By Paul Kruze

April 11, 2013 (El Cajon)--Members of the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) Board on Wednesday night decided in principle (with no formal vote) to begin exploratory talks with the City of El Cajon on becoming a partner in the operation of the troubled East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC) , as well as build a multi-purpose conference center adjacent to the theater. 

The Board also voted 4-1 (with Priscilla Schreiber voting “no”)  to endorse building a 325-seat performing arts center on the campus of Grossmont High School at the cost of $15.1 million dollars.

Representing GUHSD on the ad hoc committee will be board president Jim Kelly and board member Jim Stieringer.

Photo: Lake Jacumba

April 11, 2013 (Jacumba)--The Jacumba Hikers/Walkers will host their first Spring Walk on Saturday. April 13. The Border Fence and Rock House Walk is rated easy and will walk the Border Fence separating the U.S.and Mexico from the Jacumba Lounge/Park to the Jacumba Airport & Old Rock House. Distance is 3.5 mi. round  trip.

April 12, 2013 (Alpine) --The public , is invited to a dinner and performance by The Legends to benefit the Mother Goose Parade.  The event will be held in the Viejas Dreamcatcher Lounge on Saturday, April 13 from 4-7 p.m.  The show costs $30 per person, or two for $50.

Viejas Dreamcatcher Lounge is located at the Viejas Casino, 5000 Willows Road in Alpine.  This show is for ages 21 and up.  For tickets, call (619)444-5774.

April 12, 2013 (San Diego's East County) -- The cause of today's spot fires along Interstate 8 was accidental, says Heartland Fire spoksman Sonny Saghera.  Heartland responded to reports of several small fires along westbound I-8 from West Main Street in El Cajon to Severin Drive in La Meas around 1 p.m. today. 

Heartland Fire & Rescue units from La Mesa and El Cajon, assisted by engines from Cal Fire and Santee, were dispatched to contain the four individual fires approximately 100 yards apart from each other.  A structure on Murray Drive in La Mesa was briefly threatened, but fire crews aggressively attacked the flames to keep them along the freeway’s shoulder. 

Residents spread word through social networking of crimes and more, strengthening bonds in close-knit community

April 12, 2013 (Eucalyptus Hills) --A hidden surveillance camera in Lakeside captured a mail thief in action last night, ECM has learned.  View the video.   Property owner Dennis Richardson, an award-winning ECM photographer,  has posted the video on his Facebook page and on the community’s Brush Fire Partyline website. He is hopeful that alert neighbors and law enforcement will lead to arrest of the thief, whose vehicle is also shown in the video.

 “Eucalyptus Hills is a very safe neighborhood with proactive people who have a huge network of communications – Facebook, e-mail and just neighborly across the fence,’ Richardson told ECM. “We can get the word out to a lot of people really quickly. Everybody is on the lookout and knows what to look for, so our neighborhood is safer than most.”

April 12, 2013 (La Mesa) -- Multilple small brush fires have broken out on I-8 in La Mesa,  likely caused by a vehicle pulled over under the Grossmont bridge.  Other fires are reported at the Spring Street exit.  There is also fire reported on westbound 8 at Main Street in El Cajon. 

Sources inform ECM that the fires are being knocked down quickly but smoke is heavy so expect lane closures in this area.

Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

April 11, 2013 (Alpine) – An 82-year-old man was serious injured while sitting on a bus stop bench outside a Circle K store on Tavern Road in Alpine.   A Volkswagon Jetta parked near gas pumps rolled out of the parking lot, pinning the man underneath.

“Several Alpine angels were able to lift the car and pull him out from under before an ambulance got there,” Dana Halzip posted on the Alpine Community Network.

April 11, 2013 (El Cajon) – Triumphant Quartet, an award-winning gospel group that has performed at Carnegie Hall and been nominated for a Grammy Award, will perform on Sunday, April 21 at 5 p.m. at El Cajon Wesleyan Church. 

Formed in 2002 as the Integrity Quartet, the group changed its name in 2004 after a nationwide contest to Triumphant Quarter.  After receiving the Christian Music Presenters Artist Endorsement and certification as American Gospel Music artists, they were invited to perform in a celebration of American Gospel Music at Carnegie Hall in New York.

April 11, 2013 (Escondido) --  Firefighters are responding to a brush fire at Deer Springs and I-15 in the Escondido area. According to the Incident Page Network there are several spot fires, with a larger header farther south. One fire is now over an acre.

