RAIN FORECAST MID-WEEK
By Miriam Raftery Some much-needed rain is forecast for Wednesday night and Thursday in San Diego County as a cold front from Alaska brings cooler weather and showers. The National Weather Service warns of hazardous weather conditions in desert areas due to gusty winds. Watch for blowing dust and sands, with a possibility of severe dust storms. In mountain areas, snow is forecast down to 6,000 feet, which includes Mount Laguna and Palomar Mountain. Rains will be mostly light, but heaviest along the coastal area.
LA MESA WOMAN STABS BOYFRIEND AFTER BEING CHOKED, POLICE SAY
March 24, 2014 (La Mesa)–On March 24 at 5:19 am, La Mesa Police were notified by Grossmont Hospital staff that a stab victim had just been brought into the hospital. Minutes before the hospital report, La Mesa Police received reports of a disturbance at a residence in the 3800 block of Murray Hill Drive, La Mesa. When officers arrived on Murray Hill, they determined the two incidents were related and the stabbing was believed to be in self defense. It was later determined that the 26 year-old female victim and the 20 year-old suspect, Blaine Arellano, resided together and recently ended their dating relationship. The female victim had been bitten and struck by the suspect earlier in the morning while they were inside their residence. At one point, the suspect grabbed the victim and began choking her. While being choked, the victim grabbed a knife and stabbed him in the arm, according to Police. The victim was transported to a local hospital for evaluation and is expected to make a full recovery. The suspect received two stab wounds to his right arm. He was treated and released. The suspect, Blaine Arellano, was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and domestic violence causing injury. He was booked at San Diego County Jail.
HOST OF EAST COUNTY MAGAZINE’S BOOKSHELF RADIO SHOW DISCUSSES, DRAMATIZES AND SIGNS NOVEL, SILENT BIRD, AT CASA DE ORO LIBRARY MARCH 29
Event is free and open to the public March 24, 2014 (Casa de Oro)–Reina Lisa Menasche, radio host for East County Magazine’s “Bookshelf” radio program on KNSJ, 89.1 FM, will discuss, dramatize, and sign her new novel, Silent Bird, at the Casa de Oro Library on Saturday, March 29 at 10 a.m. Reina Menasche calls her first love “writing fiction,” though she fulfills many other artistic and professional roles. In addition to hosting “Bookshelf” (highlighting “local literary luminaries—and some great books to read!”), she is also a social worker, university instructor, and actress. Her first novel, Twice Begun, was a finalist in the 2013 San Diego Book Awards, and her new novel, Silent Bird, won the Outstanding Fiction Award from the Southern California Writers Conference in 2009. Her other fiction has also been recognized in contests by organizations such as the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild. One of Reina’s original educational plays, The Brain Game, was the recipient of an Innovative Grant by the First 5 Commission of San Diego. She has performed in theatres and festivals throughout San Diego for the last twenty years. Reina’s blog, “Life Goes On—and We Just Try to Keep Up” can be found at www.reinamenasche.com. “As a social worker I’ve witnessed quite a few issues that have resonated with me or touched my heart,” says Menasche. “My newest novel, Silent Bird, arose out of my work with Children’s Protective Services. Specifically, I recall feeling shocked at how prevalent sexual abuse was in the histories of my teen clients—and how devastating the experience continued to be as these kids (girls mostly) transitioned into adults seeking true intimacy. I thought: what will happen when one of these girls falls in love, and feels cherished? Will the sexual trauma ever heal? What makes someone heal, or decide to heal? How do we know love from lust or habit or manipulation when we’re young and trying to figure out who we are? Well, from all this, Silent Bird was born. The book—definitely a love story—takes place in the South of France and is also a story of cultural conflict and identity.” One reader posts on Amazon: “This is a powerful, nuanced, and rich coming-of-age story about a young woman developing individuality and strength, and in the process, strengthening the man she loves, and ultimately creating something beautiful.” Menasche’s first novel, Twice Begun, likewise explored psychological themes of distrust and betrayal as well as the healing powers of human nature. In addition to discussing and reading from the book, Menasche and two other local actors will dramatize a scene from the novel. All are welcome for a stimulating and fun morning! For more information, visit www.ReinaMenasche.com. LOCATION: CASA DE ORO LIBRARY 9805 Campo Rd., #180 Spring Valley, CA 91977 (619) 463-3236
HOW SAFE OUR OUR SCHOOLS? SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY CALLS FOR STRONGER SCHOOL SECURITY
By Miriam Raftery March 24, 2014 (San Diego)—Mass school shootings have occurred around the nation—including tragedies locally at Santana and Granite Hills High Schools in East County, as well as at Carlsbad Elementary School and at Cleveland Elementary in San Diego. Now the San Diego Grand Jury has issued a report finding that not enough has been done to prevent future school shootings locally. The Grand Jury is calling for improving school security and says that low cost options need to be considered. Plans for keeping school children safe should give greater emphasis to early identification of potentially violent individuals and training students, school staff and parents to recognize and report suspicious behavior, the Grand Jury found. At both Sandy Hook and Santana High, the shooter was a student who had exhibited a clear pattern of behavior that indicated he was capable of violence. These and other no-cost or low-cost actions can be taken by schools and school districts to strengthen their security planning and preparedness, even in an era of tight budgets. While they should not be abandoned, the report stresses that physical barriers such as fences, metal detectors, surveillance cameras and even armed guards do not necessarily prevent violence, and should be viewed as a supplement to, but not a substitute for, a more comprehensive school safety program. Instead of buying more hardware, monies might be better spent on prevention efforts and creating a county-wide culture of security awareness. A strong security culture can help avoid complacency and flawed assumptions that a violent attack might happen somewhere else, but not here in our community. In reviewing several past incidents of school violence, the Grand Jury found that most perpetrators signal their intentions in advance, and in one case as many as 50 people (including two adults) were aware of the plan but failed to alert authorities to the danger. The Grand Jury report recommends encouraging students and parents to get involved in identifying and reporting any suspicious behavior on the part of their students or peers through established methods of reporting such as Crime Stoppers and Students Speaking Out programs which allow anonymity. The Grand Jury is requiring that local school districts, including those in East County, report back within six months to show that they have either implemented these recommendations, or demonstrate why solutions are impractical. The County Education Superintendent must also file a report. The complete report can be found on the Grand Jury’s website www.sdcounty.ca.gov/grandjury or at this link.
CHEFS FIRE UP THE IRON HORSE IN CAMPO APRIL 5
March 24, 2014 (Campo) – The Chefs de Cuisine and The Campo RR Museum are celebrating over fifty years of service to the San Diego California Vintners Alliance on April 5, from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. at the Campo Museum, Hwy 94 & Forrest Gate Road, Campo. Dine amidst the Museum’s historic railroad trains and artifacts. Food stations will include The Knife & Fork Buffet, wine tasting and hand-crafted San Diego beers in the Beer Garden. Live entertainment will be provided by the local acoustic trio Trails & Rails. Tickets are $25 per person or $20 per person for groups of 12 or more. They can be purchased here. You can also purchase optional rides on the Golden State when you purchase you event ticket. Visit www.psrm.org for more information.