PADRES WIN FIRST GAME OF SPRING TRAINING AGAINST GIANTS 9-5
Like our sports coverage? Donate to help support ECM’s sports section! Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and stories! Story by Liz Alper Photo via @Padres on Twitter February 28, 2017 (Peoria, Ariz.) – They say spring training is meaningless. The 0-3 Padres may want to challenge that theory as they went back to Peoria to face the Giants. It didn’t help that Madison Bumgarner was on the mound for San Francisco against Jhoulys Chacin for the Padres. It started off as the same story. The Giants started early with Conor Gillaspie’s single in the first to score Joe Panik to give San Francisco a 1-0 lead. The Padres tied the game at one on a Jose Pirela triple that scored Austin Hedges in their half of the first. Jabari Blash hit a sac lineout to left and Pirela tagged and the Padres took their first lead of spring training, 2-1. But of course, that didn’t last long. In the third, Chris Marrero singled to deep center to score two and give the Giants the lead again, 3-2. Buddy Enright walked Nick Hundley to score Marrero and the Giants led 4-2 and that was the end of Enright’s day. The Giants still added one more to make it 5-2. Blash was the Padres’ saving grace in the fourth, blasting a three-run homer to left to tie the game at five. Two innings later, Blash went the other way with a grounder to right to score Pirela and the Padres took a 6-5 lead. Newbie Nick Buss doubled in the seventh to score Hector Sanchez and the Padres took a 7-5 lead. They tacked on two more on right fielder Mac Williamson’s error to take a 9-5 lead and kick Josh Osich out of the game. They carried it to the end to win their first game of spring training 9-5. The Pads play two split squad games tomorrow. One team will stay in Peoria to face the Athletics for a 12:10 p.m. start. Sonny Gray will start for the A’s against Trevor Cahill for the Pads. The other split squad will head to Salt River Fields at Talking Stick to play the Rockies at 12:10 p.m.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: SWEETWATER RIVER
East County News Service February 28, 2017 (Descanso) – Duncan McFetridge with Cleveland National Forest Foundation sent in this photo in Descanso Valley of the rain-swollen Sweetwater River, the major source of water in the Sweetwater Authority. “The river has been dry for about two years,” he says. “The fall rains recharged the river to about three feet wide. Currently, it’s about 70 feet across!” The river’s 230-mile watershed starts in the Cuyamaca Mountains at Green Valley in Cleveland National Forest, flowing through Rancho San Diego and Spring Valley before emptying in the San Diego Bay.
READER’S EDITORIAL: PROTECTING ACCESS FOR OFF-ROAD VEHICLE RECREATION
By Assemblyman Randy Voepel Photo: Ocotillo Wells off-road vehicle recreation area February 28, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) — As a representative of rural areas San Diego and Riverside counties, I’m proud that my district includes wide swaths of land that are perfect for off-road recreation. There are tens of thousands of individuals and families throughout my district and our state who enjoy exploring our state’s natural environment through off-roading. Access to the public lands is part of what makes California such a wonderful state, especially if you’re passionate about recreation and the outdoors. In fact, for many disabled persons the only way that they can enjoy the great outdoors is by operating an off-highway vehicle on OHV trails. Unfortunately, there are many areas in the state where these opportunities are shrinking. For example, the Cleveland National Forest recently announced it was permanently closing and obliterating 100 miles of off-highway vehicle (OHV) trails. These days, it seems that off-roaders are dedicating more time to fighting to protect access to land then they are off-roading. That’s why I’m introducing legislation that will ensure our off-road lands are healthier and more accessible. AB 382 will restore OHV funding that was raided several years ago by the State Legislature and diverted to pay for other state programs. Part of this problem originates to a few years ago, when the state legislature voted to divert significant funding away from off-road maintenance into the general fund. The Off-Highway Vehicle Trust Fund was initially created in 1971. The original bill created a program to register off-highway vehicles that were not otherwise licensed for use upon highways. The proceeds derived from this registration program were used to create the OHV Trust Fund. Over time, the funding source for the OHV Fund expanded to include taxes on fuels that are consumed by OHVs while operating on public lands within the state, and later included taxes upon motor vehicle fuels that are consumed by highway licensed vehicles when they are operated off of the public highways. The OHV Trust Fund provides grants to local, state, federal, and some private non-profit organizations “to support the planning, acquisition, development, maintenance, administration, operation, enforcement, restoration, and conservation of trails, trailheads, areas, and other facilities associated with the use of off-highway motor vehicles, and programs involving off-highway motor vehicle safety or education.” During the challenging budget years earlier this decade, the legislature used a budgeting scheme to divert $10 million from the OHV Trust Fund and instead transferred it to bail out the General Fund. As a result, the OHV program is unable to fully fund their program and many rural local government OHV grants are only getting funded at a fraction of the needs to provide law enforcement, safety, and environmental restoration on lands within their jurisdictions. That’s why I am introducing AB 382, which would end this diversion of funds and ensure the fees paid by off-roaders are put back into off-road maintenance, where they belong. The opinions in this editorial reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine. To submit an editorial for consideration, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org.
