EL CAJON CELEBRATES BIKE TO WORK WEEK
Printer-friendly versionThe term "wheels of government" takes on new meaning in El Cajon this week, as employees are encouraged to join in “Bike to Work Week” May 11 through 15. The nationwide endeavor aims to educate the public about benefits of bicycling and to increase awareness, safety and respect for bicyclists, as well as highlighting cycling as an important means of transportation that saves on energy and cost. May 15 has been designated as Bike to Work Day in El Cajon–and many City employees will take part by using alternative transportation means to travel to work, such as bicycling, transit, or carpooling. A special Pit Stop will be set up with refreshments in the 200 block of East Main Street as a thank you for participating employees. A press release from the City of El Cajon notes that bicycle transportation is an integral part of the multi-modal transportation system planned for by city, state, and local transportation government agencies. "The economic, environmental, and health effects of a car-dependent world are extensive and far-reaching. Bicycle commuting is one of the most effective ways to improve air quality, reduce traffic congestion and noise, and to conserve energy," the release states. At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, City of El Cajon Mayor Mark Lewis and the City Council proclaimed the eleventh through the fifteenth of May, 2009 to be “BIKE TO WORK WEEK” and the fifteenth day of May as “NATIONAL BIKE TO WORK DAY” in the City of El Cajon. The City encourages residents and employees to recognize the importance of sharing our streets and highways with cyclists and to participate in cycling activities to whatever extent possible during this week, including cycling to work. For more information about Bike to Work Week and Bike to Work Day please call (619) 441-1654. Printer-friendly version
LOST HIGHWAYS OF EAST COUNTY: TRAVELING OLD HWY 80 IS A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE
Printer-friendly version View the slideshow By Miriam Raftery Video by Rob Constantine “Just like the Roman Empire, things that are built can decay, but they’re never lost as long as you keep them in your heart.” – Christian Woempner May 7, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)—Traveling down Old Highway 80 with a man who helped build it proved a nostalgic and fascinating journey. “I love the sound of tires,” Craig Woemper, a 39-year veteran of Cal-Trans, said as the road ker-thumped beneath us. Raised in rural East County, Craig and his son, Christian, joined ECM’s editor and videographer for a trip down memory lane, providing insights not only into the road’s colorful history, but also sharing lore and legends of our region, assuring that these memories will not be consigned to the dust bin of history. Once known as the “Broadway of America,” Highway 80 was the first coast-to-coast highway in the U.S. Locally it was built in stages, starting in 1917. In 1972, the roadway was officially decommissioned from Texas to California following completion of Interstate 8. Vestiges remain, including well-preserved sections in East County that have sparked interest among nostalgia buffs. Historic California 80 Corporation, a local group, seeks to preserve Old 80’s heritage: www.oldhighway80.com. But in the past year, a weak economy and high gas prices have caused a drop in visitors, turning many roadside communities into ghost towns almost overnight. If you want to see these milestones of a bygone era, you’d best visit soon—before they vanish into the dust of history as surely as the old stagecoach lines and wild west characters who once populated this region. Traveling Back in Time: Our Journey Begins We started our road trip on Main Street in El Cajon. Downtown El Cajon has a mix of historic storefronts and retro-style buildings. Farther east, past a string of old motels, we reach Lakeside, where a country store and an antique store lure visitors. Next we crossed to the south side of I-8, turning left at Lake Jennings Park and passing the Renegade Country Bar, since I-8 covered over a section of the original historic highway here. “Old 80 had loops,” Craig recalled, pointing out places where they were lopped off to widen the road. We cruised through Flinn Springs, where a cherry-red caboose is all that remains of the once-powerful Southern Pacific Railroad station here. Another local highlight, Summer’s Past Herb Farms, offers delightful garden tours, herbs for sale, and herbal soap-making classes. Turning right on Dunbar Lane to Alpine Blvd., we passed giant pipes beneath the roadway, big enough to drive a semi-truck through, built “in case something happens to El Capitan Dam,” Craig explained. The region is dotted with old barns, new homes, and goats grazing on a hillside. Our videographer, Rob Constantine, observed, “Everyone in East County should have their own goat.” Craig recalled his childhood growing up in rural East County in the middle of the last century. “We had a horse named Bimbo. My Dad used to tie the horse to a tree and let him eat brush in a circle. We had her pull a sleigh in the snow at Live Oaks,” he said, recalling the town where he grew up. “All the kids would climb on. She’d bite,” he said, but added, “Even though she was mean, we still loved her.” Mountain Towns and Byways We rolled into Alpine, a quaint mountain town where it’s hard to tell what’s old and what’s new. The Alpine Inn, a steakhouse, offers “food and grog”; across the street, a statue of a bear tops Janet’s Montana Café, next door to the Vine Wines Bar & Bistro, a new venture in a rustic log building with a tree growing through the roof. Tucked behind, shops nestled in a village-type setting cluster along shaded