BLM RESPONDS TO ECM INQUIRY ON NATIVE AMERICAN REMAINS AT WIND SITES
By Miriam Raftery July 19, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – After forensic dog teams identified dozens of potential ancient human remain sites at energy projects on Bureau of Land Management property in Ocotillo and McCain Valley, as ECM reported this week, ECM asked the BLM what steps it intends to take to assure that any Native American remains are protected. Two officials from the BLM have responded to our inquiry. “As a manager of America’s public lands, the BLM remains sensitive to the cultural resources found on our public lands and works closely with Native American tribes to ensure that any Native American human remains are handled respectfully according to the applicable legal requirements,” Erin Curtis, media relations and public affairs for the BLM in Sacramento wrote in an e-mail to ECM. The BLM manages cultural resources located or discovered on public lands according to a set of established laws, policies and procedures, including the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). “In the event that monitoring, investigations or other activities on public lands identify the possible presence of human remains, established procedures are initiated to confirm if the remains are present and to determine if the remains are human,” Curtis continued. “Where potential human remains are detected, California law requires notification of the county coroner to determine if the remains are human, and if so if they are modern or archaeological.” ECM asked whether the BLM has notified the coroner or taken any steps to identify the remains or protect them, or to require a broader assessment of the site for cultural remains, given the numerous dog alerts and the fact that multiple tribes refer to this area as the “Valley of the Dead.” Additional sites have been found in McCain Valley, site of Iberdrola Renewables’ planned Tule Wind facility. In response, we received a call from Stephen Razo, director of external affairs with the BLM’s California Desert District office in Moreno Valley. “We are in a quandary with your questions because we are under litigation,” he said, citing four lawsuits including one filed by the Quechan Indians. “That pretty much puts the kabash on discussing some of the items that are of interest.” He added, “We are getting a Solicitor opinion on how we should respond in the future on any media inquiries.” That said, he indicated that he would answer whatever questions he can. Asked if the coroner has been notified or not, he replied, “Do we ccall coroner every time a dog sits down? No. The coroner is only called when bones are found. I certainly understand and appreciate that if the dog sits down, there is something there. We certainly need validation of that before a coroner would come out.” Finding bones would seem unlikely, given that local tribes have long cremated their remains. The dogs, from the Institute of Canine Forensics, are the only ones in the world specially trained to locate ancient human remains. To pass certification, a dog must find every ancient bone hidden in the testing and alert within one foot of the site. The same teams have successful located bones up to 3,000 years old, as well as hundreds of forgotten gravesites in a ghost town in a project funded by the California State Parks Service. Asked why Pattern Energy has not been required to fund the searches, Razo replied, “The use of forensic dogs is not required by law. The fact that they are out there and Native Americans are paying for it is their choice…it’s public land they can certainly do that.” ECM then asked what it would take for the BLM to step in and protect Native American remains from desecration, now that there are strong indications that Pattern’s earlier assessment may have missed many cultural resource sites–and given that massive excavations are ongoing as turbine foundation holes are dug and new roads are graded. “Those things will be discussed and brought up in the litigation,” he said, adding, “We are under litigation from four different sources so it would be wrong for the BLM to respond.” In short, it appears that tribes’ only hopes of protecting their ancestors’ graves from desecration is in the courtroom, barring a decision by Pattern Energy to voluntarily avoid all identified sites or abandon the project. Thus far, Pattern has cooperated with tribes in relocating some turbine sites. But as the dog searches continue to locate a growing number of likely ancestral cremation sites, will that spirit of cooperation continue? Razo summed up the sentiments of all involved with regard to the pending litigation. “ I would hope that this moves quickly,” he concluded, “so that we can get these questions answered.”
