WHAT SHOULD YOU DO TO PREPARE FOR A MAJOR QUAKE–BEFORE THE BIG ONE STRIKES?
East County News Service July 10, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Fault lines in and near East County have become more active since the Easter earthquake in Mexico. Both the San Jacinto and Elsinore faults have potential for a quake measuring 7.0 or higher, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Fortunately, planning and identifying hazards ahead of time can reduce risk of serious harm before an earthquake hits. For example, repairing deep plaster cracks in ceilings and foundations, anchoring overhead lights to the ceiling, and upgrading to meet local seismic building standards help reduce the impact of a quake. Creating an emergency supply kit and a family evacuation plan are also important. Below are earthquake safety tips providing by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that you can take now—before a major quake hits our region. Six Ways to Plan Ahead 1. Check for Hazards in the Home o Fasten shelves securely to walls. o Place large or heavy objects on lower shelves. o Store breakable items such as bottled foods, glass, and china in low, closed cabinets with latches. o Hang heavy items such as pictures and mirrors away from beds, couches, and anywhere people sit. o Brace overhead light fixtures. o Repair defective electrical wiring and leaky gas connections. These are potential fire risks. o Secure a water heater by strapping it to the wall studs and bolting it to the floor. o Repair any deep cracks in ceilings or foundations. Get expert advice if there are signs of structural defects. o Store weed killers, pesticides, and flammable products securely in closed cabinets with latches and on bottom shelves. 2. Identify Safe Places Indoors and Outdoors o Under sturdy furniture such as a heavy desk or table. o Against an inside wall. o Away from where glass could shatter around windows, mirrors, pictures, or where heavy bookcases or other heavy furniture could fall over. o In the open, away from buildings, trees, telephone and electrical lines, overpasses, or elevated expressways. 3. Education Yourselves and Family Members o Contact your local emergency management office or American Red Cross chapter for more information on earthquakes. Also read the "How-To Series" for information on how to protect your property from earthquakes. o Teach children how and when to call 9-1-1, police, or fire department and which radio station to tune to for emergency information. o Teach all family members how and when to turn off gas, electricity, and water. 4. Have Disaster Supplies on Hand o Flashlight and extra batteries. o Portable battery-operated radio and extra batteries. o First aid kit and manual. o Emergency food and water. o Nonelectric can opener. o Essential medicines. o Cash and credit cards. o Sturdy shoes. 5. Develop an Emergency Communication Plan o In case family members are separated from one another during an earthquake (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school), develop a plan for reuniting after the disaster. o Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the "family contact." After a disaster, it’s often easier to call long distance. Make sure everyone in the family knows the name, address, and phone number of the contact person. 6. Help Your Community Get Ready o Publish a special section in your local newspaper with emergency information on earthquakes. Localize the information by printing the phone numbers of local emergency services offices, the American Red Cross, and hospitals. o Conduct a week-long series on locating hazards in the home. o Work with local emergency services and American Red Cross officials to prepare special reports for people with mobility impairments on what to do during an earthquake. o Provide tips on conducting earthquake drills in the home. o Interview representatives of the gas, electric, and water companies about shutting off utilities. o Work together in your community to apply your knowledge to building codes, retrofitting programs, hazard hunts, and neighborhood and family emergency plans.
