March 25, 2013 (San Diego) – Sam Warren is the publisher and editor of www.SDWriteWay.org.  Visit the site for additional news and calendar events for both Readers and Writers.

READERS

MARCH

March 27 (Wednesday, 7:30 pm) — Warwick's will host author Amy Hatvany, who will discuss and sign her latest novel Heart Like Mine. This event is free and open to the public. In order to be signed, Heart Like Mine must be purchased from Warwick's.

By Ariele Johannson

March 25, 2013 (San Diego)--Project Wildlife is planning for some new arrivals. Each year during nesting and birthing season, the center receives thousands of animals that are sick, injured, or orphaned. Project Wildlife staff and volunteers give these wildlife babies a second chance.

You are invited to view these adorable baby birds and mammals at the Fourth Annual Wildlife Baby Shower at their Central Triage Center in Linda Vista on April 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

By Laura Chapman

March 28, 2013 (San Diego's East County)--We all know about going "green" around our homes. Recycling newspapers, plastic and aluminum has become so commonplace that we actually look for recycling bins when we're out and about. How many times have you gone to a dinner party and helped with the cleanup by asking, "Do you recycle?" All of this is aimed at the goal of reducing our individual carbon footprints. If we can all lower the amount of carbon by-products released into the atmosphere we'll be taking proactive steps to bolster our fragile eco-system.

Now the green movement has spread beyond homes and businesses and out into the travel industry. Yes, you can see the world and still go green.

By Janis Mork

March 27, 2013 (La Mesa)- At yesterday’s La Mesa City Council meeting, Councilmember Ernie Ewin requested an update on the status of the Park Station project, a proposed 18-story mixed use building. 

City manager David Witt asked Bill Chopyk, Community Development Director, to discuss the process. 

March 30, 2013 (San Diego's East County) -- For nearly a century, Easter sunrise service has been an annual tradition atop Mt. Helix. 

This year's service will be held at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 31 and will be hosted by Christ Luthern Church of La Mesa. Free shuttle service will be provided starting at 5:30 a.m. from three locations:  the Brigantine Restaurant on Fuerte, the San Miguel Fire Station on Vivera, and the Grossmont Center parking lot near Walmart. 

By Miriam Raftery

March 24, 2013 (Alpine)—Seven Alpine businesses have filed a lawsuit alleging that SDG&E failed to adequately reimburse business owners for losses caused by the two-year project to underground the high-voltage Sunrise Powerlink lines along Alpine Boulevard.  Plaintiffs allege that some businesses were forced out of business, while others suffered hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost revenues.

An attorney for plaintiffs contends that SDG&E did not live up to its promises to mitigate construction impacts by limited portions of Alpine Boulevard, instead creating a “gauntlet of construction obstacles” that drove customers away.

By Miriam Raftery

March 24, 2013 (Jacumba Hot Springs) --I spotted this beautiful crested bird, a cedar waxwing, on a visit to Jacumba Hot Springs last week.  Lake Jacumba, once virtually dry, is now refilled and is a magnet for a wide variety of bird species.

Cedar waxwings are most often found in the northern United States, but can be seen in wooded areas of San Diego County during their spring migration.  They often travel in flocks and are known as the "party animals" of the bird world, since they have been known to feast on fruits and berries until they become intoxicated!

By Janis Mork

March 22, 2013 (El Cajon)- East County’s newest farmers’ market had its grand opening yesterday on the Prescott Promenade in downtown El Cajon. Many people came, young and old, single and families, all flocking to check out what this market had to offer. Shoppers found a unique blend of fresh produce, unique ethnic and multicultural foods, fresh flowers, baked goods, hot entrees and specialty foods. 

An International Rescue Committee (IRC) spokesman thanked the public for coming out and supporting the new market, which benefits not only the community, but also local refugees who are growing some of the fresh produce sold here.

By Miriam Raftery

March 22, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – Today the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed closure of 149 air traffic control towers due to sequestration cuts that are mandated due to Congress failing to agree on how to balance the federal budget.  That includes towers at Ramona Airport in East County and Brown Field in Otay Mesa, both slated to shut down starting April 7.

Closure of the Ramona facility had sparked widespread protests from local officials and the public, who had urged the FAA to keep the tower open to assure protection of firefighters at the backcountry airport.

