FALLBROOK PARAPLEGIC STUDENT ASPIRES TO JOIN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Hermes Castro with Sir Robert Swan, polar explorer who has invited Castro on his Antarctic expedition Antarctica January 7, 2008 (Fallbrook) — Invited by a famous polar explorer to join an Antarctic expedition in March, Hermes Castro and his fellow students at Mesa College are raising funds for transportation and special equipment to help him fulfill his dream. But Castro has already come a long way since September 2006, when he was struck head-on by a drunk-driver in Bonsall while riding his bicycle to work in Fallbrook–tragedy that left him paralyzed from the waist down. “After he hit me, his truck hit a bunch of hay bales. Some of them fell on me,” recalled Castro, a former triathlon, marathon runner and physical trainer. “I was dragged quite a way and I did have a stroke at the scene.” Fortunately for Castro, two veterans witnessed the accident and rushed to his aid. “They said it was worse than anything they’d seen in Iraq,” Castro recalled. “I couldn’t see them because I was so bloody.” Castro suffered two broken legs, a dislocated shoulder, and worse–incomplete fractures of two vertebrae, leaving him a paraplegic. “You’ve definitely got to keep moving,” Castro said. His indomitable spirit and positive outlook have helped him rise above hardships and aspire to lofty goals. Within weeks after the accident, he talked his doctors into allowing him to go skiing on a mono-ski. He built up his upper body strength to power a hand-cycle and has regained some feeling in his legs–enough to pedal a stationary bicycle, despite doctor’s predictions that he will never walk again. Castro remains hopeful–but isn’t letting life leave him sidelined just because he’s in a wheelchair. Paraplegic Hermes Castro of Fallbrook skiing on a monoski Now a geology major with emphasis in hydrology at Mesa College, Castro caught the attention of Sir Robert Swan, the polar explorer made famous for being the only person in the world to walk across both the North and South poles. View a video of Swan by clicking here and scrolling down:www.2041.com/antarctic-expeditions. The feat will likely never be repeated, due to melting of polar ice fueled by global climate change. Inspired by Castro’s courage, Swan invited the paraplegic student to accompany him on Inspire Antarctic Expedition in March. “He wants me to go on his expedition and in return, bring back knowledge to our schools–talk to them about the polar caps, global warming and natural energy. Sir Swan has a room in Antaractica that is all powered by natural energy,” Castro told East County Magazine. Swan is also credited with discovering the hole in the ozone–and sounding a global alarm. “When he was walking across the South Pole, the ice started melting. He had to speed up the pace,” Castro said. “When they finished the mission, their faces were sunburnt, their eyes were burnt…When he went back, he found a hole in the ozone.” The explorer generously offered to cover Castro’s fees and expenses during the expedition. Past trips have included leaders of corporations and environmental groups as well as teachers and students. But Castro needs funds for travel costs and special gear for the extreme cold weather. “I need $10,000 by mid-March, otherwise I’m going to be borrowing a whole bunch of clothes,” quipped Castro, whose fellow students hosted a pizza fundraiser that netted $300. Private and corporate donors have also pledged support, but he still has a long path to climb. He is determined to go, despite concerns raised by his physicians. “They asked, `How will you get in the boat, get up and down stairs when the boat is moving,” Castro said. Sir Robert Swan said the doctors should help me learn to manage how to get around, not set up barriers. He’s promised to have three people assigned to me 24/7. That includes my wife, Sara.” The drunk driver who injured Castro is in prison. Over time, Castro has grown forgiving in his outlook, after learning that the man was going through severe personal problems at the time. Ultimately, he hopes to see the driver released and perhaps able to work and contribute to help cover Castro’s ongoing medical costs. He drives a specially-equipped Cadillac now and has received a grant from the Challenge Athletes Foundation. He also serves on the board of the Adaptive Sports Foundation, helping provide practical information on rehabilitation options as well as inspire others facing similar challenges. “I have a friend, he’s 18, in Fallbrook who just got paralyzed…I’m trying to get him into basketball,” said Castro, who wants to help disabled people move beyond depression and attain their maximum potential. Castro still faces challenges. He needs a wheelchair with bigger wheels, and he battles pain from his injuries on a daily basis. But he concludes optimistically, “I’m still fighting.” Details and future fundraising efforts will be posted at www.hermescastro.com and www.sdmesa.edu, where financial contributions are also accepted. Castro also hopes to write a blog from Antarctica chronicling his adventure. For more information, call 619-388-2699. Printer-friendly version
THE CHEAPSKATE’S GUIDE TO LIVING WELL IN EAST COUNTY: YARD LINES — NO, I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT FOOTBALL!