walkways. At the end of Alpine Boulevard, near the Frosty Acres fruit stand, we crossed back to the north side of I-8, where a sign reminds motorists that road improvements are made possible by Indian gaming revenues. “This is original Old 80 right here,” Craig declared, as we pass by white horse fences and a creek before reaching the Viejas Casino and Viejas Outlet Center, both in a southwestern architectural motif. “This was a beautiful, pristine grazing valley,” he recalled, adding that a log trading post once occupied the site. Further down the road, cracks in asphalt indicate concrete slabs breaking up beneath as we again venture south of 8. The landscape changes to boulder-strewn mountains , starkly beautiful. Craig pointed out a cut he helped slice through a mountain pass, then points to a cliff. “They were going to tunnel through that, but it was too expensive, so they said, `Just go through it.’” So they blasted and sliced a pass for the roadway. Veering north onto a stretch of Highway 79, we turned left over the Los Terretinos Bridge built in 1917 and another left on Wildwood Glen. We traversed “part of Old 80 that people hardly ever go on,” Craig told us. Portions of the concrete road built in 1933, with original guard rail, can still be seen here. The vision conjured up memories for me as a child, driving cross-country from San Diego to Texas along this surprisingly narrow roadway. Now, burned trees stand as sentinels from a recent wildfire. Rob, our videographer, attached a video camera onto his wheelchair using a custom-made clamp he designed. He rolled down a section of highway shooting footage, then turned the camera onto Craig. “We used to lay concrete in one piece, but it broke up. So we had to rely on slabs,” our highway worker-turned tour guide told us. “This is still in great shape, after all these years. Amazing.” Bending over, he hoisted a n old cornerstone that used to hold a post. Backtracking to 79/80 we headed north toward Descanso, where Craig once worked out
PASSAGES: SUZANNE DI MASCIO, R.N., MANAGER OF RYAN WHITE PROGRAM AND DIRECTOR OF AMERICHOICE, LOSES BATTLE WITH CANCER
Printer-friendly versionWIFE OF EAST COUNTY MAGAZINE’S BUSINESS MANAGER WILL BE MISSED May 11, 2009 (Santee)—Suzanne (“Suzy”) Marie Di Mascio, a leading voice in San Diego’s healthcare community and wife of East County Magazine’s business manager Leon Thompson, passed away on May 7, 2009 at San Diego Hospice following a long battle against cancer. Her efforts helped improve access to healthcare services for thousands of people in San Diego County. Working as Chief Nurse at the Linda Vista Healthcare Center, she crafted a plan to help clinics qualify for County Medical Services (CMS) funds. Her plan became a model that was later used by clinics countywide, helping to assure healthcare services for those in need. She was instrumental in the design and startup operations for the CMS program. AmeriChoice hired her to serve as director, running the CMS program. For the last twenty years of her career, she worked with AmeriChoice in San Diego. She was integral in establishing the San Diego Chapter for the Ryan White Program that helps those afflicted with HIV and AIDS. A, a group of medical directors asked DiMascio to serve as the Ryan White program manager. She wrote policies and procedures to establish the program and continued serving as program manager until shortly before her death. She also served as president of the Case Management Society of America (CMSA), San Diego Chapter. She was born Suzanne Marie Kyle on December 1, 1941, in Springfield, Ohio, to Robert W. Kyle and Margaret Elizabeth (Legge) Kyle. After graduating from Good Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing in Dayton, Ohio, as a registered nurse, she worked for the Springfield City Health Department and in private medical practices. She obtained nursing licenses in Ohio, Washington, Illinois and California. She also attended Wittenberg University in Ohio and National University in San Diego. In her spare time, she enjoyed painting, drawing and traveling to art shows. She also enjoyed meeting new people, being exposed to other cultures, walking on the beach and spending time with her family. She married Leon Thompson in September 2001. She is survived by her husband, Leon in Santee, her sons, Daniel DiMascio in Washington and Christopher DiMascio in San Diego, her daughter, Denise DiMascio in Fresno, her grandchildren, Ryan, Alex, Stephan and Sydnee DiMascio in Washington, and her sister, Kathleen, in Illinois. She was preceded in death by two husbands, Peter Di Mascio and Charles Blasdel. Leon and Suzy have been prominent community members in East County for many years. She was a strong supporter of East County Magazine and ECM’s publisher, the Heartland Coalition. Her encouragement and enthusiasm will be greatly missed by many here. Friends and family are invited to join in the celebration of her life at 5:00 p.m. on May 14, 2009 at Merkley-Mitchell Mortuary, 3655 Fifth Avenue, San Diego 92103, with reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Suzy to Sports for Exceptional Athletes at http://www.s4ea.org. Printer-friendly version
FILNER AMENDMENT PROTECTS RENTERS, REQUIRES NOTICE IF LANDLORD FACES FORECLOSURE RISK
