Big issues include affordability and quality of care, long ER waits, and sweetheart contract with Sharp Health Care

By Mark Gabrish Conlan

October 30, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--How healthy is our healthcare district--and what remedies to candidates for the Grossmont Health Care District Board have to offer?

ECM contacted all candidates and obtained responses  from eight of the nine (all but Emad Bakeer). Virtually all saw the same principal issues facing the district, though they differ on solutions--and their approaches differ as much as their backgrounds.

October 30, 2012 (La Mesa)--Youngsters age 7-17 from throughout Southern California and Arizona are getting ready for two days of Soap Box Derby Races, November 3 and 4, as members of the host Kiwanis Club of La Mesa adjusts to modifications to the course on Junior High Drive at La Mesa Middle School.

October 31, 2012 (San Diego) – County Parks and Recreation hosted the grand opening of a new community garden at Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve on October 26.  County Supervisor Pam Slater-Price and County Parks and Recreation Director Brian Albright were on hand for the occasion.

November 1, 2012 (La Mesa)—This morning at 1:08 a.m., La Mesa Police officers responded to a report of an armed robbery in the 8200 block of Lemon Avenue.  The  victim, 20, said he had just left his residence and walked across the street to retrieve his wallet and cell phone that he had left in his vehicle. While the victim was sitting in his vehicle, the suspect approached the driver side and tapped on the window with a black semi-automatic handgun. 

“It is empowering to create a useful commodity appreciated by family, friends and customers.” – Kerri Mixon

By Caprice Harrison, Editorial Assistant for East County Magazine

October 27, 2012 (Lemon Grove) -- Ask Kerri Mixon about making soap.  You will be met with a smile and 16th-generation soapmaking expertise. Mixon  is the owner, administrator, lead instructor and artisan of Soapmaking Studio in Lemon Grove, an inviting classroom and supply center open to the public.

2 out of 3 Californians support work permits for children who were brought to U.S. illegally and have since completed high school or military service; Majority also support content of Arizona’s S.B. 1070.

October 29, 2012 — California voters support tough law enforcement policies on illegal immigration in large numbers, but more than two-thirds of Californians are willing to carve out exceptions for children who arrived in the United States without documentation, according to results of the largest statewide poll of registered voters.

October 30, 2012 (Alpine) -- Peanut is a mini-poodle; only 7 pounds at 7 months old and loves all people and dogs. His favorite thing to do is to be cradled in your arms like a baby, but is also game to play if you are. He bonds very closely and loves to follow me around outside or lie next to me while I work on my computer. He is quiet in his crate and a joy to have around! This adorable “ragamuffin” is a joy to train due to his wonderful, respectful listening skills.

By Mark Gabrish Conlan

I’m writing this article — both a review of the latest Presidential debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney at Hofstra University in New York State October 16 and an overview of how all three of the debates so far have been covered by the media — starting 10 minutes after the October 16 debate ended. It’s important that you know that, and that you know my article about the first Obama/Romney debate 10 days earlier was likewise written just minutes after it was over, because I’ve wanted whatever I had to say about the debates to be uncontaminated. I’ve wanted to write about these events solely from the debates themselves as I watched them on TV and filtered them through my perceptions, unaffected by the media “groupthink” that surrounds these events and, quite frankly, colors how ordinary voters perceive them and use them to guide their decisions.

October 29, 2012 (Alpine) – Viejas Casino, Southern California’s premier gaming, dining and entertainment destination, has been named Business Partner of the Year by Partnerships with Industry (PWI). The honor was announced at PWI’s annual awards event held on Saturday, October 20.

“For seven years Viejas Casino has been providing adults with intellectual, developmental and other disabilities the opportunity to change their lives through employment in the community. “PWI is excited to honor Viejas Casino for their support, commitment and dedication to PWI’s mission and for being a corporate partner that defines a ‘win-win partnership,’” according to Mark Berger, PWI’s chief executive

By Ariele Johannson

October 28, 2012 (San Diego)--During the Somali Civil War, the number of refugees admitted to the United States soared starting in 1991. San Diego is now home to the second largest East African refugee community with an estimated population of 30,000. A real need arose to integrate the growing number of new immigrant refugees into the San Diego community. Ahmed Sahid, President and CEO of Somali Family Service of San Diego, states, “It’s very important to us that we work with other like-minded organizations to accomplish our goals.”

October 30, 2012 (El Cajon )--On Thursday, Oct. 25, El Cajon Valley High School celebrated the completion of its 700 North and 700 South classroom buildings with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and program showcase. The two 9,000-square-foot buildings were renovated to improve safety and quality and now provide well-equipped learning spaces for career technical training and art classes as well as outdoor spaces for displays, meetings and comfortable student access. Modernization of the building also featured video production studios and computer labs for students.

By Miriam Raftery

October 27, 2012 (El Cajon) – The El Cajon Brewing Company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but the owner says the restaurant aims to reorganize and stay in business.

The brewery has received at least $645,000 in funds from the City of El Cajon, including $300,000 in start-up funds approximately three years ago, followed by a $345,000 loan borrowed from redevelopment funds to complete the renovation, the U-T  San Diego reported in April 2011.

Asked what the bankruptcy could mean for the city, Councilman Gary Kendrick told ECM, “This is a bankruptcy reorganization, so hopefully they will be able to reorganize their debt and continue operation or find another operator.  The city has a lien on their equipment as security for the loan. The value of the equipment would cover a significant part of the unpaid loan balance.”

E - The Environmental Magazine

Written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss

October 28, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) -- Dear EarthTalk: I have heard that fracking is becoming a major environmental issue in the U.S. Which parts of the country are already hosting fracking operations? Are there efforts underway to stop the practice in specific states or across the country?                             ­-- Jim Ross, Toronto, ON

By Bill Weaver, candidate for the GUHSD board

October 28, 2012 (Alpine) – Why is building a 12^th high school for the Grossmont Union High School District in Alpine still an issue?

Because it was twice funded by public initiative bond measures, Prop H ($274 M) and Prop U ($417 M), Further, HS12 is a money maker for the GUHSD, the one and ONLY bond project predicted to make money, and attract new students and California Average Daily Attendance (ADA) funding, per GUHSD Demographer Mr. Vince O'Hara. There are over 1200 students that would attend, and this would alleviate overcrowding at Granite Hills HS, now populated at around 2800 students (and SAVE money by reducing physical campus needed added classrooms using up bond money because 600 fewer students would be at GHHS).

October 28, 2012 (San Diego)--On the weekend prior to Halloween, Deputy Sheriffs and Police Officers from local agencies participatingin the San Diego County Avoid 15 Task Force conducted DUI saturation patrols near San Diego State University and Qualcomm stadium. Halloween weekend parties and the SDSU Aztec football game traditionally brings to the area an increase in DUI drivers.