FREEBIE ALERT! SAN DIEGO EARLY HISTORY CONFERENCE – FAMILY FUN FOR EVERYONE
By Nancy and Dawn Clement October 27, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Stan Rodriquez, Kumeyaay Community College instructor, will share ideas about the Kumeyaay lifestyle and their use of plants at an hour-long presentation for the Early San Diego History conference. This family friendly event will be on Saturday, November 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are activities for kids, music, dancing and theatre skits, fascinating lectures, vaqueros and horses. This event will be at the Old Town Cultural and Historical Program Campus 3939 Conde Street, San Diego. CA 92110. For more information call Angela @ 619-423-7248 or email Karla @ kshiminski@sandi.net http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=106707582699517&ref=t Nancy Clement is an East County Realtor®, mortgage broker and freelance writer and can be reached Dollar-wiseDivas@cox.net. Dawn Clement is a stay-at-home mother of three, a freelance writer, and creative shopper.
SIG ALERT ON I-8 IN COLLEGE AREA
October 26, 2010 (San Diego) 9:45 a.m.– A collision involving several vehicles on I-8 near San Diego State University has prompted a SIG ALERT to be issued. The accident has resulted in several injuries, blockage of an offramp at College and some lanes on I-8 westbound, as well as a vehicle up an embankment. The initial accident was reported at 9:07 and a SIG ALERT was issued at 9:24 a.m. If you’re not yet signed up to receive our free wildfire and emergency alerts via email, sign up free at the top right side of our homepage. You can also follow ViejasAlerts at www.twitter.com to receive brief text alerts on your mobile device.
QUESTIONS FREQUENTLY ASKED BY VOTERS
Today is last day to request mail-in ballot By Mary E. Paulet October 26, 2010 (San Diego) — Voters often have questions as Election Day draws near. Need help finding your polling place or an early voting location? What if you didn’t receive your mail-in ballot, or know a disabled voter who needs assistance? Find answers to these and other concerns below. Q: When is Election Day? A: Nov 2nd. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Q: Where do I vote and how do I find my assigned precinct? A: Call the Registrar of Voters at (858) 565-5800, or check the back of your sample ballot for the address. Q: I’m going to be out of town on Election Day. How can I vote? A: Early voting is being offered at the Registrar of Voters office at 5201 Ruffin Road, Suite I, San Diego 92123. Call for hours. (858) 565-5800 Q: If a voter is not yet registered can they still vote? A: No, the deadline has already passed to register. Q: Can a mail ballot be requested? A: The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is October 26 by 5 p.m. You can request a mail-in ballot online: www.sdvote.com. Q: How can my registration status be checked? A: Click on this website for the Registrar of Voters: http://www2.sdcounty.ca.gov/rov/Eng/Evoter_query.asp Q: What happens if I see a precinct closer to work, school, etc, can I vote there? A: If at a precinct in the County of San Diego, yes–but with the understanding that certain local races my not be on the ballot and a vote for certain local offices at the precinct my not count. You will also be voted provisionally. That means that your ballot will be placed in a peach envelope. Staff at the Registrar’s office will then verify voter registration status before ballot is counted. Q:What if the workers at the precinct can’t find me on the list of voters for that precinct? A: You may request a provisional ballot (See above.) Q: What if I requested a mail in ballot and didn’t receive it? A: You may go to a polling place and vote provisionally (see above). Q: Can a mail ballot be dropped off at a precinct? A: Yes, as long as the precinct is in the same county as the mail ballot. If not it won’t be counted. Q: Is ID required to vote? A: No, in the vast majority of circumstances, it isn’t needed. Q: Can someone assist a voter? Yes, as long as they aren’t a union representative or your boss. Q: Can I ask a precinct worker to help me vote? A: Yes they are allowed to help do anything except to influence which candidate is chosen. In fact, they are required to assist voters who need assistance. Q: What about voters who lack confidence about voting in English, are there other options? A: Yes, there are ballots in Spanish, Vietnamese and Tagalog. Just ask the poll workers. Q: How can the disabled vote? A: There are many options. For the blind, there is a special voting computer that can be voted on. If a disabled voter doesn’t want to vote on an electronic voting machine, a poll worker can help fill in a paper ballot with the voter telling the worker which candidate to bubble in. Also it is possible to vote at one’s car if mobility is impaired. Q: Who are the poll workers? A: They are registered voters who volunteer to assist with the election. They receive training before hand. Q: Is it legal to have campaign materials at the polls? A: No, campaigning is not allowed within 100 feet of polling places. This includes signs, campaign buttons, literature, etc. If you observe violations, notify your poll worker or call the Registrar at (858)565-5800.
