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FIRE EXPOS DRAW HEATED INTEREST AMONG AREA RESIDENTS

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery Photos by Leon Thompson and Miriam Raftery October 15, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – Fire safety expos were among the hottest attractions in East County recently, drawing thousands of visitors—all as part of National Fire Prevention Month.  In our region, which was devastasted by two of our state’s worst wildfires in 2003 and 2007,

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WILD RIDE: KIDNAPPED SHELL STATION OWNER ESCAPES ROBBER

Printer-friendly version POLICE CHASE NABS SUSPECT; PAROLEE MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OTHER AREA CRIMES   October 15, 2009 (La Mesa) Crime didn’t pay for a lone gunman who robbed a Shell gas station clerk at gunpoint around 12:15 today. The suspect took money from the register and fled. The station manager arrived just before police and went looking for the

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ASSEMBLYMAN BLOCK CONVENES OCT. 20 HEARING ON SDSU ADMISSION POLICY CHANGES

Printer-friendly versionOctober 15, 2009 (San Diego) – Assemblyman Marty Block (D-Lemon Grove) will hold a hearing October 20 on SDSU President Stephen Weber’s recent announcement to suspend guaranteed enrollment for local students. “As chair of the Select Committee on K-16 Articulation, Access and Affordability, I have called a hearing to examine this issue in detail and to accept testimony on

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GRAND OPENING CELEBRATES NEW RESTARANT IN RANCHO SAN DIEGO: SPINNERS FRESH MEDITERRANEAN SALADS & GRILL

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery October 15, 2009 – Business and community leaders congregated at Spinners last week for a celebration of the fast-food Mediterranean restaurant’s grand opening in Rancho San Diego. Guests sampled gyros, falafels, tabouleh and baklava, among other flavorful offerings. “We grew up on these flavors,” said owner David Barka, a Chaldean Christian whose family origins are

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GAME OF THE WEEK: PATRIOTS WIN UGLY BATTLE OVER BRAVES

Printer-friendly version  Story and photos by Christopher Mohr   (EL CAJON) October 9 – Minutes after Christian’s 36-22 win at El Cajon Valley Friday night, the Patriots’ coaching staff brought up the topic of winning ugly in the team’s post-game meeting on the field. The gist of the discussion was that it did not matter that the team won by

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POLITICAL PORK? COMMON CAUSE CALLS FOR FPPC TO INVESTIGATE LOBBYIST SEX SCANDALS; NOTES SEMPRA CONTRIBUTIONS TO BASS & BROWN

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery October 15, 2009 (Sacramento) – A lobbyist scandal in Sacramento has given new meaning to the term “pork” in politics. Ever since former Assemblyman Mike Duvall squealed on tape about bedding two lobbyists, critics have called for an investigation. Now the non-partisan citizens watchdog group Common Cause has called on the Fair Political Practices Commission to open an

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WARNER SPRINGS RESIDENTS: BOIL WATER ORDER ISSUED

Printer-friendly version October 14, 2009 (Warner Springs) – A boil water order has been issued by the County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health for customers of the Los Tules Mutual Water Company drinking water system inWarner Springs, CA, effective immediately. The water system has tested positive for contamination by Total Coliform bacteria.   The bacteria can come from

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AUTHORITIES SEEK ABUSER WHO SHOT DUCK 5 TIMES WITH CROSSBOW

Printer-friendly versionOctober 14, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)– Animal Control Officers rescued a Muscovy duck that had been shot five times with a crossbow this morning at Chollas Lake in East San Diego, near Highway 94.   The duck, with the arrows still in its body, was transported to the County’s Animal Shelter on Gaines Street. One of the arrows penetrated the

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SAN DIEGO MEAT COMPANY RECALLS GROUND BEEF AFTER USDA FINDS E-COLI CONTAMINATION

Printer-friendly version MEAT SOLD TO LOCAL RESTAURANTS & CATERERS, USDA WARNS—BUT COMPANY REFUSES TO RELEASE NAMES October 14, 2009 (San Diego) – San Diego Meat Company is recalling approximately 925 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E-coli, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced yesterday. According to the USDA, the meat

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GROWING GREEN CAREERS: CUYAMACA COLLEGE HOSTS FORUM OCT. 16

Printer-friendly version All-day forum joins industry with education in ‘greening’ the classroom   EL CAJON – With all the buzz surrounding the burgeoning green industry and the promise it holds for a flagging jobs market, Cuyamaca College is hosting a forum this week aimed at helping local high school and community college educators ride the wave of the green economy.

