Six wildfires earlier this summer in East County were caused by target shooting

By Miriam Raftery

October 1, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Cal Fire investigators have pinpointed the origin of the Shockey Fire to an area where illegal target shooting was taking place on state land near Shockey Truck Trail, Mike Mohler of Cal Fire informed ECM today.

Investigators are not yet certain that shooting caused the fire, but if so, the shooter could be held liable for damages including loss of 11 homes and death of an elderly resident, Mohler confirmed in an exclusive interview with ECM. Cal-Fire urges anyone with information on the Shockey Fire to call the Arson Hotline at 800-468-4408.

"The more rental units we convert, the more demographics will change." -- Councilman Bob McClellan

By Miriam Raftery

October 2, 2012 (El Cajon)—For 20 years, Bob McClellan has been serving on the El Cajon City Council.  He’s now seeking re-election, one of seven candidates vying for three seats. In an exclusive interview with ECM, McClellan reflects on his accomplishments through the years as well as his goals for the future.

Norsemen score 24 points in second half

By Ryan Schuler

October 2, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) –It was passing versus rushing; quarterback Ramsey Romano versus running back Tony Dozier.

Only one team would come out of Friday night’s non-conference game victorious. And on this night, passing proved to be the difference.  Behind by 24 unanswered points in the second half, Valhalla’s Norsemen surged forward  to defeat the Mount Miguel Matadors 31-24.

October 2, 2012 (San Diego, CA) -- On Saturday, September 22, the San Diego Brain Injury Foundation (SDBIF) sponsored a “Friendraiser” at the Mission Trails Visitor Center. Over 200 guests attended the event that raised funds for the foundation. Susan Hansen, the Executive Director of the SDBIF, stated, “…it was a great success. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves. They were having such a good time at the Mission Trails Visitor Center, nobody wanted to leave.”

October 2, 2012 (East County, San Diego) -- As summer 2012 comes to an end for students, many projects are also ending as part of the Propositions H and U school bond program. Construction teams have been busy renovating campuses throughout Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) to provide ADA upgrades and construct new classrooms, special education suites and Career Technical Education (CTE) facilities.

October 4, 2012 (Alpine)--The Alpine Woman's Club invites you to participate in a program to help maintain and preserve the historic Town Hall building. It was built in 1899 and is one of Alpine's most significant treasures. In 2006 it was designated an historic site by the San Diego County Register of Historic Places. As Alpine's original Town Hall, it has housed every type of event imaginable - graduations, movie nights, dances, weddings, funerals, Red Cross events during World Wars I and II, and much more.

Join San Diego Film Festival to celebrate the power of cinema and dance

October 2, 2012 (San Diego) -- Cinema en tu Idioma closes October 5 - 11 with Flamenco, Flamenco, a stunning dance film from Spanish filmmaker Carlos Saura. Flamenco, Flamenco was the winner of the Audience Award at SDLFF 2011. All screenings at UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas at Hazard Center (off 163 Freeway & Friars Rd.).



Buy your individual tickets now!

Hope Begins In The Dark: 40 Lymphoma Survivors Tell Their Exclusive Life Stories, By Jamie Reno (Edwards Brothers Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 2012, 246 pages).

Book review by Dennis Moore

October 2, 2012  (San Diego) -- Cancer, in all its forms and manifestations is an insidious disease, that does not discriminate.  It comes in the form of breast cancer, leiomyosarcoma, primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), prostate cancer, Askin's Sarcoma, or lymphoma, among many more. PSC, a rare disease that scars the ducts that carry bile from the liver to the small intestine to aid digestion, is the form of cancer that took the life of former NFL star Walter Payton.

Jamie Reno, journalist, singer-songwriter, patient advocate and 15-year survivor of stage IV non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, has written an all-new edition of a book that I had earlier had the honor of reviewing; Hope Begins In The Dark: 40 Lymphoma Survivors Tell Their Exclusive Life Stories.

Tips and tricks for business marketing success

By Rama Beerfas

October 2, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – This is the season for me to be developing marketing plans for many of my existing clients. What I have noticed over the many years I've been doing this is that there is often confusion between the terms "target market" and "referral source." In order to market correctly, these two terms must be clearly understood, so here goes...

October 1, 2012 (Jacumba) – “There is hope for the families who were affected by the wildland fire,” says Lorrie Ostrander, who has been organizing a fundraiser to help the 11 families who lost their homes in the Shockey Fire.  “With the help of Alpine Albertsons, Jacumba Women's Club, Jacumba Lounge, Manzanita Diner and other local residents, we are having a dinner." Donations will benefit the families who lost everything, she added.

The benefit dinner will be held on Friday, October 12 from 4-8 p.m. at the Jacumba Highland Senior Center, 44681 Old Highway 80 in Jacumba 91934.  A $5 donation at the door is requested.  

Donations can also be sent to:  

October 2, 2012 (Pine Valley) – An earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale struck at 1:28 a.m., jolting some East County residents awake.  The quake was centered 22 miles east of Pine Valley and 10 miles northwest of Ocotillo.

“Kind of unnerving,” said videographer Paul Kruze, a Rancho San Diego resident.  The USGS classifies the quake as "moderate" which can include light damage.

Many people are not aware that while major quakes have been rare in our region in recent times, historically many major quakes have occurred. 

Update 6 p.m.: The suspect has been identified as Paul Carl Tomasini. He is being charged with murder, the Sheriff's office reports this evening.

October 1, 2012 (Santee)—A man with stab wounds is being questioned by Sheriff’s homicide detectives in connection with the death of a woman found deceased in a home in the 10500 block of Strathmore Drive in Santee last night.

“There is a troubling and growing pattern of abuse and excessive use of force committed by Border Patrol agents; our community demands to know what led to such a brutal act by that plainclothes agent.” – Pedro Rios, director of the American Friends Service Committee U.S. Mexico Border Program

October 1, 2012 (Chula Vista)—Family members  and human rights advocates seek answers  from authorities following the bizarre shooting death of Valeria Tachiquin-Alvarado, 32, mother of five young children, by a Border Patrol officer in plainclothes.  A candlelight vigil for the victim is planned tonight at 6 p.m.

Witness accounts vary sharply from the initial report released by authorities.  The San Diego Medical Examiner has ruled the death a homicide.

By Miriam Raftery

September 30, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – A 27-year-old Coronado man collapsed and died yesterday on the return hike from Three Sisters Falls.  According to the San Diego Medical Examiner’s office, the man was hiking with three friends on the trail in the Descanso/Julian area when he collapsed.

“It was a hot day and the falls apparently were dried up,” the Medical Examiner’s website reports.  Temperatures were in the 80s, with an excessive heat warning from the National Weather Service in effect.

By Miriam Raftery

September 30, 2012 (El Cajon)—Councilman Tony Ambrose was appointed in March to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Jillian Hanson-Cox.  Now he’s running for re-election, one of seven candidates vying for three seats.  After serving more than 20 years on the city’s Planning Commission and previously chairing the East County Economic Development Council, he brings experience along with some new ideas to the Council position.  A Republican, like the other incumbent Council members, Ambrose shares some values with his colleagues—but differs on some key issues. 

In an exclusive interview with ECM, Ambrose shares his detailed vision for improving the economy and quality of life in El Cajon.