SINGING THE “BLUES”: LAZULI BUNTING IN JAMUL
Printer-friendly version May 10, 2018 (Jamul) — Talented wildlife photographer Debbie Ekhaml spotted this Lazuli Bunting in Jamul. These beautiful, brilliant blue songbirds are “rare” in our region, though Ekhaml says she’s previously seen one at Lake Cuyamaca, too. This bird is named for the gemstone Lapis Lazuli and is recognizable by its bright blue hue, white wingbars and rusty patch on its chest. Printer-friendly version
TOP SELLING AUTHOR, COLUMNIST AND RADIO HOST RICHARD LEDERER PRESENTS “FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT OUR PRESIDENTS” IN SANTEE MAY 16
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery May 10, 2018 (Santee) – Who was our youngest president? Who was our oldest? Who was our tallest, shortest and fattest? Find out on Wednesday, May 16th,, when San Diego Union-Tribune columnist Richard Lederer will offer a treasury of fascinating facts about the feats, families, foibles and firsts of our American presidents. The self-proclaimed “Wizard of Idiom, Attila the Pun and Conan the Grammarian” will be sharing his wit and wisdom on our nation’s presidents at the Santee City Hall, building 7, at 10671 Magnolia Avenue in Santee from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The even is sponsored by Santee Seniors 55 Plus and San Diego Oasis. It’s free and worth every penny! Dr. Lederer has sold over a million books, also hosting “A Way With Words” on KPBS and authoring “the “Lederer on Language” column in the San Diego Union-Tribune. He will be signing copies of his books at the event. His books have been named Book-of-the-Month Club and Literary Guild alternate selections and his observations on language have appeared in magazines throughout the United States. He has been elected International Punster of the Year and won the Toastmasters International Golden Gavel. In addition, he makes about a hundred appearances a year as a speaker in a wide range of venues. The master wordsmith is also the proud father of professional poker players Howard Lederer and Annie Duke and poet/memoirist Katy Lederer. Richard and his wife, Simone van Egreren, live in Scripps Ranch. For more information on the “Fascinating Facts About Our Presidents” event, call James Northum at (619)258-4100, ext. 120. To learn more about Richard Lederer or to purchase his books, visit his website at www.Verbivore.com. Printer-friendly version
EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: TOP LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS
Printer-friendly version May 10, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) — East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include: LOCAL San Diego’s night-time surf glowing with aqua colored light as bioluminescence takes hold (San Diego Union-Tribune) ·People are afraid of retribution’: Hunter clan fights for survival (Politico) Gathering aims to relaunch Minutemen, fortify border in response to caravan (SD Union-Tribune) Granite Hills High teacher resigns amid misconduct allegations (SD Union-Tribune) Lemon Grove teachers, district at impasse, hire mediator (SD Union-Tribune) San Diego DA Candidates Spar Over Police Shooting Investigations, Leadership (KPBS) Homeless court offers alternative to revolving door (SD Union-Tribune) Congressional District 50: Rep. Duncan Hunter’s campaign finance issues have drawn plenty of challengers (SD Union-Tribune) STATE Neo-Nazi candidate kicked out of California state GOP convention (NBC) Gig economy faces shakeup after California high court ruling (San Francisco Chronicle) Big utilities are desperately trying to stick consumers with bills for Calif. wildfires (Los Angeles Times) Offshore wind farms coming to California — but the Navy says no to large sections of the coast (SD Union-Tribune) 3 Californias? The initiative to break up the state may be on the ballot in November Calif. Republicans won’t endorse in governor’s race (Los Angeles Times) For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.
