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POVERTY RISING IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY; EL CAJON HAS HIGHEST POVERTY RATE

Printer-friendly versionBy Walter Davis December 7, 2008 (San Diego) — Poverty is fueled by scarcity. In San Diego County, scarcity of affordable housing and high paying jobs are causing hardship for many citizens, with some East County communities among the hardest hit. The Center On Policy Initiatives report released on  August 26, 2008 reveals incomes stagnated in San Diego County

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TOXIC TOYS STILL ON STORE SHELVES – HOW TO AVOID BANNED  PRODUCTS FOR YOUR CHILDREN

Printer-friendly versionDecember 6, 2008 (San Diego) — Before you buy children’s toys this holiday season, be aware that many toxic toys have NOT been removed from store shelves. Here’s what you need to know to avoid these toys harmful products. According to the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, toys containing toxic phthalates are supposed to be banned starting on February

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LOOK WHO’S BACK – RECALLED PLANNER GORDON HAMMERS WINS ELECTION, RECLAIMS SEAT ON POTRERO PLANNING GROUP

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery December 4, 2008 — Less than a year after being recalled by a two-to-one margin, former Potrero Planning Group Chairman Gordon Hammers has been re-elected to the board.  Hammers’ victory, though surprising to many, appears to signify a healing in this small rural community split first by controversy over Blackwater and later by the Harris Wildfire

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LOOKING FOR JOB TRAINING? FREE “GET YOUR LIFE ON TRACK” MEETING AT GROSSMONT COLLEGE DEC. 9

Printer-friendly versionThe Grossmont College Adult Reentry Program will host “Get Your Life on Track,” a free informational meeting for adults interested in retraining for new jobs and careers, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 9, at the college’s Griffin Gate at the Student Center near Parking Lot #7. Reservations are not required. Speakers will include former students

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BOXER ANNOUNCES NEW BORDER CROSSING

Printer-friendly versionBy Gayle Early December 2, 2008 (Otay Mesa) — Senator Barbara Boxer announced today that a new port of entry will be developed two miles east of the current Otay Mesa border crossing, a project she and Senator Diane Feinstein pushed through the Administration. In the announcement, she wrote that the new port should alleviate congestion and accommodate future

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Two finalists named for chancellorship of Grossmont Cuyamaca Community College

Printer-friendly versionDecember 2, 2008 (EL CAJON) Public forums are scheduled for Dec. 10 and 11 for two finalists seeking the position of GCCCD chancellor. The finalists are Dr. Cindy Miles, president of the Hialeah Campus of Miami Dade College in Florida, and Dr. Mark Zacovic, interim vice president of administrative services for the Pasadena Area Community College District. The district

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POWERLINK PROTEST SONG DEBUTS AT LAKESIDE FUNDRAISER: HEAR IT HERE FIRST!

Printer-friendly versionCoalition to stop Sunrise Powerlink has 78,000 members, organizers report; protest song implores Cleveland National Forest supervisor to save forest, block Powerlink By Miriam Raftery May 31, 2009 (Lakeside) – Mountain Echo gave a debut performance of their new Powerlink protest song during a fundraiser at the Hazy Meadow ranch yesterday. East County Magazine has the exclusive videotape of

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Christmas in the Village

Printer-friendly versionQuintessential hometown fun By Kristin Hobbs Kjaero La Mesa (December 1, 2008) — Santa Claus is coming to town! On December 12-13, the La Mesa Village will magically transform with Christmas lights, sparkling window displays and open fire pits. Visitors can enjoy carnival rides, puppet shows, four stages showcasing homegrown talent, and ride ponies, carriage, and fire truck. ENTERTAINMENT

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EDITORIAL – A PROPOSAL FOR PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA

