PALA INDIANS DONATE $10,000 TO CHILDREN’S READING PROGRAM
August 13, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – The Pala Band of Mission Indians announced today that it has donated $10,000 to the San Diego Reach Out and Read program. The funds will be used to support Reach Out and Read’s education and literacy efforts throughout the region including at the four Native American clinics that the program operates. Reach Out and Read was established in 2006 and is a program of the San Diego Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The program distributes over 100,000 books each year to 85,000 children in the San Diego area. “The Pala Band of Mission Indians is proud to support such a worthy cause,” said Robert Smith, Chairman of the Pala Band of Mission Indians. “Getting books in the hands of children and their families is essential for the development of early reading skills. This contribution will help ensure that more children in our region acquire the language skills they need to achieve success.” The Pala Band of Mission Indians has pledged to donate $10,000 to Reach Out and Read each year for five consecutive years. This is the third year that the Tribe has made the $10,000 donation. For more information on Reach Out and Read San Diego, please visit http://rorsd.org/. The Pala Band of Mission Indians is a federally recognized tribe whose reservation is located along the Palomar Mountain range approximately 30 miles northeast of San Diego. The majority of the over 900 tribal members live on the 12,000-acre reservation, established for Cupeño and Luiseño Indians, who consider themselves to be one proud people – Pala.
LA MESA SEEKING VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE ON VARIOUS COMMISSIONS
August 14, 2015 (La Mesa) — Applications are being accepted for several openings on the City’s Aging and Veterans Commission, Environmental Sustainability Commission, La Mesa Community Parking Commission, and Historic Preservation Commission. “The Mayor and City Councilmembers value the input from our community volunteers,” said Mary Kennedy, City Clerk. “By bringing new ideas to the table and representing the community, you will be helping your City government make the best most informed decisions possible for the benefit of the entire community.” Applications and specific qualifications for each Commission opening may be obtained from the City’s website or at La Mesa City Hall, 8130 Allison Avenue, La Mesa, during normal business hours. Applications must be returned to the City Clerk’s office in La Mesa City Hall by 5:30 p.m., Monday, August 31, 2015. Further information can be obtained from the Office of the City Clerk, 619.667.1120 or by visiting the City’s website.
SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT AT SANTEE LAKES AUG. 21
August 14, 2015 (Santee) – Smokey and the Bandit will be the featured outdoor film on Friday, August 21st at Santee Lakes. Showtime starts at 8 p.m. The film starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field and Jackie Gleason is rated PG-13 and this special showing will also include a beer garden. There will be a Burt Reynolds-style mustache contest with prize for the winner and food trucks serving up refreshments. In addition, the band Street Heart will play from 6 to 8 p.m. before the movie begins. Cost is $10.
COUNTY CONDUCTS LARVICIDE DROP WEDNESDAY AS WEST NILE VIRUS SEASON HEATS UP
East County News Service August 12, 2015 (San Diego)–San Diego County’s environmental health department will conduct its sixth aerial drop of larvicide of the year on wetlands around the county Wednesday to help keep mosquito populations down and West Nile virus at bay. No one has been diagnosed as becoming infected with West Nile virus here in San Diego County so far this year, but the County Department of Environmental Health’s Vector Control program has collected more infected dead birds and batches of mosquitoes with the virus in 2015 than it has in several years. Mosquitoes can transmit West Nile virus to people by feeding on infected birds and then on humans. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has detailed information on larvaecides and potential environmental impacts here: http://www.fws.gov/cno/refuges/donedwards/CCP-PDFs/Appendix-K4_EffectsofMosquitoControl.pdf Environmental health has collected 75 dead infected birds and 14 batches of infected mosquitoes so far this year in San Diego County. The County collected 41 dead infected birds and six mosquito batches last year, when 11 county residents were diagnosed with the disease and two died. The County started using a helicopter to precisely drop batches of solid, cereal-sized larvicide (a pesticide targeting the larvae stage of insects) on roughly 48 local waterways — ponds, rivers and wetlands — to control mosquito populations more than a decade ago after West Nile virus first arrived in the county. The County conducts the drops roughly once a month during mosquito season. The larvicide contains a bacterium that doesn’t hurt people and pets, but kills mosquito larvae. Temperatures around the county are expected to soar this week, and late summer is typically the peak of the West Nile virus season. County officials reminded the public that they can protect themselves by following the County’s “Prevent, Protect, Report” advice. Prevent Mosquito Breeding: Dump out or remove any item inside or outside of homes that can hold water, such as plant saucers, rain gutters, buckets, garbage cans, toys, old tires, and wheelbarrows. Mosquito fish, available for free, may be used to control mosquito breeding in backyard water sources such as unused swimming pools, ponds, fountains and horse troughs. Protect Yourself from Mosquito Bites: Protect yourself from West Nile virus by staying inside when most mosquitoes are most active, at dusk and dawn. Wear long sleeves and pants or use repellent when outdoors. Use insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535. Make sure screens on windows and doors are in good condition and secured to keep insects out. Report Dead Birds and Green Swimming Pools: Report dead crows, ravens, jays, hawks and owls, and green swimming pools to environmental health’s Vector Control Program by calling (858) 694-2888 or emailing vector@sdcounty.ca.gov. For more information about West Nile virus, go to San Diego County’s “Fight the Bite” website.
