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LA MILPA ORGANICA FARM OPEN HOUSE & POTLUCK MOVIE NIGHT: SAT. JUNE 20

Printer-friendly versionJune 19, 2009 (Escondido) – La Milpa Organica Farm invites the public to join in a potluck that also features freshly-made wood-fired pizzas and a family-friendly film showing outdoors beneath oak trees after dark. The event will be held at 9928 Protea Gardens Road, Escondido from 3 to 10 p.m. Guests are asked to “bring something tasty to share”;

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HELIX WATER DISTRICT TO IMPOSE LEVEL 2 WATER RESTRICTIONS JULY 1: OUTDOOR WATERING RESTRICTED TO 3 DAYS A WEEK–EXCEPT FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH WATER-EFFICIENT IRRIGATION SYSTEMS

Printer-friendly versionBy Kate Breece HWD Public Affairs Editor’s Note: Due to a family emergency I was unable to cover this important hearing. Thanks to Kate Breece at Helix Water District for providing this summary of the Board’s decision. La Mesa, CA – Thursday, June 18, 2009 – Due to water the allocation cutback of 8% from the San Diego County

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BUDGET AXE FALLS ON POWAY DAYS PARADE—UNLESS CITIZENS CAN SAVE IT

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery June 18, 2009 (Poway)—Poway Councilmembers voted Tuesday to stave off cuts in public safety services and avoid lay-offs, but opted to cancel the Poway Days Parade and reduce park hours to make ends meet amid state budget cuts. The parade has been a 44-year tradition in the community. Council adopted a $33.2 million general fund budget

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GONE TO POT: FALLBROOK DEPUTIES BUST MARIJUANA GROWERS, ARREST THREE

Printer-friendly versionJune 18, 2009 (Fallbrook) Three people were taken into custody for cultivating marijuana on Tuesday afternoon by Sheriff’s Deputies from the Fallbrook Substation. Deputy Andrew Brumfield was alerted by a concerned citizen of a possible marijuana grow in the Deluz Canyon area off of Calle Roxanne Road. Deputies Brumfield, Mark Cahill and Jeff Holder formulated a plan to conduct

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FIRST DEATH FROM H1N1 INFLUENZA VIRUS IN SD COUNTY: ESCONDIDO WOMAN, 20, DIES AT PALOMAR MEDICAL CENTER

Printer-friendly versionJune 20, 2009 (San Diego)–Escondido resident Adela Chevalier, 20, has died of H1N1 influenza (previously known as swine flu) at Palomar Medical Center in Escondido. Previously young and healthy, her death leaves some health experts concerned over whether the disease could have mutated into a more virulent form, though County Health authorities urge people not to panic. “We understand

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SUPERVIORS TO HOLD HEARINGS WED. JUNE 24 ON EXPANSION OF LAS COLINAS PRISON IN SANTEE

Printer-friendly versionJune 18, 2009 (Santee, California) – On Wednesday, June 24, 2009, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors will consider whether to approve the revised draft environmental impact report (EIR) for the expansion of Las Colinas Detention Facility in Santee. Santee Mayor Randy Voepel opposes the expansion, arguing that it is unnecessary and that the jail sits on land

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MINUTEMEN LEADER ARRESTED IN MURDER OF 9-YEAR-OLD VISITED EAST COUNTY MINUTEMEN TRAINING CAMP

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Exclusive: An East County Magazine special report   June 14, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – Shawna Forde, leader of Minutemen America Defense(MAD), has been arrested along with two men and charged with double homicide in a home invasion. The victims included a nine-year-old girl and her father. Forde has recently visited Camp Vigilance, a high-desert

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PUBLIC HELP SOUGHT TO SAVE MOTHER GOOSE PARADE

Printer-friendly versionJune 16, 2009 (El Cajon)–The Mother Goose Parade is a long-standing holiday tradition in East County–and the largest parade of its kind west of the Mississippi River. Floats, giant balloons, marching bands, equestrian entries and Santa Claus have long been part of the festivities. But this year, without public support the 63rd Annual Mother Goose Parade may not happen

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SAN DIEGO COUNTY IS AMONG WORST-HIT AREAS IN NATION FROM GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE, NEW FEDERAL STUDY FINDS

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery June 17, 2009 (Washington D.C.)—Recent warming in the Southwestern U.S. including San Diego County has been among the worst in the nation, according to a newly-released federal report begun under the Bush administration and finalized by the Obama administration. Average temperatures here have increased 1.5 degrees during the past 20 years and are projected to soar

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CONGRESS GRANTS FDA AUTHORITY TO REGULATE TOBACCO PRODUCTS, PROTECT KIDS; LOCAL CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES DIVIDE VOTES

