By Miriam Raftery



“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.”

-- Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Editor’s Note: This essay was written  several years ago following my trip to Memphis on the anniversary of King's death, but its message remains as timely now as it was then.

MEMPHIS – The shadow of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. looms large in Memphis, where Martin Luther King was assassinated thirty years ago. But his message transcends time and place, as I was poignantly reminded last year during a visit to the place where King drew his final breath.

Open House for Haiti fundraiser planned Jan. 23 on Mt. Helix

January 14, 2010 (Ramona) – The Ramona Grasslands, a protected resource area, is home to 19 species of raptors including golden eagles, hawks and falcons.

Each Saturday through February 27 from 9am-noon, the Wildlife Research Institute is hosting “Hawk Watch” at the Ramona Grasslands.

By Christian Young
 

GHANA TRIBAL CHIEF TO SPEAK AT FEB. 25 FUNDRAISER IN SAN DIEGO

January 12, 2010 (San Diego)--While living in Encinitas in 2008, Jacqueline Prairie decided to act upon a life-long dream of helping children in Africa.

January 13, 2010 (Sacramento) - The Sacramento Bee has launched a new database where you can look up the voting record of every state legislator in California. Wondering how often your legislator broke party ranks, missed a vote or voted to support your interests instead of special interests?

San Diego Sheriff Announces New E-Tool

January 13, 2010 (San Diego) -- Sheriff Bill Gore today announces the initiation of a new Internet tool for the residents of San Diego County. Crimemapping.com, a creation of San Diego-based Omega Group, retrieves crime data, maps it by address, and positions it in crime categories for web users to view. Sensitive crimes, such as domestic violence and sex crimes will not be posted.

by Christopher Mohr

January 12, 2010 (Santee) - What started out as a competitive game between two rival schools from Santee soon became a rout as the host Wolfpack of West Hills High School  surged past the Lady Sultans of Santana High School with a comfortable 54-31 win.

Mennonite Disaster Services trailer has Pennsylvania plates

January 12, 2009 (San Diego)--San Diego County Crime Stoppers is joining forces with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Ramona detectives to help identify and apprehend the suspect(s) responsible for a theft of a gray tow trailer and about $10,000 worth of tools belonging to a volunteer group that was helping those affected by the 2007 wildfires.

The Salvation Army Kroc Center is opening its doors to the community for FREE on Saturday, January 9. Guests can take guided tours, and enjoy special membership savings as well as a free all-venue pass for the day.  Visitors can also experience skateboarding, ice skating, rock climbing, swimming, fitness classes, weight lifting, arts and crafts, an acting workshop and more. 

January 8, 2009 (San Diego) -- More than $4.3 million is going to local programs that help homeless individuals find shelter and deal with challenges such as mental illness, disabilities and domestic violence. East County Magazine has e-mailed the County to inquire whether any of these funds will address the growing homelessness needs in East County.

January 6, 2010 (San Diego County) - The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) announces a series of five H1N1 mass vaccination events for San Diego County residents, beginning with a clinic this Friday at Qualcomm Stadium.  A clinic will be held in El Cajon on the 15th at the Ronald Reagan Community Center.  Several additional clinics are planned; scroll down for details.
The H1N1 vaccine is now available to everyone, regardless of age.

“We would like to remind County residents that H1N1 is still very active in our communities,” said Dianne Jacob, Chairwoman, San Diego County Board of Supervisors.

January 4, 2009 (El Cajon) – Interstate 8 will be closed in both directions between Second and East Main streets in El Cajon, Monday through Thursday early mornings from 12:30 until 4, according to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). The closures will allow crews to demolish the pedestrian overcrossing at Grape Street.

Court upholds district's right to assure that school construction jobs will employ local residents

January 5, 2010 (San Diego)--San Diego's Superior Court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) that sought to halt work performed under the project stabilization agreement (PSA) reached between San Diego Unified School District and construction unions.