HEAR OUR INTERVIEW: ANTHONY MOSTARDO, DIRECTOR OF THE SAN DIEGO FESTIVAL CHORUS AND ORCHESTRA
By Miriam Raftery December 1, 2016 (Spring Valley) — The San Diego Festival Chorus & Orchestra is celebrating its 25th anniversary season, with a Chansons de Noel Concert this Sunday. You can hear our exclusive interview with director Tony Mostardo by clicking the audio link, originally aired on KNSJ radio 89.1 FM. He provides some fascinating insights into the major works in the upcoming concert, as well what inspired him to start this marvelous community musical group. He also recalls the group’s auspicious beginning on a date now immortalized in history: September 11, 2001, and how the terrorist attacks impacted the group on day one. His journey has taken him from Illinois to California, with many musical awards and honors along the way, as well as tours of Europe from concert halls to the great cathedrals. Also learn how you can audition for the San Diego Festival Chorus and Orchestra, or learn more at http://www.sandiegofestivalchorus.org/.
A REVOLUTION OF STRUGGLE CONTINUES FOR SYRIAN REFUGEES IN EAST COUNTY
Fleeing violence in Syria, some fear homelessness in U.S. Hear our radio interviews with Syrian refugees and those seeking to help them in El Cajon by clicking the audio link. By Rachel Williams December 1, 2016 (El Cajon) — Within the Villas of Embasadora, a motel in El Cajon, Syrian refugees have converted their rooms into makeshift homes where it’s cheaper for families of eight, or eleven to survive, than in San Diego’s public housing where costs have risen sharply. In between parking spaces and amidst broken Legos, a young Syrian girl plays with a beheaded Bratz doll. Styrofoam cups of coffee rest atop outdoor air conditioning units, where Syrian elders congregate to smoke cigarettes. Behind hotel rooms, socks are interwoven in between chain link fences, and shirts sway in the wind as they hang to dry. Jalal Shakir’s family was taken from Syria to Jordan, then brought to the U.S. For a $120 a day, Shakir rents a hotel room because they can’t find an affordable space to live for 11 family members. The refugee resettlement program has failed to take care of them, Shakir said. He’s been here for 15 days with kidney failure and diabetes, but the refugee resettlement officers stopped answering his phone calls. “We so thankful for American people that you welcome us. We so thankful that you welcome us from the war, but please we need more than that, look at the kids, we live in the street, we don’t live in a place,” Shakir said. Rasha Al Bualdany traveled from Homs, the third largest city in Syria, that was engulfed by flames. She’s lived in the U.S. for 8 days, and hasn’t seen a life outside the hotel commune, or even the streets of El Cajon. Al Bualdany wants a better life and education for her kids, but she’s pained by the life left behind in Syria, such as her mom, brothers and sisters. Mustafa Al Jassim is scared his family will become homeless. He wonders why the refugee resettlement program, knowing they cannot afford housing, brought them to San Diego. They want to be contributing members of society, but it’s torture being confined to a hotel city, without speaking any English, Jassim said. “We escaped there, and we were so scared, but now we’re facing different kinds of challenges. We’re so scared because the refugee resettlement gives us $1,100, and we’re a family of eight. How can I pay the rest of my rent?” The stereotype of Syrians strapped with bombs looking for violence is not them. They have suffered at the hands of terrorist organizations, Al Jassim said. These organizations came from the Gulf countries looking to traffic humans. With tears filling his eyes, he admitted selling his 11 and 12 year old daughters, because with the war, the family was too poor to feed all of his children. “There is not one ISIS from Syria. ISIS are not Syrians, please take this message. It’s not us. They destroy us, but it’s not us. We suffer from ISIS. We suffer from other terrorism organizations, who came to Syria and hurt us, destroy us,” Al Jassim said. These organizations take advantage of our broken, starving communities, who were close to death. We didn’t even have money for one