Note: organizers assure that the fires are nowhere close to Julian, and burning away from the town. 

August 16, 2012 (Juian) – The San Diego Astronomy Association (SDAA) and the town of Julian bring Starfest to Menghini Winery, 1150 Julian Orchards Lane, Julian,  August 16 – 19. 

The three day event will include numerous speakers, vendors, a Swap Meet and food.  The stars will be the highlight come nightfall and telescopes will be set up throughout the viewing area.

August 15, 2012 (Riverside)--The Buck Fire in Riverside County, meanwhile, has scorched 3,000 acres and is still only 5% contained.  Two civilians and three firefighters suffered injuries in the Buck Fire, including one major injury to a civilian.

Dozens of homes have been evacuated and hundreds of firefighters are battling the blaze in the Aguanga area about 15 miles from the San Diego County Line.

August 15, 2012 (Alpine) -- In a collaborative effort to increase high school sports media coverage in the East County of San Diego, the Grossmont Union High School District, in cooperation with the San Diego Section of the CIF, has awarded the live sports broadcast rights to media entity MY 1079 FM. The station will provide live broadcasts of a "Game-of-the-Week" for the Grossmont District schools.

Aug. 15, 2012 (Miramar Naval Air Station) – Today, the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) has been requested by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to assist with the wildfires burning in eastern San Diego County."

August 14, 2012 (La Mesa) – O’Dunn Fine Art is showing a select group of paintings from 20^th Century postwar America on August 17 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the gallery, 8325 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa.  The event features fresh-to-the-market pieces by modernist Gideon Sandelin and works by listed artists Ilya Bolotowsky, William Joseph Rakocy and Ray Vinella.  Sandelin’s son, Raul, will be on hand to talk about his father’s art and paintings.

Sandelin’s son, Raul, will be on hand to talk about his father’s art and paintings.
This hosted event is open to the public.  Visit www.odunnfineart.com for more information.

August 14, 2012 (Alpine) – In response to the alarming teen fatality trend the Alpine Sheriff’s Station is hosting “Start Smart” for parents and teens (ages 15- 20) on August 23 at 7 p.m. at the Viejas Training Center, 5000 Willows Road, Alpine. The goal of the program is to reduce the number teen driving related injuries due to drunk and distracted driving.

August 14, 2012 (Escondido) – The fire season has started and it’s important to be prepared.  Waterwise Botanicals, 32183 Old Highway 395, Escondido is offering a free seminar on August 25 on “Fire Safe Landscaping with Succulents”.  The seminar will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and will be held outdoors.

August 14, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego Sheriff’s ASTREA helicopter rescued a woman, 28, suffering from heat exhaustion near Three Sisters Falls at 4 p.m. today.  

Sgt. Mark Johnson and Deputy Warren Voth found the distressed hiker about halfway down the trail from the trailhead parking area. The helicopter landed and Deputy Voth hiked down the trail to the victim.

Pattern has created an “imminent harm to public safety”, suit alleges

By Miriam Raftery

August 14, 2012 (Ocotillo) – The U.S. District Court in San Diego will hear a case filed by a group of Ocotillo residents, Community Advocates for Renewable Energy Stewardship [CARES] requesting a temporary restraining order to shut down construction on Pattern Energy’s Ocotillo Express wind project.

According to the suit, a Pattern Energy employee filed a declaration revealing that Pattern never engineered or submitted final grading plans. The wind developer claimed “very little actual grading” while in fact grading 149 acres of underground trenches, 286 acrsd of turbine pads and 42 miles of roads, some three times as wide as the project approvals allowed. 

Plaintiffs allege that Pattern and the Bureau of Land Management “have created an imminent harm to public safety by approving the installation of the cheapest and weakest type of wind turbine foundation…without geotechnical or structural engineering to ensure compliance with State and Federal standards.”

August 13, 2012 (San Diego) -- Veteran and associate members of the San Diego Veterans For Peace will be launching a protest on Thursday, August 16 from 4-6  p.m.

Update 5:30 p.m. - Evacuations are now mandatory due to spread of the Wilson Fire toward Ranchita. Reverse 911 calls have been made to 228 homes.  An evacuation center has been set up by the Red Cross at Warner Springs High School, 30951 Highway 79.  A large animal evacuation station has been established at Love Acre Ranch, 35490 Highway 79, Warner springs.