Printer-friendly versionPut Americans to work providing fire protection infrastructure and energy independence for San Diego’s fire-ravaged East County region By Miriam Raftery, Editor, East County Magazine December 7, 2008 (San Diego’s East County) —President-Elect Barack Obama is expected to propose the largest infrastructure-rebuilding program since Franklin Delano Roosevelt initiated the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression.  The goal

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CHP launches Halloween maximum enforcement to target impaired drivers

Printer-friendly versionAll available officers deployed statewide to keep roads safe during 12-hour operation   Source:  CHP   October 26, 2025 (Sacramento) – The California Highway Patrol (CHP) will launch a 12-hour Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) from 6 p.m. Friday, October 31, through 6 a.m. Saturday, November 1, to protect motorists and prevent impaired driving. During the operation, all available CHP

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Federal government seeks to repeal protections for bighorn sheep on public land

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service   Photo by Susan Massey: Bighorn rams on Bureau of Land Management property in Ocotillo, adjacent to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.   Oct. 28, 2025 (East County) – The Trump administration is proposing to repeal the Bureau of Land Management’s Public Lands Rule in order to fast-track oil and gas exploration.   The rule protects

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County opens cool zones due to extreme heat advisory

Printer-friendly version October 28, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat advisory for San Diego County’s valleys and inland areas. Temperatures up to 94 degrees are forecast today and up to 96 degrees tomorrow. Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of

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Starting Oct. 25, select vote centers open for November special election

Printer-friendly versionBy Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office October 27, 2025 (San Diego) – You don’t have to wait until Election Day to vote in person. Voters can take advantage of early voting at nearly three dozen select vote centers starting Saturday, Oct. 25. The centers are located around the county and will be open daily from 8

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Fatal hit-and-run crash in Lemon Grove

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service   Oct. 27, 2025 (Lemon Grove) — An early-morning, multi-vehicle crash Sunday, Oct. 26 on state Route 125 claimed the life of a San Diego man and left several others injured, the California Highway Patrol said.   At about 4:28 a.m. on Sunday, a Nissan Sentra driven by an unidentified individual, was traveling northbound just

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Passages: Danny Tucker, Sycuan Tribal leader, 73

Printer-friendly versionBy Karen Pearlman, with additional reporting by Miriam Raftery Oct. 26, 2025 (East County) —  One of the original champions for First Nation independence through gaming on Native American reservations in California, Daniel  “Danny”  Tucker, longtime leader and tribal member of the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, has passed away. Tucker, born Feb. 5, 1952 at Mercy Hospital,

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Nonprofit saves San Diego County’s tallest waterfall

Printer-friendly versionBy Taina Fonseca, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association   Photo:  Mildred Falls. Photo by Alexander S. Kunz   October 26, 2025 (San Diego) – The San Diego River Park Foundation has successfully purchased a 58-acre parcel from a private owner, the organization announced this week.   Why is that important? Because

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Reader’s Editorial: Why I support the recall or resignation of the GUHSD Board majority

Printer-friendly version By Chris  Fite, Trustee, Grossmont Union High School District board   October 26, 2025 (El Cajon) — When the dust settles after all of the lawsuits and media stories and packed and contentious board meetings, these facts will remain: the GUHSD board majority repeatedly if not exclusively tried to make vital decisions regarding hiring, firing and curriculum choices on the basis

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Puppy recovering from severe collar injury; County seeks public’s help

Printer-friendly versionBy Sir Milo Loftin, County of San Diego Communications Office October 26, 2025 (San Diego) – County Animal Services is asking for the public’s help to learn more about a puppy found with a severe neck injury caused by a collar that had become embedded in his skin.  The puppy was brought into the County’s Bonita shelter as a

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Seven women honored at East County Chamber WILL event

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Oct. 23, 2025 (East County) — The San Diego Regional East County Chamber of Commerce awarded a group of top females from around the county last Friday at its 23rd annual Women in Leadership event. The Women in Leadership Luncheon, with more than 450 attendees at Sycuan Casino, honored seven women who excel professionally and

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