SANTA ANA WINDS BLOW IN: WARNING ISSUED
April 7,2010 (San Diego’s East County) — The National Weather Service has issued a high winds warning for mountain passes in East County. Santa Ana winds of 25-35 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph, are forecast for this afternoon. Motorists are advised to use caution, particularly high-profile vehicles, on I-8 east of Alpine as well as along easter portions of Highways 78 and 79.
POLICE SEEK THIEVES WHO TRIED TO STEAL ATM IN LA MESA
April 7, 2010 (La Mesa) Around 4:40 this morning, two suspects used a vehicle to break into the La Mesa Mailboxes business in the 8200 block of La Mesa Boulevard. Suspects backed up into the business several times with their vehicle and caused major damage. There was no loss, but the potential target was the automatic teller machine (ATM) inside. A witness described the suspect vehicle as a white Dodge Ram truck with a gray tailgate and a partial plate of “6U8.” The driver was not identified, but the passenger was described as a white male in his 50s, 5 foot, nine inches tall with a heavy build and wearing a flannel shirt. The La Mesa Police Department will be working with other police agencies to determine whether this crime is part of a county wide series of ATM thefts. If you have any information on this case, call the La Mesa Police Department at (619) 667-1400. This investigation is continuing. You may also call Crime Stoppers’ anonymous toll-free tip line (888) 580-TIPS (or www.sdcrimestoppers.com). You can remain anonymous, and be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in this case.
LONG WAIT FOR A LOCAL HERO: AFTER 37-YEARS, EX- P.O.W. AND GROSSMONT HIGH GRAD RECEIVES MEDALS HONORING HIS SERVICE
By E.A. Barrera You don’t have to be in the military to serve and defend your country. That s the duty of all of us." — Lewis Meyer – January 8, 2010 April 6, 2010 (San Diego) — Lewis Meyer was a fireman who became a prisoner of war in Vietnam from February 1, 1968 to March 27, 1973. He was taken prisoner during the Tet Offensive and kept for five years under the most brutal conditions a man could suffer through. When he returned home, the El Cajon resident found a world eager to forget his trauma as it was a nation’s trauma. The aftermath of a failed war Americans were eager to forget. But his family never forgot. They would never forget the plight of an American hero. On January 8, 2010, in a ceremony aboard the USS Midway, Rear Admiral William D. French, the Commanding officer for the U.S. Navy’s Region Southwest, presented the Purple Heart medal to Lewis Meyer. Thirty-seven years after coming home from Vietnam, Lewis Meyer was presented two Purple Heart medals and a Prisoner of War medal for his service. To understand the life of Lewis Meyer … as well as his former wife Gail and her husband, retired Air Force Colonel Dean Erwine … is to reflect and make some sense on the life of San Diego and the United States since the end of World War Two. This story is about the lives of three people growing up in San Diego and knowing each other since their childhood–three average San Diego lives intertwined in the sweeping history of a nation conflicted over its changing role in the world. Above all, it’s the story of family ties and loyalties which can hold a man together when he’s been sent to hell-on-Earth … and returned to find the world he left behind changed – for good and bad – forever. Lewis was a fire-fighter all his adult life and a military man most of those years. He served in the Army during the Korean War, and in the Air Force Reserves well into his forties. But from a time before he graduated Grossmont High School’s class of 1949, he was a fireman. He fought and trained to fight all types of fires – from wild fires in the Cleveland National Forest to industrial fires in combat environments. Even after he came home from Vietnam, he returned to fire-fighting. "I believe it gets in your blood – being a fireman," said Gail. "It’s a mindset that says you’ll sacrifice your life to save others. You have to do it. You could never sit on the sidelines while others fought to protect