HAUNTED STAGECOACH LINE TOUR: GHOSTS & LEGENDS OF THE ANZA-BORREGO DESERT OCT. 31
Printer-friendly version October 25, 2009 (Vallecito) – Looking for a chilling Halloween adventure? Paranormalist/ historian Charles Spratley will lead visitors on a ghostly tour of the reportedly haunted Vallecito Stage Station and stagecoach route on October 31st, telling true tales of the colorful characters whose ghostly apparitions are rumored to roam the desert landscape along what was known in the 1850s as the Devil’s Highway. Choose from an evening program with chuckwagon-style dinner, or for the brave at heart, an overnight campout (gear provided), or opt for lodging in Borrego Springs. The Anza-Borrego desert has claimed hundreds of lives–and what the desert spared, the hand of man sometimes took in strife or the murderous pursuit of gold. By campfire, hear tales of spirits said to inhabit the station (including the forlorn Lady in White) and hear stories of their untimely demise. Travel aboard an open-air vehicle provided by California Overland Desert Excursions along the “haunted” stage route to the restored Vallecito Stage Station. A chuckwagon-style meal of beef, salmon and hot dogs will be provided. Cost for the 18-hour overnight program is $150 for adults (family discounts available) and includes dinner and a hot breakfast. Evening program (6 hours) costs $75 for adults and $50 for kids 12 and under; dinner is included. Reservations are required. Call 866-6-EXPLORE or 760-767-1232. Meet at Vallecito County Park on Route S-2 at 3 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.californiaoverland.com . Printer-friendly version
“SCREAM TEAM” HAUNTED HOUSE: OCT. 30-31 IN EL CAJON
Printer-friendly version Family teams up with San Diego Food Bank to help the hungry October 24, 2009 (El Cajon) – For the past five years, the Knowlden family of El Cajon has thrilled friends and neighbors by converting their home into a haunted house. “We like to say, `We provide the candy, you provide the screams,’” an e-mail from the family informed East County Magazine. “We love to make people laugh, scream and just have a good time.” This year, the Knowldens decided to help local families in need by teaming up with the San Diego Food Bank to collect food and raise awareness in the fight against hunger. Demand at area food banks has soared as a result of the economic recession. Admission to the haunted house is free, however guests are asked to bring non-perishable food items as donations. The “Scream Team” haunted house will be open Friday, October 30th and Saturday, October 31st starting at sundown. Guests are advised to enter at their own risk, since the haunted house uses strobe lights, black lights, flood lights, sound and fog machines. The haunted house is located at 1108 Peach Street in El Cajon, 92021. Printer-friendly version
FLAPJACKS WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS: NOV. 6-7 BREAKFAST IN SANTEE TO HELP NEEDY FAMILIES
Printer-friendly version October 24, 2009 (Santee) – Santee firefighters and the Santee Sheriff’s station invite the public to the 11th annual Santee Pancake Breakfast at the Santee Fire Station #4, 8950 Cottonwood (corner of Mission Gorge and Cottonwood). All proceeds will benefit local families in need. Breakfast includes pancakes, eggs, sausage, coffee and juice. Tickets, which can be purchased at the door, cost $4 for adults and $3 for children under ten and seniors age 65 and older. Printer-friendly version
TOURNAMENT OF THE PHOENIX: INTERNATIONAL JOUSTING COMPETITION IN POWAY CONCLUDES SUNDAY
Printer-friendly version October 24, 2009 (Poway)—The medieval sport of jousting takes center stage in Poway this weekend, where competitors from around the world vie in barred jousting contests at the Tournament of the Phoenix. The "Tournament of the Phoenix" derives its name from the circumstances surrounding the first joust event in October 2007. When the Witch Creek fires devastated Southern California the week prior to the first event, it seemed the event would have to be cancelled. But the events’ core organizers concluded that the event should commence. With the promoters and their Australian competitor evacuated from Ramona and living in a camp in Lakeside, more competitors and participants began pouring in from across the country and around the world. Sleeping on couches and floors across San Diego, the group rallied together and got to work. The day of the event, hundreds of area residents turned out to enjoy an entertaining day away from the cares and worries that had plagued so many. Surrounded by a sea of smiling faces, English competitor Dominic Sewell declared, "We thought the fires would defeat us, but instead we have risen, Phoenix-like, from the flames." Thus the Tournament of the Phoenix was named. In its third year, the Tournament of the Phoenix has proven to be a unique learning experience as well as an exciting sporting