By Nadin Abbott

Photos Tom Abbott

May 8, 2013 (Jamul)—As part of the County’s efforts to consolidate rural fire departments, the San Diego Rural Fire Protection District was asked last night whether “it will continue to operate as an independent fire district or dissolve and become part of the  new County Fire Authority (CFA).”

The County has given the District until June 30th to sign on a one-year contract that would extend the current contract with Cal-Fire, but ultimately would lead to the dissolution of the district under the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO.)

The pending decision has sparked concerns among residents in the District, which is a high fire risk area that has seen some of the worst wildfires in our region. It is also the area where major new energy projects are proposed which would increase the risk of fire.

May 9, 2013 (Mission Hills) – Frequent ECM contributor Walter G. Meyer will be speaking about the timely topic of bullying at Mission Hills Books and Collectibles on May 15 at 6:30 p.m.

Meyer said he never set out to become a bullying expert, but his novel Rounding Third was published just before the bullying/suicide crisis started making the news. ECM reviewed the book when it was published http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/2580 and he has written about bullying for ECM http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/7976

At Mission Hills Books and Collectibles, he will be presenting a version of the PowerPoint he has done at libraries and community centers across the country. It covers what bullying is, how to respond to it, the role of bystanders in ending it, and what can be done to prevent it in the first place.

County to offer discounted zero-emission lawn mowers at 14th Annual Trade-In Event

May 9, 2013 (Mission Valley) – County residents can roll their old, gas powered lawn mowers down to Qualcomm Stadium this Saturday and come away with new, zero-emission models. The price? Just $99.99 for a Black & Decker mower that typically retails for about $400, plus tax.

Available on a first-come, first-serve basis at the 14th Annual “Mowing Down Pollution” Lawn Mower Trade-In Event will be 650 new mowers, County Supervisor Ron Roberts said at a news conference on Tuesday.

May 8,2013 (San Diego) – Mayor Bob Filner met with former Governor Mitt Romney on Monday evening to discuss the City of San Diego’s Olympic bid for the 2024 Summer Games.

Mayor Filner announced last month that the cities of San Diego and Tijuana will submit a bi-national bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics. The Mayor invited Romney to his office to ask if the former Presidential candidate, who formerly headed up Salt Lake City’s Olympic organizing committee, would lend his advice to the effort. Romney said yes.

May 8, 2013 (El Cajon) – Erik. E. Gilbert, 48, from El Cajon died at Sharp Memorial Hospital on May 2 shortly after he was admitted due to head and torso injuries sustained in an accident. 

Gilbert was riding his bicycle in Santee when he was struck by a pickup truck at the intersection of Vomac Road and Mast Boulevard at 5:21 a.m.

Public urged to Report Suspicious Activity

May 8, 2013 (Sacramento) –While encouraging wildfire preparedness this week, CAL FIRE is also reminding residents of the dangers posed by arson. CAL FIRE is pleased to join the United States Fire Administration (USFA) in announcing the theme for the 2013 Arson Awareness Week: Reducing Residential Arson. The goal for this year’s Arson Awareness Week, which takes place May 5-11, 2013, is to provide all residents with strategies to combat arson in their neighborhoods.

According to the USFA’s National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) during 2008-2010, an estimated 16,800 intentionally set fires in residential buildings occur annually in the United States. These fires result in an estimated 280 deaths, 775 injuries, and $593 million in property loss each year. The average dollar loss for an intentionally set fire in a residential building is $21,320. The fatality rate for intentionally set residential fires was more than twice that of other residential building fires.

May 8, 2013 (Lakeside) – Internationally renowned horseman Chris Irwin is bringing his inspirational message on Horse Sense to Mountain View Ranch, 15665 El Monte Rd., Lakeside for a special one day clinic.  Irwin, a best-selling author, specializes in teaching communication skills for people with horses.  People learn to use horse body language to become better leaders and communicators, to be “the better horse”.

