RED ELANTRA CARJACKED IN LA MESA
January 16, 2012 (La Mesa) – A 67-year-old man who drove to a dumpster behind his residential complex at 4842 Parks Avenue in La Mesa to discard trash was robbed shortly after 11 a.m. The thief stole the victim’s red 2005 Hyundai Elantra 4-door car and wallet at gunpoint, then fled northbound on Williamsburg toward El Cajon Blvd. The suspect was described by La Mesa Police as a black male, 18-19 years old, 5’7”-5’8”, 150-170 lbs. wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans. The weapon was a handgun. He remains at large and the vehicle has not been found. The victim was not injured during the robbery. If you have any information on this case or others, please call the La Mesa Police Department at (619) 667-1400. You may also call Crime Stoppers’ anonymous toll-free tip line (888) 580-TIPS (or www.sdcrimestoppers.com). You can remain anonymous, and be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in this case.
READER’S EDITORIAL: GUHSD BOUNDARY CHANGES ARE EQUITABLE AND PROCESS WAS FAIR
By Doug Deane, Chair, 2011 GUHSD Boundary Committee January 16, 2012 (San Diego East County) — I’m writing this in response to residents of the GUHSD who believe that they were not given adequate notification of changes recommended by the 2011 Boundary Committee. I was Chair of that committee. I’d like to make it clear that I speak only for myself. The opinions stated below are mine only, and are not necessarily the opinion of the GUHSD, its Trustees or its administrative staff. I regret that there are residents who feel that there was not adequate notification. I know that the District did everything within reason to let its residents know that a boundary study was underway, and that recommendations were being considered which would change many of the District’s high school boundaries. Considering the current budget issues faced by all the districts in the state, I don’t believe that sending a mailer to each and every family within the District’s boundaries would be practical, or fiscally prudent. I saw notices of the community forums in the Superintendent’s Newsline, in East County Magazine, in the Union-Tribune, and in other East County publications. But, if there are residents who believe that they were not given reasonable notification, it’s their right to show up at a future board meeting, in order to share their feelings with the Trustees. I encourage them to do so. Concerning the boundary changes, I’d like to emphasize that our deliberations were exhaustive, comprehensive, and that we solicited public feedback during our deliberations and afterwards. The basic challenge with the old boundaries was that populations had shifted dramatically during the decade since the boundaries were last redrawn. Some areas had grown substantially, while others were in decline. There was (and still is) a huge disparity between the most heavily attended high school (Granite Hills at 2,751) and the least attended high school (Santana at 1,503). That’s a difference of over 1,200 students, and considering that both high schools were designed for a student population of 2,000, the population disparities cause substantial problems. The schools that are over-populated are forced to use temporary classrooms in order to accommodate the additional numbers of students, but that doesn’t even address infrastructure issues like insufficient cafeteria space or bathrooms. The schools that are under-populated are not able to provide the same rich array of educational options and extra-curricular activities that are provided by the larger schools. Our goal in the Boundary Recommendations was to balance the student populations at each of the 9 existing high schools, while maintaining neighborhood integrity, student diversity, student safety, and the needs of each of the communities served. I think that it must be agreed that in order to balance student populations, that boundaries must be redrawn. One cannot happen without the other. So, there will inevitably be homes that are moved from one high school to another, and there is really nothing that can be done about that, other than leaving the status quo, which is unacceptable. The District has tried to mitigate parents’ concerns by adopting these policies in regard to the boundaries: No student will be moved from one high school to another. If they have already started at a District high school, they will be allowed to finish at that same school. If a family has had one or more student attend a District high school that is now outside their new boundary, all siblings will be allowed to attend that same school. If a family has a student with special educational or extra-curricular needs, they may apply to the District for permission to attend a high school outside their boundary. There is, admittedly, tightened criteria for allowing such transfers, but the option to request it is still available to parents. I believe strongly that adequate notification was given to residents of the GUHSD, and I am completely satisfied that the new boundaries are equitable and will result in an improvement in the educational environment for all students throughout the District.