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery January 15, 2009 — January is the season for two kinds of yard lines—those scrutinized by SuperBowl fans and those frequented by bargain hunters at yard sales. Lots of people are clearing out clutter (not to mention unwanted gifts) after the holidays—and in this bleak economy, more and more people are selling off valuable items in an effort to bring in a little extra cash. Their loss is your gain—provided you’re a smart shopper. Just how good are the deals at yard sales and garage sales in East County? My best “find” to date was a leather sofa identical to one selling at Nordstrom’s for over $1,000. A perfect match to a loveseat I’d previously bought new, the couch was in almost perfect condition—and a steal at just $150 from a military family holding a moving sale in Bonita. I’ve also found copper cookware and utensils, vintage crystal and china, a baseball card collection, suede skirt, and an entire boxful of holiday ornaments – all for just a dollar or two. How can you maximize your odds of “scoring” on your next yard sale outing? READ ADS AHEAD OF TIME: Narrow your search to sales that sound the most promising, such as mulit-household sales or those offering specific items you need. PICK RITZY AREAS: The nicer the neighborhood, the more apt you are to find high-quality items. It’s not uncommon for a mansion owner in Mt. Helix, Rolling Hills Estates or Del Cerro to be selling off a houseful of goods including antiques and yard items—and many aren’t too concerned with getting top dollar. I’ve found garden hoses, lawn furniture, and other items that can’t go with folks when they retire or downsize to a condo or retirement home. Printer-friendly version
EAST COUNTY ROUND-UP — DECEMBER
Printer-friendly version Links to top stories in other publications on East County issues STATE TO SHUT DOWN FIRST AND THIRD FRIDAYS EACH MONTH Sacramento Bee (January 9, 2009) — California will close most state offices on the first and third Fridays each month starting in February, padlocking DMV outlets and other services while reducing state worker pay to help survive a massive budget problem, according to a state Department of Personnel Administration memo. SANTEE SCHOOL DISTRICT FACES $4.5 MILLION STATE FUNDING SHORTAGE Union-Tribune (January 8, 2009) — The Santee School District will dip into its savings to help offset the possible reduction of $4.5 million in state funding reductions over the next 18 months. The board Tuesday voted unanimously to use $904,102 from the district’s reserves to help mitigate the impact of the projected state funding loss. GROSSMONT HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT RELEASES REVIEW OF ALPINE AREA SITES FOR NEW SCHOOL Union-Tribune (January 8, 2009 ) — The Grossmont Union High School District has released for public viewing a state-required review of three sites in Alpine and Blossom Valley for the construction of a new high school. The disrict has posted the 650-page Environmental Impact Report on its web site, www.guhsd.net, under Prop H construction news. Public comment will be received through Feb. 23. The Grossmont board plans to hold a public hearing in May or June when it could decide on a site. 1.1 MEGAWATT SOLAR PUMP PLANT COMPLETED Valley Roadrunner (January 7, 2009) — WorldWater & Solar Technologies Corp. Monday announced that it has completed installation of a solar power system for the Valley Center Municipal Water District (VCMWD). APPLE DAYS CENTENNIAL KICKS OFF AT CHAMBER MIXER Ramona Journal (January 2009) — The Jan. 8 Julian Chamber of Commerce mixer will begin the year-long celebration of the Julian Apple Days Centennial. BIKE BRIDGE TO SPORT UNIQUE DESIGN Pomerado News (January 7, 2009) — With 930,000 pounds of concrete ready to be poured, the Lake Hodges bicycle/pedestrian bridge is one step closer to becoming reality. ICY FOCUS PAYS OFF FOR RB GIRL Pomerado News Group (December 23, 2009) — Katarina Kulgeyko, a Rancho Bernardo girl who has dreamt of becoming an Olympic ice skater since the age of 6, recently made a tremendous leap–a series of them, in fact. Kulgeyko took first in the intermediate ladies division at the 2009 U.S. Junior Figure Skating Championships, held earlier this month at the Lake Placid Olympic Arena in New York. Printer-friendly version
BLEU BOHÈME, A PLACE TO SHARE WITH A FAVORITE FRIEND –TRES BIÉN!
