Pontiff named Time Magazine's Man of the Year

By Miriam Raftery

January 2014 (Rome)--On New Year’s Day at the Vatican, Pope Francis issued an impassioned plea for world peace.  He told the thousands of faithful gathered there that we are all part of the same human family, and we share a common destiny.

“This brings a responsibility for each to work so that the world becomes a community of brothers who respect each other, accept each other’s diversity, and takes care of one another,” the Pope said.

Then he did a remarkable thing.  Pope Francis laid aisde his prepared speech, and asked, “What is happening in the heart of man? What is happening in the heart of humanity?”  Deploring the violence in nations around the world, he said, “It’s time to stop.”

By Miriam Raftery

December 31, 2013 (Alpine) – Residents of Alpine are pulling together to help a young couple whose home on Arnold Way was destroyed by a fire on Christmas Eve.

Shara Halverson and her boyfriend, Sean Barrett were away visiting friends when their home caught fire.  They have no renters insurance and lost almost everything in the flames, though they are grateful for small miracles.

By Miriam Raftery

December 28, 2013 (Alpine) -- Meatball’s fame just keeps growing.  On New Year’s Day, the Rose Parade will feature a float honoring Meatball, the now famous black bear residing at Lions, Tigers and Bears, a rescue facility in Alpine. 

Meatball was removed from the wild after he started raiding trashcans in a suburban Glendale neighborhood, where he had a fondness for frozen meatballs. Now the City of Glendale is drawing attention to the situation of Meatball of other wildlife with its float in the Rose Parade. The float, titled “Let’s Be Neighbors” will feature a mechanized Meatball in a trash can surrounded by other forest creatures.

December 25, 2013 (Alpine) – A driver who died at the scene of an accident on Harbor Drive in downtown San Diego on December 22^nd has been identified as Michael Glantz, a 62-year-old Alpine resident.

December 25, 2013 (Spring Valley ) – In the early hours of Christmas morning at 12:32 a.m., Lemon Grove Sheriff Deputies responded to a radio call to help San Miguel Fire Department at a brush fire reported near homes on South Granada Avenue in Spring Valley.  Upon arrival, deputies and firefighters found a residence on fire at the rear of the house.

Fortunately, residents had safely evacuated.  Firefighters doused the blaze and asked Sheriff’’s Bomb-Arson unit to investigate. The fire’s cause was determined to be accidental.

By Miriam Raftery

December 23, 2013 (San Diego) – If you shopped at Target between November 27 and December 15, your credit card or debit card information may have been breached due to a hack.  Up to 40 million cardholders may be impacted.

Target says it’s begun notifying customers via email and letters of the potential for fraud on these accounts, and has alerted all of the credit networks of the affected card numbers.  The major credit card companies are alerting financial institutions as well so that they can take fraud protection steps.

Customers will NOT be responsible for any fraud that may occur on these accounts.

December 19, 2013 (Jamul) – Father Victor Mariestela, pastor at St. Pius X Church in Jamul, was struck head-on Tuesday night by a Ford Ranger while driving his SUV on Highway 94 west of Honey Springs Road.  He was flown by medical helicopter to Sharp Memorial hospital, suffering serious injuries including two broken legs, a broken hip and broken wrist.

December 17, 2013 (San Diego) – As part of its ongoing search, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is asking for the public’s help to locate Arielle Randall who vanished from Grand Prairie, Texas. Arielle may be in the company an unknown male, and may be in the Chula Vista area. Arielle, 16, was last seen on Nov. 13, 2013 leaving her home. She has not been seen or heard from since.

Arielle is Black and Hispanic, and has brown hair and eyes. She is 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 160 pounds. Her ears are pierced. 

The public is urged to call 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) with any information concerning the disappearance or current whereabouts of Arielle. 

December 14, 2013 (La Mesa)-- It's time for East County Magazine's annual "Feasting & Merrymaking" party on Sunday, Dec. 15 from 3-7 p.m. in La Mesa!  To comply with county event requirements, this year's party is a private event open only to our subscribers. Fortunately, subscriptions are free!  Sign up at the top right side of the homepage to subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter, then email editor@eastcountymagazine.org for details and directions.

