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EIGHT YEARS AFTER SANTANA AND GRANITE HILLS SHOOTINGS, PEACE PATROL PROGRAM TEACHES NONVIOLENCE; ROTARY AWARDS PEACEMAKER AWARD TO STUDENT EVY PONCE

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Evelyn Ponce, 9, receives Peace Award from La Mesa-Sunrise Rotary Club President David Roberts (Miriam Raftery) March 8, 2009 (La Mesa) — The La Mesa Sunrise Rotary chapter has presented its Peacemaker of the Year Award to Evelyn (Evy) Ponce, a nine-year-old student at Lexington Elementary School in El Cajon to honor her “outstanding work” with

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COCONUTS SPA BRINGS TOUCH OF TROPICS TO LA MESA

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Bob Lyon and his wife, Deedee March 8, 2009 (La Mesa) — Luau foods, seashell leis, and other touches of the tropics greeted guests at the grand opening of Coconuts Salon & Day Spa in La Mesa this weekend. Located behind the Brigantine Restaurant at 9340 Fuerte Drive, the salon formerly known as Transformations has been

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WHERE’S THE PORK? NO MONEY FOR FIRE STATIONS OR FIRE PREVENTION IN SAN DIEGO’S PROPOSED STIMULUS PROJECTS

Printer-friendly version   "The City and County never asked the fire departments. We are very disappointed," — August Ghio, President, San Diego Fire Chiefs Association   By Miriam Raftery   March 5, 2009 (San Diego)–Why didn't a city and county that have suffered through the worst wildfires in California history request funds through the federal stimulus program for any fire

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EL CAJON FIRE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES FUNDING TO ENHANCE TRAINING

Printer-friendly versionEL CAJON, Calif. (March 6, 2009)–CMR Risk & Insurance Services and Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company are teaming up to award a $6,000 grant to the El Cajon Fire Department to help fund the city’s firefighter training academy. The money will go toward instructor fees, purchasing materials, and buying necessary supplies. Each program at the academy teaches a specific function

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CUYAMACA COLLEGE HOSTS ITS FIRST SUSTAINABLE URBAN LANDSCAPE CONFERENCE

Printer-friendly version2-day event to be followed by plant fair open to the public March 10, 2009 (El Cajon)–Cuyamaca College is hosting a conference featuring leading landscape professionals and bus tours of eco-friendly sites Thursday and Friday, March 12 and 13, a precursor to it becoming among the first community colleges in the nation to offer a degree in sustainable urban

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SANTREE FEST AND EARTH DAY CELEBRATION MARCH 14

Printer-friendly versionMarch 10, 2009 (Santee)–Santee invites the public to participate in "SanTree Fest," an Earth Day celebration from 9:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 14th at Mast Park, located at 9125 Carlton Hills Blvd. Festivities begin at 9:45 with a nature walk departing from a trail entrance at the northwest side of the Wal-Mart parking lot. A community

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WATER-WISE PLANT FAIR MARCH 14

Printer-friendly versionMarch 10, 2009 (El Cajon)–Cuyamaca College hosts a water-wise plant fair on March 14th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A large selection of water smart perennials, shrubs, trees, grasses, cacti and succulents, and more will be on sale from Southern California vendors. Now you can shop for water-wise plants–and support public education in an era of dwindling funds.

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OBAMA BUDGET INCLUDES BIG INCREASE IN FUNDS FOR VETERANS, FILNER SAYS

Printer-friendly versionMarch 1, 2009 (Washington, D.C.) — House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) provided the following statement on President Obama’s Budget Outline for the Department of Veterans Affairs for Fiscal Year 2010. “I applaud President Obama’s budget request for the Department of Veterans Affairs. After sixteen years on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I am very encouraged that this

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EAST COUNTY ROUND-UP–FEBRUARY

Printer-friendly version East County Roundup highlights the best stories about East County issues found in other publications. CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR PROPOSES ONE-STOP PERMITTING FOR ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION New York Times (February 24, 2009) — California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) is proposing a single-stop permitting agency for electricity transmission and renewable energy projects. The proposed state Energy Department would consolidate permitting efforts divided

