KITKA, WOMAN’S VOICE ENSEMBLE, PERFORMS HARMONIES FROM EASTERN EUROPE AND BEYOND DECEMBER 1
November 15, 2011 (El Cajon) — Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble will perform a holiday-themed program, “Wintersongs” at the Cuyamaca College Performing Arts Theatre. Wintersongs showcases music ranging from rousing Slavic folk carols and Eastern Orthodox sacred choral works to pre-Christian incantations for the longest nights of the year and Hebrew folk songs for Chanukah. The performance takes place Thursday, December 1 at 7:30 p.m. through 10:00 p.m., at Cuyamaca College Performing Arts Theatre, located at 900 Rancho San Diego Pkwy, El Cajon CA. General admission tickets are $20.00. History: Kitka is an American women’s vocal arts ensemble inspired by traditional songs and vocal techniques from Eastern Europe. Dedicated to developing new audiences for music rooted in Balkan, Slavic, and Caucasian women’s vocal traditions, Kitka also strives to expand the boundaries of folk song as a living and evolving expressive art form. Founded in 1979, Kitka began as a grassroots group of amateur singers from diverse backgrounds. Kitka has deep ties to Eastern Europe and has traveled there to perform and collect repertoire many times. Kitka means “bouquet” in Bulgarian and Macedonian. Kitka’s singers regularly conduct fieldwork in ethnic communities throughout America as well as abroad. Many of Kitka’s singers are alsotalented composers and arrangers who create original settings of songs they have gathered in the field. KITKA’s material ranges from ancient village duets to complex choral works, from early music to contemporary theater. The sound of their voices is exotic, both elegant and eerie. Kitka’s work unites diverse languages, rhythms, melodies, and harmonies to cultivate a spirit of friendship, cross-cultural understanding, and compassion. Music brings people together everywhere — it has no boundaries. These women clearly share a passion for what they do. Some of the major grants Kitka has received are from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Rockefeller Foundation. Kitka’s unique sound and innovative sense of programming has led to dozens of other fruitful collaborations, ranging from working with Hollywood composers and independent film-makers on motion picture soundtracks including Braveheart, Jacob’s Ladder, and Queen of the Damned. Also, Kitka has released eleven critically acclaimed recordings, nine on its own on Diaphonica label. Reviews: “Simply amazing harmonies…truly this is the most wonderful singing I have ever heard.” — David Crosby, Crosby, Stills, And Nash. “A stunning group unlike any other…absolutely electrifying!” — Garrison Keillor, A Prairie Home Companion. Advance ticket sales are available and may be purchased on line: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/204242 Also, tickets are for sale at the college Cashier’s office in the Student One-Stop Center, Bldg. A. The Cuyamaca College 364-seatPerforming arts theatre is a stunning venue with great acoustics. For more information regarding Kitka please visit: http://www.kitka.org/about/index.html
PINE VALLEY TEEN PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF CHIEF PETTY OFFICER IN THE NAVAL SEA CADET CORPS
November 16, 2011 (El Cajon) – Kaitlin Ortmeier, 16, a Junior at Granite Hills High School, was promoted to NSCC Cadet Chief Petty Officer at a ceremony at the Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado on November 13. The rank of the Chief Petty Officer or CPO is the highest rank a cadet can earn, and the equivalent of Scouting’s “Eagle” rank. Naval Sea Cadet Kaitlin Ortmeier, 16 has the anchors of a Chief Petty Officer pinned on her by her grandfather, Frank Ortmeier, who served in the Navy as a Gunner’s Mate from 1958 to 1963. Ortmeier joins a small cadre of NSCC Chief Petty Officer’s numbering only 90 cadets nationwide. Only four Naval Sea Cadets out of over three hundred in San Diego County are Chief Petty Officers. A CPO typically serves for one to two years before graduating from the program. Serving in Coronado Battalion based at Naval Amphibious Base, she will now lead her Battalion as the most senior cadet. For young men and women ages 10-17, the Naval Sea Cadet Corps through organization and cooperation with the Department of the Navy, encourages and aids American youth to develop an interest and skill in basic seamanship and in its naval adaptations, to train them in seagoing skills, and to teach them patriotism, courage, self-reliance and kindred virtues" in a drug-, gang- and alcohol free lifestyle. Chief Petty Officer Kaitlin Ortmeier has her CPO cover placed on her head by her father, Michael Ortmeier. The “hatting” ceremony is a long standing Navy tradition. With units across San Diego and Imperial Counties including Coronado, El Centro, Escondido, Lakeside, Kearny Mesa, Miramar, National City, and Oceanside there are opportunities for everyone. Those interested in finding out more information on the Naval Sea Cadet Corps can visit www.seacadets.org or contact the Regional Director, Lt. Cmdr. Scott D. Oram at soram@seacadets.org by phone at (858) 997-8721 Photo Credits: Naval Sea Cadet Corps
