PROGRAM & FILM ON HOMELESSNESS SET FOR NOV. 6
Printer-friendly version October 13, 2009 (San Diego) — The Center for Social Advocacy in El Cajon presents “Homeless in our Community, Homeless on our Border”, a free community awareness event on November 6th at 5:30 p.m. at the San Diego Women’s Club, 2557 Third Ave., San Diego. Keynote speaker John Carlos Frey, award-winning director of The Invisible Chapel, willlscreen his film. Since 1969 CSA has been helping vulnerable populations with homelessness. “Now, more than ever, we need your help to raise awareness and seriousness of this epidemic,” a press release for the event states. For more information, contaact info@c4sa.org. R.S.V.P. to Crystal at (619)445-4700. Printer-friendly version
STAYING IN CHILDHOOD: LOCAL SCULPTOR DAN JONES
Printer-friendly version By Takayuki Higuchi October 7, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)–Remember being a kid—the innocent joy and laughter? Spring Valley native Dan Jones has embarked on a whimsical sculptural works project titled ‘Tinkerbot,” which evokes those magical feelings from our childhood. Tinkering them with his own hands, Jones gives new life to materials which otherwise would be thrown away. The sculpture work: Tinkerbots Jones embarked on this art works project about two years ago. It stems from gaining a sense of confidence through his past experiences, including learning innovative ways to use tools and material.He recycles items from old broken machines and kitchen tools, which he tears apart, collecting parts such as screws and iron plates, then tinkers and reassemble them. “I try to make it fun,” the artist said. “I’m a big kid in my mind. I try to make things happy. So, a lot of my characters have bright colors and eyes and expression bring smile to a lot of people.” Early inspirations Dan Jones’ imagination and creativity have stayed from his childhood. Growing up in Spring Valley, Jones has lived in San Diego for his entire life. He attended Monte Vista High School in Spring Valley. He went to a local community college and found his interest towards sculptural work later in his college years. “I patterned toys when I was 22,” he recalled, adding that he drew inspiration from this work. Meantime, he also worked in a lumber yard run by his family, learning construction skills which could help him with his sculpture work. Since then, while working as a clerk under the United States Post Office for 22 years, Jones has also kept growing his different persona as a local artist presenting sculpture works. Currently, he lives in the Crest area of El Cajon. He built his house, which he calls ‘Magical Gateway” by himself. The house and garden which he created evoke the fantasy world spelled by the magic wand. He has displayed his works in several exhibitions including Alley Cat Art Walk in El Cajon, Summers Past Herb Farms in Flynn Springs, local arts and crafts shows, and the Comic-Con International convention in San Diego, drawing new inspirations for ways to bring characters in his mind to life. He also showed interest in doing animations in the computer. “Some day I hope to show some sculptures in a local art gallery,” he added. Jones also displays photos of his sculptures at www.flicker.com/photos/tinkerbots. “I really like to make art that makes me smile,” he said, adding that he challenges himself to see what he can create from junk “to make something fun and that brings a smile to others.” On-going creative process from daily life Jones manages the time for art work in the studio around a rigorous daily schedule. “My shift is from 3 am to 11 am.,” he noted. “After taking a nap, I can spend all the rest of the day with being in the studio and create art…It is kind of an around the clock process for me. If I don’t have hands-on creating the art works, I’m thinking about it every time, sometimes during the nap: what will I do and where should I start, etc…That seems to me important element for my creative process.” Jones builds his creations in his mind by picturing them mentallybefore getting something holding with his hand. He chuckled, “…even at work…I’m kind out over there as well, wouldn’t tell them about it. It’s been over 22 years, so I can do work automatically…I daydream about things, how things would go together, and jog down a little sketch of the new project, and stick it into my pocket so that I wouldn’t forget by the time you get home. ” Inspirations Jones aspires to science fictions, Retro Style. Vintages including rockets, ships and robots as well as things like R-Guns and Busters during the 1930s-50s. “Growing up about five years old, I started to listen to radio broad casts from the 1930s to 50s as well as collect vintage or antiques [of] a lot of adventures such as Superman, Shadows Tarzan. Over the 35 to 40 years, I saw the things and listened to the shows all the time.” Furthermore, Jones emphasizes the importance of observing everything happening in daily life. He describes the everyday experience as an ‘adventurous daytrip in San Diego’ that includes driving, grabbing a cup of coffee, and listening to great music. “I see architecture of a building, or simply lighting and the atmosphere that makes me feel a certain