CPUC PROPOSES REJECTING AT&T’S REQUEST TO WITHDRAW AS CARRIER OF LAST RESORT AND END LAND LINES, ALSO PLANS RULEMAKING PROCESS

HEAR OUR INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR KEN SCHAFER

PROTESTS HELD AT LOCAL UNIVERSITIES OVER ISRAEL-GAZA WAR

DR. WILMA J. WOOTEN HONORED WITH PRESTIGIOUS CALIFORNIA PUBLIC HEALTH AWARD

COUNTY TO BUILD EAST REGION CRISIS STABILIZATION UNIT AND RECOVERY BRIDGE IN EL CAJON

ARE YOU READY FOR WILDFIRES?

ANTI-SEMITIC FLYERS LITTER LA MESA—AGAIN

ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

THE WORLD'S BIGGEST BOUNCE PARK IS IN EL CAJON THROUGH THE END OF JUNE

YOGA CLASSES RETURN TO WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN

JOAN JACOBS, WIFE OF QUALCOMM FOUNDER, GRANDMOTHER OF CONGRESSWOMAN, DIES AT 91

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: BORREGO SUNSET AND RAINBOW

MAN SHOT IN CHEST DURING COLLEGE-AREA HOME INVASION

 

Police seek 2 suspects in a black SUV

 

May 24, 2010 (San Diego) – A 25-year-old man was shot in a home invasion robbery last night at 6937 Saranac Street in a college-area neighborhood east of San Diego State University. According to San Diego Police Department, the man heard knocking or banging on his front door. He opened to find a robber armed with a gun. The thief and at least one accomplice pushed the victim to the ground and fired one round into his chest, then robbed the victim and two roommates of wallets and cash.

BURNED BODY FOUND BY HIKERS ON MT. LAGUNA

 

May 24, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – A group of hikers found a severely burned human body yesterday at 11:15 a.m. while hiking approximately two miles west of Sunrise Highway (State Route 1) west of mile marker 18. The San Diego Sheriff's homicide unit is investigating and the identity of the victim is unknown.

PIRATE LEADS PUB CRAWL THROUGH EAST COUNTY

 

Next on tap:  A Pirates of the Caribbean Party for Haitian earthquake relief

May 23, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Yo, ho, it was a pirate’s night on the town last night as “Sam the Pirate” Mejia led a group of revelers on a pub crawl through East County in celebration of his birthday.

 

Best known for his uncanny resemblance to Johnny Depp and the Captain Jack Sparrow character popularized by Depp in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie, Mejia started the evening off at his favorite place for grog and grubb: Hooley’s Irish Pub & Grill in Rancho San Diego.

OFF-ROAD MOTORCYCLIST FROM SAN DIEGO KILLED IN BORREGO ACCIDENT

May 23, 2010 (Borrego Springs) – A 24-year-old San Diego man was killed Friday night while riding off-road motorcycles with a friend in the Ocotillo Wells State Vehicle Recreation Area. The victim lost control of his motorcycle and was ejected at Shell Reef Expressway at Fault Wash in Borrego Springs.

SCOUTS PITCH IN TO HELP CLEAN UP COMMUNITY & TOUR WATER RECYCLING FACILITY

 

May 22, 2010 (Rancho San Diego)—Cub Scouts from the Wolf Den of Pack 391 donned gloves and helped pick up trash around Steele Canyon Bridge earlier this month—all as part of their recycling requirement to earn Wolf badges.

The Pack includes students at local elementary schools in first through fifth grade. Second graders from the wolf Den picked up three bags of trash as well as some items to be recycled.

ARTISTS’ RECEPTION AT ST. CLAIR GALLERY JUNE 6

 

May 22, 2010 (El Cajon ) – The 19th El Cajon Invitational Art Exhibit and Artists’ Reception will be held on Sunday, June 6 from 3 to 6 p.m.

 

View works of numerous artists and photographers, meet artists Barbara McVey and Cindie Wolf , and savor wine and cheese at the reception, which will be held at the St. Clair Gallery in the East County Business Center, 270 East Douglas Avenue in El Cajon.

BOOK REVIEW: THE FRANKLIN SCANDAL



The Franklin Scandal, By Nick Bryant ( Trine Day LLC, Walterville, Oregon, 2009, 652 pages.)

