COLLEGE-AREA BRUSH FIRE EXTINGUISHED; ARSON PROBE LAUNCHED
Printer-friendly version November 8, 2009 (San Diego) – A fire in an canyon on Adobe Falls Road near San Diego State University has been extinguished. Firefighters made repeated water drops last night to douse the blaze, preventing it from spreading to nearby homes. Authorities are investigating the blaze as possible arson, San Diego News Network reports. Printer-friendly version
BREAKING NEWS: HOUSE PASSES LANDMARK HEALTHCARE BILL; LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES DIVIDED
Printer-friendly version November 8, 2009 (Washington D.C.) – The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Affordable Healthcare for All Act last night by a 220-215 margin. Local Democratic representatives Bob Filner and Susan Davis voted for the landmark measure, while local Republicans Duncan Hunter, Darrell Issa and Brian Bilbray voted no. In the House, only a single Republican (Joseph Cao of New Orleans) voted for the measure. In addition, 39 Democrats voted no, including representatives from conservative districts as well as some liberal members. An amendment to prohibit any public healthcare plan from covering abortion (except in cases of rape, incest, or saving the life of a mother) also passed the House. Local Republicans voted for the amendment, while San Diego’s Democrat members opposed it. Senate Leader Harry Reid has said he hopes to bring healthcare reform to a vote in the full Senate by Thankgiving, though many differences between House and Senate bills remain to be resolved. Watch for an in-depth East County Magazine analysis of the Democratic-backed healthcare reform measure passed by the House to be published shortly (including who benefits and who doesn’t), along with analysis of a rival plan proposed by the Republican Party. Printer-friendly version
OFF TO THE RACES….SOAPBOX RACING FINALS TODAY IN LA MESA
Printer-friendly version November 8, 2009 (La Mesa) –“If Bryce Taylor can do it, I can do it.” That’s been the attitude among many area youngsters as they prepared to compete in two days of Soap Box Derby Rally Races, with the final rounds today. The event is sponsored by Drew Ford and the Kiwanis Club of La Mesa. The race course is down Junior High Drive adjacent to La Mesa Middle School. Highwood Park is the staging area. Last May, Bryce, age 11, of Santee, entered his first ever Soap Box Derby, emerging the winner in the stock car division at the annual local Drew Ford/Kiwanis Club of La Mesa Derby. His prize was to be sent to the National All-American Soap Box Derby Race in Akron, Ohio, in July, where, faced with hundreds of competitors in his division, he won several heats, climbing up the pairing ladder to finish fourth overall. Derby Director Dennis Wilkes, a member of the La Mesa Kiwanis, said the club is very proud of Bryce’s achievement. In fact Bryce was honored at a club luncheon where he spoke about his experience and answered questions. “His trophy is almost as big as he is,” remarked Wilkes. The La Mesa Kiwanis conducts two rally races each year, one in November and one in March. “These are opportunities for the drivers to get experience in steering and braking their cars,” Wilkes said. “The cars are built from kits. We hold car-building workshops at Drew Ford for the driver and their parents to assemble the cars together. All together, Soap Box Derby is a great family-oriented activity.” For more information, contact Wilkes at 619-469-7353, or online at dwilkes1@cox.net. Printer-friendly version
BETWEEN WILDFIRES: GET RID OF EMBER CATCHERS
Printer-friendly version By Anne S. Fege, Ph.D., M.B.A., wildfire ecologist and educator, and retired Forest Supervisor of the Cleveland National Forest November 7, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)–Embers are mostly to blame in structural losses from wildfires! Recent wildfire damage assessments have shown that most structures ignite from embers landing in or on combustible materials of a house (entering the attic through unprotected vents, or on a wood roof), or from radiation created by burning vegetation or other combustible materials adjacent to the house. An ember may be blown into an un-pruned juniper shrub, ignite the dead branches, which would burn the wooden eaves above it and then engulf the entire house. After the Witch Fire of 2007, experts analyzed 3,000 homes to determine why some survived and others did not, despite facing similar wildfire conditions. They found that homes situated less than 15 feet apart are at high risk, and that wind-blown embers caused the most damage to homes during this wildfire. Only 2% of the houses burned, if built to the 2004 building code, and 13% burned if built before 2004 in San Diego. Get this report, “Megafires: The case for mitigation,” from the Institute for Business & Home Safety, at http://www.disastersafety.org/resource/resmgr/pdfs/wf_research.pdf . After the Grass Valley Fire of 2007 (near Big Bear, CA, mostly pine, black oak, and manzanita shrubs), the damage assessment revealed that there was green or unburned vegetation around most of the destroyed homes. Of the 192 houses burned, 120 houses burned in an “urban fire” (house to house), 66 from embers or surface fires that burned right up to the house, and only 6 from burning trees (crown fire). Get this report at http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sanbernardino/documents/grassvalley_structure_report_july2008.pdf. Wildfire property losses have proven to be far lower when homeowners take responsibility—to build, retrofit, and maintain houses to current building codes for structures in fire-prone areas, There are now many lists of what homeowners can do, to reduces risks for themselves and their neighbors, often at low or no cost. Start by cleaning out gutters, pruning landscaping, and putting combustible “stuff” in the trash. Invest a little each year in retrofitting vents, windows, garage door seals, fences, and decks. Start a conversation with local elected officials about code enforcement, point-of-sale retrofits, and insurance discounts for retrofits and maintenance. Get the best local information from the website www.wildfirezone.org and from the Burn Institute brochure, “Living with Wildfire,” posted at http://www.burninstitute.org/pdfs/BI-Wildfire-Guide09.pdf. Get information on building products, from the current approved Wildland Urban Interface Products list, posted at http://osfm.fire.ca.gov/strucfireengineer/pdf/bml/wuiproducts.pdf. Written by Anne S. Fege, Ph.D., M.B.A., wildfire ecologist and educator, and Retired Forest Supervisor, Cleveland National Forest, contact at afege@aol.com . Printer-friendly version
