2 RESCUED FROM OVERTURNED VEHICLE IN LAKESIDE
Printer-friendly version Story by Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire Protection District Photos by Firefighter-Paramedic Steve Russo, Lakeside Fire Protection District Winter Gardens: On November 7th, at 10:54 AM, units from the Lakeside Fire District were dispatched to a “Rescue Vehicle Accident” in the 8600 block of Winter Gardens Blvd. On arrival crews discovered a vehicle still on it’s roof with two occupants trapped inside. Utilizing hydraulic rescue tools, crews were able to quickly access the patients, and allow the paramedics to initiate assessments. It was determined that one patient had minor injuries but the second patient had significant trauma. A request for additional resources was made by the Incident Commander (Battalion Chief Brent Larkin), which brought an additional engine from the San Miguel Fire District, and an additional ALS ambulance from Lakeside. After the patients had been removed one patient was immediately transported by ground units to Sharp Trauma, but due to the severity of the injuries with the second victim a request was made for Mercy Air to respond. The airship was landed at Winter Gardens Elementary were he was subsequently transported to Sharp Memorial Trauma Center. Watch for updates at http://www.heartlandzonenews.blogspot.com/. Printer-friendly version
TRADE IN YOUR HOLIDAY LIGHTS FOR ENERGY-EFFICIENT LEDS–FREE!
Printer-friendly version WSDG&E® is exchanging up to three old holiday light strands for an equal number of complimentary color light-emitting diode (LED) holiday light strands to customers throughout San Diego County. SDG&E® and its community partners are hosting eight light exchanges throughout the County, ringing in energy savings and increased safety for the holiday season. No Cost LED Holiday Lighting Exchanges SDG&E is once again offering no cost LED holiday lights in exchange for your old incandescent holiday light strands. At these holiday lighting events, you can: * Exchange up to three incandescent holiday light strands* for multi-colored LED holiday light strands * Exchange up to five incandescent light bulbs* for energy-efficient CFLs (available at select events – Coronado and El Cajon ONLY) * Exchange up to two halogen torchiere lamps* for more energy efficient models (available at select events – Coronado and El Cajon ONLY) Benefits of LED Holiday Lights LED holiday lights can save you a lot of energy and money when compared to traditional incandescent holiday lights.LED holiday lights are also cool to the touch (a reduced fire hazard), making them safer for you and your family. LED lights shine brighter and last up to 100 times longer than incandescent lights, and they can cost up to 90% less to run! Along with new holiday lights, customers will receive a no-cost Home Energy & Water Savings Kit in an eco-friendly reusable shopping bag! The kit includes a low-flow showerhead and three faucet aerators. For dates and locations of LED holiday light exchanges, click here to view a flyer or visit http://www.sdge.com/LEDs to learn more. This Freebie Alert is provided by Nancy and Dawn Clement, East County Magazine’s Dollar-Wise Diva columnists and they can be reached at 619-563-4184 or Dollar-WiseDivas@Cox.net. For more Freebie Alerts and money-saving tips, check out their weekly column at: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/, just scroll down until you reach the Dollar-wise Diva’s banner. Printer-friendly version
CHARGERS AND MTS PARTNER FOR “STUFF THE BUS” FOOD DRIVE
Printer-friendly version Need for food in East County cities rises sharply November 7, 2009 (San Diego) — The San Diego Chargers and Metropolitan Transit Service are partnering to run a series of food drives starting Nov. 10 and ending with a game day food drive at the Chargers vs. Philadelphia game at Qualcomm Stadium Nov. 15. Starting Tuesday, Nov. 10 MTS will host “Stuff the Bus Food Drives” at select Vons supermarket parking lots, where the public will be invited to stuff an MTS bus full of food to feed hungry San Diegans over the holiday season. From January to June, the amount of food distributed by San Diego Food Bank to the needy doubled and tripled across the county. The number of meals distributed by the Food Bank in San Diego alone increased from 1.6 million to 2.4 million. In Lemon Grove, food distributed skyrocketed by 144%. Spring Valley food distribution shot up 80%, while La Mesa and El Cajon rose 31% and 32%. Based on the number of people enrolled on Food Bank programs and reports from its nonprofit partners, the number of people served by the Food Bank every month has increased from 200,000 to 304,000 from 2008 to 2009, an increase of 52%. Food Bank CEO J. Scofield Hage said, “We are so grateful to MTS and the Chargers for supporting the Food Bank with these important food drives. Getting more food donated to the Food Bank will be critical this year with demand soaring. We are feeding more people than ever before, but it is due to the help of organizations like MTS and the Chargers that we are able to meet the increased need.” The Chargers and MTS will officially launch the food drive at a press conference at Qualcomm Stadium on Nov. 10 at 10.30 a.m. with Supervisor Ron Roberts, Chargers player Vincent Jackson, Chargers COO Jim Steeg, MTS CEO Paul Jablonski and Food Bank officials. On Sunday, Nov. 15 the Chargers will host a game day food drive at Qualcomm Stadium with the Food Bank’s famous red food drive collection barrels at every stadium entrance. The Food Bank is appealing to