SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WRITERS’ CONFERENCE: FEB. 13-16 IN SAN DIEGO

 

 

 

 

February 12, 2015 (San Diego)—Writers of all levels are invited to join the Southern California Writers’ Conference and Retreat this weekend, February 14-16 at the Crowne Plaza Resort Hotel in San Diego. 

Learn secrets of how to get published and improve your writing craft at this annual event, which is founded and run by professional writers. The conference and retreat provides veteran and emerging talent with authoritative guidance to help distinguish those manuscripts that are ready for market consideration, having facilitated some $4 million worth of first-time authors’ book and screen deals.


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READER’S EDITORIAL: DAVE ROBERT’S EDITORIAL, “A VOTE FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY," IGNORES REALITY

 

Response by Donna Tisdale to Supervisor Dave Roberts’ opinion published in East County Magazine

“In defense of rural residents and non-renewable resources, our non-profit group Backcountry Against Dumps is preparing to file suit challenging the County’s misguided and ethically challenged Soitec approvals.” – Donna Tisdale

February 12, 2015 (Boulevard)--When Dave Roberts was elected to replace retiring Supervisor Pam Slater-Price, I had hoped he would live up to his campaign claims of being community oriented and environmentally aware. Instead, Roberts has voted several times against Supervisor Dianne Jacob, over her well-reasoned objections to harmful projects in her District 2, and over well-documented community concerns, in order to support the financially biased and factually challenged claims made by vested interests and politically-pressured-County Staff, that these massive wind, solar, and transmission line projects are actually needed, are sustainable, and are compatible with rural community character and existing uses.


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SOITEC BACKERS HOST FUNDRAISER FOR DAVE ROBERTS—AFTER ROBERTS CASTS VOTE FOR SOITEC

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

February 12, 2015 (San Diego's East County)--Six days after Supervisor Dave Roberts voted for the highly controversial Soitec industrial-scale solar projects in Boulevard which were approved 4-1 on February 4th,  he sent supporters an e-mail with an invitation to a fundraiser for his campaign at the La Jolla home of Jim Waring, co-founder of CleanTech San Diego.

Waring lobbied and testified on behalf of Soitec, which has a manufacturing facility in San Diego, at the Feb. 4th hearing.  Co-hosts of the fundraiser also include Jim Whalen, whose firm, J. Whalen and Associates, represents Sempra Energy and Hamann Companies. Hamann owns land on which the Soitec projects are slated to be built. Whalen, too, testified before Supervisors on February 4th and other occasions in favor of the Soitec projects.

These cozy ties raise a serious question: just how impartial was Roberts when casting a vote to scrape bare  more than 1,100 acres of habitat in East County including land along a scenic highway, putting a town’s groundwater supply at risk as two hydrologists have warned, and increasing fire danger with an unmitigatable fire risk as Supervisor Dianne Jacob observed?  Whose interests was Roberts really representing?


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ACLU DEMANDS TRANSPARENCY OF BORDER PATROL'S EXTENSIVE "ROVING PATROL" OPERATIONS

 

East County News Service

February 11, 2015 (San Diego)- Charging that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have failed to respond to requests for information regarding U.S. Border Patrol’s interior “roving patrol” operations—during which agents stop and detain Southern Californians as far as 100 miles north of the Mexico border—the ACLU Foundation of San Diego & Imperial Counties, the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, and the University of California, Irvine School of Law Immigrant Rights Clinic (IRC) filed a lawsuit this week in federal court today.


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DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: TOP EVENTS FEB. 10-22

 

February 12, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Romance is in the air, and this week’s Destination East County includes some romantic Valentine’s events including a campout and stargazing, Valentine’s dances, a poetry campout, and dinner in a vineyard. Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including Air Supply in concert, a string ensemble performance and a Salute to Local Heroes. Stay tuned for all of these events and much more, from East County Magazine.


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A HEART-WARMING RESPONSE FOR FIREFIGHTER AWAITING HEART TRANSPLANT

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, right: Adam Beardsley and his wife, Megan

Update February 19, 2015 -- Adam Beardsley received a new heart two days ago and is doing very well, a Heartland Fire official announced at last night's La Mesa Chamber of Commerce Salute to Heroes event.

Update February 15, 2015--Rust Accounting has sent us a final tally for the event, which raised over $18,000 from an estimated 1,000 guests who attended.

February 11, 2015 (La Mesa) –Hundreds of community members turned out Sunday at the Bolt Brewery in La Mesa at a fundraiser to help cover expenses for Adam Beardsley, a 33-year-old Heartland Deputy Fire Marshal in need of a heart transplant. 

“He has such as big heart,” Monica Zech, public information officer for the City of El Cajon, said of Beardsley. She added that he remains in good spirits at UCLA Ronald Reagan Hospital, where he has been a patient since January 6th, awaiting a heart donor.  “But he didn’t want this to be just about him,” she said, adding that Beardsley hopes publicity on the shortage of organ donors will ultimately help others, too.

