READER’S EDITORIAL: THE SQUAWK OVER BACKYARD CHICKENS
By Gretchen Anderson June 29, 2012 (El Cajon )–Three cheers to the El Cajon City Council for its recent decision to give backyard hen keeping a try. El Cajon residents spoke and the city listened. The fight to keep backyard chickens began in 2004, when the people of Madison, Wisconsin took on the city for the right to legally keep hens. So what’s the big deal? Why are so many people keen on backyard hen keeping? Aside from the superior eggs, natural pest control and nitrogen rich fertilizer, people keep backyard poultry for three main reasons: economics, property rights and food security. Last summer we had food recalls of strawberries, ground turkey, bean sprouts, cantaloupe, apple juice and lettuce. Additionally, two summers ago we witnessed the largest recall of eggs in United States history. In August of 2010 the Food and Drug Administration recalled 550-million eggs. They were contaminated with salmonella and sickened countless consumers. As a result, people want to know from where there food comes. Currently in the United States, there are 9-million people keeping backyard chickens. That number is expected to double this year. But, what about the noise? The possible spread of disease? The smell? Those are all valid concerns. Through my national research, I have found backyard chicken keepers to be good stewards of the environment. They maintain very clean coops and there is little smell when you keep 3-6 chickens. When I teach beginner hen keeping classes, I advise: “If it smells worse inside your coop than it does outside your coop, CLEAN IT!” It is plain, common sense. Cleanliness will also abate the spread of disease. Mayor Mark Lewis’ concern over chickens spreading Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) doesn’t fall on deaf ears. However, there hasn’t been an outbreak in domestic chicken flocks in the U.S. since 1974. As for the noise, within the backyard chicken movement, roosters are a cock-a-doodle-don’t! The male species, with his endless crowing, generally maintains an outlaw status. And, yes, you still get eggs from hens—without a rooster around. Thousands of cities and counties (both small and large) across the country have adopted favorable chicken keeping ordinances. My hope is that El Cajon and its residents find success in this ordinance change and eventually join the growing number of municipalities that welcome backyard chickens. Gretchen Anderson is a national backyard chicken advocate. 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.
CALL FOR FIRE DEPT. VOLUNTEERS IN LAKESIDE
June 30, 2012 (Lakeside)–In July of 2011, the Lakeside Fire District initiated an age-50-and-over volunteer program where selected district residents assist firefighters and district staffers with those functions specific to logistics. The Logistics Section performs functions that support operations personnel (firefighters) with supply chain management, transportation of equipment and personnel, and many other logistics functions such as incident support. Some logistics functions may include picking-up medical equipment at local hospitals, facilitating the movement of district material and documents between the district’s facilities as well as the classic function of logistics, which is to support the firefighters at an incident with cold drinks and a shady place to sit down for a few minutes. This program is NOT an avenue for employment with the district. It is a strictly volunteer program and no volunteer is ever paid for their services to the district. While the program is new, the need is great and the district is looking forward to choosing some key individuals to assist us in our mission of service the community. Not everyone who applies will be chosen to be a member of the Logistics Volunteer Group. An application, an interview, reference checks, a thorough background check, and a drug screening is required before any of the required training occurs. When you have completed the training, you’ll be a regular member of the fire district serving in the Logistics Section of the agency. Logistical Volunteer Group members will drive district vehicles, visit district fire stations, represent the district when necessary, and answer questions of the public as a member of the Lakeside Fire District. They will support district daily activities, district special events, assist with our fire prevention programs, and attend our open houses. Logistical volunteers are valued fire district workers and they are performing the needed tasks of the Operations Section and the Command Staff every single day. If you are interested, call the district office at 619-390-2350 x 07 or by emailing Karen at the administration center atkkuss@lakesidefire.org Your information will be collected and a district representative will contact you. If you’re interested in assisting the fire district with their daily duties, this might be just the program just for you! For the department’s website see: http://lakesidefire.net/index.php
BELLUS ACADEMY WINS BIG IN NATIONAL COMPETITION