people. Like the guys who went into the World Trade Towers to save people on September 11th." Lewis and Gail met when they were both in elementary school, and knew of each other growing up. But their first "date" was not until after high school when she met him at a party and he offered to drive her home. "Lewis’ car died and we had to push it back to my place. A couple days later he asked me out," said Gail. By all accounts, Lewis was a tough kid. Dean recalls the Lewis of those high school years as the enforcer of a group of kids in the area – who less resembled a gang so much as a "social club" on the order depicted in Sylvester Stallone’s film "Lords of Flatbush." "They never bothered me and I was friends with one of the leaders, but they were guys you didn’t mess with and Lewis was one of the toughest," said Dean. San Diego in the early 1950s. Gail’s brother Mike Jansen, who now owns Gravel & Grit in Lakeside and lives in Ramona, described it as "an American Graffiti San Diego" of hot-rods racing down El Cajon Boulevard, and drive-in Movie Theaters, and farmland in areas so urbanized now, it is almost impossible to imagine any other lifestyle. A wide-open America and a wide open San Diego which people were just beginning to discover. "Lewis and Gail took me in and I lived with them right after high school," said Mike. "Lewis was eleven years older than me and he was my mentor in a lot of ways. He’d take me to play baseball, and he took me up to the towers in Cuyamaca when he was working up there as a fire fighter. When I moved out of my parents place and moved in with them in their house in Serra Mesa, Lewis pulled his car out of their garage and let me park my Model A hot-rod in there. All he asked of me was that I watch out for my sister and their kids when he was gone. He’s always been a very generous man." Gail’s father Charles Jansen owned a number of small restaurants in San Diego city and county, including Jansen’s Smorgasbord in Horton Plaza, and "2-J’s" hamburger restaurants, which Gail noted was San Diego’s first chain of fast-food restaurants. "We had a restaurant on the corner of Pearl and La Jolla Boulevard as well as one just across the street from The US Grant Hotel. We had a place on 45th and Euclid and Lewis often worked for my dad. He became a son to dad," said Gail. Lewis and Gail married in 1954 after he got out of the army. They had their first apartment on 45th street so Gail was able to walk to her father’s restaurant to work. Lewis began working for the Federal Civil Service in the Department of Defense as a fire-fighter. They raised a family and when Gail speaks of those early years, she remembers a time when patriotism knew no political brands or party– and the sorts of ideological divisions and fighting so common today were not a part
PUBLIC WARNED OF FEMALE BURGLAR USING PHONY STORY TO ENTER HOMES
April 6, 2010 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Police have issued a warning to the public about a woman who tricked an elderly woman into letting her inside, then stole her purse. Similar crimes have occurred in the Lake Murray area of San Diego just north of La Mesa. The suspect is a tall African-American, age 40-45, weighing 200 pounds and driving a “nice vehicle” in a dark color, possibly green. The woman knocked on the front door of a home in the 4500 block of Harbinson Ave. in La Mesa and pretended to know the daughter of the elderly resident, even mentioning the daughter’s name. The female suspect asked to come in for a drink of water and was allowed in the home. After the suspect left, the victim discovered that her purse was missing. She called her creditors to cancel her credit cards, but some of the credit cards had already been used. The victim was not injured during this crime. . “It appears this suspect may be targeting older members of the public. Residents should be cautious allowing strangers in their home that fit this scenario,” La Mesa Police warned, but added that it is uncertain whether this crime is related to the San Diego crimes in a nearby area. If you have information on this crime, call La Mesa Police at 469-6111.