Book Review by Dennis Moore

May 23, 2010 (San Diego) –Author Nick Bryant reveals a tragic and sinister tale of a nationwide pedophile ring that pandered children to a cabal of the rich and famous, stretching from Southern California to cornfields of Nebraska and beyond to our nation’s capitol. The Franklin Scandal reveals political powerbrokers who had access to the highest levels of our government and connections in the CIA. One of those powerbrokers is Lawrence E. "Larry" King, Jr. (no relation to the TV talk show host of the same name), identified by other sources as the primary pimp of the nationwide pedophile ring.

This book gripped me and held my attention like none I have ever read; I couldn’t put it down. The Franklin Scandal is riveting!

ETHICS, ECONOMY & EDUCATION AMONG TOP ISSUES IN 36th STATE SENATE RACE

 

UPDATE:  Assemblyman Joel Anderson won the Republican primary and will square off against Democrat Paul Clay, a teacher, in the 36th State Senate election November 2.  Scroll down for profiles on both candidates.  

WALK SAN DIEGO HONORS LEMON GROVE'S MAYOR SESSOM WITH SPECIAL AWARD


City of La Mesa and City Heights Community Center also among honorees in San Diego's eastern regions

May 22, 2010 (San Diego) – Walk San Diego’s recent Golden Footprint Awards included a special recognition to Lemon Grove’s Mayor Mary Sessom for “outstanding vision and leadership in promoting walkable communities.”

 

 

ON THE SILVER SCREEN: "SHREK FOREVER AFTER" AN UNHAPPY ENDING TO ILLUSTRIOUS FRANCHISE

 

By Brian Lafferty

May 22, 2010 (San Diego)--In 2001 Dreamworks released Shrek. Based on a children’s book, the movie was an inventive, clever, and witty satire of fairy tales. It was a huge hit and spawned three sequels, the last of which being Shrek Forever After.

 

2 QUAKES JOLT EAST COUNTY THIS MORNING

May 22, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Two earthquakes measuring 5.3 and 4.8 in magnitude struck at 10:33 and 10:00 a.m. The temblors were centered 14 and 13 miles SSW of Seeley, California, according to the U.S. Geological Service.

 

The quakes caused significant shaking in East County and San Diego, causing windows to rattle on Mount Helix.  If you had damage from the quake, please post in the comments section below. Click here to see an enlarged map

 

No reports of damage have been received, said a dispatcher for Heartland Fire, which services much of East County.

LAKESIDE MAN DIES IN MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT

May 22, 2010 (Lakeside) -- Robert David Becker, 35, died yesterday morning in a motorcycle accident on the Yuima Indian Reservation on State Route 76 near Rincon.  According to the North County Times, Becker was riding with a group of motorcyclists when he rounded a curve and hit motorcycles stopped ahead of him. He fell into traffic and was run over by a pickup truck.

THREE LOCAL ILLNESSES MAY BE LINKED TO RECALLED ALFALFA SPROUTS

May 21, 2010 (San Diego) -- The County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health is investigating three illnesses that match a Salmonella outbreak linked to three brands of alfalfa sprouts. Consumers and local grocery stores are urged to check for the recalled products.

 

The products are connected to 23 illnesses in 10 states, including 11 people in California. The latest known illness was on May 2. Six cases nationwide have required hospitalization.

 

The following products have been recalled:

ART FOR HAITI: LOCAL DOCTOR SEEKS GALLERIES, RESTAURANT & SHOP OWNERS TO SELL ART FOR QUAKE RELIEF

 

Donations, supplies also needed to help children who survived quake

 

May 21, 2010 (Mt. Helix) – Dr. Carolle Jean-Murat gives a grim update on the plight in Haiti. “Only a few people have received tents, tarps, or food to sustain them. Many are presently dying of disease, malnutrition, or simply checking out mentally or dying with a broken heart.”

WANT TO VOTE IN THE JUNE PRIMARY? REGISTRATION DEADLINE MAY 24

May 21, 2010 --The deadline to register to vote in time for the June 8 statewide primary election is this Monday, May 24. Remember, voters who have moved, changed their name, or would like to change their party affiliation must re-register to vote!

