March 29, 2013 (Washington D.C.) – Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) has introduced along with 63 bipartisan cosponsors H.R. 1130, the Iron Dome Support Act. Iron Dome is the defensive weapon system that is currently serving as a missile shield over Israel.
“This joint Israeli-U.S. project is already in the field, having successfully downed nearly 90% of incoming missiles during last year’s conflict in Gaza. Hundreds of innocent lives were spared as a result of Iron Dome and rocket fire from the Gaza strip did not escalate into a larger crisis," Davis states. “However, the coverage provided by the Iron Dome defense system is inadequate and regional security requires additional units to protect all of its civilian population.”
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The Descanso Town Hall will be honored on Saturday, April 20 at 9 a.m. and you are invited to join in the festivities. The historic Town Hall has been selected by E Clampus Vitus, a national primer historical society, to be honored with a monument and plaque.
This historical preservation society, under the leadership of Descanso’s own Warren Geiske, will be unveiling the monument on April 20.
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March 28, 2013 (Julian ) – A motorist found a gunshot victim left wounded on Banner Grade along State Route 78 this morning and brought him to the Julian fire station. The victim was taken to Palomar Medical Center and is expected to survive his injury.
Two people have been arrested for the shooting. Jeffrey Roberson, 47, is charged with attempted murder. Jennifer Minor, 40, faces a conspiracy charge.
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March 25, 2013 (Lemon Grove) – At the Lemon Grove Historical Society’s next "History Alive" lecture, Garry McClintock, the renowned saddle maker and CEO of McClintock Saddle Works, Descanso, and authority on cowboy history, will explain what makes a great saddle andwhy the cowboy was central to the story of the American West. The event will be held on April 4 at 7 p.m. in the H. Lee House Cultural Center, 3205 Olive, Lemon Grove
See McClintock's gorgeous, hand-crafted saddles and hear why the life and times of the cowboy and his trusty horse became rooted in the American psyche. From the gritty outback, to the open plains, to sprawling ranches, to the silver screen, the often harsh realities of the cowboy's world became the stuff of myth and legend, song and poetry.
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March 21, 2013 (Santee) – American Home Show will present the first-ever Spring Home Show at the Town Center Community Park and Santee Sport Complex in Santee on April 5, 6 and 7 from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily. Admission is free.
‘The show inspires homeowners with countless ideas on enhancing their home’s comfort and functionality, as well as being labeled “made in America,” a press release from organizers states. The event will showcase hundreds of home improvement and landscaping exhibits, with product demonstrations . Attractions will also include live entertainment, speakers, an American business mixer, barbecue competition cook-off, gunny sack race, and a kids’ village.
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Celebrate The Big Read: Imagine a World without Books: Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451
March 12, 2013 (La Mesa)--La Mesa's San Pasqual Winery will be hosting an overview of Bradbury’s celebrated novel, and a dramatic reading of his poignant short story The Love Affair of Laurel and Hardy on Tuesday, April 2 at 6:00 p.m. in the San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room (8364 La Mesa Blvd).
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Editor's note: This is a victory born in the Idle No More Movement for Native rights, which has spread from Canada to the U.S. ECM recently covered Idle No More speakers in San Diego, including local Kumeyaay members.
By Sarah Hales-Ried (reprinted with permission of San Diego Loves Green)
March 28, 2013 (Ottaway, Canada)--After over two months and 1600 kilometres (approx. 994 miles) of walking, the journey of Nishiyuu - a Cree word meaning “the people” - reached Cam-nada's Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, on Monday, March 25. That same day, Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, formally welcomed eight First Nation communities into Canada's First Nations Land Management regime.
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March 28, 2013 (Flinn Springs)--Spend your morning enjoying sweet peas on April 13 from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at Summers Past Farms annual "Sweet Pea Days." The farm is located at 14602 Olde Highway 80 in Flinn Springs. Should you decide to cut your own bouquet, you can do so at $3.00 per bouquet from 11:00 a.m. until the blooms are gone.
