GOOD BET: POKER FUNDRAISER & RIDE MAY 9; EVENT TO BENEFIT WARNER SPRINGS AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT
Printer-friendly versionApril 29, 2009 (Warner Springs)—Feeling lucky? Join a Poker Ride Fundraiser to benefit the Warner Springs Agriculture Department on May 9th. A $75 entry fee includes entry into a 7-card-stud poker tournament, tri-tip barbecue lunch at Lake Henshaw Resort, apple pie and ice cream from the Julian Café served up at Jess Martin Park in Julian, a $10 free slot play at Santa Ysabel Casino, and buffet dinner (chicken and ribs) at Sadie’s Homestyle Restaurant. The day’s events also include live entertainment by musician Celia Lawley, a raffle, and an evening awards presentation. Riders are also invited to an optional breakfast at Richie’s Diner in Temecula (not included in price), where 20% of proceeds will be donated to Warner School. The program benefits Warner Agriculture Department. In addition to the venues listed above, sponsors also include Sherri’s Leather Shop and Temecula Harley Davidson. Reservations are requested by May 4. To RSVP, call (760)782-3517, ext. 50 or email Sherri Freeman at freemans@sdcoe.k12.ca.us. For more information, please visit http://eastcountymagazine.org/images/documents/PokerRideFundraiser.pdf . Printer-friendly version
8 SWINE FLU CASES CONFIRMED IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY; SDSU CASE SUSPECTED. COULD CAMPUS BE SHUT DOWN BEFORE FINAL EXAMS?
Printer-friendly versionWORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION DECLARES PHASE 5 EPIDEMIC April 29, 2009 (San Diego)—Eight cases of people infected with swine influenza have been confirmed in San Diego County, confirms Tom Christensen, Health & Human Services media spokesman. Details on new cases will be released later today. Several other local cases are suspected, including an SDSU student. President Barack Obama today said that schools with an infected student should close down, raising the possibility that SDSU could shut down shortly before final exams scheduled May 4-8. Today the World Health Organization upgraded the swine flu epidemic to Phase 5, one step short of a Phase 6 global pandemic. WHO has determined that the disease can no longer be contained as it spreads around the world. Locally, testing is also being done on samples from three patients treated at La Maestra clinics, and a woman who died this morning in a La Jolla hospital. The SDSU student, tested positive for type “A” influenza and was suffering a fever and respiratory illness. An SDSU advisory states, “Based on this, the student is considered to have a “suspected” case of swine flu. The student is currently receiving treatment and the condition is not considered life threatening. SDSU is working with the San Diego County Health Department to further investigate if the student has swine flu. Meantime, the student – who does not live on campus – will not be returning to campus until the condition improves to the point where the student is no longer infectious. We are not aware of any other suspected cases of swine flu on the SDSU campus. Following consultation with the San Diego County Health Department, classes and other university operations are continuing. If a case of swine flu is confirmed, additional information will be provided, however this may take several days.” The epidemic has raised concerns over a negative economic impact. But San Diego’s economy will get a boost from 10 cruise ships representing five cruise lines that will be skilling Mexican ports of call and docking in San Diego instead. The move is the result of recent travel advisories cautioning against travel to Mexico, where 149 deaths and 2,400 cases of swine flu have been reported. In the U.S. the majority of cases have been mild and most patients have recovered without hospitalization. At least one death has occurred however; a toddler from Texas who died has been confirmed to be a victim of swine flu. Symptoms of swine flu are similar to those caused by the usual strains of influenza virus and include fever over 100 degrees orally plus other symptoms such as: * Headache * Muscle aches * Cough * Runny or stuffy nose * Sore throat * Fatigue * Rarely, stomach symptoms such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea If you are suffering from these symptoms, stay home. These are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy as influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people: • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. • Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective. • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way. Try to avoid close contact with sick people. If you get sick • CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. • Persons who experience flu-like symptoms (fever with either cough or sore throat) and wish to seek medical care should contact their health care provider to report illness (by telephone or other remote means) before seeking care at Student Health Services or other clinic, physician’s office, or hospital. Persons who have difficulty breathing or shortness of breath or are believed to be severely ill should seek immediate medical attention. • Students at SDSU who stay home due to illness are asked to e-mail professors to notify him/her of absence and to make arrangements for class assignments. For further information about swine flu, call the County’s 211 line or see http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm Printer-friendly version
CHARLEY’S AUNT: VICTORIAN COMEDY AT GROSSMONT COLLEGE
Printer-friendly versionMay 1, 2009 (El Cajon)–The Grossmont College Theatre Arts Department will present “Charley’s Aunt,” the classic stage farce about a disguise that doesn’t turn out as planned, on May 7-9 and 13-16 at 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday, May 9 and 16 at 2 p.m. at the Stagehouse Theatre, located on the college campus, near Parking Lot #1 and the exterior Aztec wall mural. The play, first performed in London in 1892, is the story of Charley, who sets out to introduce his wealthy aunt from Brazil to his girl friend. The comedy, set in Victorian England, arises when another school chum disguises himself as the aunt just as the real aunt arrives. The play is directed by Henry J. Jordan, Grossmont College Theatre Arts professor. Admission is $10 per person and $9 for military and seniors. The box office will be open one hour prior to all performances. For information, phone (619) 644-7234, or visit www.grossmont.edu/theatre. Grossmont College is located at 8800 Grossmont College Dr., in El Cajon. For driving directions and a campus map, visit www.grossmont.edu. Printer-friendly version
Good Money – Environmental risk in mutual funds