meal, he said. There aren’t human rights in these Arab countries. “That’s why we came here because they respect human rights. We are people, so people are human. Nobody hurt us as much as Islamic country hurt us. America is the only country [where] we saw respect,” he said. As Sidra Jasim’s family sought refuge in Turkey, she went to find normalcy at school. Jasim’s classmates told her Syrians were destroying their country, and her family was not welcome. They told her to go back to her country and die. Jasim’s white and pink flowered hijab covered only her hair and neck, but her eyes piercingly longed for education and acceptance. “We don’t wish the same experience happening in Turkey will happen in America. I hope the violence we experienced in Turkey, we will not experience the same thing in the United States, and nobody will tell us [to] go back and die in your country,” Jasim said. Translator Dilkhwaz Ahmed started a non-profit organization called License to Freedom that provides daily necessities for refugees. She fills her black Ford Sport Trac with toys, clothes, feminine products and food, twice a day. She brought them camping stoves and electric teapots, so they can cook for their kids three times a day. They need doctors, psychologists, social workers and real estate agents, she says, to help them assimilate into the community. “They have a revolution of war hidden inside because they were not able to talk. While they were in the refugee camp, they were not able to talk, people just look at them as idiot Syrians. When they were in their country, they would be killed and tortured just to express,” Ahmed said. The acculturation process, Ahmed explains, not only involves adjusting physically and psychologically, but refugees need help navigating transportation systems, learning personal hygiene, understanding proper manners and using playground rules for kids. She understands these perils of existence because she moved here 15 years ago from Iraq as a refugee. “My main goal is to have each American adopt one Syrian family, take them to doctors, they have food stamps, just supporting them with after school programs, walking them to the beach once a month, once a week, tell them this is who we are, this is America, we love you, just teach them English, show them the culture of America,” Ahmed said. Fakhir Rahman is a volunteer doctor with License to Freedom. He came to America as an Iraqi refugee with his wife and two kids. Through the public consulting group, a welfare to work program subcontracted by the county, refugee doctors and engineers work alongside License to Freedom to help newcomers assimilate. “As you see when we talk
EL CAJON SETS DEC. 13 PUBLIC HEARING ON MARIJUANA GROWING BAN
East County News Service December 1, 2016 (El Cajon) –El Cajon’s City Council will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, December 13 at 3 p.m. in Council Chambers (200 Civic Center Way) to consider extending an ordinance banning outdoor marijuana growing for the next year. Following passage of Proposition 64, the statewide ballot measure legalizing recreational marijuana including growing up to six plants per household, El Cajon’s City Council on Nov. 15 passed an emergency ordinance banning outdoor growing of marijuana plants until Dec. 30 in all zones within the city. The hearing on Dec. 31 would be on a proposal to extend that ban until Nov.14, 2017. The extension aims to allow time for a detailed study and public hearings, as well as consideration by the Planning Commission and Council of possible zoning ordinance amendments, regulations and restrictions. The ban does not impact indoor growing of marijuana subject to limits allowed under Prop 64, though landlords do retain the right to restrict recreational marijuana growing and use if they choose, under the new state law. A notice from the city of El Cajon advises that anyone wishing to challenge the city’s marijuana regulations or ordinances in court may be limited to raising only issues brought up at the public hearing or in written correspondence delivered to the City Clerk at or before the hearing. Anyone with questions or need for accommodations for the disabled may contact the El Cajon City Clerk at (619)441-1763.