GREEN DESIGN & BUILDING WORKSHOPS OFFERED JUNE 5 BY PIONEERS IN NEW GREEN AND FIRE-RESISTANT MATERIALS


Lakeside’s EcoTectura designer Michael Monterey teams up with eco-planner Jim Bell

 

May 21, 2010 (San Diego) -- Need a green career upgrade or an affordable green dream home? Want near zero or net zero energy bills, super low maintenance, and millennial durability?

 

Jim Bell and Michael Monterey, two of our region’s top experts on green design, have teamed up to offer information on their innovative new materials and designs for natural heating and cooling as well as ultragreen sustainability in areas with high temperature fires, earthquakes, high winds, mold, and termites. In other words, design elements ideal for East County!

K-9S AND COCKTAILS: DINING WITH YOUR DOG

 

May 21, 2010 - It's a dog's life!  Andiamo-Ristorante invites you to bring your canine companion for cocktails and patio dining on the last Wednesday in each month, starting at 5 p.m.  Enjoy drink specials all night at the Italian restaurant, loaced at 5950 Santo Road in San Diego's Tierrasanta neighborhood.

NO-BURN ORDER ISSUED

 

May 21, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- Due to the extreme danger of fire, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal-Fire) San Diego division chief David Nissen has issued a no-burn proclamation.  The order suspends burning permits, campfires and other uses of open fire in all areas within San Diego and Imperial Counties for which Cal-Fire is responsible (with the exception of incorporated cities).  The order takes effect today.

TIPS FOR THE BUDGET-MINDED BRIDE: SAVE LOTS OF MONEY AND HAVE A BEAUTIFUL WEDDING

 

By Nancy and Dawn Clemens, Dollar-Wise Divas columnists



May 19, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) - Brides come in all ages, shapes, and sizes yet, they all have in common a desire to look radiantly beautiful for their wedding day and to share a special, memorable day with treasured friends and family. So how do you accomplish this on a small budget?



Your first step is to brainstorm with your future husband to make sure you both have the same ideas about what your perfect wedding would look like. Here are some questions to start the conversation.

IS THE PARTY REALLY OVER? OIL-ALTERNATIVES PRESENTATION MAY 24

 

 

May 21, 2010 (Bonita) – Alan Ridley, former Clean Cities Coordinator, San Diego Regional Clean Fuels Coalition, will give a presentation based on the book The Party’s Over by Richard Heinberg. The free program will be held Monday, May 24 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Bonita-Sunnywide Branch Library, 4375 Bonita Road in Bonita. Learn about clean fuel lternatives to our oil addiction.

EAST COUNTY’S BRIDAL AND BEAUTY FAIR DEBUTS SUNDAY, JUNE 6

 

Prizes include honeymoon stay at Angel’s Landing and bachelorette party with “Sam the Pirate” Johnny Depp celebrity look-alike

 

May 21, 2010 (El Cajon) – Here come the brides! At last, East County has a one-stop-shop for wedding needs—as well as free beauty services, musical entertainment, prize drawings, raffle, auction, bridal gown modeling, and more.

 

East County Magazine and La Dolce Belladonna Spa & Salon have forged a marriage made in heaven to offer this special event on Sunday, June 6 from 12 to 4 p.m. at La Dolce Belladonna Salon & Spa, 596 Westwind Drive in El Cajon (just south of Fletcher Parkway in the Fletcher Hills area.) The event is free to the public and fun for everyone.

SALUTE TO OLD GLORY: LA MESA FLAG DAY PARADE JUNE 5

 

May 24, 2010 (La Mesa) -- On Saturday, June 5th beginning at 9:00 am, downtown La Mesa will dress up in red, white and blue for the 13th Annual La Mesa Flag Day Parade, ”A Salute to Old Glory."

The parade begins at 10:00 a.m. and marches through downtown La Mesa Village.  Spectators will view over 75 entries, including five marching bands led by the Marine Corps Ensemble, which will serve as the 2010 Grand Marshall.

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ISSUES RECOMMENDATIONS ON JUNE BALLOT INITIATIVES


May 25, 2010 (San Diego) -- The nonpartisan League of Women Voters of San Diego County has issued recommendations on several propositions on the June 8th statewide primary election ballot.  They include Prop 15 (Fair Elections), Prop 16 (2/3 requirement for local public utility providers), Prop B (term limits for Supervisors), and Prop D (strong mayor form of government). Positions and rationales are as follows:

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