GOLF TOURNAMENT & LUAU AT COTTONWOOD JULY 23 TO RAISE FUNDS FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER
Beads of Courage Arts-in-Medicine Program Coming to San Diego July 10, 2010 (El Cajon) — Local area leaders have teamed up with Beads of Courage to host a 2nd Annual Journey to Fight Cancer Golf Tournament & Luau at the Cottonwood Golf Course in El Cajon on Friday, July 23 starting at 11:30 a.m. with a shotgun start and scramble. This year’s tournament will raise funds to start the first Beads of Courage program in San Diego County, bringing hope and inspiration to children battling serious illnesses in our community and throughout Southern California. This year’s tournament has drawn the support of over forty sponsors from Southern California organizations and businesses that are committed to increasing public awareness of health issues and supporting the recovery efforts of children with cancer. Swinerton Builders in the Foundation Sponsor and Southern California Soil & Testing is the Title Sponsor. Beads of Courage programs are currently running at over 60 hospitals worldwide and benefitting 10,000 children annually. This year’s fundraising effort will help launch the first Beads of Courage program in San Diego County later this year at Kaiser Permanente’s Zion Medical Center. Central to this art-in-medicine program are decorative glass beads. The Program’s beads recently made a journey in May to the International Space Station aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis and were featured in the June issue of The Ladies Home Journal. Children participating in the program are given a length of string along with letter beads that spell out their name. As they undergo their healing process, they receive beads representing different treatments and milestones. Their growing beaded necklaces stand as pieces of art that signify their medical histories and enables them to share and reflect on their experiences. The Journey to Fight Cancer Golf Tournament is the inspiration of Manny Magana, the Assistant General Manager for Otay Water District, and a number of passionate volunteers whose lives have been touched by the disease. They are pursuing this project to raise awareness of Beads of Courage and the work the organization does to help children undergoing medical treatment. Magana said, “Beads of Courage has helped one of my dear friends through her healing process and I’m very pleased to be a part of this important project.” “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with volunteers in San Diego from the 2nd Annual Journey to Fight Cancer Golf Tournament,” said Jean Baruch, Executive Director of Beads of Courage. “The group raised $20,000 at last year’s tournament which helped Beads of Courage start programs in Southern California at the City of Hope Medical Center in Los Angeles and Children’s Hospital of Orange County. We’ve never had anyone come to us offering to help raise money in support of our cause, so the San Diego effort clearly shows what people can do when they come together.” Beads of Courage is a non-profit organization, based in Tucson, Ariz., focused on arts-in-medicine programs geared toward helping children cope with serious illnesses. Patients are given beads to represent significant treatment milestones during their journey. More information is available at www.beadsofcourage.org .
COURT-ORDERED COUNT OF 12,563 BALLOTS COMPLETED, BUT OUTCOME NOT YET CLEAR
Note: An earlier version of this story stated that two media outlets reported Salas the victor today. However one of those, the Riverside Press Enterprise, has since issued a correction and indicated that Vargas won. The Riverside Registrar’s office is closed until Monday, when a certified count will be sent to the Secretary of State. July 10, 2010 (San Diego) – This morning, Riverside County’s Registrar of Voters completed counting 12,563 previously uncounted mail-in ballots,including the 40th State Senate Democratic primary race which includes portions of Riverside, Imperial and San Diego Counties. The count was ordered to begin yesterday by superior Court Judge Mac R. Fisher. Before the 12,563 ballots were counted, Vargas’ lead had edged up to 22 votes following the addition yesterday of five previously uncounted ballots in dispute for other reasons. Early this morning, Registrar officials in Riverside completed counting the 12,563 mail-in ballots. But who won remains unclear. Channel 10 News in San Diego reports that the new ballots counted give Salas 83 votes more than Vargas across all three counties. The Riverside Press Enterprise this morning reported that the all-night count of mail-in ballots put Salas into a slim, but this afternoon issued a correction stating tht Vargas actually appears the victor with 24,282 ballots total compared to 24,259 for Salas–a 23 vote edge. The results are unofficial; official certified results will be sent to the Secretary of State Monday by Riverside’s Registrar of Voters Barbara Dunmore. The ballots were not counted initially, even though voters mailed them in a timely manner, because Dunmore’s office failed to pick up the ballots from a Morena Valley post office. Postal officials had offered to deliver the ballots to the Registrar but were told not to do so, as the Registrar intended to have them picked up. Three voters and the Riverside Democratic Central Committee filed suit against the Dunmore as a result. Their attorney, James Harrison, argued that Proposition 43, an initiative that mandated every vote be counted if voters complied with state law), justified counting the ballots in dispute, as well as the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution. Now that all the ballots are counted from the June 8th primary, the losing candidate may request a recount. Whoever is ultimately declared the winner in the Democratic primary holds the edge in the fall general election, since the 40th State Senate District has a heavy Democratic majority voter registration. The district includes the South Bay area as well as some southern portions of East County.
