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CPUC PULLS PLUG ON SDG&E PLAN TO SHUT OFF POWER BEFORE SEPT. 10

Printer-friendly version  August 21, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted 3-2 to issue a restraining order temporarily halting SDG&E from shutting off power to thousands of East County residents.   The CPUC is slated to rule on September 10th whether to grant SDG&E’s request to shut-off power when fire risk is high due

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GROSSMONT COLLEGE CELEBRATES PARKING STRUCTURE OPENING WITH A ROOFTOP PARTY

Printer-friendly version  Students hail long-awaited project August 21, 2009 (El Cajon)– –Hundreds of students, faculty and community members turned out Monday, August 17 at a party atop a new $24.5 million parking garage at Grossmont College, celebrating the grand opening of the long-awaited facility, which includes a 3,200 square foot structure to house campus police. A collection of vintage cars

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SHARP GROSSMONT HOSPITAL HOLDS BLOOD DRIVE SEPT. 3

Printer-friendly version One Donation Can Save Up to Three Lives Sept. 3 – Did you know that 60 percent of the general population is eligible to give blood, but only five percent of people actually donate on a yearly basis?   Donating blood is safe, easy and it saves lives. Give the gift of life at Sharp Grossmont Hospital’s blood

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POLITICS IN PARADISE: MEET YOUR LEGISLATORS FRIDAY AUG. 21

Printer-friendly version  August 20, 2009 (El Cajon) – The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce invites members and the public to “Politics in Paradise”, an open forum with an opportunity to interact with your elected officials while they are in town during the Congressional and state legislative recesses. The event will be held Friday, August 21st at the Cuyamaca

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EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: MID-AUGUST 2009

Printer-friendly version  East County Roundup highlights the best stories about East County issues found in other publications.   August 19, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)   TOP STORIES in the past month include: In the Dark About SDG&E’s Shutoff plan SDG&E Shutoff Plan to Affect 590 People on Life Support Borrego Plans to Sell Solar Fire Officials Prepare to Scale Back Operations Tax Sought By San Miguel Fire District Defeated Bioard of Supervisors Update Community Trails Master Plan Rancho Bernardo: Winery

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EAST COUNTY WINE-MAKING COMES OF AGE

Printer-friendly version  By Miriam Raftery   Photos by Leon Thompson and Miriam Raftery   August 18, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – Could East County someday rival Napa Valley as a prime winemaking locale?   San Diego County has over 40 wineries, nearly all in the eastern regions. Bernardo Winery in Rancho Bernardo is the County’s oldest; Orfila in San Pasqual

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MARKETING MATTERS: PLANNING FOR EFFECTIVE MARKETING PART 2 – THE WHO

Printer-friendly versionTIPS AND TRICKS FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS AND GROWTH By Rama Beerfas   August 18, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)—Last month, we started talking about how to plan for a successful marketing campaign. We looked at the “why” of the campaign – the ultimate goal to be achieved. If you didn’t see that article, you can read it now at

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TEE OFF SEPT. 24 TO BENEFIT CAMP HOPE, HELP ABUSED CHILDREN

Printer-friendly version  August 17, 2009 (La Mesa) — For the past 6 years, a golf tournament has been held to support Camp Hope, a 13-acre site at the base of Lake Sutherland in the foothills of Ramona. This camp is a summer place for physically and emotionally abused children. This year, the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce will host and

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CAL FIRE DOUSES FIRE AT OLD HIGHWAY 80 IN EAST COUNTY

Printer-friendly version    August 17, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) — At 2:41 pm firefighters from CAL FIRE responded to a vegetation fire located at Old Highway 80 and Live Oak Springs. In an attempt to rapidly extinguish these flames, firefighters utilized a joint effort with allied agencies to battle the blaze.   It took 15 engine companies, 4 air tankers and

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GOLFERS PLAY TO PROTECT SCRIPPS RANCH COMMUNITY

Printer-friendly version  September 3, 2009 (Scripps Ranch)–On Saturday, September 26th 2009 at 8:00 am, the Scripps Ranch Fire Safe Council will host its third annual “PLAY TO PROTECT” Charity Golf Tournament at the Rancho Bernardo Inn Golf Course.   Proceeds help the nonprofit Council fulfill its mission to protect 12,000 Scripps Ranch homes by establishing firebreaks, clearing overgrown trails, cutting