NEW RECYCLING PROGRAM TAKES USED COOKING OIL AND LEAVES CLEANER AIR
November 15, 2011 (La Mesa) — Don’t waste your Thanksgiving leftovers or risk clogging drains to dispose of grease! You can now drop off used cooking oil and grease for recycling at the EDCO Station in La Mesa or four other EDCO recycling buyback centers in the county. This free service is provided by EDCO and New Leaf Biofuel, both locally-owned companies. City of La Mesa staff approached EDCO earlier this year to ask the regional waste and recycling company, which serves La Mesa, if they had ever considered adding cooking oil to their growing list of materials which can be dropped-off and recycled at their transfer station located at 8184 Commercial Street in La Mesa’s industrial district. The recycling of FOG is already required at local restaurants and many services are available to pick-up the material at no cost to the generating business due to the increasing value of waste oil as a source of alternative energy. EDCO Station already accepts electronics and Styrofoam from anyone in the county, in addition to traditional recyclable items such as bottles and cans. EDCO looked at the feasibility and saw an opportunity, signing up with New Leaf and placing containers at their five local recycling centers. According to EDCO Vice President John Snyder, “We are always looking for ways to increase recycling, expand recycling programs and keep these recoverable materials out of landfills.” Keeping FOG out of the drain is also important because the material leads to clogged pipes and sewer back ups, increasing the cost of maintaining the wastewater system. The partnership is a win-win for everyone because EDCO is removing a valuable material from landfills, New Leaf is refining it into a biodiesel that can then be sold to commercial customers to run greener diesel fleets and the community is gaining a new recycling resource while getting some cleaner air too. FOG recycling is available to everyone throughout the county at EDCO’s five buyback centers in La Mesa, Lemon Grove, Fallbrook, San Marcos and Ramona. Simply collect used cooking oil and grease in a leak-proof container, such as a coffee can or jar, and take it in when full. This service is available in La Mesa Monday-Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., while days and times at other locations vary. Visit www.cityoflamesa.com/recycling for more info.
DAVIS INTRODUCES BILL TO BAN SMOKING IN FEDERAL BUILDINGS
November 15, 2011 (San Diego) – As a way to protect the federal workforce and visitors to federal facilities from secondhand smoke, Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) introduced legislation Friday to ban all smoking in federal buildings across the nation. “Exposure to secondhand smoke is a serious health issue that drives up health care costs for all of us,” said Davis. “Federal workers should be able to work in a healthy, smoke-free environment.” The Smoke-Free Federal Buildings Act (H.R. 3382) would prohibit smoking in and 25 feet around all facilities owned or leased by the federal government. Smoking sections would not be allowed inside a federal facility. In 1997, President Clinton issued an Executive Order prohibiting smoking in most federal workplaces. Clinton’s order, however, contained exceptions for designated smoking areas within a federal building. According to the California Environmental Protection Agency, an estimated 53,000 Americans die from exposure to secondhand smoke each year. A study by the U.S. Surgeon General found secondhand smoke still has health impacts even when it is limited to designated areas. “President Clinton’s Order was a great first step,” Davis said. “But it’s time to take the next step and eliminate all smoking in federal buildings. Despite setting aside certain areas for smoking, we know that people still get exposed to secondhand smoke.”