STAY FIT AND AVOID SPORTS INJURIES: FREE SEMINAR JANUARY 25
Advice For Weekend Warriors to Extreme Sports Enthusiasts January 16, 2012 (San Diego) — Alvarado Hospiital invites you to a free seminar on how to stay fit and avoid sports injuries. The event will be held Wednesday, January 25 at 6 p.m. in the Alvarado Hospital Conferen Center, featuring a panel of physicians including orthopedic specialists James Bates, MD; Scott Hacker, MD; Eric Horton, MD; and Jonathan Myer, MD. Topics covered include: • Preventing Weekend Warrior Injuries • 5 Common Sports Injuries and How to Avoid Them • Common Injuries in Young Athletes • Optimizing Athletic Performance • Extreme Sports Health Panelists will participate in a Q&A following presentation. Tailgate refreshments will be served. Seating is limited; RSVP to 1-800-258-2723 or register online at www.AlvaradoHospital.com. Click on the ORTHOPEDICS/SPORTS HEALTH link on the drop-down menu. Free parking in the parking structure on the hospital campus. The hospital is located at 6655 Alvarado Road, San Diego.
ERNIE HAAS & SIGNATURE SOUND IN CONCERT JANUARY 26
January 15, 2012 (San Diego) – Southern Gospel singers Ernie Haas & Signature Sound will be performing at the College Avenue Baptist Church, 4747 College Avenue in San Diego on January 26 at 7:00 p.m. The vocal group, founded in 2002 and winner of three GMA Dove awards, recently finished a nine country European tour and is soon to release its first new studio album in three years. Tickets are on sale now at http://www.itickets.com/events/274119 or by contacting Ruth Ann Deforest at 619-442-5941 or radeforest@earthlink.net. Ticket prices are: Artist Circle tickets $30 each, general admission seating $16 pre-paid, children under 12 are free with general admission seating and $20 general admission the day of the concert.
ALPINE/MOUNTAIN EMPIRE FATHER DAUGHTER DANCE FRIDAY, FEB. 3
January 16, 2012 (Alpine) — The Council for Youth Empowerment, a 501 c 3 non-profit organization announces their 2012 Father-Daughter Dance on Friday, February 3, 2012 at the Alpine Community Center. Attendance is limited to the first 100 couples who apply and this event completely sells out each year. There will be music, a live DJ, dancing, games, refreshments and raffles. Also, each daughter will receive a free photographic portrait to remember her special evening with Dad. Reservations are required so please responds ASAP. Tickets will NOT be mailed; rather you will receive an e-mail confirmation. Tickets are $35.00 per couple. Additional guests (daughters) ages 6-13 are $15.00 You can visit us on Facebook at Alpine / Mt.Empire’s Father Daughter Sweetheart Dance. Mail payment to CYE, P.O. Box 917, Pine Valley, CA. 91962, Proceeds benefit the Miss Alpine/Mt. Empire Scholarship Fund. You may call 619-251-6998 should you need further information.
LAUGHTER, THE BEST MEDICINE? SENIORS GROUP TO HOST “LAUGHTER YOGA” JAN . 25 AT HEALTH CARE LIBRARY IN LA MESA
January 16, 2012 (La Mesa)–Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, will host a free seniors discussion group on “What is Laughter Yoga” from 10 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 25. The public is invited to attend, and RSVP is not required. The speaker will be Michael Coleman, executive director of Laughter Matters, a San Diego-based non-profit organization that promotes the physical, mental and social health benefits of laughter yoga. Laughter yoga is a form of physical and mental exercise that combines fun and simple stretching, breathing, laughing and relaxation. Laughter Matters trains volunteer leaders and offers more than 20 community laughter groups that meet throughout San Diego County. The Herrick Library program will include a laughter yoga session. The Herrick Library, which opened in 2002, is a consumer health public library specializing in health research information, accessible both on-site and via the Internet. The library is operated by the Grossmont Healthcare District, a public agency that supports health-related community programs and services in San Diego’s East County. For more information, phone the library at (619) 825‑5010 or visit www.herricklibrary.org.
