April 2015 Articles

WELCOME, RURAL RESIDENTS!

Our Rural section covers most San Diego County's inland communities south of I-8  to the border including Alpine, Barrett Junction, Boulevard, Campo, Deerhorn Valley, Dehesa, Dulzura,  Jamul,  Japatul, Lake Morena, Otay,  Potrero, and Spring Valley. 


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WELCOME, MOUNTAIN DWELLERS!

Our Mountain Living section covers the mountain communities in San Diego's East County north of I-8 including Aguanga, Cuyamaca, Descanso, Guatay, Julian, Mount Laguna, Pine Valley, Ranchita, Ramona, Santa Ysabel, Shelter Valley and Warner Springs.


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WELCOME, DESERT DENIZENS!

Our deserts section covers the Anza Borrego Desert State Park and the communities of Borrego Springs, Ocotillo, Ocotillo Wells and Jacumba.


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CAJON VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT LAUNCHES NEW MULTILINGUAL ACADEMY

 

East County News Service

May 1, 2015 (El Cajon)  Cajon Valley Union School District announces launch of a multilingual program at the CVUSD Language Academy.  The program will offer students who speak English or Spanish as their first language the opportunity to learn to read, write, and communicate in English and Spanish, learn computer programming, and a fourth language.


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ARABO SPEAKS OUT ON ISIS RANSOM DEMANDS

 

By Miriam Raftery

May 1, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Islamic State or ISIS forces are reportedly demanding ransoms of up to $100,000 apiece for 250 to 300 Christians captured in Syria February 23rd.  Fox News reports the demands were made to Assyrian leaders during negotiations with ISIL fighters arranged by Sunni Muslims.  Thus far, 23 have been released.


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SANTEE TRACK STAR KILLED IN CRASH

 

East County News Service

May 1, 2015 (Santee) – Ryan Willweber, a track star and junior at West Hills High School in Santee, has died of injuries sustained in a crash yesterday afternoon.  Two other students were injured, including Willweber’s brother, who reportedly suffered broken bones.


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VERMONT SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS ANNOUNCES PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDACY

 

By Miriam Raftery

April 30, 2015 (Washington D.C.) --Vermont Senator and former Governor Bernie Sanders has announced he will run for President – challenging Senator Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination.

Sanders isn’t your typical presidential contender.   He’s been the only independent member of Congress since 2007 – until announcing he will run as a Democrat for the presidency.  He’s also an avowed “democratic socialist”, a progressive, and he's Jewish.

Running on a populist platform, Senator Sanders has long been a vocal advocate for economic justice, denouncing the growing income gap between billionaires and ordinary working Americans.So how might his candidacy impact the race?


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ALESSIO SUGGESTS ROLLING BACK CLIMATE CHANGE COMMITMENT IN LA MESA; EX-NASA SCIENTIST DEBUNKS ALESSIO "SCIENCE" CLAIM

"Climate change science has not changed in the way Councilwoman Alessio would like us to believe. Let's stick to credible sources on science, not talking points from the climate change denier's briefing book." -- Kathleen Connell, PhD, sustainabiltiy expert and former NASA astrobiology science founder

By Miriam Raftery

Upated May 1 to add comments from Mike Bullock and data from a climate change paper he authored.

April 30, 2015 (La Mesa) – At La Mesa’s City Council hearing Tuesday, Council heard a report detailing the city’s progress on reducing its carbon footprint in order to reduce climate change.

Councilmember Kristine Alessio then stated, “The science has changed behind climate change in the last ten years. Maybe at some point we need to reconsider being part of the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Change Protection Agreement.” Here audio clip here: http://k003.kiwi6.com/hotlink/blgb31acb1/Alessio-ClimateChange-Kristine.mp3


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CHALDEAN CHAMBER CROWNS QUEEN

 

May 1, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – The Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce has crowned its 2015 Middle East winner, Elona Brando (photo: on right, with 2014 winner Stephanie Malouf, left). First Runner Up went to Emilyn Mohebbi. Second Runner Up went to Zuzan Taha.


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CASA AND VOICES FOR CHILDREN SEEK VOLUNTEERS, HOST 3 INFO SESSIONS IN MAY

 

Volunteers Needed!

April 30, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - Volunteer with Voices for Children and be the voice for a child.  Voices for Children provides more than one-third of local foster children in San Diego County with the caring support of a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA).  But there are many more that still need a CASA to speak on their behalf – in the courtroom, classroom, and community – to ensure their needs are met. Our information session event provides the community with an opportunity to learn more about Voices for Children and the CASA program.


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MOTHER'S DAY LAVENDER BRUNCH AT RAMONA RANCH WINERY

 

East County News Service

April 29, 2015 (Ramona) – Ramona Ranch Winery will host a Mother’s Day Lavender Brunch on Sunday, May 10th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.


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TOO MUCH FLUORIDE IN WATER, FEDS SAY

 

April 27, 2015 (Washington D.C.) – Americans are getting too much fluoride from multiple sources including toothpaste, mouthwash, some juices and sodas, and water.  So the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is recommending cutting in half the amount of fluoride that’s added to drinking water to prevent tooth decay.


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SANTEE BUSINESS AND MOBILE HOME PARK RECOGNIZED FOR RECYCLING EFFORTS

 

East County News Service

April 29, 2015 (Santee) -- GTM Discount General Stores and Meadowbrook Mobile Home Estates of Santee received special recognition from Waste Management of San Diego at this week’s Santee City Council meeting as part of Waste Management’s inaugural “Recycling Champion” program which recognizes businesses and multi-family complexes for their exemplary efforts in implementing recycling on their properties in the City of Santee.


