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THERAPY DOGS NEEDED: TRAINING OFFERED IN BLOSSOM VALLEY

Printer-friendly version  July 19, 2009 (Blossom Valley)—Therapy dogs are needed to visit hospitals, schools, and homes of elderly people, bringing smiles to the faces of patients, students and seniors. Training is now available for dog owners who wish to have their animals take a Therapy Dog International (TDI) test on August 9th.   “I am a dog trainer who trains

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FRUITS OF THEIR LABORS: RAMONA FORUM MEMBERS REAP REWARDS OF COMMUNITY GARDEN

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery July 19, 2009 (Ramona)—“We started looking at the economy and saying hey, people are going to need to start doing community gardening,” Dave Patterson, founder of the Ramona Forum, told East County Magazine. Most members of the forum, which was founded as a political discussion group, had little experience in farming. But they did some

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RESCUE IN PINE VALLEY

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery Photo: CAL-FIRE Battalion Chief Nick Schuler July 17, 2009 (Pine Valley) – A car plunged off eastbound I-8 one mile west of the Pine Valley bridge, rolling 200 feet over the side late this afternoon.  The accident trapped inside the four-door, champagne-colored vehicle.   “An off duty CAL FIRE firefighter happened to be driving by just after the

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2 LEGAL DECISIONS ON POWERLINK ISSUED, CLOUDING FUTURE OF $1.9 BILLION PROJECT

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery   July 15, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – A pair of state and federal legal decisions further muddy the future of Sunrise Powerlink, the 150-mile-long high voltage line proposed by San Diego Gas & Electric  (SDG&E), a Sempra Energy company. One cleared a hurdle for the utility company at the state level while also opening the

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ANDERSON PROPOSES KEEPING ANZA-BORREGO OPEN IN SPRING MONTHS

Printer-friendly versionJuly 17, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)—Over a thousand letters poured into the office of Assemblyman Joel Anderson in just three days. The letters came from concerned citizens, mostly in the Borrego Springs community, in response to a state budget proposal that would close almost all state parks, including Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, as a cost-saving measure. A poll

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REP. JOHN CONYERS, IN SAN DIEGO, ASKS PUBLIC’S HELP TO ATTAIN HEALTHCARE FOR ALL

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery   July 15, 2009 (San Diego) – "We are on the right track–and we are not going to be turned back," Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) told health care reform advocates, doctors and members of community organizing groups in San Diego on Sunday.  A leader in the Civil Rights movement who drew inspiration from his father, a labor leader, Conyers is considered the

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CONGRESSWOMAN SUSAN DAVIS MEETS WITH MEDICAL EXPERTS AT SAN DIEGO HOSPICE AND INSTITUTE FOR PALLIATIVE MEDICINE

Printer-friendly version  Budget cuts threaten patient care, hospice leader warns; Pain treatments for military, quality of life programs and advanced palliative medicine education for clinicians also discussed July 15, 2009 (San Diego) – Threats to quality patient care services, as well as support for education and evidence-based research in palliative medicine were key issues discussed with Congresswoman Susan Davis during

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OTAY WATER DISTRICT HOSTS COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE JULY 21

Printer-friendly version  Residents and Businesses to learn details of Jamacha Pipeline Construction Project     July 15, 2009 (El Cajon/ Rancho San Diego, CA)  – On Tuesday, July 21, the Otay Water District will host an open house-style community meeting to address the Jamacha Pipeline Project, a 5 mile-long, $22 million pipeline construction project along a large portion of Jamacha Rd.

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SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS TO COMBAT BORDER VIOLENCE ANNOUNCED

Printer-friendly version  August 16, 2009 (San Diego) — Sheriff William D. Gore announced this week that San Diego County will receive an additional $4.9 million in funding from Operation Stonegarden. This is an augmentation of the initial $8.8 million awarded to the region last month. The Operation Stonegarden grant enhances the capabilities of local law enforcement to coordinate with federal,

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BOOK REVIEW: HOWARD DEAN’S PRESCRIPTION FOR REAL HEALTHCARE REFORM: HOW WE CAN ACHIEVE AFFORDABLE MEDICAL CARE FOR EVERY AMERICAN AND MAKE OUR JOBS SAFER

