CONCERT AT WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN AUGUST 11
August 3, 2012 (El Cajon) – Rose & the Nightingale’s concert Spirit of the Garden will be held August 11, at 7 p.m. at the Water Conservation Garden Amphitheater, 12122 Cuyamaca College Dr. West, El Cajon. Rose & the Nightingale is a New York City based quartet of world-class improvising vocalists and instrumentalists. Spirit of the Garden blurs the boundaries of world music, folk and jazz improvisation for a unique sound. The tickets are $18 general; $20 at the door and $12 for youth 12 and under. Visit www.thegarden.org for tickets and further information. On the day of the concert there will also be an Optional Youth Haiku Workshop from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Members of the quartet will spend two hours with visitors, ages 8-18, encouraging them to think and reflect on The Garden and transform that into poetry. The fee for the workshop and concert is $12.
SAN DIEGO STARS TO COMPETE IN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION; HOLD PRACTICES IN RAMONA
Team is scouting for new players August 10, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)–The San Diego Stars semipro baseball team has been invited to participate in the Grand Forks International Baseball Classic in British Columbia, Canada, to be held over Labor Day weekend. Since many members of the Stars are returning to college at this time, Stars owner/head coach Mickey Deutschman is seeking quality ballplayers — former or current professional and independent league participants, players from colleges which have yet to begin its school year, and other experienced players — to join the Stars for one of the world’s best-known international baseball events. Professional scouts will also be attending the tournament, slated from Aug. 29 to Sept. 3. The Stars will be conducting practices over the final three Saturdays of this month (Aug. 11, 18 and 25) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., all at Stars Field, located six miles south of Ramona on the Barona Indian Reservation along Wildcat Canyon Road (behind Barona Museum). For further information, contact the Stars at (619) 449-4314.
READER’S EDITORIAL: CALIFORNIA TO BUSINESSES – ‘HERE’S YOUR HAT, WHAT’S YOUR HURRY?’
By Assemblyman Brian Jones August 10, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)–Have you ever sat down with friends to enjoy a meal at a restaurant, only to be handed the bill before you have even taken your first bite? Maybe the server mentioned you could pay at your convenience, but still signaled that it was “time to go?” In other words: “Here’s your hat, what’s your hurry?” If you’re a small business owner in California you can probably sympathize with this social scenario – you enjoy all that California has to offer – the beautiful weather, magnificent landscapes, and diverse culture make this a great place to live, but you are getting some not-so-subtle signs that it may be time for you to pack your bags. Rather than being the “land of opportunity,” the Golden State has become an expert in “showing people the door.” According to a recent two-month survey of more than 6,000 business owners nationwide by Thumbtack.com, small business owners put California near the bottom of the list of states that have a very hostile business environment. Not surprisingly, these same business owners gave California an “F” grade for business friendliness. Here’s why: California has the highest sales tax in the nation at 7.25%, the second highest gas tax in the nation, and business owners currently pay the highest income tax rate in the country. To make matters worse, California has the highest corporate tax rate in the West at 8.84% and has an out-of control lawsuit climate. The result is that California’s economy has virtually ground to a halt. For evidence, look no further than right here in San Diego, where 9 major companies have submitted notices this year alerting State officials of roughly 730 layoffs. Are these companies, which include such heavy-hitters as Lockheed Martin, Yahoo!, and Sony Electronics looking to stimulate the economy elsewhere? Maybe, but what is certain is that they are bidding goodbye to our local community. The bottom line is, whenever a company shuts down, downsizes, or fails to expand, California loses billions of dollars in revenue that could help provide services to those who are truly in need. It also curtails investment in our schools, and instead places education at risk of being hit with devastating trigger cuts. I envision a California that could lead the nation when it comes to economic recovery. Instead, we are showing businesses the door, and lest anyone thinks that means some faceless executive, we must remember it’s our neighbor or member of our family. It’s the small business owner who has been crushed by California regulations. My Democrat colleagues insist that extracting more money from hardworking taxpayers is what will turn things around, but in truth, the private sector is what will generate economic recovery. Higher taxes are never good, but in a recession they equal more misery, and will stifle growth and opportunities for everyone. Small business owners are earnestly looking for some signs that they are welcome in California – I have personally spoken to many who are being advised to “get out while you can.” It’s about time we turn the “Keep Out” sign into a “Welcome Mat”. California is a beautiful state, but aesthetics alone aren’t powerful enough to skirt our dismal economic climate. Let’s keep the door open for job creation … permanently. Assemblyman Brian Jones, R-Santee, represents the 77th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Alpine, Borrego Springs, Bostonia, Casa de Oro – Mount Helix, Crest, El Cajon, Granite Hills, Harbison Canyon, Jamul, La Mesa, Lakeside, Ramona, Rancho San Diego, San Diego, San Diego Country Estates, Santee and Winter Gardens. The opinions 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.