EDITORIAL: DON’T LET GOVERNMENT GROUPS HIDE THEIR AGENDAS
Take these steps to restore Brown Act protections at state and local levels By Miriam Raftery, Editor, East County Magazine July 18, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Criticism is mounting over the state’s suspension of Brown Act protections, which have long required local government boards to provide at least 72 hours public notice of meeting agendas. After some agencies submitted inflated bills to the state for reimbursement of notification costs, the Legislature recklessly suspended public notice requirements to save money–giving public agencies a license to hide their agendas. ECM has invoked the Brown Act to force local boards to postpone meetings and reverse actions after they failed to provide notice required by the Brown Act. Any individual or media outlet that has requested to be notified of a board’s meetings has a right to do the same. What’s being done to restore open government protections—and how can you help? Californians Aware (CALAWARE) urges voters to contact Assembly Speaker John Perez and members of the Assembly Appropriations Committee to urge immediate passage of SCA 7, a constitutional amendment that would appear on a statewide ballot and require all public bodies to provide public notice of meetings and to disclose actions taken. The bill passed the Senate, but has been held up in the Committee due to “not policy or even fiscal prudence, but politics,” according to CALAWARE, a nonprofit organization dedicated to open government. You can contact Speaker Perez at (213)620-4646 and (916)319-2046. For a list of other committee members and their contacts, see http://calaware.wordpress.com/2012/07/13/brown-act-suspended-no-but-committee-thwarting-reform-2-2/. San Diegans for Open Government, meanwhile, has announced plans to file a lawsuit against the state. The government watchdog group claims the suspension violates the state Constitution under Proposiotion 59. “We citizens cannot sit by while local politicians use Sacramento’s inability to budget prudently as a license to conduct the people’s business behind closed doors,” said Ian Trowbridge, Chairman. He estimated that the cost of posting agendas “is basically zero.” Some local officials are offering assurances that they have no plans to change their notification procedures. La Mesa’s City Manager Dave Witt told ECM, “We don’t plan on making any changes.” He added that the cost of providing notification to the public of meeting agendas is “not significant.” Similarly, a staffer for El Cajon City Attorney Morgan Foley told ECM , “The City of El Cajon has no intention to take advantage of the changes as allowed under AB 1464.” Santee City Manager Keith Till has also assured that Santee City Council plans to continue posting its agenda on the city’s website the Friday prior to its meetings, Santee Patch reported. Till told Patch that Santee spends about $7,500 a year to prepare and publish agendas and other meeting notices. Jennifer Stone, a spokesperson for Dianne Jacob, told ECM that “Supervisor Jacob has received assurances from County staff that nothing will change.” Asked if that applies to County planning groups as well as Supervisors, she reiterated that the County plans “no changes whatsoever.” Councilmember Marti Emerald has announced plans to introduce an emergency resolution on July 24 asking the San Diego City Council to pass a Brown Act compliance resolution as part of a new open-government Sunshine Ordinance expected to come before Council this fall. It would reaffirm the City’s commitment to maintain strict compliance with all aspects of the Brown Act. “Our open meeting laws are vital to the public’s trust in government and access to government information,” Emerald said. While some local councils have announced plans to continue providing notice of meetings formerly required by the Brown Act, others remain silent. Whether any local school, water, fire or planning boards will take advantage of the change to move actions behind closed doors remains to be seen. That prospect, however, has some community members worried. “Curse them in Sacramento!!!” one irate reader exclaimed in an e-mail to ECM, voicing concern that her local water district board might be eager to hide its actions from the public. East County Magazine recommends that voters contact local boards and commissions to ask that they pass a resolution pledging to comply with the Brown Act notification requirements, despite the state’s suspension. While it’s a positive sign that many local boards are pledging to ignore the suspension and continue to notify voters of upcoming actions, those boards that are most in need of sunshine may be the ones most apt to hide actions behind closed doors and opt not to inform the public. We join with government watchdog groups and major news outlets to denounce the Legislature's unwise action, which puts our democracy at risk. East County Magazine agrees wholeheartedly with this pithy reaction to the state’s rash action published in a U-T San Diego editorial: “Many adjectives come to mind. Scant few are printable.”
