SDSU MEN’S TENNIS FALLS SHORT TO NO. 20 MISSISSIPPI STATE 5-2
Source: goaztecs.com Photo: Milen Ianakiev won his No. 2 singles match on Saturday vs. MSU. Courtesy goaztecs.com January 21, 2017 (San Diego) – The San Diego State men’s tennis team came up short in its home opener Saturday, falling to 20th-ranked Mississippi State by a 5-2 count at Aztec Tennis Center. The Aztecs (1-2) posted a pair of victories in singles play, but it wasn’t enough against the veteran Bulldogs (1-0), who returned the bulk of their lineup after advancing to the round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament a year ago. MSU grabbed a quick 1-0 lead after recording two wins in doubles competition. The SDSU freshmen tandem of Joel Popov (Tampere, Finland) and Nicholas Mitchell (Ojai, Calif.) joined forces for the first time in 2017, but were unable to avoid a 6-0 defeat at the hands of Nuno Borges and Strahinja Rakic on the No. 3 court. Shortly thereafter, the Aztec tandem of Marko Goles-Babic (Zagreb, Croatia) and Sander Gjoels-Andersen (Klampenborg, Denmark) experienced a similar fate against Mate Cutura and Vaughn Hunter, dropping a 6-2 decision in the No. 1 position. Meanwhile, the Scarlet and Black pairing of Santiago Cevallos (Queretaro, Mexico) and Milen Iankiev (Elz, Hesse, Germany) found themselves in a tight 4-4 battle with the Bulldogs’ 59th-ranked duo of Niclas Braun and Trevor Foshey on court two; however, the match was abandoned with the doubles point no longer in doubt. Stung, the Aztecs fell further behind 3-0 after dropping the first two encounters. Gjoels-Andersen was toppled by Rakic in the third spot, 6-2, 6-2, while Goles-Babic gave MSU’s sixth-ranked Borges all he could handle in the early going before ultimately suffering a straight-set defeat at center court, 7-6(3), 6-2. Moments later, SDSU finally dented the scoreboard when Rafael Gonzalez Almazan (Madrid, Spain) dispatched Foshey, 6-4, 6-2. The momentum was short-lived, however, as the Bulldogs secured the clinching fourth point despite valiant effort on court four by Popov, who came up short to Braun, 6-2, 7-6(4). The Aztecs rebounded with a victory at No. 2, where Ianakiev outlasted Cutura in a nail-biter, 7-5, 7-6(2), but MSU recorded the final point of the day in the fifth position as Baudry registered a narrow 7-6, 6-4 triumph over Cevallos, who was making his first singles appearance in a dual match this season. SDSU will have the next two weeks off from competition before returning to action against crosstown adversary San Diego on Saturday, Feb. 4, at Aztec Tennis Center. First serve is set for 1:30 p.m. No. 20 Mississippi State 5, San Diego State 2 Aztec Tennis Center San Diego, Calif. Jan. 21, 2017 Doubles 1. Mate Cutura/Vaughn Hunter (MSU) de. Marko Goles-Babic/Sander Gjoels-Andersen (SDSU), 6-2 2. Santiago Cevallos/Milen Ianakiev (SDSU) vs. #59 Niclas Braun/Trevor Foshey (MSU), 4-4, DNF 3. Nuno Borges/Strahinja Rakic (MSU) def. Joel Popov/Nicholas Mitchell (SDSU), 6-0 Order of finish: 3, 1 MSU wins doubles point Singles 1. #6 Nuno Borges (MSU) def. Marko Goles-Babic (SDSU), 7-6(3), 6-2 2. Milen Ianakiev (SDSU) def. Mate Cutura (MSU), 7-5, 7-6(2) 3. Strahinja Rakic (MSU) def. Sander Gjoels-Andersen (SDSU), 6-2, 6-2 4. Niclas Braun (MSU) def. Joel Popov (SDSU), 6-2, 7-6(4) 5. Simon Baudry (MSU) def. Santiago Cevallos (SDSU), 7-6(1), 6-4 6. Rafael Gonzalez Almazan (SDSU) def. Trevor Foshey (MSU), 6-4, 6-2 Order of finish: 3, 1, 6, 4*, 2, 5 *Match-clinching victory
TOUCHDOWN WITH AN EAST COUNTY SUPERBOWL
