ACPG meeting Thursday includes Powerlink issues as well as proposals for a solar farm, a hotel, zoning changes, and a new park for Alpine

By Miriam Raftery

September 21, 2011 (Alpine) – An already hot agenda for tomorrow night’s Alpine Community Planning Group meeting (set for 6 p.m. at the Alpine Community Center) just got hotter.

On September 19, Aspen, environmental consultant to the California Public Utilities Commission on the Sunrise Powerlink project, released a report on construction and compliance activites for the high-voltage power line.  The report reveals over 30 cases of non-compliance and serious incidents including fires, diesel spills, accidents, ignoring monitoring requirements, and heavy objects falling from helicopters--again. 

September 21, 2011 (Boulevard) -- –Cal Fire resources will be conducting a small prescribed burn in the area of Mc Cain Conservation Camp north east of the Community of Boulevard. This burn is scheduled to take place in the early evening hours of September 22, 2011 between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.

September 21, 2011 (Santee) – On September 24, 2011, The San Diego River Park foundation and the Friends of Santee’s River Park will host a National Public Lands Day (NPLD) event at Town Center Park in Santee on the banks of the San Diego River. Starting at 9am, volunteers will continue habitat restoration efforts aimed at removing invasive, nonnative plants that are detrimental to the river and its wildlife.

 East County Magazine News Service

September 21, 2011 (San Diego)—County Supervisors by a 5-0 vote have approved an expenditure of several hundred thousand dollars to replace "outdated" ordinances and develop regulations for equestrian facilities.

The Board rejected Option A, which would have allowed equestrian facilities by right in rural areas. Instead, the County voted to embrace Option B, which aims to require smaller equestrian facilities to pay an annual ministerial fee and provide “best management practices.” Learn more here: http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/dplu/advance/Equine.html

Fire officials warn this could be the worst fire season in years--and budget cuts has slashed 72 firefighters from Cal Fire in San Diego.  We need funds now to be sure we can keep you alerted if a major fire strikes!

We can still earn hundreds of dollars more to fund our Viejas Wildfire& Emergency Alerts if you vote TODAY. 

 Please vote here now:  www.ideal4acause.com/vote.php . 

(1 vote person; only San Diego County votes will be counted. Mulltiple votes per household or computer are

allowed. ) Ask friends, family and coworkers to vote, too! We get money for every work.

Photos courtesy of Dennis Richardson and La Mesa Fire Department

“SDG&E has asked ratepayers to overpay for service, including funding long-term stock options and incentive programs in excess of what is reasonable,” Joe Como, acting director, Division of Ratepayer Advocates at the California Public Utilities Commission

September 21, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Consumers opening their bills in a month that saw the worst power outage in California history got another unpleasant surprise: a notice that San Diego Gas & Electric Company seeks a rate increase of $1.5 billion over the next four years.

The California Utilities Commission has scheduled several meetings in San Diego County on the proposed rate hike between October 10 and 13, including two hearings Oct. 12 in East County (El Cajon). Public Participation Hearings will be held at 2.p.m. and 7 p.m. at each of the following locations:

September 20, 2011 (Spring Valley) 8:25 p.m. -- San Diego Sheriff’s ASTREA helicopter, a K-9 unit from National City Police and a total of seven law enforcement units are currently searching for suspects believed to have robbed a Wendy’s hamburger outlet in the Casa de Oro area of Spring Valley.

The suspects were last seen running east down Campo Road, according to a Sheriff’s media spokesman, who declined to release descriptions of the suspects.

September 22, 2011 (Poway) -- On October 21, 22 & 23, 2011 the Poway Rodeo Grounds will be transformed into a scene from 'A Knight's Tale' as six armoured knights from across the globe meet for an international competition. The weekend-long event of Jousting and Combat is The Tournament of the Phoenix, held in north San Diego county, California. 

East County Magazine News Service

September 20, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – A worker on the Sunrise Powerlink suffered injury yesterday and was flown by private helicopter to an ambulance, where he was transported to a hospital, Incident Page Network reported.

September 19, 2011 (El Cajon)—El Cajon Police seek the driver of a Nissa Maxima who lost control of his vehicle at 11:38 p.m. last night, crashing into two businesses on Main Street. The driver, whose identity is unknown, fled the scene and left a seriously injured passenger in the wreckage.

Update September 19, 2011, 6 p.m. -- This fire has been halted at 7 acres, Cal Fire Captain Mike Mohler confirms. No structures were damaged.

 September 19, 2011 (La Mesa) -- La Mesa's  Environmental Sustainability Commission is holding the fourth annual "Sustain La Mesa" Environmental Festival on Saturday, October 8, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Harry Griffen Park, 9550 Milden Street, La Mesa, 91942.[Additional Info]

September 19, 2011 – 1:50 p.m. – ECM has received reports of at least 6 serious incidents across our region: