August 26, 2010 (Alpine) – It’s comedy night at The Vine in Alpine on Friday, August 27 at 9 p.m. This month’s comedians include headliner Patrick DeGuire, as well as Graci Stumpf, Willy Wilson, and Josh Lawson—with a cover charge of just $7.

How do you top that act? On Saturday, August 28 from 4-7 p.m., the Vine is offering wine tasting—at just $10 for up to 10 tastes.

East County News Service

August 26, 2010 (Alpine) - Alpine Tree Town invites area residents to a meeting on September 14 at 6:30 p.m.

“This group is dedicated to inspiring residents and business owners to plant, maintain and protect trees,” Carlette Anderson said, adding that Tree Town also provides educational programs for local schools. "If you love trees and would like to meet some like minded people then please mark your calendar.” 

August 20, 2010 (Alpine) – The driver of a 2005 Dodge Caravan that rolled over on I-8 near Willows Road on August 17th died at a hospital later that evening, the San Diego Medical Examiner’s Office reports. Traffic was shut down on I-8 following the crash to allow an air ambulance helicopter to land.

August 17, 2010 (Alpine) – Liberty, a yearling black bear brought to Lions Tigers & Bears (LTB) rescue facility in Alpine on July 4th, was examined by veterinarian Dr. Jane Meier and LTB owner Bobbi Brink last week and positively identified as a female.

Fish & Game officials brought the bear to LTB in hopes of savings its life.  The animal was causing problems at a Mt. Baldy campground in San Bernadino, where six to 12 young bears are killed each year. But LTB may only be a temporary haven for Liberty, who will soon outgrow her temporary home and require a much larger and secure habitat. Brink urgently seeks donations to construct an expanded enclosure.

Donations sought for memorial fund to benefit new high school

August 6, 2010 (Alpine)-- Barbara Lowe, resident of Alpine, passed away on July 31, 2010 due to complications from liver cancer and Crohn’s Disease. She was Barbara was the secretary for the Alpine High School Citizen’s Committee and an executive committee member for the past three years.

“Her commitment to seeing this local Alpine High School built, largely for her Alpine resident grandchildren to attend, had become just one of her many reasons she fought her disease with desire and dignity,” said Bill Weaver, chair of the Committee. “She loved her family and friends dearly.”

 
July 13, 2010 (Alpine) –A Life-Flight helicopter has been called to transport a five-year-old boy struck by a vehicle to a local trauma center. The child is breathing and conscious, but may have broken bones, according to a Sheriff’s official.

July 9, 2010 (Alpine) – For years, the only “Bear” at Lions, Tigers and Bears, a facility in Alpine for rescued and abused big cats, was a miniature horse bearing that name. But now a black bear cub named “Liberty” has been brought to the facility by California Fish & Game Aget Kevin Brennan, who captured the yearling at a campground near Mt. Baldy in Angeles National Forest.

CORRECTION:  Our newsletter contained an incorrect date for the Powerlink town hall meeting. The event will be held on Wednesday, June 23. 

June 18, 2010 (Alpine) – Supervisor Dianne Jacob and The Protect Our Communities Foundation will host a town hall meeting Wednesday, June 23 in Alpine to provide the public a forum for comments to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), which is considering whether to allow the controversial Sunrise Powerlink high-voltage power lines to cross 19 miles of Cleveland National Forest in East County.

June 14, 2010 (Alpine) – Yesenia Mitre, 25,  has been arrested and will be charged with driving under the influence, according to the CHP.  Mitre was the driver of a car that pulled out in front of a Viejas Fire truck, causing a collision on Willows Road/Old Highway 80 in Alpine at 5:42 yesterday morning. Several firefighters and the Mitre were transported to a hospital with minor injuries.

Season kicks off June 16 with Monsters vs. Aliens, wraps up with Avatar

June 10, 2010 (Alpine) — The Viejas Outlet Center officially kicks off its free “Movies in the Park” series on June 16 with a showing of the hit movie Monsters vs. Aliens. The season concludes this year with Avatar, the blockbuster that set new worldwide sales records.

June 8, 2010 (Alpine) - A high-speed police pursuit that began in Santee has now reached Viejas Grade Road in Alpine. The suspect is known to be armed and dangerous.   We will post details as they become available.

