PILOT SURVIVES PLANE CRASH IN VALLEY CENTER
Printer-friendly version July 24, 2009 (Valley Center) At 11:18 this morning, CAL FIRE-Valley Center Fire Department responded to a plane crash on Guejito Road (on the Guejito Ranch) in Valley Center, six miles north of the Ramona Airport. Copter 10 (Sheriff/CAL FIRE Helicopter) was in the area when the incident occurred as was able to quickly arrive on scene and begin treatment on the pilot. (photo by CAL FIRE battalion chief Nick Schuler) “According to the pilot his engine went; he then attempted to land when the plane flipped over and landed upside down,” Schuler informed East County Magazine. The pilot had moderate injuries, and was transported to Scripps La Jolla by Copter 10 with a paramedic on board. The plane was an experimental craft, according to early incident reports to dispatchers. Printer-friendly version
EL CAJON ARTIST WINS BEST OF SHOW AT ALLEY CAT SUMMER FESTIVAL
Printer-friendly version July 24, 2009 (El Cajon)–Gloria Chadwick, noted local artist and community art activist, received the Best in Show award at the Third Annual Alley Cat Juried Art Show produced by Friends of East County Arts, Inc. (photo (l to r): Bonnie Fredensborg, president of Friends of East County Arts, Inc., artist Gloria Chadwick, and El Cajon Councilwman Jillian Hanson-Cox.) Chadwick is regularly selected to contribute to national art ventures. Most recently, she was chosen in the PaintAmerica competition as one of the artists whose paintings will tour the country for one year. All work in the tour represents National Parks; Chadwick’s entry depicts a condor in Pinnacles National Monument. The Third Annual Juried Art Show reception was held at Sophie’s Gallery in El Cajon. Prize money was sponsored by Friends of East County Arts, Inc, St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, Silver Creek Fine Arts Gallery and Custom Framing, Olaf Wieghorst Museum and East County Art Association. The show will hang through August 14, 2009. Friends of East County Arts, Inc., organizers of the event, has provided over $500,000 in funds to community organizations and school programs in support of the visual and performing arts over the past 25 years. The Alley Cat Summer Festival also included showings of artwork at other local galleries throughout downtown El Cajon. Artist Marty Barnard (photo by Joel Ryerson) demonstrated her crafting of custom leather pieces at Silver Creek Fine Art & Framing. She got started 20 years ago, when she had a custom saddle made. Barnard had a passion for drawing so she started studying leather work under John Bianchi, who is well known for his leather work. Also on display at Silver Creek Fine Art & Framing are works by Carlos Castrejon, who is best known for his intricate Western bronze sculptures such as “A Signal”, which depicts a Blackfoot warrior and took 50 to 60 hours to create. (photo by Miriam Raftery) Also on display are wooden jewelry pieces and a contemporary sculpture which Castrejon designed as part of the Little & Large project, in which sculptors were invited to expand their creative talents by designing works outside their chosen mediums. Printer-friendly version
BLOCK’S BILLS ADVANCE IN LEGISLATURE
Printer-friendly version July 24, 2009 (Sacramento) – Keyl measures introduced by Assemblyman Marty Block (D-Lemon Grove) have moved forward in the California Legislature. His bills include education measures aimed at preventing high school drop-outs, helping cash-strapped after-school programs, and establishing a feasibility study for a future California State University campus in the South Bay. Others address health issues, including safety of human egg donations and access to dental fluoride treatments for children. Additionally, a resolution by Block calls on Congress to close loopholes for corporations that offshore assets to avoid taxation. AB 24 calls for a feasibility study for a San Diego State University satellite program and future CSU campus in the City of Chula Vista. The bill passed the Assembly by a unanimous vote and now awaits Senate action. AB 374 would require public schools to obtain written consent from students and their parents or guardians if the student intends to drop out from high school. It would also require informing students and parents of the negative consequences of not finishing high school. The measure is also being considered in the Senate. AB 434 eases the fundraising burdens on local after-school programs. It passed the Senate Education Committee and is headed to the Senate Appropriations Committee. AB 667 increases opportunities for children to obtain fluoride varnish treatments. The bill has passed both houses, winning unanimous approval in the Senate, and is now awaiting the Governor’s signature. AB 1317 will require a warning in all advertisements for egg donation to inform patients of potential health risks associated with human egg donation. The bill is headed to the full Senate for a vote. AJR 12 would urge Congress to close the Cayman Islands corporate tax loophole, which currently allows large corporations to stash money overseas in tax haven shelters to avoid paying their fair share of taxes. This resolution passed the Assembly and will be considered next by the California State Senate. Printer-friendly version