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MAN DIES IN FALL FROM ALPINE VIEWPOINT

Printer-friendly version September 3, 2009 (Alpine) – A man plunged 200 feet to his death from a viewpoint off Eastbound I-8 east of Willows Road in Alpine this afternoon. U.S. Forest Service and Border Patrol officials responded at 12:30 p.m., when a technical rescue was attempted. However the patient was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later. Further

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HORTICULTURAL HELP LINE NOW ACCESSIBLE 24-HOURS A DAY

Printer-friendly version Water Smart Pipeline has new message option RANCHO SAN DIEGO, CA—The Water Conservation Garden’s Water Smart Pipeline is now accessible to the public 24 hours a day. Callers may record their questions day or night on the “Pipeline’s” voicemail, and will get a return phone call during Pipeline hours from local gardening expert, Nan Sterman, author of the

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2 ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS GET KIDS INVOLVED IN KEEPING AREA CLEAN & GREEN

Printer-friendly version “Sustain La Mesa” Environmental Festival – Sept. 12 Coastal Cleanup Day at Lake Murray – Sept. 19   By Kristin Hobbs Kjaero   If young people are our future, then the environment will ultimately be in their hands. Two events in East County this month provide perfect opportunities for families to spend quality time together, and for community

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DON’T MOVE OAK WOOD IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY! AUTHORITIES SEEK TO STEM SPREAD OF GOLD-SPOTTED OAK BORER

Printer-friendly version Dead, Dying, and Diseased Oaks May Be Infested San Diego, CA- August 31, 2009…The gold-spotted oak borer is a newly detected insect pest that affects California black oaks, coast live oaks, and canyon live oaks in southern California.  This pest is believed to be responsible for significant tree mortality in San Diego County. Over 17 thousand trees have been

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GAME OF THE WEEK: VALHALLA NORSEMEN TAKE AIM AT FALCONS FROM OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL (OLNEY, MD)

Printer-friendly version  by Christopher Mohr   Editor’s Note:  Starting this week, East County Magazine will have a Game of the Week article covering a football game featuring at least one high school team from the area.   September 2,  2009 (San Diego’s East County)–Our first Game of the Week takes place this Friday, when the Norsemen of Valhalla High School take on the

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WATER WARS: LEGISLATURE TO VOTE NEXT WEEK ON BILLS TO REVAMP STATE WATER SYSTEM

Printer-friendly version PERIPHERAL CANAL & DELTA PUMPING AMONG KEY POINTS OF CONTENTION   By Miriam Raftery   It’s being billed as fish vs. farmers—or, in San Diego, where water supplies have been slashed while prices soar—people vs. the Delta smelt. Senator Dennis Hollingsworth (R-Murrieta), who represents East County, has even asked the Governor to convene a “God Squad” to ease environmental

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ANDERSON IOU BILL CLEARS COMMITTEE

Printer-friendly version  September 1, 2009 (Sacramento) – Residents, business owners, charities and other organizations from around the state flooded the office of Assemblyman Joel Anderson (R-Alpine) with over 1,500 letters in support of AB 1506. The bill, authored by Anderson, would require California to accept its own IOUs as payment for taxes or fees owed to the state.   Thursday,

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21% WATER RATE HIKE TAKES EFFECT TODAY FOR HELIX WATER DISTRICT CUSTOMERS

Printer-friendly version CONSERVATION IS WORKING AS CUSTOMERS CUT WATER USE COUNTYWIDE   By Miriam Raftery September 1, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) –If you’re going to be a water hog, it’s going to cost you.  But even those who have already conserved will see a water rise on their next bills. Homeowners and businesses in the Helix Water Distirct will

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BOOK REVIEW: FIRE, CHAPARRAL, AND SURVIVAL IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Printer-friendly version  by Richard W. Halsey   Second Edition, Revised and Updated Sunbelt Publications, San Diego. 2008. 232 pages, illustrated, color plates.   Reviewed by Walter Hall   “The Viejas fire in ’01, the Galivan fire in ’02, and then again during the Cedar fire in ’03. It’s always the same damn thing.” — A weary incident commander back on

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