the community to support the food drives since it is currently feeding record numbers of San Diegans. Food Bank officials say that this year’s food drive is of critical importance. All food collected will help the Food Bank meet the exponential increase in demand, especially over the holiday season. Food drive locations include: Tues., Nov. 10, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Vons 6555 Mission Gorge Road, 92120 Weds., Nov. 11, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Vons Balboa Avenue, 92111 Thurs., Nov. 12, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Vons 3610 Adams Avenue, 92116 Fri., Nov.13, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Vons 665 Saturn Street, 92154 Sun. Nov. 15, 12 noon – 3 p.m. Qualcomm Stadium, Chargers vs. Philadelphia game Metropolitan Transit System CEO Paul Jablonski said, “MTS is pleased to unite with the Chargers to once again help the community with a food drive. Stuff the Bus has become an important tradition at MTS and we hope our combined efforts will help those in need.” Printer-friendly version
SYLVIA’S SOAPBOX: SCHOOLS DEAL WITH DIRTY DANCING, AMONG OTHER THINGS
Printer-friendly version By Sylvia Hampton November 7, 2009 (San Diego)–Every parent and school official in the nation, upon reading about the gang-rape of a 15-year-old girl outside her homecoming dance by boys and men from age 15 to 21, was shocked and outraged. Who was responsible? Where did she get the liquor? Why was she allowed to leave the campus in a drunken state? Where were her friends? Who do we blame? How can we prevent these things from happening? And those boys and men. Where do these creatures come from? Schools are dealing with kids drinking, dirty dancing and girls dressing like street-walkers. They also cope with parents’ complaints and elected officials who judge them without ever talking to teachers and principals about the pressures of their jobs, much less the egregious budget cuts forced upon them. Schools, in desperation, are making students and parents sign pledges that the kids will dress and act appropriately at school dances. The Rancho Bernardo High contract says the girls cannot wear anything that will "expose cleavage, have slits extending above mid-thigh or are otherwise immodest." And no “Jeans, shorts, tennis shoes, bare-midriffs, see- through dresses, or sexually suggestive apparel” at a dance. No alcohol allowed ever. And students “must be at the dance by 10:00 p.m. or they will not be admitted. Students may not exit and reenter the dance. Sexually explicit dancing (i.e. freaking, grinding, or dirty dancing) and dancing that may result in disruption or injury (i.e. slamming, moshing, etc.) are prohibited.” Yes, the school is worried about the safety of the kids who actually like to have rules and regulations to keep them safe. And the schools primary mission is to educate the students to one day become critical thinkers, productive citizens and excellent parents. I asked my husband about this since he was a high school principal for 16 years and he said, “They get bombarded with too much sex in the media,” followed by, “School uniforms would make it much easier for the school officials.” He’s long retired, but worked through the wild times of the ‘70’s which was no picnic. I recall a FRONTLINE program called “Merchants of Cool” that was aired on Public Broadcasting in 2001. It exposed how corporations target teenagers as their number one consumer group and lead them to purchase everything from movie tickets, soft drinks, music downloads to low slung jeans, using mainly sex. You can now watch it on your computer (it is a very popular video) and it will help explain what schools, teens and parents are facing today. Check it out at: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/cool/view/ In fact, the kids should watch it with their parents and discuss it with them. I think I will send it to my granddaughters right now. But nothing explains gang-rape. Not even war. Printer-friendly version
MARKETING MATTERS: HOW TO GIVE BUSINESS HOLIDAY GIFTS SUCCESSFULLY
Printer-friendly version TIPS AND TRICKS FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS AND GROWTH By Rama Beerfas November 7, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – While most people believe that the best time to give holiday business gifts is in the week or two leading up to Christmas, there are several compelling reasons to choose either Thanksgiving or New Year for business-related gift-giving. Although Christmas is traditionally a time to give and receive gifts in our culture, there are several reasons to choose a different time: 1) Many offices close or individuals choose this time to take time off. Your gift won’t get to them if they are not there. Worse, if it is a food gift, it may even spoil before it is received. 