READER’S EDITORIAL: COUNTY READIES TO DISRESPECT THE VOTERS—BIG TIME
Printer-friendly version Reprinted with permission from the Valley Roadrunner By David Ross May 10, 2018 (Valley Center) — Anyone who knows me knows I generally turn up my nose at conspiracy theories. But there is something going on at the County’s planning department that is worthy of the word “conspiracy,” one that involves the ultimate disrespecting of the voters. Unless I’m missing something, it also has the unspoken complicity of the lame duck members of the Board of Supervisors who will exit the board at the end of 2018. Something this big could not be carried forward by the staff of County Planning and Development Services without their knowledge and tacit approval. Fortunately, we don’t need to look for proof of this conspiracy, all we have to do is watch and listen to this video: www.facebook.com/growthesandiegoway/videos/434672023613413/ That’s Mark Wardlaw, director of the department. The scheme is nothing less than pulling the rug out from under the voters of San Diego county before they can vote on a matter of land use that is worth billions of dollars. Earlier this month I ran an April Fool’s article that predicted the County was preparing to pass a bunch of general plan amendments before the voters could gather enough signatures to qualify the Safeguard Our San Diego Countryside (SOS) Initiative for the November ballot. That was a joke. Ha ha! From my clown face to God’s ear! The joke was on me. As Mark Wardlaw, the director of the department explained recently to the Planning Commission, state law limits the number of General Plan Amendments that can be passed in a calendar year to four. It so happens that this year there are quite a few General Plan Amendments in the pipeline, including the Lilac Hills Ranch reboot and Newland Sierra. Rather than simply process each General Plan Amendment in its turn, Wardlaw has proposed “bundling” them so they can be voted on all at once. Thus, eight or nine developments can be approved in one year. Now, why would the County want to do that? Why, for instance, shouldn’t Lilac Hills Ranch—which tried to jump ahead of all of the other developments by use of the initiative process two years ago—not be forced to the end of the line and be voted on after everyone else? I’m a process person. I’m less interested in whether a development is approved or how many units it has than how it got there. Rewarding arrogance violates my sense of justice. What’s the hurry? Well, the hurry is that several supervisors will be termed out at the end of this year, and this process allows them to approve these General Plan Amendments before they leave office. This way none of the incoming supervisors will be tarred with the brush of having not only ignored but acted in total contempt for the will of the voters, who by a margin of 66% two years ago turned thumbs down on Lilac Hills Ranch. Another way of looking at it is that it allows the incumbents to slip these developments under the door before any no growth or slow growth candidates can take office. Yes, we know, LHR is a “reboot” as the new developer, Ranch Capital, informs us. So, like I said earlier, it should go to the back of the line! I’m less concerned about circumventing possible supervisors like Jacqueline Arsivaud or Michelle Gomez than I am about contemptuously flicking aside the voters themselves—like lint. To me, scheduling a vote on a “bundle” of developments to slip them in before the voters approve or disapprove of the initiative that would make that sort of thing impossible is the ultimate sign of disrespect. It says to the voters, “Go ‘way, you bother me!” Putting it before the board months if not weeks before the people may be voting on whether to take this power away from the board is neither, illegal, immoral or fattening, but it is despicable. It is also corrupt. It is the County’s “deep state” thumbing its nose at the people who pays its salary. Members of this SOS group are actively collecting signatures. I don’t doubt they will gather enough to put the measure before the voters. I’ll wager better than even money the voters of San Diego County will approve of it. Our county is remarkably anti-developer considering how many people live in homes that were built by developers—but there is no accounting for hypocrisy. I’m not a member of that group, and I’m not especially sympathetic