According to the CHP there is a second spot fire starting one to two miles from the original fire.

April 11, 2013 (Lemon Grove) – You’re invited to enjoy an evening of bingo, black jack, craps, and roulette as well as silent auctions, raffles, food and drink. It’s all part of the fun at Casino Night 2013, hosted by the San Miguel Knights of Columbus, Soroptimist International and Kiwanis Club of Lemon Grove on Saturday, April 20.

Admission is $15; for an extra $10 you can purchase a chicken dinner from 5:30 to 7:30.  The Casino Night runs from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. at 8086 Broadway (St. John of the Cross Knights of Columbus Hall) in Lemon Grove.

For more information, call JoAnne Burke at 619-469-8350.

April 11, 2013 (Lakeside) – Two public meetings are scheduled regarding Lakeside's Lindo Lake.

The County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation will  hold a public meeting  on Wednesday, April 17 at 6 p.m. at the Lakeside Community Center. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the long term plans for Lindo Lake and obtain community input. All members of the public are welcome to attend. The meeting will be held at the Lakeside Community Center, 9841 Vine Street, Lakeside.

The Lindo Lake Subcommittee will hold a meeting on Monday May 6, 2013 at 9 a.m. to review the community input of the April 17, 2013 meeting and possibly develop recommendations to submit to the County regarding Lindo Lake.

April 11, 2013 (Washington D.C.) – As homeowners in San Diego and across the nation continue to tangle with banks, Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) re-introduced legislation to give people another tool to avoid foreclosure and the subsequent damage to the their credit rating.  The Short Sale Transparency Act will require Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to disclose the minimum asking price they are willing to accept for a short sale if they reject the first offer.

“People deserve a real chance to avoid foreclosure. It is unfair to expect someone to complete a short sale instead of abandoning their home to foreclosure, if the banks don’t meet them half way,” said Davis.  “Many homeowners are willing, even eager, to work with banks to get out from under the mortgage and protect their credit rating.  But far too often, they find themselves in a guessing game as to what dollar amount will complete the sale.”

By Miriam Raftery

Photo Courtesy 10 News

April 10, 2013 (Ramona) – Students and faculty at Ramona High School are reacting with shock and sadness to the death of Taylor Dorman, 16.  He was accidentally hit in the chest with a ball during an over –the-line game in physical education class late this morning. 

The teen initially showed no sign of trauma and continued playing the game, Assistant Principal Kathryn Gunderson told the U-T San Diego. But 20 minutes later, he collapsed after walking across the field with a friend.  A teacher called 911 and Mercy Air landed at the school to fly Taylor to Palomar Medical Center, where he died at approximately 4 p.m.

“He was a great young man,’ principal Tony Newman said, the Ramona Sentinel reporter. “He was very well-liked on campus…We will remember some good memories and keep them alive in our hearts and our thoughts and our conversations.”

April 10, 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:

NATIONAL

• Monsanto’s next target: democracy (Alternet)
• Obama’s budget proposal: Cut Medicare, cut Social Security (Common Dreams)
• Kansas set to enact life-starts-"at fertilization" abortion law  (Reuters)
• As VA Backlog Grows, ‘Baffled’ Veteran Allies Begin To Turn On President (Daily Beast)

WORLD

• Former UK Prime Minster Margaret Thatcher dies at 87 (CBS)
• North Korea warns embassies of conflict risk as missiles move(Reuters)
• "We are broke," U.N. says as Syria refugee funds dry up(Reuters)
• Palestinians simmer with anger ahead of Kerry visit (Reuters)
• Report points to worldwide rise in anti-Semitic incidents (Christian Science Monitor)

HEALTH AND SCIENCE

• Proposed FDA safety rules frustrate tree farmers (Washington Post)
• U.S. judge lifts ‘morning after pill’ age limit (BBC)
• Human Cases Of Bird Flu In China Draw Scrutiny (NPR)
• The reef that regenerated (Daily Mail)

Scroll down to view excerpts and links to full stories.

April 10, 2013 (Julian) – Restaurants, wineries and breweries in the historic gold mining town of Julian will be offering up tastes to savor at the Taste of Julian this Saturday, April 13 from 1 to 4 p.m. This is a self-guided culinary tour that this year will also include an art tour.