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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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AN EVENING WITH GEORGE MCGOVERN: NOV. 4 IN LA MESA

Printer-friendly version  October 30, 2009 (La Mesa)–Former Democratic Presidential candidate George McGovern will speak at the La Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club on Wednesday, November 4. McGovern will discuss his latest book, "Abraham Lincoln" as well as current topics. Besides running for President in 1972 against Richard Nixon, McGovern also served as a U.S. Senator and two-term Congressman, as well as the

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LEFT IN THE WAKE: SANTEE COUNCIL APPROVES CABLE SKI, WAKEBOARDING & RESTAURANT FACILITIES AT SANTEE LAKES OVER OBJECTIONS OF NEIGHBORS

Printer-friendly version Mayor Randy Voepel, Vice Mayor Brian Jones and Councilman Hal Ryan voted in favor, Council members Jack Dale and John Minto voted against controversial project By Miriam Raftery October 29, 2009 (Santee) – By a 3-2 vote, the Santee City Council voted last night to approve a major use permit for Sudweeks Development to construct a cable ski

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NEW SPORTS BOOK SCORES WINNING LOCATION FOR LAUNCH PARTY

Printer-friendly versionSAN DIEGO, CA October 20, 2009 Join author Joey Seymour in celebrating the launch of his new book San Diego’s Finest Athletes: Five Exceptional Lives on Thursday, November 5th. The launch party for the book, published by Sunbelt Publications of El Cajon,  will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the San Diego Hall of Champions. The San Diego

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MEETING SET FOR NOV. 9 ON SDSU AXING GUARANTEED ADMISSION FOR LOCAL STUDENTS

Printer-friendly version  San Diego Unified School Board invites parents, high school students and SDSU students impacted by changes to a special district-wide meeting     October 29, 2009 (San Diego) – San Diego Unified School Board wants to hear from parents and students impacted by San Diego State University changing its admission policies to eliminate guaranteed admissions for students who

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LA MESA BANS ALCOHOL IN ALL PUBLIC PLACES WITHOUT A PERMIT

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery October 28, 2009 (La Mesa) – At last night’s La Mesa City Council meeting, it came as a surprise to many in the audience to learn that alcohol consumption has been prohibited in City parks since 1991. Last night Council voted 5-0 to extend that ban to all public places including City streets, curbs, and

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ALERT: HIGHWAY 94 CLOSED IN LEMON GROVE

Printer-friendly versionUpdate:  The woman, who has not been identified, fell from the bridge at 3:30 p.m. while law officers tried to talk her down.  Following CPR, she was transported to a hospital. Her condition has not been released.   October 28, 2009 (1:30 p.m.) – California Highway Patrol has issued a traffic alert and shut down Highway 94 in both directions in

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SMOKIN’ HOT CHANGES AT PINNACLE PEAK

Printer-friendly version Famed Local Restaurant Serves Up Fare for a Crowd at Santee Chamber Mixer   By Miriam Raftery   October 28, 2009 (Santee) – Pinnacle Peak, East County’s Western-themed steakhouse best-known for adorning its walls with ties cut from the necks of guests who violate the casual dress code, hosted a recent mixer for the Santee Chamber of Commerce that attracted a

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EVERY DOLLAR SPENT ON METH TREATMENT SAVES $7 IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM COSTS, EAST COUNTY PILOT PROGRAM REVEALS

Printer-friendly version  October 28, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)–Operation Tip the Scale was a six month multi-jurisdictional effort in East County that sought to increase public contact with law enforcement and to provide information about how to get help with drug problems. In San Diego County, methamphetamine continues to be the drug of choice for many adults, although this operation focused on

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LIFE WALK DRAWS HUNDREDS IN LA MESA & ESCONDIDO TO FUND PRO-LIFE CURRICULUM

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery October 28, 2009 (La Mesa) — Linda Noble believes strongly that abortion is wrong. But she has taken a different approach to the controversial issue from most pro-life organizations. On Saturday, 200-300 walkers turned out in La Mesa, with more in Escondido to raise funds for an education program authored by Noble. “The political aspect

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EL CAJON ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR PLANNING COMMISSION & PLANNING COMMISSION

Printer-friendly version  October 28, 2009 (El Cajon)–If you live in the City of El Cajon and would like to be more involved in your community, consider applying for one of two City Commissions. The El Cajon City Council is accepting applications for the Personnel and Planning Commissions.   The filing period is October 14, 2009 through November 6, 2009, at 5:00

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