CALIFORNIA WELCOME CENTER-ALPINE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND GIVEAWAY MAY 26
May 26, 2012 (Alpine) — The public is invited to enter to win 4 tickets for a harbor or whale watching cruise aboard Hornblower Cruises & Events simply by stopping by the California Welcome Center-Alpine, 5005 Willows Rd., Ste. H110, Alpine. Visit on Memorial Day Weekend and enter for a chance to win a prize package valued at $148.00. The promotion begins May 26, at 10:00 a.m. and ends May 28, at 5:00 p.m. No purchase is necessary. The winner will be notified on May 29. The visitor center offers free brochures, guidebooks, maps and suggestions. The California Welcome Center-Alpine is visitors’ free resource when planning either a San Diego “staycation” or a California vacation. The Welcome Center also offers up to 20% off most San Diego major attractions including Legoland, SeaWorld, Zoo, Safari Park, Old Town Trolley, harbor tours, museums and even Disneyland. The Welcome Center hours of operation: Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
VINTAGE LA MESA: CITY MAY LEGALIZE WINE MAKING AND BEER BREWING
By Miriam Raftery Kristin Kjaero also contributed to this report May 26, 2012 (La Mesa) – “La Mesa May End Prohibition” proclaimed a headline in La Mesa Today this week, after Council voted 4-0 to ask staff to prepare an ordinance to legalize making wines and craft beers within the city limits. The ordinance in fact dates back to 1979 (not the 1919-1933 Prohibition era of speakeasies flowing with illicit liquor). According to Mayor Madrid, La Mesa’s ban arose at a time when wine making required large industrial facilities. But today, times have changed. Small-scale vintners and brewers are flourishing—and putting San Diego County squarely on the map as a premier region for both. “This year, the state fair has initiated a wine making category for San Diego County wine makers,” Linda McWilliams, who co-owns San Pasqual Winery along with her husband, Mike, told the Council. “It’s going to showcase the good quality of wine making in San Diego County and we are excited to be able to highlight this here in La Mesa.” San Pasqual Winery has a popular tasting room in downtown La Mesa, but currently produces its wines in a small 1,400 square foot facility in Pacific Beach. They hope to open up a 3,000 to 5,000 square foot winery in La Mesa. Mike McWilliams is president of the San Diego County Vintner’s Association. He studied wine making at the University of California, Davis, and says he wants to put San Diego County on the map as a wine making region. Three of San Pasqual’s wines recently won meadow in the San Diego International Wine Competition, including a gold medal for their Summer Vine Blanc Passionfruit Wine. Other local vintners are drawing global attention to East County as a winemaking region. Ramona now has a federally designated wine making appellation. Recently, three Ramona wineries went head-to-head against French wines in a blind tasting competition—and took first place in every category, stunning industry insiders. Another Ramona winery took two gold medals in Temecula. Hawk Watch winery in Warner Springs has won international awards, while Orfila Vineyards in San Pasqual has won over 1,300 awards for its locally-produced vintages. Now some local wineries are doing such brisk businesses that they’re seeking local sources for grapes—fueling a burgeoning grape growing business. Those wanting to learn the art of winemaking won’t have to rely on trial and error, nor crushing grapes in a bath tub. Greg Maness, owner of Maness Vineyards in Jamul, has started a consulting business to help would-be grape growers get started. A newly formed Mount Helix Grape Growing Association founded under his tutelage is planting vines on sunny slopes locally as eager homeowners seek to cash in on growing demand. East County has strong roots in wine production, dating back to the 1700s when Spanish friars planted grapes in the El Cajon valley and fermented the crops to create wines used in sacraments. In its heyday, East County was actually the grape-growing capital of California. But with Prohibition, grape-growers ploughed under crops and paved over fields, many finding more profitable yields from real estate developers eager to meet burgeoning housing needs. San Diego now boasts over 50 wineries –most in East County. The County also has over 50 breweries – and is