PET SAFETY TIPS TO KEEP THE HO, HO, HO IN HOLIDAYS
By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office December 1, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – ‘Tis the season to dig out those boxes of decorations, blow the dust off of them and start hanging all those lights, stockings, tinsel, garland and everything else that puts you in the holiday spirit. Just make sure your pets don’t put a “bah, humbug” into your plans this time of year. That means keeping them away from certain holiday decorations that could mean an expensive, emergency trip to the veterinarian. County Animal Services has nine tips to keep your pets safe, calm and happy during the holidays. Keep pets away from mistletoe, holly or poinsettias. They are toxic to animals. Chocolate can be toxic, too, so keep stockings out of reach and any chocolate cookies you might leave out for Santa. Anchor your Christmas tree so pets can’t tip it over, such as tying your tree to a ceiling hook with fishing twine. If you’ve used anything but tap water for the base of the tree, make sure they can’t drink it. Don’t use tree preservatives, which are toxic to pets. Cats love to play with tinsel and curling ribbon but then they’ll try to eat it. Prevent a trip to the vet and keep both tinsel and curling ribbon away from cats or don’t use it at all. Hide electrical cords from your pets and make sure they can’t play with or knock over any candles. Set aside a quiet room. Many dogs and cats get overwhelmed with all the hustle and bustle of the holidays. A quiet room allows them to escape and sleep undisturbed. Ringing in the New Year? Your dog needs a quiet, secure place on New Year’s Eve. The loud booms from fireworks can scare dogs. Some will do anything to escape the noise; they’ll run for miles and become lost. Create a safe place where they can hide out from the explosive sounds of the New Year and make sure your dog is wearing identification, just in case. Microchip your pet. They might slip out the door unnoticed while you’re busy greeting holiday visitors. If someone finds your pet, a vet’s office or shelter can scan for a microchip and you’ll quickly be reunited with your pet. Animal Services offers microchipping from 1 to 3 p.m. every Thursday except holidays. The fee is only $10 and includes national registration. Use your computer or smartphone and sign up for Finding Rover. This free service uses facial recognition to identify lost dogs. If your pet gets lost, Finding Rover has the photo on file for anyone who may find him. Cross pet worries off your holiday list. Follow these nine tips and both you and your pets can enjoy the holiday season!
APPLICATIONS FOR SHERIFF’S DISPATCHERS NOW OPEN
Source: San Diego County Sheriff’s Department December 1, 2016 (San Diego) – 24 hours per day, seven days a week, Sheriff’s Dispatchers answer emergency calls from all across San Diego County. They save lives by getting help out to those calling 9-1-1. The Sheriff’s Communications Center is hiring both entry level (no experience needed) and lateral dispatchers. Starting pay for entry level dispatcher is $19.62/hour. Pay jumps to $23.65/hour after approximately one year on the job. A top step dispatcher currently makes $32.05/hour (after approximately 7 years on the job. Here is more information about these positions: EMERGENCY SERVICES DISPATCHER TRAINEE (Entry level position): Candidates must be 18 years of age and have effective oral and written communication skills in English. All candidates must pass the Criti-Call performance test as administered by the County of San Diego. As an Emergency Services Dispatcher Trainee, you will respond to 9-1-1 emergency and non-emergency calls and be responsible for dispatching deputies in the field. For more information, visit: www.joinsdsheriff.net/dispatcher. Applications for the Emergency Services Dispatcher Trainee position will be accepted until SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10TH. EMERGENCY SERVICES DISPATCHER (Lateral position): Candidates must have one year of full-time experience as a Public Service Radio Dispatcher for a municipal law enforcement or fire agency within the last three years. For more information visit www.joinsdsheriff.net/dispatcher. Recruitment for the Emergency Services Dispatcher (Lateral) position will remain open until further notice. Applicants will be required to undergo a comprehensive background check. Apply now! Watch these videos to see what it takes to become a Sheriff’s Dispatcher: https://goo.gl/46Psga and https://goo.gl/HA1jRA.
