State workers in East County struggle to cope with prospect of huge pay cuts, lay-offs; Judge orders Sept. 12 hearing on Governor’s wage-slashing orders

By Miriam Raftery
Photos by Aida Canonizado

November 4, 2008 (El Cajon)--Mildred Scarber, a state employee who works at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in El Cajon, was shocked to learn that Governor Schwarzenegger has ordered all state employees’ pay rates slashed to the federal minimum wage: just $6.55 an hour.

By Miriam Raftery
September 8, 2008 (SAN DIEGO) – A landmark bill to provide guaranteed universal healthcare coverage for every man, woman and child in California (including medical, dental, mental health and eye care coverage) has been approved by the State Legislature.   Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has until September 30th to sign the measure, SB 840 by Senator Sheila Kuehl, into law.  But the landmark healthcare reform measure is at risk of becoming a casualty of the state budget impasse; Governor Schwarzenegger has threatened to veto all bills because the Legislature has not yet approved a budget.

At new Tiger Trails haven in Alpine, rescued tigers run, swim for first time

By Miriam Raftery
September 17, 2008 (ALPINE) – Q: What happens when you take four captive-bred tigers and turn them loose in a facility large enough for them to run freely for the first time?

A: A cat-aclysmic event complete with romping, frolicking and caterwauling, much to the delight of media members and donors invited to watch the grand opening of Tiger Trails in Alpine.  View our short video clip.

By Miriam Raftery

What can be more heartwarming than a tale of heroes banding together to help victims of two devastating tragedies—East County wildfires and the 9/11 terrorist attacks?

By Miriam Raftery

Mayor Madrid (R) with Shane Shaw of E-Village Beneath solar panel display at “Sustain La Mesa” festival

Crowds flocked to view cooking demonstrations on solar ovens, visit with solar energy experts, get tips on water-saving landscaping and more at Sustain La Mesa, the City’s first annual Environmental Awareness Festival on September 13th in Harry Griffith Park.

“It took me almost a year to get this event,” Mayor Art Madrid told East County Magazine, then shared  his vision for a greener La Mesa in the future. 

THE CITY OF LA MESA’S FIRST ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS FESTIVAL

La Mesa will conduct its First Annual Environmental Awareness “Sustain La Mesa” Festival on: Saturday, September 13, 2008 from 10:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. at Harry Griffen Park, 9550 Milden St.

By Miriam Raftery

Fall is in the air – the perfect time for an end-of-summer celebration or a visit to East County’s back country towns in the early days of autumn.  Find details on these at many other events at our calendar, which covers all communities east of I-15.

Voter registration drives are being held at several East County locations listed below.   You must be registered by October 20th to vote in the November 4th presidential election.

Dear Readers,
Back in the Dark Ages before Internet and cell phones, chatting over the back fence with neighbors was the cool way to get news  Think of this site as your virtual back fence: a place to share your views with neighbors all over East County!

HUMAN WEST NILE VIRUS CASES REACH FIVE TOTAL

SAN DIEGO August 18, 2008 -- Another confirmed locally-acquired human case of West Nile virus (WNV) brings the year-to-date total to five—including one patient in East County, according to the County Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA).

Whose interests are your elected officials representing: the people--or the special interests?

Too many voters haven’t got a clue—so East County Magazine is shedding light into those smoke-hazed back-rooms in Washington D.C. and Sacramento, enabling you to keep up with what your elected officials are doing – and decide whether or not they deserve your vote next election. You can also share your views on key issues with the handy tools we’ve provided.  

Find out how they voted:  In Capitol Report: How They Voted, We’ve chosen major bills listed by Vote-Smart.org, a nonpartisan organization, as well as key measures tracked by public interest groups.   Below are some of the most important recent bills—and how our representatives cast their votes.

For details and information on more bills, visit www.vote-smart.org.

Contact your elected officials, or to find out who represents you: visit our Sound Off! section in our “Citizens’ “Take Action” Center.