SAPS AT SEA PRESENT LAUREL AND HARDY – JUST ONE MORE TEENSY-WEENSY NIGHT! MAR. 25
East County News Service February 7, 2017 (Spring Valley) – Saps at Sea will hold its second meeting of the year on March 25 in Williams Hall at Trinity Church in Spring Valley. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7:00 p.m. Grand Sheik John Field has assembled a night you will not soon forget. There will be a “Special” guest author in attendance, Mr. Craig Calman, author of “100 Years of Brodies with Hal Roach: The Jaunty Journeys of a Hollywood Motion Picture and Television Pioneer”. A loving look at the man responsible for being the boss of Stan and Ollie and their comedy classics. Field will interview Craig and he will share great stories and anecdotes. You can also purchase his fine book and have it autographed for a measly $30! The special program is JUST ONE MORE TEENSY-WEENSY…. Stan & Ollie and Alcohol, rarely mix. In this case hilariously so! You will see a glass lifting cartoon, then what happens when you mix two vagrants, a mad judge that wants them out of town, a drunken benefactor (The always inebriated Arthur Housman) and a tipsy Woman…. everything, in SCRAM! (1932) The guest comedian will be Red Skelton, who provides a demonstration of the wonders of Guzzler’s Gin. After a tasty (alcohol free) intermission, the Saps will air the recently restored BLOTTO (1930). Stan and Babe decide a night on the town is in order. Off to a nightclub they go with some Prohibition Booze…they think. What happens when Stan’s wife (Anita Garvin) gets a little suspicious? “The Official SAPS AT SEA San Diego Facebook Page” https://www.facebook.com/groups/111118255744315/ Get SAPS information any time at http://www.sapsatsea.com/ Remaining 2017 schedule: Mar 25th, May 27th, Aug 26th, Oct 28th
SDSU SOFTBALL’S MOLLY STURDIVANT NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sophomore batted .524 with two homers, eight RBIs, six runs and four doubles last week Source: goaztecs.com February 28, 2017 (San Diego) – San Diego State’s Molly Sturdivant (Santa Ana, Calif.) has been named the Mountain West Softball Player of the Week, the league announced Tuesday. It is the first career award for the sophomore and the first by an Aztec this season. Sturdivant, a third baseman, led SDSU to a 5-1 record over the week, including a 4-1 mark at the competitive Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic over the weekend in Cathedral City, Calif. San Diego State defeated 2016 NCAA tournament qualifiers Oklahoma State (17-5 in six innings) and No. 17/17 Utah (3-2), along with Stanford (5-4) and New Mexico State (10-2 in five innings). The Aztecs’ only setback was a 6-4 decision to No. 1/1 Florida State. Coupled with a 10-4 win over Siena on Tuesday, Sturdivant was 11-for-21 (.524) with two home runs, eight RBIs, six runs, four doubles and a walk, owning a .545 on-base percentage and a 1.000 slugging mark. Sturdivant, who had at least one hit in all six games, led SDSU in batting average, hits (11), doubles, home runs, total bases (21) and slugging percentage. Sturdivant started out her week Tuesday against Siena by going 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and a run. On Friday, she was 4-for-4 with two RBIs, two runs, a double and a walk against Oklahoma State. Later in the night against No. 1/1 Florida State, Sturdivant had a single. Sturdivant had another single on Saturday night vs. Stanford. On Sunday, she was 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and two runs vs. New Mexico State. Sturdivant