fast earning a reputation as the craft brewing capital not just of California, but the nation. “Craft beer is to San Diego what high-tech is to the Silicon Valley, but our products taste much better!” declared Lisa White, vice president of White Labs, a San Diego-based supplier of yeast to the brewing industry. The New York Times recently highlighted San Diego’s burgeoning brewery industry. In June 2011, Mayor Jerry Sanders declared a San Diego Beer Week to highlight awards such as Ballast Point, named best Small Brewing Company in the World at the Great American Beer Festival. “If you’re 21 or over and enjoy good beer, it’s your civic duty to support local breweries,” Mayor Sanders urged area residents. Our region’s growing wine and beer businesses have drawn support from local legislators—and not just wine-sipping liberals. Assemblyman Brian Jones (R-Santee) pushed through legislation to cut red tape for breweries to run tasting rooms, while Supervisor Dianne Jacob, also a Republican, supported a measure cutting costs for small-scale wineries to open tasting rooms locally. Mayor Art Madrid introduced the issue before Council. City Manager Dave Witt agreed that the old ordinance was antiquated and in need of an update to reflect changing times. Staff aims to propose a zoning change with a conditional use/discretionary component “as expeditiously as possible,” according to Witt. Madrid made a motion to move forward with a new ordinance. Council approved the motion 4-0, with Dave Allan absent. Can a La Mesa grape-stomping festival be on the horizon? Meanwhile, the City’s Centennial Committee is making plans to sell wine glasses with a centennial logo for the Centennial Legacy project—doing its part to raise funds for La Mesa along with civic spirits.
GROSSMONT, CUYAMACA COMMENCEMENTS BRING A CLOSE TO CHALLENGING ACADEMIC YEAR
May 26, 2012 (El Cajon) — More than 2,300 students will be receiving their degrees or certificates from East County’s two community colleges at month’s end, capping a year marked by the state’s ongoing budget crisis. Cuyamaca College will honor 695 students receiving associate degrees and certificates of achievement Wednesday, May 30, at the 34th annual commencement at the college’s student center quad. On Thursday, May 31, Grossmont College will laud 1,664 students receiving their degrees and certificates at the college’s 51st commencement at the main quad. The ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Both colleges in the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District have dealt with four years of state budget reductions that have led to millions of dollars in state funding losses and the elimination of hundreds of classes, delaying the educational progress of many students. “These have been the toughest budgetary times in the history of this district, so these graduates certainly deserve the heartiest of congratulations, “said Cindy L. Miles, chancellor of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District. “I’m so proud that they persevered through these difficulties, and it will be my pleasure to congratulate them as they embark on their new educational and career ventures.” Cheers to Cuyamaca Cuyamaca College’s pick for this year’s keynote speaker is Greg Koch, CEO and co-founder of Stone Brewing Co. in Escondido. Koch is taking the podium because of his longstanding commitment to resource conservation, something he pursues with a near-religious conviction in operating the nation’s 11th largest craft brewery and its companion enterprise, Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens. Advocating environmental responsibility as well as high-quality food, the bistro is now the largest restaurant purchaser in San Diego County of local, organic produce. The brewery reduces its energy consumption with rooftop solar panels and waste oil from the bistro is converted to biofuel that powers one of the eatery’s delivery trucks. These and other initiatives prompted Cuyamaca’s ornamental horticulture program to invite Koch as the keynote speaker at a Green Business Symposium that the college sponsored last year. His speech there led to the invitation for Cuyamaca’s commencement. Koch said he plans to talk about how Stone became a local success story by making its own path in a world dominated by corporate interests. “I hope to share a little bit of insight and offer encouragement to the graduates to make