The first collaborative show will be on display from March 1 - 31

March 1, 2014 (Kensington) -- For the first time, Sophie’s Kensington Gallery and Kensington Gallery will collaborate to display the work of a local artist Joe Nyiri. His collection “Birds, Animals & Humans I Admire” will be featured in this joint public display the entire month of March, and a special public reception to welcome the artist will be held on Saturday March 1, at Sophie’s Kensington Gallery from 5-8 p.m. The gallery is open regularly on Tuesdays from 12-5 p.m., Wednesday- Saturday from 12-7 p.m. and Sundays 12-4 p.m.

March 1, 2014 (Rancho San Diego)—To celebrate the opening of its new Dorcas E. Utter Butterfly Pavillion, the Water Conservation Garden invites the public to a Butterfly Festival on April 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Source: Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce

March 1, 2014 (Alpine)-- Fire benefit fees will increase by 1.1 percent this year in Alpine as a result of a 3-2 vote by the Alpine Fire Protection District Board.  The increase would be about 71 cents a year for the average single-family dwelling and $1.80 annually for the average business to a total of $65.59 per home and $164 per business, according to district staff. Board members made the decision after their annual benefit fee review at their Feb. 18 meeting, when they also approved buying a new fire pumper with the help of a $127,802 Indian Gaming Local Community Benefit Grant.

March 2, 2014 (Sacramento)- - A federal court has ruled two laws passed as a result of ballot initiatives in Califiornia to be unconstitutional.  Both measures imposed more severe punishments than were in place when crimes were committed, ruled U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton.

March 1, 2014 (El Cajon) - Bring your new puppy to Camp Bow Wow in El Cajon on Monday, March 3rd for a puppy socialization hour. Puppies from 10 weeks to 4 months old can romp around with each other in an indoor play yard. The puppy social starts at 7 pm and ends at 8 pm. You will have a chance to meet Behavior Buddies trainer.

March 1, 2014 (San Diego) -- The storm that surged across our region Friday resulted in many accidents. California Highway Patrol reports 514 collisions during just 24 hours on Friday, far more than the normal 50 to 75 crashes on good weather days. Those statistics include San Diego County and Temecula to the north.  That included a multi-car crash on I-8 near Lake Jennings and a serious crash that briefly blocked Highway 67 near Slaughterhouse Canyon in Lakeside.

Update March 2, 2014:  The body of the missing fisherman has been found, ECM has learned.

March 1, 2014 (Ramona) – A search and rescue effort is underway at Lake Sutherland, where a kayar was found floating upside down at 5:20 p.m. in the Ramona lake.  According to Lt. Dave Schaller with the Sheriff’s office, the kayak is believed to be owned by a 55-year-old man who frequents the lake for fishing and is known to employees at the lake.

Photo credit: Tom Lemon

Safety tips from the nonprofit FLASH

March 1, 2014 (San Diego)--With much needed rain expected over the next few days, residents should take precautions to protect their home and family from the possibility of flooding. Eighteen to 24 inches of moving water can wash an SUV off of the road. In fact, according to the National Weather Service, more than half of all flood-related deaths are people driving through flooded roads. The nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) reminds residents to “Turn Around, Don’t Drown!” and offers the following safety tips to protect your home from costly flood damage.

Why doesn’t San Diego County end revolving door situation?

Photo: Soitec's Newberry Springs project, which promised minimal enviornmental impacts, graded all vegetation on the site.

By Miriam Raftery

March 1, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)—Developers frequently put “spin” on project descriptions to emphasize benefits rather than negative impacts.  But certain statements by Soitec representatives regarding its proposed solar projects in Boulevard and a recent project in the desert fall into the “Pinnochio” category. In fact Soitec representatives misrepresented glare issues and the amount of land that is disturbed by their projects.

During a Soitec community meeting at the Manzanita Diner last month, ECM’s editor asked Soitec media and communications advisor Karen Hutchens specifically about a moratorium on solar projects approved by San Bernadino County Supervisors amid concerns about glare in Newberry Springs, where Soitec built a project very similar to its proposed Boulevard sites.  Hutchens responded, “That had nothing to do with our project. The moratorium was passed before our project was even built.”

But Robert Berkman, head of a citizens group in Newberry Springs called CEQA-NOW, told ECM that statement was a bald-faced lie.  “The moratorium came out because of the Soitec project—after it was built,” he said, adding that citizens invited Supervisors to visit the site.  Supervisors said, “’`Good grief, what has happened here? ‘ “ Berkman stated. “The moratorium occurred because we were able to bring them out and say `This is an example of solar done wrong.’” 

Soitec's Hutchens concedes that she erred in her statement on the timing of the moratorium, and agrees it was imposed after Soitec's project was built, but says Soitec's project was not the reason for the moratorium. ECM is seeking clarification from San Bernardino County's Land Services Department.

That's not the only disputed statement by Soitec.

February 28, 2014 (Lakeside) - Lakeside residents are invited to a Lakeside revitalization meeting on March 5^th from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Lakeside Community Center, 9841 Vine Street.

By Miriam Raftery

February 28, 2014 (San Diego) – Opponents of  the Tule Wind project in McCain Valley will have their day in court on Monday, March 3 in San Diego’s U.S. District Court.  Then on April 25, a separate suit against the County over its wind energy ordinance and general plan amendment will also be heard.

The suits were filed by the Protect Our Communities Foundation and Donna Tisdale. Tisdale informed ECM that it's important to have many East County residents attend these trials.

February 28, 2014 (Ocotillo) -- An Ocotillo resident has prepared a poignant video dramatically illustrating the scope of destruction done by Pattern Energy to build its Ocotillo Wind Energy Facility.  The video details the beauty of the desert with closeup images of birds and other wildlife amid the ocotillo forest mowed down on 12,500 acres of public lands, then shows the construction and finished results.

February 23, 2014 (Rancho San Diego) – Jennifer Hanna snapped these images of a brush fire behind her home on Sunday, February 16.  The blaze, near Fury and Wieghorst in the Rancho San Diego area of El Cajon, was swiftly dowsed by firefighters.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

February 28, 2014 (San Diego)--There’s good news forecasted for this week – Rain!  Two storms are possible this week says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna. As the rain is very much welcome and needed, it’s important to keep safety in mind.  It will be hazardous.”

February 28, 2014 (San Diego)- There is no such thing as a free ride, unless you happen to be at one of San Diego’s many Mardi Gras celebrations.