June 11, 2011 (La Mesa) -- The City of La Mesa, in partnership with the La Mesa Park and Recreation Foundation, San Diego County La Mesa Branch Library, Readers Inc., and Friends of the La Mesa Library, will co-host Reading in the Park on Sat., June 18 from 10:00 a.m. to Noon at CollierPark, 4401 Palm Avenue, La Mesa.  

Hear children’s book authors give theatrical readings of their works and explain how their stories are created. Visit the craft table where kids can decorate a bookmark to take home. Everyone in the family can bring a gently used book to the event’s book exchange table and take home a fun new read. Guests can also sign up for La Mesa Library’s Summer Reading Program.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Dennis Richardson
June 10, 2011 (San Diego)—Just four days after its sky crane dropped a Sunrise Powerlink tower 200 feet, a second transmission line tower has toppled in the Imperial Valley.
 

Following last Monday’s accident, SDG&E promised in a press release that the company was “taking immediate steps…to investigate what occurred today in order to ensure that this does not happen again.”

But it did happen again. Today at 8 a.m.,  the Sun Bird Erickson Air Crane helicopter was placing the fifth of five towers near Plaster City when three of the helicopter’s four hooks released.  Dangling by just one hook, the 15,000 pound tower was lowered to the ground and released, where it tipped over.  Fourtunately, no one was injured in either incident.  But residents of East County, where construction of Powerlink is also underway, are voicing concerns over safety of workers and the public.

By Brian Lafferty

June 10, 2011 (San Diego) – The Tree of Life isn’t merely a movie. To call it an experience would be putting it mildly. It’s films like this that make me say, “This is why I go to the movies.” Only one other movie elicited such a response from me since I’ve been a film critic and it happened to be the best film of 2010: Gaspar Noe’s Enter the Void.

Facility Closed from State Route 56 to State Route 163

June 10, 2011 (San Diego) --Beginning Saturday, June 18, the Interstate 15 (I-15) Express Lanes will be closed for nine consecutive days from State Route 56 (SR 56) to State Route 163 (SR 163).

June 10, 2011 (Santee) -- The Santee Summer Concert Series, now in its 28th year begins June 16 and features a live band from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. every Thursday through August 18 (Except July 7). The series features the return of four bands that last year were crowd favorites, plus six other bands that range from doo-wop to authentic blues.

Bands will perform on a raised stage overlooking a lawn at the east side of Town Center Community Park just north of the former concert at Trolley Square.

By Laura Cyphert

June 10, 2011 (Lakeside)--As we watch the fires burning our neighbors in Arizona, we are again reminded why relying on imported power transmitted over hundreds of miles of vulnerable transmission lines, is a dangerous gamble for San Diego.

Donated Dwellings Expand Camping Options at Scenic Ramona Getaway

June 9, 2011 (Ramona) --County Supervisor Dianne Jacob joined County staff and a local nonprofit donor Thursday to unveil two new cabins the public can now reserve at Dos Picos Regional Park in Ramona.The 200-square-foot cabins are designed to accommodate disabled users and the general public. They were donated by Cabins by the Lake, Inc., a local nonprofit dedicated to establishing accessible cabins around the region.

 June 9, 2011 (San Diego) --San Diego Police Department Homicide Unit detectives have arrested a suspect in Monday’s murder of Jonathan Gonzalez on a Skyline street. On June 6, 2011, at approximately 2:00 p.m., Gonzalez was standing in the 600 block of Chester Street when a four-door, burgundy-colored Cadillac with chrome rims stopped near him.  Gonzalez and the vehicle’s occupants briefly spoke to each other.  The passenger pulled out a gun and shot Gonzalez before the suspects fled. 

Detectives identified the primary suspect as Ronnie Bonaparte, 27. 

June 9, 2011 (Lakeside) – A driver is unconscious but breathing following a 100-mph crash into a tree on I-8 eastbound just east of Los Coches Road. The vehicle reportedly had a blow-out and lost control , according to the CHP webpage.

June 9, 2011 (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 reflecting all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views.

 By Miriam Raftery

Top casino designers tapped to make over  East County casino

June 9, 2011 (El Cajon)- Renovations are under way at Sycuan Casino http://www.sycuan.com/ . With a full design overhaul in process, the casino is scheduled to have every inch of the interior revamped by fall. The casino remains open to the public as Sycuan's design and architecture teams work in phases to renovate the casino gaming areas, create an all new non-smoking buffet, open a new sports bar & grill restaurant and install a one-of-a-kind specialty lighting fixture in the main lobby.

Photos by Monica Zech

June 8, 2011 (El Cajon)--A driver traveling eastbound on Rea Avenue shortly before 3 p.m. today hit the gas instead of the brake. Her vehicle plowed through a round center median, launched through a temporary ramp and fence, then over a deep trench before landing in a construction site near El Cajon’s City Hall.

Victim found with no pulse, not breathing, and without identification -- hospital traced identity through running shoes and IPOD

June 8, 2011 (Spring Valley ) – “There was no warning. I was just running—and then I woke up in the hospital,” says Grant Fleener, 60, who collapsed from a heart attack suddenly while on his morning run on Sweetwater Springs Blvd. on April 29. Yesterday, he returned to San Miguel Fire Station to thank a passerby,  firefighters and paramedics who all helped saved his life.

June 8, 2011 (La Mesa)--East County’s largest annual free health fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 11, at the Grossmont Center mall in La Mesa, near the movie theaters.