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THE RENO REPORT: MORNING HAS BROKEN

Printer-friendly versionBy Jamie Reno Exclusive for East County Magazine October 15, 2008 (Tierrasanta) – Morning has broken. As the sun rises over the East County, a sense of calm permeates my body. Yesterday morning, when I started writing this column for East County Magazine on the new fire threats, it was a different story. I was filled with anxiety. The

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CONTROL OF GROSSMONT UNION HIGH SCHOOL BOARD HANGS IN BALANCE

Printer-friendly versionElection creates rift among Republicans By Miriam Raftery Five candidates are vying for two seats on the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) Board of Trustees. The stakes are high. The outcome of this election may determine if  a popular superintendent will be retained, if a new high school will be built in Alpine, and if divisive forces will

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PROPOSITION U SEEKS FUNDS FOR CLASSROOM UPGRADES, NEW BUILDINGS IN GROSSMONT UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery Grossmont Union High School District’s superintendent and four of five GUHSD school board trustees agree that Proposition U is critical to repair and replace aging buildings throughout the district—and build a long-awaited new high school for Alpine. “We can’t modernize the old industrial classrooms abandoned years ago without Proposition U,” GUHSD Superintendent Robert Collins said

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ETHICS, BUDGET CUTS, & CHOOSING NEW CHANCELLOR TOP ISSUES IN GROSSMONT-CUYAMACA COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD RACE

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery The race:  Four candidates are running for two seats on the Grossmont-Cuyamaca College Board of Trustees.  Challengers Mary Kay Rosinski and Moe Bakeer face off against incumbents Tim Caruthers and Bill Garrett, board president.  ECM interviewed Rosinski, Caruthers and Garrett; Bakeer did not respond to interview requests. What’s at stake:  Community colleges face tough times amid

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Remember “L” is on “La Mesa” ballots

Printer-friendly versionCity faces low reserves; bond rating, city jobs at stake if measure fails to pass By Kristin Hobbs Kjaero The proposition Proponents call it the “Vital City Services Measure,” and opponents call it a “Pension Tax.” The impartial ballot analysis identifies it as a “general tax,” which means revenue would go into La Mesa’s general fund and “the City

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STATE OF DISUNION:  WAR VETERANS SPEAK OUT AGAINST MILITARY ABUSE OF TROOPS IN LOCAL STOP ON NATIONAL TOUR

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Editor’s Note:  Military authorities declined to speak with East County Magazine regarding this story. We also requested permission to interview veterans at Balboa Naval Hospital to obtain a diverse range of views on conditions in mlitary service.  Our request was denied.   October 18, 2008 (San Diego)–Army intelligence officer Selena Coppa has risked her freedom to speak out. 

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SAN DIEGO SOLAR HOMES TOUR: SATURDAY OCT. 18

Printer-friendly version The San Diego Solar Homes Tour is quite possibly the longest running and most popular tour in California.  Celebrating the ninth year of the free tour, over 40 homes throughout San Diego County are participating—including many in East County and San Diego’s Eastern region. This self-guided tour, sponsored by the California Center for Sustainable Energy,  offers real-life, working

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7th DISTRICT FIGHT – EMERALD VS. BOLING:  YOUR RINGSIDE GUIDE

Printer-friendly versionAccountant April Boling refuses to comment on allegations of “illegal and unethical bookkeeping”; opponent Marti Emerald shares vision for San Diego’s future By Joseph Rocha October 15, 2009 (San Diego)–Touted  as “The Troubleshooter vs. the Accountant” by local media,  San Diego’s 7th District Council race sounds more like a build-up to a Saturday night cage fight than a hotly contested

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HIGHWAYS OPEN, FIRES 100% CONTAINED IN CAMPO AND RANCHO BERNARDO; FIREFIGHTERS STILL BATTLE JULIET BLAZE

Printer-friendly versionOctober 14, 2008, 11:00 p.m. — All major highways in San Diego County are open tonight. The Juliet Fire, which burned 3,980 acres in the Oceanside area after spreading from Camp Pendleton, is now 60% contained and evacuation orders in Fallbrook have been lifted. The Shockey Fire in Campo is 100% contained after burning 200 acres. A small fire

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INTERVIEW WITH CAL FIRE CAPTAIN ON MONTE FIRE

Printer-friendly versionJune 22, 2025 (Lakeside) — Cal Fire Captain Robert Johnson discusses firefighting efforts in the Monte Fire in Lakeside, during an interview yesterday with Shiloh Ireland.   View video.   At the time of the interview, the fire had burned 1,051 acres of rugged terrain on El Capitan Mountain. El Monte County Park in Lakeside became the staging and command center for

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VIDEO OF THE WEEK: LAKESIDE RESIDENTS THANK FIREFIGHTERS

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service June 23, 2025 — Photographer Shiloh Ireland provided this video of Lakeside residents Sarah Ann WIlson and BIlly Ortiz unfurling a banner to thank firefighters who worked tirelessly to protect homes and halt the Monte Fire in Lakeside’s El Monte Valley. View video:  Monte Fire Appreciation to Firefighters- 06/21/2025  Also see Ireland’s drone video showing the

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DURING PRIDE MONTH, TRANSGENDER PEOPLE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE

Printer-friendly versionBy Suzanne Potter, California News Service June 23, 2025 (San Diego) — June is Pride Month and transgender advocates are speaking out, seeking equal recognition in society and in the workplace. The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled President Donald Trump can enforce a ban on transgender people in the military while litigation proceeds. Martha Gomez, director of workforce development

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SEVEN VOTE CENTERS NOW OPEN FOR SUPERVISORIAL SPECIAL ELECTION

Printer-friendly version  Voting has started for those in the County of San Diego’s First Supervisorial District (Photo courtesy County of San Diego)   By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office   Jun. 20, 2025 (San Diego County) — If you live in the County of San Diego’s First Supervisorial District, you can cast your ballot early at any one

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SANTEE READIES FOR GOLF COURSE HOUSING PROJECT

Printer-friendly version     By Mike Allen June 23, 2025 (Santee) — While golfing and expansive courses are diminishing nationally, the owner of Santee’s only golf course is pushing a plan that would convert the current 1950s facility to a modern country club resort including 242 new houses, a 42-room hotel, a redesigned course, and other amenities. The project that

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TRUMP CAN KEEP TROOPS IN LA FOR NOW, APPEALS COURT RULES

Printer-friendly version This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. by Mikhail Zinshteyn Photo: National Guard in Los Angeles, via U.S. Northern Command June 23, 2025 (Los Angeles) — President Trump had a legitimate interest in protecting federal employees when he deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles, an appeals court ruled. President Donald Trump can continue to control

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ENVIRONMENTALISTS SOUND ALARM OVER BUDGET AMENDMENT TO SELL OFF PUBLIC LANDS—INCLUDING FOREST LANDS IN EAST COUNTY

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery Image:  Lands proposed for sale in Rep. Darrell Issa’s district June 18, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – Senate Republicans have slipped language into the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” budget reconciliation measure that would allow sale of up to 250 million acres of federal public lands in 11 states including California.  The Wilderness Society

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U.S. BOMBS IRAN’S NUCLEAR FACILITIES

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery Image: Screenshot from BBC video of Iranian nuclear facility bombing by U.S. June 21, 2025 (Washington D.C.) – The U.S. has bombed three Iranian nuclear sites,  President Donald Trump announced tonight on social media.  The BBC confirmed the action, posting video of smoke rising above an Iranian nuclear site. The action, done without Congressional approval,

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