SAN DIEGO WINE COUNTRY FESTIVAL AUGUST 11
August 10, 2012 (San Diego) – The San Diego Wine Country Festival will be held at Bernardo Winery on August 11 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Meet the winemakers of San Diego County in one location and sample 10 different wines. Bernardo Winery is located at 13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte, San Diego. Tickets are $25 online at www.brownpapertickets.com or $30 at the door. Each admission includes 10 wines, tasting glass, baguettes, and oil and vinegar. Visit http://bernardowinery.com/ for more information.
EVACUATIONS ORDERED IN CHIHUAHUA VALLEY; FIRE NOW 900 ACRES
August 9, 2012 (Warner Springs)–Reverse 911/AlertSanDiego contacted residents in Chihuahua Valley at 10 p.m. to tell them sheriff’s deputies would be conducting mandatory evacuations due to the Chihuahua Fire. Residents need to be prepared to evacuate when called upon by deputies to do so. Residents will be able to evacuate to Warner Springs High School at 30951 State Route 79. Large animals will be able to evacuate to Love Acre Ranch at 35490 State Route 79. All residents are asked to remain aware of their surroundings and to stay tuned to local radio and television stations for updates. If you require emergency assistance with evacuating or have another emergency call 911. For all other information call 211. During the night, you can watch for updates at the County Emergency website at http://www.sdcountyemergency.com/. Also sign up for free Viejas Wildfire & Emergency Alerts at the top right side of our homepage. Cal Fire has indicated that lightning is the likely cause of this fire. For a fascinating history of Chihuahua Valley, located near Warner Springs and Sunshine Summit, visit http://www.chihuahuavalley.net/localhistory.html
HOT INLAND FRIDAY WITH MINOR COOLING OVER THE WEEKEND
TWO FIRES MERGE IN WARNER SPRINGS AREA, EVACUATION CENTER OPENED
Update 9:05 p.m. – 6 airtankers and 6 helicopters have been ordered for first light in the morning. Update 8:40 p.m. : The Chihuahua Fire is now 900 acres and 0% contained. There are 31 engines, 12 fire crews, 4 water tenders, and 3 bulldozers and approximately 230 firefighters. More resources have been ordered, says Cal Fire’s Roxanne Provaznik. August 9, 2012 (Warner Springs) – The Chihuahua Fire near Warner Springs has swelled to 275 acres and may soon merge with another blaze, the West Branch Fire, near Santa Ysabel, ECM has learned. Reverse 911 calls have gone out and residents in Chihuahua Valley are advised to shelter in place but be prepared to evacuate. An evacuation center has been set up at Warner Springs High School, 30951 Highway 79. There are no immediate structure threats, but residents should monitor this fire through the night. Chihuahua Valley Road is impassable at the three-mile marker and the fire has jumped Chihuahua Valley Road in multiple places, Cal Fire reports. Lightning is believed to be the cause of the blaze. This area has not had any significant fires, since the 2002 Coyote Fire several miles east of the area, according to a post at the Wildland Firefighters forum. The area has “very limited access, one way in & out, no good water supplies and 50+ homes scattered around with flashy fuels,” the post continues. More info: Maps: http://pro.scribblemaps.com/#lat=33….errain&y=0&p=0 Online Scanner: http://www.radioreference.com/apps/a…wp&feedId=9733 Cal Fire San Diego Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/CALFIRESANDIEGO Sign up to receive free Viejas Wildfire & Emergency Alerts 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 don’t know what will work best in a major regional emergency.