CHILD ABUSE WORKSHOP JULY 26
July 10, 2010 (San Diego)–The family education department of the International Rescue Committee – San Diego will host a 2-hour workshop on July 26, 2010, from 9:00 a.m.to 11 a.m., on child abuse prevention (with an emphasis on sexual abuse prevention) for child care workers and any interested community members. The event will be held at the International Rescue Committee classroom, 5348 University Ave., San Diego. Cost is $10 per person; payment by cash or check accepted. To RSVP, please contact Carolyn Sam at (619) 641-7510 ext. 248 or Carolyn.Sam@theIRC.org by Thursday, July 22, 2010. Presenter Svava Brooks is a trainer, educator and public speaker on the issue of child sexual abuse and prevention. She is a trained facilitator of the Stewards of Children Training, offered by Darkness to Light, and one of a few in the US who certifies other facilitators. She is the co-founder of Blátt áfram, a successful non-profit in Iceland dedicated to the prevention of child sexual abuse, through awareness and education. Brooks regularly provides trainings and talks about abuse and prevention for schools, government agencies and non-profit organizations in Iceland and in the US. She currently serves as the VP and Program Director for TAALK, a volunteer position, a 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation in Orange County, whose mission is to break the silence that surrounds child sexual abuse and shift public consciousness from passive acceptance to the belief that “There is No Excuse for Sexual AbuseTM.” Brooks also is the director for TAALK San Diego, a coalition of organizations dedicated to education and prevention of child sexual abuse in San Diego.
COUNTY AIMS TO ROOT OUT CRIME AT PROBLEM RENTAL PROPERTIES
Jacob, Gore proposal would make safety program mandatory at troublesome spots; vote set July 13 July 10, 2010 (San Diego) — A San Diego County Sheriff’s Department program that has achieved success turning around crime rates at problem apartment complexes soon will be mandatory for landlords whose rental properties generate frequent visits from law enforcement. At the request of Supervisor Dianne Jacob and Sheriff Bill Gore, the Board of Supervisors unanimously passed an ordinance last week that would require certification in the Crime Free Multi-housing Program for owners of rental dwellings that rack up at least 10 calls for service from law enforcement in any three month period. Final adoption is expected on July 13. The certification requirement would apply only to properties with a disproportionate number of service calls when compared with similar rental properties. Supervisor Jacob praised the Crime Free Multi-housing Program for making a dramatic dent in crime, particularly in Spring Valley. The program pairs deputies with landlords to make security improvements and deal with problem tenants. Deputies train landlords to root out drug and alcohol-related crime. “We’ve seen landlords create a whole new sense of community by making positive, quality-of-life changes to complexes,” said Supervisor Jacob. “When a tenant signs a lease, that tenant promises not to engage in illegal activity. If they do, they face eviction. This is the hammer we need to clean up communities.” Spring Valley resident Debbie Gilly, a strong supporter of the program, described living across the street from a complex once plagued by street fights, riots, burglaries, mail theft and physical violence. “We suffered greatly for over two years at the hands of thugs, criminals, drug dealers, gangsters and out-of-control teens that terrorized our neighborhood,” said Gilly. “If it wasn’t for the brave Sheriff’s Department, our neighborhood would still be infested with these gangsters and criminals,” Gilly said. The program is modeled after an international Crime-Free Multi Housing Program (http://www.crime-free-association.org/multi-housing.htm). Started in Mesa, Arizona, the program has since spread to 2,000 cities in 44 states as well as provinces in Canada. The ordinance was crafted in consultation with the San Diego County Apartment Association. The ordinance would take effect 30 days after final adoption.