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4 Million Senior Meals to be Cut Nationwide, 100,000 meals in San Diego Alone
By Paul Downey, President/CEO, Senior Community Centers
March 28, 2013 (San Diego)--Sometimes I am really glad to live almost 3,000 miles from Washington DC. The latest “raging” chest-thumping, finger-pointing debate is whether President Obama cancelling tours of the White House are politically motivated or a true result of sequestration. This is a bit of Nero fiddling while Rome burned.
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March 27, 2013 (La Mesa)—The federal government has slashed Community Development Block Grant funding for La Mesa from $800,000 a few years ago down to just $350,000 this year. As a result, the City Council voted 5-0 on Tuesday to completely eliminate funds for all public services funded by CDGB, except for fair housing. The cuts fall largely on programs that help the elderly, poor and disabled.
Funds will be axed for the Alzheimer’s Association, East County YMCA Summer Camp, Meals on Wheels of Greater San Diego, San Diego Youth Services, Elder help, Interfaith Shelter Network, Senior Community Centers, and more.
Mayor Art Madrid called the elimination of public services a “tough decision” necessitated by federal sequestration cuts. Sequestration mandates cuts across the board in nearly all federal agencies as a result of Congress failing to reach agreement on how to reduce federal debt and resolve the federal budget. Democrats sought a combination of revenue increases and budget cuts, while Republicans have blocked such proposals, holding out for cuts-only solutions.
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March 28, 2013 (San Diego's East County)--Health and Science Highlights brings you news on the cutting edges in these fields.
On the science front, have earthquakes mastered the secrets pursued by alchemists since the days of legend? The journal Nature Geoscience writes about the ability of earthquakes to vaporize water in faults, depositing gold. Plus beekeepers are suing the EPA-- and a new study shows pesticides are affecting bees memories and navigation skills.
On the health front, does aspirin reduce cancer risk? A study in the Journal Cancer this week suggests it might. The Community Asthma Initiative at Boston's Children's Hospital may provide a model for Medicare and insurance companies to keep costs down while preventing asthma. Speaking of governments involvement in health, this week the New York Superior Court struck down New York City's soda ban as "arbitrary and capricious," while the Mayor defiantly promised to challenge the decision.
In perhaps the most far reaching health development of the week, a new peer reviewed study lead right here in San Diego indicates that Down Syndrome may be caused by the lack of an important brain protein, SNX27-- and may lead to development of therapies that can reverse the syndrome if treatment is started up to as late as puberty.
For links to these stories and more, scroll down.
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March 28, 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:
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March 28, 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:
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March 26, 2013 (San Diego's East County)--Starting April 5th, hiking to Cedar Creek Falls will require a visitor permit. Access from the San Diego River Gorge Trailhead in Ramona is also set to reopen. The trailhead has been closed since the death of an El Cajon teen who fell over the top of the falls in July 2011. A second trailhead reopened last year.
With the opening, the U.S. Forest Service is implementing a Visitor Use Permit System that will limit the number of visitors to Cedar Creek Falls, while providing for protection of natural resources and enhancing public health and safety.
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Court rules that CA Public Records Act applies to public officials’ private e-mail accounts
By Lou Russo
March 24, 2013 (Alpine)--In a Superior Court in California on March 19, 2013, a decision was filed which should make every Californian happy. The Honorable James P. Kleinberg decided that you, a citizen of California, have the right to view the records of public servants concerning the public’s business, in any form, regardless of where they are stored. Let me quote from the decision:
“[It is] unlikely the Legislature intended to render documents confidential based on their location, rather than their content.”
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Your right to challenge clearance projects may be taken away
UPDATE: COMMENT PERIOD EXTENDED TO APRIL 8
By Miriam Raftery
Updated March 28, 2013 (San Diego's East County)--The California Board of Forestry and CalFire has released a proposal to target about 38 million acres (1/3rd of the entire state) to be burned, chewed-up, or sprayed with herbicides. This increases its habitat clearance program five times over current levels in what the California Chaparral Institute (CCI) calls a “major threat” to wildlife.
Robert S. Taylor Jr., a fire specialist with the National Park Service, has also blasted the proposal as a “very poor use of public funds” that would cause irreversible environmental damage. “I strongly recommend that Cal Fire withdraw the current proposal and produce a new one based on best available science," he wrote. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has also criticized the plan.
