READER’S EDITORIAL: WHY WE ALL OCCUPY WALL STREET
By Daniel J. Smiechowski October 30, 2011 (San Diego)–From a social-psychological view the national manifestations on Wall Street are a result of the piano man versus cop syndrome or creativity and obedience. More simply, the protest can be described as inherent to society’s pressure valve of conflict and order. So, what’s new? We have been down this road for the past ten thousand plus years. But, here’s the twist. As members of the human species, we are genetically programmed to resist. It remains a false notion to feign control since everyone squirms while led to the gallows. Some events of the 1960’s illustrate this point. During this time, America was polarized by conflict and order. Just ask Lt. Calley and Commander Loyld Bucker. As for Mr. Calley, the ringleader of the massacre at Mai Lai in Vietnam, his immoral and illegal actions were in large measure condoned by the law and order folks. This is not control.The same mentality stood silent with respect to our National Guard’s slaughter of students at Kent State. This is not control. And why was Commander Bucker vilified by the same illogical notion of law and order in regard to North Koreas’ taking of the Navy Vessel Pueblo? This is not control. The protesters have morally legitimate concerns just as those before them, naming Martin Luther King Jr. Bobby Kennedy and Cesar Chavez. When captains of industry and corporate giants including America’s largest banks kick us in the teeth while on our knees there evolves a natural human response. As with the US Automakers, our largest banks were saved by the federal government only to turn immorally on the same folks that saved them. This is not control. When one is powerless and consumed by injustice, we all suffer the trappings of immorality. Only the fools among us believe in order and control. When the tables are turned, we all are in the same boat. May the protesters bring justice to our great nation. The views expressed in this editorial reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine. To submit an editorial for consideration, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org
JUST DUCKY: CALL TO YOUNG ARTISTS FOR JR. DUCK STAMP COMPETITION WITH $5,000 PRIZE
October 30, 2011 (Rancho San Diego) — Young artists in grades K to 12 are invited to free workshops to enter the 20th annual California State Junior Duck Stamp competition. The event is sponsored by Pacific South West Art (PSWA) and Heritage of the Americas Museum. All students who enter will receive a certificate form the State of California Fish and Game Department and be eligible for ribbons and awards. As a special feature, the student’s artwork (9” x 12” painting or drawing) will be displayed at PSWA’s annual international decoy carving competition Feb. 11 and 12, 2012, at Liberty Station in San Diego. After the carvers show, PSWA will ship the artwork directly to the State for the annual Jr. stamp competition. There are no fees for the entrants. The goal is for each child to learn about conservation through the duck stamp program, drawing techniques, competition rules and an awareness of art opportunities. Each State in the U.S. selects winners in the various age divisions and the first place winners go on to compete at the Federal level for the prize of $5000. The first meeting will be an orientation, November 5, 2011, allowing for questions and further art and drawing details. Parents or legal guardians must attend the meeting as most of the guidelines will be directed to the adult who must ultimately sign the competition entry and release. All meetings/workshops will be held at the Heritage of the Americas Museum on Saturdays. For registration please call: (619) 447-5510 or email: gloriachadwick@yahoo.com
MURDER IN LEMON GROVE: TAXI DRIVER WTIH GUNSHOT WOUND DIES AFTER ROLL-OVER CRASH
October 30, 2011 (Lemon Grove) – The San Diego Sheriff’s Homicide Unit is investigating the death of a taxi driver found with a gunshot wound following a rollover collision at 3:48 a.m. The crash occurred at 3445 Main Street in Lemon Grove. A deputy Sheriff responded to a call regarding the accident and called for paramedics. The male driver was extricated by members of the Lemon Grove Fire Department. As paramedics rendered medical aid, they found what appeared to be a bullet wound to his upper body. Despite life-saving efforts, he expired at the scene. “Although we are in the early stages of this investigation, this case is being treated as a murder due to observable injuries sustained by the victim,” said Lieutenant Larry Nesbit with the Sheriff’s Homicide Detail. Cause and manner of death, along with positive identification of the victim, will be determined by the Medical Examiner’s office. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Homicide Detail at (858) 974-2321/after hours at (858) 565-5200 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-TIPS(8477).