RECIPE: MOROCCAN LENTIL SOUP
Recipe courtesy of Purple Mountain Sage Columnist Sharon Courmousis, owner of Sacred Rocks Reserve Ingredients: 2 onions, chopped, 2 cloves garlic, minced, 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger, 6 cups water, 1 cup red lentils, 1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained, 1 (19 ounce) can cannellini beans, 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, 1/2 cup diced carrots, 1/2 cup chopped celery, 1 teaspoon garam masala, 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cardamom, 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 tablespoon olive oil Directions: In large pot sauté: the onions, garlic, and ginger in a little olive oil for about 5 minutes. Add the water, lentils, chickpeas, white kidney beans, diced tomatoes, carrots, celery, garam masala, cardamom, cayenne pepper and cumin. Bring to a boil for a few minutes then simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or longer, until the lentils are soft. Puree half the soup in a food processor or blender. Return the pureed soup to the pot, stir and enjoy! (allrecipes.com)
ADVICE FROM THE PURPLE MOUNTAIN SAGE: FIND YOUR INNER AVATAR
Increase your enjoyment of living By Sharon Courmousis Sacred Rocks Reserve “Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.” ~ Kahlil Gibran “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.” ~ John Muir April 6, 2010 — Scroll down for the Purple Mountain Sage’s essay, "Finding the Avatar Within" — plus a delicious recipe for Moroccoan lentil soup! Recipe: Moroccan Lentil Soup 2 onions, chopped, 2 cloves garlic, minced, 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger, 6 cups water, 1 cup red lentils, 1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained, 1 (19 ounce) can cannellini beans, 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, 1/2 cup diced carrots, 1/2 cup chopped celery, 1 teaspoon garam masala, 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cardamom, 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 tablespoon olive oil Directions: In large pot sauté: the onions, garlic, and ginger in a little olive oil for about 5 minutes. Add the water, lentils, chickpeas, white kidney beans, diced tomatoes, carrots, celery, garam masala, cardamom, cayenne pepper and cumin. Bring to a boil for a few minutes then simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or longer, until the lentils are soft. Puree half the soup in a food processor or blender. Return the pureed soup to the pot, stir and enjoy! (allrecipes.com) Finding the Avatar Within Even in the mountains at Sacred Rocks, we just had to see the movie. The story was the quintessential battle of good against evil. The characters, both heroes and villains, were strong and committed unto death. And the trees, flowers, wild animals, forest, mountains and air all were different than ours, yet, in many respects similar. The Avatar is defined as a human in an alien body. Kinda cool! What I like about the movie is the “tuning in” the human had to go through to see the beauty of the planet. The dangers and the benefits really required time to experience. And did you cry, like I did at the destruction of the home tree? I ponder, is there a way for us as humans, to tune in to our Earth, in time to salvage and even regenerate before we destroy it? If so, how? How can we find out what we need to do? Can we start where we are with nature education plus experience for each of us individually? Could that equal shifting our planet in a different direction? I have discovered five ideas that could help us to explore and tune in: • Spend time in nature. You do not have to haul your necessities up a difficult path, or barrel down dangerous slopes on a mountain bike, you do not have to sleep in a tent, you do not have to get filthy dirty, mosquito-bitten, and sunburned, you do not have to go hungry. There are a thousand gentle hikes in San Diego County alone. Armed with a bottle of water, trail mix, sunscreen, a good hat and hiking stick, and a camera if you love pictures, you can walk in nature for an hour, or two. And then go back home. • Observe the INTERACTION of all living things. You do not have to become a biology or botany expert. You do not have to get up at the crack of dawn to add a bird to your life list. You do not have to sit through a single lecture. You can add to your store of knowledge a bit at a time. And NEVER stop learning. I am not a spring chick; yet, I am ever the curious child. For example, I recently learned about ‘michorriza’ and it changed me, forever. Michorizza is a kind of fungus that breaks down the nutrients in the fallen leaves that surround oak trees. The oak trees send tiny runners like yarn threads [seem familiar?] from the roots of the trees to capture the nutrients and, thus, remain healthy. We used to rake the leaves of the hundreds of oak trees in order to tidy campsites. Now, we prefer the natural beauty of the carpet of leaves. And we know that we are helping the oak trees to be healthy. You CAN add to your store of knowledge with programs about earth on television, with magazines (especially those with great photos), and by going to programs at visitors centers of parks, and by reading books. • Encourage others to discover our marvelous planet. When you go out into nature, take people with you. What is really fun letting a child lead you. Yes, you follow the child. You will experience delight. The fascinating shiny rock with freckles, the squirrel who runs so fast you cannot catch it, the tiny, fairy pink flower low to the ground, the odd bird who drills holes in everything wooden and pokes acorns inside. You will run a while, then plop onto the ground feeling the warmth of the earth beneath you. • Savor the wonder. No matter your age, or where you live, you can find a thing of nature to see. Even a walk in your neighborhood block looking at the blooming flowers and budding trees of spring can lift your spirits. Did you notice? No two flowers or trees or even lawns are alike. Each is unique, just like humans, just like you. It may be that art is our way of trying to capture that wonder. You might enjoy an art class or photography if you are so inclined. You might just want to be encouraged to find that child inside of you. Go for it! • Invest in your belief. Once you focus on what you want to support, act on it. You could declare a moratorium on plastic water bottles and carry a thermos or BPA free bottle with you. You
LAKESIDE MAN DIES IN ROLLOVER
April 6, 2010 (Lakeside) – Anderson Clay, 31, was pronounced dead at the scene Sunday night after his sports utility vehicle overturned several times on Federal Boulevard in San Diego. Clay, who was not wearing his seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle, the Coroner’s office reports. He was a resident of Lakeside.
