Our county has become a hub for this deplorable practice, but now a new taskforce has been formed to combat this crisis.


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CIRCUS VARGAS OFFERS DONORS AT SAN DIEGO BLOOD BANK'S EAST COUNTY DONOR CENTER A BUY ONE TICKET GET ONE TICKET FREE COUPON FOR FEBRUARY & MARCH PERFORMANCES

 

January 30, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - Blood donors giving at San Diego Blood Bank’s East County Donor Center beginning Monday, January 26 through March 8 will be awarded a buy one ticket get one ticket free coupon at Circus Vargas performances in San Diego County during February and March. There are several Circus Vargas locations planned including Mission Bay Park, El Cajon, Vista and National City.


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FROM THE FIRE CHIEF'S CORNER: DON'T FUMBLE THIS WEEKEND, HERE ARE OUR BEST PLAYS FOR A WINNING SUPERBOWL SUNDAY!

 

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

 

January 30, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - As you Coach and prepare Super Bowl festivities this weekend make sure to be a good sport and keep your ‘Safety’ front and center at all times says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.


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HOUSE PASSES 10 BILLS TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING

 

By Miriam Raftery

January 29, 2015 (San Diego) – It’s rare for both parties in Congress to agree on anything these days.  But the House of Representatives has just approved 10 bills to help combat human trafficking.  All five of San Diego’s Congressional representatives voted in favor of two of the bills and the rest passed by voice vote without a roll call of members.


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STATE RAIDS HOME OF FORMER CPUC CHAIRMAN MICHAEL PEEVEY

 

“I have seen so much evidence of corruption at the CPUC that it is appalling. Judges who appeared sympathetic to the consumer were regularly changed out for those who would do what Peevey wanted, which meant what the utilities wanted” – Susan Brinchman, , La Mesa

By Miriam Raftery

January 30, 2015 (San Francisco) – Investigators from the California Attorney General’s office reportedly raided the home of former Public Utilities Commission Chairman Michael Peevey this week, seizing computers and smart phones.  State law enforcement officials also seized evidence from the home of Pacific Gas & Electric Company executive Brian Cherry, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.


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MILHOLLAND SOLAR AND ELECTRIC CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVESARY AT NEW EL CAJON LOCATION

 

 

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

January 30th 2014 (El Cajon)—The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on January 22nd to welcome Milholland Solar and Electric to East County and celebrate the premier solar installation and electrical contractor’s 25th anniversary.  

Representatives for officials including Supervisor Dianne Jacob, State Senator Joel Anderson and Assemblyman Brian Jones were on hand to present awards, along with Chamber leaders, at Milholland’s spacious new headquarters at 1475 North Cuyamaca Street in El Cajon.


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DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: TOP EVENTS JAN.31-FEB. 14

 

January 30, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County has events ranging from  our own East County treasures event to an art show at Mission Trails Regional Park. Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including a Ballet Folklorico dance performance and Circus Vargas bringing its mesmerizing performances to our region. Stay tuned for all of these events and much more, from East County Magazine.


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DEPUTIES SAVE LIFE OF ARSONIST BURNED IN BORREGO SPRINGS FIRE

 

By Miriam Raftery

January 29, 2015 (Borrego Springs)—A domestic dispute in Borrego Springs ended in an explosive situation that resulted in a home in flames and a Sheriff’s deputy risking his life to save an arsonist from a burning home.


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DESERT VIEW TOWER: EAST COUNTY'S HISTORIC HIGHWAY STOP

 

 

By Hayden Parsley

January 29, 2015 (Jacumba Hot Springs)—Take a trip into California’s past at the Desert View Tower, a quirky and whimsical relic of the past that is still open to the public in San Diego’s East County.  Located just off Interstate 8 at the In-ko-Pah exit, the tower is poised on a rocky overlook surrounded by desert on all sides.

Built in the 1920s by Bert Vaughn, a real estate tycoon who owned much of Jacumba,  this 70-foot watchtower has become a tourist attraction and a local landmark on the outskirts of the small town today known as Jacumba Hot Springs.


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CHANGES ON HORIZON FOR GROSSMONT CENTER & VICINITY

 

By Miriam Raftery; Kristin Kjaero contributed to this story

Big changes could soon be coming to Grossmont Center

January 28, 2015 (La Mesa)--At the La Mesa City Council meeting on Tuesday night January 27th, Steve Cushman  gave a presentation  regarding the future of the regional shopping mall and surrounding properties owned by the Cushman family.

A 50-year lease with developers of the shopping center expired in mid-January and now the shopping mall and adjacent properties are reverting back to the Cushman family.  That includes 125 acres, extending beyond the mall itself to many surrounding sites.


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COUNTY SUPERVISORS APPROVE INVOLUNTARY MENTAL ILLNESS TREATMENT

 

By Hayden Parsley

January 28, 2015 (San Diego) - The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted this week to implement involuntary treatment for mentally ill patients. The legislation that would allow this is known as Laura’s law. This motion was passed 4 to 1 on Tuesday. Staff now has 90 days to develop a plan to implement the law countywide.


