April 24, 2013 (San Diego) – Join San Diego’s green leaders at the Green Experts Academy on May 7 from 5:30 to 9 p.m.  Discover the latest initiatives as San Diego moves toward a carbon-free future. Learn cutting edge info on job creation and green policy, plus best practices form global solar leaders that could help San Diego rapidly reach 100% renewable energy utilization.

Speakers include Supervisor Dave Roberts, San Diego Unified School Board Vice President Kevin Beiser, and Peter Vogel, Executive Vice President of Wirsol Solar in Canada will be among the speakers. Event includes networking with top green leaders in San Diego, complimentary buffet, beverages, free parking and event material.

April 24, 2013 (Washington D.C.)--Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-CA) cosponsored legislation to block the doubling of interest rates on Stafford student loans set to kick in July of this year.  The Student Loan Relief Act (H.R. 1595) would continue the current 3.4% rate through 2015.

“We need to ensure that access to higher education stays within the reach of middle class and lower-income families,” said Davis, a senior member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee. “If we want our children - and America, for that matter - to be competitive in the global economy, access to an affordable college education will be key.”

April 24, 2013 (San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL/REGIONAL

• Ramona resident Steve Tally shares his experience at Boston 2013 Marathon (Ramona Sentinel)
• BP exiting [Sierra Juarez] wind deal with San Diego (U-T San Diego)
• Third pair of bald eagles found in County (Fox5)
• La Mesa’s Homeless Count Rises to 68, Says Latest Census from January (La Mesa Patch)
• Santee’s Homeless Count Falls to 18 (Santee Patch)
• Woman Who Abducted Her Infant Niece Pleads Guilty
• La Mesa Police Department honors its own (U-T San Diego)

STATE

• EPA: Calif failed to spend $455M on water projects (KPBS)
• State, cities in next round of redevelopment fight (Sacramento Bee)
• Calif. high-speed rail agency changed bid criteria ) (Sacramento Bee)
• Editorial: PUC culture change should start at the top (Sacramento Bee)
• UC admission offers up again for nonresidents (Sacramento Bee)

Scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.

By Janis Mork

 April 24, 2013 (Rancho San Diego)- The 20^th annual spring garden festival hosted by the Water Conservation Garden and Cuyamaca College, will be taking place this Saturday, April 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Cuyamaca College. This festival includes experts on raising urban chickens, beekeeping and vegetable gardening, as well as garden professionals, a plant sale, animal encounters for kids, live music and more.

Elizabeth Ramos, director of marketing and events at the Water Conservation Garden, participated in an exclusive interview with ECM last week to give more details about the garden’s mission and the festival.  Listen to a recording of our interview with Ramos here: http://kiwi6.com/file/df12etpwb7.  For more details, scroll down.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

April 24, 2013 (San Diego) – Homeowners and residents can take a proactive approach to dealing with wild fires by practicing some simple guidelines.

Congressional legislation aims to halt June 15 closure of FAA tower, others

County  News Service

April 23, 2013 (San Diego)--The county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (4/23) urged federal lawmakers to approve pending legislation in Congress that would save the Ramona Airport traffic control tower. The board, on a 5-0 vote, endorsed a pair of bipartisan federal bills that would halt the June 15 closure of the East County facility, along with nearly 150 other towers funded by the Federal Aviation Administration.

April 17, 2013 (San Diego's East County) -- ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Midwest sees record floods, road closures, runaway barges, and evacuations (Christian Science Monitor)
• Honda recalls over 225,000 SUVs and minivans in U.S., Canada (Reuters)
• Police: Bombing suspects planned more attacks (U-T San Diego)
• ACLU eyes Boston bombing suspect's Miranda rights (U-T San Diego)
• Suburb becomes war zone in days after bombings (U-T San Diego)
• Editorial: Feds need to probe Nevada's busing of mentally ill patients (Sacramento Bee)
• Texas fertilizer company didn't heed disclosure rules before blast (Reuters)
• Volunteer firefighting force decimated in Texas fertilizer plant explosion (Christian Science Monitor)
• Charges dropped against man in ricin letters case  (Sacramento Bee)
• Hackers compromise Associated Press Twitter account, tweet false report of White House attack (Christian Science Monitor)

WORLD

• Senate Immigration Bill Calls For A Drone-Patrolled Border (KPBS)
• US finalizing arms sales to Israel, Arab nations (U-T San Diego)
• China quake toll rises; rescue squads face setbacks (Jerusalem Post)
• Magnitude 6.9 quake strikes Sichuan region of China: USGS  (Reuters)
• France legalizes gay marriage after harsh debate (U-T San Diego)
• Police Arrest Former Pakistani Ruler Musharraf (NPR)
• Afghan girls' school feared hit by poison gas  (Reuters)
• Officials: At least 185 killed in Nigeria attack (U-T San Diego)

SCIENCE AND HEALTH

• Trees On Top Of Skyscrapers? Yes! Yes, Say I. No! No, Says Tim (NPR)
• CDC: U.S. Hospitals Should Be Vigilant For Bird Flu (NPR)

Scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.

