Granite Hills Grad Continues Legacy of Revving up Student Learning

June 13, 2013 (El Cajon)– El Cajon native Jimmie Johnson continues to blaze new trails in his efforts to support student learning, this time with the generous gift of 25 Samsung Galaxy Tabs™ 7” for use in the classroom.

Santana High School Social Science teacher Rebecca Short got a big surprise recently as Santana Principal Tim Schwuchow notified her in front of her students that her winning technology proposal was selected by the District’s Ed Tech Taskforce.. Short’s students will soon get more mileage out of accessing the information highway thanks to a generous gift of 25 Samsung Galaxy Tabs™ 7” from the Jimmie Johnson Foundation and Samsung.

By Supervisor Dave Roberts

June 13, 2013 (San Diego)--On May 15th, the Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance that establishes a rigorous process to install wind turbines. By a 4-1 vote, Supervisors agreed to strict guidelines. Our action did not approve a single, specific project.

My vote to adopt the ordinance came after much careful consideration.

As Dr. Dan Silver of the Endangered Habitats League said during his testimony, "wind energy presents a conundrum."

On one hand, I am very supportive of renewable energy to reduce greenhouse gasses.  On the other, I am concerned about the significant, unmitigable impacts of large wind turbines.

June 13, 2013 (Julian) – Julian Brewing Company, Baileys BBQ Pit and Jeremy's on the Hill will present "As local as it gets" – a farm-to-table dinner Friday, June 14 at 6:30 p.m.

Throughout June and July, SANDAG will hold community workshops countywide to solicit public input on the biggest issues facing the region between now and 2050 – including the economy, environment, energy, transportation, public health, land use, borders, and social equity. Iinput gathered at these workshops will be used to develop San Diego Forward: The Regional Plan. The SANDAG Board is expected to adopt the plan in 2015.

A workshop in East County will be held on  June 27 from 6-8 p.m. in the  La Mesa Community Center, Arbor View Room, 4975 Memorial Drive, La Mesa.  For a full list of workshops, scroll down.

Hear audiotape of Pelosi remarks on leaks

By Nadin Abbott

June 13, 2013 (Chula Vista)— During a visit to Southwestern College in the San Diego area on Monday, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi fielded questions from local media on Edward Snowden. Snowden has fled the country over fears of possible espionage charges for leaking classified documents revealing that the National Security Administration (NSA) has been accessing phone records for millions of Americans. 

The former House Speaker called for a balance between “liberty and security”  in a press conference following a forum celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act.

By Janis Mork

June 12, 2013 (El Cajon)- Over 400 students received degrees at Grossmont Community College’s commencement ceremony on Thursday. Commencement speakers included student Derrick Torrence, a Marine Corps veteran who graduated with his daughter, as well as Reverend Eric Smith, a Navy veteran who also wrote his memoir From Crack to Clergy: Provoking Thoughts published in 2011.

By Nadin Abbott and Tom Abbott

Photos by Tom Abbott

June 7, 2013—(Jamul)  A full house of  600 Jamul residents came to a meeting on June 5 to hear a presentation by Penn International Representatives, the latest company engaged by the Jamul Indian Village hoping to build a gaming facility for the Jamul Indian Village, part of the Kumeyaay Nation.

The project has generated widespread community opposition, pitting Native American sovereign rights and economic prosperity against concerns of neighbors over traffic, fire, and rural community character.  All but one of the residents who testified opposed the project, despite efforts by the tribe to sharply scale back its original proposal.

June 12, 2013 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news each week that could impact your health and our future.

• Hey, Fellas, Olive Oil And Nuts Tied to Prostate Cancer Survival (NPR)
• Triple Threat: Middle East Respiratory Virus And 2 Bird Flus (NPR)
• Old Mars rover makes rock discovery (BBC)
  
  Raptors are attracted to wind turbines (Save the Eagles)
• Faces Of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (NPR)
• Plant and human gene modification goes past transgenics (UT San Diego)
• Thought-powered helicopter takes off (BBC)
• Few options for online users to avoid spying, experts say (Jewish World Review)

Scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

June 12, 2013 (San Diego) – Every day Fire and EMS personnel respond to workplace accidents resulting in injury and even death.  It’s estimated that nearly 4 million employees suffer from a workplace injury and employers spend more than $170 billion on associated costs each year.  Many of these accidents could be avoided if an education and prevention program were in place says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.

