By Miriam Raftery

August 28, 2011 (City Heights)—A shimmering dragon marched past, trailed by followers beating cymbals and carrying glow sticks. Hundreds of lanterns glowed softly against the night sky, accentuated by the streaming lights of carnival rides. I sampled Thai chicken-on-a-stick, along with fried bananas and yams—all at the third annual Lantern Festival in City Heights.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
August 28, 2011 (Mt. Helix) – Hot August nights in East County are accompanied by some of the season’s most alluring events. Last night’s HeART of Mt. Helix combined music, art, food and wine in the ampitheater atop Mt. Helix—all to benefit the Mt. Helix Park Foundation.
 
But the most spectacular attraction proved to be Mother Nature, as twilight melded into sunset, transforming sky into a panoramic palette and the cityscape beneath into a glittering backdrop beneath a canopy of stars.

By Jeremy Los

Aug. 28, 2011- Sweltering heat couldn’t keep East County wine lovers from kicking off this year’s grape harvest at San Diego’s award winning Orfila Vineyards and Winery’s 18th annual grape stomp in Escondido’s San Pasqual Valley yesterday.

Roughly 420 people channeled their inner vintner by stomping freshly picked grapes with their bare feet, leaving many astounded with the sheer gooey nature of the after product.

Update 8:45 p.m. - Forward spread of the fire has been stopped at 100+ acres, Roxanne Provaznik at Cal-Fire reports.  Firefighters will stay on scene through the night to obtain full containment and mp up hot spots.  
Update 5:40 p.m. -- Air tankers are now on scene at the Ridge Fire. There was a delay due to thunderstorms; access is difficult due to terrain and presence of powerlines, according to a post at the Wildland Fire "hot list."
 
August 28, 2011 (Lake Morena) 5:20 p.m. -– Cal-Fire is assisting the U.S. Forest Service in combating a 100-acre fire. The blaze is located south of Interstate 8 and east of Buckman Springs Road, northeast of the Lake Morena community. No structures are threatened.

 
 
 
August 27,2011 (Alpine) -- This wonderful one and a half year old Purebred Schnauzer would make a fantastic therapy dog or companion for somebody who wants a loving, sweet and easy dog.  He helps me with my small aggressive clients who are dog aggressive because I know he has the ability to ignore the bad behavior.  He has been working through the therapy training also when helping clients and I know he is a boy who could pass the test Sept 10th if his new owners wanted to get involved in therapy work.  He is great with children and am sure he would live with cats.
 
 

 

 August 24, 2011 (San Diego) -- The Little Saigon Foundation, a local non-profit, hosts its second annual San Diego Lantern Festival and Street Fair August 26-28. Attendance is expected to be 20,000 – 30,000 guests.  This year’s theme is “Light Up San Diego” and will feature nearly 6,000 traditional silk lanterns.
 
 
Other attractions include a street fair (Saturday and Sunday), lantern parades and lion dance each evening, multi-cultural entertainment, martial arts competition, carnival rides, break dancing competitions, Asian cuisine, food trucks, beer garden, and the first-ever Miss Asia San Diego 2011 Pageant on Saturday August 28 at 7:00pm after the festival’s Opening Ceremony.

 
 
August 24, 2011 (San Diego's East County)--Local Democrats are rounding up voters, volunteers, elected officials, candidates and prospective candidates for local, state and federal offices for the Big Blue East County BBQ Roundup this Sunday, August 28.
 
The Baja Bugs (view video of performance) will perform live Beatles music at the event, which will be held from 12-4 p.m. at Sweetwater Regional Park Summit in the pavillion.

August 27, 2011 (Santa Ysabel) – Two motorcyclists sustained serious injuries this afternoon in an accident on Highway 79 at School House Canyon, Incident Page Network reports.

August 27, 2011 (San Diego) – A Ford Explorer traveling northbound on Aldine Drive struck a curb while merging onto Fairmont Avenue and rolled over several times, San Diego Police report.
 
A 4-year-old girl was ejected from the vehicle and transported to a local hospital for suturing of numerous lacerations; she was not in a car seat and was not wearing a seatbelt. A two-year-old in a booster seat was uninjured.

 
 
 
August 27, 2011 (San Diego) -- San Diego City Councilmember Marti Emerald will to run for a second term on the City Council, but will do so in the newly created Council District 9. Emerald has represented District 7 since 2008. The Councilmember recently sold her home in Tierrasanta and moved to the San Diego State University (SDSU) area, which was also in her 7th District. However, the San Diego Redistricting Commission has included the SDSU area in the city’s new 9th District.
 
 

 
 
August 27, 2011 (Alpine) -- San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis announced first-degree murder convictions in a case where the defendants killed and robbed 73-year-old Eunice Cothron, the grandmother of one of defendants.

Brandon Hayes, 29, and Jeffrey Reed, 22 were both convicted by separate juries of first-degree murder with special circumstances of murder during the commission of robbery and burglary. Both defendants were also convicted of robbery and burglary and Reed was convicted of carjacking.

 
By Miriam Raftery
 
August 25, 2011 (Rancho San Diego) – The weather was sultry and the political discourse even hotter at Politics in Paradise last Friday night, hosted by the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce in the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College.
 
 Congressmembers Bob Filner and Duncan Hunter, Assemblyman Brian Jones and former Senator Denise Ducheny fielded questions on a broad range of issues, from jobs and healthcare to a new stadium for the Chargers. The evening yielded insights, humor, and surprises.

