Residents Urged to Clear Defensible Space, Plan for Family Readiness

May 22, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – California has already seen 1,569 wildfires this year, about 500 more fires compared to the same period last year and 85 percent more fires than in an average year. With the long, hot and dangerous summer a real possibility, County Supervisor Dianne Jacob and public safety officials today urged residents to protect their homes against wildfires by creating a 100-foot buffer zone.

“Now is the time to prepare for what is shaping up as a tougher-than-usual fire season,” said Supervisor Jacob. “The firestorms of 2003 and 2007 taught us that homes with defensible space are far more likely to survive than homes without it.”

May 21, 2013 (Lakeside) – KSON radio will be at the Lakeside Park and Ride at Highway 67 and Mapleview tomorrow from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. collecting donations to help tornado victims in Moore, Oklahoma. 

Local residents are invited to drive through and drop off cash donations.  Everyone who donates will also be entered in a contest to win two tickets to Taylor Swift’s sold-out concert August 15.

Company had flood of violations, including providing unsafe drinking water and illegally selling water to SDG&E and other contractors

By Miriam Raftery

May 20, 2013 (Live Oak Springs) – Chief Administrative Law Judge Karen V. Clopton with the California Public Utilites Commission has issued a decision recommending that  owners of Live Oak Springs Water Company be fined $1 million for violations that have put public health at risk.  The CPUC proposal would  ask the Superior Court to appoint a receiver to take possession of the property , including the bankrupt Live Oak Springs resort, and operate the water system.

“Nazar Najor, the controversial owner, has been selling water to large construction projects without authorization from his small regulated water district that is meant to serve Live Oak Springs ratepayers,” said Donna Tisdale, chair of the Boulevard Planning Group.

By Miriam Raftery

May 20, 2013 (Ocotillo) – Federal Judge Gonzalo Curiel has granted a motion filed by citizens’ groups to remand a lawsuit over the Ocotillo Express Wind Facility from federal court back to state court.

Plaintiffs Donna Tisdale, Protect Our Communities Foundation and Backcountry Against Dumps hailed the decision.

“Since Ocotillo Express operation started in late 2012, residents complain of adverse impacts from noise, vibrations, electrical interference, shadow flicker and light pollution. People, pets and wildlife are suffering while the project’s wind production is far less than advertised,” a press release issued by plaintiffs states.

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May 24, 2013 (San Diego's East County) -- We've added more to our "sneak preview" audio of our show. This is just a small portion of the great content we've got lined up on our East County Magazine radio show. Check it out! https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

Underwrite our show to support community radio and be heard across our region. Initial test signals for the new KNSJ station broadcasting in Descanso have been heard as far away as downtown San Diego, by up to a million listeners!  Our show will air in prime-time drive time.  Contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org or call 619-698-7617.

Update May 19: Smith has been found safe in San Ysidro.

May 18, 2013 (Lemon Grove) -- The San Diego Sheriff’s Department is searching for a missing person at risk.  James Edward Smith of Lemon Grove is on medication for dementia and is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s.  Smith, 66, was last seen driving his 2006 Silver Chrysler 300 four-door sedan with CA license plate 5XLV296.

Smith is described by authorioties as black, 5 feet 11 inches tall, 207 pounds, bald, with brown eyes and a mustache.  He was last seen wearing a tan and brown jacket, baggy blue jeans, and a tan baseball cap.

He was last seen leaving Willy's Electronics on Mercury Street in San Diego on May 16 at 02:55 p.m., alone in his vehicle. He may have been heading to Harbor Freight supply in Chula Vista. He never arrived at the supply store, and never arrived home in the 1800 block of El Prado Ave, Lemon Grove.

May 18, 2013 (Spring Valley) – A 69-year-old Spring Valley man has been arrested in connection with the vicious beating of a dog. An officer with the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services (DAS) has arrested 69-year-old Charles Dudley on May 14. A neighbor called DAS saying he witnessed the beating in Dudley’s backyard on the 3500 block of Bentley Drive a day earlier.