Creative learning model is part of agenda at June 8 forum on Alpine's new high school

By Megan Werland
Alpine resident and member of the 12th HS Design Team

May 29, 2010 (Alpine) -- On June 8th, the GUHSD’s 12th High School Design Team will introduce its curriculum and architectural design to the community of Alpine and Blossom Valley (BV).

People will see innovation that will inspire them and may even make them a little nervous. Because after all, a school of the future will not look like the high school we attended when we were younger. Not to worry, parents!

May 29, 2010 (Alpine) – Grossmont Union High School District will host a forum on Alpine’s planned new high school on Tuesday, June 8 at 6 p.m. in the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Boulevard in Alpine. Residents from throughout the Grossmont Union High School are welcome to attend. While boundaries for the new school’s attendance are still being finalized, parents from Alpine and Blossom Valley are particularly encouraged to participate in the forum.

Speakers will include GUHSD superintendent Bob Collins, assistant superintendent mike Lewis, facility planner and project lead Dena Johnson, director of instruction Cindy Douglas, as well as the architectural team from IBI Group/Sprotte-Watson and the GUHSD design team.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (May 29, 2010) – Visitors to Viejas Casino in June will have a chance to spin a giant “Wheel of Winners” and take home a share of up to $640,000 in cash. Drawings will be held at 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m., and 9 p.m. every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Winners from each drawing will have a chance to spin the giant “Wheel of Winners” and win cash prizes ranging from $250 to $10,000.

May 19, 2010 (Alpine) – Short of smoke signals, Viejas Vice Chairman Robert “Cita” Welch couldn’t have delivered a stronger message to members of a committee appointed by the Grossmont Union High School Board to recommend names for a planned new high school in Alpine. Despite a “long and proud tradition” of working with the District, Viejas has "increasing concerns" over a proposal to name the school after Ronald Reagan, Welch said.

"Your actions WILL have an impact on our future relationship with the district," he told committee members, then added that former President Reagan “is NOT well-regarded in Indian Country.  At best he didn’t really care too much about Native Americans. At worst—and in some well-documented cases—he showed outright contempt for Native Americans. This should matter to each of you."

By Miriam Raftery
 

"Your comments about American Indians indicate that your knowledge about us, and about the historical relationship between Indian governments and the United States, is lacking to the point of being shameful." -- American Indian Movement of Colorado, in an open letter to President Ronald Reagan, 1988

May 13, 2010 (Alpine) – Alpine's Native American tribal members were not invited to serve on a committee to recommend a name for Alpine’s planned new high school. A Union-Tribune editorial published during  debate over whether to build a 12th high school observed, “The Viejas and Sycuan Indian tribes consider Alpine to be their community. The tribes fully understand how important education is…They are important allies to have when taking on a forgetful district bureaucracy.”

 
May 12, 2010 (Alpine)  – The DreamCatcher at Viejas Casino in Alpine announces a concert lineup featuring musical styles ranging from country to jazz, as well as rock, rhythm and blues. 
 
The series includes country legend Merle Haggard and other musical stars such as the Temptations, as well as a two-woman show, Vicki Lawrence and Mama, inspired by characters from the Carol Burnett TV comedy show.

Board meets May 13; Critics slam GUHSD for secretly stacking advisory board with conservative political figures

May 12, 2010 (Alpine) – Why doesn’t the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) want the public to be given the names of people appointed to serve on a committee to name Alpine’s planned new high school?

“It’s a secret that East county’s high school district evidently would prefer you didn’t know,” stated a San Diego Union-Tribune editorial.  The GUHSD board forced the newspaper to file an official public records act request to obtain committee members' names. The list suggests the GUHSD trustees hand-picked political figures, a large majority of whom support naming the new school after former president Ronald Reagan.

More meetings set for May 18 in Boulevard and May 27 in Lakeside

May 10, 2010 (Alpine) – San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) will host a community meeting on Sunrise Powerlink at 6 p.m. tonight at the Alpine Women's Club, 2156 Alpine Blvd. in Alpine.

“Many may think this is a David vs. Goliath fight, but remember, David won the fight. We can, too,” said Sharmin Self, East County Community Action Coalition, an organization representing 79,000 people opposed to the Powerlink project. Self urged community members to attend the meeting, adding, “Numbers do count.”

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.

