Free Events Celebrate San Diego River and our Environment

May 6, 2010 (San Diego's East County)  – The 7th annual celebration of the San Diego River is set for May 8-16. River Days 2010 will have over 40 events, including nature hikes and guided tours on local ecology and history, museum and native plant garden open houses, service projects to help heal the river environment. 

Several River Days Events will take place in Santee and Lakeside; events culminate with a River Fest at Qualcomm Stadium.

May 6, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – A Sacramento County Superior Court ruled last week in favor of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s plan to raid more than $2 billion from local redevelopment funds. The Governor wants to transfer those monies to school operations.
 

“La Mesa will take a hit of $1,200,000.00,” La Mesa Mayor Art Madrid told East County Magazine in an e-mail.

Search held to find replacement

May 5, 2010 (El Cajon) -- The Board of Directors of Home of Guiding Hands announced that long-time Executive Director Carol A. Fitzgibbons has resigned to accept a position with Inland Regional Center. Fitzgibbons will become the Executive Director of the center, which contracts with the state to offer case management services to people with developmental disabilities in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.

May 5, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- KCBQ radio will host a debate amonth the three Republican candidates for the 77th Assembly District: Christine Rubin, Brian Jones, and Bill Wells. Rick Amato will host the debate live from 9:15 to 10 p.m.

The winner of the debate will face off in November against Mark Hanson, who is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Updated 3 p.m.

May 6, 2010 (San Diego) – A lockdown was been ordered earlier this afternoon at the George Bailey Detention Facility in Otay Mesa, a detention information assistant at the facility confirmed.

Memorial Service Saturday at Santee Fire Station #4

May 4, 2010 (Santee) – For nearly three decades, Johnny L. Terry served with the Santee Fire Department, rising from the ranks of pioneering volunteer firefighters to become Division Chief. Retired since 1986, he passed away on May 2, 2010. A memorial service is scheduled for noon on Saturday, May 8th at Santee Fire Station 4, 8950  Cottonwood Drive. A celebration of his life will follow at a separate location to be announced.

“He was a great, common sense guy and a good friend who would do anything for you,” recalled former Fire Chief and retired City Manager George Tockstein, who worked with Terry for 20 years. “He always cared for the other guy...He had a strong commitment to his family and he loved his kids.”

May 7, 2010 (San Diego) – San Diego’s Southern Sudanese Community Center invites the public to a benefit event on Saturday, May 8 at 4 p.m. Sample Sudanese foods, enjoy live music, and help support the center’s many programs to assist newly-arrived immigrants and refugees from the Sudan. 

Staffing Association’s Life-Time Achievement Award Presented to local businessman

May 4, 2010 (El Cajon)--On April 23, the California Staffing Professionals honored Joe Mackey with the Lifetime Achievement award named after James R. Pierce. Judy Lawton, President of CSP nominated Mackey for his outstanding efforts in education, legislation and leadership. Mackey, an El Cajon resident, is the founder and owner of XL Staffing and was also recently nominated for El Cajon’s Citizen of the Year in 2010.

Lead levels 10,000 times higher than legal level found
 

May 3, 2010 (Washington D.C.) --The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers not to purchase nor consume Vita Breath, a dietary supplement manufactured by American Herbal Lab Inc. of Rosemead, Calif., and marketed at health fairs and on the Internet, because the product may contain hazardous levels of lead.

Updated 1:20 p.m.

May 3, 2010 (Alpine) – An off-duty Border Patrol Agent was reportedly pumping gas at a Circle K Station in Alpine last night when he was approached by a man who made threatening and challenging statements. The agent, who was dressed in civilian attire, displayed his badge and pointed a handgun at the still approaching subject, according to a preliminary Sheriff's report.

May 3, 2010 (Boulevard) – Rescue crews worked through the night to free two men trapped in Thunder Canyon Cave northeast of McCain Valley Road in Boulevard. Brett Colvin of Escondido and Jim Ness of San Diego were airlifted from the scene and treated by Campo Reservation paramedics for hypothermia.

El Cajon, CA – The Cuyamaca College Music Industry Studies program will host the second annual Coyote Music Festival on May 1, from 12-5 pm on the lawn of Cuyamaca College. The free, all-ages event will present a wide range of musical styles including alternative rock, folk, Indie, metalcore, and rap.

This year the festival has expanded to two stages and will feature performances by Silent Lune, Christine Marie, Aghori, Yttrium, Steam Powered Giraffe, January Lights, Steve Stylez, Jester James, and Jesse Lamonaca and the Dime Novels. All of the artists are from the San Diego area, and they all play original music.