MEDIA WATCH: FCC VOTES FOR NET NEUTRALITY

 

By Miriam Raftery

February 26, 2015 (Washington D.C.) – Advocates of free and open internet access won a major victory Thursday when the Federal Communications Commission voted 3 to 2 to adopt net neutrality.


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MOLECULAR LINK BERWEEN OBESITY AND DIABETES

 

By Leon Thompson

February 27, 2015 (San Diego)--Researchers at the University of California San Diego believe they have discovered the "root cause" of Type 2 diabetes, a molecular link between obesity and diabetes that may lead to new treatment.


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FLU DEATHS ON THE RISE IN SAN DIEGO

 

February 25, 2015 (San Diego) - Influenza claimed the lives of eight more San Diegans last week, bringing the total number of flu-related deaths this season to 62, the County Health and Human Services Agency reports.


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BOY, 7, DIES AFTER BEING STRUCK BY CAR IN EL CAJON

 

February 27, 2015 (El Cajon) – Angel Cruz, a 7-year-old boy struck by a car yesterday afternoon, has died  of his injuries as 12:40 this morning. The boy was struck by a car 3:45 p.m.yesterday  while crossing the 900 block of Peach Avenue in El Cajon.

Mark Isak, the 18-year-old driver of the silver Hyundai that struck the child, stopped immediately after the collision and is cooperating fully with traffic investigators, said Lieutenant Randy Soulard with El Cajon Police. He has not been charged or cited. Neither speed nor alcohol appear to be factors in the collision.


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WILL HOMELAND SECURITY SHUT DOWN THIS WEEK?

 

East County News Service

February 24, 2015 (Washington D.C.)--The Department of Homeland Security is set to shut down if Congress doesn’t pass a funding bill by Friday. The White House says it is preparing for a potential shut down starting this weekend, the Washington Post reports.


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CA COLLEGE ADJUNCT PROFESSORS PLAN WALKOUT

 

Lori Abbott, California News Service

February 25, 2015 (San Diego)--Part-time college instructors across the state are uniting for better pay and greater job security. The rallies held on this first National Adjunct Walkout Day are designed to bring attention to the growing number of temporary, part-time instructors, often called adjuncts.


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OH BABY! BILL WOULD ELIMINATE TAX ON DIAPERS

 

By Miriam Raftery

February 25, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – It’s rare for a labor leader and a tax fighter to agree on most issues.  But AB 717, a bill to eliminate sales tax on diapers in California, has accomplished just that.


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FLETHER HILLS RESIDENTS PLAN LAWSUIT OVER GILLESPIE FLIGHT SCHOOL TRAINING AND LEAD POLLUTION

 

East County News Service

March 4 meeting planned for Fletcher Hills residents with attorneys

February 25, 2015 (El Cajon) – Fletcher Hills residents are planning a lawsuit over loss of property values, quality of life and lead pollution associated with increased air traffic at Gillespie Field Airport.


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ALASKA, WASHINGTON D.C. EASE RESTRITIONS ON POT

 

By Miriam Raftery

February 26, 2015 (San Diego)--Alaska has become the 3rd state to legalization the recreational use of marijuana, with limits similar to those in place in Colorado and Washington state, the other states where marijuana is now legal for adults to own in small quantities for personal use.


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MAJOR TRAIL CHANGES PROPOSED TO THREE SISTERS FALLS

 

 

Public comments due by March 25

By Miriam Raftery

February 25, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--Three Sisters Falls is one of the most beautiful natural attractions in East County – a trio of waterfalls and natural swimming holes in a wilderness area within Cleveland National Forest.  But the falls are also among the most difficult scenic sites to access.

Now Cleveland National Forest’s Palomar Ranger District is planning a major recreation management   project at Three Sisters Falls, located near Boulder Creek Road between Santa Ysabel  and Descanso. The proposed action is to adopt and/or construct a Level 2 System Trail to Three Sisters Falls, to decommission and restore existing user-created trails, and to clear and construct  a primitive dirt or gravel parking area off of Boulder Creek Road, also adding a kiosk with educational materials.

The purpose of this project is to  address concerns related to public health and safety, resource impacts from unmanaged recreation use, and compromised access along Boulder Creek Road for area residents and emergency vehicles during high-use periods at Three Sisters Falls, says district ranger Joan Friedlander.


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SAN MIGUEL FIRE VOTES TO OPEN FINANCE COMMITTEE TO PUBLIC, PRESS

East County News Service

February 26, 2015 (Spring Valley) – As a result of an East County Magazine (ECM) inquiry, San Miguel Fire District’s Board voted this week to make its finance committee a permanent standing committee, which means that the committee’s meetings will now be open to the press and public.

Previously, the finance committee was deemed an ad-hoc committee by the district, which argued that it did not need to allow public access.  ECM contacted Californians Aware (CALAWARE), an organization that protects public access under Califoirnia’s sunshine laws.