WEEKEND GETAWAYS: UP ON THE HILL
Story and photos by Tom Gatch October 25, 2010 (Baja)–Punta Banda is a narrow, mostly barren, finger of land that pokes out into the Pacific Ocean at the southern end of Bahia Todos Santos near the City of Ensenada. Standing not far from the tip, bus loads of bug-eyed tourists regularly stare out at the myriad of sharp, guano covered outcroppings as they munch on fish tacos and wait for the next influx of water to surge through the legendary blowhole, then spurt up in the air and dissolve into a fine, cool mist. Shack-like concession stands line the end of the road leading to "La Bufadora." Eager vendors offer visitors everything from the usual array of curios, plaster deities, and metal sculptures to humble preparations of shellfish, or fried seafood. Some of the other residents are fishermen, or charter skiff operators who make a good portion of their income catering to the needs of American anglers and scuba divers that come to this special hideaway to take advantage of the abundant marine life that still exists in the waters surrounding the rugged peninsula and its many hidden coves. The hand of nature has carefully scooped a beautiful crescent shaped bay from the land just south of the blowhole, providing a nearly perfect anchorage that is protected from the northern wind and swells. On a calm day, the waters around La Bufadora turn Mediterranean with cool, clear turquoise hues that anoint the eyes of the weary. Weekend and retirement cottages are interspersed with the austere, tack-board houses of less affluent local residents. The grandiose dream of a seaside hacienda stagnates as unfinished masonry sits on a neglected lot filled with scattered stones and chunks of hard, dried mortar. Many of the homes are situated on a sloping bluff above the ocean, crowned by small windmills and black solar panels that help the frugal residents fully utilize the area’s natural amenities. The earth behind the little sea colony quickly rises several hundred feet to form a huge, dusty brown hill from which the marvels of many miles of wild coastline can be observed. To the east, the hill provides an unobstructed view of the massive Sierra Juarez that stands as a barrier between Ensenada and the Sea of Cortez. Years ago, the road out to the end of Punta Banda consisted of little more than graded stones, and was challenged mainly by those who were lured by visions of scallops, abalone, and huge fish. Standing on the hill today, it is apparent that the well traveled, twisting line of neglected asphalt, which feeds La Bufadora’s tourist industry, has done little to affect the overall feel of the surrounding landscape. Over time, a few colonies of neo-pioneers have settled in the area, but they have been unable to totally dominate the wildness that encircles them. Copious numbers of quail, rabbits and rattlesnakes still blend into the rough chaparral, as the skies are patrolled by soaring Red tail hawks in search of a quick meal. The two-legged mammals that live on Punta Banda are generally sturdy, fiercely independent nonconformists who are refugees from the eternal battle between those who like to be told what to do, and those who don’t. There are many course gravel roads that wind their way through the dry brush, over mounds of dust, and then disappear into unseen depressions; paths that often lead to a dead end when they meet with a thick wall of sagebrush and cactus. The bold, thrusting lances of flowering yucca plants stand in stark, solitary challenge to the brilliant blue canopy above them. When the sun hangs at a certain point in the westerly afternoon sky, the surface of the ocean seems to erupt into a sparkling carpet of diamonds, which fills the fortunate onlooker with a feeling of untold wealth. In spring and early summer the hillsides are often smeared with a mustard yellow hue from scores of small wildflowers that bloom as brightly in the sunshine as if they were freshly wiped from the brush of Van Gogh. The broad, stretching arms of a variety of succulent cacti bake in the midday heat, their moist, fleshy insides protected by many thorny soldiers that are ready to offer acute pain to any intruder foolish enough to encroach upon their domain. It is hard to believe that the stressful overcrowding and traffic gridlock of Los Angeles, California lies just over a hundred miles to the north of this magical hideaway …but that is an eternity away from here. Up on the hill, the breeze blows freely through your hair. The pelicans dive into the ocean for their breakfast, and all the creatures of the sea and land are filled with a wild lusting for life. It is a life that is sometimes violent and cruel, but devoid