BYSTANDERS ASSIST VICTIM OF ROLLOVER CRASH, SAVE LIFE OF ELDERLY DRIVER TRAPPED IN WATER FLOW
Printer-friendly version July 26, 2009 (El Cajon) – A vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed crashed in the 600 block of South Mollison Avenue in El Cajon Friday shortly before 3 p.m., trapping an elderly driver inside. According to El Cajon Police, the 84-year-old male driver lost control and knocked over a fire a hydrant, damaged a high-energy electrical utility box, then flipped the vehicle upside down. The driver was trapped inside with extensive injuries and could have drowned if not for the prompt actions of witnesses. Before emergency personnel arrived, bystanders noticed that the trapped victim’s head was under water flowing from the knocked-over fire hydrant.The bystanders flipped the vehicle onto its side, allowing the severely injured victim to breathe. Rescue workers from El Cajon and La Mesa Fire Departments extricated the victim using the Jaws of Life in about 12 minutes. A Santee Fire Department Medic United transported the victim to a local trauma center. Printer-friendly version
SAN DIEGO SENIOR WOMEN’S BASEKTBALL TEAMS GO FOR FIFTH GOLD MEDAL; ORGANIZERS HOPE TO START SENIOR LEAGUE IN EAST COUNTY
Printer-friendly version By Linda Cord, SWBA Player, NSWBA Chief Operations Officer July 24, 2009 (San Diego)–Have you ever heard of a basketball team with women players over 50 years old? How about over age 80? San Diego’s legendary “Splash” team has nine members—all over 80. These spry octogenarians will be going for their unprecedented record fifth gold medal at the National Senior Games next week at Stanford University. Mind you, these ladies are no weaklings. They are serious players who will compete in up to three games per day at Nationals. When not on the road, they put on their shoes and bandage up their fingers to play for the Senior Women’s Basketball Association (SWBA league) here in San Diego at the Mission Valley YMCA. They play every Sunday afternoon and practice two to four times a week. The league includes many players from East County including Santee, El Cajon, Lemon Grove, La Mesa, Jamul, Alpine, Spring Valley and Lakeside. This league is for women over 50 years of age and boasts to be the largest and most successful league in the nation, winning more medals than the runner-up Louisiana Silver Slammers. The SWBA began with humble roots 15 years ago, founded by several women responding to an ad in the San Diego Union Tribune. They lit a spark that ignited desire in hundreds of women across San Diego to play a team sport–and to be the athletes they once dreamed of in childhood. Many of these women had no opportunities to play in high school or college. Now, with several age brackets, there is not only one team to play for but 20. Today, the emerging 50-year-olds are part of the baby boomer generation that fed off of the women’s rights movement of the ‘70s and the running and fitness craze of the ‘80s. They are expecting to play in leagues because many of them have played in high school or college. However, San Diego is currently the only senior league in California. At the Alley Cat Summer Fest in El Cajon, the group hosted a booth in hopes of finding women interested in forming a league in East County. The National Seniors Women’s Basketball Association (NSWBA) offers resources for members and people interesting in creating a new league, including operational manuals, videos, basketball workshops and training camps. San Diego Senior Women’s Basketball Commissioner, Kirsten Cummings has created the non-profit NSWBA with the sole intention of creating leagues, camps and workshops for women over the age of 40 throughout California. A former San Diego basketball standout, Cummings was a two-time CIF Player of the Year at Patrick Henry High and Kodak 1st Team All-American from Long Beach who later played professionally for 14 years. Cummings recognizes the need for basketball leagues throughout California, including San Diego’s East County. “The Splash players have inspired me to continue playing the sport I love,” said Cummings. ”I have come to realize that once an athlete, you’re always an athlete. I would love to still be active and playing like them!” The public is invited to share the women’s passion by watching the SWBA in action at the Mission Valley YMCA on Sunday afternoons. Check out the website at www.swba.org. If you would like to have a league, camps or workshops in your area, please contact us at: info@nswba.com. Printer-friendly version