HOMES EVACUATED AFTER SDG&E CREW STRIKES GAS LINE
Story and photos by Russ Lindquist “…SDG&E told [residents]that a small gas leak had been going on for a month or more.” Chief Andy Menshek, San Miguel Fire Department October 29, 2011 (Mount Helix)–Safety officials evacuated two homes and ordered six others "sheltered in place" with windows and doors closed on Pandora drive on Mount Helix in La Mesa yesterday beginning at approximately 9:15 a.m. The evacuation and sheltering lasted about two hours, according to Chief Andy Menshek of the San Miguel Fire Department (SMFD) who was the "incident commander" of the event. The Chief said that the operator of a front-end excavator had broken a gas line, a pipe approximately three-quarters of an inch in diameter. The operator works for a private contractor for San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E). On the scene, some SDG&E workers said plainly that "to fix a gas line break" was why SDG&E was on Pandora drive; other workers directed questions to their supervisor, a man in a SDG&E work-truck who did not give his name, and who, in turn, called Chris Ballard, his supervisor. Ballard instructed the supervisor in the truck to direct questions to "SDG&E Media Support." Yvonne of SDG&E Media Support said that, as of two o’clock that afternoon, her office had no information to give about the leak on Pandora drive. When asked why SDG&E was on Pandora drive, the supervisor in the truck said "to fix a water pipe." When pressed as to whether he was, in fact, supervising a gas line break, the supervisor responded," I cannot talk about that." In addition to Chief Menshek’s SMFD, responders included the respective Fire Departments of El Cajon and La Mesa and responders from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Leonard Villarreal, Public Information Officer for the SMFD, said that no Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) team was called in for the event, and that Dig-alert reported that the gas leak was "not on the charts." Dig-alert is a government-sponsored information service that monitors locations of underground gas mains, power lines and fiber-optic cables. Chief Menshek said that the day before, on October 28, SMFD responded to concerns by residents on Pandora Drive. “The residents said that SDG&E told them that a small gas leak had been going on for a month or more,” said the Chief. He reported later that it was unclear whether SDG&E’s private contractor was on the scene to fix the ongoing leak when the machine operator ruptured the gas line. Incident Page Network also informed ECM that a leak had been reportedly ongoing for a month. No serious long-term effects are expected at the location, and no citations for negligence are expected to be received by the operator or the private contractor, neither of whom did SDG&E identify. Officer Villareal said that the safety responders stayed on-scene for the entire two hours of the initial event and cited the "diligence" of the responders in quickly stabilizing the situation, allowing for SDG&E to come in, at approximately 11:30 p.m., to repair the gas line. While SDG&E workers surrounded the trench that contained the gas line, one resident, Mike (who asked that his last name not be published) walked down and asked the workers how they were doing. They said, "fine," and thanked him for asking. Mike said some of his children are construction workers elsewhere.
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS – DAY OF THE DEAD CELEBRATION NOV. 2 IN BORREGO
A Time Of Reflection About The Meaning Of Life And The Mission That One Needs To Fulfill By Millicent Arko October 29, 2011 (Borrego Springs) — The Borrego Art Institute and the Borrego schools are planning a major celebration of the Dia de los Muertos – Day of the Dead this year. The celebration will be at the Art Institute Gallery, in the Mall, on Wednesday, November 2, 10:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m., 587 Palm Canyon Dr # 105, Borrego Springs, CA. There will be music, dancing, and food — a real family celebration. The two-day event features multiple activities, performances, and opportunities for the community to celebrate and learn about this cultural tradition. The Day of the Dead is not a mournful commemoration but a happy and colorful celebration where death takes a lively, friendly expression and the deceased are honored. The celebration attracts all sorts of people who want to pay homage to loved ones who have died, through art and music. It is a joyful way to honor the dead through artistic expression such as papier-mâché skulls and skeletons, cut paper hangings, decorated sugar skulls and flowers. Altars will be set up on Tuesday, November 1 between 1:00 p.m. and 8 p.m. Students of all ages are involved and community members are invited to set up their own family altars at the BAI Gallery. Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de los Muertos) is a Mexican holiday. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, as a National Holiday. The celebration takes place on November 1- 2, in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints’ Day (November 1) and All Souls’ Day (November 2). Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts. November 1 honors children and infants, whereas deceased adults are honored on November 2. Toys are brought for dead children and bottles of tequila, and other distilled beverages for adults. People visit the cemeteries to be with the souls of the departed and build private altars containing the favorite foods and beverages as well as photos and memorabilia of the departed. The intent is to encourage visits by the souls, so that the souls will hear the prayers and the comments of the living directed to them. Plans for the day are made throughout the year, including gathering the goods to be offered to the dead. During the three-day period, families usually clean and decorate graves; most visit the cemeteries where their loved ones are buried and decorate their graves with "offerings". Families will also offer trinkets or the deceased’s favorite candies on the grave. Some families build altars or small shrines in their homes; these usually have the Christian