TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR WATERSHED, AWARD-WINNING REDFORD FILM PREMIERE JULY 28 AT WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN
July 13, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – A premiere screening of Watershed, will debut at the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College on July 28 at 8:15 p.m. Tickets go on sale today. The film tells the story of threats to the once-mighty Colorado River—and offers solutions for the future of the American west. It is produced by the Redford Center, established by actor Robert Redford. A panel of experts will also be on hand for a discussion following the screening. As the most dammed and diverted river in the world struggles to support 30 million people and the Colorado River Pact reaches its limits, Watershed offers hope. Moderated by KPBS Evening Edition host Peggy Pico, the panelists will include James Redford, Producer of Watershed, James Smyth, General Manager of Sweetwater Authority, Jill Witkowski, Legal Cilnic Director of San Diego Coastkeeper, Francisco Zamora Arroyo, Director of the Colorado Delta Legacy Program, Sonoran Institute, and Robert McClean, President of Cal American Water. Tickets cost $15. For more information, including a preview clip of Watershed, visit www.thegarden.org.
LA MESA CENTENNIAL “AMAZING GEOCACHE” CHALLENGE BEGINS
Modern Day Scavenger Hunt Uses GPS-Enabled Devices to Find City’s Historic Treasures July 17, 2012 (La Mesa) — The La Mesa Centennial-themed Amazing Geocache Challenge is officially on, and anyone who appreciates a fun and family-friendly modern-day scavenger hunt is encouraged to participate – and possibly win prizes along the way. Officially started on June 2 to coincide with the city’s Flag Day Parade, the Challenge concludes at 5:00 pm October 7, 2012, coinciding with the end of the La Mesa Oktoberfest. It’s not to late to participate! To get started right away, go to www.cityoflamesa100.com to download the Amazing Geocache Challenge Packet, which includes Challenge Form and coordinates and Historic Downtown Walking Tour. For more information about geocaching, visit Geocaching.com/guide or attend the next information session at the La Mesa Library, located at 8074 Allison Avenue, on Saturday July 21 at 11am. Wildly popular throughout the world, geocaching events are outdoor treasure hunts using handheld GPS devices or GPS-enabled smart phones. Players navigate to a set of coordinates provided in search of cleverly hidden geocaches, or containers. Participants — known as geocachers – who answer all Challenge questions correctly are automatically entered into a random drawing to win one of 100 or more prizes, which include gift certificates for La Mesa merchants and the grand prize, an iPad. Throughout the Challenge event, players will also have the opportunity to find local discount coupons hidden in the caches. The Geocache Challenge is designed to be both fun and informative. Players visit and learn about various areas of interest in La Mesa. A Historic Downtown Guided Walking Tour gives participants the option to learn more in-depth information corresponding with the cache sites. Participants can leave comments on Geocaching.com as they go through the Challenge. One geocacher wrote, “Having lived here for such a long time, I really enjoyed finding places that I hadn’t noticed before, right in my own ‘back yard!” Another comment echoed the sentiment: “I have lived in the East County all of my adult life but, as always, when you drive daily back and forth, one misses so much that you can only see and appreciate by foot. Looking forward to the rest of the challenge!” Sponsors for the Challenge include: the La Mesa Historical Society, which developed the Walking Tour and provided interesting historical tidbits into each of the caches; the La Mesa Park & Recreation Foundation, which created several of the unique caches; the La Mesa Library, which created the first unique cache hidden in the library; and local flood, fire and mold restoration specialists Flood Masters, providing planning and financial support for the event.