Photo courtesy of ECM news partner 10 News

March 22, 2013 (Otay) -- This morning at 11:05, California Highway Patrol communications began receiving reports that a small private plane had been forced to land on the freeway after experiencing mechanical problems.  CHP officers responded to these reports and located the Cessna 150 on the right shoulder of State Route 125, near the Otay River Bridge. 

Approval of Escondido power plant restart triggers local generation charge to ratepayers

Story and photos by Nadin Abbott

March 21, 2013 (San Diego)—East County residents savored victory following the California Public Utilities Commission’s unanimous rejection today of Quail Brush, a gas-fired power plant proposed near Mission Trails. Commissioners also rejected the Pio Pico plant in Otay Mesa, but approved refiring an Escondido power plant.

But according to Lane Sharman, co-founder with Bill Powers of the San Diego Energy District Foundation, a grassroots group trying to get community based utilities, this vote did something else. It added one more tax to your utility bill. Not only are rate payers to pay for energy distribution and transmission distribution, but now  a local generation charge as well. Effectively, ratepayers will be subsidizing utilities, according to Sharman.

Commission allows repowering of Escondido plant

“Today’s rejection of Quail Brush is not only a victory for the environment. It’s a victory for our community. It sends a message that San Diego County shouldn’t rely on old-school, power plant technology and that we can accelerate our efforts to develop renewable, cleaner forms of energy, like rooftop solar and fuel cells.”—Supervisor Dianne Jacob

March 21, 2013 (San Diego) – Before a packed audience in San Diego today, the California Public Utilities Commission unanimously denied SDG&E’s requests to build Quail Brush and Pio Pico, gas-powered peaker plants near Mission Trails Regional Park and in Otay Mesa.  The Commission did, however, authorize repowering of an existing but idle gas plant in Escondido.

Update: A $500 reward is now being offered for Napolean's safe reward.

March 22, 2013 (Alpine)--On Tuesday afternoon, March 19, Napoleon, a French Bulldog, went missing from the backyard of his home in Alpine. Napoleon is almost 11 years old and has retired from his job as a therapy dog to live out his days with the Storms family and their 5-year-old daughter, Carson. The dog specialized in working with developmentally disabled adults that have violent tendencies. He is a black-brindle French Bulldog with white markings. He weighs around 25 pounds and was wearing a blue plaid collar.

Napoleon has also been the center of a love story. After taking part in his owners' wedding as a 'Groomsdog' he was on a flight from San Diego to Charlotte, N.C. with a close friend of the family who subsequently met his wife, a Delta flight attendant, during the flight when they started talking about the handsome dog.

March 21, 2013 (San Diego)--Moving to a new town or city is always very exciting and sometimes also a little nerve racking.

When contemplating relocation, therefore, it is always a good idea to take a long hard look at all the pros and cons in order to arrive at a balanced view.  Here are just some of the things to take into account of for anyone contemplating moving to San Diego.

March 21, 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:

U.S.

• Assault weapons ban dropped from Senate bill (NBC)
• States' aid to public colleges has fallen 28 percent since 2008 (Reuters)
• Rand Paul wins  CPAC straw poll (The Hill)
• Sen. Rand Paul introduces fetal personhood bill to outlaw all abortions (RawStory)
• First-ever cyberattack on US election points to broad vulnerabilities (Christian Science Monitor)
• Prop. 37 Died, but the Food-Labeling Fight Lives (Voice of San Diego)
• Census shows record 1 in 3 US counties are dying (Sacramento Bee)
• Report makes chilling forecast on Northwest quake (Sacramento Bee)

WORLD

• Islamist law takes hold in rebel-held Syria (Washington Post)
• Syria, rebels accuse each other of firing a chemical weapon (Washington Post)
• Pope Francis wants Church to be poor, and for the poor (Reuters)
• New Pope Criticized For His Association With Argentina's Dirty War (NPR)
• Flight to nowhere: Refugees’ plight is worsening (The Economist)
• Venezuela to probe Chavez cancer poisoning accusation (Reuters)
• Israeli lawyer goes after Abbas, Hamas in ICC (Jerusalem Post)
• Co-Founder Of Khmer Rouge Dies; Ieng Sary Escapes Judgment For Genocide (NPR)
• Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood says UN proposal on women will destroy the world (Christian Science Moitor)

SCIENCE AND HEALTH

• Could Brazilian waxing increase STD risk? (Fox)
• Driving coast to coast with no gas – on water and sunshine (USA Today)