READER’S EDITORIAL: A NEW PATH–MOMS UNITE TO END THE WAR ON DRUGS
“Moms are uniting and leading the charge to end drug prohibition, just as they did with alcohol prohibition in the 1930s. It’s time to end the pointless and punitive criminalization of people who use drugs and the needless deaths caused by the illegal drug trade.” — Gretchen Burns Bergman, Executive Director & Co-Founder A New PATH By: Dennis Moore July 10, 2010 (San Diego) –Family members of drug victims have joined forces with healthcare and others to forge a coalition calling for changes in failed drug policies. These policies have led to increased violence and mass incarceration, while failing to curb addiction and overdose deaths. Mothers, family members, healthcare professionals and individuals in recovery gathered at the San Diego Central Courthouse steps on April 28 to bring focus to the havoc wreaked by the government’s failed drug policies. The rally kicked off a statewide campaign to stop these punitive and discriminatory drug policies. On July 29th at 12:30 p.m., Moms United to End the War on Drugs will hold a rally and vigil at the Los Angeles Superior Courthouse to argue that current drug policies are doing more harm than good. In honor of the 11th anniversary of A New PATH (Parents for Addiction Treatment & Healing: http://www.anewpathsite.org/ ) and its advocacy work for therapeutic drug policies, the April 28 vigil was held in San Diego to remember those who have lost their lives, health or liberty to the war on drugs. Speakers included Gretchen Burns Bergman ( mother, A New PATH), Anita Fisher ( mother, A New PATH), NAMI, Julia Negron (mother, treatment provider), the Rev. Canon Mary Moreno-Richardson ( St. Paul’s Cathedral), and Margaret Dooley-Sammuli (, Drug Policy Alliance). This event kicked off a series of rallies, vigils and protests starting in San Diego and moving to Orange County, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Francisco and Sacramento. A larger rally is being planned at the State Capital in Sacramento building in fall 2010. Fisher, Education Director for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), also on the Board of Directors of A New PATH, recently made a presentation before the Bethel A.M.E. Prison Ministry at the Tubman/Chavez Center in San Diego, in regard to the incarceration of those with a documented history of mental illness. She repeated that presentation at the monthly meeting of the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office Reentry Roundtable. PATH grew out of a series of pre-Substance Abuse Summit meetings with parents, Superior Court judges and officers of the criminal justice system in the Spring of 1999. Founding members are Gretchen Burns Bergman, Sylvia Liwerant and Tom O’Donnell. The Mission Statement of PATH is: to reduce the stigma associated with addictive illness through education and compassionate support and to advocate for therapeutic rather than punitive drug policies. With that in mind, “A New PATH” has hosted and sponsored a number of forums to educate the public, most notably, a Prisoner Release 101 forum panel discussion at the Joyce Beers Center, which was profiled in the East County Magazine. At that panel discussion, which I participated in, along with San Diego County Sheriff William Gore, a Position Paper was formulated that articulated our views on prisoner release. It is the position and belief of A New PATH that current drug policies are doing more harm than good: • Overdose: In the U.S., men aged 35-54 are more likely to die of a drug overdose than a car accident. In 2006, the latest figures published by the Centers on Disease Control, 26,400 people died of an unintentional drug in the U.S. • Arrests: Over 1.8 million people in the U.S. were arrested for a drug offense in 2008, 1.4 million of them for drug possession – not sales or trafficking. • Incarceration: The U.S. represents 5% of the world’s population, but 25% of its prisoners. One in 100 American adults – 2.3 million people – is incarcerated; one in every 32 adults is either incarcerated, on parole or probation or under some other form of state or local supervision. Over 30,000 people are in prison in California for a drug offense; two-thirds of them for a possession offense. • Life-long exclusion: Conclusions of a drug conviction, or even an arrest, may include the permanent loss of educational and employment opportunities, as well as public housing, food stamps and, in many states, the right to vote. • Violence: In 2009, 79 American citizens were killed in Mexico. Experts attribute the violence to Mexico’s ongoing battle with drug cartels, which may generate 60% of their profits from marijuana alone. (see Book Review: Police and Public Security in Mexico; East County Magazine, January 13, 2010). • Wasted Dollars: The U.S. spends $40 billion a year on the drug war. • Better alternatives: Taxing and regulating marijuana in California could raise $1.4 billion in tax revenues, cut law enforcement and prison costs, and take income out of the hands of drug cartels. A New PATH is partnering with other organizations – including Families ACT! And Broken No More – as well as individuals across the state in a massive collaborative effort to change our current punitive policies of arrest and imprisonment to health-oriented and therapeutic strategies. Other supporters include the Drug Policy Alliance and Clergy Against Prohibition. Mothers are leading the charge to stop the pointless and punitive criminalization of people for drug use, and to end the needless deaths caused by illegal drug trade. Dennis Moore is a member of the San Diego Writers/Editors Guild. He has written for LifeAfter50 Magazine in Pasadena, California, and the Baja Times Newspaper in Rosarito Beach, Mexico. He is also the President of Bethel A.M.E. Prison Ministry. The opinions in this editorial reflect the views of its author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine. To submit an editorial for consideration, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org