MUSICAL OUTPOURING
By Jaime Mirman August 13, 2015 (Rancho San Diego)–The San Diego Concert Band and The Water Conservation Garden presented An Evening of Music in the Garden last July 26th. Coincidentally, the Band is celebrating its 26th season this year, and their program immersed the listeners into an exciting display of treasured songs, rousing marches and gripping contemporary pieces. The annual event took place for the third year at the amphitheater in the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College, which proved to be a visually and acoustically effective environment for the performance. As expected, San Diego Concert Band delivered its interpretations with gusto, thunder and finesse. Their care and dedication succeed as a most welcome musical contribution to our community. Some of the highlights of the program included the theme march for The Bandwagon, a Japanese radio station two-hour band music program under Band director Yutaka Nishida, who commissioned Philip Sparke to write this piece. It opened presenting the melody with the euphoniums and French horns, and displaying a glittering instrumentation that engaged the various sections weaving melodies and counter-melodies plus an intriguing modulation towards the end of the piece. The Purple Carnival March by Harry L. (Harold) Alford was performed by a low brass quartet of 2 euphoniums and 2 tubas, as arranged by Paul Hemond who plays euphonium in the Band. The quartet combination provided unexpected colorings and technical prowess from the musicians. (photo, right) Foster on my Mind, a collection of songs of Stephen Foster superbly arranged by Takahashi Yoshide, enfolded the songs with a sparkling Hollywood movie style orchestration and chromatic harmony. The band sections were confronted in infectious counterpoints, and the first chairs presented us with engaging solos throughout the piece. (Photo, left) Colonial Song, originally written for piano in 1911 by the Australian composer Percy Grainger, was in his own words “an attempt to write a melody as typical of the Australian countryside as Stephen Foster‘s exquisite songs are typical of rural America”. Despite the fact that the melodies of Colonial Song are original and not folk song, they do convey a sentimental and evocative character. Moonlight Serenade by Glenn Miller as arranged by Naohiro Iwai received a stylish and vital performance in which the Band director Mr. Roy Anthony briefly danced onstage, gallantly partnering with his wife Cathi in celebration of their anniversary. (Photo, right.) Flight, composed by Claude T Smith was adopted as the official theme song by the Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Museums in Washington, DC. This is a stirring and victorious march with an extended development, containing a slight reference to the Air Force Song along with the whole Pachelbel’s Canon. Mr. Roy Anthony excelled in leading the San Diego Concert Band with an unquestionable savoir faire and utmost commitment to the interpretation of each piece across the entire program. (Photo, right: Roy Anthony with Water Conservation Garden Director John Bolton. Guests also enjoyed strolling the grounds before the concert and at intermission, enjoying the beautiful grounds and learning more about water-wise landscaping; photo, left.) For more information on the San Diego Concert Band, visit http://www.sandiegoconcertband.com. To learn more about the Water Conservation Garden, visit www.TheGarden.org. Jaime Mirman graduated as the first French Horn Master in Music from the National University of Mexico. He has played in Mexico at the National Symphony Orchestra and the Symphonic Band of the Ministry of Public Education, as well as chamber music, teaching and arranging.