ended her stellar weekend against No. 17/17 Utah with a solo homer in the top of the sixth inning to put San Diego State up for good at 3-2 and proved to be the game-winning RBI and run. On the season, Sturdivant leads the Aztecs with a .533 average (16-for-30), while adding 10 RBIs, seven runs, five doubles and two home runs. She has at least one hit in all nine games she has played this year. SDSU (8-5), which is receiving votes in both the USA Today/NFCA and ESPN.com/USA Softball poll, co-hosts the San Diego Classic I this weekend, beginning with games Thursday vs. McNeese State (3:30 p.m. PT) and Brigham Young (6 p.m. PT).
COMMUNITY COLLEGE ALUMNIFEST: A TICKET TO CELEBRATE ON MARCH 25
Family-friendly event hosted by San Diego Gulls and California Coast Credit Union Source: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District February 27, 2017 (El Cajon) – For the second year in a row, community college alum in San Diego and Imperial counties have a big reason to celebrate and to have more fun than you can shake a hockey stick at. On Saturday, March 25, community colleges in San Diego and Imperial counties are throwing Community College AlumniFest, hosted by California Coast Credit Union and the San Diego Gulls hockey club. Community College AlumniFest will feature a pregame Bud Light Tailgate bash beginning at 5 p.m. followed by the Gulls vs. the Bakersfield Condors at 7 p.m. for just $10, about half the price of a regular ticket. And for those who are game at trying their luck, everyone who buys an AlumniFest ticket will get a chance to win airfare for two and a four-day stay at a Caribbean resort in the Dominican Republic. Participants need not be present to win and the results will be announced the following day via email. Anyone who took even a single community college class is considered an alum and is welcome to join the fun, along with family and friends, at Valley View Casino Center, at 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., in San Diego. Attendees will be able to connect with community college friends at the AlumniFest pregame party in the north entry parking lot that will feature family-friendly games, giveaways and prizes, a Kid Zone, $5 Bud Lights, food for purchase from the neighboring Banzai Bar, and more. New this year is the exclusive on-ice suite ticket for $100 per person, which reserves a coveted on-ice spectator seat behind glass with access to the private Stella Artois Lounge. Parking is $15, cash only. Go to the San Diego MTS trip planner for assistance with taking public transit. AlumniFest is hosted by California Coast Credit Union and the San Diego Gulls Hockey Club and is made possible with the support of additional sponsors, including Wendy’s. “This is a fun and easy-on-the-wallet way for people to show their pride and support of the community colleges in our region that have opened opportunities and changed the lives of so many,” said Erich Foeckler, executive director of development of the Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges. Local community colleges are: Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges in East County; City, Mesa, Miramar colleges, along with San Diego Continuing Education, in the city of San Diego; Southwestern College in South County; and MiraCosta and Palomar colleges in North County. Imperial Valley College is in Imperial County. Tickets are nonrefundable and are selling exclusively online at www.alumnifest.org For more information, contact Kerri Ewing at kerri.ewing@gcccd.edu or call (619) 644-7883.
