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CLICK TO HELP LOCAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM QUALITY FOR FUNDING

Printer-friendly versionJuly 15, 2009 (San Diego)–Gael Streck and Casey Gwinn, of the Family Justice Center in San Diego, are attempting to win an All State Foundation Fundraiser/Grant for the Alliance to help domestic violence victims and their children. By clicking on this website you can help the Alliance win funding to assist domestic violence survivors in our community: www.clicktoempower.org.   “We

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YES, THERE IS A FREE LUNCH—FOR KIDS AT KROC CENTER THIS SUMMER

Printer-friendly version  July 15, 2009 (San Diego)—Children under 18 can receive free sack lunches and milk at the Salvation Army Kroc Center from June 29th through July 31st (except July 3rd). Children under age 11 must be accompanied by an adult to receive the lunches, which are available Monday through Friday from 11 to 11:45 a.m. No paperwork or ID

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A HEARTFELT DONATION: GROSSMONT FOUNDATION RECEIVES $30,000 GRANT FOR CARDIO-VASCULAR PROGRAM

Printer-friendly version July 15, 2009 (El Cajon)–The Grossmont College Foundation, a fund-raising organization that benefits Grossmont College students and educational programs, has announced that it has received a $30,000 grant from Abbott Vascular, one of the world’s leading vascular care businesses. The grant will benefit Grossmont students who are enrolled in the college’s cardio-vascular technology (CVT) program.   According to

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COUNTY EMPLOYEES SEEK TO PUT TERM LIMITS FOR SUPERVISORS INITIATVE ON JUNE BALLOT

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery   July 13, 2009 (San Diego) – San Diego County employees today held a press conference at the San Diego County Administration Center to announce a ballot initiative that would impose term limits for the San Diego County’s Board of Supervisors. Margaret Johnson, a long-term County employee, filed an initiative with the San Diego Registrar

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PAINT THE TOWN: ARTISTS WANTED TO BEAUTIFY DOWNTOWN EL CAJON

Printer-friendly version  July 13, 2009 (El Cajon)–The El Cajon Community Development Corporation (El Cajon CDC) is looking for artists to turn unattractive utility boxes into works of art through the Utility Box Art Program (UArt).  Deadline for applications is 5 p.m. on July 30th.   Painting of the utility boxes was begun several years ago by the former City of

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SANTEE BRUSH FIRE EXTINGUISHED

Printer-friendly version July 12, 2009 (Santee) – A small brush fire that started around 4 p.m. this afternoon at 9255 Magnolia, near the Las Colinas Women’s facility in Santee, has been extinguished. The blaze burned less than three acres. No structures were damaged. Sheriff’s deputies alerted mobile home park residents in the vicinity of the fire, but no evacuations were

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FLU SHUTS DOWN DETENTION FACILITIES IN COUNTY; 400 INMATES & EMPLOYEES EXPOSED

Printer-friendly version  July 11, 2009 (San Diego) On Wednesday, July 8, 2009, two inmates housed in the South Bay Detention Facility began to exhibit flu-like symptoms. Initial testing indicated it was the Influenza-A strain of the virus. The inmates were immediately placed in isolation cells and additional testing was ordered. On July 10th, samples from the inmates were tested at the

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HOUSE PASSES SMALL BUSINESS RESEARCH AND INNOVATION ACT

Printer-friendly version  Bill aims to create jobs, spur economic growth Washington, DC – Four of five San Diego Congressional representatives (Democrats Bob Filner and Susan Davis along with Republicans Brian Bilbray and Duncan Hunter) voted to create new jobs and boost the economy by supporting the Small Business Research and Innovation Act, HR 2965. The measure is part of the

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HOUSE APPROVES FILNER AMENDMENT TO SUPPORT PARALYMPIC PROGRAM FOR INJURED VETS

Printer-friendly version  Facilities include Olympic Training Site in Chula Vista Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Bob Filner, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, announced that the House of Representatives approved a critical funding increase for a paralympic program for veterans and members of the Armed Services. Hundreds of injured veterans now actively participate in paralympic sports and training

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AT 45, FORMER STAY-AT-HOME MOM NOW HAS DREAM JOB AS FEDERAL OFFICER

Printer-friendly version    She credits Grossmont College for setting her path toward successful career They epitomize the community college success story. Either written off by others as “not college material,” or hindered by their own misgivings or trying circumstances, former students of Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges are featured in a series, “Community Colleges: A Real Chance at the Brass Ring,”

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SMOKEY SKIES OVER MIRAMAR TODAY & TOMORROW

