By Miriam Raftery

The County of San Diego’s new library in Alpine has been nominated for an Orchid Award in the San Diego Architectural Foundation’s annual Orchids and Onions Awards. The project was created through the design-build team of C.W. Driver, Ferguson Pape Baldwin Architects, and architect Manuel Oncina selected in a competitive design process.

From indoor trees for kids to cozy up and read under to an outdoor patio with park view, 42 million books, many specialized spaces and plenty of high-tech amenities, the spacious new library is not only innovative in design and beautiful, it’s also energy efficient as the County’s first Zero Net Energy building.  Next up, the County is seeking LEED Gold certification.

East County News Service

Updated June 24 with information from the CHP

June 22, 2016 (Alpine) — A 64-year-old woman walking her dog was struck and killed by a car this morning at South Grade and Calle de Compadres near Wright’s Field in Alpine.  The accident caused temporary closure of South Grade Road.

According to the California Highway Patrol spokesman Kevin Pearlstein, the driver, a 57 year old man from alpine was driving 2004 Honda Civic southbound at 35 to 40 miles per hour when he struck the pedestrian, who apepared to be crossing the road toward her parked vehicle

"Due to the change in elevation of the roadway,the drive of theHonda was unable to avoid the pedestrian who had appeared directly in his path of travel," Pearlstein said,adding that the driver did apply his brakes but could not avoid the collision. The driver was not injured and was not cited.

East County News Service

June 7, 2016 (Alpine) -- San Diego County Fire Chiefs, in cooperation with the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians and the community of Alpine, are conducting their annual Fire Preparedness Exercise June 6 – 8, 2016 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m...  Emergency Service Agencies from throughout San Diego County will come together to prepare for the upcoming fire season.

East County News Service

May 26, 2016 (Alpine) – The largest roller skating rink in Southern California will open this Saturday and remain open daily May 28 through September 5 at the Viejas Outlets in Alpine.

East County News Service

May 20, 2016 (Alpine) -- Lisa Timanus from Alpine had a chance to “Come on Down” and win a sensational selection of prize.  She will be appearing on The Price Is Right primetime special Big Brother edition airing on Tuesday, May 24^th at 8 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.  The outcome is a secret—you’ll have to watch to find out how she fares.

East County News Service

May 10, 2016 (Alpine) – You’re invited to the grand opening of the new Alpine library, a branch of the County library system.  The opening ceremony for the $10.7 million library will be held on Saturday, May 21^st at 10 a.m. at 1725 Alpine Blvd. in downtown Alpine. 

By Janis Russell

“We have the appearance of political gerrymandering.” – George Barnett, Alpine Education Foundation director, speaking against the redistricting plan.

Assigning Jim Kelly as Alpine’s trustee through redistricting “is like putting a hungry, vengeful fox in charge of an unprotected henhouse.” – Mark Price, past president of the Alpine Union School District..

“We have exercised zero influence…please look past the irrelevant rhetoric on building a high school...” -- Trustee Robert Shield,  who voted for the plan.

“Funds spent on litigation would be better spent on children in our classrooms.” – Mike Fowler, Granite Hills principal, speaking in support over fear of a Voting Rights Act violations  lawsuit.

April 7, 2016 (Alpine) - In the third of six meetings on the Grossmont Union High School District’s proposed new election system for trustees, dozens of Alpine residents attended the meeting and voiced strong criticisms of the plan to the County Board of Education’s Committee on School District Organization. 

East County News Service

March 20, 2016 (Alpine) Alpine residents and the watchdog group Citizens Oversight have sent a letter to the President of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) asking assistance in identifying any potential hazards associated with electromagnetic fields ((EMF) related to Sunrise Powerlink.  The residents ask for an investigation to assure that the public is protected. 

The residents’ letter claims that San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) could increase power flowing through the underground Sunrise Powerlink along Alpine Blvd. 