BUSINESS SPARKLES AS NOTED JEWELER EXPANDS IN EAST COUNTY
July 20, 2012 (El Cajon) –Three decades ago, Leo Hamel of Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers opened his first jewelry store on El Cajon Boulevard. Now the successful businessman has returned to his historic roots, opening his eighth store, Leo Hamel Jewelry Buyers Office, in downtown El Cajon. "Diamonds were once considered to be a girl’s best friend, but now men and women alike are flocking to the precious stone," says Hamel. "The hardest stone in the world is now more rare than ever, which makes it even more of a luxury accessory and a solid investment." In a recent report substantiated by DeBeers, the world’s biggest diamond producer, “Experts estimate that all known supplies of diamonds will be depleted within 30 to 40 years.” As the world diamond sources are diminishing too quickly to meet long-term demand, consumers may plan to invest in diamonds now before the costs become grossly inflated. Hamel is aware that the unpredictable market has a huge affect on his business. After 32 years and a modest start at the San Diego Swap Meet after honing his sales skills at Walker Scott, Hamel today is among the few who have survived the tough economic times and has differentiated himself and his brand by perfecting a two-pronged approach in both the wholesale and retail arenas. Hamel says that this simple combination of wholesale and retail business has allowed him to maintain a healthy payroll at 41 employees strong and also remain a resource for nearly all of his customers’ fine jewelry needs, while deepening his knowledge of vintage pieces, precious metals, gems and diamonds. Even with the fluctuating market, the U.S. still consumes the most diamonds in the world. “In 2008, demand for rough diamonds was about $13.4 billion globally, and 2009 saw it fall to a drastic $7.5. Fortunately, demand is back up again and expected to hit $12 billion this year,” Hamel notes. The growing demand and increasing rarity of the product will likely make it difficult for costs to stay put—and fuel growth in the vintage sector, Hamel predicts. Through bifurcation of the traditional business model, Hamel has not only been able to sustain, but grow his business even in the recent troubled economy. His new Buyers Office outlets provide convenient places for people to sell their estate jewelry. The ever-changing industry will likely influence Hamel’s continuingly adapting business model. With eight stores including El Cajon, La Mesa, Old Town, Chula Vista, Solana Beach, Rancho Bernardo, Escondido and Oceanside, the jeweler soon plans to open his ninth location in National City. Hamel has also been a generous community partner through the years, donating to support charitable causes including causes benefiting children and animals in East County. His website also includes fascinating sections on the history of diamonds, jewelry and gemstone cutting. Who knew that a jewelry style in the 1700s was patterned after four kings named George, or that tinted gold became popular during World War II to make up for a shortage of colorful gemstones? Learn more at www.leohamel.com
2ND ANNUAL WATERMELON DAYS AT OASIS CAMEL DAIRY JULY 21 & 22
July 15, 2012 (Ramona) — Here’s a juicy story: the Oasis Camel Dairy will host its second annual Watermelon Days on July 21 & 22 from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. at 26757 Old Julian Hwy in Ramona. Festivities include feeding watermelon to the camels, camel rides, an exotic bird show featuring talking and singing parrots and tours of the camel dairy. The farm store will be open and camel milk chocolate, camel milk soaps, lotions, etc. will be available for purchase. Sign up for the tour and meet baby camels, Zim, Natalie and Luna, that were born this spring. The tickets are $15.00 for adults (16 and up,) $10.00 for seniors and $10.00 for kids (4-16). Camel rides are $5.00 for kids and $10.00 for adults (weight limit of 200 lbs). To register for the tour visit Oasis Camel Dairy.
EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: TOP LOCAL AND STATE NEWS
July 19, 2012 — (San Diego’s East County)–East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include: LOCAL Special report: water supplies pass tipping point (UT San Diego) Ramona’s original horses come home (Ramona Patch) San Diego County’s wildlife killers (Voice of San Diego) Heartland Fire Chief steps down (La Mesa Today) Unclaimed funds being held by county (10 News) 15-year-old Santee driver in fatal SR 52 crash sentenced to one year A costly, cranky day for La Mesa (La Mesa Today) La Mesa’s $1.9 million payment to state could be cut in half, says city manager (La Mesa Patch) STATE California Health Exchange seeks to make buying insurance a breeze (Sacramento Bee) Lawmakers seek state parks investigation (Sacramento Bee) Read more for excerpts and links to full stories. LOCAL Special report: water supplies pass tipping point (UT San Diego) July 14, 2012 — Miles upstream from where the Colorado River once delivered Rocky Mountain snowmelt to the Gulf of California, a string of empty pipes marks its end in the sands of northern Mexico. The concrete tubes — each big enough for a grade-schooler to walk through — are a testament to the unquenchable thirst of 30 million people and nearly 4 million acres of farmland in the Southwest. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jul/14/special-report-water-supplies-reach-tipping-point/ Ramona’s original horses come home (Ramona Patch) July 12, 2012 — I have to share with Ramona the exciting news and history of Ramona’s Original Horses! We have a herd that is re-establishing our equestrian heritage right off Highland Valley Road and so many of you have asked about them I thought I’d better fill you in. The horse has been part of North America since, well, forever. The San Diego Zoological Society believes the horse originated in North America millions of years ago then went extinct on this continent. Horses were reintroduced by Spanish visitors and have also been a part of Southern California for centuries. http://ramona.patch.com/blog_posts/ramonas-original-horses-come-home San Diego County’s wildlife killers (Voice of San Diego) July 11, 2012 — A little-known federal agency is leaving a trail of death in San Diego County, exacting a body count large enough to stock the San Diego Zoo five times over. In the last seven years, trappers working for an obscure arm of the U.S. Agriculture Department called Wildlife Services have killed 18,700 animals here, including some of the county’s most iconic creatures: Bobcats, foxes, mountain lions, coyotes, songbirds and ducks. http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/government/article_8a9553fe-cbbb-11e1-802b-0019bb2963f4.html Heartland Fire Chief steps down (La Mesa Today) July 16, 2012 — Mike Scott, the fire chief who helped create the unified Heartland Fire and Rescue Department for La Mesa, El Cajon and Lemon Grove, is stepping down and taking a new job with Homeland Security. Scott told officials in all three towns today that he would be finishing up at the end of this month. http://www.lamesatoday.com/profiles/blogs/heartland-fire-department Unclaimed funds being held by county (10 News) July 17, 2012 — The county of San Diego is holding more than $210,000 in unclaimed funds owed to property taxpayers, or to individuals or businesses that have conducted business with county departments over the past three years, Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister said Tuesday. The list of 800 accounts to which the county owes money is online at www.sdtreastax.com, and printed copies are available at each of the department’s offices. He said those who are on the list have less than two months to file a claim. http://www.10news.com/news/31281176/detail.html 15-year-old Santee driver in fatal SR 52 crash sentenced to one year July 16, 2012 — A 16-year-old boy who pleaded guilty to racing another young motorist on state Route 52, causing a rollover crash that killed two of his passengers, was sentenced Monday afternoon to a year in custody at a Juvenile facility in Campo. The boy, who was a junior at Santana High School in Santee at the time of the crash, pleaded guilty to charges of gross vehicular manslaughter resulting in death in connection with the April 4 double fatality on state Route 52. He faced a maximum of seven years and four months in custody. http://santee.patch.com/articles/16-year-old-santee-driver-in-fatal-sr-52-crash-to-be-sentenced-monday?ncid=newsltuspatc00000001 A costly, cranky day for La Mesa (La Mesa Today) July 10, 2012 — In many ways, Tuesday started out as a sort of classic small town day. The friends, family and admirers of local restaurateur Don Sanfilippo gathered in a