to their goal of removing a major portion of the board’s power and influence and handing it to the people. Making the voters, not the supervisors, the final arbiter in the matter of land use. I’m a believer in representative democracy, not direct democracy. I won’t be signing one of the petitions and I’ll doubt that I’ll vote for the measure. However, I’m even less sympathetic to some old pols, term-limited out of office, who nevertheless insist upon one final attempt to affix a dead man’s hand onto the future of San Diego’s undeveloped land. I’m equally contemptuous of a County warhorse like Wardlaw shepherding through this huge bundle of development, and then retiring into obscurity and prosperity as a land consultant wise in the ways of San Diego’s labyrinthine regulations. How do I know he will do this? I don’t. But it’s the way to bet. Many cities in this county already operates under such an amendment to the city charter. The SOS initiative would extend that power to the people in the unincorporated areas. If you are worried about urban sprawl you have every reason to be concerned that the County is maneuvering to render your concerns and your vote moot. Attention, attention must be paid to the voters of San Diego county! And it starts with those voters who ought to demand that the County show them some respect. The opinions in this editorial reflect the views of the author
TUBERCULOSIS SCARE AT GROSSMONT AND CUYAMACA COLLEGES
Printer-friendly version By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor May 10, 2018 (El Cajon) — This is the time of year when students have final exams and graduation on their minds. But this May, students at both Grossmont and Cuyamaca College are wondering if they have been exposed to tuberculosis at either campus. ECM’s media news partner, 10News, is reporting that The County of San Diego Health Department officials are actively working with the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District to determine to what extent students at both campuses may have been exposed to the disease from January 30 and April 24th. The college will be providing no-cost screenings to people who are identified as possibly having been exposed to TB. According to San Diego County’s public health officer, Dr. Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., symptoms of active TB include persistent cough, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss. She said to the County News Service that most people who are exposed do not develop the disease and TB can be treated and cured with medication. Individuals who encounter the symptoms of TB or are immune-compromised are urged to see their medical provider to rule out having the disease. Left untreated, TB can be fatal. Individual infected with TB bacteria who are not sick may still need treatment to prevent TB disease from developing in the future. The County has not publicly identified who contracted TB, the circumstances, or the areas of the campuses the individual(s) frequented. Follow Paul Kruze on Twitter and Facebook: @PaulKruzeNews Printer-friendly version
SDSU TRACK & FIELD: ASIA SMITH IN SECOND PLACE MIDWAY THROUGH HEPTATHLON AT MW CHAMPIONSHIPS
Printer-friendly version The freshman tied for first in the high jump Source: goaztecs.com Photo courtesy goaztecs.com May 9, 2018 (Clovis) – Asia Smith finished the first day of the 2018 Mountain West Outdoor Championships in second place (out of 12) after completing four of the heptathlon’s seven events Wednesday evening at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium in Clovis, Calif. Competing in warm and breezy conditions, Smith tied for first in the high jump, took third in the shotput, fifth in the 100 meter hurdles and seventh in the 200 meter dash. Smith, a freshman from Escondido, Calif., cleared 5’ 7.25” in the high jump, a new personal best, to tie Nevada’s Nicole Ader for first place Smith had a toss of 38’ 10.25” in the shot put, good for third place. Smith finished the 100 meter hurdles in 14.36 seconds, earning fifth place. Her previous best time was 14.54, although she had a tail wind of 2.3 m/s Wednesday afternoon. In her last event, the 200 meter dash, Smith clocked in 25.82, her second time breaking 26 seconds this season. UP NEXT On Thursday, Smith will wrap up the heptathlon, competing in the long jump, javelin and 800 meter run. Her first event is the long jump, which begins at 4:30 p.m. PT. THE NOTE I Smith’s high jump of 5’ 7.25” was not only a personal best, but also was the highest leap for an Aztec so far this season. The previous high was 5’ 5.75” by Hannah Taylor at the Jim Bush Legends Invitational March 31. THE NOTE II Smith is one of two freshmen competing in the 12 person field. The other, Utah State’s Talie Bonds, won the 100 meter hurdles, but sits in fourth place overall through four events. 