Printer-friendly version (Leon Thompson) 4090 Adams Avenue Kensington, CA 92116 619-255-4167 www.blueboheme.com January 10, 2009 (Kensington) — Is there life east of I-15? Oui, and great food too. I’ve shown you world-class Mexican food, neighborhood sushi, continental cuisine in Alpine. Now the crème-de-la-creme: fabulous French food in an unpretentious casual restaurant called Bleu Bohème! The atmosphere transports you to a long-ago French countryside. The feeling is like being in an ancient limestone and wood-beamed roadhouse filled with great food and grog for the long distance traveler. The banquet room conjures images of wine and revelry. At least that’s my take on the place. I kept expecting a huge roasted pig with an apple in its mouth served on a platter. But then I have a vivid imagination. We sat on leather cushions under a tall window next to a chalk-board wall containing the hand-written menu. The waiter turned the rectangular table sideways to accommodate us. Looking around I realized it was impossible to not find a comfortable place, whether you chose the row of wooden tables-for-two– perfect for warm conversation–or gathered around the open bar populated with animated patrons talking in the way only an unpretentious friendly place can encourage. The perimeter of the room was built for comfort–broad cushions and ottomans. In the dining room I spied the world’s coziest corner seats. Perfect for lingering in warm conversation. (Leon Thompson) The food and drink more than lived up to the ambiance. The wine was perfect. I love European table wines wines. Generally speaking they are easy to drink meaning they don’t demand your attention like so many of the bolder wines. Their flavor stays in the background, complementing not competing with the food. I ordered the French table wine on the top of the list of Vin de Table, Ted The Mule 2006. It’s a blend of Syrah, the classic French varietal, and Grenache, the playful and unpredictable grape–playful as its name with the kick of a mule. C’est magnifique. Have you ever noticed that really good wine just keeps tasting better the more you drink? By this time I can’t wait to see what surprises the food menu has in store. Listen to this; Saint André – a delicious Triple Cream Cheese, Duck Mousse with Truffles, Dried Fig Terrine and Honey Comb, Assorted Dried and Cured Pork Meats – Sausages and Delicious Patés. You know me–I wanted it all. So of course I made the obvious selection and ordered Le menu du jour – the daily special. It was the perfect choice: salmon sauteeed in white wine with fresh basil, garlic and tasty ripe tomatoes like I haven’t had in ages. (Leon Thompson) The salmon had just the slightest crunch on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth inside. Served on penne pasta with asparagus done just enough. Everything was fresh as can be and Jamie our waitress was right on time and helpful without being intrusive. Owner Philippe Beltran stopped by our table. We learned that the success of Bleu Bohéme is no accident; he has started up several acclaimed local restaurants in the past, including French Side of the West and Voyage in South Park. Finally, I had to do it. Desert. Bombe au chocolate. THE CHOCOLATE BOMB. Dark chocolate mousse with marinated cherries, blueberries and a raspberry on top. C’est cie bon. Light and delicious with Crème Brulée inside. Sometimes the East County Eater is a tad reluctant to give away a really special eatery and this is one of them. So consider this my New Year’s gift to the readers of East County Magazine: the perfect place to bring that favorite friend. East County San Diego provides a rich and varied culinary experience. The East County Eater is on a mission to discover and highlight these gems. No back-country Bar and Grill is too remote, no specialty food restaurant tucked away in some tiny strip mall is too obscure for this voracious eater. Printer-friendly version
HIGH WINDS PREDICTED TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY: CAL-FIRE BEEFS UP PROTECTION