church to honor a life that had been lived, in large part, at the service of La Mesa. "When Anna Sanfilippo got done talking there wasn’t a dry eye in the house,” said Jim Wieboldt, who was among hundreds attending the memorial. "There was a man who did so much for this city.” But if there was a sense of unity and civic pride at Sanfilippo’s memorial service, much of that good feeling quickly disappeared as the reality of life in California these days quickly intruded on the rest of Tuesday. http://www.lamesatoday.com/profiles/blogs/city-council-15?xg_source=activity La Mesa’s $1.9 million payment to state could be cut in half, says city manager (La Mesa Patch) July 13, 2012 — La Mesa won’t lose any essential programs or have to cut staff as a result of the state’s surprise demand for $1.9 million, the city manager says. And the city may get away with having to pay only $900,000, instead of the whole amount, says City Manager Dave Witt. “We’ll make the adjustments and tighten our belts and get through this, primarily because this is a one-time expenditure,” Witt said. “So we hope that the state and the county agree with the new analysis” of what La Mesa owes. http://lamesa.patch.com/articles/la-mesa-s-1-9-payment-to-state-could-be-cut-in-half-says-city-manager STATE California Health Exchange seeks to make buying insurance a breeze (Sacramento Bee) July 17, 2012 — Peter V. Lee wants to make buying health insurance "as easy as buying a book on Amazon." He heads the nascent California Health Benefit Exchange, the cornerstone of the state’s effort to put in place
SR 905 TO OPEN TO TRAFFIC
New Freeway Will Ease Flow of Commerce from/to Otay Mesa Border Crossing July 19, 2012 (Otay Mesa) — State Route 905, a newly-built highway designed to accommodate the growing volume of trucks carrying goods between the United States and Mexico, will open to motorists July 30. A grand opening celebration was held today on the freeway that connects the Otay Mesa Port of Entry – the only commercial crossing between San Diego and Tijuana – to the rest of the highway system. Dignitaries who joined Caltrans Chief Deputy Director Richard Land in the celebration included: San Diego City Councilmember David Alvarez; Alfonso Bustamante Anchondo, Honorary Director of Binational Affairs for the City of Tijuana; SANDAG First Vice Chair and Santee Councilmember Jack Dale; County Supervisor Greg Cox; Caltrans District 11 Director Laurie Berman; Federal Highway Administration Associate Division Administrator Rick Backlund; and Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Alejandra Mier y Teran. "This project is critical for not only motorists, but for goods movement between California and our largest trading partner – Mexico," Land said. "Our goal is to develop and build vital transportation projects for the region that also help both nations prosper." The six-lane, 6.4-mile project was built at a cost of $441 million with a mix of local, state, and federal funds. About $92 million for the project came from the federal stimulus program funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. “The completion of SR 905 has significance not just for the region, but also for Mexico, California, and the rest of the United States,” Dale said. “SR 905 is part of a planned system along the international border that will safely and efficiently move people and commerce between the two nations, fueling our economies and improving our quality of life.” The new highway parallels Otay Mesa Road, a busy surface street that previously provided the only access to the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. About 68,000 vehicles a day use Otay Mesa Road to reach the border crossing. A high percentage (16%) of trucks on Otay Mesa Road has compounded congestion and impeded border access. East-west vehicle traffic across Otay Mesa and from the port of entry is forecast to increase significantly in the coming decades. More than 6,000 acres of land near the international border continue to be developed for commercial and industrial use. SR 905 was built in several phases. Phase 1A, from Britannia Boulevard to Siempre Viva Road, opened to traffic in December 2010. Phase 2, which included improvements to the Interstate 805 (I-805)/SR 905 interchange, opened to traffic in February. This newest segment, Phase 1B, which extends from just east of I-805 to Britannia Boulevard, completes the connection from the port of entry to I-805. Two more phases of improvements to SR 905 are planned – construction of the SR 905/State Route 125 interchange and completion of the Heritage interchange ramp. An additional $163 million is needed to complete these improvements and landscaping. The main contractors for the SR 905 project were Flatiron and Skanska.