cross, statues or pictures of the Blessed Virgin Mary, pictures of deceased relatives and offerings are also put in homes, usually with food. Pillows and blankets are left out so that the deceased can rest after their long journey. People spend all night beside the graves of their relatives and in many places; people have picnics at the grave-site as well. Fun Facts: A glossary of Spanish terms used in connection with the Day of the Dead: los angelitos — literally, little angels; young children whose spirits return la calaca — a skeleton figure representing death, similar to the Grim Reaper el calavera — a reckless fellow la calavera — skull la calaverada — crazy, foolish behavior el difunto — the departed la hojaldra — a bread for the Day of the Dead la ofrenda — an offering left for the souls of the dead zempasúchitl —traditional name for the yellow marigolds used to mark a pathway to the altar. The Borrego Art Institute was founded on November 1, 2004 with the leasing of a former restaurant space on Palm Canyon Drive, “The Mall”. Renovations began immediately, a Board was formed, and The Gallery opened on March 1, 2005. A 501 © 3 application was filed shortly thereafter. Over 40 Borrego artists currently have their work on display. A portion of the sales price on each piece of art is retained by the gallery and used to offset some of the ongoing operating costs. Beyond this, the Institute is reliant on donations from the public. Borrego Art Institute continues to evolve with the help of people who embrace our desire and dream to create and share art in the Borrego Valley. Their mission is to provide a venue for works of art created by Borrego Valley Residents; organize the public viewing and sale of art; create a learning center for artists of all ages and operate as a not-for-profit organization committed to community benefits. Contact Barbara Nickerson (206-910-1070), Leslie Duncan (760-532-5129) or (760) 767-5152 for more information. http://www.borregoartinstitute.com Directions to the Borrego Art Institute, 587 Palm Canyon Dr # 105, Borrego Springs, CA
SAN MIGUEL FIRE DISTRICT RESIDENTS SEEK HELP TO SAVE FIRE ENGINE
Sycuan may offer hope for restoring service in Dehesa; Mount Helix could be next to lose fire services By Miriam Raftery October 29, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Dehesa residents are losing staffing for their fire engine and being left with only a bare-bones medical crew starting in November. Moreover, a District representative told ECM, Mount Helix could be the next community to lose fire protection if the San Miguel Fire District’s financial situation does not improve. At a community meeting of concerned Dehesa residents Thursday night, participants put forth a variety of concerns—but also constructive suggestions for pitching in to help the district raise funds. Short-term, help may come from some well-known neighbors: the Sycuan band of the Kumeyaay Nation. “Sycuan has told us that if our firefighters union agrees, they would consider putting firefighters on Engine 23,” Chief August Ghio told ECM, adding that board members will be meeting with labor on the issue. Ghio gave a PowerPoint presentation showing the District’s fiscal challenges, including a $2.5 million property tax revenue reduction over the past three years. The District now reports it is now $1.5 million “out of balance” in fiscal year 2011/12 with another $1.1 million deficit forecast for fiscal year 2012/13. The District has pared $4.5 million in expenses and made deep cuts in labor. Critics have contended the District reduce its contribution to reserves, but Ghio says the reserve fund is necessary to assure adequately working equipment during emergencies. Others have called on the District to further pare its administrative costs, such as paring down salaries for Ghio and administrative staff. Even if deeper administrative cuts were made, however (something the board has thus far resisted) it would not raise nearly enough to restore fire service. Audience members responded with both heated concerns and positive proposals. Some criticized the District for providing less than 24 hours notice, in some cases, of a hearing Wednesday on terminating fire service in their area. Ghio said that’s because the move was part of a labor agreement and that disclosing terms would have violated labor laws. Earlier this week, the board voted 4-2 to adopt the proposal over objections from both labor and community members present. “It’s going to be devastating,” Kim Raddatz, a Dehesa resident and former fire chief from Coronado, said. He added that the cuts in staffing would impact response effectiveness to accidents, traumas, and fires. Moreover, he said a two-man medical crew is inadequate even for many medical situations. “If CPR is in progress, it takes more than two people,” he pointed out. He also said fire insurance costs for homeowners will rise. Raddatz noted that in Crest, homeowners formed a fire protection district and assessed themselves $350 each for fire protection services. “If we had that, we wouldn’t be here,” public information officer Leonard Villareal observed. A fire parcel tax of $52 per property was defeated in the San Miguel District overwhelmingly by voters. The audience had mixed feelings on whether they would be willing to pay a benefit fee assessment in these hard economic times, though the reality is that with no fire service for the area other than mutual aid response coming from farther away, fire insurance costs will likely rise by $150 a year or more, Raddatz said. Ghio said it would cost at least $350,000 to $370,000 to keep the engine. Some present offered to volunteer on a committee to look into ways to raise funds, such as asking churches and community groups to help, or seeing if Syucan might be willing to help sponsor a benefit concert. While District representatives were targets of heated anger at the Board meeting one night earlier, the community meeting had a more cooperative tone. “This was a great meeting tonight,” Ghio said afterwards, praising community members for bringing “ideas with energy and enthusiasm.” With service slated to end November 1st in Dehesa, however, the need for help is eminent.