CATALOG CHOICE TO AWARD CUSTOMIZED WASTE-REDUCTION PROGRAM TO SELECTED CALIFORNIA MUNICIPALITIES
BERKELEY, CALIF. (August 6, 2012) – Catalog Choice, through its Catalog Choice for Communities program, helps municipalities and their residents reduce paper waste and save costs on garbage collection and disposal. The nationally acclaimed zero-waste initiative has just announced a new effort to enable more communities to fulfill their plans to reduce waste by offering those that excel in educating and engaging their citizens about sustainability initiatives a waiver of the first-year fee for selected communities. Catalog Choice for Communities is designed to empower county and city governments to reduce waste, save money and rid consumers of junk mail by stopping it at the source. Municipalities benefit not only from the waste diversion, but also from the galvanization of its citizens by a common irritant – junk mail. Partners in the program are able to measure their engagement with the community through customized reporting detailing the impact of the program including citizen participation, solid waste diversion, CO2 reductions and other environmental benefits. “We’ve seen immense success with Catalog Choice for Communities over the past year and a half and we know how critical it is for our partner communities to promote the program and really get their constituents involved,” said Chuck Teller, Chief Strategy Officer, TrustedID. “We don’t want the cost to stop exceptional communities from participating. We are excited to help more California communities get started by waiving the annual fee for the first year.” San Jose, Berkeley, Santa Monica and Pasadena, are among the California-based partners participating in the nationwide program, which now encompasses more than 15 communities across the country. Communities that work with Catalog Choice stop five times more unsolicited mail at the source than others in the U.S. “The way that Catalog Choice works is that it’s an online portal where consumers can sign up for free to opt out of the junk mail that they no longer wish to receive. Users register and then select which companies they do not wish to receive mail from, so that they can continue to receive the mail they want but save money, paper, and time on the mail that they do not want,” said Emily Schneider with Catalog Choice. “When communities partner with Catalog Choice, Catalog Choice then provides them with a tailored website hosted on catalogchoice.org, where residents can opt-out of unwanted mail. Summary reports by zip code are shared by Catalog Choice on citizen participation, solid waste diversion, CO2 reductions and other environmental benefits. Communities that work with Catalog Choice stop five times more unsolicited mail at the source than others in the U.S”. California communities interested in applying for Catalog Choice for Communities with a fee waiver can do so by filling out the application at http://catalogchoice.wufoo.com/forms/catalog-choice-for-communities-application/. All entries must be received by August 31, 2012. For more information on Catalog Choice, visit www.catalogchoice.org or follow Catalog Choice on Facebook and Twitter. About Catalog Choice, a TrustedID company Founded in 2007 to provide consumers greater control over the marketing materials that enter their mailboxes, Catalog Choice, a Trusted ID company, is the world’s largest preference and privacy portal. Since its launch, Catalog Choice has connected more than 1.5 million consumers with 4,200 direct marketing companies to process over 20 million suppression requests through free membership services, Catalog Choice for Communities partnerships and MailStop™ solutions—including MailStop Mobile, MailStop Envelopes and MailStop Shield. By reducing unwanted mail and phone books, Catalog Choice’s free and low-cost services reduce deforestation, greenhouse gases, solid waste and water consumption. Catalog Choice is part of TrustedID’s suite of services designed to protect consumer privacy, credit and identities. For more information, visit www.catalogchoice.org. Follow Catalog Choice on Facebook and Twitter.
BRUSH FIRES IN PALOMAR AND OCEANSIDE; CHIHUAHUA FIRE NOW 100 ACRES
Update 6 p.m. – The Chihuahua Fire is now in the Warner Springs area, threatening to jump firelines, Cal Fire reports. The blaze is 125 acres. August 9, 2012 – A major brush fire at Highway 79 and Chihuahua Valley Road in the Poway area is now more than 100 acres. The likely cause was a lightning strike, Cal Fire reports. Traffic control is in effect with access limited to residents only. A second fire just south of the Chihuahua Fire is now 25 acres in size, spreading rapidly. Additional strike teams and crews have been dispatched to the scene. In addition, a brush fire at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside is burning in a heavy stand of trees, with smoke affecting traffic on I-5. Sign up to receive free Viejas Wildfire and Emergency Alerts via email at the top right side of our homepage, and also get a free copy of East County Magazine. You can also get free brief text alerts on your mobile by following ViejasAlerts on Twitter. We recommend all of the above, since you don’t know what will work best in a major regional emergency.