of the many entanglements related to modern, human society. It is a more primitive but, somehow, more credible world. Over the past decade, ‘Hooked on Baja’ Author/Columnist, Tom Gatch, has built a solid reputation as one of the foremost writers and photographers focusing on outdoor and recreational topics in southern California and the Baja California peninsula. Tom’s widely read “South of the Border” column and articles appear in each edition of The Log, SoCal’s #1 Boating & Fishing Newspaper” and his popular ‘Hooked on Baja’ column is published in the Baja Times, Baja Norte’s oldest English language newspaper. Tom is also a seasoned restaurant reviewer, whose mouthwatering descriptions of popular regional restaurants have provocatively stimulated the appetite of many a reader. His company, EL PUERTO Creative Consultants S.A. de C.V. provides professional copywriting and creative support for entities in both the United States and Baja California. Both he, and his wife, photographer Lynn Gatch, are full time Baja California residents, and live just south of the city of Ensenada. A graduate of Mount Miguel High School in San
READER’S EDITORIAL: LOOK FOR A HOOKAH LOUNGE NEAR YOU
Are hookah lounges good for our youth? By Debra Gilly October 25, 2010 (Spring Valley) — Last week, our County Planning Commission approved the request for a liquor license by Blu Flayme, a hookah lounge located in a strip mall known to be a popular hang-out for Monte Vista High School students. Owners of the hookah lounge believe that smoking hookah is a good bonding and cultural experience they would like to share and promote with our young people (according to a marketing plan they presented before a planning committee at the San Miguel Fire Station). My common sense dictates that allowing our 18 year-olds to smoke hookah with the 21 year-olds and up, who are also smoking the hookah while enjoying beer and wine, is asking for trouble. I would not term this a good bonding and cultural experience for our youth. Are hookah lounges really good for our youth? Our planning group’s decision to approve yet another liquor license is a great disappointment. It seems like everywhere I look these days in East County, more bars, smoke shops and now hookah lounges are being approved in close proximity to schools and residential areas. Enough already! The opinions expressed in this editorial 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.
“SPOOKTACULAR” HALLOWEEN FUN AT COUNTY PARKS
October 17 2010 (San Diego’s East County) — Several San Diego County Parks and Community Centers are offering fun and family-friendly activities this Halloween season. Lakeside, Spring Valley and Fallbrook Community Centers will be hosting Halloween Festivals on Sunday, October 31. Activities include costume contests, games, videos, astro jumps, face painting, balloons, tricks and treats. On October 30, Valley Center’s Hellhole Canyon Park has special events including a movie. Or take a "haunted trail hike" at Dos Picos Park in Ramona October 16, 24 and 30. Community Center locations and festival times include: Spring Valley Community Center – 8735 Jamacha Boulevard from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Fallbrook Community Center – 341 Heald Lane from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Lakeside Community Center – 9841 Vine Street from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Hellhole Canyon Preserve in Valley Center will be hosting a Pumpkin Carving and Halloween Movie in the Park on Saturday, October 30. Free pumpkins will be provided to the first 25 participants. The featured movie presentation will be the animated box office hit, “How to Train Your Dragon.” Families are encouraged to bring pumpkins, carving tools, lawn chairs, blankets, sweaters and flashlights. Light snacks will be served. A donation of $1 per child under 13 and $2 per adult is suggested. Children under 3 are free. Hellhole Canyon is located at 19324 Santee Lane in Valley Center. Dos Picos County Park in Ramona will feature Haunted Trail Hikes on Saturdays (October 16, 23 and 30) at 7:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. The scary, but kid-friendly, trail hikes will include a moderate walk with some hills and uneven surfaces. Younger hikers must be accompanied by an adult. Everyone is encouraged to bring a flashlight. The Haunted Hikes are free and parking is $3. Dos Picos Park is located at 17953 Dos Picos Park Road in Ramona. The County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation has partnered with local community organizations to sponsor these Halloween in the Park activities. For more information on County Parks go to www.sdparks.org.