 
April 25, 2010 (San Diego's East County) - San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) has announced four community meetings on Sunrise Powerlink during May in Campo, Alpine, Scripps Ranch, and Boulevard. (Details below).  But conspicuously absent is a long-awaited second meeting in Lakeside that SDG&E officials promised area residents. 

At a contentious first meeting in Lakeside, SDG&E officials promised to respond to citizens' concerns in a follow-up meeting. Lakeside's new fire chief, Andy Parr, missed that meeting but pledged to attend the subsequent public meeting.  SDG&E has since cancelled two followup meetings in Lakeside, one due to weather and a second due to conflicts with the Lakeside Rodeo calendar.

Viejas pledges challenge grant to match community donations

April 14, 2010 (Alpine) – “This has been a dream of ours—to honor or veterans with the great respect and admiration they all deserve,” says Dan Foster, chairperson of the Alpine Veterans Wall of Honor committee, which is raising funds to create a monument to Mountain Empire area military veterans. “It is their sacrifice and commitment that has kept our country strong. We can give a little of our time and money to build a permanent place where we express our thanks and appreciation. It’s worth it—and none of us should hesitate in showing our gratitude.”

39 cover bands compete for $40,000 in cash prizes April 11 through June 20

April 9, 2010 (Alpine) – It’s southern California’s biggest cover band smack-down, as Viejas Casino hosts the 4th annual Ultimate Music Challenge.

Thirty-nine of the area’s best cover bands will compete at Viejas Casino’s DreamCatcher Lounge every Sunday night from April 11th through June 20th from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.Up to five bands will perform each Sunday, with the winning bands advancing to the semifinals, then to the Championship on June 20th.

March 30, 2010 (Alpine) --The FBI and San Diego Sheriff’s Department ask the public’s help to identify a man who robbed a California Bank & Trust at 2250 Alpine Boulevard yesterday at 11:27 a.m. After the robbery, the suspect fled on a red BMX type bicycle westbound on Alpine Boulevard and was last seen heading westbound on Arnold Way.

Witnesses describe him as white, age 17 to 25, 5’7” to 5’8” in height, weighing 140 to 150 pounds. He wore a full-face, off-road motorcycle helmet with a black design on top, a white bandana covering his face, goggles or sunglasses, a black sweatshirt, black pants and white sneakers.

March 29, 2010 (Alpine) – An Alpine woman drove away a winner at Viejas Casino over the weekend, taking home a new Smart Car.

Barbara L. (last name withheld on request) won the Smart Car when her name was drawn Sunday evening from a drum full of entries of players at Viejas Casino during the month of March.

 
March 2, 2010 (Alpine) – A ribbon cutting today heralded opening of the new Chico’s store at the Viejas Outlet Center in Alpine. This is the first outlet store in San Diego County for Chico’s, an upscale women’s clothing and accessory retailer with 600 stores nationwide. Representatives of Chico’s, Viejas Outlet Center and the alpine Chamber of Commerce were on hand to celebrate the occasion and welcome customers.

February 20, 2010 (Alpine) – A kayaker on Palo Verde Lake in Alpine was rescued last night by a Coast Guard helicopter after becoming disoriented during a storm.

February 13, 2010 (Alpine) – The County Coroner’s office has identified Ruben Dario Fernandez, 35, of Chula Vista as the driver who was killed yesterday in Alpine. Fernandez was driving a Lancer eastbound of I-8 west of East Willows Road around 6:45 in the morning when he collided with a slow-moving truck, lost control and plummeted down an embankment, striking a boulder.

 
 
February 7, 2010 (10:10 p.m.) - A six-car crash including a head-on collision is blocking lanes on both east and westbound I-8 at Japatul Valley Road. CHP has issued a SIG ALERT and is turning around vehicles on eastbound 8 at Willows Road.

 
LIONS, TIGERS & BEARS IS RAISING FUNDS TO CREATE A COUGAR CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION STATION

February 6, 2010 (Alpine) – Shrinking habitat in San Diego’s backcountry has led to inevitable clashes between mountain lions, humans and domesticated animals. But unlike some predatory animals, mountain lions can't be repatriated after capture due to their large, exclusive territory (up to 100 square miles), drastically reduced amount of remote habitat, and the growing number of lions being captured.

With few places to take captured cougars, authorities often must kill these carnivores whose ranges conflict with people. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that between 100 and 135 mountain lions are killed in California each year.