CELEBRITY WAITER NIGHT AT HOOLEY’S TONIGHT: HELP RAISE FUNDS FOR EAST COUNTY TOY & FOOD DRIVE
November 17, 2011 (La Mesa) — TV and radio personalities, sports stars, elected officials, comedians and entertainers will be serving up fare at Hooley’s Irish Pub & Grill in La Mesa from 5-9 p.m. tonight–all for a good cause. Proceeds from Celebrity Waiter Night help benefit the 36th annual East County Toy and Food Drive. This year, the number of families in need is high, due to the economy and many who are without jobs. Hooleys is located in Grossmont Center (5500 Grossmont Blvd, La Mesa). Hooley’s invites you to join in this fun-filled evening along with sponsors the Salvation Army, Stoney’s Kids, KOGO-600 radio, and the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians.
BEST IN SOUTHERN GOSPEL MUSIC – LEGACY FIVE IN CONCERT NOV. 20
November 20, 2011 (El Cajon) –The public is invited to attend a gospel music concert tonight by the award-winning Legacy Five quartet, one of the most-famed Christian music groups in America. The concert will be held on Sunday, November 20 at 6 p.m. in the El Cajon Wesleyan Church, 1500 East Lexington Avenue in El Cajon. When the Legendary Cathedral Quartet retired in December of 1999, two of the original members decided to continue the rich musical tradition of Southern Gospel Quartet singing. Legacy Five was organized and their official debut took place in Atlanta, Georgia, January 2000. Since that day, the group has made a major mark on the Southern Gospel Music world, and immediately audiences responded overwhelmingly to the four-part harmony. Since the quartet’s formation, it has established and maintained a firm place at the top of Christian music. The rich four and five part harmony that Legacy Five has become noted are the result of a masterful weaving together of five unique and versatile talents. Glenn Dustin sings the bass, Scott Howard sings the baritone, Scott Fowler sings the Lead, Gus Gaches sings the tenor and Trey Ivey is the group’s pianist. Currently touring the nation since 1999, the group has accumulated every award possible and an ever growing fan base; all with only a couple of personnel changes.Legacy Five has received numerous accolades, including the 2004 and 2008 Singing News Fan Awards honor of Favorite Traditional Male Quartet. Their first decade has been marked with countless Singing News Fan Awards as well as several Dove Award nominations. Group members attribute their success to the changing face of gospel music and their willingness to adapt to it. As a result, the group has won numerous awards. Some 130 times a year, Legacy Five presents Gospel music in a way that has endeared them to audiences all across the United States and Canada. The doors open at 5 p.m. for the 6 p.m. concert, which is open-seating. Suggested donation is an offering of $10/person and $25/family. There will be a presentation by im2moro, a group of young adults who will share their passion for our country. Im2moro is a young adult group that has realized if we do not speak up today, we will be living in a very different America tomorrow. For information visit http://www.im2moro.com or phone: 619.322.0670. For more data on the Legacy Five visit www.legacyfive.com. For more information and directions: phone (619) 442-5941 www.ecwesleyan.com .