May 7, 2013 (San Diego) - With the recent completion of a state audit of the City of San Diego Development Services Department, United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 135 President Mickey Kasparian calls for the City of San Diego to take action, based on those results. “In light of the finding by state auditors, our city has no choice but to take extreme action on the Walmart project in Sherman Heights,” demanded Kasparian. “The clear violations of City codes and procedures, possible ethics violations, and a complete lack of transparency, are stunning in their magnitude.”

By Rebecca J. Williamson

May 9, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) --To some, romantic love is a never-never land—a place of unfulfilled dreams.  Sometimes, a parent chooses not to explore fulfilling his or her own needs in order to protect someone else. 

Patricia, an East county resident who asked that her last name not be published, is a single mom. She does not date or bring a romantic partner into her life for a reason---to protect her now teen-age daughter from being hurt—emotionally, physically, or any other way. 

“I decided not to date when she was  two or three and to focus on raising her,” Patricia told ECM. As a mom, Patricia learned first-hand about having to protect her  daughter from a man who was a convicted pedophile. 

By Miriam Raftery

May 7, 2014 (San Diego)--“How do you beat the national average with below average wind speeds?” Attorney Bill Pate posed that intriguing question at a forum hosted in San Diego recently by Activist San Diego.

Good question. Pattern Energy told the California Public Utilities Commission that it would reach 34% capacity at Ocotillo Express Wind Facility, a  site rated just a class 2, the second lowest federal rating for wind speeds.  The first three months of data for the Ocotillo project show only about a 19% capacity reached.   In the entire U.S., there is only a 22 to 23% net capacity on average.  

So how did the project get approved?

By Rebecca Williamson

May 6, 2013 (Santee) --  The Santee Fire Department responded to a call at approximately 11:00 a.m. and scaled the roof of the Santee Staples store on Mission Gorge Road.  Staff and customers were evacuated while firefighters checked the store for fires or potential hazardous situations.

By Miriam Raftery

“The threat of acquiring the respiratory illness extends to residents living near expansive construction sites. That risk is rising given the scope of the renewable energy boom centered in the state.” – Los Angeles Times

May 6, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – Valley Fever has sickened 28 workers at two large-scale solar facilities under construction in San Luis Obispo County, the Los Angeles Times reported on April 30.  The disease is contracted by breathing in fungal spores released when desert soils are disturbed.

The finding is the latest in a series of disturbing reports on epidemic Valley Fever conditions in California and across the Southwest.  With numerous large-scale solar projects and wind projects proposed for East County that would scrape bare thousands of acres of high desert terrain, public health concerns over the prospect of exposing residents to Valley Fever are growing.  Since wind-blown spores can carry 75 miles or more, residents across San Diego County could be at risk of the potentially deadly disease.

May 7 (Tuesday, 5:30 pm) — Barnes & Noble Oceanside, 2615 Vista Way, Oceanside, presents Gretchen Wendel who will talk about her book, Becka and the Big Bubble series.

May 7 (Tuesday, 6:00 pm) — Barnes & Noble Oceanside, 2615 Vista Way, Oceanside, presents Kevin Gerard, who will talk about his book, Diego's Dragons.

May 7 (Tuesday, 7:30 pm) — Warwick's will host Dean of Arts and Humanities at UCSD Seth Lerer, who will discuss and sign his memoir Prospero's Son. This event is free and open to the public. In order to be signed the author's most current book must be purchased from Warwick's.

Celebrate our launch party! Thousands of dollars in prizes!

Early bird rates extended to Friday! RSVP to reserve space

You're invited! Celebrate launch of our East County Magazine prime-time radio show on KNSJ!  Join us Sunday, May 19 from 12-3 p.m. at the beautiful Maness Vineyards estate, 3044 Colina Verde Lane in Jamul.  Winetasting, great food, music, amazing prizes and more!  

DIRECTIONS:  (click read more below to open and view directions)