East County News Service January 21, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – One of the most exciting days in sports is right around the corner: Super Bowl Sunday on February 5th. Everyone knows that no football party is complete without cold beers, huge TVs, delicious food and a little bit of game-day rivalry. This year, The Hills Local Pub in La Mesa and Eastbound Bar & Grill in Santee are serving up Super Bowl parties where you can root for your favorite team, enjoy food specials, and go for a win of your own in games with prizes. Looking to get lucky on Super Bowl Sunday? Head to The Hills in La Mesa and buy a $10 gift card to put your name on a football square (no limit). There will be a winner each quarter with prizes such as a $20, $30 and $40 gift cards and the chance to win a $1,000 cash prize during the 4th quarter! Squares must be full by kickoff and The Hills will randomly draw numbers once the board is full. Winner must be present to win. Want to watch the game from the comfort of your own couch? Eastbound Bar & Grill wants to make your game-day experience that more relaxing with their Super Bowl To-Go Packages. Forget cooking! The choices of packages include 20 Buffalo wings for 20.95, 40 wings for $35.95, 60 wings for $50.95, and the option of adding pizza starting at $6. To catch this deal, email amanda@eastboundbarandgrill.com to place your order in advance before Friday, February 3rd at 12:00 p.m. Don’t fumble around this February 5th! You’re sure to score a fun time at these Super Bowl parties around town.
TRUMP SCRUBS WHITE HOUSE WEBSITE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, HEALTHCARE, SENIORS ISSUES AND MORE
By Miriam Raftery January 21, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – The Trump administration has removed all references to civil rights, climate change, equal pay, rights of the disabled, immigration reforms, seniors and social security, reducing gun violence, the Affordable Care Act, equal pay, and veteran’s issues from the White House web page. All were removed from the issues tab at www.WhiteHouse.gov, just hours after the inauguration of Donald Trump as President. While its customary for each administration to refocus the site to reflect an incoming president’s priorities, it is unusual to see a complete removal of references to core rights, liberties, and issues of interest to a broad sector of the American population, such as healthcare. The action has prompted criticism and concern from communities advocating for minorities, women, the disabled, the environment, and more. Instead of climate change, an “America First Energy Policy” on the site now states, “President Trump is committed to eliminating harmful and unnecessary policies such as the Climate Action Plan and the Waters of the U.S. rule.” It touts restoring U.S. energy independence through increased oil drilling, gas extraction and fracking “especially on public lands”, while making no mention of solar, wind, or any other renewable resources. “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry,” says local climate change activist and ECM columnist Roger Coppock, who fears scientific data on climate change at other government sites may soon also disappear. One of Trump’s first acts as president was an executive order to weaken enforcement of the Affordable Care Act. (See full report by Reuters news.) He has pledged to repeal the ACA, or Obamacare and last week, Senate Republicans voted to dismantle the ACA without revealing any replacement plan as yet. So omission of any reference to healthcare on the White House website seems a striking omission. San Diego resident Marilyn Lyons, an insurance broker, has warned that Trump’s effort to dismantle the Affordable Care Act without a better replacement plan (or any replacement as yet) will lead the insurance market to “implode” with insurance companies leaving the market, she told ECM yesterday. After learning of Trump’s administration removing civil rights, disabled rights, ACA information and more off the White House site, she posted, “A new era of repressive human rights.” The Trump administration did add a few of its own issues. Instead of civil rights, you’ll now find “Standing up for Law Enforcement.” Other issues listed are America First Foreign Policy, Bringing Back Jobs and Growth, Making our Military Strong Again, and Trade Deals Working for All Americans. For those seeking the old site as it appeared during the Obama administration, it can still be found through the Internet Archive, ECM has found. View it here: https://web.archive.org/web/20170119000209/https://www.whitehouse.gov/.
