By: Jeremy Los

January 30, 2011 (San Diego) – The green economy is booming in San Diego County and California as a whole. In a new study titled Many Shades of Green: Diversity and Distribution of California’s Green Jobs, Next10.org finds that California’s green economy has boasted persistent growth and now encompasses over 174,000 jobs in the state. 

Between January 2008 and January 2009, the growth rate was highest in San Diego and the Bay Area; San Diego’s green jobs rate grew 7 percent while the Bay Area saw an 8 percent growth.

January 30, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is seeking nominations for its 2011 Healthcare Hero Awards, an annual awards program that honors East County residents whose volunteer efforts help advance the delivery of quality healthcare in the East County region.

January 30, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Rain is likely this afternoon and tonight, with a chance of thundershowers. A wind advisory has been issued for mountain and desert areas, where strong westerly winds are forecast with gusts over 50 mph. Winds are expected to increase in intensity, with gusts over 50 mph Tuesday night through Thursday.

January 31, 2011 (Escondido) – As part of its “Free First Wednesdays” series, California Center for the Arts in Escondido will present Billy Lee & The Swamp Critters on February 2 from 4-7 p.m. in the Center Theater.

January 31, 2011 (Otay)— Otay Lakes Road is closed in both directions due to an accident at Otay Lakes and Wueste Road at the Divider Creek bridge. CHP reports the accident is a possible fatality; Mercy Air is landing as of 11:30 a.m.

January 28, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis has concluded that the non-fatal shooting of Huong Quy Luu on July 25th was justified. San Diego Police Officers Blake Williams and Christopher Blakely “fired in self-defense as well as in defense of one another,” a letter issued by Dumanis on January 24 states.

The officers had responded to a domestic disturbance call involving a violent man breaking out windows in the 6900 block of Jamacha Road.

January 28, 2011 (Rancho Bernardo) – The FBI and San Diego Police seek the public’s help to identify a bank robber who robbed the Navy Federal Credit Union at 17030 Bernardo Center Drive around 10:35 a.m. on Tuesday, January 25th. The man, who is around 50 years old, and wore a green baseball cap demanded money from a teller and fled with the cash in an older model motorhome.

Update 10:45 p.m.:  This missing person has been found safe in Tijuana.

January 28, 2011 (San Diego) – San Diego Police seek the public’s help to find a missing juvenile at risk. Lorena Perez-Estrada, 17, has the mental capacity of a much younger person. She speaks Spanish and has a speech impediment. She was wearing a short-sleeve purple T-shirt, blue jeans, and white tennis shoes. She has scars on the back of her hands and no lower teeth.  She is 5 feet tall with a thin build, black hair, and brown eyes.

“She was last seen running off toward the trolley, probably around 3 p.m.,” Officer David Stafford told East County Magazine.  Lorena is a resident of Tijuana, Mexico but disappeared while in San Diego with her family today. Her mother called police to 1500 Imperial Avenue at 3:05 p.m.

Gala planned Feb. 25 at Crystal Ballroom

January 29, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) -- The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce will mark its 100th year, commemorating this milestone with an inaugural Gala and Awards Dinner billed as “East County's most elegant evening.”

Appraiser says average loss in home values is 25 percent

By Billie Jo Jannen
For East County Magazine

January 28, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) --East County residents who oppose a growing collection of industrial wind turbines proposed near rural residences have discovered that they have much in common with wind farm neighbors in the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Japan, Canada and other parts of the United States. Residents who have lived near windmills for years are now publicizing impacts to health and property values.

In fact, a standing-room-only crowd got an earful on those impacts last Wednesday, when experts from Illinois and Canada discussed them at the Boulevard Fire Station.

January 28, 2011 (Deerhorn Valley) – Today, a Deerhorn Valley resident photographed two dogs that match descriptions of those that have been killing livestock animals in the area. If you can identify the dogs or their owners, please contact theantler@deerhornvalley.net.

January 27, 2011 (Deerhorn Valley) – Daniel Alphonse Ignosci, a retired San Diego Fire Department captain and long-time resident of Deerhorn Valley, died January 7, 2011 at age 70.

Volunteers to remain unpaid; reactions mixed among area residents

January 28, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – On Tuesday, San Diego’s Board of Sueprvisors voted unanimously to consolidate five additional volunteer fire departments in unincorporated backcountry areas (Boulevard, Campo, Mount Laguna, Palomar Mountain, and San Pasqual) into the County’s newly created Regional Fire Authority.

January 28, 2011 (Lakeside) 5:25 p.m.–CHP is en route to a serious motorcycle accident on Highway 67 at Willow Road. According to a caller who reported the accident at 5:20 p.m., the motorcyclist was engaged in reckless driving, CHP’s incident page reports. The motorcyclist flew into the air and rolled, witnesses reported.