2) Not everyone celebrates Christmas. While a gift of appreciation is always welcomed, the fact is that we don’t want to alienate anyone by not recognizing that people do have different beliefs and celebrate those at various times of the year. In light of this, why not take advantage of other holidays throughout the year to show appreciation to your clients, employees, referral sources, vendors and others who have made your business a success over the past year? 3) By giving your business gift when everyone else’s is delivered, you run the risk of getting lost in the deluge of baskets, boxes and cards. By giving your business gifts either at Thanksgiving or just after New Year’s, you are guaranteed to beat the holiday rush of gifts that become a jumble of items and baskets with no one quite remembering what came from who. You will either be amongst the very first gifts to arrive (if not the first), or one of the very last; making you stand out among the crowd. What better time to give a gift in thanks of new business, continued business, loyalty from employees, appreciation of referrals and/or great support and service from vendors than Thanksgiving? The sentiment will be well appreciated at this most appropriate and American of holidays. Since Thanksgiving is about one month before most people’s gifts arrive, yours will never get lost in the shuffle, giving you that extra wow factor. Are you afraid that it will look like the recipient was an afterthought on the gift list if you opt for a post-New Year gift? It won’t if you treat it as a gift in thanks for their business last year and the anticipation of yet another successful year working together. Rama Beerfas is the Chief Solutions Specialist of San Diego-based Lev Promotions, offering marketing consulting, promotional product programs, and business holiday gifts. Rama also offers seminars and training in topics related to marketing and customer service. She can be reached at (619) 697-2045 or at rama@levpromotions.com. Please submit requests for column topics to the above e-mail address. For more Marketing Matters tips, see http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/taxonomy/term/310. Printer-friendly version
MARKETING MATTERS: TIPS AND TRICKS FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS AND GROWTH
Printer-friendly version Planning for Effective Marketing – The How By Rama Beerfas October 1, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – We’ve talked about the details of our marketing program: the who, what where, when and why. Those are mapped out and ready to go. Now, we come to the “how.” A plan can only be successful if it is implemented fully and correctly. Any plan that is put into action only partway has very little chance of success. A well thought-out plan that is not carried out as intended also has limited probability of achieving the set goals. In order to have the best possible odds of attaining the expected objectives, we must coordinate the “how” part of the plan, or the implementation of responsibilities: o Assign someone to have the primary responsibility for the program. This person will make sure that deadlines are met, that the program components are put into effect as planned, and that the results are monitored and measured. o Tweak the program as needed. Once results start coming in, it may become necessary to alter parts of the program in order to maximize results. This should be done in consultation with the person running the program, the person who designed the program, and any department heads directly affected by the results. Perhaps a focus group or survey might be useful here as well. o Follow up in order to reinforce the message. It is very rare for a one-time marketing touch to have significant results. In today’s society, it may take thirteen to fifteen “touchpoints” (times that you touch someone through various marketing efforts), or more, in order for your message to make an impact on your target. A one-time effort without appropriate follow up to keep your message front and center is a waste of time, energy and money in all but the most unusual of cases. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that one-time effort, no matter how engaging a marketing program it is, has done the job for you. Design a marketing program that realistically encompasses the who, what, where, when and why and then pull it together with a cohesive how, and you will see results. Rama Beerfas is the Chief Solutions Specialist of San Diego-based Lev Promotions, offering marketing consulting and promotional product programs. Rama also offers seminars and training in topics related to marketing and customer service. She can be reached at (619) 697-2045 or at rama@levpromotions.com. Please submit requests for column topics to the above e-mail address. Printer-friendly version
EAST COUNTY ROUND-UP: NOVEMBER 7, 2009
Printer-friendly version East County Roundup Includes the Most Important Stories About East County, or relevant to our readers, published by other media. Top stories from the past month include: • Motorist to stand trial in young mother’s death • Obama ushers in a new era for Indian Country • Local GOP party calls for resignation of Poway Councilmember • Buffalo Soldiers’ base recognized • Teen’s threats trigger arrests • FPPC won’t investigate Duvall’s mistress • Under-fire Helix assistant vice principal is fired • Long-time La Mesa City Manager stepping down • Schools, stage budget and safety topics hot at forum • Commission gives nod to Merriam for 2,700 homes • The long road back: two years after the wildfires,recovery for many residents has been belated MOTORIST TO STAND TRIAL IN YOUNG MOTHER’S DEATH Ramona Sentinel (November 6, 2009) — A Ranchita man whose speed on state Route 67 resulted in a collision and the death of Alexandria McKeirnan-Drake was remanded into jail shortly after the judge ordered him to stand trial for vehicular manslaughter. Seven witnesses testified Oct. 28 in the preliminary hearing of Melvin Leroy Pearles, 48, who is accused of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence in the March 29 incident. Alcohol was not a factor, but excessive speed was the killer, according to testimony. http://www.ramonasentinel.com/article/News/News/Motorist_to_stand_trial_in_young_mothers_death/19589 