STORM DUMPS NEARLY 6 INCHES OF RAIN, 10 INCHES OF SNOW IN EAST COUNTY: FLOODING PROMPTS RESCUES
Story and photo by Miriam Raftery Photo: University Avenue in La Mesa between Olive and Parks January 21, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – From Thursday through Saturday, storms doused our region. Mount Laguna received over 10 inches of snow. Julian got 5.97 inches of precipitation, the most in San Diego County. Lake Cuyamaca, Descanso, and Pine Hills all got over 5 inches of rain. Santee, Lakeside, Alpine and La Mesa all received between 2.5 and 3.5 inches of rain during the 3-day period. Even Borrego’s Palm Canyon received over an inch of rain; desert denizens are predicting one of the best wildflower seasons in years based on greenery sprouting across the desert floor. Friday’s severe storm, which brought flooding and high winds across the area, contributed to a spike in crashes reported in San Diego County on freeways and unincorporated area streets under jurisdiction of the California Highway Patrol. A total of 375 collisions were reported between midnight and 4 p.m. – far more than the 140 crashes reported on a normal “good weather” day, the CHP reports. Numerous rescues were also made. Firefighters worked to free people trapped in vehicles along University Avenue, which briefly resembled a river in the La Mesa and Rolando areas. Swift Water Rescue teams pulled two people and a dog to safety from floodwaters along University and Aragon Drive near the Joan Kroc Center.
CAL FIRE: A LEADER IN FLOOD RESPONSE
Source: CAL FIRE January 21, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Though CAL FIRE is most often highlighted in its role as a wildland fire fighting agency, the Department’s forces answer the call more than 300,000 times for other emergencies each year. During the 1990s CAL FIRE was called upon several times to respond to serious flooding in the state. In 1997, rains devastated California by swelling rivers and lakes, collapsing levees, and forcing entire communities to evacuate. At the request of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES), CAL FIRE committed over 2500 personnel to help sandbag public and private property, remove flood and storm debris, and help save lives. Over 150 hand crews were deployed, which was more than 75 percent of CAL FIRE’s total crew capability for the State. In addition, CAL FIRE sent three Incident Management Teams, four mobile kitchen units, and four mobile communication centers to hard hit areas of California. As a direct result of CAL FIRE’s efforts lives and property were saved, prompting landowners and public officials alike to express extreme gratitude to the Department. Almost on a nightly basis, CAL FIRE crews were seen assisting flood victims on local news. This coverage represented just a few of the hundreds of acts performed by CAL FIRE employees across the State, sometimes at the risk of loss of life. In 1998, CAL FIRE, along with many other emergency response personnel statewide, once again battled water and mud as Mother Nature dumped heavy rains throughout the state. CAL FIRE played a major role in the operations of a mobilization center in Northern California. The multi-jurisdictional center relied on the Department to provide everything from food to showers, fuel to mechanics, equipment to sleeping bags, and mobile communications to finance administration. CAL FIRE has long been recognized for its ability for rapid emergency deployment, effective large incident logistical support, and incident management leadership. Crews once again distinguished themselves during the flooding of 1997 and 1998.