WORRIED ABOUT STUDENTS’ DEBT? LOCAL GROUP OFFERS $47,000 SCHOLARSHIP FOR A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR: DEADLINE NOV. 23 TO APPLY
November 15, 2011 (San Diego) – If you’re a high school senior aspiring to go to college, you are eligible to apply for a $47,000 scholarship at www.stop2011.org. To win, students need to write a 1,000 word essay on why the federal debt is important to young people. The deadline to apply is November 23. The organization was founded by Scripps Ranch resident Jim Hester, a father of two teens who says he is concerned about students burdened with debt. Hester has founded an organization to raise awareness of the issue, supported by East County Magazine’s nonprofit publisher, the Heartland Coalition. Finalists will ultimately participate in a speech competition in the spring and write a letter to a local newspaper editor on the topic as well. Scholarship funds will be paid out in several installments, with proof of college registration required to collect. “Stop taxing our pupils,” says Hester, founder of Stop2011.org. Speaking at the Forging a Sustainable Futures conference over the weekend, he voiced concern over the $15 trillion U.S. national debt which is rising at $2 million a minute. To dramatize his point, Hester noted that during his brief speech, the debt rose by $43 million. The problem has arisen through years of Congress cutting taxes while increasing spending, he says, noting that the current Congress remains deadlocked on solutions. With an aging population and fewer young workers paying payroll taxes, Hester fears there will not be enough money to fund Medicare and Social Security for today’s generation and decries the debt being passed on to future generations for funding the Iraq War and other expenditures. Hester and his family members created a rap music video to drive home the point for today’s youth. The video chides both Democratic President Barack Obama and Republican House Leader John Boehmer for failing to find solutions to the debt. “Show some scruples, stop taxing our pupils,” the video urges elected officials. Stop 2011 is a project of Project Destination through the nonprofit Heartland Coalition. Hester welcomes donations to the scholarship fund in hopes of ultimately offering multiple student scholarships. For more information, to make a donation, or to apply for the scholarship by November 23, visit www.stop2011.org.
HELIX “BOOKMARKS THE DISTRICT” TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO READ AND BE AWARE OF WATER ISSUES
November 15, 2011 (La Mesa) – To encourage every student to read more and raise student consciousness of water issues, Helix Water District has distributed 60,000 water awareness bookmarks—enough for every student in all public and private schools within the Helix District. Additional bookmarks have been given to public libraries, locally owned bookstores, and the Water Conservation Garden. Eight beautifully designed bookmarks remind readers to use water efficiently, plant low-water-use landscapes, protect watersheds, visit the Water Conservation Garden, holiday at Lake Jennings our drinking water reservoir, and that bringing water to San Diego has a long and interesting history. Ten water saving tips can be found on the reverse side of each marker. The bookmarks are durable and intended for repeated use. To obtain a free bookmark, students should ask their school librarians. While supplies last, adults should visit their local libraries, drop by Helix’ Administration Office, 7811 University Avenue, La Mesa, 91942 or the Water Conservation Garden located on the grounds of Cuyamaca College—12122 Cuyamaca College Drive, West, El Cajon, 92019: www.thegarden.org, The “Bookmark the District” project was funded, in part, through a $2,000 grant from the Community Partnering Program of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. The bookmarks cost a total of $2,655.24 (4 cents apiece) including the grant funding. “Helix sees this as a cost-effective way to reach every school child in our district with important water-awareness messages,” said Ted Salois at Helix Water District. The District serves 262,000 customers in La Mesa, Spring Valley, Lemon Grove, El Cajon, and parts of Lakeside, Santee, and unincorporated areas of San Diego County. Only 15% of our water is from local sources. Helix thanks its customers for using it efficiently. For more water efficiency information visit: www.hwd.com. District residents can schedule a water efficiency survey for their home or business by contacting Helix Water District at: conserve@helixwater.org
MT HELIX AREA TO HAVE WATER SHUT-OFF 10 HOURS ON THURS. NOV. 17 DUE TO PIPELINE REPLACEMENT
