Cuyamaca College program helps K-14 instructors meet new math, science standards; introduces teens to teaching profession

By Justin Time

April 1, 2011 (Campo) – Shortly before dawn this morning, U.S. Border Patrol agents made a startling discovery along the border south of Campo in San Diego’s East County.

Update March 11:  Trustee Dick Hoy provided this update on the vote.  

"The item involving issuing layoff notices was split in two.  Librarians were voted on separately.  The vote to issue layoff/reassignment notices to teachers and Vice Principals passed 4-1--Hoy dissenting.  The vote to reassign librarians passed 3-2--Hoy and Schrieber dissenting. .. It should be posted soon.  They were difficult decisions for each member of the board."  A video of the meeting will be posted soon on the GUHSD website, he advised.

“…Schools with librarians have their students achieve better on standardized tests than those that don’t.” – Nancy Everhart, president, American Association of School Libraries

By Jeremy Los

March 7, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – High school libraries across East County will soon be losing services of trained librarians, if proposed budget cuts are approved Thursday by the Grossmont Union High School District board.  As California struggles to dig itself out of a massive budget hole, the board must also contend with massive budget gaps. 

“As I understand the proposal,” Grossmont Union High School District Board Vice President Dick Hoy told East County Magazine, “all librarian positions will be cut.”

Conservatives say eliminating most collective bargaining rights needed to contain costs; opponents accuse Governor of union-busting motives

By Miriam Raftery
March 3, 2011 (San Diego) – A crowd of 1,000 demonstrators turned out in downtown San Diego Saturday as part of a nationwide movement in support of Wisconsin public workers.  Wisconsin’s Governor Scott Walker seeks to eliminate nearly all collective bargaining rights for state workers including teachers, police, firefighters, janitors, highway workers and others. The state’s Republican-controlled House passed the proposal--and Senate Democrats promptly fled the state to prevent passage.  Today, the Governor ordered their arrest.

A crowd of over 100,000 braved a snowstorm in Madison, Wisconsin following the house vote, occupying the capitol building overnight. Now recall campaigns have been announced against eight GOP Senators in Wisconsin who back the bill.
 

Much misinformation has been spread in the media and on Internet blogs. What would the Governor’s proposal do—and is it necessary? Could California be next to face a similar proposal? ECM has researched the issues and obtained views from all sides of the aisle.

March 3, 2011 (San Diego) – “Not a done deal. We are in court,” reads a flyer published by opponents of the Sunrise Powerlink project urging the public to join a march to the federal courthouse downtown, where the first federal lawsuit against the high-voltage line will be heard on March 7th.

March 3, 2011 (Santee) -- Grab your gardening gloves and head on out to the SanTree Fest, a fun family event in Santee.  Guests can volunteer to help plant  over 50  trees or assist with river cleanup, enjoy live musical entertainment, sample healthy foods, enjoy kid crafts, and visit interactive environmental booths.

On our visit last year, some booths were also giving away plants, flowers, and even a potted pine tree. Kids and grown-ups had fun getting dirty--while helping to beautify the community.

Event at United Church of Christ La Mesa will benefits Charley Brown Children’s Center in La Mesa

March 3, 2011 (La Mesa) – Robert Preston, as Professor Harold Hill, created a memorable musical moment in the movie “The Music Man,” parading 76 trombones, 110 cornets and other instruments through the streets of River City. Sliding forward in time, on March 6, 2011 at 6 p.m., the eight trombonists in San Diego’s own Bone-A-FieD Brass Ensemble will appear in a special concert followed by a “Mini-Mardi Gras Party” featuring Cajun hors d’oeuvres and more music.

February 27, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- One of the heaviest snowfalls in memory, dropping snow down to under 1,500 feet, spurred many of our readers and staffers to send in photos of winter wonderland images across our region.

Enjoy!

$1.8 billion, the cost of the Powerlink, could fund 90,000 individual 5kW systems which would generate nearly a half million kW (450,000 kW) per hour, opponents say.

Story and photos by Ron Logan

March 1, 2011 (Alpine) – Tuesday morning, Sempra Energy and SDG&E encountered more pushback to their Sunrise Powerlink construction in downtown Alpine.