Ballot measure will ask voters to approve tax for fire services

By E.A. Barrera
Photos courtesy of La Mesa Fire Department
"Given the existing high-risk conditions that are projected to continue into the future, destructive firestorms will certainly occur again. Yet, even armed with this knowledge and after the Cedar Fire wake-up call, the San Diego region is woefully unprepared." - San Diego County Grand Jury, May 29, 2008

September 1, 2009 (East County)--October will mark the first anniversary of the Witch Creek Fires and fifth anniversary of the deadlier Cedar Fire.  Four years have passed since voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition "C" which called for a Countywide Fire Department.  Yet the County of San Diego is still at the nascent stage of organizing collective fire departments of the region into one unified command structure.

By Miriam Raftery

September 1, 2008 (Holtville) “These people came here looking for opportunity. Not one of them expected to die,” said Enrique Morones, erecting a hand-made wooden cross at a gravesite marked only by a brick engraved with the name Jane Doe.

A few years ago, there were twenty bricks in this pauper’s graveyard at Holtville in Imperial County, final resting ground for immigrants who died crossing the U.S.-Mexican border in San Diego and Imperial Counties.  Now there are 656. 

By Miriam Raftery

Sept. 1, 2008 (East County)--We first planned to call this column Festival of the Month.  But after discovering how many great events communities and groups are hosting in San Diego’s eastern region we changed the column name to tell you about as many fun-filled festivals as possible. 

Grossmont Hospital Investigations Raise Oversight Concernts, Criticisms

By Sara McInerney, staff writer, and editor Miriam Raftery

September 14, 2008 (La Mesa)--Revelations of preventable patient deaths and alleged neglect at Sharp Grossmont Hospital have led some community leaders to demand increased oversight even as new complaints of patient care at Grossmont surface.

Grossmont is one of four hospitals in San Diego County assessed the maximum allowable fine by state health regulators for preventable errors that caused patient deaths, injuries, or were likely to cause serious harm.

Medicare and Medi-Cal are considering cutting their reimbursement for the hospital by October 15.  Federal, state and county regulators are currently investigating the hospital.   The hospital has submitted plans to correct deficiencies, including improving training and communications, and is awaiting a revisit by the California Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Community Leaders Call for New Hospital in East County:
Long Waits in Grossmont ER, Patient Deaths Heighten Urgent Need

By Sara McInerney, Staff Writer

September 18, 2008 (La Mesa)--Government investigations into at least three preventable patient deaths at Sharp Grossmont Hospital have raised serious questions about the facility’s capacity to service the needs of East County’s growing population.

Closure of the El Cajon Valley Emergency (full service) Hospital and a Kaiser facility, both in El Cajon, have exacerbated pressures on Grossmont, East County’s only remaining hospital.  In addition, Grossmont ceased being a designated trauma center in the 1980s, leaving East County with no trauma center.  Designated trauma patients are now transported via helicopter or ambulance to Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego.

By Miriam Raftery

"I've been a Republican for 35 years and I became a Democrat in January," La Mesa Councilmember David Allan told a crowd of approximately 350 people at the East County Uniting for Change picnic on Sunday at Harry Griffith Park in La Mesa.

State workers in East County struggle to cope with prospect of huge pay cuts, lay-offs; Judge orders Sept. 12 hearing on Governor’s wage-slashing orders

By Miriam Raftery
Photos by Aida Canonizado

Mildred Scarber, a state employee who works at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in El Cajon, was shocked to learn that Governor Schwarzenegger has ordered all state employees’ pay rates slashed to the federal minimum wage: just $6.55 an hour.

“This drops my pay by two-thirds,” said Scarber, a salaried employee who has worked at the DMV for eleven years. “Previously our pay roughly came to $18 an hour.”  In addition, the Governor has eliminated all overtime – so Scarber also loses the $100 to $300 a month she typically earned helping staff the ever-busy DMV office. 

Grant Funds Fill Tanks for Needy Americans

By Miriam Raftery

Can’t afford to fill up the car?  

Here’s some news to be “tankful” for:  a new grant fund has been established to give away free gasoline away to needy consumers.  

