A Photography Exhibit By Eileen Madell At Mission Trails Regional Park

By Greg Dunne                               

November 16, 2011 (Harbison Canyon) -- It’s November, the month when we all enjoy turkey at Thanksgiving. So this edition of Bird Talk is on the wild turkey and the other turkey namesake bird, the turkey vulture.

The wild turkey is not native to California, although it is native to North America. Numerous attempts tointroduce the turkey to California failed. Then in the early 1990s a second attempt was successful.  Today, wild turkeys can be seen throughout the back hills of East San Diego County. 

Story by Nadin Abbott

Photos by Nadin Abbott and Jennifer Douglas

November 12, 2011 (San Diego)—Over a hundred women walked from the other side of Third Avenue downtown, pushing wheelbarrow and carrying trash bags filled with supplies such as dry socks. The rain came down hard, soaking them. Many East County women were among the crowd, including a Jamul mother and her son.

They chanted “We are the ninety-nine percent,” and “Banks got bailed out, we got sold out.” The occupiers peeked out from under plastic tarps, or came out from whatever cover they were allowed by San Diego Police, and cheered. To them, it was a surprise. A few faces, filled with emotion, had tears. View a video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcsc5PXsJts

By Cate Sacks

November 12, 2011 (Blossom Valley) -- News from Facebook, Therapy dog Howard has passed all the training to become a therapy or service dog. This boy is simply awesome. He is gentle, submissive and kind. I have never heard him bark, and he is happy just "being"..whether than means with the other dogs, people, children or just by himself. He is a young boy who has been rounded off to a year old. His body is that of a boxer but his look is that of a chesapeake bay retriever...an amazing combination that is hard to find. He sleeps quietly in his crate and learns quickly.  

By Russ Lindquist

After police broke up an Occupy San Diego encampment  Friday, protestors rallied their forces with a 1,000 member-strong march on Saturday. But while millions are taking notice of “Occupy” protests nationwide aimed at helping Americans who are struggling, at least one East County man struggling with unemployment and homelessness feels disenfranchised by the movement.

October 16, 2011 (San Diego) --"Homeless Harry" sat outwardly calm, but inwardly cringing, late Friday afternoon at the Civic Center downtown during the Occupy San Diego (OSD) protest.

Earlier in the day, a clash between protestors and police left one demonstrator arrested and nearly a dozen others pepper-sprayed. Yet amidst a calm in the aftermath of violence, Harry sat alone silently, head curled down towards the filthy clothes on his torso, hair neatly combed, eyes sunken behind severely sun-worn skin. Later he would candidly bemoan the OSD attendees’ joviality and denounce the overall character of present-day protestors, police, press and pedestrians.

 
By George J. Janczyn 

October 16, 2011 (San Diego) -- The following story is reprinted with permission from http://GrokSurfSanDiego.com. 

By Miriam Raftery

October 4, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – When we launched East County Magazine in 2008, we published a story on the high rate of poverty in El Cajon, which was then 20.6%. Today, it’s soared 50%, to 29.7%--by far the highest of any city in our county. But a growing number of individuals and families throughout the San Diego region are falling into poverty, with children being especially hard-hit, according to new Census data recently released.

Countywide, the poverty rate grew to 14.8% in 2010, up from 12.6% in 2009. More than one in ten children (11.6%) are living in poverty locally.

October 6, 2011 (La Mesa) – How will federal health care reforms impact the health of your business and employees? The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce presents a free program tonight, featuring a panel that includes physicians, representatives from the hospital and insurance industries, the County health department, and a human resources/employment law specialist.

The program will be held tonight, October 6 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Grossmont Healthcare District, 9001 Wakarusa Street in La Mesa.

October 1, 2011 (San Diego) – San Diego Police Officer Jason Prokop was struck and killed early this morning while attempting to come to the aid of a motorist after his vehicle struck a stopped car ahead of him. He was off duty at the time, said Lt. Andra Brown. A five-year veteran of the police force, Prokop was married and leaves behind a toddler and an infant, ECM News partner 10 News reports.