SAN DIEGO’S PHIL’S BBQ WINS TRAVEL CHANNEL’S BEST WEST COAST SANDWICH
Phil’s BBQ El Toro tri-tip sandwich takes one of ten regional titles to advance to the final round July 19, 2012 (San Diego) — On Wednesday, July 18, 2012, Phil’s BBQ was named the West Coast Regional Winner of the Travel Channel show “Adam Richman’s Best Sandwich in America.” Phil’s El Toro tri-tip sandwich is one of ten regional winners that will move on to the final round of judging, where one sandwich will be named Best Sandwich in America. There’s good news for East County foodies: Phil’s BBQ will be coming to Santee this fall. (Here’s a clip of the Phil’s BBQ segment.) “It’s really exciting,” said Phil Pace, owner of Phil’s BBQ. “Only a handful of sandwiches in the entire nation were chosen to compete, so to be among the best of the best is a huge honor.” Richman selected 30 sandwiches from 10 geographical regions across the country to face his BITE scale (Bread, Interior, Taste, Eating experience). The sandwich with the highest score from each region advances to the finals to face off against each other, plus two wild cards, to claim the national title. Phil’s BBQ faced off against Los Angeles based JR’s BBQ (Pulled Pork Sandwich) and San Francisco’s Wexler’s (“Pulled” Lamb Sandwich). “The El Toro, to me, is without question one of the best sandwiches in America,” Richman said. “[It’s] one of my favorite sandwiches anywhere. Til [Phil] came along, no one had dreamed of putting tri-tip between bread.” Pace says, “Everybody has a beef sandwich. I don’t like to be like everyone else. I always like to be different and one step ahead.” The El Toro is packed with mesquite-grilled, deli-sliced tri-tip and topped with Phil’s signature BBQ sauce. It has been a staple on the menu since doors opened, and is a fan favorite at both the Point Loma and San Marcos locations, as well as Phil’s catered events. “We love having Adam come visit us, and apparently he loves coming here too, so it works out well,” Pace added. Richman has previously visited Phil’s BBQ while hosting his first television program, Man v. Food. To see if the El Toro takes home the national title, tune-in to the one hour season finale of Adam Richman’s Best Sandwich in America, airing on Wednesday, August 15 at 9:00p.m. EST on the Travel Channel.
NEW HUMAN RESOURCES ADMINISTRATOR JOINS GROSSMONT-CUYAMACA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
17-year veteran of labor and employee relations named vice chancellor July 19, 2012 (El Cajon) — Victoria Simmons, a consultant and community college administrator specializing in labor relations and human resources for 17 years, is the new vice chancellor of human resources for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District. Simmons, who was hired after a nationwide search, began working at the college district July 1. She has experience in labor and employee relations, recruitment, equal employment opportunity compliance, staff development and training, classification, compensation, workers’ compensation and other human resources issues. “I am pleased we were able to attract a person of Victoria Simmons’ depth of knowledge, commitment and energy at a time when serious budget constraints and increasingly complex labor issues demand excellent management,” Chancellor Cindy L. Miles said. “Her approach is building cooperative relationships through effective communication and active listening. Her combination of skills and experience are an asset to the community, our district, and our employees.” Since 2007, Simmons’ human resources consulting business, VLS Consulting, worked in conjunction with the Center for Collaborative Solutions, a non-profit organization based in Sacramento, providing training, contract facilitation and mediation services for eight community college districts, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, and nine other school districts, coalitions, and associations. She has worked extensively with faculty and classified unions in California community colleges in contract negotiations. Simmons previously served as director of human resources for Allan Hancock Joint Community College District in northern Santa Barbara County; interim associate vice president, human resources and training, for the Ohlone Community College District in Fremont; and interim assistant superintendent/vice president, human resources, for the Sierra Joint Community College District in Northern California. Prior to her community college experience, Simmons worked for the University of California, Davis campus and medical center where she handled labor relations matters, including