READER’S EDITORIAL: OCCUPY THE NATION
Wal-Mart’s assault on its employees’ health is symptomatic of what ails America By Bonnie Price, PhD October 29, 2011 (La Mesa)–What’s happening to our nation? Why are thousands of demonstrators gathering in hundreds of parks and public places with signs and slogans proclaiming everything from, “I AM THE 99%!” to “They got bailed out; we got sold out!” The explanation is really quite simple: People have finally realized that their lack of jobs, loss of property and 401K value, and even their lack of food is not something of their own making. It is really because the 1% of the population that has most of the wealth and power, has rigged the economic system to ensure their continued wealth and power at the expense of the rest of us, the 99%. The latest actions by Wal-Mart are prime examples of putting corporate greed over people in need. A recent CBS Evening News report (10/21/11) revealed just how badly the system can be rigged against individuals. Wyatt Andrews reported that Wal-Mart, the largest retailer in the world, has announced to employees that they must assume 20 – 60% increases in employer-provided health care premiums next year. Additionally, the company plans to cut by 50%, its contributions to employee health savings accounts. Furthermore, part-time employees will no longer have access to health care benefits at all. A Wal-Mart manager who was interviewed for the report said that her wages of just over $9 per hour would not permit her to participate in the health plan, because her earnings just allowed her to get by now. She thought she’d just have to do without health insurance, relying on public emergency room services, instead. Analyst Larry Levitt of the Kaiser Family Foundation, who was also interviewed, predicted that health care costs are likely to rise about 5.5% next year. So, do the math. Wal-Mart will reduce the benefits to its workers and enrich its bottom line by anywhere from 15% to 55%, or more, depending on whether or not the workers continue with the company insurance plans. So, who wins, given this scenario? Surely not the 99%! Wal-Mart’s shareholders, including seven members of the Walton Family who are on the Forbes list of billionaires (March 10, 2010), plan to further enrich themselves by creating the conditions that force their workers to rely on publically-supplied health services. The public is us, the 99%, of course. We have laws that those who visit emergency rooms must be given service. That service must be paid for by those who have health insurance or pay taxes that support publically-supported hospitals. On or about the same day that this news was broadcast by CBS, the San Diego U-T contained a full-page advertisement touting the tax dollars generated by Wal-Mart stores in the area. There was no mention of the costs those stores were about to impose on the community because of Wal-Mart’s decision to make health care benefits so expensive that their employees would have to use public rather than employer-provided private health care benefits. As an industry leader, Wal-Mart might be setting a trend with its actions. Will competitors like Target soon be following its lead? And, what about other corporations in other industries? Will they do the same to inflate their bottom lines? Will we, the 99%, soon be paying higher insurance premiums and co-pays to cover increased emergency room service use by those whose employers no longer provide affordable health care plans? The Wal-Mart case is just one example of why thousands of people, young and old, alike, have taken to the streets and other places to demand a more equitable economic system. They see the corporate system as disrespectful of honest labor because rewards for their work are disproportionally directed to the bottom lines of the 1% at the top. They also see the entire governmental system as agents of the 1%, since they donate most of their election campaign funds. You are the 99%. Are you ready to join in challenging the system to ensure that you, and others like you, get a fair deal from the 1%? If you’re ready, but don’t want to gather in the public square, try using other tools of democracy. Stop buying goods and services from corporations that don’t treat their workers fairly. Support unions who will fight for their workers. Demand that your elected officials create and enforce laws that ensure that corporations cannot rely on the public to pick up the costs for employee benefits they cut when they’re so profitable. And, finally, demand that your elected officials work for you, instead of the corporations that fund their campaigns for reelection! You, the 99%, have more votes than the 1%. Use them to make your point. The views 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
LAKESIDE CHAMBER OFFERS FREE HALLOWEEN PARTY FOR KIDS ON MAINE STREET OCT. 31
October 29, 2011 (Lakeside) — The Lakeside Chamber of Commerce would like to invite family and friends to join the festivity of Halloween for children ages 12 and under. The event takes place on Monday, October 31, from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., on Maine Avenue, in Lakeside. The spooky streets consist of two blocks of free treats from local businesses with the children being escorted by Lakeside Royalty. It’s Halloween! There’s a goblin at my window, A monster by my door. The pumpkin at my table, Keeps on smiling more and more. There’s a ghost who haunts my bedroom, A witch whose face is green. They used to be my family, Till they dressed for Halloween. The Lakeside Chamber of Commerce is organized for the purpose of developing, promoting and protecting the commercial, industrial, professional, agricultural and civic interests of Lakeside and its surrounding areas. The Chamber always appreciates hearing from the community, so please feel free to write or e-mail with your comments or suggestions. For more information or participation details contact Jill Fleming at 619.933.6390. Lakeside Chamber of Commerce, 9924 Vine Street, Lakeside, CA 92040, 619.561.1031 and visit www.lakesideca.com chamber@lakesideca.com Directions to the Halloween event.