LOCAL FAMILY TO TRAVEL THE WORLD HELPING PEOPLE THROUGH ROTARY PROJECTS
Submitted by La Mesa Sunrise Rotary August 14, 2015 (La Mesa) –Ivan Alba, Elena Lujan-Alba, Isabel Alba and Lily Alba are four Allied Gardens residents who are going on an amazing journey at the end of August. Read on and learn about their upcoming travels around the world. All four of them are members of the La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club. Have you ever just wanted to travel the world for a year without anything to do but help people in need? Have you ever just wanted to sell your cars, rent out the house, and take an eastbound flight visiting new and exotic cultures and enjoying the fellowship of service for a year? Well, one of the local Allied Gardens families has decided to undertake this very thing. Ivan Alba, his wife Elena, and daughters Isabel and Lily (who are 9 and 11 during the trip) are planning their journey from August of 2015-June of 2016 which they are calling their Rotary Year of Service. Ten years ago, Ivan and Elena were not Rotarians, but their love of travel inspired them to plan the journey of a lifetime when their newborn, Isabel, would be about 11 years old (Lily soon followed and became part of the plan). Elena had been on a Rotary Teacher Exchange in 2000 and encouraged Ivan to join Rotary in 2010. She later joined, and so did their two girls. Currently, Isabel and Lily go to every club meeting, run their own projects, have earned their own awards and accolades, and are official “Rotar-Kidz” in the Rotary Club of La Mesa Sunrise in San Diego, California. Ivan is the past president of that club. Together, the family will travel around the globe starting in Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Greece and Turkey. From there, their travels will take them through Jordan and Israel, then moving on to Kenya and Zimbabwe. From that point, they will venture to India and China before moving south to southeast Asia and the Philippines. After going to Hawaii, they will round out their trip to Peru and Ecuador before returning to San Diego to restart their lives. Throughout their time away from home, they will work on Rotary charity projects, train teachers, and explore new reaches of the world while educating their daughters. Ivan is an educational consultant in leadership and mathematics who trains teachers nationally and internationally on “best practices” to help teachers, parents, and students make sense of math. Elena trains teachers in helping students learn English as a new language as well as literacy strategies. Isabel and Lily are wonderful with other children and embody the Rotary spirit of service wherever they travel. The Alba family is always looking for projects in all areas of charity service around the world that they can engage in while traveling over the next year. They are happy to go to schools in countries that need help and have projects on which to work, or to train teachers and administrators pro-bono if there is no project currently available. They plan to spend about a month in each country they visit, stay in apartments and with Rotary families when possible, and are willing to “rough” it if necessary. Please contact them to wish them luck and follow their blog as they represent their community around the world. Their blog is registered as: albaworldtour.wordpress.com. Their email is “albaworldtour@gmail.com“.
CA FARMERS IRRIGRATE CROPS WITH FRACKING WASTEWATER: CONSUMER GROUPS VOICE ALARM
East County News Service August 14, 2015 (San Diego)—Fruits, nuts, and other crops including some sold as organic have been grown using irrigation from oil fracking wastewater laced with toxins in drought-stricken California. Now some consumer advocacy groups including Food & Water Watch are calling for a halt to the practice. Courage Campaign has launched a petition for consumers to pledge that they won’t buy food products grown with oil wastewater, or what Courage Campaign calls “toxic sludge.” A shocking investigation by Mother Jones magazine reveals that oil wastewater has reportedly been sold to 90 landowners in Southern California, including Bee Sweet Citrus and Halos, a citrus company which has the slogan “pure goodness” and Sunview, which sells grapes and raisins including some certified as organic. Another company reportedly irrigating with oil wastewater is Trinchero Family Estates, which supplies grapes for winemakers including Sutter Home. Oil companies used to dispose of wastewater by injecting it under the ground, but recently environmental groups have sued the state of California seeking to stop injection at 2,500 sensitive sites near groundwater used for drinking water. Now the state’s largest oil company, California Resources Corp, has announced it will quadruple the amount of wastewater it sells to farms. A scientific study by Water Defense found treated oil wastewater sold to California farmers contained acetone, oil and methylene chloride, which can cause cancer. Methylene chloride levels were four times higher than the amount found in a contaminated river after the 2013 ExxonMobil tar sands pipeline spill in Arkansas, a spill which was declared a federal disaster. Wastewater from Chevron oil wells used to irrigation food crops has been found to contain contaminants such as benzene , at levels higher than allowed in drinking water. No limits have been set for its use in irrigation water, thus far. The State Water Resources Control Board recently ordered broader tests for more compounds in oil wastewater, but meanwhile has allowed irrigation with oil wastewater to continue. The state has not even set limits for many contaminants—and tests may not cover all the toxins potentially found as a result of fracking, in which oil companies add numerous chemicals to help pump oil or gas from deep below the earth. Some water districts mix fracking wastewater with cleaner water from other sources. But nobody knows if these blends are safe, or if carcinogens such as benzene are making their way into the foods irrigated with those waste products – including food brands sold in major supermarket chains. Courage Campaign concludes that with regulators failing to protect the public, the public should take action. “As consumers, we msut hit these companies where it counts, their financial bottom line,” an e-mail from Courage Campaign reads. “If we don’t show them this is unacceptable, the use of toxic wastewater to grow produce will only expand.” You can sign the Courage Campaign petition pledging not to buy food products from companies that use toxic wastewater for irrigation by clicking here.