2018 Mountain West Outdoor Championships May 9, 2018 – Day One Clovis, Calif. Veteran’s Memorial Stadium Heptathlon Day One (4 of 7 Events) 1. Jestena Mattson (Fresno St.) – 3332 points 2. Asia Smith (SDSU) – 3269 points 100m Hurdles 1. Talie Bonds (Utah St.) – 13.94 (+1.9) 5. Asia Smith (SDSU) – 14.36w (+2.3) – 928 points High Jump T-1. Asia Smith (SDSU) – 5’ 7.25” (1.71m) *PR* – 867 points T-1. Nicola Ader (Nevada) – 5’ 7.25” (1.71m) Shot Put 1. Stella Clemens (UNLV) – 41’ 1.5” (12.53m) 3. Asia Smith (SDSU) – 38’ 10.25” (11.84m) – 651 points 200m Dash 1. Jestena Mattson (Fresno St.) – 24.46w (+2.6) 7. Asia Smith (SDSU) – 25.82w (+2.7) – 813 points Printer-friendly version
THE GARDEN HOSTING CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAY ON MAY 19
Printer-friendly version Source: Helix Water District May 9, 2018 (Rancho San Diego) — The award-winning Water Conservation Garden will host Customer Appreciation Day on Saturday, May 19, for customers of Helix Water District, the City of San Diego, Otay Water District and Sweetwater Authority. The free event opens at 9 a.m. and ends at 1 p.m., offering a fun Saturday morning before the day heats up. And, Kona Ice will be there again this year, keeping it cool with FREE Hawaiian Shave Ice, which begins as a snow cone but tastes like a Hawaiian vacation when sweet cream and fresh fruit are added. There will be a limit of ONE FREE shave ice per person, while supplies last. The event offers activities for kids, plus Ms. Smarty Plants, Butterfly Encounters, Tortoise Talk and garden tours. Homeowners can learn how to “Toss the Turf”, discover drought-tolerant plants, get landscaping advice and tour The Garden’s five acres for landscaping inspiration. Helix Water District co-funded the development of The Water Conservation Garden so East County residents could experience the beauty of water efficient landscaping and envision a water efficient landscape of their own. The Garden also offers classes and events throughout the year. The Garden is located on the Cuyamaca College campus at 12122 Cuyamaca College Drive West in El Cajon, just off Jamacha Road. For more information, go to thegarden.org or call The Water Conservation Garden at 619-660-0614. Printer-friendly version
SDSU WOMEN’S GOLF TIES FOR SEVENTH AT NCAA SAN FRANCISCO REGIONAL
Printer-friendly version Aztecs fall one stroke shy of sixth-place cutoff mark for national championships Source: goaztecs.com Photo: Mila Chaves finished a solo 12th at the San Francisco Regional on Wednesday. Courtesy goaztecs.com May 9, 2018 (San Francisco) – Despite recording its highest placement ever in a regional tournament, the San Diego State women’s golf team fell just short in its bid for the first NCAA Championship appearance in program history after tying for seventh at the San Francisco Regional on Wednesday at TPC Harding Park Golf Course. For the second time this week, the Aztecs established a school record for lowest 18-hole team score in a regional event, logging a collective 1-under-par 287 during the final round on the par-72, 6,369-yard layout. However, the Scarlet and Black ultimately finished one stroke shy of the coveted sixth-place cutoff mark, posting a three-day total of 6-over 870, as Colorado (+5) wrested the regional’s final berth in the NCAA Championships away from SDSU and Oklahoma State. The Aztecs, who entered the day in 11th place, vaulted back into contention after draining a collective seven birdies against two bogeys over the first five holes. Weathering a mid-round stretch of seven counted bogeys and one double bogey, SDSU received spot-free performances from its top four players over the last six holes, but was unable to position itself for a possible playoff to determine the final spot. Individually, the Aztecs boasted two top-15 golfers, including Mila Chaves (Ascunción, Paraguay), who finished alone in 12th place with a 2-under 214 after carding a 73 on Wednesday. The reigning Mountain West