July 5, 2010 (El Cajon) – On Friday, July 9th, fans of art, music, wine and classic cars will be prowling the streets of downtown El Cajon for the 5th annual Alley Cat Summer Fest. The event, which many consider to be the “cat’s meow,” is presented by St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center to benefit Sophie’s Art Gallery, creating opportunities for artists with developmental disabilities.

July 5, 2010 (San Diego) -- Jeff Hall has been selected 2010/2011 President of the Rotary Club of Southeast San Diego, starting July 1st. Originally from Atlanta, he settled in San Diego after serving 10 years in the US Navy. He is currently an independent insurance agent representing Aflac.

Cal-Fire provides arson hotline for tips to bust firebugs

July 2, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) -- One out of four fires is started by arson, Cal Fire reports.

“When an arsonist sets a fire, everyone pays,” a public service announcement issued today by Cal-Fire reveals. “Arson fires destroy homes, businesses, communities, forests, wildlands and lives." Arson costs also include fire losses, firefighting expenses and higher insurance premiums--plus arson fires tie up fire crews and equipment.

Four unions that agreed to slash pensions exempted from order

“I find it wrong for a Governor worth $40 million to be telling a state worker earning $40,000 that you are only worth $7.25 an hour.” – Lace Watkins, Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
 

July 1, 2010 (Sacramento) – State workers won’t be celebrating this holiday weekend. Late today, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered the State Controlled to reduce pay for state workers to minimum wage , $7.25 an hour, until the Legislature passes a state budget. The announcement has left thousands of workers worried over how to cover their families’ living expenses with wages slashed to the bone.

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE: DEADLINE JULY 23, 2010

July 1, 2010 (Rancho San Diego) – The Rancho San Diego-Jamul Chamber of Commerce is rolling out a leadership program designed to empower women to own, lead, and navigate business and community in the global economy.

July 1, 2010 (Campo) – The second annual Robert Rosas Memorial Off-Road ride will be held on July 10th. Proceeds will benefit the family of slain Border Patrol Agent Rosas, who was shot and killed while on duty in July 2009 near Campo.

July 1, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- Ralf Swenson has been tentatively selected as the next superintendent of the Grossmont Union High School District contingent on successful contract negotiation, a positive community visit by the Governing Board to his current school district and further routine background checks.

Two women’s bodies found at site of car crash in Lakeside yesterday with "suspicious" evidence

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Dennis Richardson

June 30, 2010 (Lakeside) – San Diego Sheriff’s Department today announced that it is investigating the deaths of two women found yesterday as homicides. The bodies were found approximately a mile and a half north of Slaughterhouse Canyon off the eastbound side of Highway 67 in Lakeside after a neighboring property owner reported that he had found a dark blue vehicle that plunged 200 to 300 feet down an embankment.

2 BILLS BY BLOCK TO HELP LOCAL STUDENTS WILL BE HEARD WED. IN SACRAMENTO

By Miriam Raftery

June 29, 2010 (San Diego) – “What was once my dream had become a nightmare on the day I was notified that I was denied admission,” Donna Chanthalangsy, a student who had met all requirements for admission to San Diego State University. “I was angered, saddened and disappointed.”  She is among 1,740 local students rejected by SDSU due to a last-minute rule change made by SDSU president Stephen Weber.

June 29, 2010 (City Heights) – Refugee Works and the San Diego Refugee Foreign invite local businesses to an International Night of Networking on Wednesday, July 14 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at City Heights Center conference hall, 4305 University Avenue, San Diego. The event will showcase talents of foreign-trained professionals, forced to leave their homes because of war or persecution, who are now legal U.S. residents.

Recent coyote attacks on large dogs in East County also reported; area residents suggest packs are becoming more aggressive

By Miriam Raftery

June 28, 2010 (Spring Valley) – A coyote attacked a 12-year-old girl shortly before 9:30 this evening at 9119 Jamacha Road in Spring Valley, just one block from the Spring Valley Library and La Presa Middle School, Heartland Dispatch and the San Diego Sheriff's office have confirmed.  

Two possible suspects seen fleeing scene

June 29, 2010 (San Diego) -- San Diego Police Department homicide detectives are investigating the death of a man inside a College East apartment. Around 11:45 a.m., officers were dispatched to 7240 El Cajon Boulevard on a report of a person shot. They found a male inside an apartment who had suffered an apparent gunshot wound. Paramedics attempted lifesaving measures, but the victim died at the scene at 12:10 p.m.

Since it is easier to rig an electronic voting system than it is to rig a Las Vegas slot machine, citizens are rightly concerned about who is counting the ballots and how we can be sure that the real winners are sworn in.” --Linda Poniktera, executive director, Psephos

By Miriam Raftery

Next Hearing on Dispute Scheduled for July 6

By Miriam Raftery

June 28, 2010 (La Mesa) – “This is a wonderful opportunity for art collectors,” Shannon O’Dunn, owner of O’Dunn Fine Art in La Mesa, told East County Magazine. On Wednesday from 5-8 p.m., the gallery will host a reception and opening of a month-long exhibition of masterworks by Stanislaus J. “Stan” Sowinski, who died in January at his Rancho Bernardo residence at age 82. 

His large-scale oil paintings and Byzantine-style icons grace the walls of many public buildings including city halls and a university, as well as corporate headquarters, restaurants, and prominent churches.