June 20, 2013 (Santee) -- Assemblyman Jones (R-Santee) and East County Magazine announced today that they will host a photography contest that features photographs taken in San Diego’s East County. The winning photographs will be displayed in Assemblyman Brian Jones’ Capitol Office and featured in East County Magazine. 

“It’s an honor to be able to highlight the photographers and the beautiful landscapes Eastern San Diego County has to offer,” Jones said.  

Miriam Raftery, Editor of East County Magazine said, “East County Magazine appreciates this opportunity to showcase the works of talented local photographers.  East County Magazine looks forward to publishing works displaying our region’s beautiful scenery and our historic communities.”

All entries must be received by July 15, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. to be eligible. For details, scroll down.

June 17, 2013 (Campo)--Applications are currently being accepted to fill three vacant seats on the Campo Lake Morena Community Planning Group.  Two are for four-year terms that started in January 2013. The third is for a seat that has 18 months left to run.

Applicants must reside and be registered to vote in the Campo Planning Group area. Please respond promptly, as candidates will be voted on at the group's June 24 meeting.

By Miriam Raftery

June 16, 2013 (Ocotillo Wells)-- Assemblyman Brian Jones (R-Santee) has sent  a letter to the State Parks Department encouraging open riding in Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA) in response to legal action filed by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) and the Desert Protective Council (DPC).  Plaintiffs contend that riding off trails has caused extensive environmental damage in the park, which has over 1,200 historic and archaeological sites, as ECM previously reported.

“Many of my constituents enjoy recreating in the Ocotillo Wells SVRA, which is why this lawsuit is very troubling," said Jones.  "This area has been used for OHV recreation for over 50 years and has always been designated as an open riding area, meaning that users in the park are not required to stay on designated trails."

Throughout June and July, SANDAG will hold community workshops countywide to solicit public input on the biggest issues facing the region between now and 2050 – including the economy, environment, energy, transportation, public health, land use, borders, and social equity. Iinput gathered at these workshops will be used to develop San Diego Forward: The Regional Plan. The SANDAG Board is expected to adopt the plan in 2015.

A workshop in East County will be held on  June 27 from 6-8 p.m. in the  La Mesa Community Center, Arbor View Room, 4975 Memorial Drive, La Mesa.  For a full list of workshops, scroll down.

Funds also approved to increase library hours, improve fire and police services, make neighborhoods safer and keep city’s homeless shelters open

June 11, 2013 (San Diego) -- Mayor Bob Filner’s balanced budget and financial priorities were adopted by the San Diego City Council on June 10. A 7-2 majority of the Council sided with the Mayor and made a commitment to fiscal responsibility and enhanced city services for the coming year.

In a separate action, the Council approved the Mayor’s five-year labor deal with City workers that will save more than $108 million over the term of the agreement by reducing the amount that the City has to pay into the employee retirement system. The labor deal will provide the City with much needed stability and predictability continuing its path toward recovery, the Mayor’s office indicated.

New Bus Line Runs Between SDSU and Downtown

June 9, 2013 (San Diego) – SANDAG will hold evening open house meetings on Monday and Thursday this week to inform the community about the upcoming construction of the Mid-City Rapid Bus Project. Mid-City Rapid will be a high-frequency, limited-stop bus service between San Diego State University and Downtown San Diego via Park and El Cajon Boulevards.

By Miriam Raftery

June 9, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – As ECM reported on June 7, the San  Onofre Nuclear Generating Stations  (SONGS) will be shut down permanently.  Reactions locally range from celebration among activists pushing for the closure to concerns over stored nuclear fuel, job losses, and a new bill that could ramp up pressure for approval of other energy projects including large-scale wind and solar projects in East County.

By Nadin Abbott

June 7, 2013 (San Onofre) – Southern California Edison (SCE) announced today that it will permanently decommission both reactors at its troubled Onofre nuclear generation plant.  (SCE has made this decision due to the uncertainty brought by the increased requirements for safety from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). 

“Looking ahead,” said Ron Litzinger, SCE’s President, “we think that our decision to retire the units will eliminate uncertainty and facilitate orderly planning for California’s energy future.” 

The nuclear waste on-site will remain there in dry cask storage—encased in stainless steel and concrete—until national leaders come up with a permanent storage solution, Patch.com reported.

By Miriam Raftery

June 6, 2013 (San Diego)--In August 2012, as part of its Red Tape Reduction Task Force efforts,  San Diego’s Supervisors established a Land Development Performance Review Committee  to “improve the land-use processes for the County's unincorporated areas.”

On April 24 the Board unanimously appointed seven new members. They are to work with county staff on developing ways to measure land-use performance “to show that permitting-process improvements are occurring — making the system faster and less expensive without compromising quality,” according to a county newsletter.

The first meeting will be June 20 at 10 a.m.

June 5, 2013 (Lemon Grove)--Two hundred goats are munching away in Lemon Grove, clearing about an acre of dry brush a day. 

The City of Lemon Grove, along with its fire department, Heartland Fire & Rescue, has brought in the four footed brush-clearing team to create defensible space that helps firefighters protect homes from wildfire.

The goats are at work near Central Ave and Liberty Charter High School, and may be visible to motorists along State Route 125.

By Miriam Raftery

June 1, 2013 (Japatul) – Following a series of attacks on livestock in the Japatul/Carveacre area east of Alpine,  a mountain lion has been captured and relocated by state Fish and Game authorities, according to Lori Briggs.

 However, she indicated that a Fish and Game official advised that “there is a another lion very close.”  Although lions are elusive and rarely seen, residents should be aware and take precautions to protect children and domestic animals in the area.

Story and photo by Miriam Raftery

June 3, 2013 (La Mesa) – A SIG alert has been issued in La Mesa, where an EDCO trash truck overturned, spilling a dumpster onto the ramp from Severin Drive to Interstate 8 west.  

In addition, 100 gallons of diesel fuel have been spilled, the California Highway Patrol website reports, and a HAZMAT team has been called to the scene.

June 2, 2013 (Chula Vista)--Chula Vista Police Department seeks help to find missing at-risk adult Robert Schilling, who has memory issues.  He has been known to use public transportation and used to live in North County.  He walks with a cane, has several medical issues requiring medication and is not familiar with the area. 

He was last seen at his south Chula Vista residence at 10:20 a.m.  He was wearing a green t-shirt with "Ireland" and the Irish flag on it, dark sweat pants and house slippers.  Mr. Schilling, 72, is white, 5'7" tall, 140 pounds, with a white beard, thinning white hair and dark framed prescription eyeglasses. 

By Nadin Abbott

May 31, 2013 (Spring Valley)—What should be done with the former Evergreen Nursery property in Spring Valley? That was the key question before the Spring Valley Planning Group Wednesday night.

David S. Thomson, Chief Executive Officer for Mastercraft Homes Group, the owner of the property, came to offer his proposal, along with his team.

During earlier meetings there was a palpable hope that the site would be developed into a commercial site, or a mixed use residential and commercial site that would include a community meeting place for Spring Valley residents.

But Mastercraft's plan didn’t include that.  Thomson stated that “due to the economy and oversupply (of commercial property) nobody recommended that,” then noted that it is still a “bad retail environment.”

May 30, 2013 (Washington D.C.) – Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) announced $1.8 million for San Diego to help homeless veterans as part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH).

“This increase in housing vouchers will help veterans get off the streets and into a place of their own,” said Davis.  “We know that San Diego has a high concentration of homeless veterans.  It’s very difficult, knowing the sacrifices these men and women have made on our behalf, to see them living on the street.  Hopefully, through programs such as HUD-VASH we can help turn these lives around.”