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Eco-Job Faire at SDSU Works Toward Green Economy

Printer-friendly versionStory and photos by Gayle Early Amanda Costa and Erin Lannon of SDSUÕs Enviro-Business Society November 12, 2008 (SAN DIEGO) — “Hey, you’re going the wrong way!” Amanda Costa, former co-president of SDSU’s Enviro-Business Society called out to students streaming down Aztec Center steps. A “green-career forum” was about to start, where the Society, also known as “Club e3,”

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O CHRISTMAS TREE–CERTIFIED GREEN!

Printer-friendly versionThe Coalition of Environmentally Conscious Growers™ is asking consumers to purchase a real “certified green” Christmas tree this holiday season for the following reasons: Artificial Christmas Trees were recently added to the Center for Health, Environment & Justice’s list of household products containing polyvinyl chloride, or PVC Real Christmas trees are natural products of the U.S., contributing to the

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SYCUAN DONATES $300,000 TO SHARP GROSSMONT HOSPITAL AT FUNDRAISING GALA

Printer-friendly versionEvent Raises More Than $600,000 for New Robotic Surgery Program November 15, 2008 (SAN DIEGO)  — Grossmont Hospital Foundation hosted its Carnevale di Venezia Annual Gala on Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina to help raise money for Sharp Grossmont Hospital.  The event netted more than $600,000 dollars, which will support the hospital’s new

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SDG&E HOSTS “FIRE PREPAREDNESS” COMMUNITY MEETINGS

Printer-friendly versionSDG&E will host a series of fire preparedness community meetings on November 17, 18 and 19 in Valley Center, Alpine and Pine Valley to discuss its proposal to shut-off power during high fire-risk periods.  “The "power shut-off" portion of our Emergency Fire Plan has been suspended until next year’s fire season (at least),” Don Parent, SDG&E public affairs manager,

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“Border 24” Fire

Printer-friendly versionNovember 15, 2008 – A Vegetation Fire broke out this morning East of the Tecate Border crossing. Fire officials say 35-40 acres have burned but the fire’s advance has been stopped. Printer-friendly version

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EAST COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT SHARES VIEWS ON ELECTION OUTCOMES AND IMPACT ON BUSINESS COMMUNITY

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery East County Chamber of Commerce President Mike Cully (left) and membership director Regina Williamson (right) present new member plaque to ECM Editor Miriam Raftery and Marketing Director Leon Thompson. Mike Cully, president of the East County Chamber of Commerce, was at Election Central in Golden  Hall downtown as the announcement was made that Barack Obama had

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FIRE RELIEF FUNDRAISER SET FOR SAT. NOV 8

Printer-friendly version"Do you think the victims of the fires of 2003 & 2007 be allowed to go homeless?" asks Randy Seol of the musical group Strawberry Alarm Clock. This Saturday, November 8 from 3 to 8 p.m., Seol is organizing a benefit fundraiser to meet and hear musical groups slated to perform at a benefit concert next March.(The concert was

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SDG&E PLAN TO CUT POWER GETS FROSTY RECEPTION AT PUC HEARING; BACK COUNTRY RESIDENTS, PUBLIC OFFICIALS VOICE OBJECTIONS

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery November  2008 (San Diego) — Public officials and backcountry residents leveled harsh criticism at SG&E during a public meeting of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) convened in San Diego on October 14 to discuss causes of the 2007 wildfires and how to prevent future conflagrations.  Speaker after speaker blasted SDG&E’s proposal to cut power to

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HOPE PREVAILS:  OBAMA VICTORY HAS LONG COATTAILS LOCALLY

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Democrats gathered at House of Blues await word on Presidential race On the night when most of America turned blue, Democrats gathered to celebrate at the aptly-named House of Blues in San Diego.  Cheers greeted the historic announcement that Barack Obama had just been declared the winner, becoming the first African-American president in U.S. history.   Kristy

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Budget Crisis Hits Home

Printer-friendly versionState workers in East County struggle to cope with prospect of huge pay cuts, lay-offs; Judge orders Sept. 12 hearing on Governor’s wage-slashing orders By Miriam Raftery Photos by Aida Canonizado November 4, 2008 (El Cajon)–Mildred Scarber, a state employee who works at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in El Cajon, was shocked to learn that Governor Schwarzenegger

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