Bellus Graduate and Artistic Director Take Top Honors at RAW Competition June 30, 2012 (Poway) — Bellus Academy alumnae Kristin Bacaycay and artistic director Diego Raviglione took home top honors at the nationally-broadcast Behind the Chair RAW Competition on June 3 in Orlando, Florida, beating out six other teams to take first prize. The competition, which served to single out talented beauty professionals under the age of 30, featured Bacaycay as a stylist and Raviglione as a mentor for the Proctor & Gamble-sponsored Team ICAN. P&G selected Bacaycay, 27, as a team member due to her innovative expertise and exceptional skill as a student at Bellus Academy. Prior to her RAW competition victory, she won the prestigious gold medal at the 2011 Wella Trend Vision awards in the Student category, singling her out as the most talented cosmetology student in North America. Bacaycay currently works at Loft Hair Design and Skin Care in Escondido. Diego Raviglione has more than 26 years of experience as a hair designer and educator. His work has been published in Elle, Elle Girl, InStyle, Marie Claire, Cosmo, and Allure, and he has received such honors as the Graham Webb Crystal Torch award for Outstanding Educator and the Bellus Visionary award. Raviglione’s ingenuity has also been featured on runways during Los Angeles Fashion Week and on stage at the Lollapalooza concert event. “Bellus Academy’s main goal is for students to graduate with the excellent technical and professional skills that allow them to excel at the highest professional level,” said Bellus Academy president Lynelle Lynch. “We are thrilled to know that Kristin and Diego were on the winning team.” The competition revolved around creating a unique hair show, from coloring, cutting and styling to makeup, fashion and lighting. Voting was conducted by celebrity judges Garren, owner of Garren New York, Ellen Rakieten, executive producer of the Oprah Winfrey Show, Ken Paves, celebrity stylist; and viewers, who were able to vote electronically. Team ICAN’s grand prize included the opportunity to feature its work on the cover of On Paper magazine’s September issue, $10,000 and an invitation to present at the 2013 Stylist Choice Awards. “We took the approach that we support the future of hair,” said Raviglione. “When you have people with such talent, drive and extroversion and you put it all together, it’s almost bulletproof.” BehindTheChair.com is a website devoted to serving the professional salon industry with content, resources and education. About Bellus Academy Recognized by Publishers of Modern Salon in 2010 and 2011 for their “Excellence in Education,” Bellus Academy has been revolutionizing beauty and wellness education since its founding in 1993. Three of their campuses are located in San Diego County with the newest campus in Manhattan, Kansas. Offering quality advanced curriculum, it is no surprise that Intercoiffure ranked Bellus Academy as one of the top three beauty schools in the world in 2011. Bellus Academy continues to elevate the beauty and spa industry with breakthrough education and innovative business practices. For more information, call (858) 748-1490 or visit www.bellusacademy.edu.
DOWN ON THE FARMS: A VIDEO TOUR OF LOCAL AGRICULTURAL IN LAKESIDE
In honor of Harold Hilliker Farm Day at Lakeside Middle School, videographer Billy Ortiz created a video documentary tour of local agricultural sites Story, photos and video by Billy Ortiz June 30, 2012 (Lakeside)– Lakeside Middle School held its first annual Harold Hilliker Farm Day on May 30. It was a day full of information on agriculture, highlighting several Lakeside farms for the 6th and 7th graders. View a special video tour of local farms in Lakeside created for the Lakeside Historical Society by clicking this link. In addition, view a presentation at Lakeside Middle School by freelance videographer Billy Ortiz here. In each class a representative from local agricultural businesses shared information from each field. Among the presenters were Hilliker Farm Fresh Eggs, Miramar Wholesale Nurseries, El Capitan High School FFA, Hazy Meadow Ranch, Lakeside Historical Society, Van Ommering Dairy Farm, David Drucker, San Diego Chapter Agriculture In the classroom, Lakeside Garden Club, San Diego Water Authority and more. Kids got to meet some farm animals and take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage. Hiilliker’s Ranch Fresh Eggs has been a family affair since 1942. Frank & Josephine Hilliker began ranching in Encanto. As San Diego began encroaching on the farm, they moved it to Lakeside, where the farm continues to this day. There they began their family and grew the business. Harold Hilliker was born in 1942 and worked the farm until his passing in 2009. Through the years that Harold lived in Lakeside, apart from working his ranch, he spent a lot of time giving to the local communities. His children, Frank & Lara, grew up working the farm, and continue the family tradition. Other family members also help the farm run smoothly and the next generation is also spending free time working on the farm. I was given the privilege of putting together a video documentary of some local farms and ranches past and present here in the Lakeside area. This by far was the most rewarding project I have taken on. I grew up in Lakeside and have never moved away, Like many others, I attended Lakeside Middle School. When the opportunity was offered to me to create something for the school I knew it was my chance to give back to the community that I have come to love over the many years. In the process I met lots of great people in our East County community. I visited a worm farm, avocado orchards, and alfalfa sprout farms. I also visited a farm were the plants are grown for their seeds. I even went along on a ride in a big farm tractor that was cutting oat hay to be baled up and shipped off to the local Dairy and FFA school programs. Lakeside middle School recently went through some upgrading. The school has a new look but an old feel to it. Several of the original buildings are still being used and many more have been added to fill the need of a growing school. Principal Steve Mull has worked hard to make the school what it is today, complete with a state-of-the-art theatre for the kids and the community. It was sad to see the old auditorium go, but the new one will bring much joy for years to come. Many thanks to Lakeside Middle School for a successful First Annual Harold Hilliker Farm Day.