The Powerlink construction, which will take about two years to construct and is scheduled for completion in 2012, has drawn criticism at every step of the process, including hundreds of Alpine residents who have turned out at past hearings to voice overwhelming opposition to the project.

Historic adobe building may be torn down to replace parking lost to Powerlink

March 2, 2011 (Alpine) --Announcing closure yesterday of the Vine Restaurant and Wine Bar, one of Alpine’s most popular eating establishiments, owner Michele Little faulted construction of the high-voltage Sunrise Powerlink line as a major factor in her decision to go dark.

Already struggling in a tough economy since opening four years ago, Little noted, “Our lunchtime crowd had just started to get busy and we were just beginning to break even until the construction work began down Alpine Blvd. Business seemed to be cut in half as soon as it started.” 

March 2, 2011 (Spring Valley) -- Monte Vista High School in Spring Valley was placed in lockdown briefly shortly after 10 a.m. this morning after a teacher reporter overhearing students talking about a gun in a bush.

“It’s all over now,” Lt. James Bovet with the San Diego Sheriff informed ECM at 11:15 a.m. “There was no indication that the gun was on or even near the school, however they did a search but did not find anything.” Ten patrol cars were dispatched to the school is located at 3230 Sweetwater Springs Blvd.

 Update March 2, 2011: Police have released a composite sketch and more details of the suspect.

March 1, 2011 (San Diego) – Witnesses called 911 at 3:17 yesterday afternoon to report a man dressed as a woman who tried to kidnap a small child.

According to San Diego Police, the woman was carrying two toddlers at 35th and Polk Avenue in San Diego when the suspect grabbed one of the toddlers and tried to pull the child from her arms.  He spoke Spanish, but is described as a black man in feminine attire. 

March 1, 2011 (Lakeside) – The San Diego Sheriff’s office today issued a press statement asking for help to locate surveillance videos that may show Christopher Cory Carioscia, aka Christopher Younghusband, with the person or persons who killed him. Carioscia, 17, disappeared October 26th after telling relatives he was going surfing at Pacific Beach. His burned vehicle was found on the Barona Indian Reservation the next day.  

On December 4, 2010, investigators found Carioscia’s body at a remote area of the reservation. The teen died of multiple bullet wounds from a .357 caliber firearm, most likely a revolver, say investigators, who recovered the bullets. Homicide investigators have identified several persons of interest but thus far no arrests have been made.

March 1, 2011 (Alpine) – Marquin Anthony Hendrix, 61, a suspect wanted for the stabbing death of his wife yesterday, has been shot and killed in Alpine after advancing on Sheriff’s deputies with a shovel. The Sheriff’s office has not released the name of the suspect or the officers involved in the shooting last night. However San Diego Police have identified him as Hendrix, ECM news partner 10 News reports. ECM received independent confirmation of the victim’s identity from an Alpine resident close to the scene.
 

February 28, 2011 (Pine Valley ) –“This is a grim example of human smugglers’ disregard for life. They place profits over life,” Ralph Desio, U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) public affairs specialist said of a tragedy this weekend.

Acting on a report from the San Diego Sheriff of eight people lost in a winter snowstorm near Sunrise Highway in the Pine Valley Area, the CBP activated its Border Search Trauma and Rescue Team.

February 27, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)—Santana and West Hills went head to head on February 23rd to determine the 1st place Varsity team to represent the 2010-2011 Grossmont League in the county finals this Spring.

Ruth Weiss moderated the match and over 150 people crowded into the Grossmont High School library, where the standing-room-only crowd watched two brilliant teams of scholars move back and forth with the lead.

By Brian Lafferty

February 28, 2011 (San Diego) – Take one part Luis Buñuel, add one part David Lynch, throw in a sex comedy and what do you get? Kaboom, the newest film by independent director Gregg Araki. Currently playing at the Landmark Hillcrest, it is among his better works.

February 28, 2011 (La Mesa) A man with a black scarf over his face robbed the Denny’s Restaurant at 6970 Alvarado Road at gunpoint last night around 10:31 pm. After receiving cash from the register, he fled on foot, La Mesa Police report.