their own way in the world and at the same time, take personal responsibility to do their share to protect this place where we live,” Koch said. Also speaking will be Cuyamaca College’s valedictorian Sahira Dawood, who arrived in the United States from Iraq in 2001 and began classes at the college in 2004. The civil engineering graduate recently passed a grueling certification exam and is looking for work in the engineering field to support her three young children and husband, who is unable to work for medical reasons. Dawood, who started at Cuyamaca with limited English skills, credits the excellent instruction she received for being able to graduate with a 4.0 grade-point average. “Education is as important as the air we breathe because it is beneficial in many aspects of life, especially, personal and social,” Dawood wrote in her commencement speech. She said her classes helped her cope with the loss of two siblings back in Iraq. She plans to further her education once she finds a job. Grossmont graduation Diana Marie Pico, a health and wellness counselor and registered nurse who also operates a company specializing in ancient healing traditions, returns to Grossmont College to continue the tradition of a college alum giving the commencement speech. After graduating from the college in 1986 with an associate degree in nursing, Pico launched a 24-year career as a traveling registered nurse, serving nearly every major hospital in the county and working in a variety of patient care settings. “When I graduated from Grossmont, I was both excited and nervous on how I could best serve the world,” she said. “What I discovered was that my education at Grossmont turned out to be a profound stepping stone for me. Thanks to Grossmont College, I was given the opportunity to travel to different places, connect with the cycle of life and be part of the healing process.” Pico has traveled extensively with her husband, Anthony Pico, the elected chairman of the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, to explore the ancient healing traditions of indigenous people. She describes herself as a healer and mystic and uses the knowledge gained in both worlds – native and modern – to operate her company, Health Journeys. “I believe we will create world peace by compassionate giving through global exchange,” Pico said. The student speech will be given by honors graduate Danny McKay, who plans to share his story of redemption and triumph as a former addict and alcoholic who managed to veer from a path of self-destruction through a religious awakening and the epiphany of a new purpose in life discovered at Grossmont College. He will continue his education at Stanford University, where he plans to pursue a degree in psychology. “Here at Grossmont, our motto is Changing Lives Through Education, something I can humbly affirm and will represent for the rest of my life,” reads McKay’s speech.
BURGLARY BUSTED IN LA MESA—WITH HELP FROM ALERT CITIZENS
May 26, 2012 (La Mesa)—On May 22, La Mesa Police arrested two subjects for burglarizing a residence in the 4400 block of Carlin Place. Earlier in the morning, LMPD received a report that two subjects parked their vehicle in the 4400 block of Upland Street and began walking around looking at residences. One resident in the area saw this suspicious activity and notified the police. Before the officers arrived on Upland Street, the subjects had returned to their vehicle and driven off the street. Officer Daniel Paugh responded to the area and began looking for the vehicle and the subjects in the neighborhood. Officer Paugh found the vehicle as it was leaving the area and stopped it to investigate the suspicious activity. While he had the vehicle stopped, La Mesa Police received a 911 call from a resident on Carlin Place (two blocks from Upland) stating she had just saw two subjects inside her home and she believed she had been burglarized. It was later determined that the subjects Officer Paugh had stopped were the two subjects casing the area and the subjects who burglarized the residence on Carlin Place. The suspects were 22 year-old Jose Mercado-Gonzales from Imperial Beach and 22 year-old Jeffrey Thomas from El Cajon. Both suspects were booked into San Diego County Jail on one charge of residential burglary. This case is another example where an early report of suspicious activity by citizens helped the police apprehend these burglars.