Image left: Bighorn Sheep at Ocotillo - Robert Baran photo, East County Magazine

By   Roy L. Hales at San Diego Loves Green, originally posted April 21, 2013

April 23, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – The California Association of Environmental Professionals has awarded the Ocotillo Wind project with its highest award for Outstanding Environmental Analysis and Documentation at a joint conference of AEP and the National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP). The Builder, Pattern Energy, claims,  “The Ocotillo Wind project will provide enough clean and renewable energy to power nearly 125,000 homes in Southern California each year.”

Speaking as a non-scientist, the first thing that comes to mind when I hear the name Ocotillo is a stream of videos (click on this link to go to the Save Ocotillo index page) that stretches beyond the four months this project has been online and continues to document the scarcity of wind. Though not a “scientific study,” they never-the-less constitute a visual chronology that includes a great many details that would not otherwise be available to the public. One has to merely scan the titles to realize something is very wrong:

“Your source for Trusts, Wills, Probate, Family Law & more”

By Stephen C. Ross, Esq.

April 23, 2013 (San Diego County) – A power of attorney (POA) is a written document wherein a person (the principal) appoints another person (the agent) to transact business and manage property on behalf of the principal. A POA has many purposes in estate planning, including: allowing the agent to transfer property into a revocable trust that is the principal’s primary estate planning tool; facilitating gifts to take advantage of the federal annual gift tax exclusion; and, allowing the agent to operate the principal’s business that is not included in a trust.

April 23, 2013 (Alpine) – The public is invited to sample wines from California and the world, as well as enjoy tastings from restaurants throughout the County at Vintage Alpine on Sunday, May 5 from 1-4 p.m.  The event will be held at Summers Past Farms, 15602 Olde Highway 80 in Flinn Springs.  Guests can also stroll through the gardens, listen to music and bid on silent auction items.  

The event is sponsored by the Alpine Kiwanis Club. Proceeds benefit Kiwanis projects including Bike Rewards for perfect attendance in elementary schools, equipment for youth sports, local scout troops, plus East County Special Olympics Track and Field.

April 22, 2013 (Lakeside)--The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has issued a Boil Water Order and Public Notification for El Monte County Park located at 15805 El Monte Road, Lakeside, CA 92040 effective immediately.  The water system serves a ranger residence, park office and public restrooms.

The drinking water system has tested present for E.Coli and total coliform bacteria.  The presence of E.Coli bacteria indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes.  Health effects can include diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches or other symptoms.  E.Coli may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems. 

April 21, 2013 (Santee) – What began eight years ago as Santee’s homegrown observance of Arbor Day and Earth Day has blossomed into an all-day extravaganza named SanTree Fest.

”We named it SanTree Fest because it began as a simple gathering of local families, scout troops and young people to green up our parks with trees,” said Recreation Coordinator Bree Stanley. “While the focus is still on the environment and sustainability, we’ve made it more fun for the entire family.”

This year’s daylong festival will feature more booths, more free activities for children, and more entertainment.

April 18, 2013 (El Cajon) – The Cajon Classic Cruise series starts early this year, with opening night April 24.  The cruise nights will continue each Wednesday through September 25, featuring   more than 200 specialty, classic and unique cars  gathering at Main and Magnolia in Downtown El Cajon.

The Cajon Classic Cruise will be held from 5-8 p.m. and will feature a weekly theme. Visitors can view the best theme cars, enjoy dinner and drink specials from local restaurants, play in bounce houses for the kids, and enjoy street vendors peddling delights including kettle corn and hot dogs.

By Miriam Raftery

April 21, 2013 (San Diego) – “Another scourge is beginning in California,” environmental activist Peg Mitchell told audience members at a forum on environmental justice issues hosted by Activist San Diego on April 15.  That “scourge”  is fracking – and in California, it’s all about extracting oil, not natural gas. 

To frack for oil requires millions of gallons of water –a precious commodity in Cailfornia.  It also means injecting toxic chemicals that corporations are not required to disclose due to the “Halliburton Law” pushed through by former Vice President Dick Cheney. 

The public doesn’t have a right to know where fracking is occurring or where its waste products will be dumped—even though fracking can cause earthquakes, disturb radioactive substances in the earth, reinject contaminated water into wells, and potentially pollute thousands of miles of coastline.

So why the push to frack for oil in California?

April 21, 2013 (San Diego) – San Diego State University (SDSU) police have issued an alert to warn students of a man who grabbed a woman, 20, who was walking in the south alley of 5600 Montezuma Road just off campus this morning at 3 a.m.  The suspect is described as an Asian male, tall with spiked hair,  in  his mid-20s, wearing black-framed glasses, a white shirt and light jeans.  He fled in a black four-door BMW toward Campanile Drive.

According to police, the suspect  walked up to the victim, grabbed her arm and leg and attempted to pull her. She suffered no injuries and no weapon was used in the incident.