EXTREME FLOODING SOAKS REGION
Report rock slides, boulders or other dangerous road conditions to the County Operations Emegency Call Center (858)565-5262. Help save lives! By Miriam Raftery Photos by Christina Dahners-Johnson: Seasonal creek behind Lyons Valley Trading Post in Jamul had been dry for at least seven years before this storm. February 27, 2017 (San Diego) – Flooding is wreaking havoc on rural roads and highways countywide. In Mission Valley, the San Diego River has water cresting among the top 10 levels on record, with the ballfield at Petco Park and some parking garages currently submerged. George Barnett, a member of the Alpine Community Planning Group, posted in the Ranter’s Roost forum, “ It’s raining like hell in Alpine…Viejas Creek is way outside its normal channel and Via Viejas into the old ranch area is closed with the dam well over-flowing. To my eye, on a dark and cloudy day, more water is coming down the creek than I recall seeing in maybe 10 years.” Otay Lakes Road is closed at Pio Pico due to flooding. The Deerhorn Valley Antler reports that a car-sized boulder is beginning to slide down on the west side of Honey Springs Road north of Hradekey’s tractor. Boulders are blocking Skyline Truck Trail at Lawson Valley Road. Lyons Valley Road, Deerhorn Valley Road and other roads in the Jamul area are also reported flooded. Christina Dahners-Johnson sent photos to ECM (shown at the top of our story) with this note. “These photos are of a seasonal Creek behind the Lyons Valley Trading Post in Jamul. It hasn’t seen any water for at least seven years.” Several inches of rain have fallen in some parts of the county. Flooding earlier this evening blocked traffic on Wildcat Canyon Road in Lakeside. The County’s office of emergency services advises, “Flooding is especially dangerous at night and during commute hours. The water is deeper and moving faster than it appears. Do not drive vehicles through flooded roadways – Turn Around Don’t Drown.” The Department of Environmental Health has issued a General Advisory for coastal waters of San Diego County due to recent rainfall. Swimmers, surfers, and other ocean users are warned that levels of bacteria can rise significantly in ocean and bay waters, especially near storm drains, creeks, rivers, and lagoon outlets that discharge urban runoff. Urban runoff may contain large amounts of bacteria. Activities such as swimming, surfing and diving should be avoided in all coastal waters for 72 hours following rain. For updates on beach closures visit www.SDBeachInfocom or call the 24-hour hotline at (619)338-2073. Additionally, a massive sewage spill has caused a water contact closure for the ocean shoreline at Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge shoreline north to include all of Imperial Beach due to sewage-contaminated flows from the Tijuana River entering the United States. Access to Friendship Park at the border may also be impacted.
HELIX WATER TO CONSIDER LOWERING RATES AT MARCH 8 MEETING
East County News Service February 27, 2017 (La Mesa) — Reducing water rates will be on the agenda at a special meeting of the Helix Water District board on March 8th at 6 p.m. Director Dan McMillan has asked the board to consider cutting rates; the special meeting workshop will include discussion of current finances, water rates and what adjustments can be made. The issue of reducing water is also expected to be raised at this Wednesday’s meeting, March 1st at 6 p.m. during director’s comments and review of future agenda items. Both meetings are at the Helix Water District, 7811 University Ave., La Mesa. The March 1st meeting also includes agenda items on rejecting bids on some pipeline replacements and waiving competitive bidding on repair of a damaged aqueduct pipeline, as well as approval of mid-year budget adjustments. The board will also hear reports including the latest from the San Diego County Water Authority. View the full agenda for the March 1 public meeting: http://hwd.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/030117.pdf Director Kathleen Coates-Hedberg also provided information on the 2017 San Diego Chapter of California Special Districts Association Video Contest and asked for help to get word out to high school students. “Four winners will receive $1000 to student(s) and $500 to school,” she says. For details, see www.SanDiegoCSDA.weebly.com.