DIVISION OF LABOR DIMINISHED IN BRAINS OF PEOPLE WITH AUTISM
East County News Service SDSU psychologists discover brain connections in people with autism show more symmetry between hemispheres. December 1, 2016 (San Diego) — Divvying up tasks between the left and right hemisphere of the brain is one of the hallmarks of typical brain development. The left hemisphere, for instance, is involved in analyzing specific details of a situation, while the right hemisphere is involved in integrating all the various streams of information coming into the brain. A new study by neuropsychologists at San Diego State University suggests that in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) the brains’ hemispheres are less likely to specialize one way or another. The finding gives further insight into how brain development in people with ASD contributes to the disorder’s cognitive characteristics. The study, led by Ralph-Axel Müller, Ruth Carper and Jeffrey Treiber of SDSU’s Brain Development Imaging Lab, investigated how connections within the brain develop differently in children and adolescents with ASD than in their typically developing peers. Using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique known as diffusion tensor imaging, the team studied the brains of 41 participants with ASD and 44 without, examining how densely connections formed between different regions of white matter in the brain. They found that in typically developing young people, the right brain hemispheres had densely packed connections. “This fits with the idea that the right hemisphere has a more integrative function, bringing together many kinds of information,” the team wrote in a summary of their research. However, in the participants with ASD, these brain connections were more evenly distributed across both hemispheres. The findings are published in the December issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. “The idea behind asymmetry in the brain is that there is a division of labor between the two hemispheres,” Müller said. “It appears this division of labor is reduced in people with autism spectrum disorder.” That lack of specialization could manifest itself in what Müller calls “weak central coherence”—a concept best summed up in the idiom, “not seeing the forest for the trees.” Many people with ASD are very good at seeing details but have difficulty putting it all together into a cohesive narrative, he explained. More research is needed to determine whether these brain-connection asymmetries cause this inability to cohesively assemble information, or are actually the result of it, Müller added. That and other future research will benefit from SDSU’s first imaging facility, which will play a central role within the Engineering and Interdisciplinary Sciences Complex, scheduled to open in 2018. The facility’s MRI machine will be installed early next year.
NEW TRUMP APPOINTMENTS RAISE ETHICS AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST CONCERNS
By Miriam Raftery November 30, 2016 (Washington D.C.) — President-Elect Donald Trump’s holdings in hundreds of companies around the world, as well as his financial holdings, have raised serious concerns over potential conflicts of interest. Surprisingly, there is no law prohibiting a President from making decisions that may profit him personally, unlike laws that ban such conduct for other elected federal officials. Trump’s most recent appointments add to the ethical concerns, also contradicting Trump’s campaign promises to reign in Wall Street and drain the swamp of Washington lobbyists and special interests. Trump’s selection of Donald McGahn as his chief ethics lawyer, responsible for advising the president on how to avoid conflicts of interest and other ethical problems, is particularly troublesome. McGahn served as ethics advisor to ex-Congressman Tom Delay, who was convicted of conspiring to launder corporate money in his campaign and resigned in disgrace, though that conviction was overturned on appeal. McGahn later chaired the Federal Elections Commission, where he broadly interpreted the Citizens United Supreme Court decision to allow super-PACs to pour unlimited corporate and other special interest money into political campaigns. He blocked Congressional reform efforts and actively fought to gut the regulation of money in politics by the FCC. This week, Trump announced former Goldman Sachs banker Steven Mnuchin as Secretary of Treasury nominee, a billionaire hedge fund manager who critics say preyed on homeowners during the recession. Trump is also said to be leaning toward appointment of Wilbur Ross, a billionaire former investment banker at Rothschild & Co., to serve as Commerce Department Secretary, casting doubt on his campaign trail promises to reign in Wall Street abuses. Elaine Chao, a