BOOK REVIEW: DEAD CELEBRITY COOKBOOK IS SURE TO DELIGHT FANS OF CELEBRITIES AND CULINARY DELIGHTS
The Dead Celebrity Cookbook, By Frank DeCaro (Health Communications, Inc., Deerfield Beach, Florida, 2011, 370 pages.) Book Review by Dennis Moore January 15, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)–Best known for his years as the flamboyant movie critic on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Frank DeCaro has written a book with wit and humor – packed with celebrity profiles and pop-culture ponderings, party menus, and more – The Dead Celebrity Cookbook pays homage to the departed stars of television, film, radio, and Broadway. If you’ve ever fantasized about feasting on Frank Sinatra’s Barbecued Lamb – taking a stab at Anthony Perkins’ Tuna Salad, or wrapping your lips around Rock Hudson’s Cannoli – and really, who hasn’t? – hold on to your mitts! The Dead Celebrity Cookbook puts the kitsch back into the kitchen with: Michael Jackson’s Sweet Potato Pie; Patrick Swayze’s Chicken Pot Pie; Mae West’s Fruit Compote; Katherine Hepburn’s Brownies; Yvonne DeCarlo’s Exotic Chicken Ecstasy; Sammy Davis Jr.’s Salad and Elizabeth Taylor’s Chicken with Avocados and Mushrooms. Just reading the book makes me hungry! Filled with many anecdotes and background information on the stars themselves, DeCaro takes us on a humanistic trip with some of our long departed stars, breathing life back into treasured memories that we had of them. DeCaro speaks of Michael Jackson in his book: “BEFORE HE WAS WEIRD, HE WAS ADORABLE. But even at his strangest – dangling his baby off a balcony, sleeping in a hyperbaric chamber, befriending a chimp – Michael Jackson was one of the most talented performers who ever graced a stage. He had thirteen Grammys and twenty-six American Music Awards to prove he was a ‘Thriller’ and then some. One just had to watch him glide through his signature ‘moonwalk’ or hear him sing anything from ‘Ben’ to ‘Billie Jean’ to know Jackson was a one-of-a-kind cultural presence, the likes of which we’ll never see again…He deservedly was called the King of Pop, but was he the King of Pie?” In a “post mortem” note, DeCaro concludes, “As it turns out, Michael Jackson WAS the King of Pie. Even using canned sweet potatoes and omitting the pecans, his Sweet Potato Pie is a “Thriller.” Cover the crust with aluminum foil if it gets too brown before the filling is set. Although it’s not that “Bad” even if it does. Warm from the oven, you can’t “Beat it.” Okay, I’m done now. Oh, one more: “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough.” Michael Jackson’s Sweet Potato Pie Beat eggs and sugar. Add melted butter, salt, milk, vanilla, and spices. Blend egg mixture with mashed sweet potatoes and lemon or orange juice. Pour into an unbaked pie shell. Garnish with pecan halves. Bake 10 minutes in a preheated 400° oven. Reduce oven temperature to 375° and bake 40 minutes longer or until golden. 3 eggs ½ cup sugar ¼ cup butter, melted ½ teaspoon salt ⅓ cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 tablespoons fresh lemon or orange juice 2½ cups mashed sweet potatoes (canned or freshly cooked) 1 teaspoon nutmeg ½ cup pecan halves 1 unbaked pie shell DeCaro says of Rock Hudson: “IF ROD HUDSON HAD BEEN ANY MORE HANDSOME, you’d go blind looking at him. He was six-foot-five and so gorgeous that even Doris Day, the original 40-year-old virgin, wanted him…bad. He starred with Day in such delicious romantic comedies as Pillow Talk, Lover Come Back, and Send me No Flowers. Because of Hudson, the original gay BFF, no one could say they didn’t know someone with AIDS, and the fight against the pandemic began.” The author says in his book of Fanny Brice: “FANNY BRICE STARTED IN BURLESQUE and found huge success in the Ziegfeld Follies, introducing such songs as Second Hand Rose and My Man! She did plenty of Broadway, but Brice was best known for her toddler character Baby Snooks, a devilish role she played for decades. Brice was the funny girl upon which the Broadway musical Funny Girl, the subsequent film version, and its less adored sequel Funny Lady are based. Brice herself appears in a handful of movies including The Great Ziegfeld, Ziegfeld Follies, and Everybody Sing. Her Super Chocolate Cake will become a star in your kitchen.” Again, DeCaro is making me hungry! The