SPECIAL EVENT OPENS AUG.7 TO COMMEMORATE FAMED ARTIST LORA WOODHEAD STEERE, FOUNDER OF IDYLLWILD ARTS
Nobel Laureate to join historians and musicians honoring legendary So-Cal artist, a former San Diego Art Guild member "So fitting and so overdue to pay tribute to Lora’s life and myriad contributions as a pioneering artist, naturalist, and community builder; who sculpted lives as consciously and creatively as she molded clay.”- – Lora’s grandson John E. Steere Jr. July 8, 2010 (Idyllwild) — A retrospective devoted to the art and the love of life of Lora Woodhead Steere (1888-1984), the legendary artist, naturalist, Idyllwild pioneer, and beloved first teacher at the famous Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts (ISOMATA), now called Idyllwild Arts, will open with a special event at 11am on Saturday, August 7th, at The Rustic Theatre. The exhibit opening and reception will follow at 1pm the Krone Museum on the Idywilld Arts Campus. The event and exhibit are sponsored by Idyllwild Arts, Idyllwild Area Historical Society, and the Steere Family is free and open to the public. Event coordinator Karen Pomer is well known to many East County residents due to her involvement in citizens’ battle to block Blackwater USA from opening a training camp in Potrero. WHEN AND WHERE: Saturday, August 7, 2010 RUSTIC THEATRE: 54290 North Circle Dr., Idyllwild, CA 92549 10:30 AM- Doors open with continental breakfast available in lobby. 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Speakers Presentations, Film, and Music KRONE MUSEUM, within the KRONE LIBRARY on IDYWILD ARTS campus 52500 Temecula Road, Idyllwild, CA 92549 1:00-2:00 PM Exhibit Opening and Reception WHO: Featured opening event speakers and performers: DR EVAN MILLS, KEYNOTE: As a child Mills was mentored by Lora W. Steere, making local headlines when he at 8 made his first trek to Tahquitz Peak along with Lora at 80 years-old making her 56th trip. Mills grew up to be one of a group of scientists whose research and writing helped earn the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. MAJ BOB KRONE, son of Max Krone, founder of ISOMATA and photographer on the film "The Ballad of Idyllwild" featuring Lora W. Steere. Helped build Campus 1947 to 1951. Member of idyllwild Arts Board since 1967. Provost, Kepler Space University. a global educator, author, and consultant in Advanced Management theory and practice. ROBERT B. SMITH, author of the acclaimed "Idyllwild and the High San Jacintos," and board member of the award-winning Idyllwild Area Historical Society. MARJORIE QUANDT GOODWIN: is a well-known local historian, her family settled on Woodhead Ranch, the old pioneer homestead in San Jacinto, once belonging to cattle rancher, ‘CB’ Woodhead, Lora’s father circa 1873. Mt. San Jacinto College now sits a small parcel of that land. DR. JIM STEERE, Lora’s son along with Steere family members. SPECIAL MUSICAL Performances by: DR. CAROL MERRILL-MIRSKY, former musical partner, and protégé of international balladeers and ISOMATA regulars Marais and Miranda. Carol teaches during Family Week, at Idyllwild Arts Summer Program. During the year she is Hollywood Bowl Museum Director/Curator. The GOLDEN GROTTO GROUP with Bruce Ryan, Buzz Holmes, Kent Weishaus, Amy Fogerson and surprise guests. All members of the group have long and special connections with ISOMATA, some spanning generations. THE EXHIBIT will include a selection of Steere’s prized sculptures, Illustrations, archival photos, film, and letters from the collections of the Krone Museum, the Steere family, and other local patrons. Special highlights: A life-sized statue commissioned by Helms Bakery for the 1932 Olympics on loan from the LA84 Foundation and a collection of scientific illustrations and letters housed at the Smithsonian Institute. BACKGROUND: Lora Woodhead Steere’s (1888-1984) parents first brought her to Idyllwild in the San Jacinto Mountains in an old camp wagon in 1890, when she was just two years old. Loving the outdoors she grew-up to study and receive advanced degrees in zoology and paleontology, although she won fame as an accomplished sculptor including a commission by Helms Bakery for a series of sculptures to commemorate the 1932 Olympics. She returned to Idyllwild, taught the first class and donated the funds for the very first building in 1950 at the famous Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts (ISOMATA), now known as Idyllwild Arts. Her colleagues included the most revered artists of the day, photographers Ansel Adams and Alfred Eisenstaedt; “Music Man” composer, Meredith Willson; folksingers Pete Seeger and Marais & Miranda, choreographers Bella Lewitzky and Merce Cunningham; potters Maria Martinez and Susan Peterson; and writer Norman Corwin. Lora taught sculpture for 16 years at the Lora Steere Sculpture Studio on campus. At the 2nd Annual Black tie dinner of the Associates of ISOMATA in 1971, Willson