October 28, 2013 (Jamul) - Could road paving work have caused last night's  fatality crash on State Route 94 at Otay Lakes Road?

"Without striping on the road, very few delineation markers, and no lights during this resurfacing, it becomes virtually impossible to see where you are going or know where the road is," the Jamul Action Committee wrote in an email after the deadly crash. Moreover, two more motorists have come forward to warn of near-miss crashes including at least three near-head on collisions that they blame on missing or confusing pavement markings from the resurfacing project.

Jamul residents have been warning that the repaving work, being done both day and night with multiple stops and congestion, could endanger motorists, as ECM previously reported: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/14217 . The paving is expected to continue for months.

October 28, 2013 (San Diego) -- Photographer Debbie Ekhaml sent this haunting image -- along with a description--and a follow-up shot.

"The fog (and flash) made for a spooky Halloween photo of a coyote out in the SD Wildlife Refuge," she wrote. "The flash did not seem to bother her, as I took more after the initial one."

Click "read more" and scroll down to see a second image of the coyote in brighter lighting.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos of anniversary event by Pam Wilmers and Miriam Raftery

October 27, 2013 (Lakeside) – “It started as a single flame in rugged, remote backcountry…The perfect alignment of extreme weather, fire weather and circumstances quickly transformed that flame into an enormously powerful and unstoppable force known as the Cedar Fire,” Lakeside firefighter Chuck Palmore said at yesterday’s 10-year anniversary of the Cedar Fire commemoration at the Lakeside Fire Station.  The Cedar Fire touched the lives of thousands of people, he noted. “A decade later, we gather together here today to reflect and reconnect, to share with each other our journey that has taken us from victim to survivor to thriver.”

The Cedar Fire remains the worst wildfire in California's history in size (280,278 acres, or 438 square miles), buildings destroyed (2,820, including over 2,200 homes), and people killed(15). Of those who lost homes, most have rebuilt or moved on.  But for the families of those who perished, the scars will forever remain. 

Molly Sloan lost her daughter, a granddaughter, and her daughter-in-law.  She and other family members came to this memorial service to display a photo montage in tribute to their loved ones’ memories.

October 27, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – A Sig-Alert has been issued for a head-on crash at Highway 94 and Otay Lakes Road.  Incident Page Network reports a fatality.  CHP’s website indicates the head-on collision involved a white truck and a black sedan, with a third vehicle also involved.

A serious accident is also reported on Sunrise Highway at State Route 79.  According to the CHP website, one vehicle swerved to avoid another and rolled over. The vehicle is on its roof against support lines for a power pole.  At least one serious injury is reported and emergency responders are en route.

October 26, 2013 (San Diego's East County) – The Sheriff’s Department is looking for witnesses with information on an accident that occurred around 9:48 this morning involving two vehicles that collided, causing a bicyclist to also be struck and severely injured.

Deputies reported that the two vehicles were involved in a dispute over right-of-way where State Route 67 merges from two lanes to a single lane at Poway Road. As the two vehicles merged, the passenger side of a Volvo S 60 collided with the driver’s side of a Dodge Ram 3500.  After the collision, the Dodge Ram veered right, striking a bicyclist traveling northbound in a marked bicycle lane.

By Miriam Raftery

October 26, 2013 (El Cajon ) –Following the resignation of  El Cajon Mayor Mark Lewis for racial remarks, Chaldean community leader Mark Paul Arabo, head of the Neighborhood Markets Association, is calling on Council members to denounce statements by Lewis and further, to implement district elections at the next city council meeting.

Currently, all El Cajon residents vote for all council candidates, with the top vote getters overall winning seats. Under Arabo’s proposal, the city would be divided into districts each electing its own representative-a move that could result in one or more districts with a majority of Iraqi Chaldeans or other minority populations. 

In a press statement, Arabo voiced relief at Lewis’ resignation but added, “We will not stop here.”

By Nadin Abbott

Photos by Tom Abbott

October 25, 2013 (San Diego)—Today political leaders from San Diego City and the County came together with fire officials to remember the 2003 Cedar Fire. The press conference served as both a status report on our region’s ability to respond to the next emergency, as well as a memorial for the 15 San Diegans who died during the firestorm.

October 25, 2013 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Mayor Mark Lewis has resigned, effective immediately.  In his resignation letter, the Mayor  cited health reasons, including cancer, a dislocated shoulder and a minor stroke in 2010. “Unfortunately at times, this has caused me some difficulties in clearly communication my thoughts, including during the recent interviews  that have caused understandable concern,” he wrote, adding that he is stepping down to avoid further concerns by citizens and to “allow our City Council and community o move forward in their work to make this City the finest place it can be.”

He added, “I deeply love our town and have given a major portion of my adult life to its wellbeing and, so, this is a bittersweet moment for me."

October 24, 2013 (San Diego) – Dear EarthTalk: I understand that there are many internships available at environmental organizations, some involving working outdoors, some year-round with expenses paid. Where do I find these?

-- Jason Baar, Los Angeles, CA

Internships can provide professional experience and on-the-job training for individuals looking to enter the environmental field. There are numerous opportunities and the key is to know where to look. Many businesses, non-profits and governmental organizations offer internships that are environmentally focused and can range from office work in many different departments to working outdoors, some year-round and some short term. Compensation also varies significantly and can range from unpaid (but earning college credit) to salaried and/or all-expenses-paid.