DUCHENY BEATS VARGAS IN PRE-PRIMARY DONATIONS FOR CONGRESSIONAL RACE
Ducheny’s Donations Come Primarily from Individuals versus Special Interests May 26, 2012 (San Diego)– FEC Reports filed yesterday by top congressional candidates in the 51st showed that Denise Moreno Ducheny outraised her primary opponent, State Senator Juan Vargas, for the second time since she entered the race. Ducheny raised over $52,780 dollars, while her main opponent raised only $46,344. Almost 85% of the money Ducheny has raised to date has come from individuals, most of whom live and vote in the 51st Congressional District. By contrast, just under half of Vargas’ contributions have come from Political Action Committees, like the insurance and banking lobbies. Vargas was predicted to out-raise Ducheny, as he has received strong financial backing from the Insurance and Banking Industries. But Ducheny’s campaign received a surge of support from individuals as her efforts have ramped up before the June Primary. Both are vying to replace retiring Congressman Bob Filner in this heavily Democratic strong-hold district spanning southern San Diego and Imperial Counties. “Most of the early money my opponent raised came when he had the field all to himself,” Ducheny stated. “Now that voters have a true Democratic choice it appears that his wells are beginning to go dry.” “I am so proud that my donations continue to come from the working men and women of this district,” Ducheny went on to say. “Clearly my message is resonating with them. I am in the district every day, meeting with constituents and gaining momentum and support. “Voters do not want another slick, Washington or Sacramento politician who will do or say anything to get elected. His slanderous tactics as well as his recent votes against single payer healthcare, women’s health issues and his opposition to the Homeowner’s Bill of Rights are catching up with him.” The primary for the 51st Congressional Race is Tuesday, June 5. Ducheny and Vargas are the strong favorites for the top two spots. Both of the top two finishers will move on to the November election. ECM has previously interviewed Ducheny, a long-time legislator who has represented southeast County in Sacramento for many years, holding key leadership positions. Read our story here: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/8929. Vargas has thus far failed to respond to ECM’s interview request.
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND MARKS THE START OF THE RECREATION SEASON
May 26, 2012 (San Diego)– Camping in the southern California’s national forests can be a year-round endeavor, but for many people, the up-coming Memorial Day weekend is the time to air out the tents, dust off the hiking boots and load up on the makings for s ‘mores. The school year is nearly over, and the days are warmer and longer, making it a perfect time to start reintroducing yourself and your family to the fun and excitement, and the calm and peacefulness of the Cleveland National Forest. Most of the recreation sites on the Forest will be open for the Memorial Day weekend. “The forest is ready for the 2012 summer recreation season,” said Forest Supervisor, Will Metz. “We encourage people to enjoy the outdoors while camping, hiking, mountain biking, fishing or a variety of other recreational activities on our forest.” As always, forest officials encourage visitors to be aware of their surroundings and responsibilities when visiting the forest. “We want to everyone has a safe and enjoyable visit while always remaining aware of the current situation outdoors and the potential for wildfire, and call ahead to check the status of places you plan to visit,” said Supervisor Metz. “Know Before You Go” Campfires Campfires are only permitted at developed sites in the designated fire rings in campgrounds and picnic areas. Outside of developed sites, only propane or gas cooking stoves are permitted. Always call ahead to check on the current fire restrictions. Campgrounds Campgrounds are popular for three-day weekend getaways, so reserving early is sometimes the key to success. Campground reservations can be made online through Reserve USA at: www.recreation.gov or by calling toll free 1-877-444-6777. The following campgrounds are not open – sorry for the inconvenience: Boulder Creek Campground on the Descanso Ranger District; Dripping Springs and Indian Flats Campgrounds on the Palomar Ranger District; and, Supper San Juan Campground on the Trabuco Ranger District. Visiting Waterfalls Cedar Creek Falls access is limited to only the eastern trailhead along Eagle Peak Road. The trailhead at the end of Thornbush Road, and the trails from this location remain closed. If planning to hike to Cedar Creek Falls from the Eagle Peak access, please be aware this trail is for advanced hikers, is an arduous trek and considered a “difficult” 3.5 mile hike. It is not recommended for families with children, for elderly people or those that might be physically out of shape. Parking