HOMECOMING PLANNED THURSDAY FOR EAST LAKE LITTLE LEAGUE STARS
By Derek Carlyon August 28, 2013 (Otay) — At the start of Little League season, every young player dreams of earning a trip to Williamsport, Pennsylvania to play in the Little League World Series. For 12 young players from San Diego’s own Eastlake Little League in Otay, that dream became a reality. On Thursday at 6 p.m., a big homecoming is planned for the U.S. champion Eastlake All Stars team at the Sleep Train Amphitheatre. The team coasted through the early goings of the tournament, highlighted by Grant Holman, towering 6 feet, 4 inches tall, throwing a no-hitter. Micah Pietila-Wiggs established himself as a top hitter in the tourney when they faced a Westport, Connecticut team in the U.S. final. The winner of that game would go on to play a team from Tokyo, Japan to decide who would be crowned World Series champion. Nick Mora was the star for Eastlake, showing his dominance on the mound early and only giving up one run through five and two-thirds innings. He also belted a three-run homerun. Along with good defense and dominant hitting, Eastlake cruised to a 12-1 victory. That set up a big finale with Japan. The Japanese team had played good fundamental baseball all tournament long. On the mound for Eastlake was Holman, who just five days earlier had thrown a no hitter. After both teams scored two runs in the first inning, Japan’s Shunpei Takagi led off the third inning with a solo home run, breaking the tie. That would be the first of his two home runs, the second coming in the fifth inning after Giancarlo Cortez singled in Jake Espinoza and Nick Mora to give Eastlake the lead in the inning prior. After Takagi’s game trying homer in the fifth, his teammates rallied for two more runs later in the inning. That two run deficit proved to be too much for Eastlake, and Japan ultimately came out on top 6-4. There were some long faces and tears in the Eastlake dugout after the game, but Coach Rick Tibbett put it in perspective. “It’s baseball you know. You lose. You win. We will be playing baseball next weekend,” the coach concluded.
EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS
August 28, 2013 (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 Man who killed SDSU administrator sentenced (10 News) Padre Dam Board approves full advanced water treatment demonstration project ( Padre Dam Municipal Water District) Cleaning up the Sunroad Mess (Voice of San Diego) Parks worker to file claim against Filner (U-T San Diego) Domestic violence aide accuses Filner (U-T SanDiego) Is Filner settlement a good deal? (by Barry Jantz, SD Rostra) AG’s Office: Criminal Probe Into Filner Under Way (Voice of San Diego) Filner wasn’t the only mayoral candidate with sexual issue (Voice of San Diego) Helix Water to raise rates for two years (U-T) Brett Anderson: DNA tests ‘ridiculous’ (U-T) Calif. girl: I texted with kidnapper, didn’t call(U-T) Nuclear waste pools under scrutiny (U-T) Assemblyman Jones’ office admits to “minor mistake” on crime-immigration bill (Santee Patch) STATE Yosemite fire keeps growing, threatening giant sequoias (+video) Yosemite fire burns area size of Chicago, threatens homes (CNN) California Committee Delays Acting On Fracking Regulation Bill (KPBS) California governor proposes $315 million plan to ease prison overcrowding(Reuters) For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down. LOCAL Man who killed SDSU administrator sentenced (10 News) A handyman who bludgeoned a San Diego State University administrator to death when she tried to break off their romantic relationship was sentenced Monday to 16 years to life in state prison. Paul Carl Tomasini, 65, pleaded guilty last month to second-degree murder in the killing last Sept. 30 of Mary Shojai, who was the director of student disability services at SDSU. Padre Dam Board approves full advanced water treatment demonstration project ( Padre Dam Municipal Water District) The Project will take Padre Dam’s recycled water through three additional steps as part of the Full Advanced Water Treatment process…[and] is the next step in determining the feasibility of the Santee Basin Groundwater Recharge and Replenishment Project (GRRP) and creating a reliable local water supply for the Santee community. Cleaning up the Sunroad Mess (Voice of San Diego) It’s been almost two weeks since Mayor Bob Filner announced he had returned a $100,000 donation from Sunroad Centrum Partners after learning one of his top staffers secured the donation in exchange for the mayor’s agreement to drop his veto of a City Council-approved easement for the developer’s Kearny Mesa project….Here are answers to some lingering questions on how the deal unfolded, what the feds might be looking into and how this could all play out. Parks worker to file claim against Filner (U-T San Diego) A city parks employee will file a claim against Filner this morning, saying he grabbed her from behind, put her into a headlock and rubbed her breasts at a city park. Domestic violence aide accuses Filner (U-T SanDiego) San Diego Mayor Bob Filner grabbed a domestic violence advocate by the head to kiss her forehead and groped at a name tag on her chest, according to attorney Dan Gilleon, who is representing the woman. Is Filner settlement a good deal? (by Barry Jantz, SD Rostra) Is the City of San Diego agreement with Bob Filner a good deal for taxpayers? AG’s Office: Criminal Probe Into Filner Under Way (Voice of San Diego) Despite his resignation, Mayor Bob Filner remains the subject