A single organ donor can save the lives of up to eight people. Currently over 110,000 people in the U.S. are on the waiting list for an organ transplant. Nearly 1,600 people are on the waiting list for a organ transplant in San Diego and Imperial Counties. For information about organ donation, click here.


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ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

 

February 11, 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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OBAMA SEEKS WAR DECLARATION AGAINST ISIS

 

East County News Service

February 10, 2015 (Washington D.C.) – President Barack Obama is asking Congress to approve military force against the Islamic State terrorists, also known as ISIL or ISIS, over the next three years.


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SDSU CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH

 

February 11, 2015 (San Diego)—San Diego State University celebrates Black History Month with several campus-wide events. The month of February marks the celebration of Black History Month to acknowledge the important events and people of African diaspora.


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THREATS MADE TO FIRST FAMILY AND MILITARY SPOUSES

 

By Miriam Raftery

February 11, 2015 (Washington D.C.)--A group calling itself the Cyber Caliphate hacked into Twitter accounts in the U.S. on Tuesday, issuing threats against first lady Michelle Obama, the President’s children, and American military spouses.


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EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS


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CHRISTIANS TAKE UP ARMS AGAINST ISLAMIC STATE IN IRAQ,

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Islamic State militants

February 10, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) --Hundreds of Christians in Iraq are taking up arms and training to fight against Islamic State forces and reclaim their towns, the Wall Street Journal reports.


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SWAT TEAM SURROUNDS HOME IN EL CAJON, SEEKING SUSPECT IN SHOOTING OF TV 8 SPORTS ANCHOR

 

Update 10:40 p.m.:  The suspect is now in custody, CBS 8 reports.  San Diego Police, also on scene, took the lead in convincing the suspect to surrender.

Photo: Suspect Mike Montana, courtesy  ECM news partner 10 News

February 10, 2015 (El Cajon) - 9:06 p.m. -- The El Cajon SWAT team has surrounded a home at Prescott & Noden in El Cajon, seeking suspect Mike Montana wanted for shooting of CBS News 8 sports anchor Kyle Kraska. Kraska was shot and seriously wounded earlier today outside his Scripps Rancho home.

There are many emergency vehicles in the area of Chase and Avocado in the vicinity of the SWAT action, ECM reporter Paul Kruz reports.  AVOID AREA. View map .

The suspect was seen leaving the shooting scene in white van with Superior Painting logo on the side.


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JOIN THE SHERIFF'S VOLUNTEER MOUNTED PATROL

 

February 10, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - The Sheriff's Department is looking for horse owners and riders who would like to become members of the Volunteer Mounted Patrol.


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WATER CUTS POSSIBLE

 

East County News Service

February 10, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – The Metropolitan Water District, which supplies San Diego County with water, warned Monday that it may cut water deliveries by 5 to 10 percent or even more this summer.  The decision will be made in April, after assessing how much water the District gets from the State Water Project, the Colorado River and other supply sources.


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READER'S EDITORIAL: A VOTE FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY

 

By Dave Roberts

February 10, 2015 (San Diego)--The directive from Sacramento to policy-makers across California is unambiguous: to meet strict state mandates, we must allow for more renewable energy projects within our county.


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WINDY WEATHER FORECAST

 

February 10, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) -- It’s shaping up to be a wild weather week, starting with waves up to 12 feet off San Diego’s coast, whipped up by strong offshore winds.  Wind gusts Wednesday and Thursday could reach 50 miles an hour in inland mountains and canyons, a concern for firefighters in continuing warm, dry conditions with temperatures forecast to reach the 70s.


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WESTERN SWEETHEART DANCE FEB. 21

 

February 10, 2015 (Lakeside) - A Western Sweetheart Dance featuring country artist Patrick Trampus will be held at the Lakeside Rodeo Grounds on February 21st from 5 to 10 p.m. with entertainment starting at 6 p.m. A coronation for Miss Rodeo Lakeside will also be held.


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EAST COUNTY YOUTH SYMPHONY CONCERT MARCH 13

 

February 10, 2015 (El Cajon) – The East County Youth Symphony orchestra will perform a concert on Friday, March 13th at 7:30 p.m. in collaboration with the Cuyamaca College String Orchestra and Choir.


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ALPINE TOT'S PARENTS ASKS FOR PRAYERS

 

February 9, 2015 (Alpine) - For more than a year, community members in Alpine have pulled together to support the family of Kylie Rowand, a toddler battling neuroblastoma, an aggressive form of cancer. Pink ribbons painted the town pick, as we reported. Alpine residents held fundraisers to help pay the family's medical bills.


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SHOULD CRIMINAL CHARGES BE FILED AGAINST THE GUHSD?