This year's event features great food including prime rib and chicken from Pinnacle Peak, salads and sliders from bridges, wines from San Pasqual Winery and Maness Vineyards,  lots of great prizes and surprises!  We also have VIP guests including Cogresswoman Susan Davis and representatives from the cities of La Mesa, Lemon Grove, Santee and El Cajon.  We hope to see you all there!

By Miriam Raftery

December 11, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – Dangerous or toxic toys can still be found on America’s store shelves, according to U.S. Public Interest Research Group’s 28th annual Trouble in Toyland report.  The survey of hazardous toys found that despite recent progress, consumers must still be wary when shopping this holiday season.

December 10, 2013 (Otay) – Elected officials and business leaders from the U.S. and Mexico will hold a groundbreaking ceremony today on a new state highway project aimed at reducing border wait times and improving cross-border commerce.  State Route 11  will be a four-lane highway connecting a planned port of entry, Otay Mesa East, to the state highway system.

The 2.5-mile project will be built in three segments. The $112 million Segment 1, starting construction now, will include connectors to SR 905, plus a stretch of new highway from SR 905 east to Enrico Fermi Drive. Segments planned for the future will extend the highway to the border and create a new border crossing.

Local San Diego organizations unite to call for aid for survivors of  catastrophic tragedy

December 4, 2013 (San Diego)--The devastation of Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda has displaced approximately 4.4 million people—one million of whom are children. More than 26,000 have been injured, over 5,600 have lost their lives, and 1,759 are still missing. The numbers are staggering and continue to rise.

On Friday, December 6 at 6 p.m., United Domestic Workers of America (UDW)/American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Local 3930 (AFSCME Local 3930) and the San Diego Chapter of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) with 13 other local and national organizations will hold a candlelight vigil at the headquarters of UDW on 4855 Seminole Drive, San Diego, CA 92115. There will be a prayer service and lighting of candles in remembrance of those affected. Monetary donations will also be accepted to benefit relief efforts.

Update: SDGE now reports that 936 customers may be without power until 4 p.m. today.

December 3, 2013 (La Mesa)--An estimated 1,568 homes remain without power in west La Mesa, where an outage at 3:27 a.m. initially left nearly 3,800 customers without electricity.

San Diego Gas & Electric anticipates full power restoration at 9 a.m.  The utility has not released the cause at this time.

NOTE: CORRECTED DATE

View map of all energy projects in our region to see cumulative impacts and disparate impact on rural areas

Judge to Decide Whether to Have Hearings on Nearly Half Billion Dollar SDG&E Power Line Project That Opponents Say Threatens Back Country Communities

January 31, 2014 (Alpine)--The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will hold a prehearing conference at 1:30 p.m. February 5 in the Oak Room of the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Blvd. in Alpine regarding proposed SDG&E’s Master Special Use Permit project that wouldl impact communities throughout the San Diego backcountry from Pauma Valley to Potrero (north to south) and from Ramona to Boulevard (west to east). The project is so large that SDG&E estimates construction will take about five years. 

Administrative Law Judge Jean Vieth will determine if there will be full evidentiary hearings for this project or if this prehearing conference will be the only time the issues are heard. "In its application, SDG&E asked the CPUC for permission to construct this $418.5 million project without any hearings at all—their usual method of operation,"Backcountry Against Dumps, a nonprofit community organization, states in a press release.

Donna Tisdale, President of Backcountry against Dumps and Chair of the Boulevard Planning Group, voiced these concerns. “SDG&E’s project is being sold solely as fire-hardening but it appears to be an undisclosed stealth increase in carrying capacity that may directly or indirectly support numerous commercial solar projects that are already proposed along or near the route in Boulevard, Pine Valley, Descanso, Potrero, Julian, Ramona, and perhaps elsewhere that we are not yet aware of. Solar generation projects represent potential new fire ignition sources that cannot be de-energized during red flag wind events or other emergencies.”

Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

November 28, 2013 (El Cajon)--A police pursuit in El Cajon ended in the death of Carl Lee Denmark, 22, a resident of Santa Ysabel.

Denmark was driving a stolen motorcycle at a high rate of speed with El Cajon Police officers in pursuit on November 9 when he lost control and was ejected, then run over by a vehicle.  The accident occurred on Graves Avenue near the 67 interchange at Broadway.