of a criminal investigation by the California attorney general’s office. Filner wasn’t the only mayoral candidate with sexual issue (Voice of San Diego) …there never has been a public accounting of how during 2009 DeMaio allegedly would leave the San Diego City Council dais during meetings to masturbate in a men’s room — events known by elected officials and suspected by members of the media. Helix Water to raise rates for two years (U-T) The board overseeing water service for 268,000 customers voted 3-2 to hike fees. Brett Anderson: DNA tests ‘ridiculous’ (U-T) James DiMaggio’s sister is asking for a paternity test for him and the Anderson children. Calif. girl: I texted with kidnapper, didn’t call(U-T) The 16-year-old California girl who was kidnapped by a family friend clarified some details Thursday about her relationship with her kidnapper, including that they exchanged texts beforehand, not phone calls as police have said, and that they wrote each other letters a year ago when she wasn’t getting along with her mother Nuclear waste pools under scrutiny (U-T) Nuclear industry, San Onofre in no hurry to empty cooling pools for nuclear waste. Assemblyman Jones’ office admits to “minor mistake” on crime-immigration bill (Santee Patch) Assemblyman Brian Jones added the TRUST Act to his “Are You Kidding Me” segment, but his office failed to get all the facts straight. The bill would dictate how long law enforcement can detain a person in the country illegally for federal officials. STATE Yosemite fire keeps growing, threatening giant sequoias (+video) (CS Monitor) — The Yosemite fire grew to more than 200 square miles Sunday, threatening two groves of giant sequoias. More than 2,800 firefighters are battling the blaze, which is just seven percent contained Yosemite fire burns area size of Chicago, threatens homes (CNN) A massive northern California wildfire that’s threatening Yosemite National Park and San Francisco’s key water and power sources grew Monday, becoming the 13th largest in state history, state fire authorities said. The Rim Fire, which has devoured 160,980 acres, has scorched an area about the size of the city of Chicago while more than 3,600 firefighters try to rein it in. California Committee Delays Acting On Fracking Regulation Bill (KPBS) A California Assembly committee has punted on a bill which would require companies engaged in hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, to share information about the chemicals they use. California governor proposes $315 million plan to ease prison overcrowding(Reuters) California Governor Jerry Brown, facing a federal court order to ease overcrowding in the state’s prison system, proposed a $315 million plan on Tuesday to expand inmate capacity by leasing space from county jails
SDSU OFFERS PARKING AND TRAFFIC TIPS FOR A SAFER AND EASIER COMMUTE TO CAMPUS
August 28, 2013 (San Diego) – San Diego State University is back to school, welcoming nearly 8,000 new students to campus. For an easier and less stressful commute starting the first day of the fall semester, August 26, SDSU offers the following parking and traffic tips. San Diego State University Parking Services will implement the SDSU Traffic Management Plan for fall 2013 with staffing from multiple agencies to assist faculty, staff, students and the College Area community with traffic flow, directions and parking. For an easier and less stressful commute on the first day of the fall semester, SDSU offers the following parking and traffic tips. Traffic control Beginning Aug. 26 and through the first couple of weeks of classes, traffic controllers will be directing the flow of traffic from 7 a.m. to noon, Monday through Thursday. Electronic and posted signs will provide information about lots or structures that are full and staff will be available to direct traffic to the next available parking location. According to Parking Services, during the first few days of classes peak traffic congestion hours are 7:30 to 10 a.m. Those who arrive after 10 a.m. should consider parking in Parking Structures 3 and 6 on the east side of campus, which are typically the last to fill. Campus permits and parking No grace period exists for parking permits which are required at all times on campus. Temporary permits are available at yellow pay machines. Parking permits are sold at the SDSU Bookstore, University Police Department (Parking Services) and the Cashier’s Office. An SDSU Faculty/Staff (F/S) permit is always required when utilizing F/S spaces. The SDSU parking map displays all campus parking lots and structures, yellow pay machine locations, construction areas and different routes for entering and exiting the university. For questions and more information, call SDSU Parking Services at (619) 594-6671. Campus shuttles and escorts The SDSU Red and Black Shuttle runs from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday during the fall and spring semesters. The Library Shuttle runs from 10:45 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., Sunday through Thursday during the fall and spring semesters. The Campus Escort Service is available 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., every day when classes are in session. SDSU Police Officers and Community Service Officers can provide an escort to any location on campus. Students, faculty and staff can request this free service by calling 619-594-6659. Public Transportation Trolley and bus stops throughout San Diego allow commuters to park and ride directly to campus. Trolley