FEMALE ARTISTS FIND THEIR POWERS AT COMIC-CON
By Nadin Abbott Photos by Tom Abbott July 15, 2012 (San Diego) — Women are involved in many aspects of the comics industry. At Comic-Con, ECM interviewed two women, Anina Bennet and Susie Cagle, who have left some power-packed marks in their own industry niches. Bennett is the author, with her husband Paul Guinan, of Boilerplate: History’s Mechanical Marvel, and Frank Reade: Adventures in the Age of Invention. http://bigredhair.com Cagle, a former journalist, has worked as a freelance cartoonist and reported on Occupy Oakland in the visual form. http://www.thisiswhatconcernsme.com/about-susie/ They could not be any more different in some ways if they tried. But both are involved in trying to educate while being entertaining. Bennet was fascinated by history from early on. Since Boilerplate involves actual historical events, such as the Pullman strike, it is a mix of actual history with fiction. Because of this, her book has been used in “literature and critical thinking classes,” and it helps the reader to be entertained, while learning new things. The other book she has worked on is Frank Reade: Adventures in the Age of Invention, set in the late 19th century. This is where we talked about censorship in comics, which has ebbed and flowed over the years. Frank Reade is actually based on the Frank Reade dime novels, and here she faced a little pushback from her editor, who was afraid that the use of a racially tinged term, which while used in the correct historical context, could lead to a bad reaction. Thankfully, her readers got it. The other area where she faced pushback from her editor was in Boilerplate over the Pullman strike. She made more than clear that Mr. Pullman was not precisely nice to his employees. The Pullman strike began on May 11, 1894 and is considered a critical event in the history of organized labor. It began in Chicago but affected the whole country. http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1029.html In the end the book went to print with little to no negative reaction. Her editor was also concerned over the use of child labor photos. In the end, the editor agreed to run them, and the author never faced directly any censorship. Bennet is excited that while Comic-Con has fans chasing the collective plastic exclusive figure (Yes the lines for some of those were insane), people also are “buying these covers,” which definitely have a more intellectual bent to them. When ECM sat down to talk to Cagle, we asked about the differences between Occupy San Diego and Occupy Oakland. According to her, Occupy Oakland came from the “very political history” which they share with Berkeley. Occupy Oakland came from the deep history that includes the Black Panthers, with a lot of its members having ties to it. From the beginning, Occupy Oakland “gathered a very radical community,” she said. They made it clear from the beginning that they were “in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street” but not part of it. It was also, from the beginning anti-police and anti-capitalist. None of this should have come as a surprise, since Oakland is a “very left field progressive.” She also mentioned that the movement has suffered serious internal strife. Those who came in on day one, were gone by November. In fact, the majority who participated in the port shut down, were driven away by a minority that had their own interests and goals. There were 30,000 to 40,000 people during the port shut down, but now most of them are no longer participants, and there have been some counter protests. Cagle also mentioned another important aspect. “People are scared, but they perceive themselves as brave.” They do not want to admit to their fears, even if they are very reasonable, because to admit to fear would mean believing that police are winning. http://www.cartoonistsrights.org/upload/SusieCagleToonOccupyOakland.jpg What was her role during the Occupy Oakland? She was freelancing. Her job was to draw, and at times a pad is easier to approach than even a camera. She also started drawing after she was fired as a journalist in 2009, with the mass firings the media saw. Cartooning, it seems, runs in the blood. Her father is Daryl Cagle, and you can find his work at MSNBC. http://cartoonblog.msnbc.msn.com/
SENIORS AT HEALTH CARE LIBRARY TO DISCUSS RELAXATION, VISUALIZATION AND MEDITATION JULY 25
July17, 2012 (La Mesa)–The 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 “Relaxation and Visualization” from 10 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, July 25. The public is invited to attend, and RSVP is not required. The speaker will be Dr. Sara Fainstein, an independent patient services consultant specializing in psycho-social, health and wellness who has advanced degrees in clinical psychology and public health. Attendees will be lead on a brief relaxation, visualization and meditation session. Handouts will be provided and light refreshments will be served. For more information, phone the library at (619) 825‑5010 or visit www.herricklibrary.org. 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.