Printer-friendly versionMay 12, 2009 (Washington, DC) – Congressman Filner has joined his colleagues in passing the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act, H.R. 1728. This legislation aims to prevent the types of predatory and irresponsible mortgage loan practices that played a major role in the current financial and economic meltdown. Congressman Filner worked to include a provision in the final bill that provides protection for renters. Congressman Filner’s amendment requires landlords to provide notice to their renters when they go into default and are in danger of foreclosure. “Too often renters pay their rent on time and assume their landlord is paying the mortgage, only to find out later this is not true. Sadly, in some cases they only discover the owner wasn’t paying the mortgage when the property is foreclosed upon,” said Rep. Filner. “Even worse, in some cases, landlords will rent a house when they know they can’t pay the mortgage. They will rent these homes knowing they are going to be foreclosed on, and never say a word to the potential tenants.” Filner continued, “We need to ensure renters have all the information. If their landlord is not able to pay the mortgage, they need to know this as soon as possible, and definitely before they sign the lease agreement.” Among other local Congressional representatives, Brian Bilbray and Susan Davis also voted for H.R. 1728, while Duncan D. Hunter and Darrell Issa voted against the measure. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the measure will cost $2 for each American over the 2009-2014 period. Printer-friendly version
MAY 12 SCREENING OF “RUNNING DRY” TO BENEFIT ARCHI’S ACRES ORGANIC FARM AND VETERANS’ TRAINING
Printer-friendly versionMay 8, 2009 San Diego, CA – Lestat’s West, the showroom next to the eclectic San Diego coffee house in Normal Heights, will screen “Running Dry”, a powerful documentary on the growing global water crisis on Tuesday, May 12 at 7:00 pm. “Running Dry” is a comprehensive public information/education project, established to raise awareness about the worsening global humanitarian water crisis. The project’s centerpieces are two explosive and in-depth documentaries, “Running Dry” and “The American Southwest: Are We Running Dry?” A ctress Jane Seymour, the documentaries’ narrator, and many other notable and knowledgeable individuals have come together to participate in the public information/education process. All donations at the event will benefit Archi’s Acres, a sustainable agricultural project in Escondido that assists returning combat veterans through the VSAT (Veterans Sustainable Agriculture Training) program. Lestat’s West www.Lestats.com is located at 3339 Adams Avenue (phone 619-282-0437). Suggested donation is $10 at the door. Sergeant Colin Archipley, a 3-tour Iraq veteran who developed Archi’s Acres VSAT with his wife Karen, says: “It makes perfect sense to tap our combat veterans to help shape a sustainable world. At Archi’s Acres our veterans work side-by-side, producing highly nutritious certified organic products using a fraction of the labor, growing time and most importantly water required by traditional farming methods. In fact our 1,800 square foot greenhouse uses less water than an average home while utilizing 90% of available space inside.” The Archipley’s started VSAT out of their own pockets to help combat veterans’ transition back to civilian life through professional training in sustainable agriculture and job placement services. This unique venture, which serves as a model for what can be done in other locations, is a cooperative effort of Archi’s Acres and the San Diego Veterans Affairs Compensated Work Therapy/Veterans Industries (CWT/VI) program. Printer-friendly version
HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELOR SHARON NEUMANN RECEIVES ENDOWMENT AWARD
Printer-friendly versionMay 10, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)–Sharon Neumann, a Grossmont Middle College High School counselor, has been honored as the 2009 Frank Jonasson Endowment Award recipient. The Jonasson Endowment at San Diego State University (SDSU) annually recognizes a high school counselor in San Diego or Imperial Counties who has “gone above and beyond the call of duty” for students in assisting them in attaining higher education. The Endowment award includes paid expenses to the next Western Association for College Admissions Counseling (WACAC) Conference, a perpetual plaque displayed at SDSU, and a check for $500. Sharon has continuously demonstrated her sincere dedication to creating a great future for every student at Grossmont Middle College High School, Granite Hills High School, and throughout the Grossmont Union High School District. The Jonasson Endowment fund was established by Frank Jonasson, former director of Student Oureach Services at SDSU (shown in photo with Sharon Neumann). Printer-friendly version
ECCAC HOSTS PARTY MAY 30 TO FUND LEGAL BATTLE AGAINST POWERLINK: MAY 30 IN LAKESIDE
Printer-friendly versionThe East County Community Action Coalition (ECCAC) is sponsoring a fundraiser on Saturday, May 30, 2009 from 11-4 pm at Hazy Meadow Ranch in Lakeside, CA. This is an all-county event that will feature live music, raffle, opportunity drawing, carnvial games, pony rides, and more. The organization seeks public help to fund legal action to "sunset" Sunrise Powerlink. The ECCAC is a not-for-profit public benefit corporation which filed an appeal against the approval of the Sunrise Powerlink in March, and is preparing for federal court. ECCAC opposes powerlink because of the high and unmitigable fire dangers that the project poses, according to the state’s environmental impact. ECCAC also opposes the project because of concerns over environmental damage, health issues, and other issues. All proceeds from the event will go towards the legal fees of the ECCAC for the Stop the Sunrise Powerlink campaign. Donations of raffle items and for the opportunity drawing are also being sought. Tickets are $5, and can be purchased in advance by contacting Pam at 619-442-5354 or from ECCAC, 13465 Camino Canada, Ste. 106-PMB 256, El Cajon, CA 92010 For more information, visit http://www.eastcountyaction.org/. Printer-friendly version