schedules and bus routes are available at the Open Air Theatre Information Booth and discounted monthly and semester student passes are available at the Viejas Arena Ticket Office. Sustainable transportation Commuters may also choose to park off-campus and bike to SDSU. Follow the red-stained concrete that marks SDSU’s on-campus bike lane. Note that city streets immediately surrounding the campus are designated “B” parking zones and require a city-issued permit. SDSU also has several Blink electric vehicle charging stations on campus. If you become a member, vehicle chargers are located at several spots around campus: Parking Structure 4, level 1 Parking Structure 5, level 1 Parking Structure 8, level 1 G Lot E Lot at the Child Care Center and between Parking Structures 3 and 6 The university has also added Car2Go with charging stations in G Lot. You can register for this service online. Construction areas and closures The new Aztec Student Union is projected to be completed in the spring of 2014. Because of construction, the Aztec Circle Drive entrance off of College Avenue is closed. Aztec Circle Drive is not authorized for normal use, those needing Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access may enter at Canyon Crest Drive near W Lot or off of Aztec Circle Drive and Hilltop way near L Lot. Construction updates for Aztec Student Union are available online. Renovation of the two Storm and Nasatir Halls continues and is expected to be completed in January 2014. Those needing to access the West side of campus should be alert to the closure of W Lot. There an operational pay permit station in the W Lot located directly adjacent to Parking Structure 4 on the northeast corner. There is also a pay permit machine in Parking Structure 4, level 8. You can watch the construction of Storm and Nasatir Halls unfold online. The O and P Lots remain closed to parking in order to accommodate the relocation of classrooms for the Storm and Nasatir Halls renovation. The Q Lot is a visitor-only lot and has been expanded to serve guests who need to access parking for surrounding facilities.
COMMUNITY BICYLE RODEO IN LA MESA AUGUST 31
August 28, 2013 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa Human Relations Commission and La Mesa Walk-n-Roll Safe Routes Program is sponsoring a bicycle skills event designed to teach children the skills they need in order to be better cyclists. By learning bike handling and traffic skills, one can enjoy bicycling more and reduce the chance of injury. Children of all ages are invited to attend the Bicycle Rodeo on Saturday, August 31 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Nan Couts Cottage located at 5045 Memorial Drive, La Mesa, CA 91942. This event is made up of a series of stations, each one dealing with an important aspect of safe cycling. Participants will have their bicycles inspected by professionals from Performance Bicycle and will then learn about and practice bicycle-handling skills that will increase their enjoyment of bicycling. Bicycle safety education will be taught by the San Diego Bicycle Coalition and La Mesa Police Department. The event will wrap up with refreshments provided by the La Mesa Lions Club, and a raffle for two new bicycles with helmets. Participants must bring their own bicycle and helmet.
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
August 28, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) — A flash flood warning is in effect until 4:15 p.m. for east central San Diego County. Heavy rain and thunderstorms are occurring in and around the Chariot Fire burn area. Doppler radar estimates up to 0.6 inches of rain has fallen in the burn area in about 30 minutes this afternoon. This is well in excess of U.S. G.S. thresholds for debris flows from this burn scar. Roads, trails and campgrounds located along drainages within or below the burned basins can be impacted by flash floods and debris flows. This includes areas along Highway S-2 and the great Southern Overland Stage route as wel as the Butterfield Ranch area. Residents and motorists in and below recently burned areas should be alert to heavy mud and debris flows which may block roads and culverts. Potentially dangerous flooding and property loss could result in areas where runoff is restricted or blocked. Additional rainfall amounts of one inch or more are possible in the warned area.
SDCL ACOUSTIC SHOWCASE CONCERT SERIES – SEPTEMBER CONCERTS
August 28, 2013 – The fall series of the San Diego County Library Acoustic Showcase begins in September with 3 East County concerts throughout the month. The Showcase series offers a variety of San Diego’s best singer/songwriters, folk music performers and story tellers. The concerts are free to the community. The Lovebirds will perform on September 8 at 2 p.m. at the El Cajon Branch, 201 E. Douglas St. Their music is closely related in style to duos like The Weepies or She & Him. They will melt your heart with sweet guitar/ukulele riffs, graceful harmonies and lyrics that testify to the unshakable power of love. Shelby & Tieg will perform on September 14 at 2 p.m. at the Poway Branch, 13137 Poway Rd. They are a singing/songwriting folk duo reminiscent of Simon & Garfunkel. Yael & Vlady will perform on September 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Lemon Grove Branch, 3001 School Ln. They are described by most as a gypsy experience with a style that evokes rock’n’roll, blues, European setbacks and pop music. For more information visit http://sdcls.homestead.com/.