most interesting anecdote and characterization in this wonderful book, revolves around the late comedian Redd Foxx, as the author states: “In the season-five episode of Sanford and Son, called Can You Chop This?, Fred (Redd Foxx) is watching The Cavorting Connoisseur (Cesare Danova) when he stumbles upon a get-rich-quick scheme: selling hand-cranked food processors called Whopper Choppers. He uses Lamont’s savings as seed money, buys 100 of the cheap devices, but can’t unload even one. That is, until he crashes the cooking program and shows the studio audience (and the cameras) just how awful the Whopper Choppers are. The manufacturer agrees to buy them all back on one condition: Fred can never try to sell a Whopper Chopper again.” (For me personally, and I am a big Sanford and Son fan, DeCaro brought back a lot of memories.) I am sure everyone’s favorite Dead Celebrity, along with their menus, can be found in this fascinating book – a book that I highly recommend. Dennis Moore is a member of the San Diego Writers/Editors Guild and the book review editor for SDWriteway, an online newsletter for writers in San Diego. He is also the author of a book about Chicago politics; The City That Works: Power, Politics and Corruption in Chicago. Mr. Moore can be contacted at damien_brandy@yahoo.com or on Twitter at: @DennisMoore8.
EAST COUNTY CHAMBER HOSTS CENTENNIAL GALA FEB. 4 AT US GRANT HOTEL
January 15, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) — The San Diego East County Chamber of commerce celebrates 100 years of service to the business community with an elegant gala on February 4. The soiree of the century for East County business leaders will be held at the opulent U.S. Grant Hotel in San Diego. Named for President Ulysses S. Grant, the hotel has a strong East County tie: it is owned by the Sycuan tribe of the Kumeyaay Nation. Sycuan invested $56 million restoring the national historic landmark hotel to its former grandeur. Located on land once home to the Kumeyaay, the Grant has hosted presidents and celebrities, ran a speakeasy during Prohibition, and became a hallmark of women’s rights in an event known as the "Grant Grill Invasion." The Kumeyaay recognize Grant as “a rare soul among politicians—forthright and generous, he gave them what so many before attempted to take away: dignity, in the form of land,” notes the history section on the U.S. Grant hotel website. During his Presidency, Grant disapproved of how Indians had been treated in the West, so he passed an executive order in 1875 setting aside 640 acres of land in Dehesa Valley in San Diego’s East County for the Kumeyaay tribes. His efforts led the U.S. Governor to later officially recognize the sovereign status of California Native American tribes. Grant’s daughter-in-law, Fannie Chaffee Grant, purchased the property and deeded it to her husband, the President’s son, who believed San Diego needed a great hotel. Construction was delayed by the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, which halted supply shipments from the port of San Francisco. In 1910, the hotel opened as a veritable palace of luxury. The hotel went through several ownership changes through the years—and infamously operated a speakeasy, the Plata Real Nightclub, during Prohibition. Liquor was spirited in surreptitiously through underground tunnels holding steam pipes. With the illicit profits, an ornate ballroom for private society was created, known today as the Crystal Ballroom. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivered one of his first radio addreses from the hotel, which was equipped with the largest radio towers on the west coast, as well as twin presidential suites for the comfort of VIPs. The hotel became a focal point for women’s rights in 1969, when a trio of female attorneys (Lynn Schenk, Judith McConnell and Elaine Alexander) stormed the Grant Grill, a men-only bastion, and demanded to be seated. After a year-long battle, the women won, ending discrimination at the establishment. But by 1979, the grand hotel had fallen into disrepair and faced the prospect of demolition. Christopher “Kit” Sickels bought it and made major restorations, pinning his hopes that redevelopment of downtown would bring in patrons for the hotel. But the rebirth of the Gaslamp District and construction of the new