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GROSSMONT COLLEGE SEEKS ALUMNI TO HONOR IN WALK OF FAME

Printer-friendly version March 4, 2009 (El Cajon)—The Grossmont College Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises funds for educational programs benefiting students at Grossmont College in El Cajon, is seeking nominations for its 2009 Walk of Fame Alumni Award. The Walk of Fame, located on campus in the Main Quad area, is a display of several bronze plaques embedded in concrete

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WALKIOUT AND PICKETING PLANNED MONDAY AT ALL GUHSD SCHOOLS TO PROTEST FIRINGS OF LIBRARIANS AND TEACHERS; DISTRICT TO HOLD MEETING TUESDAY NIGHT

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery March 9, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) –A student walkout is slated for 12 p.m. Monday at all Grossmont Union HIgh School District schools during the lunch hour, though the district has sent a memo warning students that leaving school is considered truancy. In addition, picketing by parents and teachers is planned before school starting

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GROSSMONT HEALTHCARE DISTRICT OUSTS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Printer-friendly versionBy Karen Pearlman March 6, 2025 (La Mesa) — The five-member Grossmont Healthcare District Board of Directors has decided not to renew the contract of CEO Christian Wallis. Wallis, who was hired by the district in 2021 for a two-year contract at $215,000 per year, was given a two-year extension and a cost of living raise in 2023 to $247,424

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LEMON GROVE CITY COUNCIL HOLDS CONTENTIOUS HEARING OVER TINY HOMES PROJECT FOR HOMELESS

Printer-friendly versionCouncil fields questions and concerns regarding County’s project planned on Caltrans property Story and photos by Karen Pearlman  March 6, 2025 (Lemon Grove)  – The controversy and concerns surrounding a planned interim housing project at Troy Street and Sweetwater Road continues to drive a wedge between residents and members of the Lemon Grove City Council — and looks to be headed

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ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

Printer-friendly versionMarch 6, 2025 — As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include: U.S. Military cuts Trump fires chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and two other military officers (AP) Hegseth orders major

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WINERY OWNERS’ HOME ROBBED OF JEWELRY, COINS IN RAMONA: 2 OTHER WINERIES REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery Photo, left: photos of some items stolen Feb. 23 from Hatfield Creek Winery’s owner   March 6, 2025 (Ramona) – The Sheriff’s department seeks public help to find robbers who stole nearly $15,000 worth of jewelry and collectible coins from the owner’s home at Hatfield Creek Vineyard and Winery on State Route 78 in Ramona.  

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WINTER SNOW COULD DROP FOOT OF SNOW ON MT. LAGUNA TONIGHT AND TOMORROW

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery March 5, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – A major storm system will bring strong winds and rain across our region, with heavy snow forecast starting tonight in East County mountains.  Mount Laguna could receive up to a foot of snow, with up to eight inches on Palomar Mountain and three inches in Julian by

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EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS

Printer-friendly versionMarch 5, 2025 (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 round-up stories include: LOCAL More Industrial Chemicals Found in Sweetwater Reservoir (Voice of San Diego Keeping Lakeside egg ranch flu-free takes constant vigilance. Would a vaccine help?  (San Diego

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SDSU MEN’S BASKETBALL: AZTECS TAME LOBOS

Printer-friendly versionSan Diego State had four players in double figures and held New Mexico, which is scoring 83 points a game, to 65 in a 73-65 win. Source:  goaztecs.com Photo courtesy goaztecs.com March 5, 2025 (San Diego) – The San Diego State men’s basketball team had four players in double figures, including a career-high matching 10 points from forward Miles

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TRUMP PROMISES ‘SURGING’ AMERICAN DREAM, TALKS TOUGH ON MORE TARIFFS

Printer-friendly versionBy Chris Jennewein, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association Photo:  President Donald Trump addresses Congress.  Screenshot from C-SPAN March 5, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) – President Donald Trump told Congress Tuesday that “the American dream is surging bigger and better than ever before” and promised that new tariffs on Mexico — despite worrying San

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CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS ARE WORKING TO COMBAT SURVEILLANCE PRICING

Printer-friendly versionLocal Assemblyman working to minimize surveillance pricing, while new FTC chairman blocks public comments By G. A. McNeeley  March 5, 2025 (San Diego) — Most people might not know that companies with an online presence are using personal information about customer’s buying habits to charge them a higher price for products, if they think you’re likely to pay it.

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