September 6, 2010 (Poway) -- What could feel more like the Old West than sitting around a campfire singing songs and listening to storytelling? On September 10th, the City of Poway and the Old Poway Park Action Committee will host a hobo campfire sing-along from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Old Poway Park on the banks of Rattlesnake Creek.

By Mary Paulet

September 5, 2010 (Escondido) – For San Diego classic car enthusiasts of all ages, the place to see and be seen on Friday nights is Escondido’s Cruisin’ Grand, a pre-1973 car-themed festival that attracts participants from across San Diego. The events also feature live music and vintage entertainment from hula hoops to a “Twister” contest.

By Miriam Raftery

September 5, 2010 (Lakeside) –At Barona’s 40th annual powwow, Barona tribal member and community leader Bonnie La Chappa grilled tortillas at her family’s campsite in preparation for a family feast.
 

September 1, 2010(El Cajon ) – Folk dancing, authentic Chaldean food, live music and singing performed in Aramaic-Chaldean and English will all be part of the festivities at the Chaldean Annual Festival in El Cajon. A $5 admission/voucher may be used towards food, children’s games, or purchases from vendors. An art and cultural exhibition will also be held.

September 4, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Roundup highlights important stories of interest to East County readers, published by other media.

Update 4:15 p.m. - The spread of the fire has been halted at 3 acres; mop crews will remain on scene for approximately there hours, Cal-Fire battalion chief Nick Schuler has informed East County Magazine.

September 4, 2010 (Mesa Grande) – Cal-Fire is at the scene of a three-acre grass fire off Mesa Grande Road and Highway 79, near the co munity of Mesa Grande. The fire was reported at 3:15 p.m. and cause is under investigation.

September 3, 2010 (Lakeside) – The public is invited to attend the 40th annual Barona PowWow. The event, which has free admission, will be held September 3-5 at the Barona Baseball Field. More than $60,000 in prize money will be awarded in Native American dance competitions. The powwow, which attracts competitors from all over North America, also features vendors selling Native American arts, crafts, and jewelry.

September 3, 2010 (Tierrasanta) – A 66-year old woman was struck by a 2001 Chrysler sedan at 8:36 this morning while walking southbound in the 11200 block of Tierrasanta Boulevard. She died at a hospital later of major injuries sustained in the accident.

By Brian Lafferty

September 3, 2010 (San Diego)--I normally try to give every movie I see the benefit of the doubt but I will admit, based on such experiences as When in Rome and The Bounty Hunter, that it was hard for me to not be leery. Fortunately, whatever doubts I had immediately dissipated once Going the Distance began and the result was a very good time and lots of laughs. I urge you not to dismiss it.

Update Sept. 3, 2010 12:10 p.m.:  The Cowboy Fire is now 42% contained, will full containment projected for Sunday. Smoke can be seen in the area, due to an island of unburned fuel that burned in the middle of the fire. There is no current threat to structures.

Currently there are 48 engines, 35 fire crews, 2 bulldozers, 4 helicopters, 2 helitankers, 4 airtankers, 8 water tenders, 69 overhead for a total of 1,360 firefighters committed to the incident. There have been two minor injuries to firefighters, Cal-Fire reports.

September 3, 2010 (5 a.m.) -- Firefighters have held the Cowboy Fire to 719 acres through the night.  The blaze is now 15% contained, said Cal-Fire battalion chief Nick Schuler.  He added, "The incident command expects the containment will increase even more when the sun rises."

Update 8:35 p.m. -- The Cowboy Fire is now 719 acres and is 10% contained.  Progress is "excellent" according to Cal-Fire Battalion Chief Nick Schuler.

September 2, 2010 (Campo) 7 p.m. --The Cowboy Fire has reached 300 acres, however Cal-Fire public information officer Roxanne Provaznik reports, "Firefighters are beginning to make some progress."  The fire is currently back-burning onto itself and there is minimal threat to structures.

September 3, 2010 (San Diego) – This week, the California Public Utilities Comission approved a San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) solar power initiative that will provide for 100 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic (PV) solar energy. Under the initiative, 26 MW of utility-owned generation would be slated for construction on existing SDG&E property, with the remaining 74 MW to be purchased from independent power producers.

The initiative could more than double the approximately 80 MW of solar power currently generated in the utility's service territory.

Update 5:20 p.m. The fire is now out and was contained to less than an acre. Firefighters are mopping up hot spots, according to Santee Fire's Brett Eldridge.  Cause is believed to be accidental, possibly from a bulldozer scraping rocks, he added.  

September 2, 2010 (Santee) 4:40 p.m. – A brush fire has broken out at the Sycamore Landfill in Santee at 8514 Mast Boulevard. “So far I’ve seen Santee, El Cajon, and La Mesa Fire roll down my street,” said Mark Schoonover, who shot the photo above.

East County News Service
September 2, 2010 (La Mesa) – Helix Water Board general manager Mark Weston asked Board members to table a proposed resolution that would have restricted non-emergency communications among board members to business hours. Several board members also leveled criticism at media outlets that reported on the issue.

“I have said that I’m on call 24 hours a day. I’ve been in public works for 30 years,” said Weston, who stated that “portrayal of my character” in some news reports was “quite inaccurate.”

Gulf oil rig explodes off Louisiana Coast (another one!)