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CONTROLLED BURN AT CUYAMACA RANCHO STATE PARK WEDNESDAY; SMOKE MAY BE VISIBLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS

Printer-friendly version  November 16, 2009 (Cuyamaca) — Personnel from Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, in cooperation with CAL FIRE, will conduct a controlled burn on Middle Peak north of Cuyamaca Peak on Wednesday. Smoke and flames will be visible from many areas in the county due to high altitude location. Residents in Ramona will have an especially clear view, although the

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“CLEAN SHAVE DAY” NOV. 16 KICKS OFF MUSTACHES FOR KIDS FUNDRAISER IN LA MESA

Printer-friendly version    November 16, 2009 (La Mesa) –Teachers at Helix Charter High School are growing mustaches for charity. Mustaches for Kids is a volunteer-run organization started in Los Angeles in 1999 to do good and have fun by growing mustaches for children’s charities. Since its humble beginnings, Mustaches for Kids satellite chapters have spread across the continent, a steady

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CROWD TURNS OUT FOR NUTRITION ZONE OPENING IN SANTEE

Printer-friendly version   By Miriam Raftery   November 15, 2009 (Santee) – Nutrition Zone, a retailer of discount sports nutrition and weight loss products, didn’t just talk about fitness at its grand opening last weekend. Guests climbed a rock wall, jumped and bounced on giant inflatable recreation devices. On hand were fitness and nutrition experts to advise on everything from

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GARDEN FARMS MARKET CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING IN LAKESIDE

Printer-friendly version November 15, 2009 (Lakeside) – Community leaders turned out for a grand opening at Garden Fresh Market in Lakeside last weekend, where children frolicked down a giant inflatable slide as parents shopped and savored free barbecued hotdogs and tacos. “We have more products now,” said owner Noko Kako, an Iraqi Chaldean immigrant who also owns markets in Chula

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HIGH WIND WARNING, RED FLAG ALERTS ISSUED FOR EAST COUNTY

Printer-friendly version  November 14, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a red flag alert for high fire danger area Sunday and Monday in San Diego County’s mountain areas, due to low humidity and gusty winds. In addition, a high wind warning has been issued for San Diego County mountains and valleys from Sunday morning

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MEMORIAL SERVICE SATURDAY AT GROSSMONT COLLEGE FOR KYRSTIN GEMAR, STAR SOFTBALL PLAYER WHO DROWNED IN A POND IN N. DAKOTA

Printer-friendly version  November 13, 2009 (El Cajon) — — A public memorial service for former Grossmont College softball player Kyrstin Gemar, 22, will be held at on Saturday morning, November 14, 2009 11 a.m. at Grossmont College, 8800 Grossmont College Dr., El Cajon. The public memorial service will be held at the college’s Main Quad area, where graduation ceremonies are

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REOPENING EL CAJON TRANSIT CENTER TO SAVE MTS $400,000 AND BRING NEW REVENUES, JOBS

Printer-friendly version  November 14, 2009 (El Cajon) – Originally slated for demolition, the newly renovated San Diego Metropolitan Transit System’s El Cajon Transit Center was reopened Wednesday.   Renovated by BriceHouse Kobey, LCC, a partnership of two San Diego-based companies, The Kobey Corporation and BriceHouse Starboard, the revamped Transit Center and will include a full-service convenience store. The “A-Mart” outlet

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SUMMIT SEEKS HELP FOR GROWING REFUGEE POPULATION IN EAST COUNTY

Printer-friendly version Nearly 85% of local refugees are from war-torn Iraq, straining resources on schools and social services; local leaders call for major changes in treatment of refugees   "We can create a national model," — Sunny Cooke, president, Grossmont College   November 12, 2009 (El Cajon) – Impacts of the Iraq War are hitting home in East County, where so

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SWINE FLU STRAIN IN SAN DIEGO MATCHES DEADLY VIRUS IN MEXICO; ANTI-VIRAL MEDICINES COMBAT DISEASE IF TREATED EARLY

Printer-friendly version  By Miriam Raftery ECM intern Marissa Kerizan also contributed to this story.   April 25, 2009 (San Diego)—The Center for Disease Control has found that swine flu virus strains in San Diego match samples of a virus that has killed 81 people and sickened over 1,300 in Mexico. In Mexico City, where the majority of cases occurred, all