LENELLE WYLIE STARS IN “DIVA”: VISIONARY DANCE THEATRE SHOW MARCH 4
By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson Diva discovered in La Mesa February 27, 2017 (La Mesa) — Lenelle Wylie of La Mesa is a diva–in the best sense of the word. This diva can sing, dance, and act. In Wylie’s case, the meaning of diva would also include high school biology teacher, winning coach, wife, and mother to pre-teens. She will do a one-night benefit show this Saturday, March 4th, at Mission Valley’s San Diego Performing Arts Center to benefit the Visionary School for the Performing Arts. Her show will include songs with a cabaret flair, Broadway based numbers, and popular music with musings, costume changes, her kids, and more. Wylie, 39, a La Mesa resident and native, is a biology teacher and aquatics coach at Helix Charter High School. She received her degree from U.C.-Davis. She is married to James Wylie and has two daughters Lillian, 8, and Lendia, 10. “My kids started taking dance at Visionary. They asked if parents would get involved,” explained Wylie on how her ties with Visionary Dance Theatre and Visionary School for the Performing Arts in La Mesa began. Visionary Dance theatre has had performances held at the City Heights Performance Annex which includes shows Wylie has performed in, such as Pippin. She played a king. Visionary’s artistic director, Spencer John Powell, who established the performance school and theatre troupe in 2009, told Wylie that she had to get on stage and do a show. Hence the benefit show, “Diva,” was born. Wylie has been preparing, honing her vocal skills by taking vocal classes with Michael Sokol. Sokol is a distinguished performer and cantor in his own right and has coached many singers on to success. Given the range of songs she will be doing those classes will bring out more of her natural range. Wylie’s singing didn’t just happen. She was active in the choir at U.C.-Davis and grew up singing. However, singing took a backseat to working full time as a teacher, coaching her water polo team who currently landed a 2nd place finish in the San Diego County Division I finals, and family life along the way. “It really started (being involved with Visionary) as a way to do more with my family,” she noted. Wylie will extend that “to do more” to her audience at this show and benefit fellow students who will participate in this La Mesa-based school. Her show is also a part of the San Diego Theatre Week offerings which can be accessed via: (http://www.sandiegotheatreweek.com/). San Diego Theatre Week, started by the San Diego Performing Arts League, started February 26 and will run to March 5th. It is a program to introduce the diversity of shows available locally to new and old arts lovers. Tickets are available via Visionary Dance Theatre’s website, at the box office the night of the performance, and ArtsTix at www.sdartstix.com. San Diego Performing Arts Center is located at: 4579 Mission Gorge Place in San Diego. Visit www.visionarydancetheatre.org for more information.
SDSU LACROSSE’S KATRINA REEVES NAMED MPSF DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aztecs senior garners third career weekly conference honor and second of season Source: goaztecs.com Photo courtesy goaztecs.com February 27, 2017 (San Diego) – San Diego State lacrosse goalkeeper Katrina Reeves was named Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Defensive Player of the Week for two stellar performances in recent Aztec victories over Michigan and Detroit Mercy, the league office announced Monday evening. With her award, the SDSU senior garnered weekly conference accolades for the third time in her collegiate career and first this season. Reeves played in all 120 minutes for the Aztecs this past weekend, combining for 21 saves to go with a .600 save percentage and a 7.00 goals against average. In addition, the Granite Bay, Calif., native led the team with eight ground balls and five caused turnovers in two games. In SDSU’s 11-7 triumph at Michigan on Feb. 24, Reeves notched a season-high 12 saves, including eight in the first half, as the Scarlet and Black built an 8-3 lead by intermission. She also led all players with four caused turnovers and tied for game-high honors with four ground balls. Two days later at Detroit Mercy, Reeves logged nine more saves, including seven in the second half, helping the Aztecs kept the Titans off the scoreboard for the final 21:09 of the contest in an 18-7 conquest. In addition, she tied for game-high honors with four ground balls and caused one turnover. For the season, Reeves occupies the fifth spot in the MPSF with a .500 save percentage and a 10.00 goals against average. She also ranks fourth with 16 ground balls on the year and is tied for fifth with nine caused turnovers. San Diego State opens up a seven-game homestand on Sunday when it welcomes Boston University to Aztec Lacrosse Field for a non-conference tilt, starting at noon PT. Admission to all SDSU lacrosse games is free.