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery San Diego’s East County (January 9, 2009) — Cal Fire has dramatically increased fire protection staffing in anticipation of wind gusts of 40 mph or higher predicted starting tonight through this weekend. “We will have 18 engines with three- person staffing, 19 hand crews, three bulldozers, and the two Sheriffs helicopters,” Cal Fire Captain Nick Schuler advised East County Magazine. In addition, he said, Cal Fire has moved a helicopter down from Northern California into Fallbrook. “We have three air tankers in Ramona, as well as we are staffing four military helicopter managers–the captains who would get on a military helicopter if we requested the military,” he added. Cal Fire will also have one division supervisor, one safety officer, one public information officer, and an extra division chief on hand. Asked if he believes the added staffing will be adequate in the event of a wildfire, Schuler replied, “We are ready should an incident occur. This is a proactive step by Cal Fire to insure that the people in San Diego County are protected. With that being said, critics may say with the state budget and you reducing staffing weeks ago, how can you afford to do this?” The answer, Schuler noted, is that it is “much more cost effective to be proactive than reactive. A fire that’s established and spreads costs millions and millions of dollars.” Cal Fire is also increasing staffing in Riverside and San Bernadino Counties, Schuler said. Printer-friendly version
SHERIFF’S DUI ARRESTS INCREASE FIFTEEN PERCENT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON: AGGRESSIVE ENFORCEMENT TO CONTINUE
Printer-friendly version January 10, 2008 (San Diego) — This holiday season, arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) shot up 15% countywide. Whether more people engaged in holiday merrymaking or drowning their sorrows amid a bleak economy remains unknown, but Sheriff’s credit increased enforcement action with the spike in drunk driving busts. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department is currently administering a million dollar grant from the state Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for aggressive DUI enforcement. The Winter Mobilization Period began on December 12, 2008 and ended on January 5, 2009. During this period, DUI arrests county-wide increased 15% compared to 2007 and 18% compared to 2006. The increase is the result of aggressive DUI saturation patrols, checkpoints and individual department efforts. In addition to the 15% increase in DUI arrests, there was a 71% increase in DUI arrests the weekend before Christmas, 2008, compared with the weekend before Christmas in 2007. There was a slight (3%) decrease in DUI arrests this New Years Eve compared with 2007. The Sheriff’s Department, District Attorney and other law enforcement agencies will continue to aggressively enforce DUI violations. Despite the misconception, DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols will continue throughout the year. Arrests Winter Mobilization Period 2008 664 difference from 2008 Winter Mobilization Period 2007 559 85 15% increase over 2007 Winter Mobilization Period 2006 545 99 18% increase over 2006 Weekend before Christmas 2008 135 difference from 2008 Weekend before Christmas 2007 79 56 71% increase over 2007 Weekend before Christmas 2006 107 28 26% increase over 2006 New Years Eve 2008 61 difference from 2008 New Years Eve 2007 63 -2 -3% decrease over 2007 New Years Eve 2006 61 0 zero increase over 2006 Printer-friendly version
GET THE POINT: FREE ACUPUNCTURE! FIRST FRIDAYS IN EL CAJON
Printer-friendly versionFebruary 1, 2008 (El Cajon) — Healthy Community Acupuncture is offering free acupuncture treatments for stress reduction on the first Friday of every month, starting Friday, February 6, 2009. Appointments are required at the clinic, which is located at 277 E. Lexington Ave Ste B in El Cajon. Healthy Community Acupuncture is the first community acupuncture clinic to open in San Diego and the only one serving East County since 2007. Being a community clinic means treating traditionally and making acupuncture affordable, which is why the clinic charges only $15-$35 per treatment, depending on your income. Most American acupuncturists treat patients on tables in individual treatment rooms and charge anywhere from $45-$200 a treatment. This is not traditional in Asia, where acupuncture usually occurs in a community setting. A mother-daughter team at Healthy Community Acupuncture offers treatment on recliners, clustered in groups in an open, quiet space. According to the clinic’s website, treating patients in a community setting has many benefits: it’s easy for friends and family members to come in for treatment together; many patients find it comforting; and a “collective energetic field” becomes established which proponents believe makes individual treatments more powerful. For more information, contact: Michelle Marcotte L.Ac at 619-447-2700 or e-mail hca_sd@sbcglobal.net. You can also visit the clinic website at www.healthycommunityacupuncture.com. Printer-friendly version
EDITORIAL – WHO DESERVES AN ORGAN TRANSPLANT-AND WHO SHOULD DECIDE?