magic,” he observed, “…looking at how things are made and how the light comes into the alley across the building and the color. All the elements come together, and it’s a secret journey that I am on there,” he said, adding that most people don’t realize all the information that he is soaking up. Art and Creativity: Individual Uniqueness Finally, I asked him what art/creativity means to him. Jones replied, “Across the Old saying, art and beauty is in the eye of the beholder …Art is part of individual expression, it can be just a stick drawn in the sand of beach…It comes from the uniqueness of individual. So, how I feel art is that it even can be just how we see sun falling in the shadows and light. And it covers every aspect. It makes you feel a smile that moves you, stars your emotion. Something you create in whatever medium is art.” Asked about the art environment in East County Area, Jones replied that it’s important to get involved in the community, celebrate and get every artist living in the community together. “Artworks and the uniqueness of artists bring the community joy and festivity,” he observed. “I am really thankful to have the good career,” he concluded, grateful that he’s been allowed to “experiment with my creativity, really have a fun life–just having kept the child’s heart to see things
SHERIFF’S DEPT. OFFERS LANDLORD TRAINING SEMINAR
Printer-friendly version October 13, 2009 (San Diego)–Bill Gore, Sheriff, San Diego County, announces the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department sponsorship of a free one day Landlord Training Seminar for Mobile Home Park managers and staff. It will be held on Thursday October 22nd, at 9621 Ridgehaven Court in San Diego beginning at 8:00 a.m. Light refreshments will be served. The Landlord Training Seminar is the first step in becoming a certified member of the internationally known Crime-Free Multi-Housing Program. This voluntary program is designed to educate owners and managers on techniques to deter criminals and criminal activity from occurring on their properties. Topics include proper screening and eviction procedures, information about gangs and drugs, crime prevention through environmental design, and more. Applying the information learned will attract better clientele to your property resulting in increased incomes, reduce the calls for service from your local law enforcement agency, and make you and your property a better neighbor in your community. If you are a manager or owner of a mobile home park and want to improve your community for the benefit of all, please call John McLelland in at (760) 451-3124 or Carmela Lutz at (760) 940-4353. This seminar is open to any mobile home park owner or manager in San Diego County. Printer-friendly version
BETWEEN WILDFIRES: ASK QUESTIONS!
Printer-friendly version Part 1 of an 8-part Series By Anne S. Fege, Ph.D., M.B.A., wildfire ecologist/educator and retired Forest Supervisor, Cleveland National Forest October 13, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)–By any accounts, we will always be “between wildfires” in southern California. That raises three wildfire questions that face San Diego. What will it take to keep houses from igniting? What will happen to nature, with repeated wildfires? What can we do, to live sustainably with wildfires and nature? These questions reflect the paradigm shift that is underway nationally, from wildfire prevention (Smokey, “YOU can prevent fires”) and wildfire suppression, to wildfire property risk reduction (knowing “how houses ignite” and retrofitting structures). What will it take, to keep houses from igniting? It’s time to look at our wildfire fears and our wildfire-prone region differently. Instead of blaming the vegetation and trying to “fireproof” nature, we can plan, build, and maintain structures to reduce wildfire property losses. We can “walk around the house” to identify risks and places that embers can land, then retrofit and maintain our homes to eliminate those ember-catchers. What will happen to our local natural environments, with repeated wildfires? More than 800,000 acres burned since 2002, and more than 50,000 acres burned twice. These areas are not growing back with the same plants, but are “type converting” to weeds—which dry out earlier in the year, catch fire more easily, and burn faster than native plants. And climate changes are predicted to increase droughts and extreme weather events in the region, and likely wildfire severity. We will lose many of the economic, social, and natural values of these ecosystems, that have been provided “free” for centuries. What can we do, to live sustainably with wildfires and nature? We can be honest about “defensible space” and not foster a false sense of security. It is absurd to remove acres of coastal sage scrub in urban canyons or illegally bulldoze acres of chaparral in the backcountry—and then keep wood roofs, wood fences attached to houses, vents without screens, unpruned landscaping, and debris around the house. It is absurd for insurance companies to demand “clearance” to 300 feet or more. It is absurd to underestimate the essential firefighting preparedness and resources. It is absurd to keep approving developments