By Miriam Raftery

Back Country Voices, a citizens group in East County, held a forum on November 11 regarding a proposal to test drones--unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs-- over backcountry areas in San Diego and East County.   Concerned citizens packed into Julian’s library to learn more about the implications of drone testing in our region.

The first speaker was John Raifsnider, a local resident.  “San Diego Military Advisory Council, the Economic Development [Council] and then the Chamber…What does that mean? “ he asked. “Money and military. What does that mix create? We want to know.”

November 13, 2013 (Lemon Grove) – Yesterday at 2:55 p.m., a student at Monterey Heights Elementary School in Lemon Grove told school officials that a stranger grabbed him and dragged him along a sidewalk away from school. The student claimed he had freed himself from the suspect’s grasp and ran back to school.  Deputies obtained a suspect description and launched a search of the surrounding neighborhood with help from a helicopter.

November 13, 2013 (Alpine) – A little known secret in East County is that each winter, you can enjoy outdoor ice skating at a rink larger than the famed Rockefeller Center rink in New York.   Viejas Outlet Center’s rink is also the largest in Southern California.  You can enjoy shopping, holiday décor and entertainment, sip hot cocoa or order off a rink-side menu.

The rink is now open through the holiday season. If you bring a new, unwrapped toy worth $5 or more by December 4, you can also get a $3 discount on skating prices (see rates below).

Faulconer, Alvarez surprisingly similar on issues; Aguirre drops bombs

By Mark Gabrish Conlan • for East County Magazine, www.eastcountymagazine.org

November 13, 2013 (San Diego)--Three of the four so-called “major” candidates for mayor of San Diego in the November 19 special election — Republican Kevin Faulconer and Democrats David Alvarez and Mike Aguirre — debated November 11 at California Western School of Law in an event co-sponsored by the school and KNSJ 89.1 FM Descanso, San Diego County’s new community radio station. The fourth “major” candidate, Republican-turned-independent-turned-Democrat Nathan Fletcher, did not appear.

Surprisingly, given how most of the local media outlets have scripted their coverage of the race — Faulconer the center-Right Republican, Alvarez the progressive Democrat and Fletcher the man in the middle — Faulconer and Alvarez, colleagues on the current San Diego City Council, agreed on as many issues as they disagreed. It was Aguirre, running a distant fourth in most polls, who challenged the other two candidates and confronted many issues that both Faulconer and Alvarez did their best to duck.

November 12, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – El Cajon, La Mesa and Santee City Councils meet this week to discuss matters ranging from the future of Oktoberfest to choosing a new mayor.  Below are highlights from the agendas for each community.

November 11, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – Wind turbines killed over 600,000 bats last year in the United States. That’s according to BioScience, which made the projection based on the startling number of dead bats found at 21 facilities.  The number could be even higher, nearly a million bat deaths, according to the author, Mark Hayes at the University of Colorado.

News hits hard in San Diego, home to second most Filippinos in nation

By Miriam Raftery

November 10, 2013 (San Diego) -- The International Red Cross estimates that as many as 10,000 people may have been killed by a powerful typhoon that has struck the Philippines. Haiyan, also known as Yolanda in the Philippines, may be the strongest typhoon in history.

The typhoon generated winds three and a half times more powerful than Hurricane Katrina. It also triggered a storm surge 16 feet high. Nearly a thousand deaths have been confirmed so far.

The news is hitting hard locally.  With 182,000 Filippino residents, san Diego has the second largest Filippino population of any city in America, according to the 2010 census.

November 11, 2013 (San Diego)--During November, veterans and active duty military personnel can adopt a dog or cat at half price through County Animal Services.  This includes spaying or neutering, vaccinations, a microchip, and a free health examination.  The adoptions are limited to one dog or two cats per household.

Dawn Danielson, director of the County’s Department of Animal Services, says “This is truly a win-win situation for both the pets that deserve a loving home and our service members who will gain a loyal, forever companion.” Pets can often have healing effects on veterans and can help them transition back into their civilian lives, she added.

November 9, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – Arbor Day in Mission Trails is being celebrated at the Equestrian Staging area on Saturday, December 7, 2013, 9:00 a.m. The public is invited to take part in the donation and/or planting of oak trees. Volunteers may help with the planting - or act as cheerleaders. Volunteers are also needed to pull weeds and help with general landscape maintenance of the area. Some shovels will be available, but Mission Trails says it would be helpful if you could bring your own. Gloves and comfortable shoes are recommended. To make a donation, please complete and mail the Arbor Day Donation Form.

November 9, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – The Descanso Ranger District of the Cleveland National Forest will conduct prescribed burning from November 2013 to May 2014, if weather and fuel moisture conditions permit.  The project will cover approximately 500-700 acres and will take place near the communities of Mount Laguna, Alpine, and Pine Valley.

The prescribed burns are for the purpose of assisting in providing community protection by slowing the spread of wildfires that occur under normal summer conditions as well as forest health.  Some drifting smoke may be visible during the period of burning along Sunrise Highway, Japatul Road, and Interstate 8.

November 9, 2013 (El Cajon) – Following Mayor Mark Lewis’ resignation, the East County Democratic Club’s president has sent an open letter to council members and residents urging that the vacancy be filled by appointing one of two  minority candidates. The Club cites the region’s changing demographics and lists support for Ben Kalasho, an Iraqi Chaldean who narrowly lost a council race in 2012, and Vickie Butcher, an African-American who has served on the City’s planning commission and is active in local charities. 

Presently,Councilman Bill Wells, a Republican, is serving as interim mayor.  If Council should decide to appoint Wells as Mayor, members would then also have a vacancy to fill on the City Council.

November 8, 2013 (Alpine) – The Alpine branch of the San Diego County Library will be honoring our veterans on November 7 at 6 p.m., at 2130 Arnold Way, Alpine. 

The event will feature speaker Diana Saenger, author of “Mission Honored – A Dream Achieved; True stories of the Veterans on the Alpine Wall of Honor.”  A musical tribute will be performed by the East County Children’s Choir. 

Suspect remains at large

November 9, 2013 (El Cajon) – An argument between several men in an El Cajon parking lot ended in gunfire last night, with a bullet striking a woman in her 20s.  One of three children in the vehicle was also injured by broken glass.

Deputies from the Santee Sheriff’s station responded  at 5:09 p.m. to a report of shots fired at 340 East Bradley Avenue in unincorporated El Cajon.  The woman, seated in an SUV at Graves and Bradley, had a bullet wound in her shoulder and a child was struck in the arm by shattered glass. Paramedics from Lakeside Fire took the woman to a hospital, where she was treated for a non-life threatening wound.

November 8, 2011 (Alpine) -- On Monday, November 11th, 2013, at 11:00 a.m., a ceremony will be held at the Alpine Wall of Honor (next to Alpine's Community Center) to celebrate the addition of an additional row of heroes and remember all of the great men and women on the Wall of Honor who have served our country or are currently serving.

VFW Post 9578 will be providing our Color Guard, and Peter Hastings will perform some patriotic songs.

After the ceremony, the VFW will be serving hamburgers and hot dogs at the Post and is inviting all who are interested to continue the day's celebration.

November 7, 2013 (El Cajon) – The City of El Cajon’s Special Events Committee, a group of city employees volunteering their time for city and community projects, is seeking item and monetary donations to mail care packages to military members serving overseas through the second annual “They Serve Us, Let’s Serve Them” campaign from “9-11 to 11-11.”  

“We’ve had an outpouring of care package item donations and will probably be able to assemble 30 care packages to help our military this year,” according to Ron Luis Valles, a coordinator and member of the special events committee.