Printer-friendly versionYour guide to profitable and socially responsible investing By Judith L. Seid, CFP ® Groundbreaking Report Released Environmental risk in mutual funds TruCost, an environmental research firm, just released a groundbreaking report that ranks mutual funds by their carbon footprint. The report assesses 75 of the largest US equity funds and 16 socially responsible / SRI funds identifying the greenhouse gas emissions associated with their combined almost 3,000 stock holdings. As SRI investors, we have long believed that companies with poor environmental records will eventually be exposed to future costs related to their ecological impact. These could come in the form of clean-up costs, litigation costs, regulatory burdens, etc. Investment News, a national magazine, interviewed and quoted our own Judith Seid as saying, “This report is basically going to solidify what we have always believed conceptually, which is that companies that are less environmentally aware have greater risk.” http://www.investmentnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090409/REG/904099969/-1/Topic Now it looks as though companies having a large carbon impact may very well be staring down some large future expenses if a cap-and-trade program begins, as proposed, in 2012. Reps. John Dingell and Rick Boucher have announced a cap-and-trade bill that amends the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gases and force the U.S. to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% below 2005 levels by 2050. And we know that President Barack Obama plans to address climate change in order to reverse a trend of rising emissions. Under the plan, companies will have to purchase a permit for each ton of greenhouse gases they emit. The US budget predicts $79 billion in proceeds from the trading scheme in its proposed first year, rising to $646 billion by 2019. Cap-and-trade schemes will have to change cost structures for companies and industries. As author Krosinsky predicts in the study “This will have knock-out effects on investment returns. There will be winners and losers… Carbon costs will increase operating costs for companies with carbon intensive energy sources …Attempts to pass on carbon costs are likely to drive up the price of goods and spur customers to switch to lower-carbon alternatives where possible.” In the study, fund holdings were grouped according to their investment styles. The footprint of the most carbon-intensive fund was over 38 times larger than the lowest-carbon fund, reflecting the range in potential carbon risk. And although there was a wide divergence in carbon intensity among all 91 funds studied, the combined Sustainability/SRI funds measured the smallest carbon footprint of all categories. Al Gore, former Vice President of the US, warned at the United Nations Institutional Investors Summit on Climate Risk (Feb 14, 2008, New York) that, “You need to really scrub your investment portfolios, because I guarantee you — as my longtime good redneck friends in Tennessee say, I guarandamntee you — that if you really take a fine-tooth comb and go through your portfolios, many of you are going to find them chock-full of subprime carbon assets” The importance here is that mutual funds comprised of companies that are carbon-efficient may be less exposed to escalating carbon liabilities, making them better positioned for future sustainable profits and investment returns than their carbon-laden peers. You can find the entire study here: http://trucost.com/pressreleases/CarbonCountsUSA2009.html Judith L. Seid, President and founder of Blue Summit Financial Group, Inc, is a Certified Financial Planner who has actively used Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) for her clients since 1992. She firmly believes that “We can influence corporations to change their policies by avoiding investments in irresponsible companies and by seeking investments in companies with positive practices and products.” Socially responsible investing (SRI) exists for investors looking to use the power of financial investment to create sustainable social change. For more information on Sustainable Investing, contact Judith at Blue Summit Financial Group in La Mesa, (619) 698-4330; www.BLUESUMMITINVEST.com Securities offered through Pacific West Securities, Inc. (Pacific West) Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services provided through Pacific West Financial Consultants, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Blue Summit Financial Group, Inc. and Pacific West are not affiliated Printer-friendly version
EL CAJON POLICE CHIEF JOINS GROSSMONT COLLEGE WALK OF FAME
Printer-friendly versionApril 28, 2009 (El Cajon)–On Friday, May 1, the Grossmont College Foundation will induct El Cajon Police Chief Pat Sprecco into their Walk of Fame for 2009. The public is cordially invited to attend the ceremonies honoring Chief Sprecco that will start at 9:00 a.m. at Grossmont College’s Main Quad area; this is following the conclusion of the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce First Friday Breakfast, which will begin at 7:15 a.m. at Grossmont College’s Student Center. The Walk of Fame is located on campus in the Main Quad area, a short distance from the Student Center. Introducing Chief Sprecco at the induction ceremonies will be San Diego County Sheriff William Kolender. Also scheduled to speak: Sunita V. Cooke, Ph.D., President, Grossmont College; Bill Garrett, Governing Board President, Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District; Steven Devan, Grossmont College Foundation Board President. Unveiling the plaque will be Ernest Ewin, graduate of Grossmont College class of 1969, and Grossmont College Foundation Executive Director. The Grossmont College Foundation Walk of Fame is a display of bronze plaques, embedded in concrete, that feature the names of distinguished Grossmont College alumni. Since the Grossmont College Foundation began its Walk of Fame program in 1989, the 18 previous honorees have included medical researchers, political advocates, artists, athletes and community leaders. Chief Sprecco enrolled in Grossmont College in 1973, and graduated with an associate degree in criminal justice administration in 1976. His career with the El Cajon Police Department spans 37 years. He first joined the Department as a volunteer cadet at age 16 in 1972. He was appointed chief of police in March of 2008. For more information about the Foundation, contact the Grossmont College Foundation office at (619) 644-7109, or visit www.grossmont.edu/foundation. Grossmont College is located at 8800 Grossmont College Drive in El Cajon. For driving directions and a campus map, visit www.grossmont.edu. Printer-friendly version