in fire-prone locations. This short article is the first of eight, in a series written by Dr. Anne S. Fege, a local wildfire ecologist and educator. She is a partner in Business and Ecology Consulting, Botany Research Associate at the San Diego Natural History Museum, and Adjunct Faculty in the Department of Biology at San Diego State University. Fege is widely known as a co-founder of the San Diego Partners for Biodiversity and the San Diego Fire Recovery Network; co-organizer of the San Diego Children and Nature Collaborative; and co-curator of the recent Earth, Wind & WILDFIRE exhibition at the San Diego Natural History Museum. She served as Forest Supervisor of the Cleveland National Forest from 1991 to 2004, managing 460,000 acres in Orange, Riverside, and San Diego Counties. Printer-friendly version
NOTED CHILDREN’S AUTHOR IN LA MESA OCT. 16 FOR READING & BOOK SIGNING
Printer-friendly versionBook Review: Nugget on the Flight Deck By Patricia Newman New York, Walker and Company, 2009. Illustrated by Aaron Zenz. Hardback Picture Book, 40 pages, with Target Age: 4-8 years. Reviewed by Deena While “Welcome aboard, Nugget…I’ll bet you’ve never been aboard a carrier before…” October 13, 2009 (La Mesa) — San Diego may be the nation’s 9th largest city, but it is still a Navy town at heart. The graceful passage of San Diego’s homeport aircraft carriers down the harbor channel, past Ballast Point and out to sea is one of our area’s most awe-inspiring sights. And any one of those ships could have a nugget aboard. Navy and Marine jargon is often heard in our community. In Navy-speak, a nugget is a new pilot on his first tour of duty. Patricia Newman’s just-released book is a fun-filled introduction to the basics of carrier operations, centered on the heart-warming story of one particular nugget. Nugget on the Flight Deck gives all readers – young and old – a first-hand look at life on an aircraft carrier. We visit the living quarters and the planes stored in the hangars, or “basement,” below. We sort out the colorful teams of specialists preparing planes for flight and experience the rush as the “shooter” unleashes the catapult that sends them skyward. The artwork brings it all to life, while the author’s research allows us to follow the story in the actual jargon used on the ship. Children will enjoy bantering with their new-found lingo, while gaining an appreciation for the relationships necessary to make these floating cities tick. In the process, they’ll pick up clues for recognizing some of the characters in Grandpa’s sea stories – to their mutual delight. The writing and the art work complement one another effectively. They are realistic and challenging, but offer readers new experiences, solid lessons and excitement on every page. The book is infused with the author’s enthusiasm and her own obvious admiration for the carrier’s people and their purpose. Many parents and educators already know Patricia Newman through her popular monthly column “Who wrote that?” in California Kids! This is Newman’s second leveled book, following on the success of Jingle the Brass. The author’s other work continues to appear in a variety of publications, including National Geographic Explorer, Boy’s Quest, Appleseeds and Storyworks. In Nugget, Newman moves the story briskly. The title character is soon hurled from the flight deck with his new teammates. His vocabulary growth keeps pace. New terms – the lingo of the ship – are defined in the margins on each page. The book is beautifully designed to promote learning. The volume also includes some terrific reference materials, including sources and suggestions for further reading. The immediate fun is in the tables with the aviator’s alphabet, the color-coded uniforms and carrier facts. If you have ever wondered what all those different colored tee-shirts are about, you’ll find it here. Do you know what a carrier weighs? (Answer: the same as 12,000 school buses, about 60,000 tons.) Military families will appreciate the author’s sympathetic treatment of a well-known rite of passage. But Nugget’s appeal extends to all residents of the city. San Diego’s skies are abuzz with Navy and Marine aircraft every day. From their backyards, their school yards and vantage points throughout the county, children watch future nuggets training for their first tour. This nugget’s story will make those sightings much more meaningful. The book is a natural match with our community and is destined to become a favorite for San Diego readers of all ages – whether they have “been aboard a carrier before,” or not. Bravo Zulu to the author. Mission accomplished. Patricia Newman will visit La Mesa to give a reading from Nugget on the Flight Deck at Readers Inc. on Friday, October 16, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. This is a wonderful opportunity to talk with the author and get a signed copy of Nugget. Ms. Newman’s delightful railroading tale Jingle the Brass will also be available. Or, bring your own copy in and have it inscribed! Deena While created and launched Readers, Inc., the children’s bookstore in the La Mesa Village, in late 2008. The store’s bookshelves and its staff quickly earned reputations as essential resources for East County children, their parents, teachers and librarians. Visit with them at www.ReadersIncOnline.com Printer-friendly version