presented Lora with a plaque for her “devotion to art and love of life which has been an inspiration to all who have been privileged to know her.” Lora was equally famous for her community potluck dinners and uncounted treks to Tahquitz, Peak in Idyllwild sometimes alone. The last time she was carried in a sedan chair, she died the next year at 96-years-old in her beloved Idyllwild. She was a member of the California Art Club, the San Diego Art Guild, the Southern California Sculptors Guild and the Artland Club (LA). Her exhibits include SFAA, 1924; Mission Gallery (Riverside), 1933 (solo). Her works are included in the Keller School of Dramatic Arts (Glendale); the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; the David Starr Jordan High School (bas relief); Bovard Hall, USC; Doheny Library (LA); Orange Co. (CA) Museum and Stanford University, and the Krone Museum at Idyllwild Arts, Idyllwild CA. The Lora Woodhead Steere Retrospective exhibit runs from August 7th to September 3rd, 2010, at the Krone Museum, located within the Krone Library. The library is located on the corner of Apela Dr. and Luisana Dr. on the Idyllwild Arts campus. CURATORS: Sydney Cosselman, acting director Krone Museum and Carol Mills, renowned Idyllwild painter, Courtyard Gallery artist. EVENT SPONSORED BY: Idyllwild Arts, Idyllwild Area Historical Society, and the
4 BACKCOUNTRY WINERIES & JEREMY’S ON THE HILL PRESENT WINE PAIRING DINNER IN JULIAN
“This is going to be something special and everyone is invited and welcome to attend. I have some magic tricks up my sleeve from my recent internship at The Marine Room.”–Chef Jeremy Manley July 9, 2010 (Julian) — On Friday, July 16, at 7:00 p.m. Jeremy’s on the Hill California Style Bistro will host a four-course wine pairing dinner featuring wines from four back country wineries: Menghini Winery and J. Jenkins Winery from Julian as well as Shadow Mountain Vineyards and La Serenissima Vineyards from Warner Springs. All courses will be expertly paired by Cordon Bleu-trained chef Jeremy Manley of Jeremy’s on the Hill, who embraces the farm-to-table philosophy and will feature fresh, seasonal, organic produce from several local area farms including Connely Farms, Randle Ridge Farms and Ramona Organic Farms. Tickets are $45 per person and seating is limited. Menghini Winery is located three miles north of downtown Julian, nestled in the foothills of Volcan Mountain. Surrounded by apple orchards and a six acre vineyard, the winery produces approximately 4,000 cases of wine annually. Established in 1982, the winery is situated in a classic, old apple packing shed built in 1940. Since the beginning, Mike and Toni Menghini have been making premium varietal wines such as Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and a Sauvignon Blanc/Pinot Grigio blend. “We love working with Jeremy and his restaurant added a whole new wonderful complexity to Julian and fine dining,” said Mike Menghini. The J. Jenkins Winery is a family-owned winery on 10 acres located three miles north of Julian in a picturesque valley with views of Volcan Mountain. The winery property includes a new wine production building and a tasting room in a rustic apple orchard and a vineyard with Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir grapes. J. Jenkins Winery specializes in estate Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio. In the Fall, Vintner Jim Jenkins produces a French style Nouveau made with Syrah grapes and an Apple Wine made from 100% apples from local orchards. Shadow Mountain Vineyards, located in Warner Springs, California, grows all of their own fruit with over 28 acres of grape vines. The current owners, Pam and Alex McGeary have been operating since 1990. Former restaurateurs, they really know what people are looking for in their wines. “Our vineyards were planted by the original Italian owners and are 67 years old and are still producing, “said Pam McGeary. Shadow Mountain Vineyards grows and produces 13 varietals from red, to white to port. “Growing is a good thing,” said Vintner Alex McGeary. Established in 1998, La Serenissima Vineyards covers a gentle slope facing the Pacific Coast Trail in San Diego North County. The name, La Serenissima, pays homage to the Most Serene Republic of Venice, for centuries the cultural center of the Mediterranean, where the tradition of wine making flourished, and giving civilization the precious gift of wine. The 25 acre vineyard is divided into six separate hectare blocks each dedicated to a varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Tempranillo and Arneis. Annual production is limited to 1000 cases. Established in March of 2008, Jeremy’s on the Hill features California fresh cuisine and is recognized in both San Diego and Los Angeles areas, with publicized reviews in the LA Times and San Diego Reader. Young chef Manley, 23, a Cordon Bleu graduate, has been working with food and cooking since the age of ten. “We host a wine or beer pairing event every month and are excited to be working with some of our favorite local wineries,” he said. “This will be our second wine pairing event with Shadow Mountain and Menghini Winery and reservations sell out quickly,” said Teresa Manley. “We are also offering discounted lodging rates at our nearby inn, Julian Meadow View Inn as well as shuttle service.” Hotel reservations can be made by calling (760)765-2578. Reservations and tickets can be purchased by calling Jeremy’s on the Hill at 760-765-1587.