Full tape of interview  reveals comments praising Chaldeans in addition to remarks deemed culturally insensitive by cricis

By Miriam Raftery

October 24, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – At Tuesday’s El Cajon City Council meeting, a crowd of Irarqi Chaldean community members denounced  remarks made by Mayor Mark Lewis in an interview with Progressive Magazine for an article published in May.  Critics denounce the remarks as insensitive and reinforcing racial stereotypes. 

Supporters say the comments were taken out of context.  An audiotape of the full one-hour interview posted by RawStory in fact reveals many positive statements made by the Mayor about Chaldeans, as well as the remarks that stirred controversy.  Some backers of the Mayor have suggested a financial motive behind the criticism emerging months after the story first ran, noting that a leading critic represents Chaldean store owners chafing under a newly enacted city policy restricting alcohol sales.

Commemoration of the 2003 Cedar Fire ten-year anniversary will take place October 26 from 1-4 pm at the Crest Clubhouse in Crest.

The Crest Community Association is planning to mark the occasion with a commemorative event that will bring the community together to share their experience, thank those who helped Crest get back on its feet, and to learn how to be more prepared for any natural disaster.

By Janis Mork

October 23, 2013 (El Cajon)- Rocking Horse Ranch has been in business since 2006, and  now its operators are asking for help to help save the property. The ranch pairs up troubled horses with abused and neglected children, and in time, both child and horse learn to heal.

ECM recently sat down with founder and executive director, Kathy Plaisted to learn more.

She told us that the ranch is special because “it is such a unique environment.. .We bring horses that come from troubled backgrounds and pair them up with people who have suffered as well.. We’re volunteer driven and serve over 500 people each month. We rehabilitate [the horses], work with kids, adopt the horses to forever homes, and bring in another one.”

October 23, 2013 (San Diego) -- A limited quantity of San Diego State men's basketball single-game tickets will go on sale on Monday, Oct. 28, at 9 a.m. Tickets can be purchased at GoAztecs.com, by calling 619-283-7378 or by visiting the Aztec Ticket Office at Window E at Qualcomm Stadium.

There are no single-game tickets available for games against Arizona and UNLV, but fewer than 100 remain for the rest of the Aztecs' home slate, including dates against 2013 NCAA tournament teams Boise State, Colorado State and New Mexico. There are also less than 100 tickets left for SDSU contests vs. perennial powers Washington and Utah State.

October 24, 2013 (San Diego’s East County ) --ECM 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.

• Toyota recall: spiders are causing airbag problems (CS Monitor)
• Schumer to introduce debt limit legislation (The Hill)
• Study: Wind power costs taxpayers billions of dollars (Townhall)
• Obamacare said to take in almost a half million applications (Bloomberg)
• California health exchange reports 94,500 application starts (Los Angeles Times)
• Healthcare.gov: What works and what doesn’t (CNN)
• Oregon launching new program to tax drivers per mile (Fox News)
• AP CEO: Press freedom v. security a `false choice’ (U-T San Diego)
• Inside the Fox News lie machine: I fact-checked Sean Hannity on Obamacare (Salon)
• U.S. high court declines to hear privacy lawsuit against Thomson Reuters (Reuters)
• Protecting Detroit pensions may violate bankruptcy code: judge(Reuters)

WORLD

• High temperatures and winds worse Australian wildfires (CS Monitor)
• Oops! Azerbaijan Releases Election Results Before Voting Begins (NPR)
• EU Parliament urges ending data agreement with US (AP)
• China smog: Super smog blankets China city, 40 times higher than international safety standard (CS Monitor)
• Mexico calls alleged U.S. spying on Calderon ‘unacceptable’ (Reuters)
• Images show new work at NKorea's nuclear test site (U-T San Diego)
• Did Turkey Sell Out Israeli Agents To Iran? (NPR)
• Japan delaying cleanup of towns near nuclear plant (U-T San Diego)
• China to restrict satellite TV stations to one foreign program  (Reuters)

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

By Jerrie Dean

Miriam Raftery also contributed to this report

October 23, 2013 (Spring Valley) -- Sharon “Shari” Chipman, 35, from San Diego has been missing since Oct. 10.  She walked away from her group home in Paradise Hills and was reported missing by her grandmother on Oct. 12.  She left behind a cryptic note that said, "Leaving everything behind, Jesus told me to," Shari's brother David Chipman, told East County Magazine. She has been diagnosed as bipolar and schizophrenic. Her family is concerned for her safety.

Sheriff's deputies talked to Chipman at the Jack in the Box on Jamacha Road and Sweetwater Road in Spring Valley on Oct. 11. Since she did not appear to be a danger to herself or others, she was released at the scene. Her family had not yet reported her missing; the Sheriff has since issued a missing person bulletin. Chipman also made a banking transaction in Spring Valley on Oct. 11. On October 18, a week later, her purple Magma mountain bike was spotted locked to a bike rack at a McDonald's near Sweetwater Road and Jamacha Blvd.