LEFT HOOK: EUGENE DAVIDOVICH ACQUITTED
Wasteful and mean policies of the right By Walter Davis April 11, 2010 (San Diego) — Eugene Davidovich was acquitted last month of all charges along with most of the other citizens arrested in Operation Green RX. As reported, only one citizen, Donna Lambert remains within the clutches of the District Attorney. Operation Green RX was a misguided arrest sweep of people authorized to use medical marijuana. It has now become a national embarrassment to our local government. With schools closing and teachers being laid off due to budget constraints, it is amazing that money is being wasted on prosecuting law abiding citizens. Eugene Davidovich has lost his job and filed bankruptcy due to the malicious actions of our District Attorney. One can observe similar actions in the Jovan Jackson case. On a national level, billions of dollars are being spent on this war on drugs that simply is not working. It is warfare on the American people and the American family. Conservative thinking appears to justify incarceration and warfare as the most viable solutions to problems. Conservative thinking supports locking people up, not giving them treatment, job training and hope to assuage poverty. The cost of such programs would be less than the incarceration programs and be much more productive for our society. Conservative thinking opposes the development of symbiotic energy systems such as solar, wind, geothermal and wave and supports more oil well drilling. Conservative thinking opposes peace and supports more warfare to wrest away the natural resources of others instead of modernizing our own energy infrastructure. Spend billions on war then say there is no money for supporting our society. The opposition to universal health care is another indication of wasteful and mean policies that would allow millions of American citizens to go without medical care. Save the embryos from death in abortions but let children go hungry and without hope? With the health care debate won, higher order thinking people are making the antiquated conservative thinking a thing of the past. Damaging winds are approaching the conservatives. The divisive Tea Party maniacs are fielding their own candidates against Republicans which is better than Ross Perot’s affect on 1990’s elections for the Democrats. Donor wells are drying up due to Michael Steele’s Bondage-gate. As the populace becomes more educated about the fallacy of conservative thinking, we are seeing a rebirth of intellectualism and abandonment of policies that generate war and Eugene Davidoviches, Jovan Jacksons and Donna Lamberts. Walter Davis is a syndicated columnist and producer of five public access cable TV shows on COX Communications. His stories and shows focus on positive achievements of citizens in the community, highlighting leaders who are often overlooked by mainstream media. He has pioneered use of Internet TV in media applications including webcasting and web-conferencing, helping ordinary people get attention for their efforts and causes with his Citizens’ Internet TV Network. In addition, he founded the San Diego County Community Coalition, a progressive group that stands for human rights and social justice http://www.meetup.com/sdcommunitycoalition. Walter Davis is based in San Marcos and operates studios in Carlsbad and El Cajon. http://www.WalterDavisEnterprises.com. The opinions expressed in this column reflect the views of its author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine. If you wish to submit an editorial for consideration, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org.