By Richard Noel

If you’re out and about in East County and in the mood for a great glass of wine in an elegant atmosphere, relax with the knowledge that this urge will not require you to drive into the urban core of San Diego and spend an exorbitant amount of time or money just to park your car.  That’s because GIO Restaurant in downtown La Mesa has opened the doors to its much-awaited wine bar. 

La Mesa Council candidates address budget gap, public safety and future growth

By Miriam Raftery

State budget cuts have left La Mesa facing a potential budget shortfall of several million dollars.  In exclusive interviews with East County Magazine, challenger Shannon O’Dunn as well as incumbents David Allan and Ruth Sterling shared their views on  bridging the budget gap as well as their visions for the long-term future of La Mesa.

In an exclusive issue with East County Magazine, San Diego City Attorney Mike Aguirre discusses lawsuits and other actions to protect our region from wildfires, assure a reliable water supply, and compel San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) to meet legal requirements for renewable energy production. 

Q:  What compelled you to file a  lawsuit against SDG&E over the recent wildfires that devastated East County and San Diego? 

Eco-friendly EAST COUNTY homes

By Miriam Raftery

After twice having to evacuate during wildfires, Keith and Danya Jolley decided to build a new, fire-safe and energy efficient “green” home on their Jamul property.   The home was featured on last year’s GreenBuilt Homes Tour. 

One year later, the Jolleys remain thrilled with their new home. “The house turned out better than we imagined, and the savings have been a big boost,” Danya Jolley told East County Magazine.  “Our new house is roughly twice the size of our old house that was on the same lot, same location, and so far our electric bills are about $70 a month cheaper.”  She added, “We have not had to use our air conditioner at all this year.”  Indoor temperatures have not exceeded 77 degrees, despite outdoor temperatures in the mid-90s .

Wildebeest hunt bags a Congressman
By Sylvia Hampton

Our congressman Duncan Hunter (R-52nd district) is leaving his congressional seat to his son. Sort of an inheritance or royalty passed on to the next generation like in England. Since Duncan D. Hunter, the son, has the same name his election should be like shooting fish in a barrel. But before Hunter senior leaves that throne he hoped to squeeze in a great overseas exotic hunting trip paid for by the taxpayers. To do that the trip needs to be official government business. Like feeding the starving! That should do it! Oh, darn. Looks like that won’t work out, thanks to those big blabber mouths at the Embassy in Chad. As they say in the comic books, “Foiled again!”

By E. A. Barrera

Photo by E.A. Barrera/Photo courtesy of NCLR

Obama Talks Health, Education, and Announces Plan to Help Small Business

 

McCain Emphasizes Tax Issues, Trade with Latin America

Fiddlin' Foresters, Living History Week Cap Festivities in Local Mountain Parks

By Miriam Raftery

A century ago, President Theodore Roosevelt signed a declaration to create the Cleveland National Forest--a 460,000 acre preserve that is home to golden eagles, mountain lions and other wildlife species. To celebrate the centennial, the U.S. Forest Service is hosting several free special events in San Diego's East County mountain parks.

On September 6, the Fiddlin' Foresters will perform a concert from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Dos Picos County Park, 17953 Dos Picos Road, Ramona.

On September 20th and 21st, the Laguna Mountain Volunteer Association (LMVA) and Cleveland National Forest will host "Living History Weekend" at the LMVA visitors center on Laguna Mountain.

By Miriam Raftery

Avery Titus rides tall in the saddle at The Magic Horse, guided by riding therapist/founder Robin Pawl. Before, he could not sit up on his own.

Ten-year-old Avery Titus squeals with delight, pressing his face against the sun-warmed backside of Iggy, a quarterhorse at the Magic Horse Therapeutic Riding program in Lakeside.

"Before, he couldn't sit up on his own," recalled Avery's father, Clay. "Now he can sit and not fall over."

Avery has cerebral palsy, brain damage and learning disabilities. But his older brother, Chandler, observed, "That doesn't stop him from being this happy kid."

Magic Horse founder Robin Pawl has Avery demonstrate the exercises he's learned to do on horseback. Motions of the horse beneath him simulate pelvic movement, helping Avery to improve his coordination skills, strengthen his back muscles and improve his sense of balance.