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SANTEE CHAMBER ANNOUNCES AWARDS FINALISTS

Printer-friendly versionOctober 1, 2009 (Santee)–The Santee Chamber of Commerce announces finalists for the 2009 Santee Chamber Awards Night, which will be held on October 16 at Barona Resort & Casino.     Small Business of the Year Finalists: Ronn Hall Insurance Services, Cookies By Design & Eccentric International Chefs   Medium Business of the Year Finalists: Michael’s Grill, Union Bank of

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RAMONA FIRE VICTIMS FIND A “VINE” WAY TO BUILD HOME THAT’S FIRE-SAFE & GREEN

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery    Zak Valade and his wife, Gina, lost their home in the 2007 Witch Creek fire. Now, they’re rebuilding a new home designed by famed architect Drew Hubbell,.constructed of fire-safe and energy efficient materials. They’ve also ripped out their avocado grove and planted a vineyard instead.   “Today, this is the new fire buffer,” Zak Valade

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BRUSH FIRE IN ESCONDIDO AREA ENDANGERS HOMES

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery Photo by Tracy Emblem   September 28, 2009 5:40 p.m. (Escondido) — A brush fire reported at 5:05 p.m. today at Bear Valley Parkway and San Pasqual Road has burned three to four acres, CAL-FIRE spokesperson Denise Kessel informed East County Magazine.   According to Incident Reporting Network, homes are in danger and air support was

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EDITORIAL: AN OPEN LETTER TO THE SDSU COMMUNITY

Printer-friendly version by SDSU President Stephen L. Weber   Sept. 21, 2009 (San Diego) — As  a direct result of devastating state budget cuts of $571 million, the California State University is reducing enrollment system-wide this year and next by 40,000 undergraduate students. Over the same period, San Diego State will be reducing its enrollment by 4,588 undergraduates.   These cuts

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VICTIM IDENTIFIED IN EL CAJON MOBILE HOME FIRE

Printer-friendly version  September 28, 2009 (El Cajon) – Karen Hunter was found dead following a fire in her mobile home that began shortly before 7 p.m. last night, the County Coroner’s office has confirmed. Heartland Dispatch received numerous calls about the fire at El Capitan Mobile Home Park, 1425 E. Madison Avenue.   El Cajon firefighters were cooking their dinner

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JERRY BROWN ADDRESSES DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION IN SAN DIEGO; ATTORNEY GENERAL CALLS FOR REFORMS, HINTS AT THROWING HAT IN RING FOR GOVERNOR’S RACE

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery   September 27, 2009 (San Diego) – “Our state is in trouble,” former Governor and current Attorney General Jerry Brown said at the San Diego Grassroots Democratic Convention here yesterday. Massive deficits coupled with tax revenues drying up are crippling education and public safety, Brown suggested during his speech and in an interview with East

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TRIO OF REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR CANDIDATES ADDRESS STATE GOP CONVENTION

Printer-friendly version   Whitman takes heat for failure to vote for nearly 3 decades By Miriam Raftery   September 27, 2009 (Indian Wells) – Three Republican candidates vying for the California governorship offered contrasting views on how to revive the state’s ailing economy—and lobbed some pointed barbs at each other at this weekend’s state Republican convention.   In recent months,

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HEALTH CARE REFORM: CAN WE PASS THE FINAL HURDLE? OCT. 20 IN SAN DIEGO

Printer-friendly version  September 27, 2009 (San Diego) – Want to learn more about healthcare reform options?  San Diego’s League of Women Voters presents a luncheon featuring keynote speaker Gerald Kominski, Ph.D., professor at UCLA School of Public Health and Associate Director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. Dr. Jeoffrey Gordon from California Physicians Alliance will also speak, summarizing the

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WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT HEALTHCARE MAY HURT YOU

Printer-friendly version Ex-Senator Kuehl Leads New Effort to Win Healthcare for All Californians   By Miriam Raftery   September 27, 2009 (San Diego) –Speaking to the San Diego League of Women Voters last week, former state Senator Sheila Kuehl shared some startling facts: California law used to require insurance companies to be nonprofits.  Since that law changed, premiums have skyrocketed much faster than

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Christmas with the wild animals at Lions Tigers & Bears

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service   Nov. 18, 2025 (Alpine) — Lions Tigers & Bears, San Diego County’s lone accredited animal sanctuary is getting ready for the winter holidays.   The nonprofit organization is holding Christmas with the Animals Fundraiser in December at its 142-acre site in Alpine.   The event will include gift-giving, holiday lights and music, and will support

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Caltrans reduces parking in front of Descanso Junction and nearby businesses despite community concerns

Printer-friendly versionBy Paul Levikow Photo:  new parking configuration in front of Descanso Junction eliminated two-thirds of spaces and left no disabled parking access.  Photos courtesy of Descanso Junction and Rett Lawrence, Mountain Views and News November 6, 2025 (Descanso) – The California Department of Transportation removed several parking spaces in front of Descanso Junction Restaurant and nearby businesses in late

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Former Vice President Dick Cheney dies: Republican leader changed history through a conservative lens but later criticized Trump, endorsing Harris

Printer-friendly versionRichard Bruce Cheney: January 30,1941— November 3, 2025 By Alexander J. Schorr Tuesday November 4, 2025— Former Vice President Dick Cheney died on November 3, 2025, at the age of 84. According to a statement from his family, the cause of death was the result of complications with pneumonia as well as cardiac and vascular disease. Cheney served two

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New affordable housing for veterans headed to Mission Gorge Road

Printer-friendly version By Anita Lightfoot, County of San Diego Communications Office Video by José Eli Villanueva November 6, 2025 (San Diego) – A groundbreaking ceremony was held today for The Grant at Mission Trails, a 48-unit affordable housing development dedicated to current and former military members and families. Located in the Grantville neighborhood on Mission Gorge Road, the seven-story project will

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CAL FIRE announces statewide transition to new national emergency reporting system

Printer-friendly versionSource:  CAL FIRE November 5, 2025 (Sacramento) –  Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) announced today that fire departments across the state are beginning the transition to the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS), a secure, cloud-based platform built to modernize how emergency incidents are reported and analyzed. Departments across the country are onboarding to NERIS as part

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Larry Cohen named new County Treasurer-Tax Collector

Printer-friendly version    East County News Service   Nov. 5, 2025 (San Diego County) — San Diego County has a new Treasurer-Tax Collector to fill the void of Dan McAllister, who retired earlier this year.   The County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday appointed Larry Cohen to fill the position of Treasurer-Tax Collector for McAllister who retired Aug. 2.  

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Voters overwhelmingly approve Prop 50 redistricting and recall of Poway Councilmember

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery November 4, 2025 (San Diego) – Voters in California, including San Diego, have decisively approved Proposition 50, which will allow temporary redistricting of the state’s Congressional districts for the next five years. Poway voters also opted overwhelmingly to oust scandal-plagued District 2 Councilmember Tony Blain by an 81% to 19% margin. Blain is facing felony

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Community input sought for Lakeside’s transportation future

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service   Nov. 4, 2025 (Lakeside) – The County of San Diego Planning & Development Services (PDS) is inviting all Lakeside residents and community stakeholders to a public meeting to discuss local transportation needs and potential solutions.   The meeting, set for 5:30 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 18 at the Lakeside Community Center, is part

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