Printer-friendly versionQuestions Regarding the Tragic Death of Nataline Sarkisyan By Joel A. Harrison, PhD, MPH January 6, 2008 — Few people who read about the Nataline Sarkisyan case last year could have avoided being touched by her tragic death. Recently her family filed a lawsuit against her insurer, Cigna and is trying to get criminal charges brought against them as well for refusing to cover a liver transplant for Nataline, a young leukemia patient. Unfortunately, I believe media coverage of the story left out a number of crucial points/questions. Separating Decisions from Motives: People distrust private for-profit health insurance companies and for good reason, as we are inundated with stories of tragedies resulting from denials and/or delays in coverage. It is still important to separate decisions from motives. Redding Medical Center in Northern California performed bypass surgery on over 850 patients with healthy hearts. Unfortunately, not one of the many insurers, neither Medicare, nor private companies ever questioned why a small hospital in Northern California was carrying out as many bypasses as major medical centers. In this case, denying payment would have both benefitted the patients and been profitable. Insurance companies do have a bottom line, to make a profit; but this can be made in a number of ways: refusing to pay for unnecessary and/or harmful care, denying or delaying beneficial care, selecting for only “healthy” people, and/or increasing premiums. Built into their premiums is the expectation of an occasional high cost case. Obviously, UCLA isn’t Redding Medical Center. It is one of our finest medical centers. However, one still needs to evaluate decisions separately from motives because decisions to deny payment can be both profitable and medically sound. The two aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive. Nataline’s Condition: One caveat is that neither UCLA nor Cigna, due to patient confidentiality, have released details of Nataline’s case. The information we have is that Nataline had recurrent leukemia. She was first diagnosed at age 14 and received a bone marrow transplant on November 27, 2007. She subsequently developed complications leading to multiple organ failure, including liver and kidney failure. Doctors sought coverage from Nataline’s familys’ insurance provider on December 10 for the transplant. Cigna HealthCare refused to pay for treatment, citing policy provisions “which do not cover services considered experimental, investigational and/or unproven to be safe and/or effective for the patient.” After widespread protest Cigna reversed its stand. Nataline had been in a vegetative state for three weeks, and her condition had deteriorated to the point that her family terminated life support before they could be reached. Nataline was only 17 at the time of her tragic death on December 21. Doctors treating Nataline claimed that patients in similar situations had a 65% chance of living six months if they received a liver transplant. Since few transplants are carried out on patients as ill as Nataline (multiple organ failure in a vegetative state), one can question the basis for and reliability of their prognosis. Additionally, one isn’t told what quality of life Nataline would have had. Would she have needed dialysis? Her susceptibility to infections would have been significantly increased due to suppression of her immune system by anti-transplant rejection drugs. What would her pain level have been? Would she have been doped up on pain medications? Would she even have been able to leave the hospital? UCLA’s Role and the high cost of U.S. healthcare: With a liver available why didn’t the doctors at UCLA go ahead with the operation? One reads from time to time about surgeons and staff donating their services as well as hospitals donating their surgical rooms. Cigna surely would have paid for most, if not all, follow-up care. And, if the surgery had been “successful,” then pressure could have been put on Cigna to cover the complete costs. One could also question why the cost of a liver transplant and follow-up care in the U.S, hovering around $500,000, is far higher than in Canada, Germany, France, and other countries with comparable quality transplant centers. Malpractice insurance may increase costs in the U.S. compared to other nations; but is not remotely responsible for the high costs of U.S. health care. Specialists such as Nataline’s physicians often during their careers play two separate roles. One is as their patient’s advocate. Especially with the impending tragedy of a young life lost, Nataline’s physicians may have simply not wished to give up, allowing their emotions to color their judgment. The other role, as reviewers, allowing some distance from a case and the same physicians may well have decided to advise against proceeding with a liver transplant, as several highly qualified reviewers did. Shortage of Transplant Organs: There is one crucial piece of information that, as far as I can find, was never brought up. We have a huge and tragic shortage of donor organs for transplants. Literally thousands of patients die while waiting for an appropriate organ. What happened to the liver that Nataline would have received? How would our reaction to her tragic death and anger at Cigna have changed if we found out it had been transplanted in, say, a 35-year-old father of two young children whose overall condition gave a good chance of living 5 years or more? Or how would we have reacted if Nataline had received the liver, died during or shortly after the surgery and we found out that the 35-year-old father who was next in line had also died? Cigna’s Role: Finally, in Nataline’s case, Cigna was not the insurer; but the third-party administrator for a self-insured company. Cigna was paid a monthly fee to make the decisions, and appropriate payments. Natalie’s parents’ employer, not Cigna, would have been responsible for the actual costs. One could ask whether they were aware of the case and, if so, since it would have been their money, did they play any role in the decision? Neither I nor the media know all the details of Nataline’s case due to patient confidentiality issues, nor what happened to