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March 28, 2013 (San Diego) –When it comes to open government and public access to government records, times have changed dramatically in California. Much of that change can be attributed to the tireless efforts of Terry Francke, General Counsel of Californians Aware.
Last night, Francke received the coveted Sunshine Award from the Society of Professional Journalists in San Diego. The award was presented by Donna Frye, Director of Open Government for the City of San Diego and a prior recipient of the Sunshine Award. Mayor Bob Filner also presented a proclamation honoring Francke.
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March 20, 2013 (San Diego) – Come to the Kroc Center on Saturday, March 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and you will take part in a FREE community Easter Egg Hunt and festival.
The Kroc Community Church is hosting its tenth-annual, “EGG-stravaganza” at the Salvation Army Kroc Center, located at 6845 University Avenue, San Diego. This event offers local families a free, safe and fun place to celebrate the Easter holiday. Highlights include visits and pictures with the Easter Bunny, bounce houses, carnival games, arts and crafts, music and thrilling prizes.
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SDSU art professor and artist Neil Shigley’s portrait, "Michael 59," will be displayed in at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C. March 23, 2013 through Feb. 23, 2014.
Shigley’s work was selected as a finalist in the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition and sent to Washington D.C. where it will be included in the tri-ennial exhibition. "Michael 59" was selected as one of 48 works from more than 3,000 entries in a variety of visual arts media. The juried exhibition of portraits includes works created from both traditional media like oil paintings, drawings and photographs as well as more surprising materials such as rice, glitter, thread and video.
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March 25, 2013 (Warner Springs) -- Sgt. Gil Cortez, an officer with the California Rehabilitation Center in Norco, was killed along with his service dog after his vehicle rolled over this morning on State Route 79 half a mile south of San Felipe Road.
Cortez was leading several corrections vehicles taking dogs to conduct drug searches at La Cima Conservation Camp in Julian, a fire training camp for inmates. For unknown reasons, he lost control of the Crown Victoria, which rolled over and landed upright. Officers rushed to extricate Cortez, who was taken to the Warner Springs Fire Station but died before he could be airlifted to a hospital.
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March 26, 2013 (Rancho San Diego)--An impressive array of artists will display works and be honored at a reception on Friday, April 26 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Heritage of the Americas Museum at Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego. A percentage of all art pieces sold at the art sale, as well as 100% of proceeds from a live fine arts auction, will benefit the museum which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.
The Chris Klich Jazz trio and flautist Jim Hannibal will perform. Wine, beer, hors d’heuvres and desserts will also be served as the event. A $10 suggested donation is requested for the reception. RSVP to (619)670-5194 or hofam@sbcglobal.net to reserve space.
To read about the exceptional array of talented artists featured, scroll down.
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It’s time to dig out those egg baskets and get ready to roll. County parks will host egg hunts at two East County parks on March 30 in Ramona and Spring Valley.
“County parks are the perfect places for families to gather year round but especially when spring is in the air,” said County Parks and Recreation Director Brian Albright. “These egg hunts are the perfect excuse to get outdoors with your family and rediscover the beauty of nature.”
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Audio and Transcript of the Historic Argument Available HERE
March 26, 2013 (Washington D.C.)-- Today, the United States Supreme Court heard oral argument in Hollingsworth v. Perry, the federal constitutional challenge to California’s Proposition 8. The Court is considering whether Proposition 8 violates the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Califiornian voters legalized same-sex marriage, but later overturned the rights of gay and lesbian couples to wed with Prop 8's passage in November 2008. A federal district court ruled that Prop 8 was unconstitutional, a ruling later upheld by the federal court of appeals. On December 7, 2012, the Supreme Court granted certiorari in Perry to review the case. The appeal was filed by Dennis Hollingsworth, former State Senator from San Diego and Riverside counties.
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March 26, 2013 (San Diego) – With more than 350 education abroad programs in more than 50 countries, international study is a central part of the educational experience at San Diego State University. Through the university’s Office of International Programs and the College of Extended Studies, SDSU continues to expand its international offerings to include educational, research and service-learning programs.
