April 13, 2013 (San Diego) – A growing movement seeks to build awareness of social and environmental justice issues related to energy production. While the world has jumped on the “green bandwagon” in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and use of fossil fuels and nuclear, how much difference are alternatives such as wind and solar power really making?  What are the unforeseen consequences on communities, public health and the environment? Why isn’t the media reporting on these issues?

On April 15, prominent environmentalists and community leaders will speak on local experiences and on growing national/international movements seeking social and environmental justice.  Speakers at the event titiled “Energy Projects, Fracking, and Rights of Mother Earth” include Donna Tisdale, chair of Boulevard Planning Group and co-founder of two nonprofits battling big energy projects in East County,  Terry Weiner with the Desert Protective Council and Solar Done Right, attorney Bill Pate who handled a legal challenge to the Ocotillo Wind Energy Facility, Peg Mitchell with SanDiego350.org and Citizens Climate Lobby, and Carlos Pelayo, Asociación de Jornaleros y Trabajadores de Casa.

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 11, 2013 (Spring Valley)-- The County of San Diego invites you to "go play, get fit, be healthy!"  The 8th annual "It's How We Live" community festival will be held this Saturday, April 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Spring Valley County Park, 8735 Jamacha Boulevard in Spring Valley.

The event is free to the public and includes games, activiites, healthy food samples, free health and dental screenings, a bounce house, live entertainment, information booths, prizes and giveaways.

April 9, 2013 (Santee)—The Santee community is organizing a benefit for a Santee family whose kindergarten boy is battling brain cancer.  Diagnosed just this past December, Dylan Pourner has become bed ridden, is on oxygen 100% of his time and is in the process of starting a "research" chemo after the last treatment failed to shrink his very large tumor.

The two largest benefits will be a Coffee Benefit April 16 from  6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and a Concert Benefit April 20 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The "Coffee Benefit" will be held at Coffee Corner cafe at Mast and Carlton in the Pathways Community Church parking lot.  The Concert Benefit will be at the Pathways Community Church.

Frog race offers $10,000 first prize, all to benefit St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center

By Caprice Harrison

April 3, 2013 (El Cajon) – St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center in El Cajon will host its 15^th annual, “Morning Glory Brunch- With a Country Flair” on Saturday, April 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This special event is being held in the Center’s Organic Garden, located at 2119 East Madison Avenue, El Cajon. The event includes:

• Over 20 food and beverage stations from local restaurants
• Boutique shopping
• Live music and entertainment on multiple stages
• “Arts Alive!” floral creations by Jasmine Creek Florist
• The eighth-annual, “Frog Race” with $10,000 in cash prizes!

NEW features this year include: Children’s activities, arts and crafts, face-painting and a “Froggie Pond” with kid-friendly prizes! Each “froggie” is only $5 or, three (3) for $10. Each “frog” is $100 or $150 for two (2).

April 2, 2013 (El Cajon, CA) -- On April 12 San Diego Las Hermanas will hold A Comedy Classic: A night of Friends and Laughter. The event will feature live entertainment, dinner and a live auction to raise funds for two non-profit charities, Fostering Opportunities-Dollars for Scholars, and Include Autism’s Community Coaching Center.

The evening promises to be extremely entertaining: Mike Pace is an Emmy nominee for HBO’s Comic Relief; Jeff Capri has appeared on Last Comic Standing and Ed McMahon’s Next Big Star; and Dave Burleigh’s voice impressions were showcased on America’s Got Talent. In an electrifying mixture of art and music, Stephen Fishwick will create an “Art Attack,” and his painting will be part of the evening’s live auction.

The Descanso Town Hall will be honored on Saturday, April 20 at 9 a.m. and you are invited to join in the festivities.  The historic Town Hall has been selected by E Clampus Vitus, a national primer historical society, to be honored with a monument and plaque. 

This historical preservation society, under the leadership of Descanso’s own Warren Geiske, will be unveiling the monument on April 20.

March 28, 2013 (Flinn Springs)--Spend your morning enjoying sweet peas on April 13 from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at Summers Past Farms annual "Sweet Pea Days."  The farm is located at 14602 Olde Highway 80 in Flinn Springs.  Should you decide to cut your own bouquet, you can do so at $3.00 per bouquet from 11:00 a.m. until the blooms are gone.

It’s time to dig out those egg baskets and get ready to roll. County parks will host egg hunts at two East County parks on March 30 in Ramona and Spring Valley.

 “County parks are the perfect places for families to gather year round but especially when spring is in the air,” said County Parks and Recreation Director Brian Albright. “These egg hunts are the perfect excuse to get outdoors with your family and rediscover the beauty of nature.”

Don't have plans for lunch or dinner today?

The Miss San Diego Cities Pageant in conjunction with the Miss San Diego Pageant and Scholarship Association invites the community to a fundraiser to support Taylor Cunningham and the Cunningham Family, today Tuesday, March 26 all day at the Chilis restaurant in Santee on Mission George Road. Chilis will donate a portion of all orders (dine in and take out) for parties who bring in the attached filer in support of Taylor Cunningham and Family.

Taylor currently holds the title of Miss San Diego's Outstanding Teen. She and her mother and two sisters were hit by a wrong way drunk driver on the Eastbound 52 just more than a week ago.

March 21, 2013 (Descanso) -- Descanso will soon be the home of a new non-commercial community radio station, KNSJ, which will broadcast on 89.1 FM from Monument Peak, Mt. Laguna.  The station aims to begin broadcasting in April, once a transmitter is built.

The station is actively soliciting community members to broadcast their own shows, stories, events listings and items of local information, and to join with and guide the station as it grows into a real 24/7 media outlet by and for the people.