BURNING OF ESCONDIDO “BOMB FACTORY” HOUSE NOW SET FOR THURSDAY
Printer-friendly version I-15 to shut down; shelter to open for evacuees Map of traffic plan during burn December 7, 2010 (Escondido) – Final preparations are being made to destroy bombs and other hazardous materials iat 1954 Via Scott by burning down the home and its deadly contents on Thursday. (Note: Earlier news reports stated that the burn was set for Wednesday. Thursday is now the correct date.) Residents in the vicinity are being notified to evacuate or, in some cases, shelter-in-place during the burn. George Djura Jakubec appeared Dec. 6 at the U.S. District Courthouse, where he pled not guilty of making and possessing destructive devices, and to robbing three banks and trying to rob a fourth. Federal indictments have been handed down and the state dropped its charges to enable federal prosecutors to take over the case. Jakubec is accused of having the largest stash of homemade explosives ever found on U.S. soil include numerous materials that have been utilized by Al Qaeda terrorists and suicide bombers. Authorities have not revealed Jakubec’s motive. Documents reveal that in addition to explosive materials, grenades and detonators, authorities found guns, facial masks and gloves at the scene. Computers were also reportedly seized from the residence that he was renting on Via Scott, but the interior was deemed too hazardous for investigators and the plan was formulated to destroy the home, along with whatever remains inside. ECM news partner 10 News reports that Jakubec’s attorney said his client is “despondent” over losing everything that he and his wife, Marina, owned. The stash in the home was discovered after a landscaper, Mario Garcia of Fallbrook, stepped on explosive material in the backyard; the detonation seriously injured Garcia. Deputy District Attorney Terri Perez told a judge on Nov. 22 that Jakubec had converted his home to a “bomb factory.” Authorities have spent the last few days making preparations to try and protect neighboring homes by building a fence and cutting down trees and shrubs around the home. Firefighters are setting up a command post a block away from the residence. County hazardous materials experts and the bomb squad have also been on site. The County Air Pollution Control District has installed a portable weather station on the roof of a nearby fire station to monitor wind and other climate conditions. Authorities will be patrolling the evacuated area to prevent looting. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared the area a state disaster zone and the state’s Department of Toxic Substances Control will fund removal of all debris from the site, except the slab. Weather permitting, the burn is slated to begin at 9 a.m. on Thursday, December 9. A portion of I-15 in Escondido will be shut down in both directions during the burn. Those within the evacuation zone are ordered to leave the area and bring medications, important documents, cash, and items they wish to assure are preserved such as photos, heirlooms and jewelry. All evacuees should find appropriate care facilities for their pets to assure their safety. The Red Cross has set up an Evacuation Center at Clarke Field House on the campus of Cal State San Marcos. For more information, call the Red Cross at 1-858-309-1200. Those with special needs for transportation or equipment should contact Don Rawson at (760)839-5404. Residents who are not within the evacuation area, but who live within the designated shelter-in-place zone, have the option of evacuating to the Red Cross facility or elsewhere, or staying indoors in their homes. Those that opt to shelter in place should close and lock all windows and doors, turn off all ventilation systems including the heater, air conditioning or whole house fan, avoiding using ventilation fans in kitchen and bath, don’t use the clothes dryer, and close fireplace dampers. (If you have a fire in the fireplace, let it burn down before closing dampers.) After 3 p.m. on Thursday, residents should call 211 or listen to local radio or TV stations for further instructions. Residents are asked to avoid calling 911 except in emergencies. For a map of evacuation and shelter-in-place zones, and for additional information and updates, visit www.sdcountyemergency.com. Printer-friendly version
LANDING GEAR ON PLANE COLLAPSES AT GILLESPIE FIELD
Printer-friendly version December 7, 2010 (El Cajon) – The landing gear collapsed on a Piper PA18 fixed-wing plane at Gillespie Field in El Cajon today, causing minor damage to the underside shortly after 3 p.m. There was no injury to the pilot and no passengers were on board. Heartland Fire & Rescue responded to the incident, however there was no fire or fuel spill. Runway 27 was closed for approximately an hour, until the plane could be towed off the runway, according to Monica Zech, spokesman for the City of El Cajon. Printer-friendly version