is limited and vehicles blocking county road access will be towed at the owner’s expense. Alcohol possession and/or use are prohibited in this area. The cliffs surrounding Cedar Creek Falls are closed to jumping and diving (swimming is allowed). Multiple law enforcement agencies will have officers patrolling and enforcing these rules. For all other waterfalls, please contact the Ranger Stations to find out about current conditions at these waterfalls. Open Office/Visitor’s Centers The El Cariso Visitor’s Center will be open Friday through Monday from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm. The Laguna Mountain Visitor’s Center will be open and staffed by volunteers Friday through Monday during mid-day hours Recreation Use Fees The Forest Adventure Pass must be displayed on a visitor’s parked vehicle when recreating in Standard Amenity Fee Areas and certain developed sites like campgrounds and picnic areas. An on-line source of designated fee sites, areas and fee information is available on our new Forest Adventure Pass website at: www.fs.usda.gov/adventurepass Off-Highway Vehicles Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) users should call ahead to the Ranger Station to confirm their OHV plans and verify rules and regulations. OHV riding area maps are available on the Cleveland National Forest website. For additional information about the Cleveland National Forest, please visit: http://www.fs.usda.gov/cnf
MOUNT MIGUEL HIGH SCHOOL MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY HONORS OUR FALLEN SOLDIERS
May 26, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)–The Mount Miguel High School JROTC Memorial Day Ceremony on Wednesday, May 23, paid tribute to all of the men and women who have fought and died to protect our freedom as well as those who are presently serving our country. The program began with Battalion Executive Officer Cadet Major Ella Cabreros providing a brief history and understanding of the significance of this important day. Throughout the years, Memorial Day has been celebrated on different days and in various ways. It typically occurs on the last Monday of May and is celebrated to honor all of the men and women who served in our nation’s Armed Forces and courageously gave their lives for our country. The program included performances by the school band with the playing of Reveille, followed by the National Anthem as the flag was raised. Originally, Memorial Day was named “Decoration Day,” because it was marked by parades, memorial speeches, ceremonies, and the decoration of graves with flowers and flags. In honor of this tradition, Cadet Master Sergeant Guillermo Martinez placed an American Flag, a helmet, and a pair of boots at the base of the flag pole. He then slowly saluted the flag as a symbol of respect and honor to those who have served and sacrificed their lives for America’s freedom. The ceremony closed as the flag was lowered as To the Colors and Taps were played. The Grossmont Union High School District is very proud and pleased with the display of honor exhibited by our Mount Miguel JROTC students and staff.
GROUNDBREAKING LAW MAKES VERMONT A NATIONAL LEADER IN RECOGNIZING TRUE VALUE OF CLEAN LOCAL ENERGY
Vermont’s latest energy statute expands its statewide Clean Local Energy Accessible Now (CLEAN) Program and removes program cap for projects with locational benefits to the power grid. May 26, 2012 (Montpelier, Vermont)– On May 18, Vermont’s Governor Shumlin signed into law the 2012 Energy Bill, which contains a groundbreaking acknowledgment of the locational benefits of distributed generation and more than doubles the amount clean local energy that will be brought online through the state’s CLEAN program. Similar programs could well be applied in places such as San Diego to encourage locally-generated rooftop solar and other local power as alternatives to massive industrial-scale energy projects and high-voltage transmission lines running long distances. The new law expands Vermont’s statewide CLEAN Program, known locally as the Standard Offer program, from 50 megawatts (MW) to 127.5 MW. Notably, the capacity of any distributed generation facility that provides “sufficient benefits to the operation and management of the electric grid” as a result of its location or other characteristics will not count towards the overall program cap of 127.5 MW. Therefore, no limit exists on the amount of clean local energy that can come online from facilities providing sufficient locational benefits. The recognition of locational benefits by Vermont legislators is a major step towards broader awareness of the true value of distributed generation. Clean local energy projects alleviate transmission and distribution (T&D) constraints, while also avoiding the inefficient and expensive long-distance transmission of energy. As a leading advocate for the recognition of locational benefits in California, the Clean Coalition provided policy support to Vermont-based clean energy