QUAKE TOLL RISES AS AFTERSHOCKS CONTINUE; MINOR DAMAGES FOUND LOCALLY AS EAST COUNTY BUSINESSES REOPEN AFTER HOLIDAY WEEKEND
By Miriam Raftery April 6, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – The governor of Baja California, Mexico estimates that 25,000 people have been left homeless by the 7.2 earthquake that struck Mexico on Easter Sunday. Estimates of those injured range from 50,000 to 100,000 and at least three people have been killed. Damage is most severe in Mexicali, where some buildings have collapsed. In some areas, roadways have buckled and cracked, including these in La Rumorosa. In Mexicali, fissures several feet deep have opened up in the shifting earth. In California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency in Imperial County. Hardest hit on the U.S. side of the border is Calexico, where historic buildings in several downtown blocks have been red-tagged as unsafe for occupancy. American Medical Response of San Diego and the San Diego Fire-Rescue Deparment and County of San Diego Emergency Medical Services have sent an advanced life support ambulance strike team and disaster support to Calexico, where they will assist local authorities in delivering emergency medical services. Some East County merchants, reopening after the holiday weekend, were dismayed to discover damage. “A lot of our glasses broke,” said Laura Ohnesorgen, owner of Sparrow Bridal Boutique in La Mesa. Two blocks east along La Mesa Boulevard, Gio’s Wine Bar Bistro has a crack up one wall, said owner Gabe Giordano. In El Cajon, a downtown storefront window cracked and pictures fell off walls at City Hall. At the Campo Indian reservation, tribal chair Monique La Chappa reported a broken window in the education center and a broken gas pipe; the latter occurred during this morning’s aftershock. “We had a lot of road damage. I noticed a lot of new cracks in Church Road,” she said. Crews were assessing the casino and wind turbines, she added. All turbines remain in operation. Two fire stations in East County had minor damage to water and communications systems, Cal-Fire reports. Downtown, a building at 4133 Kansas Street was damaged. Guests were briefly evacuated from some hotels. At the San Diego Zoo, Sunday’s big quake knocked the Skyfari ride off its axis, temporarily stranding some zoo visitors in mid-air until the ride was repaired, a zoo employee told East County Magazine. Monkeys were also startled into a noisy outcry, she added. SDG&E spokesperson Allison Zaragoza confirmed that power has been restored to all SDG&E customers by this morning in all areas serviced by the utility. SDG&E has not responded to questions as to whether the utility sustained damage to any of its facilities in Mexico. More than 500 aftershocks have rattled our region, including some centered on the U.S. side of the border in Imperial and East San Diego County. “We were almost on top of it,” Sharon Courmousis, owner of Sacred Rocks Reserve in Boulevard, said of a powerful aftershock centered just a few miles away, though her facility was not damaged. There is one bright spot from the tremors. Researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey report that the quakes have caused water tables to rise two feet beneath Balboa Park and National City, Channel 10 News reports today. The discovery means the two aquifers may be connected—and could result in a major new water source for our region.
RECENT RAINS CAUSE MOSQUITO BREEDING CONCERNS
April 6, 2010 (San Diego) — Spring has officially arrived and mosquito breeding season is here. County officials are working hard to prevent the spread of West Nile virus (WNV). “Controlling mosquito populations is the key to WNV prevention,” said Jack Miller, Director of the County Department of Environmental Health. “The recent rains will certainly create new mosquito breeding habitats.” Residents are encouraged to help with mosquito control efforts by eliminating standing water around their homes. Backyard water sources are ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Residents should dump, clean out or remove anything that can hold water, such as plant saucers, rain gutters, buckets, trash cans, children’s toys, spare tires and wheelbarrows. People can also reduce the risk of contracting WNV by staying indoors when mosquitoes are most active, and by wearing long sleeves and pants when outdoors, especially at dusk and dawn. County Vector Control advises residents to use an insect repellant containing DEET, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, Picaridin or IR3535 when outside. Keep screens on doors and windows, and make sure the screens are in good condition. Last year, there were 663 human cases of WNV and 30 deaths in the nation. In San Diego County, four human cases of West Nile virus were diagnosed, two of which were determined to be acquired within the County. For more information about West Nile virus, to report dead birds or mosquito breeding areas, or find out where to pick up free mosquito-eating fish, call 1-888-551-INFO (4636) or visit www.SDFightTheBite.com.