The Animal Control Officer who responded to the scene found a two-year-old female Miniature Pinscher barely breathing in the backyard and rushed the eight-pound animal to an emergency veterinary hospital. Despite emergency care, the dog succumbed to its injuries overnight. A necropsy will be performed on the body to determine the exact cause of death.

Governor's May Budget Revise Increases Spending on Developmental Centers; People with Developmental Disabilities Urge the Governor to Stop “Taxpayer Supported Abuse”

May 18, 2013 (Sacramento) – People with developmental disabilities and their advocates are speaking out in reaction to Governor Brown's May Budget Revise, and his decision to spend even more taxpayer dollars on a system that has been repeatedly cited for abusing people with developmental disabilities:

“As a California taxpayer I’m outraged, and as a person with a developmental disability I’m repulsed,” said advocate Kiara Hedglin. “It’s unconscionable for the Governor to increase spending on a system that abuses people with developmental disabilities.   It’s time for these archaic centers to close and for people with developmental disabilities to receive the quality care they deserve in home-like settings.”

By Sholeh Sisson 

May 17 2013 (San Diego)-- On May 15, the San Diego Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an ordinance waiving building permit and plan review fees for disabled veterans who need home modifications to accommodate their disabilities.

"We are always looking for ways to improve the lives of those who risk their lives to protect our country," said Supervisor Dianne Jacob, who introduced the measure along with Supervisor Bill Horn.

May 16, 2013 (El Cajon) – Children, seniors and families had fun exploring better ways to live at the free Farragut Circle Health & Safety Fair on May 11 in El Cajon.

The community outreach effort of the Neighbor-to-Neighbor Program of the First Presbyterian Church of El Cajon drew a steady stream of people to the 500 block of Farragut Circle. Mother Goose and local princesses helped welcome the early crowds. 

“Everybody’s smiling,” said Jackie Jackson, library assistant at the Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library of the Grossmont Healthcare District in La Mesa. “This has to be the friendliest fair ever.”

May 16, 2013 (El Cajon) – Grossmont College is an official pit stop for “Bike to Work Day 2013,” a nationally recognized event celebrated on the third Friday of May.

Some 50 to 60 riders are expected from 6 to 9 a.m. May 17, in parking lot No. 1 at the intersection of Highwood Drive and Grossmont College Drive on the Grossmont College campus.

Refreshments and support will be available, along with free T-shirts for the first 30 riders. Cyclists needing a break can ride free on any transit system operated by the Metropolitan Transit System or the North County Transit District if space is available. For more information, go to icommutesd.com

May 16, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has issued a Boil Water Order and Public Notification for the Los Tules Mutual Water Company located at 32995 Camino Moro, Warner Springs, CA 92086 effective immediately.  This public water system serves 100 residential homes.

The drinking water system has tested present for total coliform bacteria and absent for E. coli.  Total coliform bacteria can come from soils and other sources in the environment and can indicate a problem with the water supply system.   The Boil Water Order was issued to ensure all water used is free from contamination.  The Boil Water Order will remain in effect until the distribution system has been disinfected and additional samples confirm the absence of bacteria in the water supply.

May 15, 2013 (San Diego) – OASIS is hosting a technology fair on May 18, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Macy’s in Mission Valley, 7017 Friars Road.  The event will help local adults 50 and older learn how to use social media and today’s technology, including smart phones and tablets.  Various technology experts will be presenting 30 minute sessions as well as one-on-one coaching.

Attendees will be able to attend a variety of classes, attend a hands-on computer lab session and get individual help from tech experts.  Lunch will be available and a raffle for prizes will follow.

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

May 15 (Wednesday, 5:00 pm) — Greg van Eekhout, San Diego-based author of the middle-grade novel Kid vs. Squid, The Boy at the End of the World and the adult novel Norse Code will be signing copies of his books at Barnes & Noble, Oceanside, 2615 Vista Way, Oceanside.

Lisa Kovach - Community Relations Manager, at 760-529-0270 or crm2153@bn.com for additional information.