SAN DIEGO CIVIC CRISIS: WHERE DOES THE GREEN SECTOR GO FROM HERE? SEPT. 26
August 28, 2013 (San Diego) – Green Experts Academy is holding a forum to discuss what will become of the Green Vision for the City of San Diego and the region as the city transitions to another Mayoral election and administration. It will be held on September 26 from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Cricket Communications Inc. Headquarters 5887 Copley Dr., San Diego. Join Green leaders, experts and candidates for a discussion of our renewable energy, jobs and sustainability plan for the future. What challenges do we face? How do we move forward? Tickets are $23 each and can be purchased here.
FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL URGES SERVICE TO COMMUNITY AT GLOBAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
“Leaders inspire people to reach beyond themselves.”—Former Secretary of State Colin Powell By Janis Mork September 5, 2013 (La Mesa)- More than 500 people gathered at Journey Community Church in La Mesa on August 8 and 9 to watch a videocast of the 10th annual Global Leadership Summit broadcast from Willow Creek Church in Illinois to over 300 host sites in 100 countries. Bill Yaccino, Connection and Formation Pastor at Journey Community Church, hosted the event. One of the most well-known speakers to address the global audience was General Colin Powell. He was the senior level adviser to four U.S. presidents, a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, National Security Advisor, and served as the 65th U.S. Secretary of State. He served in the Army for 35 years and was a four-star general. He is also founder of the not-for-profit organization America’s Promise Alliance, as well as the Colin L. Powell Center for Leadership and Service at his alma matter, City College of New York. “I was raised in an immigrant family,” General Powell said of his Jamaican roots. “I’ve never forgotten where I came from. Leadership is getting people out of science and management, having a vision that goes towards a purpose. Leaders inspire people to reach beyond themselves…You have to constantly show people that they are important. Leadership, in my model, is all about followship. It’s investing the people to get it done. That’s what I tried to practice all my life.” He added that “trust is the glue” that holds an organization together.” Pastor Bill Hybels from Willow Creek Community Church interviewed Powell. Hybels: “Were you ever a part of any racial discrimination?” Powell: “Yes, but I came along as the nation really made historic rules. I entered the army in 1954.” After graduating from the ROTC- Reserves Officer Training Corps, he added, he was selected as a Brigadier General in the 1970s. Some other people in the army wanted to know why he got picked, he recalled. “I did the best I could.” Hybels: “You’ve come up with a lot of proverbs in your leadership. ‘It’ll look different in the morning.’” Powell: “I use that all the time because we go to bed, having a bad day. I told my troops, ‘We’re going to make it better.’” Hybels: “‘Get mad and get over it.’” Powell: “Mad is a human emotion. Just get mad and get over it.” Hybels: “What’s a red flag in an emerging leader?” Powell: “Ego. No one taught them humbleness etc.” Hybels: “‘Tell me early.’” Powell: “Problem solving is what leaders do. Tell me the problem early. Then I’ll give you guidance.” Raised in the Episcopal Church, Powell also spoke about his faith. “I have been fortunate in serving others,” he said. Powell served as youth minister, and his church adopted a school with mostly minority students, teaching them math and science and hosting pool parties in the summers. “Kids at my church get to know these kids,” he recalled. “That’s what Jesus calls us to do.” Asked what advice he would offer to preachers and pastors, Powell urged that lessons be relevant to today’s world. He said pastors should “challenge people” to serve others. “Challenges are a part of life.” A later speaker was Bob Goff, author of Love Does, founding partner in the law firm Goff and DeWalt, and Honorary Consul for the Republic of Uganda to the U.S. He is an entrepreneurial leader who established Restore International and the Restore Academy, giving a voice to oppressed children and the poorest of the poor. He has been laboring with the Uganda judiciary to bring over 200 cases involving exploitation of children to trial and has also been a driving force behind legal intervention for more than 50 child prostitution cases in India. Shauna Niequist, Pastor Hybels’ daughter and an author, introduced Goff. “Figure out what’s the right stuff to do. Ask what Jesus made you to do and then do lots of that,” he said, then gave a startling example. In Uganda, he learned of child sacrifices practiced by witch doctors; 863 kids in the last year have gone missing. He then told the story of a Ugandan boy, whom he called “Charlie,” and said the child’s kidnapper met with Goff in jail and accepted Jesus in his heart. Learn more about Goff at http://bobgoff.com. Pastor Ed Noble (pictured) of Journey told ECM that it took many volunteers to organize the Summit, and that attendance has increased each year. “This is the biggest one we’ve ever had.” Francine Phillips told ECM that the Summit locally now includes 42 organizations and non-profits. At Journey Church, members take to heart their mission to serve the community. Journey maintains a food bank, the Twice-Treasured Thrift Store, and puts on summer camps at its La Mesa campus, as well as in Tecate and Haiti. Members also volunteer in foster homes and retirement centers. Pastor Noble said that for parishioners witnessing suffering in their community, “That’s not God’s will.”