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CHAMBER’S “CABARET” EVENT SHINES SPOTLIGHT ON LOCAL HEROES

 

By Miriam Raftery

February 26, 2015 (La Mesa)—The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce celebrated the accomplishments of local police, fire, medical response and senior volunteers at its annual “Salute to Heroes” banquet on February 18th at the Town and Country Hotel’s Golden Ballroom. 

The event also featured installation of officers and a “Come to the Cabaret” theme complete with New York cabaret singer Devlin, pianist Chris Drury, and a cabaret cake cooked up by Grove Pastry Shop.

This year’s honorees were:


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FREQUENT SAUNA USE PROTECTS MEN AGAINST CARDIAC DEATH

 

Source: University of Finland

February 25, 2015 (San Diego)--Frequent – even daily – taking a sauna can reduce the risk of cardiac death, according to a recent study carried out at the University of Eastern Finland. The 20-year follow-up study discovered that men taking a sauna 4-7 times a week were 63% less likely to experience a sudden cardiac death than those taking a sauna once a week. Furthermore, the occurrence of death due to coronary artery disease and other cardiac events, as well as overall mortality, were less frequent in the group taking saunas several times a week.


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BLIZZARD BREAKS RECORDS ACROSS NORTHEAST

 

By Miriam Raftery

February 25,2015 (San Diego’s East County)--While San Diegans are enjoying the sunshine lately, the Northeastern U.S. has been gripped by record cold temperatures and snow – a LOT of snow.  Just how deep is it?


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CHARGERS IN EAST COUNTY? GILLESPIE FIELD SPORTS VILLAGE PROPOSED

 

View a presentation on the Gillespie Field Sports Village concept by clicking here.

Tune in Friday to our radio show at 5 p.m. on KNSJ 89.1 FM to hear our interview with Robert Germann, proponent of the Gillespie Field Sports Village.

By Miriam Raftery

February 26, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Imagine a new Chargers stadium and sports entertainment complex next to Gillespie Field on vacant land formerly occupied by the El Cajon Speedway.  Sounds far-fetched? The 250-acre  site is surrounded by four major freeways and a trolley stop close by.  Approximately 180 acres are currently vacant—and none of this land has been used for aviation.

Chargers fans’ future is in limbo, with the team threatening to move to Los Angeles County and share a stadium with the Raiders.  The team wants a new stadium, but thus far San Diego county and city leaders have not come up with a solid plan for an alternative location and environmental contamination prevents rebuilding on the existing Qualcomm stadium site.


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FIRST POW-WOW AT CUYAMACA COLLEGE IS A SUCCESS

 

By Leon Thompson, Tribal Beat

February 26, 2015 (Rancho San Diego) The new Native American Student Alliance (NASA) at Cuyamaca College hosted the first annual Cuyamaca Pow Wow earlier this month.

“Our goal is to share the rich heritage of our region’s Native culture” said Teka Tsosie, vice president of the student organization, and coordinator of the event.


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DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: FEB. 28 - MARCH 28

 

February 26, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County includes rock climbing, live jazz and R&B concerts here in East County.  Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including St. Patrick’s Day festivities, the Ramona Music Fest a Shakespearean play with a contemporary twist, and Vallecito Day--celebrating our frontier heritage. Stay tuned for all of these events and much more, from East County Magazine.


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MEN TRIED TO LURE SPRING VALLEY GIRL INTO VAN

 

February 25, 2015 (Spring Valley) - The Sheriff’s Department is warning Spring Valley residents about two masked men who tried to lure a 13-year-old girl into a van.


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SPRING HEADED TO COLLIER PARK

By Kristin Kjaero

February 24, 2015 (La Mesa) – La Mesa residents can look forward someday to new life for the city’s oldest park, as the La Mesa City Council voted 4-0 to adopt the Collier Park Project Master Plan and Environmental Impact Report for its proposed renovation.

Much of the site is undeveloped, and the new plan makes use of this space, lowering the top of the hill by 20 feet to create a larger usable area. When funding can be found, development will be undertaken in phases corresponding to four project areas: Panhandle, Spring House, History Hill and Collier Club House.

Planned amenities include renovated tennis courts and restrooms, picnic area, ADA accessible walking paths and interpretive signage throughout, three separate playground areas aimed for growing age groups, two gazebos, a giant outdoor chess set, a bocce court, a hillside amphitheater, drainage for the soggy lower portion, and a club building with outdoor event area and ceremonial stage.


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SEARCH UNDERWAY FOR MISSING HIKER WHO LEFT ANZA TWO WEEKS AGO

 

Hikers find belongings 13 miles off Highway 79, north of Warner Springs

East County News Service

February 24, 2015 (San Diego) updated February 26, 2015—San Diego Search and Rescue Crews are hunting for a 28-year-old hiker, Chris Sylvia, who left Anza, California on Thursday, February 12th to hike south on the Pacific Crest Trail for a week or more. He called a friend February 16th to meet him near Warner Springs to pickup supplies on February 17th, but never arrived.   