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SAN DIEGO'S FIRST PEDIATRIC HEART TRANSPLANT

 

By Hayden Parsley

January 27, 2015 (San Diego) - San Diego’s first pediatric heart transplant patient was released from Rady Children’s Hospital Tuesday. This is following a 12 day stay and a successful surgery.


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HOUSE INDEFINITELY POSTPONES BORDER ACT

 

By Hayden Parsley

January 28, 2015 (Washington D.C.) - Leaders of the United States House of Representatives have decided to postpone a vote on the “Secure Our Borders Act.” Otherwise known as H.R. 399, the bill was called for by Republicans and would require the Border Agency to stop all illegal border crossings within five years or be penalized.


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DOCTORS STRIKE AT UCSD

 

 

January 28, 2015 (San Diego) - Doctors at University of California student health centers went out on strike Tuesday, including physicians who picketed at UC San Diego.


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VINO VALENTINO DINNER FEB. 14

 

 

January 27, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - Bernardo Winery invites you to its annual Vino Valentino Valentine’s Day dinner on Saturday February 14th at 6 p.m.


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MURDER AND MYSTERY IN LA JOLLA

 

 

 

NAKED ADDICTION – CAITLIN ROTHER (Wildblue Press, Evergreen, Colorado, 2014, 415 pages).

Book Review by Jacqueline Carr

January 27, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - The story takes place in the wealthy La Jolla California area.  It’s a story that holds your interest from start to finish.  Ms Rother is a superb story teller who writes fluidly, and vividly.  She has a canny way of introducing her characters into the story line so one gets a vivid description of the person. The use of imagery helps the reader relate to the role each character plays in the story.


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SHERIFF'S COFFEE WITH THE COMMUNITY: FEB. 3 IN LEMON GROVE

 

January 27, 2015 (Lemon Grove) Community outreach is a priority of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. Members of the community should feel comfortable bringing problems related to safety and security as well as deputy-community relations to his staff, the Sheriff says.


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A BORN LEADER, WITH THE STRENGTH TO RALLY HER VILLAGE TOGETHER AND MOTIVATE OTHERS

 

 

 

Janju: The Voice Of One Girl, by Priscilla Koranteng (Poised Publishing LLC, Lanham, Maryland, 2014, 150 pages.)

Book Review by Dennis Moore

January 27, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - Priscilla Koranteng, an author and businesswoman born in Ghana, West Africa, to a teacher and politician, and who grew up with a lot of optimism and the zeal to achieve the best in all she could, has written a warm and fictional account of a young girl growing up in Africa; Janju: The Voice Of One Girl.


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MEDITERRANEO BISTRO AND BAR PLANS VALENTINE'S SPECIAL MENU

 

 

January 27, 2015 (Alpine)--Happy Valentine’s Day! You’re invited to come celebrate the “perfect romantic evening” at Mediterraneo Bistro on Saturday February 14, 2015. Enjoy a Special Menu & extensive wine List on this lovely day.


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TROUBLE IN MIND: ON STAGE AT THE MOXIE THEATRE JAN. 31 - FEB. 22

 

January 27, 2015 (San Diego) – Trouble in Mind, a groundbreaking classic about a racially integrated cast rehearsing for what the actors hope will be the next big hit on Broadway, takes stage at the Moxie Theatre (6063 El Cajon Blvd.)in San Diego from January 31st through February 22nd.  Plus on February 8th, you can join the director and actors for a post-show discussion to learn more about the play and enrich your theater-going experience. The playwright, Alice Childress, was first African-American woman to have a professional play produced in New York.


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PROPOSED STATE LAW WOULD RESTRICT E-CIGARETTES

 

By Miriam Raftery

January 27, 2015 (Sacramento) – E-cigarettes could soon be prohibited in restaurants, bars, workplaces and hospitals.  State Senator Mark Leno has introduce a measure, Senate Bill 140, that would ban e-cigarettes everywhere that standard cigarettes are currently prohibited.


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TEEN BITTEN BY RATTLESNAKE AT MISSION TRAILS

 

By Miriam Raftery

January 26, 2015 (San Diego) – A 15-year-old boy hiking at Mission Trails Regional Park on Sunday was bitten by a rattlesnake.


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HEALTH AND SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS

 

January 26, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)-- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

SCIENCE TECH


For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.


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FRIENDS OF THE DESCANSO LIBRARY GROUP IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS!

 

January 26, 2015 (Descanso)—Friends of the Descanso Library needs volunteers—including a  new treasurer this month! The current treasurer will train you on Quick Books and treasurer’s duties.


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BLIZZARD SOCKS IN EAST COAST

 

East County News Service

January 26, 2015 (San Diego)--If you’re traveling to the Northeast, you may have a long wait. Over 7,700 flights have been grounded—and many may not take off for days.  That’s because the worst blizzard in years is slamming the region. The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for a 250-mile-wide area where whiteout conditions may occur.


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