Horton Plaza shopping center across the street came too late. In 1989, he sold it to a Japanese-owned company, Sansei U.S. hotels. Sycuan Tribal Development Corporation acquired the hotel in 2003 and embarked on an ambitious renovation bridging bridges past and present. In an uncanny coincidence, throughout its history the hotel has featured a motif with the primrose—the tribal flower of Sycuan and a symbol of life to the Kumeyaay nation. From the bronze banister of the sweeping staircase to the restored plast ceilings in the Crystall Ballroom and the Grand Lobby’s quarter of million dollar carpet, primroses are prominently displayed today in San Diego’s most opulent and historic hotel. Cost for the Chamber’s gala celebration is $100 and includes valet parking. Cocktails will be served from 5:30 to 6:30, followed by dinner at 7 p.m. and an awards presentation at 8 p.m. Cocktail attire is suggested. Sycuan Casino is the presenting sponsor of the event at the U.S. Grant Hotel, 326 Broadway, San Diego. To RSVP or for more information on the event, visit http://business.eastcountychamber.org/Events/details/100th-anniversary-celebration-inaugural-gala. For more fascinating details on the U.S. Grant Hotel, visit www.usgrant.net
LA MESA RESIDENTS MAY TAKE HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE AND ELECTRONIC WASTE TO EDCO
January 15, 2012 (La Mesa) — The city of La Mesa holds frequent household hazardous waste and electronic waste disposal dates at the EDCO Disposal site at 8184 Commercial Street in La Mesa. Household hazardous waste is any material (gas, liquid, or solid) from a home that may pose a health threat to people, animals, or the environment if handled or disposed of improperly. Please read on for a list of household hazardous waste items, and the collection dates available. Common examples include chemicals labeled "poison", "toxic", "flammable", "corrosive", or "reactive", electronic devices, paint, motor oil and products containing mercury (including fluorescent bulbs.) List of household hazardous waste items If you would like to dispose of HHW & electronic waste, free collection dates are scheduled regularly for City of La Mesa residents. HHW can be dropped off by appointment only and there is a limit of: •15 Gallons or •125 Pounds or •5 Monitors/TVs If you live within the city limits, please call EDCO at 619.287.5696 ext. 4270 O or email lmhhw@edcodisposal.com to schedule an appointment. Be sure to include your name, address, and telephone number. Residents with physical or other limitations which prevent them from driving are eligible to participate in the City of La Mesa’s household hazardous waste/electronic waste Home Pickup Program. This program is available to La Mesa residents of any age who are physically unable to participate in a drop-off event. If you meet the criteria, call EDCO at 619.287.5696 ext. 4270 to schedule a home pickup.
ARMED BANK ROBBER SOUGHT BY AUTHORITIES
January 15, 2012 (Scripps Ranch) — The FBI and San Diego Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance to identify the man who committed a takeover robbery of the California Coast Credit Union, 9835 Mira Mesa Boulevard, in Scripps Ranch this morning at 10:30 a.m. After walking up to an open teller window inside the bank, the robber pointed a gun towards the ceiling and announced he was there to rob the credit union. He demanded money from three tellers, who all handed over cash. The bank robber left with the money and was last seen entering a newer model charcoal grey Toyota Corolla. The vehicle did not have any license plates displayed and the driver was believed to be a male. The vehicle was last seen traveling northbound on I-15 from Mira Mesa Boulevard. The robber was described as white, about 40 years old, 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall. He wore a black hooded puffy jacket, tan pants, and white tennis shoes. He was unshaven and may have had a mustache, his hair may have been grey. The weapon was a black handgun. Anyone with information concerning this robbery is asked to contact the FBI at telephone number (858) 565-1255, San Diego Police Department Robbery Unit at (619) 531-2299 or CrimeStoppers at (888) 580-8477. This robber should be considered armed and dangerous, said Special Agent Darrell Foxworth with the FBI in San Diego.