OBAMA USHERS IN A NEW ERA FOR INDIAN COUNTRY Indian Country Today (November 5, 2009)– Fulfilling a pledge to forge a strong and lasting partnership with tribal nations, the leader of the free world took some time out of his schedule to address a plethora of concerns affecting Native American people and their communities. “I’m absolutely committed to moving forward with you and forging a new and better future together,” President Barack Obama said during a Nov. 5 speech to hundreds of tribal leaders gathered in Washington from sovereign nations across the country. http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/home/content/69340852.html LOCAL GOP PARTY CALLS FOR RESIGNATION OF POWAY COUNCILMEMBER November 4, 2009 (Poway) –The Republican Party of San Diego County has joined an ongoing campaign demanding that Poway City Councilwoman Betty Rexford resign, it was reported Wednesday. Rexford, 69, was a longtime Republican until last week, when she changed her party affiliation to “decline to state,” according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. http://www.sdnn.com/sandiego/2009-11-04/politics-city-county-government/local-gop-party-calls-for-resignation-of-poway-councilmember#ixzz0WBzZZ3LJ BUFFALO SOLDIERS’ BASE RECOGNIZED Union-Tribune (10/31/09) — EAST COUNTY — A state commission voted yesterday to declare Camp Lockett, the World War II Army base in Campo that was the last home of the famed Buffalo Soldiers, a California historical landmark. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/oct/31/buffalo-soldiers-base-nears-historic-status/ TEEN’S THREATS TRIGGER ARREST Ramona Sentinel (October 28, 2009) — A 19-year-old Ramona High School senior was scheduled to be arraigned in Superior Court in El Cajon yesterday after his arrest Sunday for threatening to blow up Ramona High School or parts of the school. Korey Robert Flad’s arrest followed reports to school and sheriff’s officials on Friday of a male student at the high school saying he planned significant damage to the school. http://www.ramonasentinel.com/article/News/News/Teens_threats_trigger_arrest/19543 FPPC WON’T INVESTIGATE DUVALL’S ALLEGED MISTRESS Sacramento Bee (October 28, 2009) — The state’s political watchdog agency today rejected a request that it investigate the actions of two female lobbyists who allegedly engaged in affairs with ex-Assemblyman Mike Duvall. Duvall, a married Republican, resigned last month after a tape surfaced of him boasting in graphic detail about his sexual trysts with two women. Both of the women referred to in the July conversation, which was recorded by a hot mic during an Assembly committee hearing, are reportedly lobbyists. One has been identified in media reports as a lobbyist for Sempra Energy, a utility company that Duvall was assigned to regulate as vice chairman of the Assembly Utiltiies and Commerce Committee. http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/capitolalertlatest/026589.html UNDER-FIRE HELIX HIGH ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL IS FIRED Union-Tribune (October 26, 2009 ) — The Helix High School assistant principal who came under fire for giving a student a ride to a bus station has been fired. The charter school’s governing board voted unanimously Monday to terminate the administrator’s contract “without cause,” officials said. School officials would not comment on the matter and instead issued a prepared statement. http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/oct/26/bn26helix-teacher-fired/?metro LONG TIME LA MESA CITY MANAGER STEPPING DOWN Union-Tribune (October 26, 2009) -After nearly 22 years working for La Mesa, City Manager Sandra Kerl announced Monday that she will step down next month. Kerl, 47, an Alpine resident, is resigning to take a position as deputy general manager at the San Diego County Water Authority. Her last day as La Mesa’s city manager will be Nov. 20. http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/oct/26/bn26kern-stepping-down/?metro&zIndex=189508 SCHOOLS, STATE BUDGET AND SAFETY HOT TOPICS AT FORUM Union-Tribune (October 24, 2009) — How can the state fix its budget crisis and other problems? Will a new high school in Alpine be big enough to meet demand? Could the names of convicted arsonists be accessible to the public? Local and state elected officials faced these and other questions Wednesday night at the Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce’s 11th annual “An Evening With Your Elected Representatives” at Viejas Casino. In all, 120 people attended the event, including state Assemblyman Joel Anderson, San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and Alpine Union School District board member Mark Price. http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/oct/24/schools-state-budget-and-safety-hot-topics-forum/?education&zIndex=188341 COMMISSION GIVES NOD TO MERRIAM FOR 2,700 HOMES San Diego Union-Tribune (October 24, 2009) — A huge housing development proposed for a mountainous, undeveloped area north of Escondido just west of Interstate 15 won the support of the county’s planning commission yesterday. By a 5-2 vote, the commission agreed to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that it approve the Merriam Mountains project, north of Deer Springs Road, and adopt the needed zoning changes for the development. http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/oct/24/commission-gives-nod-merriam-2700-homes/?northcounty&zIndex=188349 THE LONG ROAD BACK Two years after the wildfires, recovery for many residents has been belated