GOOD MONEY: LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE RATE INCREASE LOOMING; TAX DEDUCTION UPDATE
Your guide to financial planning & socially responsible investing By: Judith L. Seid, CFP ® President, Blue Summit Wealth Management July 9, 2010 (La Mesa) — We have just received notification that two of our top-rated carriers, John Hancock & Metlife, will be raising rates for new policies. If you have already secured your long term care policy, CONGRATULATIONS…you made a great decision! If you have been considering taking out a long term care insurance policy, please contact an independent Long Term Care Insurance (LTCI) agent right away for quotes. (See below for tips on what to look for.) Update on Tax Deductible Premiums: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced a three percent increase in deductibility levels for long-term care (LTC) insurance policies in 2010, and for the first time, the maximum deductible limit for an individual exceeds $4,000. This is an especially great deal for business owners, as the premiums are deductible as a business expense. If your business is a C corporation, you do not have to use the age-banded limits shown below. All businesses can include spouses. The tax rules signal that the federal government, as well as more and more states, are recognizing that individuals need to make provisions for long-term care. The deduction limits under IRS Section 213(d)(10) for eligible long-term care insurance premiums are as follows. LTC Insurance Tax Deductions for 2009 and 2010 Age Before Close of Taxable Year 2010 Deduction Limits 40 or under $330 Over 40 but not more than 50 $620 Over 50 but not more than 60 $1,230 Over 60 but not more than 70 $3,290 Over 70 $4,110 Source: AALTCI, IRS Revenue Procedure 2008-66 (2010 limits) How to shop for long term care insurance When looking for a LTCI agent, it’s important to note his or her experience and knowledge. The industry has changed a lot over the years and is evolving rapidly as the Baby Boomer generation begins utilizing their policies and adding strain to the health care system. The following is a checklist of services you should look for in a LTCI provider: 1) Quotes from most major carriers 2) Policy comparisons 3) Education on the state partnership for long term care 4) Comparison of any group plans you might have access to, and 5) Help in determining the best LTCI choice for your personal situation Judith L. Seid, President and founder of Blue Summit Wealth Management, Inc, is a Certified Financial Planner who has actively used Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) for her clients since 1992. She firmly believes that “We can influence corporations to change their policies by avoiding investments in irresponsible companies and by seeking investments in companies with positive practices and products.” Socially responsible investing (SRI) exists for investors looking to use the power of financial investment to create sustainable social change. For more information on Sustainable Investing, contact Judith at Blue Summit Wealth Management in La Mesa, (619) 698-4330; www.BLUESUMMITWEALTH.com Securities offered through Pacific West Securities, Inc. (Pacific West) Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services provided through Pacific West Financial Consultants, Inc. and Blue Summit Wealth Management, Inc. (Blue Summit), Registered Investment Advisors. Blue Summit and Pacific West are not affiliated.
HIT AND RUN DRIVER KILLS FOUR-YEAR-OLD
July 9, 2010 (East San Diego) – Samuel Metu has been arrested for felony hit-and-run. Metu was the driver of a 2000 Toyota Corolla that struck and killed a four-year-old boy in the 6700 block of Madrone Avenue in the Skyline neighborhood shortly before noon today. The victim’s 12-year-old brother had crossed the street to get a dog and told the youngster to wait on the sidewalk, but the child ran into the street. After the accident, Metu left the scene but later returned. The boy was taken to a hospital, where he later died.