Washington insider, Elaine Chao, will be Trump’s Transportation secretary. Chao has served in both Republican and Democratic administrations. But far from keeping the executive branch free ot conflicts with the legislative branch, her appointment raises another potential troubling tie. Chao’s husband is Senator Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who says he won’t recuse himself from voting on his wife’s nomination. Trump ran on a populist platform by appealing to working class Americans who feel they have been left behind amid economic upheavals. But loading up his cabinet with billionaires and Wall Street moguls raises doubts as to whether he will delivery on those promises, or perhaps abandon some reforms promised to voters and instead offer up more giveaways to the top 1 percent. According to an analysis by the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, Trump’s tax plan “would cut taxes at all income levels, although the largest benefits, in dollar and percentage terms, would go to the highest-income households.” The analysis shows that some 8 million American households, including a majority of single-parent households, would actually pay more because Trump’s plan eliminates the personal exemption and the head-of-household filing status, Vanity Fair reports. Many aspects of his tax plan benefit the wealthy, including eliminating the estate tax, lowering the corporate tax rate, and allowing trillions of dollars in overseas profits to be repatriated at a low tax rate. According to the Tax Policy Center, Trump’s plan would increase the national debt from $20 trillion to $27 trillion in 10 years and raise it another $20 trillion by 2036. Meanwhile, interest rates are rising since Trump’s election, meaning consumers who need to borrow money will be paying more for loans, even while their taxes go up. Some are defending Trump’s latest cabinet picks, while others have denounced them. Former Georgia Senator Saxy Chambliss, now working with a lobbying and law firm DLA Piper, told CNN that Trump has picked people who can get things done by choosing “people that know how the system works and are willing to make the commitment to him and his policies.” But Democratic National Committee spokesman Adam Hodge reacted to recent nominations by calling Trump “the most corrupt, conflicted and unpopular president-elect in history.”
CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE AT LA MESA HISTORICAL SOCIETY DEC. 11
East County News Service November 30, 2016 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa Historical Society invites you to celebrate the end of the year in style at its annual Christmas Open House on December 11 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the McKinney House, 8369 University Avenue in La Mesa. Enjoy home-baked cookies, warm apple cider and an assortment of traditional old-fashioned refreshments at this free event, plus music by classical acoustic guitarist Ian Lawrence. There will also be gift baskets raffled off; tickets are a $1 suggested donation for the raffle with drawings at 3:15 p.m.
SDSU LACROSSE ANNOUNCES 2017 SCHEDULE
Aztecs’ spring slate features 10 home games Source: goaztecs.com press release Photo: Kristen Hickey courtesy goaztecs.com November 30, 2016 (San Diego) – San Diego State lacrosse head coach Kylee White has released her team’s schedule for the 2017 campaign. A program-high 10 home games are on deck for the Aztecs next spring, including five against Mountain Pacific Sports Federation opponents. SDSU commences its sixth season of competition with a pair of league contests, battling Denver in the opener at Aztec Lacrosse Field on Feb. 4, before heading to the Pacific Northwest a week later to face Oregon on Feb. 11. The Scarlet and Black have won two straight against the Ducks, including a 10-9 thriller on Montezuma Mesa a year ago. Following a home scrimmage against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Feb. 18, San Diego State will make its longest road trip of the regular season when it travels to the Midwest to face Big Ten foe Michigan on Feb. 24. SDSU will then remain in the Mitten State to lock horns with Detroit Mercy two days later at Ultimate Soccer Arenas, an indoor facility located in Pontiac, Mich. The Titans, who have advanced to four straight Atlantic Sun tournament finals, fell to the Aztecs by a 14-6 count in the last meeting between the two sides in 2013 at Columbus, Ohio. SDSU will return to “America’s Finest City” for a lengthy seven-game homestand, including four straight against non-conference foes. The Aztecs’ month-long respite from the road begins with a showdown against Patriot League member Boston University in the first-ever encounter between the two squads on March 5, followed by a tilt with Atlantic 10 foe Saint