Printer-friendly version By Howard Dean, M.D. Chelsea Green Publishing   Reviewed by Miriam Raftery   The free market just doesn’t work in medicine. You can’t be an informed consumer. I never saw someone with severe chest pain jump off the table and say, Doctor, I’m going to the cheaper guy down the street.” — Howard Dean. M.D. , on a

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EAST COUNTY MAGAZINE ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH VIEJAS FIRE DEPT. TO SPONSOR FREE WILDFIRE & EMERGENCY ALERT SERVICE

Printer-friendly version August 13, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) –East County Magazine (www.eastcountymagazine.org) and Viejas Fire Department announce a partnership to improve wildfire and emergency notification for all San Diego County residents.   “We are pleased to partner with the East County Magazine on the wildfire alerts,” said Viejas Fire Chief Don Butz (photo). “Viejas tribal members have worked on

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YMCA RISES IN EAST COUNTY; PUBLIC INVITED TO “TILT UP” RISING MONDAY AUG. 17

Printer-friendly version   McGRATH FAMILY YMCA GETS ONE STEP CLOSER TO OPENING DOORS TO THE COMMUNITY Rancho San Diego (Aug. 13). –After much anticipation, the McGrath Family YMCA’s expansive concrete walls will be lifted towards the sky, giving the community a visual of what’s to come; A 35,000 sq. ft. full-service YMCA facility in Rancho San Diego. A Tilt-Up event that

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UCAN TAKES SUNRISE TO HIGH COURT FOR SUNSETTING

Printer-friendly version  August 14, 2009 — The Utility Consumers Action Network has filed two petitions with appellate courts seeking to halt construction of Sunrise Powerlink, Sempra Energy’s high-voltage power line project slated for East County.     The first was an appeal to the 4th District Court of Appeal. In it, UCAN urges the court to remand the case back

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WHAT’S NEW — & OLD! HISTORIC WALKING TOUR STARTS IN LA MESA THIS WEEKEND

Printer-friendly version  By Miriam Raftery   August 13, 2009 (La Mesa) – This Friday, Saturday and Sunday, join a historical free walking tour through downtown La Mesa and learn about our region’s colorful past. The tour will include a professional impersonator portraying Mary Porter, a famous La Mesa resident of the era, as well as music and costumed tour guides.

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ARMED ROBBERY AT WELLS FARGO BANK KIOSK IN LA MESA

Printer-friendly version  August 13, 2009 (La Mesa) — At 3:20 p.m., a lone suspect entered the Ralph’s Grocery Store, located at 8800 Grossmont Boulevard in La Mesa, and approached a teller at the Wells Fargo Bank kiosk. The suspect drew a large frame, semi-automatic pistol from his front waistband, slammed the gun on the counter, and demanded cash from the teller.

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LA MESA VOTES FOR CONDITIONAL APPROVAL OF SDG&E POWER SHUT-OFF PLAN; MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS BLAST COUNTY ON FIRE PROTECTION

Printer-friendly version  2 CONFLICTING RECOMMENDATIONS MADE TO CPUC     by Miriam Raftery   August 13, 2009 (La Mesa)—“We are here because the County has not done a damn thing to protect the people in the backcountry,” La Mesa Mayor Art Madrid said at a La Mesa City Council meeting on Tuesday. Council voted 4 to 1 to draft a letter supporting its Fire Chief in calling for

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SANTEE TOWN HALL MEETING ON CABLE SKI PARK SPARKS HEATED DEBATE

Printer-friendly version  August 13, 2009 (Santee) — The Santee City Council held a town hall meeting on Wednesday, August 12th to discuss a proposed cable ski park at Santee Lakes.   During the four-and-a-half hour session, Padre Dam officials said after six years of study, they have concluded that environmental impacts such as noise and traffic would be minimal. The

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FOUR FIRES ALONG I-8 NEAR TAVERN ROAD, ALPINE

Printer-friendly version  August 12, 2009 (Alpine) – Four small fires are burining along Eastbound Interstate 8 between Old Highway 80 and Tavern Road, near the community of Alpine (TB Map 1233) between the Dunbar and Tavern Road exits.   “The spread of all four fires has been stopped,” CAL FIRE spokesperson Roxanne Provaznik reported at 4:45 p.m. “Two of the

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