Public invited to meet elected officials and candidates

By Brian Lafferty

August 27, 2010 (San Diego)--Jean-Luc Godard, that great French filmmaker, once said, “The best way to criticize a movie is to make another movie.” When I first saw Mesrine: Killer Instinct, which is the first in a two part series (Mesrine: Public Enemy No. 1 will be released next week) I wasn’t very impressed. I felt like I had seen it all before and that the movie wasn’t anything special. That was until I saw Takers a while later.

Public Guardian Steps In When Loved Ones Can’t

San Diego County Health & Human Services

August 28, 2010(San Diego) -- It’s a Wednesday morning and Alejandrina Martin knocks on the door of a 67-year-old man’s apartment in a low-income complex in the Lake Murray area.

Martin is one of three Public Guardian investigators with County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency’s Public Administrator/Public Guardian (PA/PG).

SAN DIEGO – Sen. Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) announced today that the Legislature passed SB 503 to improve oversight of state bond funds. The bill now heads to the Governor for his signature.

“California taxpayers have a right to know that the bond monies they have approved for housing, transportation, and other projects are being spent efficiently and appropriately,” Kehoe said. “This good government bill will ensure strict accountability of state funds and I urge the Governor to sign this measure into law.”

By Brian Lafferty

August 27, 2010 (San Diego)--The movie may be called Takers but “Sharp Dressed Men” would be a more apt title. The Takers in this movie are a group of men who get their kicks robbing banks but there is very little of it. Instead, we see only a group of men dressed in expensive suits strutting around, acting cool, and emitting a subtext that says, “Look how much money we have to afford these coats and ties!” At some point I wished ZZ Top’s hit song, “Sharp Dressed Man” would blare to lighten things up a little.

Part 3 in a 5-part series on gardens featured in the 2010 Grossmont-Mt. Helix Association garden tour.

August 27, 2010 (Mt. Helix) -- Dick and Cynthia Jackson have made the most of seemingly every inch in the front and back yards of their modest-sized home on Bonnie Vista. A courtyard of bricks set in sand welcomes guests to this charming garden, where classic boxwood hedges define a patriotic garden of red, white and blue blooms including hollyhocks, roses, silver sheen and razzleberry.

East County News Service
August 27, 2010 (Santee) – Christina Gravitt, 46, of El Cajon was killed Wednesday, August 25 as the result of a high-speed accident. According to the San Diego County Medical Examiner, Gravitt was driving a Dodge Durango traveling southbound on Magnolia Avenue in Santee at a high rate of speed when the vehicle went out of control.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Dennis Richardson
 

Update 7:30 p.m. -- Cause of the fire has been determined to be accidental, due to workers installing a fence. 

August 27, 2010 (El Cajon) updated 1:30 p.m. -- Heartland Fire dispatch confirms that a fire that forced evacuation of homes near Grossmont College is now fully contained.  No buildings were lost or damaged.

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East County News Service

August 27, 2010 (San Diego's East County) - Look for relief from blistering triple-digit heat this weekend, with high temperatures forecast to dip into the 80s Saturday and Sunday in East County.  Gusty winds are also forecast in mountain and desert areas, the National Weather Service predicts.

August 27, 2010 (San Diego) -- Do you know how to take responsibility for your creativity? Like many, you may have trouble nurturing your imagination. Facing the blank screen, score, canvas, loom, or clay often brings up inadequacy and its undercurrent -- fear.

August 26, 2010 (San Diego) – Supervisor Ron Roberts has been in office during two of the worst wildfires in San Diego history in 2003 and 2007, serving as Chair of the Board of Supervisors during the 2007 firestorms. But his opponent, challenger Steve Whitburn, has won the coveted endorsement of the San Diego Firefighters Association.

“We believe Stephen is the right choice for Supervisor because he will fight to make our communities safe,” said Frank DeClercq, president of the San Diego City Firefighters.

August 26, 2010 (Alpine) – It’s comedy night at The Vine in Alpine on Friday, August 27 at 9 p.m. This month’s comedians include headliner Patrick DeGuire, as well as Graci Stumpf, Willy Wilson, and Josh Lawson—with a cover charge of just $7.

How do you top that act? On Saturday, August 28 from 4-7 p.m., the Vine is offering wine tasting—at just $10 for up to 10 tastes.

August 26, 2010 (La Mesa) -- At about 5:40 a.m.,La Mesa Police responded to a single vehicle collision on the MTS trolley tracks at the intersection of Spring Street and Interstate 8. A male driver, 34, was exiting onto Spring Street from eastbound I-8 when his vehicle struck a curb and a chain link fence, then came to rest on the MTS trolley tracks.

August 26, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Citing concerns over a recent audit report, the El Cajon City Council voted 4-1 to extend funding for the El Cajon Community Development Corporation for six months instead of the full year. While the Mayor expressed confidence that a new director has agreed to correct problems identified in the audit, some Councilmembers warned that the City could exercise the City’s 30-day right to terminate the ECCDC’s contract if their concerns are not adequately addressed.

East County News Service

August 26, 2010 (Alpine) - Alpine Tree Town invites area residents to a meeting on September 14 at 6:30 p.m.

“This group is dedicated to inspiring residents and business owners to plant, maintain and protect trees,” Carlette Anderson said, adding that Tree Town also provides educational programs for local schools. "If you love trees and would like to meet some like minded people then please mark your calendar.”