event. Only the most highly skilled knights from around the world are invited to compete for the prize. Protected by real, museum-grade armour, they engage in a series of events which demonstrate their proficiency in many of the skills essential to the Medieval knight. Competitive jousting is popular in counties around the world, from New Zealand to Sweden. On any summer weekend, thousands of international fans flock to tournaments where men in armour engage in no holds barred competition. In the past, Americans had to settle for staged theatrical shows, but no longer. At events sanctioned by the Royal Armouries of England and affiliated with the International Jousting League, WorldJoust Tournaments™ brings world-class competitive jousting to US fans. Students and their families can learn about the history of knights and the society they lived in from men who know firsthand what it takes to be a real knight. They can discuss topics such as chivalry, the knight’s code of honour, what it is like to wear and use armour, the role of horses in the Middle Ages and other fascinating topics from real live knights. This year’s featured guests include Dr. Tobias Capwell, Curator of Arms and Armour at the Wallace Collection in London, and Scott Farrell of the award winning ‘Chivalry Today’ program. This year the event expands to include a Festival of History featuring living history presentations from the Romans to the Renaissance. The competition takes place October 23, 24 and 25 at the Poway Rodeo Grounds, PVRA/Poway Rodeo Grounds, 14336 Tierra Bonita Road, Poway. Tickets cost $18 for adults and $15 for children, seniors and military. For more information, visit http://www.worldjoust.com/index.htm. Printer-friendly version
SDG&E TO TEST INNOVATIVE WATER-SUSPENDED SOLAR POWER TECHNOLOGY
Printer-friendly version Increased Efficiencies, Reduced Costs Expected SAN DIEGO, Oct. 23, 2009 – San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) today announced it has joined with Pyron Solar of San Diego to test an advanced concentrated solar-power system that floats in a shallow pool of water and is expected to generate electricity at higher efficiencies and lower costs than conventional flat-panel photovoltaic systems. The objective of the 18-month demonstration project is to validate the technology for potential broad commercial applications. Now being installed at SDG&E’s Mission Control/Skills Training Center in Mission Valley (photo), the technology utilizes acrylic lenses and a dual-tracking system floating in water to concentrate the sun’s rays and focus the sunlight on a proprietary glass optic. The glass optic spreads the sunlight evenly over advanced photovoltaic cells to generate electricity. According to Pyron Solar, the new technology has the potential to cut solar power costs by more than half, as compared with typical commercial rooftop flat-panel photovoltaic systems. The savings are due, in part, to the use of concentrating optical devices, rather than more expensive semi-conductor material. Water is used as a passive coolant to disperse the heat generated by the photovoltaic cells to prevent overheating of critical system components and for increased efficiencies. When fully operational later this year, the resulting 20 kilowatts of solar-generated electricity will be used to help power SDG&E’s Mission Control/Skills Training Center. SDG&E’s press release said that today’s announcement is another step in SDG&E’s plan to develop green technologies, meet its renewable energy goals and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. Since July 2008, SDG&E has announced plans for San Diego’s largest solar power initiative; added one megawatt of clean energy to the San Diego region through its Sustainable Communities projects and voluntarily agreed to become the first California utility to have 33 percent of its portfolio from renewables by 2020. “The increased use of renewable energy is critical to meeting the state’s environmental goals and San Diego is at the forefront of solar and other green technology development,” said Hal D. Snyder, vice president of customer solutions for SDG&E. “We are excited about the potential of this advanced solar system to provide cost savings, sustainable energy and lead to the creation of green jobs at commercialization.” The Pyron Solar HE Optics System is designed for large-scale users such as utilities, industrial customers, universities and military bases. The system is meant to be installed on the ground, rather than on rooftops, to reduce susceptibility to extreme weather conditions and earthquakes. According to Pyron Solar, the concentrated solar-power system could produce nearly twice the electricity of conventional flat-panel photovoltaic systems. “We are very excited to have the opportunity to install Pyron Solar’s first beta system in the United States in partnership with San Diego Gas & Electric,” said Stephanie Rosenthal, Pyron Solar’s president and chief operating officer. “This is a major step towards the commercialization of our solar power generator that we believe will be a leader in providing large scale solar installations as an efficient and cost-effective source of renewable power.” SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego. Printer-friendly version
