This week in The Alpine Sun

Lead Stories

Workshop focus is on sustaining local business  
Despite cold and rainy weather and a full slate of events around Alpine last weekend, nearly 30 people showed up for the second annual Vitalize Alpine workshop at Boulder Oaks auditorium. The 28 participants, representing 26 Alpine organizations with combined memberships of 4,000, gathered to provide input and discuss Alpine’s future.  

Fire district doors open with fanfare 
“We have the newest, the largest, the most modern and the most medical services of any Fire Protection District in San Diego County,” said Director Ron Fuller speaking to the large crowd attending the dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony of the handsome new Fire Station 17 at 1364 Tavern Rd. He was recounting the 25-year history of how it came to be built. 

Inauguration bash a glitzy success 
Guests were serenaded to the sounds of karaoke and video games at the Alpine Community Center on Saturday night, at the Honorary Mayor inauguration and grand prix dinner. Nearly 100 people came out to the Alpine Chamber of Commerce event, which raised money for the ACOC Education Committee. It also served as an inauguration celebration for newly “elected” Honorary Mayor of Alpine, Michael James. 

BP fills storerooms with seized dope
Border Patrol agents siezed more than 2,000 pounds of pot and 78 pounds of cocaine in two recent seizures. 

Grease players rose to every challenge
“They’re real troopers,” said Susan Lancaster, director of the student musical show, Grease, describing what happened when the electricity went off in the middle of the opening night. “Of course Joan Waterworth, our accompanist, couldn’t play her electric piano — and then I heard this dialogue from the actors that I’d never heard before. The kids were ad libbing! Filling the time until the lights were back on.”
 
Parents and children learn gun safety at NRA Family Shooting Camp 
The morning after the brutal storms of rain, hail and even snow, rushed through the hills, some drove reluctantly to the Lemon Grove Rod and Gun Club for the NRA Family Sports Shooting Camp on Sunday, March 12.

Civic Report: SDG&E plans reviewed and letter sent about snow mobs
Pine Valley Community Planning Group. 

Overgrown Alpine home is transformed into fire safe model
Alpine and forestry officials teamed up to produce a model of fire prevention management that can be used to show other homeowners what can, and and should, be done around their properties to make them fire safe.

Frustrated visitors had nowhere to go
It’s all over now; the snow is almost gone and hordes of people who overwhelmed the small towns of Descanso, Guatay and Pine Valley have all gone home. Fears that it would all happen again over the past weekend were unfounded, as were newscasters’ stories about how the people in Pine Valley complain a lot.

Alpine teachers nominated for Teacher of the Year awards
Every year, San Diego County Office of Education Superintendent, Rudy Castruita sends out requests to each of the San Diego County School Districts. These requests are for nominations for teachers to be honored as part of the annual San Diego County Teachers of the Year. All district teachers of the year will be recognized, and four will be announced at the televised awards ceremony, Cox presents “A Salute to Teachers” in early October 2006.
 

Columns/Opinion

Spiritual Sunrise with Merry Murray: Respect for God and man is missing 

Editorial: Where was Sheriff Kolender when the mob ruled in Pine Valley?

My Turn with L.K. Samuels: Ballot box land grab takes use of private property from owners

Just The Fact's Ma'am with Carol Lovejoy: Sports can help you teach your child

Good Health Naturally with Dr. Daryl Crain: Everyone needs sleeping pills?

Forlenza's Forum with Joe Forlenza: Weeks offered planners business insights


Sports

Redhawks freshmen shut out Calexico baseballers  

East County mat men qualify for state