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March 26, 2013 (San Diego) – Kids interested in the theatrical arts can sign up in April for classes in acting, dance, and voice offered by Young Actor’s Theatre.
Details are below. All classes run 8 weeks from April 8-June 7 and cost $150 for the session.
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March 26, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – As swim season approaches, the East County Family YMCA reminds kids and adults about the importance of practicing safety when in and around the water. The Y offers a variety of swim programs in East County, where swimmers can have fun while developing confidence, engaging in physical activity and learning safety skills that can save lives.
“The East County Family YMCA is committed to providing as many opportunities as possible for everyone to learn basic swimming lessons and water safety practices,” said Laura Merritt, Director of Marketing and Development. “We encourage kids and adults to have fun when in and around the water, but to always make safety their first priority.”
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March 26, 2013 (Jamul) --The next East County Produce Exchange will be held on Saturday, March 30th in in the Jamul Hardware parking lot, 13881 State Route 94 from 3:30-5:00. The Exchange is a monthly event in Jamul, where people come from all over the county to exchange freshly grown fruits and vegetables.
The produce exchange is like a farmer’s market, but it is a free event. There is no money involved.
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March 26, 2013 (El Cajon) -- A one-act play exploring the human condition and a performance employing the magic of Mask Theatre and movement will be performed April 5 and 6 at Grossmont College, both as fundraisers for the theatre arts program.
Brian Rickel, Grossmont College theater arts instructor, will portray 14 different characters in, “Judevine: A Solo,” at 7:30 p.m. April 5, in a performance that contains adult themes and language. Originally written by David Budbill as a two and three-act play, “Judevine” uses a collection of vignettes and monologues to portray 24 different characters. Directed by Kari Hayter, Rickel’s adaptation draws from both versions of the play and a book of poetry, on which the play is based.
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May 25, 2013 (Lemon Grove) – California Highway Patrol is searching for the driver of a Chevrolet Silverado truck whose driver fired four or five shots at a Marine on his way to training at a San Diego Naval base. The shooting happened on the northbound 125 connector to westbound State Route 94 in Lemon Grove.
The Silverado truck was found in San Ysidro later in the day, but its occupants have not been located. The registered owner was not driving the truck when the shooting occurred. The incident happened early this morning around 4:30 a.m.
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March 28, 2013 (La Mesa) – Harmonica John and Budd Willis will present the 14th annual Spring Harp Fest featuring top harmonica players live at Harry Griffen Park, 9550 Milden Street in La Mesa. Musical concerts will take place on March 30 from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Admission is free, though a suggested $5 donation will benefit the San Diego Blues in the Schools program.
This year’s performers slated include Raphael Harp, Mark of the Blues Abbott, Nick “Chowda” Walsh, Dan “Dirty” Rice, Steve Bulger with 145th Steret, the World Famous Unknonw Player’s Jam, and Billy Watson.
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March 25, 2013 (Lemon Grove) – At the Lemon Grove Historical Society’s next "History Alive" lecture, Garry McClintock, the renowned saddle maker and CEO of McClintock Saddle Works, Descanso, and authority on cowboy history, will explain what makes a great saddle andwhy the cowboy was central to the story of the American West. The event will be held on April 4 at 7 p.m. in the H. Lee House Cultural Center, 3205 Olive, Lemon Grove
4 Million Senior Meals to be Cut Nationwide, 100,000 meals in San Diego Alone
March 28, 2013 (San Diego's East County)--Health and Science Highlights brings you news on the cutting edges in these fields. 
March 28, 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:
By Caprice Harrison
March 26, 2013 (San Diego) – Kids interested in the theatrical arts can sign up in April for classes in acting, dance, and voice offered by Young Actor’s Theatre. 
March 26, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – As swim season approaches, the East County Family YMCA reminds kids and adults about the importance of practicing safety when in and around the water. The Y offers a variety of swim programs in East County, where swimmers can have fun while developing confidence, engaging in physical activity and learning safety skills that can save lives.
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