EAST COUNTY TOY AND FOOD DRIVE FUNDRAISER AT VIEJAS DEC. 8
Printer-friendly version December 7, 2010 (Alpine) — On December 16, 17 & 21, the East County Toy and Food Drive will provide toys and a Christmas meal to over 1,500 East County families who have signed up with us requesting assistance. “To do this we need your help. We desperately need toys and financial donations to make this possible,” says Capt. Darren Norton with the East County Salvation Army. Viejas will host Stoney and Rob’s Holiday Party and Auction in the Viejas Dreamcatcher Lounge this Wednesday evening, December 8th from 6-9 p.m. to raise money for the toy and food drive. Admission cost is $20 or $10 plus a new, unwrapped toy. Inside, heavy hors d’oeuvres will be available along with music provided by DJ, Eric Lund. A silent and live auction will also be held, hosted by Steve Hamann. All monies raised remains here in the East County and will assist local families this Christmas. Printer-friendly version
TROLLEY LINE REOPENS AFTER MINOR COLLISION IN EL CAJON
Printer-friendly version December 7, 2010 (El Cajon) – A driver accidentally hit the gas pedal instead of the brake, rolling the front of the vehicle into the path of an oncoming trolley. The trolley struck the vehicle at North Marshall Avenue and Billy Mitchel in El Cajon, triggering a multi-agency response, Incident Page Network reported at 10:49 a.m. Fortunately, the driver was not injured. The trolley line shut down for 13 minutes while the vehicle was removed from the track, and has since reopened, a spokesman for Metropolitan Transit District confirmed. Printer-friendly version
PEARLS: DON’T DO IT THIS WAY
Printer-friendly version By Charlavan Baker Hart December 7, 2010 (El Cajon)–I thought if you didn’t see very well you go to the eye doctor and have yourself checked. I was braced for learning I had a cataract forming and would need an operation. So I set that up, missed work, arrived on time. The doctor did some preliminary tests, and then asked me to remove my contacts. I walked over to the sink area and did just that. Of course as soon as you remove them you really can’t see well at all and the eyes are a little uncomfortable. I have worn disposables for over 20 years. SO, since I know exactly what I am doing in that environment, I reached for the wetting drops, there on the counter. If you can’t see, that is not the really smart thing to do. You could pick up the wrong bottle there and actually put drops of a strong hard contact cleaner in your eye instead of moisture drops. NATURALLY that is what I did. From that point on we started over with “Let’s see what you can see NOW.” When I stopped writhing, the answer is VERY LITTLE. The good news is that there was nothing wrong with my eyes. We assume it was a bad contact I had inserted a few days earlier and since I had just run out of my supply, I couldn’t replace it. They were on order. (I still thought I must have a cataract.) To add a bit more drama, that terribly painful episode got worse by the time I left the office. By the middle of the night, my nerves were so inflamed, my upper body, neck, arms, et al, made moving a single thing just not worth it. I had to use which ever hand hurt the least to reach up and turn my head!!! Talk about a good time. Now since I have warned all of you to NOT DO THAT, I feel I have done a lot of good today already. I am going to mull this entire thing over in the Jacuzzi. I should be safer there. Printer-friendly version
2010 “GREEN” RANKINGS ISSUED FOR 10 LARGEST PUBLICLY TRADED U.S. HOMEBUILDERS
Printer-friendly version Major new “Green Homebuilder” Survey ; Impact of Recession Gauged in Terms of Progress (and Lack of Progress) Among Major U.S. Homebuilders. December 7, 2010 (Bethesda, Maryland)–An updated ranking of the environmental and sustainable practices of the United States’ 10 largest publicly traded homebuilders has been released today 2010 in a new report from the investment firm Calvert, one of the nation’s leaders in the field of sustainable and responsible investing. In alphabetical order, the 10 homebuilders ranked in Calvert’s “2010 green homebuilder” survey are: DR Horton, KB Home, Lennar, MDC Holdings, Meritage Homes, NVR, Pulte Homes, Ryland Group, Standard Pacific, and Toll Brothers. Among other things, the impact of the recession is gauged in the Calvert report as a factor in showing how the top U.S. homebuilders have held, gained or lost ground in the rankings. The 2010 report updates Calvert’s first “green homebuilder” survey, which was issued in 2008. As an investor, Calvert seeks to discern how major U.S. homebuilders compare on policies, programs, and performance relating to the environment and resource efficiency. Calvert’s 2010 Green Homebuilders Survey examines the 10 largest publicly traded US homebuilders on the basis of five “green” indicators: land, building materials, energy, water and climate change. A streaming audio replay of this news event will be available on the Web at http://www.calvert.com as of 6 p.m. EST on December 7, 2010. More information on Calvert SRI strategies is available at www.Calvert.com/SRI. Printer-friendly version
