HOLIDAY LIGHTS ON MAIN NOV. 28 INCLUDES TREE LIGHTING, ICE RINK AND SANTA’S VILLAGE IN EL CAJON
By Robert Gehr © 2015 November 21, 2015 (El Cajon )—El Cajon’s first-ever Holiday Lights on Main celebration will be held November 28th from 12 noon to 7 p.m. Festivities take place at Prescott Promenade Park and in downtown El Cajon. This special event features a Santa’s village complete with Santa Claus and an elf making an appearance just in time for Christmas! There will also be an ice skating rink, craft and food vendors, a train ride, community acts, plus live music featuring Danielle Tucker from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. A special Christmas tree lighting at 6:00 p.m. in front of Starbucks and Urbn St. Brewing Co. at Main St. and Magnolia Ave. will coincide with all the lights throughout downtown and Prescott Promenade Park being turned on to brighten the holidays for everyone. Downtown Business Partners invites you to come join the free celebrations and have some fun with family and friends. Mingle with the folks of East County and see the spirit of Christmas come alive! For more information visit www.downtownelcajon.com .
BREW BEAT: BALLAST POINT SELLS FOR $1 BILLION
By Ed Barrena November 19, 2015 (San Diego)–One of San Diego’s most beloved and famous brewers has been sold. Perhaps Dr. Evil from Austin Powers could say it best, but the price was a staggering $1 Billion. Ballast Point Brewing and Spirits, famous for its Sculpin India Pale Ale has been sold to Constellation Brands, which primarily distributes import beers from Mexico such as Corona, Modelo Especial, and Pacifico. The move comes as a shock to the San Diego craft beer industry, with some commenters accusing the brewery of “selling out.” Many craft beer enthusiasts were looking forward to an upcoming initial public offering on the market, in which investors could purchase stock in the brewer. That IPO however will no longer be happening, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Ballast Point will likely reach a new much broader audience around the nation and perhaps the world with such a large corporation taking over. An acquisition of this magnitude is certainly unprecedented in the craft beer industry. Local brewers may indeed have a bright future ahead with such a major focus spotlighting the local beer industry.
HATE CRIME SUSPECT SOUGHT BY SDSU POLICE
East County News Service November 21, 2015 (San Diego)—San Diego State University police are seeking a man who reportedly pushed a woman and pulled her scarf, making racist and menacing statements. The assault occurred Thursday afternoon at 1:45 p.m. in a parking lot off Zura Way on the esat side of campus, according to SDSU police. A sketch of the assailant has been released. He is described as a white man in his 20s, thin with black hair, about 5 feet 11 inches tall, with green or hazel eyes. He wore jeans, a gray sweater and white shoes. After the incident, which is being treated as a hate crime, he fled north. The woman was not injured.
COUNTY ORDERS RAMONA FACILITY TO STOP ILLEGAL SHOOTING OF PIGS DURING MILITARY MEDIC TRAINING
By Miriam Raftery November 21, 2015 (Ramona) – In response to a complaint filed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) alleging live shooting of pigs for military training at Creek Hollow Ranch in Ramona, the County has sent a cease-and-desist order to Colleen Burman, president of Creek Hollow Ranch at 25279 Creek Hollow Drive, Ramona. Burman in turn sent a letter to Simmec Training Solutions canceling its contract (included in the cease and desist link with other documents provided in a records request and published online by the Ranter’s Roost.) PETA’s letter indicated that a whistleblower informed the animal rights group the SIMMEC was shooting and injuring live pigs during paramilitary training drills monthly at the site, which has an A72 agricultural zoning classification that does not permit such activities without a major use permit (MUP). Similar activities were shut down by the county at Covert Canyon in Alpine, which recently received a stipulated enforcement order allowing firearms training of military, governmental and law enforcement groups – but without live fire during medic training. In the case of Covert Canyon, the county allowed anesthetized pigs to be used by medics for training, but without shooting. Dummies are also being utilized for medic training at that site. PETA’s letter to the County regarding Creek Hollow Ranch in Ramona, sent November 12th, states, “SIMMEC’s apparently illegal land use for medical training is especially troubling because there is no need to mutilate and kill pigs for this purpose. Military studies show that personnel who learn how to perform emergency medical procedures on human simulators instead of by maiming animals are as proficient as—or more so than – those trained using animals.” The County Code Enforcement Officer Lorena Shingary responded promptly on November 16 with a letter to Burman advising that while the County had not inspected the property to verify illegal use, “if this type of training is occurring, this correspondence serves as a Cease & Desis Order and all training must immediately stop pending the issuance of a MUP.” The letter further noted that penalties for violating of the zoning ordinance can include citations up to $10,000 and civil penalties up to $50,000 a year per violation, as well as a civil injunction or referral to the District Attorney’s Office for criminal prosecution. Burman’s letter to Simmec, dated November 17, announces cancellation of the contract and makes no mention of seeking an MUP. (Burman’s letter is included in the link to the county document above.) On the same date, Creek Hollow Ranch is listed for sale for just under $5 million on the Equestrian Real Estate site. The sale listing describes the property as an equestrian complex on 350 acres of “pristine valley and rolling hills” that provide “a tranquil backdrop of natural surroundings for spending time with your horse,” as well as a covered arena, stalls and pastures. “Your playground includes a state of the art, full service, multi-discipline equestrian training and boarding center surrounded by San Diego backcountry beauty abundant with native wildlife,” the listing concludes, making no mention of life-fire pig shooting or military-type activities.
