WINGS OVER GILLESPIE AIR SHOW TO FEATURE AERIAL BATTLES JUNE 5-7
Printer-friendly versionBy Marisa Kezirian May 20, 2009 (El Cajon)—The San Diego Chapter of the Commemorative Air Force, Air Group One will present the 14th annual Wings Over Gillespie Air Show at Gillespie Field in El Cajon on June 5, 6 and 7. Each day of this memorable event will highlight WWII and Vietnam aerial battle re-enactments, in addition to pyrotechnic displays, “bombing” runs, and strafing attacks. (View videos of last year’s show here: http://wingsovergillespie.org/welcome.htm ) Legendary Pilot John Collver will also demonstrate his aerobatic skills in his SNJ “War Dog.” Vintage warbirds will also be available for up close and personal viewing along with many impressive combat aircrafts from WWII. There will also be a CDF fire drop and a presentation by the sheriff’s department and helicopter division. Roughly forty aircraft, (flying and on display), will be accessible for viewing, as well as live entertainment throughout the day, interviews with champions and veterans from WWII, a “Kidz Zone,” and shaded seating accommodating four hundred people. Additionally, food and merchandise vendors will be conveniently located. Friday June 5th “Youth Education Day,” will be a day dedicated for students and children to come and learn about aviation and its history, while Saturday the 6th and Sunday the 7th the planes will take to the air. Experts, including lead pilot Jack “The Ripper” Draper will be available to answer any questions about the aircrafts on display, in addition to their roles and experience in aviation. Notably, June 6th will be a very special day in honor of the Invasion of Normandy (D-Day), which took place on June 6, 1994. There will be a mock battle with a total of eleven aircrafts that will be dropping bombs and parachutes, and there will also be soldiers shooting up at the planes from the ground. The air show runs Friday, June 5th through Sunday June 7th 2009. Gates will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The largest air show in East County, the event drew thousands of people last year. General Admission for adults (18 and over): $10.00 Children (10–17) and military in uniform: $5.00 Children under 10: free For more information, visit www.wingsovergillespie.org. Marisa Kezirian is a student at San Diego State University and an intern with East County Magazine. Printer-friendly version
WILD WEST LIVES ON AT WESTERN HERITAGE DAYS JUNE 6-7
Printer-friendly versionJune 1, 2009 (El Cajon)—The Wild West comes alive at the 7th annual Olaf Wieghorst Museum Western Heritage Days in El Cajon. Free to the public, the event highlights our nation’s heritage West of the Mississippi from the 1700s through the early 1900s. From reenactments of the Old West to a Saturday night street dance under a full moon, this event is one of East County’s most colorful festivals. Watch for gunslingers, shoot-outs, saloon girls, mountain men, Buffalo Soldiers and Native American dancers—as well as a blacksmith shop, stagecoach and much more. The event takes place on Rea Street, one half block north of Magnolia and Main Street in downtown El Cajon. On Saturday, June 6th from 10 a.m. to 6 : 30 p.m. and from Sunday, June 7th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This year’s program features three stages. On the Cantina Stage and Canyon Stage, listen to authentic western music. The Sage Stage in the cactus garden will feature cowboy poets, story tellers, authentic re-enactors and other historical presentations. A Children’s Pavilion offers opportunities for youngsters to create crafts, play old-fashioned games and learn hands-on skills needed by frontier families. Clowns, face-painting, a petting zoo and pony rides are among additional highlights for kids. The entire family can savor down-home cooking including home-made chile and roasted barbecue beef, while adults can enjoy cold beer at Olaf’s Cantina. Shoppers can choose from a wide variety of western collectibles, arts and crafts, sculptures, paintings, prints, hand-crafted jewelry and custom hats. Model-T Ford antique cars and historical steam engines will also be on display. The event is sponsored by the Olaf Wieghorst Museum Foundation. The museum honors famed El Cajon resident Olaf Wieghorst, whose paintings commemorated the cowboys, Native American Indians and settlers who helped shape the American West. For more information, visit http://www.wieghorstmuseum.org/events. Printer-friendly version
HELIX WATER BOARD HOLDS SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING MONDAY; RATE PLAN TO BE UNVEILED WEDNESDAY
Printer-friendly versionMay 31, 2009 (La Mesa) — The Helix Water Board will hold a special meeting on Monday, June 1st at 8 a.m. to discuss the District’s budget. At the next regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, June 3rd at 2 p.m., the Board has announced it will reveal its new proposal for water rate hikes. The board last week agreed to scrap its original plan and create a new version designed to be more equitable to large residential lot owners. Agendas for both meetings are available at http://www.hwd.com/board/index.htm. Printer-friendly version
PEARL HARBOR SURVIVORS HONORED IN LA MESA FLAG DAY PARADE
Printer-friendly versionMay 30, 2009 (La Mesa) – For Robert Ruffato, the sight of Old Glory holds special significance. Ruffato was among 16 survivors of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor who were honored in La Mesa’s Flag Day Parade. View our photo album from this event: http://www.photoshop.com/user/eastcountymagazine/?wf=share&trackingid=BTAGC&galleryid=987530fcbdc64e9fa01666e211decf7f “I was aboard the U.S.S. Utah at Pearl Harbor. Most of all, it was a big surprise,” he told East County Magazine. “The first indication we were under attack was when they dropped a bomb on Ford Island Naval Air Station. Then they hit our ship with two aerial torpedos. It capsized in 12 minutes. We actually walked down the side of the ship and dove into the water.” Now 86 years old, Ruffato was 18 during the attack. Today, the San Diego veteran salutes Old Glory alongside Erik Hitala, 10, and Wesley Richardson, 11, of Ramona. Many other local veterans also participated in the parade, including Grossmont College’s own returning veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. One flashed a peace sign to the crowd. Central Congregational Church, meanwhile, carried a “Peace Dove” to symbolize their opposition to war. Creative entries this year included “Puff the Magic Dragon” by Reader’s Inc, a children’s bookstore, and American Soapbox Derby by Drew Auto and La Mesa Kiwanis. With such a wide variety of floats entered, judges agreed that choosing a winner was challenging—as ECM editor Miriam Raftery learned when asked to serve as a judge at this year’s event. A Marine Corps marching band led the parade, along with riders from a Harley Davidson motorcycle club. Local beauty contest winners waved to onlookers from a “Pirate Princesses” float, while a variety of patriotic-themed entries were submitted by Rotary, VFW, Lions and other local service clubs and veterans’ organizations. Equestrians, dogs, and clowns also entertained the crowd. The event drew larger crowds than in past years, with an enthusiastic crowd unfazed by overcast, drizzly weather, said grand marshal Shannon O’Dunn, who led efforts to save the parade after the City of La Mesa announced plans to cut the event due to budget constraints. This year’s parade featured approximately 75 floats and six marching bands. “For the first time, this event was funded by individual and business donations, and many donors accepted the City’s invitation to join dignitaries on the reviewing stand,” O’Dunn said. She praised City of La Mesa director of community services Yvonne Garrett for doing “a splendid job of `rebooting’ a cancelled event at short notice.” As a result, O’Dunn added, “The parade was better than ever.” Printer-friendly version