Update 8:30 p.m. (Barrett Junction)--Fire is now 100 acres with forward spread stopped for "several hours" according to Cal-Fire. Firefighters will be doing mop up through the night. Deerhorn Valley Antler reports approximately half of acreage is BLM land other half Cleveland Forest. 250 firefighters, 7 engines, 11 crews, 6 air tankers, 6 helicopters, 1 dozer, 4 water tenders. Air support returning to stations.

 
Update 2:15 p.m. - The fire is out, however some roads remain closed in the immediate vicinity.

August 27, 2011 (Ramona) 12:05 p.m. – A two-alarm fire is burning at the Craftstones company building at 505 Elm Street in Ramona. Incident Page Network reports chemical explosions have occurred and an evacuation of the area has just been ordered.

August 28, 2011 (San Diego) -- East County Magazine videographer Jack Winemiller has created this video tour of Mission Trails Regional Park.  At over 5,800 acres, Mission Trails is larger than Balboa Park, New York's Central Park, and San Francisco's Golden Gate Park combined!

By Miriam Raftery
 

August 27, 2011 (Alpine) – Blossom and Delilah, two bears rescued from a closed zoo in Oklahoma have arrived at their new home at Lions, Tigers & Bears in Alpine.
 
The animals were destined to be sold to a game ranch where they could be hunted and killed if not for the intervention of Bobbi Brink, owner of LTB, a rescue facility in Alpine.

Looking for a cool place to chill out with your dog? Andiamo’s Ristorante Italiano & Bar in Tierrasanta will host “K9s & Frozen Cocktails” on Wednesday, August 31 for customers and their canine companions. Patio doors open at 5 p.m.

August 27, 2011 (Allied Gardens) – The public is invited to bring your blankets and low-backed chairs to enjoy a free showing of “Iron Man 2.” The “Movie at the Park” event will be held tonight starting at dusk at the Allied Gardens Recreation Center, 5155 Greenbrier Ave., in the Allied Gardens area of San Diego.

 
By Miriam Raftery

August 27, 2011 (Boulevard) – “Be the writer you have always dreamed of being,” urged Sharon Courmousis, ECM’s “Purple Mountain Sage” columnist and owner of Sacred Rocks Reserve. Now she is organizing a writer’s guild at her East County retreat in Boulevard, California.
 
Writers of every genre such as poems, short stories, novels and essays are invited to join fellow writers intent on honing their craft of writing.  The weekly meeting will be held in the early mornings starting promptly 7 a.m. reviewing specific writing pieces, evaluating the work of those who want to share, and closing at 8 a.m.

 

Millionaire offers help to Collier's widow who lost child, mother, and home

August 27, 2011 (El Cajon) – The San Diego Medical Examiner has confirmed the identities of three people found dead in a murder/suicide that also left an El Cajon police officer critically wounded.
 

 
Special Event Procedures Also On Agenda

August 27, 2011 (Alpine)—The Alpine and East County Rural Sheriff’s Stations will host a Community Permit & Licensing Awareness Forum on Thursday, September 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Blvd in Alpine.
 

“We encourage you to have at least one representative attend, especially for service organizations sponsoring parades and fairs,” said Paula Dickenson, USN retired, crime prevention specialist. Agencies participating include Sheriff’s Licensing, California Highway Patrol (CHP), County Roads, Department of Environmental Health, Alcoholic Beverage Control, and more.

 
 August 22, 2011 (Julian, CA) --  Organizers of the fourth annual Julian StarFest announced the popular astronomy event will be held at the Menghini Winery from Thursday, Aug. 25 through Sunday, Aug. 28. Presented by the San Diego Astronomy Association and the community of Julian, the event draws thousands of Southern Californians to Julian to enjoy the dark skies. 
 

August 26, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a flood advisory today for mountain areas in San Diego County. Strong and persistent thunderstorms are occurring with heavy rainful just west of the Eagle Fire burn scar between Anza Borrego and Warner Springs.

August 26, 2011 (San Diego) 6:15 p.m. – Multiple agencies have received reports of a strong natural gas odor in coastal areas all the way from Imperial Beach in the South Bay to San Diego's North County, Incident Page Network reports.  An investigation is underway to find the source.

August 26, 2011 (Lakeside)--Tribal dancers from across the United States will compete for $60,000 in prize money at the Barona Poway. The pow-wow will be held Friday, September 2 through Sunday, September 4 at the Barona Baseball Field on the Barona Indian Reservation in Lakeside. 

This event, which also features Native American crafts, jewelry and food vendors, is free and open to the public.

August 26, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – CalTrans announces a full closure of the southbound 125 connector to westbound Interstate 8 on Sunday morning from 3-10 a.m. Closure is needed to allow crews to safely perform repairs.

 Update August 26: The vehicle is believed to be a 2006-2011 Volkswagen Passat wagon; it may have damage to left front bumper
 
August 25, 2011 (La Mesa)—La Mesa Police seek public help to locate a hit-and-run driver of a white minivan or sport utility vehicle, possibly a Volkwagen, with a luggage rack on top. The vehicle struck a toddler in the eastbound lanes of Fletcher Parkway near the Trolley Court intersection tonight at 7:49 p.m.

Melodrama takes stage Sept. 17-25
 
photograph by Pete Smith
 
August 26, 2011 (Lemon Grove)--In the midst of the Great Depression, two Lemon Grove members of San Diego Community Theatre (forerunner to the Old Globe) charged out of San Diego State College (today, SDSU) armed with Theatre and English degrees only to confront what so many graduates confront today--a dismal economy and no jobs, especially for artists.