champion opened with a birdie on the 10th green, but suffered two hiccups with a bogey at the par-5 12th, followed by an untimely double bogey on the par-4, 317-yard No. 16, which knocked her out of the top five on the leaderboard. However, the SDSU senior regrouped with two additional birdies on the back nine, including a successful conversion at the par-3, 180-yard No. 8, which ranked as the fifth-toughest hole of the week. With her total, Chaves set an Aztec individual record for lowest three-round score in a regional tournament, logging the team’s highest finish in postseason competition since Malin Enarsson tied for the 12th spot at the Central Regional in 2010. In addition, Haleigh Krause (Eugene, Ore.) registered her highest placement of the year, tying for the 13th position with a 1-under 215 thanks to a final-round 70. The Aztec senior sank three birdies of her own, including an impressive make on the par-4, 380-yard No. 13, which ranked as the third-most difficult hole of the tournament. Krause also notched a team-high 14 pars, including eight straight down the stretch to jump eight places in the standings. Similarly, fellow classmate Georgia Lacey (Del Mar, Calif.) registered her highest finish in four regional appearances, tying for 40th at 5-over 221 after shooting a 73. The Torrey Pines High product began her back-nine with an inopportune bogey at the par-4 No. 1, but played spot-free golf the rest of the way, collecting seven pars to go with a birdie on the par-4, 390-yard No. 6. Meanwhile, Sara Kjellker (Hollviken, Sweden) rebounded from a shaky second round to tie her season-best with a 71 on Wednesday. The Aztec freshman paced the squad with four birdies, including a three on her first five holes, capped by an impressive drain on the par-4, 400-yard 14th, which ranked as the sixth-toughest green of the round. Despite back-to-back bogeys at No. 2 and No. 3, Kjellker still leaped 17 places into the 55th position at 7-over 223. The SDSU lineup also included Gioia Carpinelli (Boppelsen, Switzerland), who tied for 79th at 14-over 230 in her initial regional appearance after shooting a final-round 78. The Aztec freshman opened with five straight pars and was just 2-over for the day at the turn, but could not regroup on the back nine where she suffered four additional bogeys. Host Stanford (-8) captured the San Francisco Regional title with an eight-shot victory over UCLA (-4), while Ole Miss (-1), Louisville (E), Kent State (+1) and the aforementioned Colorado squad punched their tickets to the NCAA Championships as well. UCLA’s Patty Tavatanakit (-8) shot a final-round 67 to jump three places on the leaderboard and claim medalist honors over Stanford’s Emily Wang (-7), while Bruin teammate Mariel Galdiano, California’s Marthe Wold and Ole Miss’ Julia Johnson each tied for third at 6-under. Wold was one of three individuals not on an advancing team to qualify for nationals, joining Pepperdine’s Hira Naveed (-5) and Oklahoma State’s Emma Broze (-3), who defeated NC State’s Laura Kowohl in a sudden-death playoff. 2018 San Francisco Regional Final Results TPC Harding Park G.C. San Francisco, Calif. Par 72, 6,369 yards Team Scores (Top six teams advance to NCAA Championships) 1. Stanford…287-287-282—856 (-8) 2. UCLA…280-295-285—860 (-4) 3. Ole Miss…290-287-286—863 (-1) 4. Louisville…287-294-283—864 (E) 5. Kent State…284-290-291—865 (+1) 6. Colorado…284-298-287—869 (+5) T7. San Diego State…289-294-287—870 (+6) T7. Oklahoma State…291-289-290—870 (+4) 9. North Carolina…289-292-290—871 (+5) 10. South Carolina…296-289-288—873 (+9) 11. Pepperdine…297-285-294—876 (+12) 12. California…297-292-290—879 (+15) 13. NC State…296-296-291—883 (+19) 14. Oregon…287-290-308—885 (+21) 15. Princeton…305-299-297—901 (+37) 16. Long Beach State…304-304-297—905 (+41) 17. Grand Canyon…306-306-300—912 (+48) 18. Farleigh Dickinson…315-312-309—937 (+73) Individual Leaders (Top 5 of 96 players + SDSU) 1. Patty Tavatanakit, UCLA…68-73-67—208 (-8) 2. Emily Wang, Stanford…71-69-69—209 (-7) T3. Julia Johnson, Ole Miss…71-72-67—210 (-6) T3. Marthe Wold, California…71-70-69—210 (-6) T3. Mariel Galdiano, UCLA…66-75-69—210 (-6) — 12. Mila Chaves, SDSU…71-70-73—214 (-2) T13. Haleigh Krause, SDSU…71-74-70—215 (-1) T40. Georgia Lacey, SDSU…72-76-73—221 (+5) 55. Sara Kjellker, SDSU…75-77-71—223 (+7) T79. Gioia Carpinelli, SDSU…78-74-78—230 (+14) Final results Printer-friendly version