June 20, 2011 (San Diego) – A 47-year-old motorcyclist with a female passenger, 30, struck a parked vehicle while driving northbound on 54th street yesterday afternoon in east San Diego. He landed under the vehicle and sustained major head trauma, according to Officer J. Jacobsen with the San Diego Police.

June 19, 2011 (San Diego) – Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego), whose district may soon extend to include La Mesa, part of El Cajon and other areas in East County with reapportionment, has joined several other legislators in sending a letter asking Attorney General Eric Holder to conduct an investigation into oil speculation.  The legislators seek to “determine whether illegal practices may be artificially inflating oil and gas prices” and also ask for “common sense limits" on the  trading of oil futures.

 “It's infuriating that major oil companies continue to profit from tax exemptions while American families struggle with rising gas prices," Davis said in a letter to constituents. "I joined in sending a letter to Vice President Biden asking him to make sure that cutting unnecessary tax subsidies for major oil companies is part of a deal to reduce the deficit.”

In the 52nd Congressional District represented by Duncan Hunter (R-El Cajon),  a Democratic analysis estimates the plan would shift thousands of dollars in costs onto individuals --$182,000 to $287,000 per person for those ages 44-54--while sharply cutting benefits for those over age 54 and the disabled.

June 19, 2011 (Washington D.C.) – How will the bill passed in April by House Republicans’ to cut $1 trillion in Medicare costs impact people in East County and San Diego?

The plan would eliminate Medicare for those now under 55, making them use vouchers for private insurance instead. Some benefits for current Medicare beneficiaries and the disabled would be cut immediately. Seniors would pay more for prescriptions and government reimbursement to private insurers would not keep pace with the rising cost of medical care, resulting in seniors paying higher costs.  That's based on numerous independen analyses, from the Wall Street Journal to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).
 

Now ranking members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee have posted a breakdown by Congressional districts that shows majorl impacts on seniors and even greater cuts to those currently under 55.

June 19, 2011 (La Mesa) --On Thursday, June 23, The Space Bar Intenet Cafe will presenting  RegE Gaines with host  Jim Moreno. The Space Bar feature is part of its 4th Thursday  Open Mic -- Jihmye. The Gaines performance will contain works of the spoken word, poetry, song and dance. The open mic session will begin at 7:30 p.m, and end at 10:00 p.m.  In addition to the entertainment, the Space Bar is also home to coffee, tea, soothies, and a deli.

The Space Bar is located at 7454 University Ave., La Mesa, CA 91942 

                                            ^{Info: (619) 461-7100 (619) 285-9737}

Jim Moreno describes RegE as he has seen him in performance:
 

June 19, 2011 (La Mesa) --“Race to the Fair” is the theme of this year’s San Diego County Fair at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. But who is really racing to the fair?  

By Brian Lafferty

June 18, 2011 (San Diego) – After watching Korkoro I fondly recalled the stories of my Uncle John and “the Gypsies.” When my sisters were little, he would warn them about the Gypsies and how they wouldn’t hesitate to snatch them while they slept. If you left root beer outside, maybe my sisters would have a fighting chance.

If only Korkoro was as interesting as these stories.

June 18, 2011 (La Mesa)—La Mesa Police have arrested two juveniles linked to burglaries in the community.

A woman living at a condominium complex at 5700 Baltimore Drive called 911 on June 15 around 3:57 p.m. to report an attempted burglary. She told police that two males knocked on her door for several minutes, but she didn’t answer because she did not recognize them. Soon, after she heard her kitchen window screen being removed and saw one of the strangers entering through the window.

June 17,2011 (San Diego) -- County Supervisors and public safety officials kicked off Defensible Space Days last week by urging residents to give their homes a fighting chance against wildfires by creating a 100-foot buffer zone.  The map below shows areas most likely to have a major wildfire—including a significant section of East County. 

“We lost thousands of homes in the 2003 and 2007 firestorms and learned that homes with defensible space are far more likely to survive than homes without it.  As we head into the hot, dry conditions of summer and fall, it’s imperative that residents get rid of fire hazards on their properties,” said Supervisor Dianne Jacob.

By Scott H. Kidwell, La Mesa

At the June 14, 2011 La Mesa City Council meeting Mayor Art Madrid moved to remove the city from the East County Economic Development Council and rather use the $5,000 annual membership fee to allow city officials to do more travel to defend city financing at state and federal levels. Time will tell how worthwhile this plan will be.

Story and photos by Ron Logan

 June 16, 2011 (La Mesa)Chris Ahrens is a school teacher and an elite athlete. For months on end he has trained long hours in preparation for this month’s world championships in his sport. 

His team departed on June 13th for the 2011 CPISRA Football 7-a-side World Championships in the Netherlands (that’s soccer, to you and me). Ahrens is a defender for the U.S. team.  

Garrick reportedly was set to run for redrawn Senate district in East County

By Miriam Raftery

June 16, 2011 (San Diego) – Assemblyman Martin Garrick (R-74th district), who currently represents North County, was arrested yesterday in Sacramento for driving under the influence of alcohol, after speeding, running a stop sign and fleeing from two California Highway Patrol officers.

Garrick, a former vice chair of the local Republican Party and past GOP Assembly leader, has been put forward by the Republican Party as a potential candidate to run for State Senate in a redrawn 38th State Senate district that would include areas in East County north of Interstate 8 if proposed redistricting plans are approved as drafted.

June 17, 2011 (La Mesa)--What is your image of summer? Being on the water, a back country visit, ripe grapes in the sun? We all have nostalgic and joyful memories of summers past, and hopes for relaxation, recreation and friendship in the months ahead.

"Images of Summer" at O'Dunn Fine Art in La Mesa will present--in the vernacular of painting--sunny days of over twenty artists, in oils, watercolor, and pastels. Landscape, figurative, and abstract pieces evoke the season, each framed and ready to hang. Proprietor Shannon O'Dunn invites you to join her for the opening of "Images of Summer", and to celebrate the Summer Solstice with music and art on Wednesday June 22, from 5 pm to 8 pm.

June 16, 2011 (Campo) -- The public is invited to the annual Fathers' Day gala at the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum living-history & train-operation center, Campo, on Sunday June 19th from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The event will feature a complete barbeque lunch prepared onsite from 12:30 to 2:15 p.m., live folk music, and vintage train rides at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. 

June 16, 2011 (La Mesa) – Kimberly Dawn Roehr of La Mesa has been arrested on four counts of burglary and one count of receiving stolen property, thanks to a tip from a local citizen who recognized her from the “San Diego’s Most Wanted-The FBI Files” television program.

The suspect had been recorded on video stealing hundreds of dollars of electronic merchandise at the Target store in Grossmont Center in January and February, according to the FBI.