HAGGEN SUPERMARKET ON AVOCADO BLVD. IN LA MESA FINALLY CLOSES ITS DOORS
By Jake Christie November 19, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Over the weekend of November 15th, the Haggen supermarket at 3681 Avocado Boulevard finally ran out of food and other salable items and closed for good. The store, located in the Rancho San Diego Village strip mall, was originally a Vons before Haggen bought the chain out in Southern California and then subsequently declared bankruptcy. Over the month of October the store slowly began winding down operations by not taking in new stock, selling off the food and sundries, and gradually barricading the empty aisles off as the food ran out. This situation mirrored the closure of the nearby Family Foods supermarket in the Sweetwater Village shopping center (corner of Austin Drive and Sweetwater Springs Blvd.) during 2008. That store has remained closed since. I went to the Rancho San Diego Village on the afternoon of November 15th. I found the store locked up and empty, with all the internal lights on, including the advertising monitors in the checkout lanes. At this time the RSDV mall has the empty Haggen store, a freestanding Citibank branch that was closed, and a freestanding former restaurant and American Automobile Association branch that is up for rent, though it has been rented out as a seasonal Halloween store in the last two years. Luckily for the owner of the mall, the Smart & Final chain of supermarkets decided to buy up a large number of stores in San Diego County and the Avocado Haggen will become one of their operating stores, possibly by mid-December. In the East County, Smart and Final also purchased two of Haggen’s stores in El Cajon (one on Fletcher Parkway, the other on Camino Canada) and one in Santee, on Magnolia Avenue. The competing Gelson’s Markets chain purchased the Haggen stores in Del Mar and La Jolla and thus most of the Haggen supermarkets are now in other hands within San Diego County. Time will tell if they suffer the same fate.
GIFT OF GIVING CHRISTMAS GALA: DEC. 4 AT ST. MICHAEL’S WILL BENEFIT LOCAL CHALDEAN AND ASSYRIAN REFUGEES IN NEED
November 21, 2015 (El Cajon)—St. Michael’s Chaldean Catholic Church will host its first annual “Gift of Giving Christmas Gala” on Friday, December 4 at 8 p.m. The 21+ wine and cheese gala will feature a silent auction, raffle items, a selection of wines from local wineries, craft beers and donated foods. “All proceeds from the event will go towards assisting members of our community, the majority of it being the Chaldean Catholic and Assyrian refugees who lack basic necessities such as mattresses,” said Jennifer Meram. “We hope that this event will help better support the youth refugee programs and provide them with better opportunities to grow and learn upon first arriving in this country.” The event will be held in the church hall at St. Michael’s Chaldean Catholic Church, 799 East Washington Ave., El Cajon, CA 92020. Admission is $20 in advance or $30 at the door. For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/678698685600273/ or contact Chaldeanevents@gmail.com for tickets.