Printer-friendly versionCONGRESS GRANTS FDA AUTHORITY TO REGULATE TOBACCO PRODUCTS, PROTECT KIDS FROM SMOKING IMPACTS June 16, 2009 (Washington D.C.) The House and Senate have passed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, designed to protect children and teens from the harmful effects of smoking. The bill grants the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to regulate the advertising, marketing

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SANTEE CHAMBER ANNOUNCES AWARDS FINALISTS

Printer-friendly versionOctober 1, 2009 (Santee)–The Santee Chamber of Commerce announces finalists for the 2009 Santee Chamber Awards Night, which will be held on October 16 at Barona Resort & Casino.     Small Business of the Year Finalists: Ronn Hall Insurance Services, Cookies By Design & Eccentric International Chefs   Medium Business of the Year Finalists: Michael’s Grill, Union Bank of

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RAMONA FIRE VICTIMS FIND A “VINE” WAY TO BUILD HOME THAT’S FIRE-SAFE & GREEN

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery    Zak Valade and his wife, Gina, lost their home in the 2007 Witch Creek fire. Now, they’re rebuilding a new home designed by famed architect Drew Hubbell,.constructed of fire-safe and energy efficient materials. They’ve also ripped out their avocado grove and planted a vineyard instead.   “Today, this is the new fire buffer,” Zak Valade

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BRUSH FIRE IN ESCONDIDO AREA ENDANGERS HOMES

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery Photo by Tracy Emblem   September 28, 2009 5:40 p.m. (Escondido) — A brush fire reported at 5:05 p.m. today at Bear Valley Parkway and San Pasqual Road has burned three to four acres, CAL-FIRE spokesperson Denise Kessel informed East County Magazine.   According to Incident Reporting Network, homes are in danger and air support was

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EDITORIAL: AN OPEN LETTER TO THE SDSU COMMUNITY

Printer-friendly version by SDSU President Stephen L. Weber   Sept. 21, 2009 (San Diego) — As  a direct result of devastating state budget cuts of $571 million, the California State University is reducing enrollment system-wide this year and next by 40,000 undergraduate students. Over the same period, San Diego State will be reducing its enrollment by 4,588 undergraduates.   These cuts

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VICTIM IDENTIFIED IN EL CAJON MOBILE HOME FIRE

Printer-friendly version  September 28, 2009 (El Cajon) – Karen Hunter was found dead following a fire in her mobile home that began shortly before 7 p.m. last night, the County Coroner’s office has confirmed. Heartland Dispatch received numerous calls about the fire at El Capitan Mobile Home Park, 1425 E. Madison Avenue.   El Cajon firefighters were cooking their dinner

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JERRY BROWN ADDRESSES DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION IN SAN DIEGO; ATTORNEY GENERAL CALLS FOR REFORMS, HINTS AT THROWING HAT IN RING FOR GOVERNOR’S RACE

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery   September 27, 2009 (San Diego) – “Our state is in trouble,” former Governor and current Attorney General Jerry Brown said at the San Diego Grassroots Democratic Convention here yesterday. Massive deficits coupled with tax revenues drying up are crippling education and public safety, Brown suggested during his speech and in an interview with East

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TRIO OF REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR CANDIDATES ADDRESS STATE GOP CONVENTION

Printer-friendly version   Whitman takes heat for failure to vote for nearly 3 decades By Miriam Raftery   September 27, 2009 (Indian Wells) – Three Republican candidates vying for the California governorship offered contrasting views on how to revive the state’s ailing economy—and lobbed some pointed barbs at each other at this weekend’s state Republican convention.   In recent months,

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HEALTH CARE REFORM: CAN WE PASS THE FINAL HURDLE? OCT. 20 IN SAN DIEGO

Printer-friendly version  September 27, 2009 (San Diego) – Want to learn more about healthcare reform options?  San Diego’s League of Women Voters presents a luncheon featuring keynote speaker Gerald Kominski, Ph.D., professor at UCLA School of Public Health and Associate Director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. Dr. Jeoffrey Gordon from California Physicians Alliance will also speak, summarizing the

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WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT HEALTHCARE MAY HURT YOU

Printer-friendly version Ex-Senator Kuehl Leads New Effort to Win Healthcare for All Californians   By Miriam Raftery   September 27, 2009 (San Diego) –Speaking to the San Diego League of Women Voters last week, former state Senator Sheila Kuehl shared some startling facts: California law used to require insurance companies to be nonprofits.  Since that law changed, premiums have skyrocketed much faster than

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