November 1, 2011 (Mt. Helix) –As part of a larger cast iron pipeline replacement project, Helix Water District crews will replace two 60-year-old valves at Mt. Helix Drive and Vivera Drive and install a new valve at Mt. Helix Drive and Alto Drive on Thursday, November 17. Much of Mt. Helix is served by a single pipeline. As a result, construction activity will create a 10-hour water shutdown between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 242 customers on 20 streets in the vicinity. Homes impacted are located on Altito Way, Alto Drive, Angels Point, Beaumont Drive, Divine Way, Gabriel Way, Grandview Drive, Halo Circle, Heavenly Way, Hermosa Way, La Cruz Drive, La Perla Way, Lemon Avenue, Mt. Helix Drive, Pinnacle Lane, Point Alto Drive and Street, Rockridge Road, Taltec Drive, Via Opal, and Vivera Drive. (View a map of the affected area.) Affected customers will be notified by letter, door hanger, and automated phone calls. Helix crews will shut off water to individual meters at the curb. Customers in the affected area should expect to see District trucks and crews at meter boxes and around residences in the morning and evening of Thursday, November 17. District crews will be tying in new PVC pipeline to an existing system at Mt. Helix Drive and Vivera Drive. For the tie-in to happen, it is necessary that crews close a gate valve at Vivera Drive and Hermosa Way and one at Fuerte and Mt. Helix Drive, resulting in a water shutdown for the affected area. The intersection at Mt. Helix Drive and Vivera Drive will be impacted by slowed traffic during this time. Please allow extra time while traveling in the area. Flag persons will assist in directing traffic for the duration of the project. For your safety during the shutdown, Helix recommends customers affected by this shutdown: Store enough water for drinking, pet use, dishes and personal hygiene in large containers or a bathtub (watch small children if the tub is filled). Toilets can be flushed by quickly pouring three gallons of water directly into the bowl. You may wish to turn off your hot water heater (especially the heat source), water-softener, circulating pumps or other water using facilities, including solar heater. When service is restored, there may be trapped air in the lines or discolored water. Open outside faucets a few minutes until these problems clear. Water trucks will be circulating throughout the area during the shutdown to provide water to any customer who needs to fill receptacles for indoor use. In addition, the District is coordinating the outage with the appropriate fire agency. If you have any questions regarding this project or are requesting water during the shutdown period, please contact our dispatch at: (619) 596-3860. Helix appreciates customers’ cooperation and wishes to thank them in advance for their patience as crews work to improve the water system on Mt. Helix.
A VETERAN’S STORY: REMEMBERING CORPORATE LINDEN EILER
By David Secor, Candidate for 50th Congressional District Editor’s note: Due to technical problems we could not post on Veteran’s Day, but wish to share this moving story now with our readers. November 14, 2011 (Crest)–On Veterans Day, and on many other days, I remember Corporal Linden Eiler of Charlie Company, 228th Av Bn, 1st Air Cavalry Division. On April 25, 1968, Eiler had volunteered to join a CH-47 Chinook crew in retrieving a UH-1 Huey helicopter that had been shot down during the initial assault into the A Shau Valley in northern South Vietnam. This had been a major operation. The North Vietnamese had controlled the valley for a long time and were well prepared defensively. As the Chinook hovered over the downed Huey to attach a sling to bring the chopper out, they were ambushed by NVA forces who had been lying in wait. The Chinook crashed and four were killed, including Corporal Eiler. At our home base at Camp Evans, we were living in 12-man tents. Eiler had the cot across from mine. He was a country boy from Indiana and a good soldier. He really wanted to fly. He was 21 years old I was 20. I knew the other three casualties from Charlie Company – McManus, Delp, and McGee. They were great guys, and with my good friend Larry Higginson they are still with me – still 20-years-old, still laughing and joking and telling stories of home. But Eiler has a special place in my memory because he had taken my place. The mission that cost him his life had originally been scheduled for the day before. I had volunteered for the mission. That morning, I had grabbed my steel pot, frag vest and M-16, and climbed aboard the Chinook (number Zero-Eight-Zero) and waited to go. We waited for over an hour. Then word came down that the mission was scrubbed due to low clouds over the A Shau Valley limiting visibility. The next day, April 25, they asked for new volunteers. In my stead, Linden Eiler grabbed his steel pot, frag vet and M-16, and boarded Chinook #080. I shielded my eyes from the sun as the chopper lifted off and on this now cloudless day, headed toward the valley.