TIGER CUB “HIMMEL” THRIVES AT LIONS, TIGERS AND BEARS
Hear our interview with Bobbi Brink, founder of Lions Tigers and Bears, originally aired on KNSJ: https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/audio/2015/December/Newsmaker-LionsTigersBears-TigerCubHimmel-BobbieBrink.mp3 By Tasha Matthews and Miriam Raftery Tiger photos provided by Lions, Tigers and Bears November 21, 2015 (Alpine) – A tiger cub found wandering the streets of Hemet, is now thriving thanks to care at Lions, Tigers and Bears sanctuary in Alpine. Meet Himmel, named by a unanimous vote of LTB members after the late San Diego News 8 reporter Larry Himmel, a creative and brilliant newscaster who would often visit Lions, Tigers, and Bears. Himmel, now four months old, is full of life and joy. When we visited, he ran up to the cage bars ready to romp and eager to be free. Fortunately at Lions, Tigers and Bears, the frisky cub can spend play time in larger enclosures where he has the opportunity to run, climb and even swim, also interacting with other tigers at this very special facility. The young cub was declawed by prior owners and arrived limping. He also suffered a hernia, probably from being taken from his mother and mishandled at an early age. The cub, now a bouncing 45 pounds, is due for surgery in January. Now meet Tabu, a full-grown tiger. Don’t get too close though! Tabu has a mighty roar and an intimidating growl. The 94- acre area Lions, Tigers and Bears sanctuary (nearly as large as the San Diego Zoo, with room to develop into an even larger facility someday) shares space with lions, tigers, bears, mountain lions, bobcats, and more. Home to over 60 animals, it’s a place where these animals are well taken care of and treated with the upmost tender loving care. Bobbi Brink is the founder of Lions, Tigers, and Bears. Recently, we visited to take close-up look at some of the animals there. Due to the injustices that many of these animals face as a result of the exotic animal trade, Brink travels the country rescuing lions, tigers, bears and other large animals in need of a better home. She also spends time lobbying for legislation to restrict or ban the sale of these animals by private individuals. Brink and her dedicated team of volunteers provide security and plenty of TLC (tender loving care) that these animals need. You can help ensure the safety of the rescued by donating, becoming a member, or attending the upcoming Christmas Festival at Lions, Tigers and Bears on December 5th, when the animals will be given wrapped gifts to open. There will also be crafts, food and vendors for guests to enjoy. To learn more, you can visit Lions, Tigers, and Bears at www.lionstigersandbears.org. Photo: Bobbi Brink, right, with Tasha Matthews, a student at the University of California, San Diego and volutneer with East County Magazine.
EAST COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL REPORT: STEELE CANYON FIGHTS BACK IN THE SECOND HALF TO BEAT GROSSMONT 39-35
By Liz Alper November 20, 2015 (El Cajon) – In round two of the CIF playoffs, the Steele Canyon High School Cougars traveled to Grossmont to take on the Grossmont High School Foothillers in an exciting Division I matchup. The Foothillers wasted no time getting on the board. In the first quarter, quarterback Hunter Gaines fired it over the middle to wide out Domonique Guevara for a 7-0 Foothillers lead. Grossmont kept it rolling in the second quarter when Gaines found Guevara again, wide open this time, for the score. 14-0 Foothillers. This game was all Grossmont. Gaines aired it to receiver Khaleed Davis for the Foothillers’ third touchdown of the night. 21-0 Grossmont. After a spectacular first down catch at the five yard line by Davis, running back Jake Harr finished the job for the fourth Foothillers touchdown. It was 28-0 Grossmont at the half. In the second half, the Cougars managed to avoid being shut out with a touchdown pass by quarterback Thomas Fishburne in the third to make the score 28-7 Grossmont, but the second half, just like the first half, was all Grossmont. Or was it? Gaines made some nice spin moves on his touchdown run to make it 35-7 Foothillers, but Steele Canyon started clicking. Running back Pierre Alexander ran it in for six to cut the Grossmont lead to 35-14 with three minutes left in the third. After a great interception by linebacker Jake Citrinitti, he did the same thing to cut the Foothillers’ lead to two scores at 35-20. After an explosive first down catch by Steele Canyon wide out Sean Todd, running back Malcolm Anders completed the drive with a touchdown. A blocked field goal made the score 35-26 Grossmont, but the Cougars still were within one. The Cougars pulled to within three midway through the fourth quarter, and then with just over a minute left in the game, all of Steele Canyon’s first half mistakes seemed to disappear into the night sky. Linebacker Mikel Oliver blocked a punt and returned for a touchdown, making the score 39-35 Cougars. That sealed the deal for the Cougars. An amazing second half turnaround gave them the win, and a lackluster second half performance by Grossmont handed the Foothillers elimination. Steele Canyon moves on to the semifinals next Friday.
WHITE THANKSGIVING IN EAST COUNTY
East County News Service November 20, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service is forecasting snow Wednesday and Thursday down to 3,000 feet, potentially including I-8 in East County. Significant levels of snow are forecast above 5,000 feet, bringing a white Thanksgiving to our mountain areas. Holiday travelers should use caution due to slippery roads and strong west winds, as well as potential for ice, snow, and of course, wild turkeys! West of the mountains, rain is forecast, with high winds and blowing sand in desert areas.