DUO ROBS CRICKET WIRELESS STORE IN EL CAJON
Printer-friendly version December 7, 2010 (El Cajon) – Two men stole cash and phones from the Cricket Wireless Store at 1110 Broadway, El Cajon Police report. Police responded to a call around 6:10 p.m. from a witness who said she saw two masked men running from the store, according to Lt. Tim Henton. Officers were dispatched immediately. As they arrived, the clerk also called 911 to report the robbery. The suspects reportedly threatened the clerk with a gun and demanded money. They also broke into a storage cabinet and stole numerous wireless phones. One suspect was described as white, 18-25 years old, 5 feet 10 inches, 150-160 pounds, wearing a black shirt and pants, white shoes, black hat with white emblmen on front (possibly “SD”) and black gloves. The second suspect was described as Hispanic, 18-25, 5 feet 10 inches, 160-170 pounds, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, black shoes, and gray gloves. The suspects were seen running to the rear of the store, where they may have gotten into a waiting vehicle. There is no vehicle description. Officers searched the area for the suspects, but they were not located. Anyone with information about the identity of the suspects in this case should call the El Cajon Police Department at (619) 579-3311. People can also call Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-TIPS or email or text at San Diego Crime Stoppers. Printer-friendly version
FEDS APPROVE DREAM RIDER AS 501c3 NON-PROFIT
Printer-friendly version Breast cancer rehab center can now receive tax-deductible donations December 7, 2010 (Alpine)–Just in time for the holiday giving season, Dream Rider Equestrian Therapy received approval this month from the IRS to operate as a non-profit. Newly established last summer, Dream Rider seeks donations to improve facilities and to provide therapy to more breast cancer patients and survivors. Those diagnosed with cancer often lose their ability to work and therefore, cannot afford the rehabilitation they sorely need. Dream Rider’s unique mission is to bring the proven healing power of equine-assisted therapy to breast cancer patients and survivors—and to provide that therapy in a serene, private setting, where personal dignity is respected. No other equestrian center in the country offers this service to breast cancer patients, says founder Catherine Hand, who adds that appropriate rehabilitation of any kind is uncommon, even in the breast cancer survivorship plans of most cancer treatment centers. The mission of Dream Rider Equestrian Therapy is to enable and enhance the recovery of breast cancer survivors from the physical and emotional effects of the disease and its treatment. For more information, or to make a donation, visit Dream Rider. Donations can be made online at www.dreamriderequestriantherapy.com. Printer-friendly version
A LAUGHING MATTER: BREW HA HA COMEDY OPENS IN COLLEGE AREA
Printer-friendly version December 6, 2010 (San Diego)—Brew Ha Ha, the popular comedy show featuring headline comics and rising stars, will celebrate the grand opening of its newest location near San Diego State University on Friday, December 10th at 7:30 p.m. They’ve been described as a “volcano vaporizer of crazy laughter” by San Diego CityBeat and as a “rollicking success” by East County Magazine, among other thumbs-up—or should we say, funny bones-up–reviews. There’s no cover and no drink minimum (donations are suggested)for this rib-tickling debut, making this one of the best deals around for comedy aficionados. Many Brew Ha Ha comedians are national and international stars, including funnymen and women who have performed on Comedy Central and HBO. The new location is at Cafe Europe, 6784 El Cajon Blvd. For reservations, call 619-922-9057. Shows are rated PG-13. The College area locale is the third venue for Brew Ha Ha comedy, which currently performs at Gio Bistro in La Mesa as well as in University Heights. For more information, visit www.brewhahaentertainment.com. Printer-friendly version