By Janis Mork

June 13, 2013 (San Diego)--“When I woke up, I was confused, I was terrified,” recalled Santee resident Johana Guzman, who was in a coma for two weeks after she was struck by a car while trying to protect her 2-year-old son.  With help from Sharp Hospital’s Rehab Services, she overcame her injuries and now helps others. “We are warriors,” she said. “Hard times are opportunities to be better,” she told ECM. “I believe inner strength heals us, helps us to see clearly the value of life. We must never give up our dreams.”

On May 31, Guzman was honored at the annual Victories of Spirit event at Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego. Four individuals and one organization received the Eagle Spirit Award, named for the most potent healing symbol of the Navajos. Honorees also included Mike Buxbaum, Anne Herman, and Zach Meno of La Mesa for patient achievement. San Diego State University Fitness Clinic for Individuals with Disabilities was honored for community achievement.

June 12, 2013 (Julian) – Musicians will be wailing the blues on Saturday, June 15, when Robb Bower presents the 15^th annual Julian Blues Bash “Family Affair.”  Six blues bands will perform all day. The event also features dancing, food, beer, wine tasting and free parking.

June 11, 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

• After losing season, Grossmont captures CIF (ECM)
• Women found living on Lakeside pot farm (UT San Diego)
• Alien smuggler indicted in Boulevard case (Alpine Sun)
• Amid legal test, SANDAG starts massive new plan (UT San Diego)
• 'Little Saigon' official in City Heights (UT San Diego)
• Next at San Onofre: Defuel, dismantle(UT San Diego)
• Nuclear Fuel To Be Stored At San Onofre As Part Of Decommissioning  (UT San Diego)
• La Mesa residents slam land-use proposal (UT San Diego)
• Back To The '50s Car Show (La Mesa Today)
• San Diego County To Hire Nearly 600 (KPBS)
• 'Boy I spent a lot of money on those people' (UT San Diego)

STATE

• How California school districts fare in possible funding deal (Sacramento Bee)
•  California oil tax push would direct new funds to schools (Sacramento Bee)
• Judge Upholds Landmark 2003 Colorado River Accord (Mission Times Courier)
• Editorial: State can't take risks with county public health (Sacramento Bee)
• All businesses could get state tax perks (UT San Diego)

For excerpts and full stories, click read more.

June 11, 2013 (San Diego) – County of San Diego Parks and Recreation has activities at parks throughout East County.  Activities include everything from guided hikes to Snakes ‘N Skins for the younger set.  Following is a list of events at East County parks:

DOS PICOS REGIONAL PARK

17953 Dos Picos Park Rd, Ramona | (760) 789-2220

FREE SATURDAY PROGRAMS

Every Saturday

Free Saturday programs meet at the Amphitheater at the scheduled time. Programs may change or cancel without notice depending upon the weather and Ranger availability. The Ranger needs to have at least 10 people for each program to begin.

June 11, 2013 (San Diego) – African American Writers and Artists, Inc., San Diego in collaboration with International Action Center San Diego present a Juneteenth Celebration on June 19, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Malcolm X Library and Performance Arts Center, 5148 Market St., San Diego.  The event’s theme is “Are we there yet? Pulling back the curtain on Racial Equality in America.”

June 11, 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.

• Reports on surveillance of Americans fuel debate over privacy, security (Reuters)
• White House defends surveillance as world digests leaker’s motives (CNN)
• U.S. farmer lawsuit filed against Monsanto over GMO wheat  (Reuters) 
• Supreme Court bars retroactive use of sentencing guidelines (Washington Post)
• Chrysler refuses to recall 2.7 million Jeep SUVs   (CNN)
• Senate passes five-year farm bill (The Hill)
• White House defends top officials' use of 'secret' accounts (Christian Science Monitor)

WORLD

• East Africans told to resettle: Are these 'land grabs' or progress? (Christian Science Monitor)
• Masai herders appear victims of land deal with Dubai hunting firm (Christian Science Monitor)
• Mexico says it rescues 165 migrants kidnapped near U.S. border (Reuters)
• In Gaza, Hamas Targets Palestinian Informants In Crackdown (NPR)
• Most Europeans, especially the French, unhappy about EU: survey (Reuters)
• Anti Khamenei slogans chanted at large Iran protest (Jerusalem Post)
• Another contaminated water leak at Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant (Reuters)
• 15 dead in European flooding, thousands evacuated (UT San Diego)
• Egypt prosecutor orders trial for leading activists (Reuters)
• Convictions put Egypt's beleaguered NGOs into deeper chill (+video) (Christian Science Monitor)
• Pakistan PM Sharif sworn in, calls for end to drone strikes (Reuters)
• Not Everyone Cheers Turkey's Move To Tighten Alcohol Rules (NPR)
• Putin orders crackdown on Islamists, police detain 300 people (Reuters)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click "read more" and scroll down.