ARMCHAIR IMPRESSIONISTS EXHIBITION NOV. 1-30: RECEPTION NOV. 15
Printer-friendly version By Tammy Lawhead, events coordinator, Armchair Impressionists November 7, 2009 (El Cajon) — Renown Western artist, illustrator, and art instructor Jack Jordon and watercolorist Carol Harris are special guest artists at this year’s Armchair Impressionists Exhibition. Paintings by armchair Impressionists Jeffrey Graham, Rustin Holec, David Lawhead, Karen Marsh, and William Marsh will be featured November 1 -30 at the Rancho San Diego Library, 11555 Via Rancho San Diego in El Cajon. The public is invited to join the artists at a reception November 15th from 2 – 4 pm in the Community Room. The Armchair Impressionists are five artists who came together as Grossmont College of Community Learning students under the tutelage of Jordan. The group meets to offer support and encouragement as they submit their paintings to venues available to artists in and around San Diego County. Below are biographies of this year’s Exhibition participants and samples of their work: Guest Artist Jack Jordan began his formal art training at the age of twelve when his father enrolled him in the government “Works Projects Administration” (W.P.A.) in Des Moines, Iowa. He was taken under the wing of Paul Parker, a fine artist and teacher. While he was the only child in the class, Jack quickly found a home among the other painters, lithographers and sculptors. Jordan later worked as staff artist for the Register and Tribune in Des Moines, Iowa, and eventually as art director and picture editor for the Evening Tribune in San Diego. Jack studied at the Coronado School of Art in Coronado, the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles, and the Institute of the Arts in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. His works have been featured in national magazine such as Southwest Art and Arts West. Jordan was also chosen for inclusion in the book “Contemporary Western Artists,” and the 1981-1982 edition “Artists of Renown”. Jack Jordon also wrote and illustrated “How To Paint the Old West” published by Walter Foster. Jordan has shown in many galleries in both the United States and Mexico. In 2005 the artist held a one-man show for the Heritage of the Americas Museum in El Cajon, where thirty-seven of his paintings were displayed. Currently you can also view Jack Jordan’s paintings at O’Dunn Fine Art, www.ODunnFineArt.com. Jordan continues to teach private art classes in Landscape, Seascape and Portrait in El Cajon. The Artist is a member of the East County Art Association in El Cajon, The San Diego Museum of Art and The San Diego Museum of Art Artist’s Guild. Guest Artist Carol Harris began painting when a dear friend offered to teach her to paint with watercolor a number of years ago. Since then, she relocated to San Diego and was delighted to discover painting classes offered through Grossmont Adult School and San Diego Continuing Education, where she has continued to learn to paint. With her three children now grown, she has been able to devote a little more time to painting. Capturing beauty and emotion in watercolor has become a joy in her life. With California’s beautiful coastline, mountains, and plants and flowers, she seldom finds it difficult to find new subjects to paint. Carol is a member of the Foothills Art Association. Jeffrey Graham is a marine biologist. He works exclusively with oils on canvas and board. His subjects are portraits, still lifes and both land- and seascapes. In addition to his studies, both classroom and private, with Jack Jordan, he has studied with Anita Louise West and Albert Handell. He has also taken classes at the San Diego Museum of Art. He is a member of the East County Art Association and the Foothills Art Association. Rustin Holec began painting seriously and exhibiting his art around the turn of the millennium. His preferred medium is oil, and although his interest initially was in capturing majestic seascapes, his themes have since expanded to include landscapes, portraits, and more. His career of over 20 years with Adventure 16, a southern California outdoor and travel outfitter, has afforded him opportunities to travel and visit places of unlimited beauty and inspiration, as well as reinforce his appreciation for and protection of the natural wonders surrounding us. His education includes private instruction with Jack Jordan, and through workshops and programs offered by such institutions as the Art Institute and the San Diego Museum of Art, he continues to develop and refine his individual style and imagery. In addition to being one of the five artists making up the Armchair Impressionists, he is also a member of Foothills and East County Art Associations. David Lawhead is a wildlife biologist and has worked in many capacities with the California Department of Fish and Game and California State Parks. He enjoys studying and being in the outdoors. Five years ago, he first picked up a paint brush, and what started out as an experiment has become a passion. His chosen subject matter is generally landscapes with some portraiture. One of his paintings received a third place award in the East County Art Association’s Members Show in October 2008. Last summer David had a desert scape accepted in the 2008 San Diego County Fair Art Show. He is also a member of the Foothills Art Association, and East County Art Association. Karen Marsh began painting seriously after retirement from SD County civil service. Her medium is oil and her subjects eclectic. She prefers painting interesting faces but is presently involved in a series of landscapes. She has had a landscape chosen for the cover of the Grossmont Cuyamaca Extended Studies Catalog. Her paintings have hung in the East County Regional Center in El Cajon, and she has had a one person show at the South County Regional Center. She is a member of the Foothills Art Association and the East County Art Association. William Marsh has been painting in oils and acrylics for ten years. Previously, he concentrated on photography as he traveled