His friend told authorities he assumed Sylvia had continued his hike without stopping. But when he failed to reach his final destination, Campo, Sylvia’s friend became concerned and contacted the Sheriff on February 24.

Also on the 24th, other hikers found gear including a sleeping bag, sleeping pad and backpack that appear to belong to Sylvia. His identification was also found at this site approximately 13 miles off Highgway 79, north of Warner Springs.


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PIZZA CARJACKER HALTED BY HAZMAT SPILL

By Leon Thompson

February 24, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Happy’s Pizza delivery person was not so happy Monday night when he was held up at gunpoint by two masked suspects. 

The thieves called in a pizza order and when the delivery driver arrived at a house in the 1100 block of West Chase Avenue in El Cajon, they brandished a gun and stole his SUV, cell phone, cash and even his shoes, El Cajon Police Department reports.

The suspects handed off the stolen SUV to a woman near the 1200 block of El Cajon Boulevard.  She drove into La Mesa, where she encountered a street closure on Amaya Drive due to a hazmat incident from a big rig fuel spill.  La Mesa Police spotted the stolen vehicle and stopped the driver to question her.


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ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

February 25, 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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EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS


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ROCK HOUSE/BORDER PATROL TRAIL HIKE IN JACUMBA FEB. 28

 

February 24, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - Spring is in the air – and the Jacumba Hikers and Walkers are hitting the trail. On Saturday, February 28th the group will meet at the Jacumba Spa (44500 Old Highway 80) then head out along the Border Patrol Trail to Airport Mesa and the Rock House for a five mile hike.


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SENATOR ANDERSON’S OFFICE BANISHES VOTER WHO ASKED TOUGH QUESTIONS

Anderson running against Supervisor Jacob, but refuses to answer questions about his special interest ties

A podcast of this interview is now online. Listen now at:  http://k003.kiwi6.com/hotlink/lckbr8zs0o/Newsmaker-BiggersTom-AndersonVoter.mp3

Hear the full show from Feb. 23, 2015 here: http://k003.kiwi6.com/hotlink/octrm252x1/ECMShow2-23-15.mp3



This interview originally aired Monday, February 23rd on KNJS 89.1 FM during our East County Magazine show which airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5 p.m.. You can also listen live at www.knsj.org or download the TuneIn Ap to hear KNSJ on your cell phone.

By Miriam Raftery

February 22, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)—State Senator Joel Anderson (R-Alpine) has been endorsed by the County Republican Party for his candidacy challenging East County’s Dianne Jacob for her seat on the County Board of Supervisors next year.  But increasingly, media and constituents are raising serious questions about Anderson’s motives for running and his close ties to special interests—questions that Anderson has refused to answer.

Thomas Biggers is a constituent who voted for Anderson previously.  But after doing some research, he became concerned and visited Anderson’s local office. He asked four questions--which led Anderson's staffer to ban Biggers from the office:


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FROM THE FIRE CHIEF'S CORNER: KIDDE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS RECALLED

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

February 22, 2015 (San Diego)--Fire extinguisher maker Kidde has recalled about 4.6 million disposable extinguishers, saying a faulty plastic valve can prevent them from fully discharging when used.


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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: SUNSET IN LA MESA

 

 

February 22, 2015 (La Mesa) – Miriam Raftery snapped this brilliantly hued sunset earlier this month, when the setting sun mirrored an amber glow from a streetlamp in the parking lot at the La Mesa Springs shopping center.


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READERS & WRITERS CALENDAR: FROM FEBRUARY 22, 2015

 

 

For complete Calendar including Authors Events, go to www.SDWriteWay.org

Readers

February 22, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - February 22 (Sunday, 2:00 pm) — Local children's book author Henry Herz's new picture book, Monster Goose Nursery Rhymes (from Pelican Publishing), has garnered considerable praise, including: "For all of us who grew up loving Dungeons & Dragons and Tolkien, Monster Goose Nursery Rhymes is an excellent way to introduce our little ones to the world of fantasy!"

For additional information, contact Henry Herz at 858-212-6111; http://birchtreepub.com/mgnr.htm.

Mysterious Galaxy, 5943 Balboa Avenue, Suite #100, San Diego.


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HERE'S A STORY THAT'S TRULY OUT OF THIS WORLD

 

February 21, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - "Mars One" , a Dutch nonprofit, has announced plans to build the first permanent settlement Mars.  More than 200,000 people applied to join the first expedition of settlers on a143 million mile, one-way trip to the fourth planet from the sun.


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HELEN KNOLL FOUNDATION OPEN HOUSE FEB. 26 IN JAMUL

 

February 21, 2015 (Jamul) – The Helen Knoll Foundation, which has a mission to prevent breast cancer in women ages 18 to 40, will host an open house on Thursday, February 26th from 5 to 8 p.m. at California Sol, a new restaurant at 12891 Highway 94 in Jamul.


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