IS ISRAEL THE NEW SOUTH AFRICA? FREE LECTURE BY ISRAELI ACTIVIST OCT. 15 AT GROSSMONT COLLEGE
Printer-friendly versionOctober 13, 2009 (El Cajon)–Grossmont College’s Arabic Club will host a free lecture by Israeli activist Mike Peled, author of “The General’s Son: The Journey of an Israeli in Palestine,” from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15, in Room 220, a lecture hall on campus. The title for Peled’s lecture is “Is Israel the new South Africa?” The public is invited to attend. Admission is free. Peled will discuss the current conditions for the Palestinian people, how Israel justifies the occupation, how American beliefs about Israel have been molded and skewed and possible solutions to the crisis. Peled is a co-founder of the Elbanna Peled Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to promoting humanitarian aid, education and grassroots efforts toward peaceful existence. He is the son of Israeli war hero Gen. Matti Peled, who helped spearhead a dialogue between Palestinians and Jews in the early 1970s. His grandfather was a signer of the Israeli Declaration of Independence. For more event information, phone Arabic Club advisor Sonia Ghattas-Soliman at (619) 644-7348, or send an e-mail to club.arabic@yahoo.com. 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
GOVERNOR VETOES BILL TO INCREASE FIRE PROTECTION
Printer-friendly version AB 666 WOULD HAVE REQUIRED COUNTIES TO ENSURE THAT FIREFIGHTING SERVICES EXIST BEFORE APPROVING NEW BUILDING SUBDIVISIONS October 13, 2009 (Sacramento)–Governor Arnold Scharzenegger has vetoed legislation by Assemblymember Dave Jones (D-Sacramento) to require counties to ensure that adequate fire protection exists before approving new subdivisions in high fire hazard areas. “I am very disappointed that the Governor chose to ignore the safety of firefighters and residents in very high risk areas,” said Jones, a candidate for state Insurance Commissioner. “My bill simply required counties to make sure there is adequate local fire protection before approving new subdivisions in high fire risk areas. This legislation would have avoided putting the lives of firefighters and the lives and property of homeowners at risk.” Assembly Bill 666 (Jones) provided that, before a county approved a new residential subdivision in a high fire risk area, the county must make findings based on substantial evidence, and on the record, that the design and location of the subdivision is consistent with Cal Fire’s design standards for slope, turnouts and water pressure. The bill also required counties to make sure that there is adequate local structural fire protection before approving the new development. “The Governor’s veto means that more people and homes will be put in harm’s way without adequate local fire protection,” said Jones. The Sacramento Bee, Fresno Bee, Modesto Bee and the Riverside Press-Enterprise have all editorialized in support of Jones’ approach to fire protection. AB 666 was also supported by firefighters, the Sierra Club and the Planning and Conservation League. Printer-friendly version
COUNTY HOPES NEW LAW WILL SPUR HOME SOLAR, WIND
Printer-friendly version Governor signs AB 920 to compensate solar and wind powered homes for surplus energy SAN DIEGO— Owners of home solar and wind energy systems that generate extra kilowatts can soon turn those surplus electrons into compensation thanks to new legislation signed by the Governor this week. Assembly Bill 920, which earned strong backing from Chairwoman Dianne Jacob and the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, allows electric utility customers who install solar or wind generation systems on their properties to be paid by their electric utility for the surplus electricity they produce. “The Governor is to be commended for giving green-minded San Diegans a fair return on their investment,” said Chairwoman Jacob, who brought the matter to the Board of Supervisors in November 2008. “The utilities have been allowed to profit from the investments of home solar and wind customers for long enough,” she said. In the past, for generation systems of up to one megawatt, the surplus was carried forward on a customer’s bill for 12 months. Any yearly excess went to the utility. Jacob said California’s new legislation has the potential to drive many more homeowners to invest in home solar and home wind. “If you couple the benefits of AB 920 with the County efforts to roll out a program to help San Diegans afford the upfront costs of home solar and wind systems, you’ve got all the ingredients necessary for a residential renewable boom,” said Chairwoman Jacob. “The benefits of that boom will be far-reaching. We can clean the air, create jobs, stimulate the economy and lessen the nation’s dependence on imported fossil fuels,” she said. Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Minnesota and many other states compensate residential PV customers for surplus power. In Oregon, credit from some surplus solar is granted to customers enrolled in the state’s low income assistance programs Printer-friendly version