40,000 JOIN WOMEN’S MARCH IN SAN DIEGO, MILLIONS MORE NATIONWIDE
By Miriam Raftery Photo, right: Cathy and Kayla Lechien at La Mesa trolley stop Photo, left: Women’s marchers at the embarcadero in San Diego January 21, 2017 (San Diego) – At the Spring Street trolley station in La Mesa, hundreds of East County residents converged to ride downtown and join this morning’s Women’s March. Major media outlets estimate some 40,000 marchers in San Diego joined millions more across the U.S. in what CBS reports was the largest protest in U.S. history. Some participants estimate there were over 100,000 marching in San Diego; another 10,000 marched in North County. Other cities around the globe also drew huge crowds. Women and men, young and old, straight and gay, white, black and Latino –and all shared one common goal: forging a resistance coalition opposed to policies of President Donald Trump that would weaken rights and freedoms for women, minorities, and many other American. Marilyn Riley of El Cajon told East County Magazine that she turned out “to show my resistance against the unstable, narcissistic, corrupt and dangerous person who took office yesterday and his despicable family that is a danger to our country and everyone else on the planet.” Her husband, Bob Grand, quipped “I’m with her,” then elaborated, “I think the president has to be deemed the most unpopular president in modern history, if not in all time.” (Photo, right: Marilyn Riley and Bob Grand) Ana Hubbell of Jamul came with her 7-year-old daughter. “Mostly I want my children to be in a world that is not divisive. I’m a school counselor, and I see a lot of my students with anxiety and panic since this election.” Cathy Lechien a;sp brought her daughter, Kayla. “I’m marching for my Mom, my grandmother, my aunt, and mostly for my daughter,” she explained, holding a rainbow flag. “I want her to have access to affordable healthcare. I want her to grow up in a society where nobody judges the color of her skin and who she loves, but most of all, I’m here taking a stand against hate, because love is love.” “I think women’s rights are human rights,” said Bonnie Price of El Cajon, carrying a Hillary Clinton sign. “I’m sick and tired of males not allowing females to be elected president when they can do the job; qualifications matter!”(Photo, left: Bonnie Price and other East County march participants, by Miriam Raftery) Maya Gabby from San Diego wore a hot pink T-shirt that reads “I stand with Planned Parenthood.” She says, “We refuse to be complacent to the new government. The first step is to get people into the streets protesting and to prevent Donald Trump from taking away things we’ve worked so hard to get.” She came with her parents and other family members. Her mother, Lauren Gabby, chimed in, “Like healthcare, support for Planned Parenthood, and decency.” (Photo, right: Maya Gabby and family, by Miriam Raftery) Linda Armacost of La Mesa, president of the La Mesa Foothills Democratic Club and long-time party activist, found it “exciting” that of the hundreds amassed at the trolley station, “I only know a couple of them.” Many of the activists marching were young women, following in the footsteps of their mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers who have marched for women’s rights in the past. For others, this was a first foray into activism. A large number of the marchers wore pink knitted caps with pussy cat ears, symbolic reminders of Trump’s crude boast caught on tape about grabbing women “by the pussy.” Trolleys filled up and MTS added extra trolley cars. The marchers kept coming. They lined both sides of the station platform, carrying signs and in some cases, toting babies on their backs. (Photo, left, by Miriam Raftery) Downtown, they marched from the Civic Center Plaza down the Embarcadero to the County Administration Center. One photographer and participant told ECM an organizer of the rally told a police officer they estimated as many as 135,000 may have turned out, though NBC and KPBS estimated the crowd at around 40,000. About 22,000 had RVSP’d that they would participate. (Photo, right: Civic Center Plaza marchers; photo by Gene Carpenter.) By San Diego standards, any of those numbers would be huge, to use a Trumpian term. At the height of the first Gulf War when President George W. Bush came to town, about 2,000 protesters showed up. (Photo, below left: Huge crowd of marchers outside the San Diego Convention Center.) In other cities, the numbers were staggering: 750,000 in Los Angeles, half a million in Washington D.C., 200,000 in Denver, and in Chicago, the crowd grew so large that the march was shut to prevent overcrowding downtown. Hundreds of thousands marched in in cities across Europe and in Australia, with substantial crowds in numerous cities across the U.S. Marches took place in 673 cities worldwide, the Los Angeles Times reports. CNN called it a “remarkable” protest against Donald Trump on his first full day as president. Donald Trump ignored the Women’s March with uncharacteristic silence about the uprising even on his Twitter Feed. His opponent, Hillary Clinton, a long-time supporter of women’s rights, however, voiced support for the marchers in a Tweet which states: “Thanks for standing, speaking & marching for our values @womensmarch. Important as ever. I truly believe we’re always Stronger Together.”