organizations actively engaged in the legislative process. “The Clean Coalition’s invaluable work, made available to all through their online publications, clearly illuminated to state legislators the transmission and distribution benefits and peak load savings provided by distributed generation power stations,” said Gabrielle Stebbins, Executive Director of Renewable Energy Vermont. “The legislative emphasis on T&D and peak load benefits would not have remained in this bill without their help.” Around the country, an increasing number of cities and states are turning to CLEAN Programs as a proven policy tool to rapidly deploy cost-effective clean local energy and to give community members opportunities for participating in the clean energy economy. New programs were recently announced by Los Angeles, California, Palo Alto, California, and Long Island, New York. “Vermont legislators have listened to the farmers and local business owners who called for expansion of Vermont’s CLEAN program,” said Craig Lewis, Executive Director of the Clean Coalition. “This bill shows a viable pathway for states across the country to procure clean local energy and illuminates the significant locational benefits associated with generating wholesale energy close to where energy is used,” said Craig Lewis, Executive Director of the Clean Coalition. About the Clean Coalition The Clean Coalition is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to implement policies and programs that transition the world to cost-effective clean energy now while delivering unparalleled economic benefits. For further information on the Clean Coalition, please visitwww.Clean-Coalition.org
ALPINE HISTORY DAY CELEBRATION JUNE 2
May 26, 2012 (Alpine) — The Alpine Historical Society presents Alpine History Day Celebration on June 2 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 2116 Tavern Road, Alpine. The event will feature new displays in Dr. Nichols’ carriage house, tours of two pioneer houses, a Model T and an organ concert on the veranda. Attendees will be able to learn about farming equipment and hear third grade students’ award-winning essays. A lunch of homemade chili, salad, bread, drink and ice cream sundae will be served. The cost is $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for children. Visit www.alpinehistory.org for more information or email info@alpinehistory.org.
SAN DIEGO JUNIOR PLACES IN TOP .000005% OF SCIENCE STUDENTS WORLDWIDE
San Diego Jewish Academy junior Melissa Fagan placed first at the Intel International Science and Engineering. Intel is the largest and most prestigious high school science competition in the world. May 26, 2012 (San Diego)– Last week, San Diego Jewish Academy (SDJA) student Melissa Fagan received first place at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Seven million students compete annually to receive an invitation to Intel as it is considered the top high school science competition in the world. Placing first at Intel is an enormous accomplishment. Simply being invited to Intel is an achievement as only 1,549 students were invited this year, but receiving a first place award means the recipient is in the top .000005% of science students worldwide. Intel gives only two first place awards in each of the 17 categories it judges. There are better odds of becoming a pro-athlete or winning an academy award than there are for placing first at Intel. “Melissa’s success at Intel is a testament to her hard work and dedication, but also speaks volumes about the quality of her teacher, Dr. Jane Willoughby, and the curriculum and faculty at SDJA,” said Dr. Jeff Davis, principal of the upper school at SDJA. Fagan’s project, The Creation of Alginate Microparticles as a Novel Drug Delivery Vehicle, received first place in the microbiology category. She received a total of $16,000 in scholarships, which included special awards from the Office of Naval Research and Air Force Research Laboratory. In her project, Fagan sought to reduce the toxicity of silver in medical treatments. Silver is increasingly being used as an antiseptic and disinfectant to treat chronic wounds such as burns. Antibiotic resistant infections are becoming more prevalent in hospitals, which is causing an increase in the use of silver. The challenge of using silver is that it rapidly converts into inactive silver, which causes a need for frequent re-applications. Due to the re-applications, it is used in large concentrations, where it can be toxic to humans. Fagan embedded silver based antimicrobials into alginate particles, which is the cell wall of brown seaweed, and was able to deliver the silver particles in smaller sustained doses. This helped alleviate the problem of toxicity and has the potential to save the medical industry millions of dollars. When asked about how she felt about her first place finish at Intel, Fagan responded, “Obviously I am still in shock, but it was really cool to be surrounded by 34 of the smartest kids in the country.”