Joseph’s on March 15. The Aztecs will be looking for their second straight triumph over the Hawks after posting a hard-fought 15-13 decision last year in Philadelphia, Pa. San Diego State continues its busy stretch with a pair of matchups against two additional first-time opponents in New Hampshire (March 15) and Columbia (March 18). The Wildcats, who recorded a 6-12 overall record last season, tied for fourth in the America East Conference before falling to perennial power Stony Brook in the first round of the league tournament. Meanwhile, the Lions finished with a 6-9 mark in 2016, tying for seventh in the Ivy League standings. The Aztecs step back into conference play for their next two games the following weekend, squaring off against MPSF rivals Saint Mary’s (March 24) and California (March 26). The Scarlet and Black has captured all six previous encounters against the Gaels, including a convincing 17-4 victory on the road last season. In addition, SDSU will be looking to avenge a tough 10-9 overtime defeat to the Golden Bears in 2016 after winning two straight in the series. After wrapping up their non-conference ledger at home against another Ivy League squad in Brown on March 31, the Aztecs will play five straight MPSF games to close out the regular season, starting on April 3, when they make a quick trip to the Central Valley to take on Fresno State SDSU will draw a tough assignment in their next outing when they play host to USC on April 8. The Women of Troy captured the MPSF tournament title in 2016 and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals, ultimately finishing with a No. 4 national ranking. The Aztecs will conduct their home finale the following week on April 16, entertaining a Colorado squad that has posted three straight campaigns of 11 wins or more. San Diego State will then head to northern California for the final weekend of the regular season, engaging UC Davis on April 21 before facing Stanford two days later on April 23. The Aztecs experienced a tough 7-6 overtime loss to the Aggies at home last season, but were victorious in their last visit to Davis in 2015, when they came away with a 12-9 decision. Meanwhile, the Cardinal finished with a No. 8 national ranking a year ago after advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in the last seven seasons. SDSU will be seeking a return trip to the MPSF Tournament, which is scheduled for April 27-30, in Los Angeles, Calif. SDSU made consecutive appearances in the conference tournament in 2014 and 2015. The Aztecs welcome back 21 experienced veterans, including senior tri-captains Kayla Dietz, Kristen Hickey and Katrina Reeves, along with a talented class of 11 newcomers, featuring two high school All-Americans, two all-state honorees, nine all-conference selections and three all-district/section performers, one all-county pick and one player of the year recipient. For a full schedule, click here.
PACIFICAIRES HOLD HOLIDAY CHORAL CONCERTS
East County News Service November 30, 2016 (San Diego) — Hear Ye, Hear Ye! Thanksgiving has come and gone. You survived another Black Friday and now we say goodbye to Cyber Monday. The next round of celebration is the Christmas holiday. Are you ready for some unique holiday music? Pacificaires celebrate their 40th year of providing choral music to the community with two upcoming concerts, including a Dec. 10 event in the College area. Concert #1 When: Sunday, December 4 at 4 pm Where: Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4761 Cass Street in Pacific Beach. Concert #2 When: Saturday, December 10 at 2 pm Where: College Avenue Baptist Church, 4747 College Avenue, San Diego, Ca 92115 Who: The combined Pacificaires and Cedar Center choral groups with their seven-piece orchestra. What: Concert entitled “Holiday Music Old and New” The program will include the usual eclectic variety provided by the director team, Eunice Williams, Pat Cox and Stewart Simon. From the haunting opening processional ‘Gaudette’ to the rousing closing piece, ‘Go Out With Joy’, the program is filled with traditional and non-traditional ensemble and full-chorus pieces that will have you laughing, swooning and singing along. From the silly, ‘O Christmas Tree’ to the up-tempo ‘We wish you a Merry Christmas’ by the Allegro ensemble. From the classical French ‘Cantique de jean Racine’ to the glorious, ‘First Chanukah Night’, you will be serenaded with holiday music from across the years. What else? Plenty of free parking and the concerts are free. Pacificaires will take an optional offering to help defray expenses. Doors open 30 minutes before show time, with a terrific pre-show jazz instrumental set by some of our fabulous accompanists – not to be missed! For more information visit www.pacificiaires.org or https://www.facebook.com/pacificaires.