Printer-friendly version September 11, 2009 (San Diego) – Emergency response training today at the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station sent billowing into the air, visible from nearby freeways. A training exercise also triggered false reports of a plane crash and brush fire.   Additional smoke will be visible tomorrow, when a controlled burn will be held at the base in

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EAST COUNTY ACTIVIST FILES ETHICS COMPLAINT AGAINST SEMPRA/SDG&E LOBBYIST; ATTORNEY COULD FACE DISBARMENT

Printer-friendly version September 11, 2009 (Boulevard) – Donna Tisdale, Chair of the Boulevard Planning Group (photo), has filed a formal ethics complaint with the California Bar Association against Sempra/SDG&E lobbyist Heidi DeJong Barsuglia. Barsuglia has been implicated in a sex scandal involving Assemblyman Mike Duvall, as we have previously reported.    In an e-mail to East County Magazine, Tisdale noted

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THE GREAT DEBATE! 4 CANDIDATES FOR SHERIFF FACE-OFF SATURDAY IN EL CAJON

Printer-friendly version East County Magazine Editor Miriam Raftery to Co-Moderate September 11, 2009 (El Cajon) – East County’s top law enforcement issues will be on the front burner at the hottest political debate in town Saturday, when four candidates for San Diego County Sheriff will face off on issues ranging from border protection to a jail expansion in Santee.  

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4TH ANNUAL SAFE & SOUND FIRE EXPO IN EL CAJON SATURDAY, SEPT. 12

Printer-friendly version  On September 12, 2009, the San Miguel Fire District will host our 4th Annual “Safe and Sound” Fire Expo. The event will be held at the Rancho San Diego Towne Center/YMCA, 2891 Jamacha Rd. El Cajon 92019, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.   “Our community has always faced significant fire dangers, but now with recent budget cuts,

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GAME OF THE WEEK: FOOTHILLERS TO BATTLE NORSEMEN

Printer-friendly version  by Christopher Mohr September 10,2009 (El Cajon) – In the second Game of the Week, we’re going to stay at Valhalla to see a couple of East County rivals square off. Grossmont makes a short drive south to face Valhalla Friday night. Grossmont (1-0) had a dramatic 16-14 win at home last week against Otay Ranch. After missing

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SEMPRA ISSUES VIDEO STATEMENT ON LOBBYING SCANDAL, LAUNCHES INTERNAL INVESTIGATION

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery September 10, 2009 (San Diego) – Sempra Energy today issued a video statement expressing “shock” at news that a lobbyist for the company has been implicated in a sex scandal with Mike Duvall (R-Orange County), vice chair of the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee. Duvall resigned yesterday, after his videotaped boasts were widely publicized, as East County

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COMPETITORS STILL SOUGHT FOR S.D. SENIOR OLYMPIC BALLROOM COMPETITION SEPT. 13 IN EL CAJON: “WHERE YOU’RE NEVER TOO OLD TO BE A CHAMPION”

Printer-friendly version  September 11, 2009 (El Cajon/Rancho San Diego)—If you’re over 50, now you can put on your dancing shoes–and be a good sport!  Going for the gold, competitors in the San Diego Senior Olympics this year will waltz into Cottonwood Golf Club in Rancho San Diego on September 13th to dance the night away in the Senior Olympic Game Competition.

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CPUC PULLS PLUG ON SDG&E PROACTIVE POWER SHUT OFF PLAN

Printer-friendly version  SAN FRANCISCO, September 10, 2009 – The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today denied, without prejudice, San Diego Gas and Electric Company’s (SDG&E) request to proactively shut off power when certain fire conditions are present.  According to a press release issued by the CPUC, the Comission denied the request "because SDG&E has not met its burden to demonstrate that

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ANDERSON’S IOU BILL PASSES ASSEMBLY UNANIMOUSLY; SENATE MUST ACT BY FRIDAY BEFORE LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS

Printer-friendly version  September 8, 2009 (Sacramento) – AB 1506, authored by Assemblyman Joel Anderson (R-Alpine) has passed the Assembly by a unanimous vote. The measure would require the state of California to accept its own IOUs as payment for taxes or fees.   “Your letters and voices came through loud and clear and generated momentum that carried onto the Assembly

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ASSEMBLYMEMBER SALDANA RECOMMENDS RENEWABLE STRATEGY FOR BACKCOUNTRY IN LIEU OF SHUT-OFF PLAN

Printer-friendly version September 9, 2009 (San Diego)–Assembly Member Lori Saldaña (D-San Diego) urged the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to collaborate with San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and other stakeholders in developing a long-term distributed generation strategy to reduce the risk of wildfire and provide safe power generation in case of emergencies.   Saldaña’s made her recommendations in a letter

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