SYCUAN CASINO ROLLS OUT NEW BRANDING INITIATIVE WITH SPOTLIGHT ON COMMUNITY TIES
By Miriam Raftery August 13, 2015 (Sycuan) – Sycuan Casino pulled out all the stops, bringing in Hollywood talent to premier a new branding campaign this week at a VIP/media event in the Live & Up Close Theater. “It’s a token of pride to be partnering with a number of charitable organizations,” said Cody Martinez, Tribal Chairman for the Syucan band of the Kumeyaay nation. The casino’s new slogan is “Play. Win. Together.” The slogan, video and related marketing campaign highlight the many local charities and community causes that benefit from Sycuan’s charitable giving, such as Rady Children’s Hospital, the Padres , the Challenged Athletes Foundation and the Wounded Marines Fund. The premier included a concert by the Grammy-nominated Capital Cities band, which has the son “One Minute More” featured on a new TV spot. The production team includes Director Jeff Apps known for several national campaigns and music videos, as well as cinematographer Russell Carpenter , who won an Oscar for best cinematography in the movie “Titanic.” Former NBA superstar Bill Walton and ex-Padre Steve Garvey were on hand for the premier. Both have cameo roles in the casino’s new TV and print ads, as do Chargers legend Billy Ray Smith, pro wrestler Ray Mysterio Jr. and golfer Sydnee Michaels. The campaign also features real Sycuan Casino employees. “They are veterans. They are volunteers. They are amazing people to interact with,” says Dan Morales, Marketing Director. “It is so real, and we are so proud of that.” John Dinnius, general manager at Sycuan Casino, talked about changes made in response to customers’ wishes, such as expanded the no-smoking section, adding a promotional stage with music and adding an app for casino patrons to sign up for the buffet and be notified when their table is ready. A loyalty program for frequent players has also been added. In addition, a Freedom Card program with benefits for retired military members has recently been extended to spouses. Sycuan Casino began as a humble bingo palace in 1983. The casino underwent a major renovation in 2011. In addition to gaming from slot machines to table games and off-track betting, the casino also offers several restaurants and the Sycuan Live & Up Close Theatre which features national musical acs and comedians year-round. For more information, you can visit www.Sycuan.com.
EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING ISSUED FOR WEEKEND
By Miriam Raftery August 13, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) –The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for San Diego County deserts and a heat advisory for mountain and valley areas. The warning and advisory are in effect from Friday at 1 p.m. to Monday at 9 p.m. Temperatures are forecast to reach 116 in Borrego Springs, 105 in Campo, 104 in Ramona, 102 in Alpine and 100 in El Cajon, shattering prior records. Children, the elderly and pets without adequate shelter are at highest risk of heat-related illness. Area residents are urged to take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. If possible, reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing. Drink plenty of water and carry water with you when traveling or active outdoors. To reduce risk if you work outdoors, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends frequent rest breaks be scheduled in shaded or air conditioned environments. Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Per the Mayo Clinic, the symptoms of heat stroke are: High body temperature. A body temperature of 104 F (40 C) or higher is the main sign of heatstroke. Altered mental state or behavior. Confusion, agitation, slurred speech, irritability, delirium, seizures and coma can all result from heatstroke. Alteration in sweating. In heatstroke brought on by hot weather, your skin will feel hot and dry to the touch. However, in heatstroke brought on by strenuous exercise, your skin may feel moist. Nausea and vomiting. You may feel sick to your stomach or vomit. Flushed skin. Your skin may turn red as your body temperature increases. Rapid breathing. Your breathing may become rapid and shallow. Racing heart rate. Your pulse may significantly increase because heat stress places a tremendous burden on your heart to help cool your body. Headache. Your head may throb. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool, shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency, so always call 911. A cooling trend is forecast to begin early next week.
SAN DIEGO’S CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS ASK FOREST SERVICE TO LAND FIREFIGHTING AIR TANKERS AT RAMONA
By Devoreo Bell Photo: NIFC.gov August 13, 2015 (Ramona)–Last week, East County Magazine reported on the United States Forest Service’s announcement that it will not allow its new air tanker firefighting planes to land at the Ramona Air Base. The USFS says the runway is not long enough. However Cal Fire provided a video showing a Cal Fire pilot landing the same type of plane in Ramona. Now, all five of San Diego’s Congressional representatives (Duncan Hunter, Darrell Issa, Scott Peters, Juan Vargas and Susan Davis) have signed a letter sent to Chief Thomas Tidwell of the USFS asking him to take action. County Supervisors are asking the Obama administration to intervene. Supervisors Dianne Jacob and Bill Horn have requested that at least one air tanker be allowed to operate out of Ramona during the county’s wildfire season. The Forest Service’s more powerful next-gen air tankers are based at San Bernardino International Airport, where they land and reload with 3,000 gallons of fire retardant to aid with firefighting efforts across Southern California. The Ramona Sentinel reports that Congressman Duncan Hunter’s letter states a next-gen tanker successfully used Ramona Airport during a fire event in 2013 with a payload of nearly 2,200 gallons. “By allowing these next-gen tankers to land and reload at Ramona, fire experts estimate that the aircraft can make eight additional runs per day — improving the capability to save lives and property,” Hunter’s letter adds. Local residents are well aware of the importance of battling fires early, since our region has weathered two of the worst firestorms in California history, the 2003 Cedar Fire and the 2007 firestorms, both of which started right here in San Diego’s East County.