By Miriam Raftery

March 15, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – In response to an East County Magazine inquiry asking why Alpine was excluded from a list of upcoming hearings on the proposed Grossmont Union High School District's controversial redistricting plans, The County Committee on School District Organization has announced it will hold an additional hearing in Alpine on April 4 at 6 p.m. at Joan McQueen Middle School.

The County had previously scheduled four hearings in other locations,  to get public input on the Grossmont Union High School District’s proposed shift to electing governing board trustees by districts. 

For Alpine, the stakes are high. Alpine stands to lose its only advocate for an Alpine High School, Priscilla Schreiber, who would lose her seat under the plan approved by the GUHSD.  Alpine would be represented by Jim Kelly, a vocal opponent of the Alpine High School, an issue currently in litigation that has also led to unification efforts in which Alpine parents are seeking to break away from the GUHSD.

For the full schedule of meetings slated across East County set by the County Office of Education, rules and details, click "read more" and scroll down.

East County News Service

March 9, 2016 (Alpine) –  The Governing Board of the Alpine Union School District has selected McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C Executive Recruitment & Development to assist the Board in its search for a new Superintendent. Executive Director Anita Johnson is working with the Board on the search process. The Board wishes to extend an invitation to all parents and members of the community to meet with Ms. Anita Johnson to help identify the specific traits, skills, abilities, and experience desired in the new Superintendent. The meeting will be held on:

By Leon Thompson

March 23, 2016 (Alpine) -- Charlotte Figi developed severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy as a baby.  She was severely disabled and at 5 years old was having 300 grand mal seizures a week--each one potentially deadly.  She was given a liquid concentrate of Cannabidiol or CBD oil extracted from industrial hemp. Her parents and physicians said that she improved immediately and significantly. 

By Miriam Raftery

Controversial plan outrages Alpine voters, Chaldeans and other district residents

Priscilla Schreiber (photo, left) will be forced off board

February 25, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Grossmont Union High School District voted 4-1 to ditch district-wide elections and switch to electing trustees from each of five districts. (View map)  The board also voted to ask the San Diego County Committee on School Board Reorganization to waive a requirement that would ordinarily allow the public to vote on redistricting. (View map at bottom of this article)

By  Miriam Raftery

February 23, 2016 (San Diego’s East County)—Grosssmont-Union High School District’s board is expected to cast a final vote Thursday at 4 p.m. on controversial redistricting maps. The board will also vote to seek a waiver from the state from a requirement that would ordinarily requiring putting the redistricting measure on the ballot, and waiver from a state requiring that new trustee area plans be in effect at least 120 days before the next election in November.  (View meeting notice. The meeting will be at the East County Regional Education Center, 924 East Main Street, El Cajon.)

The district contends it has acted appropriately in response to a threat of legal action over alleged voting rights violations. But critics say the plan would oust the board’s most outspoken dissenting member, Priscilla Schreiber, leave Alpine represented by an opponent of the Alpine High School, and divide Iraqi-Chaldean residents into multiple districts, diluting their power as a voting block.  It also carves out a new district in the Lemon Grove/Spring Valley area with no trustee currently residing in that district, which does have a history of representing people of color.

Superintendent issues correction: EPA has not issued recommended EMF safe levels.

Meetings Feb. 23 and 25  will address EMF issues in Alpine.

By Miriam Raftery

February 20, 2016 (Alpine)—The Alpine Education Foundation has agreed to fund hiring a professional independent expert to measure electromagnetic frequency (EMF) readings along the route of the buried Sunrise Powerlink in Alpine, AEF president George Barnett has informed East County Magazine.

New EMF readings at Alpine Elementary have lower levels; district offers reassurance to parents

By Miriam Raftery

February 18, 2016 (Alpine) –  Alpine planners, school officials, and SDG&E have weighed in with responses to publication of meter readings that revealed high electric-magnetic frequency (EMF) levels along Alpine Boulevard, where Sunrise Powerlink high voltage lines are buried. The readings were first published in the Alpine Sun and later highlights, analysis and community reactions were published in East County Magazine and the Alpine Community Network.