 

By Miriam Raftery, Editor

East County Magazine

February 10, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) --The scandal over Grossmont Union High School District’s misuse of bond funds has now made national news. Recently a Superior Court Judge issued an injunction requiring the district to set aside money from a portion of bonds and state funds to build the long-promised Alpine High School, after a Grand Jury previously found that the District spent money from voter-approved bond measures on unauthorized projects, while failing to build the promised Alpine High School.

Now a Forbes magazine article titled Regulators Way to Easy on Muni Bond Investors  is calling the District’s actions a “classic bait and switch scheme.” Author Marilyn Cohen, one of the nation’s top bond managers,  asks, “Why aren’t the people involved sent to jail?”


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ROMEO AND JULIET: CHICAGO-STYLE MARCH 12-21

 

February 9, 2015 (El Cajon)—The Stagecoach Theatre at Grossmont College will present Romeo and Juliet, arguably the greatest love story in English literature, in eight performances in March.  This production has a twist—set against the turbulent backdrop of Prohibition Era Chicago, blending a mafia family drama with the timelessness of forbidden love.


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VALENTINE'S OVERNIGHT UNDER THE STARS FEB. 14

 

February 9, 2015 (Anza Borrego) – Califoirnia Overland Adventures is teaming up with astronomer Dennis Mammana for a Valentine’s Overnight adventure on Saturday, February 14th.


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LA MESA AND SANTEE SEEK PAGEANT CONTESTANTS: SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED TO WINNERS

 

February 9, 2015 (San Diego’s Esat County)--On Friday, March 6, 2015 the cities of La Mesa and Santee will hold one of their most grand traditions, the Miss La Mesa and Miss Santee Pageants.  Pageant organizers are currently seeking outgoing residents ages 13-26 to participate in a program that has been a tradition in the cities since the late 1960’s and is an outstanding mentoring program for young women.  The pageants are sponsored by the local Chamber of Commerce and focus on community service, networking, public speaking and interview skills.  There is no swimsuit competition!


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GREEN IS THE NEW RED THIS VALENTINE'S DAY

 

Show love for your Valentine and the planet with eco-friendly tips from Waste Management of Southern California

February 9, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--Valentine’s Day is almost here and with hundreds of millions of cards, boxes of chocolates and bouquets expected to exchange hands this year, Waste Management of Southern California is encouraging community members to consider simple alternatives that not only express the spirit of the holiday but also make it a little greener.


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CONTAMINATED WATER ON MT. LAGUNA

 

 

County News Service

February 9, 2015 (Mount Laguna)--The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has issued a Boil Water Order and Public Notification for the Mount Laguna water system located on Sunrise Highway, Mt. Laguna, CA 91948 effective immediately.


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AUTHOR'S TITLE TO BE DISPLAYED AT BOOK EXPO AMERICA!

 

By Dennis Moore

February 9, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - Author KB Schaller (Cherokee/Seminole heritage) was recently notified by Florida Authors and Publishers Association (FAPA), Inc., that her title, 100+ Native American Women Who Changed the World, would be included in the organization's display at Book Expo America (BEA)!


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NBC NEWS ANCHOR BRIAN WILLIAMS DRAWS RIDICULE ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR FAULTY MEMORY OR FIBS

 

Update February 10, 2015:  NBC has suspended Williams without pay for six months.

By Miriam Raftery

February 8, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Journalists know that in  the news business, credibility is everything.  Former CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite was known as the most trusted man in America.

But now Brian Williams, news anchor at NBC TV, has come under fire after apologizing for claiming he was in a helicopter struck by enemy fire in Iraq when others at the scene disputed the story. His recollections of occurrences during his coverage of Hurricane Katrina have also been cast into doubt.  Williams has announced he will take a few days off as the firestorm grows, fueled by ridicule on social media. 

The Twitter hashtag  #BrianWilliamsmisremembers  is abuzz with Photoshopped images of Williams boasting of roles in various historical events, to the amusement of the Twittersphere and doubtless the chagrin of NBC. Below are a few of the more creative examples:


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SAN DIEGO 350 ACTIVISTS PRESENT AT THE MARCH FOR REAL CLIMATE LEADERSHIP

 

Reprinted with permission from Reporting San Diego

By Nadin Abbott

February 7, 2015 (San Diego) On Feb. 6, at the stroke of midnight, the busses left the Old Town Transit center parking lot. On board were activists from SanDiego350, as well as students from King Chavez Community School in downtown San Diego with their teacher, Keith Fowler.


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UC TO REQUIRE VACCINATIONS FOR INCOMING STUDENTS

 

Photo credit: iStock courtesy UC news service

By Miriam Raftery

February 8, 2015 (San Diego)--The University of California  has announced that it will require incoming students to be  vaccinated for measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, meningococcus, tetanus and whooping cough.  Students must show proof of these vaccinations and also be screened for tuberculosis, starting in 2017. However individual campuses can choose to begin implementation earlier, a press release issued by the UC system states.


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