MORTGAGE SCAMS ON THE RISE, DUMANIS SAYS AT RANCHO SAN DIEGO-JAMUL CHAMBER EVENT
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery October 24, 2009 (El Cajon) – “The biggest thing we’re seeing now is mortgage loan fraud and real estate fraud,” San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis said at Cuyamaca College during a breakfast hosted by the Rancho San Diego-Jamul Chamber of Commerce. “One scam had 400 victims.” The D.A. discussed loan scams and other crime trends in San Diego County during the October 23rd event. Dumanis said her office has taken proactive steps to educate the public through free seminars to prevent more people from losing their homes to scammers. “One scam was land grants,” she said. Scammers would offer to help people keep their homes for a few thousand dollars if the homeowner would deed over their lands, ostensibly for a temporary period. “This scam preys mostly on Latinos, because in Mexico they have land grants, but here we don’t,” Dumanis explained. Other scams involve taking money to find renters for a property. The latest round of scams involves lawyers who ask for hefty fees in advance, she added. The D.A.’s office now sends letters to all property owners who have received eviction notices, warning them about such rip-off schemes. Internet scams and identity thefts are also on the rise, the D.A. said. “Every time you think you’ve seen everything, you see another.” Even a deputy D.A. who specializes in ID theft was victimized, Dumanis noted. Her office has conducted proactive searches without warrants of past offenders. “You’d be amazed how many credit cards and IDs they have,” she revealed. Valerie Harris, president of the Rancho San Diego-Jamul chamber, revealed that she was also stung by a criminal who changed her address through the Post Office. “All of my mail was accessible to the criminal,” she said. The D.A.’s website (http://www.sdcda.org/) now has information to prevent identity theft, as well as steps you should take if you have been victimized. Dumanis advises shredding all personal information and never putting bills in your mailbox, where thieves often steal personal information. Another area where the D.A.’s office has been cracking down is workers’ compensation, including fraud committed by both employees feigning injuries to collect benefits and employers that fail to pay their workers’ compensation premiums. A new ad targeting employers warns, “Commit worker’s compensation fraud: Get a new outfit” and shows a photo of a prisoner in prison jumpsuit and handcuffs. Her office has also gone after healthcare providers who submit fraudulent claims. Dumanis said her office has been successful in collecting more than $3 million on bad checks under a new program to help small businesses recover funds from bounced checks. The D.A. also took credit for helping to pass Jessica’s law, a measure that makes possession of child pornography a felony. In addition, she praised the accomplishments of a gang task force. The D.A. criticized the state Legislature for looking at releasing prisoners to ease prison overcrowding instead of looking at other alternatives. “How can we look at a short term way to save dollars without looking at the long term cost?” she asked, adding that locking people up without giving them tools to change their lives upon release is not the most effective way to reduce crime. She called for rehabilitation programs, transportation to make sure released prisoners go to an appropriation location, and monitoring of recently released offenders. East County Magazine asked Dumanis if she believes communities should be notified when a paroled arsonist is released, noting that several suspicious fires recently occurred in East County in an area where a paroled arsonist was found to be living. “We’re going to look into that to see what the laws are, and whether that should be changed,” Dumanis said. Her office also does community outreach. For example, a new program for college students teaches women how to avoid date rape and warns offenders that such cases will be prosecuted. Asked about hate crimes prosecution, the D.A. said that prosecuting hate crimes can be difficult and clarified that use of racial slurs alone does not prove hate motivation. Her office has prosecuted 91% of cases in which hate crimes were alleged, she said. For all crimes prosecuted since Dumanis took office, the conviction rate has been maintained at 94%, Dumanis said. But she concluded, “It’s not about conviction. It’s about justice.” Printer-friendly version