negotiations, mediation, arbitrations and administrative hearings. Simmons has a degree from the King Hall School of Law at the University of California, Davis, where she studied labor law, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from California State University, Long Beach. With a great uncle who was a Teamsters organizer, an aunt who was a union steward and chief negotiator for the California Teachers Association, and a grandfather active as a union steward for three decades, it could be said that collective bargaining is in Simmons’ DNA. “I had a keen interest in labor law during law school,” she said. “My labor law professor encouraged me to apply for a law clerk position with the California state department responsible for negotiating state contracts and I continued to work for public institutions that are represented by unions.” Simmons decided to return to the community college fold after several years as an independent contractor because she missed the full complement of work heading a human resources department. She was “intrigued” by the Grossmont-Cuyamaca district’s job description of working in a collaborative, respectful culture. Simmons said she is a firm believer in interest-based negotiation – more of a win-win tactic to bargaining than the zero-sum approach sometimes associated with labor negotiations. “The steps include understanding perspective, that everyone comes to the table with both history and a story,” she said. “We need to look at what has and hasn’t worked and, and acknowledge the key stakeholders and their interests. The next steps involve brainstorming options to meet identified interests, and crafting a mutually satisfactory solution. Key to these discussions is focusing on the problem, not personalities, and interests versus positions. Ultimately, this perspective helps negotiators address needs in a mutually satisfactory manner.” Less than two weeks at her new job, Simmons was already in the process of developing the framework for an extensive human resources plan, a district accreditation requirement. “Everyone I have met has been welcoming and helpful,” she said. “A common theme from my interviews was how much the district cares about its employees and what great a place GCCCD is because of the people. I have found this to be true from the first few minutes on the job and as I continue to meet people.” Simmons lives near Petco Park in the East Village. She is married to Paul Richman and they have “wickedly smart” border collie. Passionate travelers, the couple has visited 19 countries and last year, retraced Simmons’ grandfather’s landing at Omaha Beach in Normandy.
OVERTURNED TRASH TRUCK SNARLS TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY 94 IN LEMON GROVE
July 19, 2012 (Lemon Grove) – A SIG ALERT has been issued for eastbound Highway 94, where an overturned trash truck is blocking access to northbound SR-125. “It was an EDCO trash truck laying on its side with its wheels pointed south,” El Cajon Councilman Gary Kendrick told ECM, who drove past the incident moments ago. The driver was ejected, ECM news partner 10 News reports His condition is unknown; cause of the crash remains under investigation. Sign up to receive free Viejas Wildfire and Emergency Alerts via email at the top right side of our homepage and also receive a free weekly copy of East County Magazine. You can also get brief text alerts on your mobile device by following ViejasAlerts on Twitter. We recommend all of the above, since you can’t know what forms of communication will work best during a major regional emergency.
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: SNOWFALL AT MCCAIN VALLEY
July 19, 2012 (McCain Valley) – Tom Klimek of Lemon Grove shared these photos that he took of McCain Valley “as few have seen it,” blanketed in snow, isolated in its pristine beauty. “On March 18, 2012 I drove to Laguna Mountain and then to McCain to enjoy the late winter storm that brought wind, rain, hail, and snow to the East County,” he wrote. “McCain Valley Road begins at about 3200 feet elevation and rises to 4500 feet near the end of the road. There were no tracks in the snow as me and my son drove all the way to Cottonwood camp.” His son had been there ten years earlier, but never when the road was covered with snow. “Casey was a little apprehensive,” he recalls, but concludes, “It was an epic trip and day.” These photos depict the area as it may never ben again; this valley has been slated to become the Tule Wind Farm, with over a hundred 50-story-high wind turbines that may soon dominate the landscape on this public recreation area on Bureau of Land Management property.