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SMOKED PORK: TRUCK LOADED WITH MEAT BURNS ON I-8

 

East County News Service

Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

April 29, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)—A semi-truck burst into flames on I-8 near Lake Jennings Park Road in Lakeside on Thursday, turning its load of frozen meat into smoked pork.


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GROSSMONT HEALTHCARE DISTRICT AWARDED 38 SCHOLARSHIPS TO HEALTHCARE SCHOLARS FROM 19 HIGH SCHOOLS

 

April 29, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD), a public agency that supports various health-related community programs and services in San Diego’s East County region, recently awarded $85,500 in scholarships to 38 high school students who have expressed interest in a career as a healthcare professional.


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LA MESA POLICE NEWS AND INFORMATION BULLETIN

April 29, 2015 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa Police Department has provided a roundup of case highlights, traffic information and crime prevention/emergency preparedness news.


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TOBACCO LOBBY SNUFFS OUT BAN PROPOSED AT YOUTH BASEBALL SITES

 

By Miriam Raftery

April 28, 2015 (Sacramento) – The tobacco industry has succeeded in snuffing out strict limits proposed on tobacco at ballparks.  Legislators on the Assembly Governmental Organization Committe, many of whom took hefty contributions from tobacco interests, voted overwhelmingly to water down a bill that originally would have banned all tobacco products at every ballpark in California—from Little League to Major League ballparks.


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CRACKING DOWN ON WATER HOGS

 

April 29, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Watch out, water hogs. Governor Jerry Brown announced plans Tuesday to give local governments the power to levy fines of up to $10,000 for those who violate rules on water limits amid a fourth year of drought.   That’s a big jump from $500 a day in the past. The highest fines would apply only to the “worst offenders,” said Brown.


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LA MESA REPORTS ON COMMERCIAL VACANCY

April 29, 2015 (La Mesa) -- The City of La Mesa has once again updated its economic development webpage with refreshed Commercial Space Availability Reports. According to the most recent reports, dated April 2015, there is approximately 146,000 square feet of retail space available in the City; 150,000 square feet of office space; and 37,000 square feet of industrial space.  Retail vacancy is down over 20% from April 2014 and office vacancy is down roughly 14%. 


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EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS


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BLUES' BREWS AND BARBEQUE THIS SATURDAY IN JACUMBA HOT SPRINGS

East County News Service                                                                                                     

April 29, 2015 (Jacumba Hot Springs)--The Jacumba Arts Council presents the fourth annual Blues Fest this Saturday, May 2nd from 2-7 p.m.  After 7 p.m. there will be a 'monster jam'. The event is sponsored by the Jacumba Hot Springs Spa & Resort and will take place at the Jacumba Hot Springs Spa located on Old Highway 80.  Admission is free, non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks will be available for purchase along with delicious varieties of barbeque.


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$1.5 MILLION SETTLEMENT FOR SDPD SEX ABUSE CASES

 

East County News Service

April 29, 2015 (San Diego) – San Diego’s City Council on Tuesday approved a $1.5 million settlement in payouts to women who sued the city over sexual misconduct and abuse charges involving San Diego Police officers.


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ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

April 29 2015 (San Diego's East County)-- East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

WORLD

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.


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SUPREME COURT WEIGHS LEGALITY OF LETHAL INJECTIONS

 

By Miriam Raftery

April 29, 2015 (Washington D.C.) – One year after a botched execution in Oklahoma left an inmate, Clayton Lockett, writing in pain for 43 minutes before dying of a heart attack after the execution was halted, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments about the constitutionality of lethal injection procedures.


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FBI WARNS PUBLIC OF DISASTER SCAMS

 

April 28, 2015 (San Diego)--The FBI and the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) remind the public that there is a potential for disaster fraud in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Suspected fraudulent activity pertaining to relief efforts associated with the recent Nepal earthquake should be reported to the toll-free NCDF hotline at 866-720-5721. The hotline is staffed by a live operator 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the purpose of reporting suspected scams being perpetrated by criminals in the aftermath of disasters.


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GROSSMONT HEALTHCARE DISTRICT CITIZENS’ OVERSIGHT GROUP ISSUES ANNUAL REPORT ON BOND FUNDS

April 29, 2015 (La Mesa) -- The Independent Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee (ICBOC), a group of volunteers monitoring how the public agency Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is spending millions of dollars in taxpayer-approved bonds for new and improved patient care facilities at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa, has issued its 2014 Annual Report to the Community.


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FREE CPR TRAINING AT DROWNING PREVENTION EVENT

Note: The event has been relocated to the Vons Shopping Center, 8011 University Ave., from 9:00 am to 1200 pm.  The article below has been changed to reflect that.

 

April 29, 2015 (La Mesa) -- The City of Mesa has declared May “Drowning Prevention Month”. To help kick off the month, Heartland Fire & Rescue has teamed up with the La Mesa Municipal Pool for a drowning prevention event on Friday, May 1st. 


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HELP NEPAL SAVE LIVES

By Rishi P. Dakal, Honory Consul of Nepal for San Diego

April 28, 2015 (San Diego)-- A massive earthquake that struck Nepal on Saturday, April 24, killed over 4,000 people, and the death toll is rising because hundreds of victims are still missing in the debris.  Thousands of people have been injured, and several thousand others have been forced to spend nights out in the open because their homes have been destroyed.  

Nepal needs your help to tackle this massive scale of devastation.


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BEES HOOKED ON NICOTINE

By Leon Thompson

April 27, 2015 (San Diego’s East County ) --Researchers from Queen Mary University of London recently found that bumblebees that have been infected by parasites seek out flowers with nicotine in the nectar, likely to fight off the infection, new research has found. The nicotine appears to slow the progression of disease in infected bees but has harmful effects when consumed by healthy bees.


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