February 27, 2011 (Lakeside) – Matthew Christopher Mitchell, 18, of Lakeside has been identified by the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s office as the person found crushed to death Thursday at a commercial property in Lakeside. 

February 27, 2011 (San Diego)--S. Myron “Mike” Klarfeld, 83, died February 23 in the arms of his wife, Councilmember Marti Emerald, after a long struggle with Alhzeimer’s disease. An attorney for 54 years, first in Massachusetts and later California, he is remembered as a champion of justice.

His longtime colleague in the law, famed attorney F. Lee Bailey, once wrote that Mike Klarfeld was a “barrister extraordinaire, who is damned near as nuts as I am.”

February27, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – The weekend storm has passed, leaving 26 inches of snow on Laguna Mountain and 16 inches on Mount Palomar. Alpine, Pine Valley, Campo and other communities received ample snow to require snow plows to clear roads.  

Below are the latest road conditions and weather updates.

 Note: Chains are required this morning on both Palomar and Laguna Mountains, and Sunrise Highway is closed at the north end.  There is ample snow at lower elevations however for snow play, such as in the Cuyamaca area.

February 27, 2011 (Cleveland National Forest)--With 26 inches of snow on Laguna Mountain and at least 16 inches on Palomar Mountain, the Forest Service offers tips for fun and safety.

Playing in the snow on the mountains is always a great deal of family fun, but the Cleveland National Forest Service would like to ensure that everyone is properly prepared for the trip.

 " I just sprinted as fast as I could and went in for the layup."  -- West Hills player Emily Cole on her game-winning shot

 by Christopher Mohr

By Wren Osborn

February 26, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) --I do not think the anti-abortion groups should be allowed to lay claim to the name "pro-lifers."

After all, they now want Congress to pass a law to prohibit abortions needed to save a woman's life.

By Dr. Kristina L Sargent, D.C.

February 26, 2011 (San Diego's East County) --In this economy, finances are a stressor, and the food budget is one place you may be able to cut expenses. But what is the wisest way to accomplish that goal? Making poor food choices actually increases your risk of diabetes, heart disease and high blood perssure, so when you cut your food budget, don't cut out necessary nutrients.

Here are some tips for low-cost nutrition, courtesy of www.ChicagoHealers.com:

March 24-27 Greater San Diego Science & Engineering Fair is among top science fairs in the U.S.

By Mary Domb Mikkelson

February 26, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) -- Budget woes. School funding cuts. American kids left behind. You’ve read the headlines, endured the political posturing, heard – and shared - the concerns of parents and teachers. The litany of protests is long – and worrisome. Is there good news anywhere?

Yes! San Diego and Imperial County students, bucking the downward trend, are known for their scientific achievements. Do these kids have an edge, have something special going for them? Absolutely.

Passengers on the flight are urged to call their doctor before seeking treatment for symptoms so that infection-control can be implemented to prevent spread of the contagious disease.
 

February 26, 2011 (San Diego)--San Diego County's Department of Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) is investigating a measles exposure on a Southwest Airlines flight from Baltimore to San Diego, via Denver. HHSA has been notified by the California Department of Public Health of a person who flew while infectious with measles on Wednesday, Feb 22.

February 26, 2011 (2 p.m.) - New road hazards have been announced since our morning update  including SIGALERTS and closures of several major highways and freeways due to hazards ranging from boulders to flooding to power lines collapsed by heavy snow.

 Watch for frequent updates. Readers, if you know of hazards not listed, please post in the comments section below this article.

February 26, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) 10:05 a.m. -- Snow is completely covering the freeway at I-8 from State Route 94 in the Crestwood area, CHP has just announced.

Numerous hazards are also present on many other major freeways and roadways.  East County and inland San Diego traffic hazards include:

February 26, 2011 (Jamul) – Wildlife enthusiasts are needed to expand efforts of the San Diego Tracking Team, which collects data used to protect open space. On March 19 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, the team will hold an “Animal Tracking for Habitat Conservation” hike at the Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve.

The public is invited to join the tracking hike and an information meeting to learn how to become a member of the tracking team, which aims to recruit four or five individuals to serve as team leaders of new tracking teams in the south and southeast areas of San Diego County.