PATRIOT GUARD TO HONOR FALLEN SOLDIER’S RETURN TO EAST COUNTY
July 16, 2012 (El Cajon) – Sgt. Nicholas C. Fredsti valiantly served six tours of duty—three in Iraq and three in Afghanistan. But the U.S. Army paratrooper was killed in Afghanistan’s Ghazni Province on June 15, 2012, the Pentagon reports. Sgt. Fredsti, 30, attended West Hills High School and joined the Army in 2007. On Wednesday, a Patriot Guard will honor the return of his body to the Marine Corps Air Station at Miramar and then to the El Cajon mortuary, 684 South Mollison Avenue in El Cajon. Burial services are set for Saturday. His unit was attacked by insurgents with small arms fire. According to the Fort Bragg Patch, as a squad leader, Fredsti “responded instinctively by moving his squad to high ground to lay down a base of fire.” He was struck in the shoulder by a single bullet that entered his chest and died shortly after he was medically evacuated. He served as a team leader with Company D, 1st Battalion, 504th Infranty Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. “We lost one of the best squad leaders I’ve seen in the Army,” Sgt. Jonathan Daeuber, who served with Fredsti as a team leader, said, Fort Bragg Patch reported. “We lost a close friend.” His honors include the Presidential Unit Citation Award, the Valorous Unit Award, the Meritorius Unit Commendation with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Army Achievement Medal. Promoted posthumously to staff sergeant, Fredsti was also awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and NATO Medal. He is survived by his parents, Carl and sheriff Fredsti of San Diego, his sister, Sarah, and his fiancé, Cassie. The family has invited the Patriot Guard Riders to honor this Army hero on his final journey, accompanying him on Wednesday from Miramar to the El Cajon Mortuary, where his body is expected to arrive at 1:45 p.m. He will be laid to rest at Miramar National Cemetery Saturday, June 21, 2012, 11 a.m. A memorial reception will follow at the MCAS – Miramar Officer’s Club. The Patriot Guard mission is open to all; you do not have to be a veteran to participate. For more information, visit http://patriotguard.org/forums/tabid/61/postid/1817523/view/topic/Default.aspx In lieu of flowers, his family requests that donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project in his name. An online guest book has been set up at http://www.legacy.com/guestbook/UTSanDiego/guestbook.aspx?n=nicholas-fredsti&pid=158537522&cid=full. Randy D’Aoust of El Cajon wrote, "Nicholas was a brave and committed soldier and he lived the ideals he learned from his beloved family. In the midst of sorrow, take time to celebrate the gifts of love and joy that Nicholas shared with anyone he met."
FIRE ON CAMP PENDLETON TOPS 130 ACRES
Update: As of late last night, the fire was 300 acres and 60% contained. Training exercises are believed to have caused the blaze, ECM has learned. No structures are threatened. July 16, 2012 (Camp Pendleton) – A brush fire on Camp Pendleton is generating smoke visible from across North County. As of 8 p.m., the fire has grown to over 130 acres, Gunnery Sgt. Paul McQuigg told the North County Times. The fire started on Basilone Road in the K2 area, Incident Page Network reported. There are no evacuations or structures threatened. Cal-Fire is assisting Camp Pendleton fire personnel, Mike Mohler at Cal Fire confirmed.
GOOD CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WEDNESDAY
ALPINE PLANNERS REOPEN NOMINATIONS FOR VACANCY; PARK LANDS AND ZONING DENSITY CHANGES ALSO ON AGENDA JULY 26
By Miriam Raftery July 16, 2012 (Alpine) – The Alpine Community Planning Group meets on Thursday, July 26 at 6 p.m. in the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Boulevard. The agenda includes an opportunity for planners to ask questions of community members interested in being recommended for appointment to fill a vacant seat. The planning group previously recommended Charles Kaderabek for the slot; however he withdrew his name after revelations of tax debts, lawsuits and a lapsed law license have surfaced. Planners will also vote on a Parks and Recreation Subcommittee recommendation to add the Community Center park site and land on Arnold Way as a top priority on the Park Land Development priority list. In addition, the group will consider whether or not to approve zoning density increases sought by three landowners for former Forest Conservation Initiative lands in the Japatul area. Also on the agenda is a proposed liquor license sought to sell beer and wine at a 7/11 in Victoria Village, to be built at the corner of Victoria and Alpine Boulevard. View the full agenda.
CHP SEEKS WITNESSES TO DOUBLE FATALITY CRASH ON I-15 NORTH OF ESCONDIDO
July 16, 2012 (Escondido) – The California Highway Patrol is seeking witnesses to a deadly collision that resulted in the deaths of two 10-year-old boys and injury to several other people. The accident occurred on July 15 at 2:28 p.m. on southbound I-15, north of Deer Springs Road. The young victims, Xevier Ruffin and Latrelle Pearson, were ejected from the rear seat of a Dodge Caravan which rolled over multiple times after colliding with a Scion TC. According to the CHP, both vehicles were traveling southbound at 70 to 75 mph when the collision occurred; the cause is unknown. After the collision, both drivers lost control. Lisa Welhus, 24, of Temecula was driving the Scion, which spun around and came to rest facing south; she then drove it to the center media. The Dodge Caravan, driven by Roy Ruffin, 52, of San Diego, spun toward the median, overturned and ejected one of the boys who was not wearing a seatbelt and partially ejected the second boy, who did have his seatbelt fastened. The van continued to overturn, crossing the center median and coming to rest on its wheels, facing northeast. Five occupants of the Dodge Caravan were transported to hospitals with injuries. Welhus, driver of the Scion, was not injured.