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HOLLINGSWORTH OPPOSES BILLS TO RESTRICT SALE OF TOBACCO NEAR SCHOOLS & ADD RENEWAL FEE FOR TOBACCO LICENSES; SENATOR TOOK HEFTY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM TOBACCO INDUSTRY

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery April 24, 2009 (Sacramento) California State Senate Leader Dennis Hollingsworth (R-Murietta), whose district includes San Diego’s East County, has issued a statement opposing three bills aimed at restricting sale of tobacco to minors. The three measures, SB 601, 602 and 603, passed the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee on a party-line vote. Holilngsworth took $39,500 in

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SMALL BRUSH FIRE CONTAINED IN SAN MARCOS

Printer-friendly version (Capt. Nick Schuler, Cal-Fire) April 19, 2009 (San Marcos)—A small brush fire was contained shortly after it broke out around 1 p.m. near the 3000 block of North Twin Oaks Valley Road, CAL FIRE reports.  “Due to the quick response of firefighters, no structures were damaged of destroyed,” said CAL-FIRE Captain Nick Schuler.  “The fire was burning in

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CONGRESSMAN FILNER JOINS LOCAL OFFICIALS TO OPPOSE RELEASE OF CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER TO OTAY MESA

Printer-friendly version ( Manuel Paul, San Ysidro School District Superintendent; Clarissa Falcon, District Director for State Senator Denise Ducheny; Rachel Solorzano, Congressman Bob Filner, Representative from Assembly Member Mary Salas’ Office; Yolanda Hernandez, San Ysidro School Board Member; Hector Espinoza, San Ysidro High School Principal; Jesus Gandara, Sweetwater School District Superintendent; Ralph Dimarucut from Assembly Member Mary Salas’ Office; Anastasia

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HOT TOPIC: VIEJAS HOSTS WILDFIRE FIGHTING DRILLS FOR 60 FIRE PROTECTION AGENCIES

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery April 23, 2009 (Viejas Indian Reservation)—Preparing for fire season, fire engine crews from more than 60 fire protection agencies donned full safety gear and participated in structure protection drills, wildland hose lays, pumping evolutions and other exercises. Aerial resources, including helicopters, practiced coordinated fire attacks with ground crews under simulated fire conditions. The eighth annual event

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HELIX WATER DISTRICT PROPOSES HEFTY WATER RATE INCREASE

Printer-friendly versionNew rates start metering May 1, Public Hearing May 27 By Kristin Hobbs Kjaero and Rachel Ford Hutman The Proposal (Rachel Ford Hutman) April 21, 2009 (La Mesa) – If you are one of the 260,000 residents in the Helix Water District, you may soon be paying a minimum increase of 20% more for your water—and for some heavy

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BUNGLED BURGLARY: THREE ARRESTED IN LA MESA

Printer-friendly versionApril 23, 2009 (La Mesa)– La Mesa Police received a 911 call at 1:32 p.m. on April 22 from a witness who told dispatchers that a man and two women were breaking into a home in the 7900 block of Pasadena Ave. Officers arrived and detained two female suspects in the driveway of the victim’s residence. The witness told

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SAN DIEGO’S CARBON FOOTPRINT IS BIGGER THAN LA’S: LOCAL POLICIES TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE ARE LAGGING, CPI REPORT FINDS

Printer-friendly versionApril 22, 2009 (San Diego)–The carbon footprint of the average San Diegan–including residential energy use and transportation–is larger than that of the average resident of Los Angeles, a review of available data shows. San Diego also lags behind LA in policies and programs to reduce energy use, according to Climate Change Performance and Policy: San Diego versus Los Angeles,

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FILNER INTRODUCES BILL FOR FEDS TO PAY COSTS OF EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AT BORDER ENTRIES

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery April 18, 2009 (San Diego)—Congressman Bob Filner (R-San Diego) has introduced the “Save Our Border Communities Act, H.R. 670. The bill would require the federal government to reimburse costs for local police, firefighters and other first responders to provide services associated with U.S. ports of entry on the international border. “The federal government has not reimbursed

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