DISABLED WOMAN DROWNS IN EL CAJON MOTEL SPA
June 30, 2012 (El Cajon) – Residents at the Villa Embasador Inn, a residential motel on East Main Street in El Cajon, tried valiantly to save the life of a disabled woman found floating face down in a spa last night, but were unable to revive her. The victim’s wheelchair was nearby. Residents pulled the woman out of the water and one, a man who told ECM news partner 10 Newsthat he has saved six other lives in the past, performed CPR. Paramedics arrived and continued CPR for 30 minutes, but were unable to save the life of the 51-year-old woman. For details, see: http://www.10news.com/news/31236430/detail.html
HEADING TO THE BEACH? LOOK FOR AN INCREASE IN THE MARINE LAYER ALONG THE COAST
ECM EDITOR MIRIAM RAFTERY WINS TOP SPJ AWARDS FOR COMMUNITY REPORTING AND ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM
June 29, 2012 (San Diego) – The Society of Professional Journalists’ San Diego chapter has awarded East County Magazine editor Miriam Raftery the James Julian Memorial Award for best community service series. Raftery received the honor, along with a $100 prize, for her series titled FEMA refund demand sparks firestorm of controversy. The series also won an honorable mention in daily news reporting. In addition, Raftery won a second place award for environmental reporting for an East County Magazine article titled County issues draft wind ordinance; backcountry leaders level harsh criticism. The James Julian Memorial Award is named after the late Dr. James Julian, a journalism professor at San Diego State University who taught media law. “Miriam Raftery did a great job tracing and following up on FEMA’s behavior and actions towards the local survivors of the 2007 firestorms. Truly, this series of continuing stories meets the community service criteria and is an example of the need that good reporting meets,” one judge observed. The series resulted in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) retracting its demand for local wildfire victims to pay back disaster relief funds received, even though FEMA admitted the property owners had done nothing wrong. East County Magazine has received 47 journalism awards since launch of the nonprofit media outlet in 2008. Other honors include the League of Women Voters, San Diego chapters Media Award 2012, San Diego Press Club’s best general interest website in 2008, as well as first place awards from both Press Club and SPJ for investigative reporting. "In this era of diminishing resources for media, it is heartening to receive recognition from the Society of Professional Journalists for reporting on important news issues that impact our communities," said Raftery, who has over 30 years of experience writing for national and regional publications. She has won dozens of individual journalism awards, including the American Society of Journalists and Authors’ national Arlene Award in 2006 for Monkey Business, a story on election integrity issues in CityBeat. That story led to an interview with a whistleblower inside the Diebold election equipment company published in Raw Story that led to the resignation of Diebold’s CEO and a shareholder lawsuit following revelations of alleged election tampering. She also received San Diego Press Club’s 2006 Best of Show award for her Changing Faces of East County series published in the East County Californian. Since founding East County Magazine, Raftery has won numerous top honors from local journalism organizations for investigative reporting, breaking news, political and multicultural coverage published in the online nonprofit news outlet that she founded with a start-up grant from San Diego Foundation for Change. East County Magazine is published by the nonprofit 501c3 Heartland Coalition.