August 26, 2010 (San Pasqual) -- Orfila Vineyards in San Pasqual invites you to celebrate the fruits of their labors at its annual Grape Stomp from 4-8 p.m. on Saturday, August 28. Tickets ($85 each) include dinner, wine-tasting reception with hors ‘de oeuvres, live music, tractor rides, and of course, stomping of the grapes. Reserve early, as this event sells out each year.

Full menu includes:

August 27, 2010 (Spring Valley) – San Diego Sheriff’s ASTREA-3 helicopter assisted Lemon Grove gang suppression deputies in the apprehension of a parolee at large on Wednesday night at 9:44 p.m. on Eileen Street in Spring Valley.

August 23, 2010 (Sacramento) – Assemblyman Joel Anderson (R-El Cajon) announced today that his AB 1506, a measure that would require the state to accept its own IOUs in payment for state taxes or fees, has passed both houses of the Legislature and is now on the Governor’s desk.

County honors deputies who saved couple’s lives during Monte Fire;

Climbers offer safety tips for others

By Miriam Raftery

August 26, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego Sheriff’s deputies Gary Kneeshaw and Scott Blight saved two rock climbers trapped on the face of El Capitan mountain during the Monte Fire in Lakeside on Saturday.  Today, the deputies were honored with a commendation from the County Board of Supervisors for their heroic actions in a daring ASTREA helicopter rescue. In a press conference at Gillespie Field in El Cajon today, Lieutenant Richardson praised the deputies for actions “above and beyond the call of duty” which “without a doubt, saved the lives” of rock climbers André Doria and Meg Rippy.
 

Doria and Rippy, 27-year-old graduate students at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, revealed details of their ordeal to East County Magazine.

August 26, 2010 (Lakeside) - Fire investigators have determined that two juveniles playing with fire caused the Monte Fire, which started on August 21st and burned 926 acres. The blaze briefly threatened homes near the fire’s origin and nearly caused the death of two rock-climbers who were rescued by a Sheriff's helicopter in the nick of time.

Recently, there has been a rash of fires caused by children playing with matches or lighters in the backcountry, Cal Fire's Roxanne Provaznik said.

By Ray M. Wong
 

August 25, 2010 (City Heights) -- Phong Huynh came to the U.S. as a refugee with his family from Vietnam in 1990 at age 12. One of his fondest memories of the country where he spent most of his childhood is the Mid-Autumn Festival called “Tet Trung Thu” celebrated every year.

The Kid: Chamaco, which he produced, opens Friday for a one-week engagement

By Brian Lafferty

August 26, 2010 (El Cajon)--“The quality of writing will get you through the door,” says East County film producer Vernon Mortensen. His newest film, The Kid: Chamaco, opens Friday for a one-week showing at the Reading Gaslamp.  “To get to the door, half the time you need to know somebody," he told me over lunch in El Cajon.

August 25, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Want to save water--and reduce your bill?

Residents of San Diego’s unincorporated areas can pick up rain barrel systems for half-price ($30.35 + tax) this Saturday morning. The system is designed to connect to a roof downspout and gutters.  Residents who don’t qualify for the subsidy can buy a rain barrel system for $60.69.

By Rocky Neptun

“Mommie, I’m hungry,” the little girl cried as she stood shivering in the cold wind, waiting for food. The image has never left me…and now that I am semi-retired I want to be part of an effort making sure no more children starve on San Diego city streets.

August 25, 2010 (El Cajon) --Donald H. Harrison, creator of San Diego Jewish World, an online newspaper, has been selected as the new instructor for the class that produces the Grossmont College student newspaper, The Summit.  In addition to a print version of the student newspaper, Harrison says he is planning for a web-based “Griffin News Service” to feature a calendar of on-campus events, stories written by students, as well as audio and video features.

By Dr. Helen Lee, D.C.
www.ChicagoHealers.com

August 25, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) -- Not only are spices wonderful for adding flavor and jazzing up a delicious meal, they can also enhance your health and act as herbal remedies. Who knew such powerful natural healers were hiding in your spice cabinet?

August 25, 2010 (Tierrasanta) 4:30 p.m. – A San Diego Police SWAT/Emergency Response team has been dispatched to an apartment building at 9000 Gramercy Drive near Ruffin Road. A man wanted for kidnapping and domestic violence has barricaded himself inside. “He has access to multiple weapons and he is believed to be armed at this time,” Lt. Andra Brown told East County Magazine, adding that the weapons are handguns.

By Russell Buckley

August 25, 2010 (La Mesa) -- The President of the Board of Directors of the Helix Water District opened last Wednesday's rate increase hearing by saying it was imperative that the Board do the right thing. I hoped that meant to hold off on the proposed increase until excess pension costs were reduced. Unfortunately, that was not to be the outcome of the vote.

August 24, 2010 (Sacramento)-- Assembly Bill 1844, Chelsea's Law, passed the California State Senate today by unanimous vote. The measure, carried through the Senate by Republican Leader Dennis Hollingsworth, (R-Murrieta) was authored by Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher (R-San Diego). The bill aims to strengthen protections for California children from violent sexual predators.

August 23, 2010 (Sacramention)--Assemblymember Marty Block (AD-78) announced today that AB 184 has cleared the Legislature and is now awaiting action by the Governor. The bill prevents the California Department of Education from requiring school districts to repay the state for Special Disabilities Adjustment funding that they received in the last fiscal year and already used to teach special-needs students in their classrooms.