 Sept. 29, 2011 (San Diego) --  San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) have entered into an agreement with The Greenlining Institute outlining workforce- and supplier-diversity goals for the next four years.

By Anne Tolch, Vice Chairperson, Sustainability Alliance of Southern California

September 21, 2011 (San Diego) -- For many years there was the assertion that smoking posed no danger to our health, but we now know the science community was right. It also took a while to figure out that acid rain really posed problems. Fortunately, our society has implemented policies to address these serious issues. The same is true for climate change. In the end, we will work together to solve it.

What climate change skeptics such as Santee Mayor Randy Voepel may not realize is that reducing our reliance on fossil fuels will provide many other benefits. These include creating good jobs and cleaner air, saving money for businesses and families, and strengthening national security. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions will also help protect farmers’ harvests and food supplies from drought, as well as reduce risks of devastating wildfires and floods.

 East County Magazine News Service

September 21, 2011 (San Diego)—County Supervisors by a 5-0 vote have approved an expenditure of several hundred thousand dollars to replace "outdated" ordinances and develop regulations for equestrian facilities.

The Board rejected Option A, which would have allowed equestrian facilities by right in rural areas. Instead, the County voted to embrace Option B, which aims to require smaller equestrian facilities to pay an annual ministerial fee and provide “best management practices.” Learn more here: http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/dplu/advance/Equine.html

Editor’s note: East County resident Greg Dunne (photo, top left) has achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the first known person to hike completely around the perimeter of Mission Trails Regional Park—all 28.3 miles! Here is his account of the journey.

ECM exclusive interview
By Miriam Raftery
Video by Jack Winemiller

September 11, 2011 (San Diego) – Congressman and Mayoral candidate Bob Filner spoke with ECM at last weekend's "Big Blue BBQ" for East County Democrats.

He outlined plans to create thousands of new, good-paying jobs for San Diego's region countywide through a revitalized maritime industry and through policies to make San Diego into the “alternative energy capital of the world.”  He also shared his ideas for improving public education and resolving the public employee pension issue as we “turn San Diego towards the 21st century.”  
 

September 9, 2011 (San Diego) - Although power has now been restored countywide, public schools will be closed today across San Diego County. In addition to K-12 schools, closures have also been announced at San Diego State University, the University of California San Diego, Cuyamaca College, and Grossmont College.  Some private schools, including Thomas Jefferson School of Law, have also announced closures.  If in doubt, check with your school or school district.

San Diego County Courts will be open for business as usual, with power restored. 

 August 24, 2011 (San Diego) -- The Little Saigon Foundation, a local non-profit, hosts its second annual San Diego Lantern Festival and Street Fair August 26-28. Attendance is expected to be 20,000 – 30,000 guests.  This year’s theme is “Light Up San Diego” and will feature nearly 6,000 traditional silk lanterns.

Other attractions include a street fair (Saturday and Sunday), lantern parades and lion dance each evening, multi-cultural entertainment, martial arts competition, carnival rides, break dancing competitions, Asian cuisine, food trucks, beer garden, and the first-ever Miss Asia San Diego 2011 Pageant on Saturday August 28 at 7:00pm after the festival’s Opening Ceremony.

August 26, 2011 (San Diego) 6:15 p.m. – Multiple agencies have received reports of a strong natural gas odor in coastal areas all the way from Imperial Beach in the South Bay to San Diego's North County, Incident Page Network reports.  An investigation is underway to find the source.

August 20, 2011 (San Diego) –State Supervisors are firing back after the state slashed spending for firefighting services and enacted a fire parcel fee on rural residents.

“Public safety in the San Diego region will be jeopardized as a result of these significant funding reductions,” Supervisors stated in an August 17 letter sent to Governor Jerry Brown and San Diego’s state legislators. “Cutting CAL FIRE funding is not a prudent solution to resolving the State’s budget crisis and will pale in comparison to the costs incurred by the State to respond to the next major wildfire.”

Story and photos by Miriam Raftery

August 8, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – “What are You Waiting For? Birds are chirping, hiking trails beckon, a whiff of white sage drifts on the breeze. Night skies are so black the stars look 3D,” reads a new website launched by the Boulevard-Jacumba Revitalization Alliance at www.gosandiegobackcountry.org.

The nonprofit 501c3 was created to raise money for implementation of projects approved by the committee. The group also has a Facebook page as well as the still-under-construction website, which already lists many attractions of Boulevard and Jacumba, two high desert communities straddling historic highways 80 and 94.

August 2, 2011 (San Diego)—By a unanimous vote, San Diego County’s Board of Supervisors today decided to redraw supervisorial districts to include a South Bay district in which racial minorities comprise the majority of the population The five white Supervisors, all Republicans, originally had proposed a map with all-white majority districts.

But after the American Civil Liberties Union testified on June 28 that the proposed district lines violated the Voting Rights Act, Supervisors opted against risking costly litigation.

Story by Miriam Raftery; Photos by Mark and Miriam Raftery

August 2, 2011 (Alpine) -- "Oh, you're beautiful!" San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce President Scott Alevy exclaimed as his wife, Joanne, dished up a forkful of chicken.  But he wasn't complimenting her cooking. Instead, Alevy was admiring Raja--a 500-pound Bengal tiger that Joanne was feeding after winning a drawing at Lions, Tigers & Bears (LTB) in Alpine.

The Chamber hosted a fundraiser to benefit the big cat rescue facility last weekend, donating 100% of proceeds to help this worthy cause while providing a memorable experience for Chamber members. View our video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFhE9h-O0Uw

Update: The victim has been identified as Wesley Stewart Grove, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner. No other information has yet been released.

August 2, 2011 (Lemon Grove) -- An individual has committed suicide by jumping off a bridge and landing in freeway lanes on Highway 94 eastbound at Lemon Grove Avenue around 6 p.m.  The freeway was shut down; one lane is now open but traffic remains slow so alternate routes are advised.

August 1, 2011 (San Diego) –Witnesses reported that a big-rig with an empty trailer for hauling automobiles zig-zagged across several lanes of traffic before plummeting over the side of I-15. The vehicle came to rest on Murphy Canyon Road in front of Wal-Mart at 6:40 a.m.

July 30, 2011 (San Diego) – Effective February 2, a water fluoridation program went into effect in San Diego. All other water districts in the County also have fluoridated water, according to a researcher with Citizens Oversight Panels. Is your tap water more toxic as a result?

The American Dental Association warns parents not to mix infant formula with fluoridated water "so as to prevent fluoride discolored teeth (fluorosis)." Concerns have also been raised over some studies linking fluoridated water to lower IQs, as well as potential to cause cancer.

Paul Connett, PhD, a former chemistry professor, has authored a  book titled, The Case Against Fluoride: How Hazardous Waste Ended Up In Our Drinking Water and the Bad Science and Powerful Politics That Keep It There.  He will be the lead panelist at “Fluoridegate”, a town hall meeting on Monday, August 1 at 6:30 p.m.in San Diego.

Whooping Cough Cases On Track To Hit 300 for Region

July 27, 2011 (San Diego)—Under a new law, middle and high school students have to show proof they’ve received a booster shot for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis( also known as whooping cough) in order to enroll in school.

There are three places where students may get the Tdap vaccine, their primary care physician, a local retail pharmacy or, if they don’t have insurance, a County public health center.

Update: This missing person has been located, San Diego Police reports.

July 27, 2011 (San Diego)—Ariana Khair, 19, was last seen on Saturday, July 23 in the area of 5400 El Cajon Blvd in San Diego, San Diego Police reported today.

“Reduce then Produce” part of San Diego Summer of Energy Independence

July 26, 2011 (San Diego) — San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders announced today a new citywide program that provides special savings on home energy efficiency upgrades and solar energy installations. It's all part of the San Diego Summer of Energy Independence. The program is now under way; to participate, homeowners must sign up by October 20, 2011.