This week in The Alpine Sun

Lead Stories

Newcomb voted in as newest member of AUSD board  
     The Alpine Union School District Board voted 3-1 for Christopher Newcomb, a systems engineer, to fill a seat left vacant by Scott Barr, who resigned because he moved out of the district. Newcomb was chosen from a slate of eight candidates who were all vying for a seat on the five-member board.  

Parents and staff hear DTSC presentation on Granite cleanup
A handful of concerned staff and parents attended a presentation by the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) on Tuesday, July 7 at Granite Hills High School, to hear plans for removal of toxic substances found at the site. During a state-mandated soil sampling in preparation for a new science building at the school, the site was found to have toxic substances in the soil. 

Alpine developers delay sentencing for two months  
 Three Alpine developers who pleaded guilty to grand theft won a 2-month delay in their sentencing on July 8 to give some of them time to pay restitution and one to possibly get another lawyer. The developers, Paul Gonya, 65, David Waitley, 46, Kenneth Stroud, 53, and a former employee, Marie Frever, 40, agreed to be sentenced on Sept. 14.   

Harbison Canyon Kids Club reopens its doors — for now
Harbison Canyon Kids Club is a free, after-school and summer program that offers the children of Harbison Canyon, Alpine and El Cajon a safe place to spend time and have fun. Previously, the program was funded under Critical Hours, a California State program, however, that funding was cut July 1, due to the state budget crisis, and the program had to shut down. More than $2.5 million has been cut out of Southern California after-school programs.  

Bluegrass Festival tunes up this weekend
Lively bluegrass music, delicious barbecued pulled pork sandwiches, augmented by baked beans, coleslaw, potato salad, ice cream sundaes with all the trimmings, wrapped up in a lovely summer evening, means the Bluegrass Festival and Barbecue on Sunday, July 19 on the shady patio of the Alpine Community Church. 
 
Kiwanis honors Alpine’s Iraq War Heroes  
On July 11 at its regularly scheduled meeting The Kiwanis Club of Alpine and Assemblyman Joel Anderson honored two of Alpine’s Iraq War Heroes.

Road standards meeting draws 34
The June 5 meeting of a subcommittee of the county's Planning Commission drew 34 other people to the meeting intended to refine the planned updates for the County of San Diego's public road standards.

Alpine Academy moves into new home at community center
The Alpine Academy is on the move, with the help of students, teachers and parents. On Monday, June 29, Alpine Academy began their shift, down the street to the Community Center where they will reside in their newly renovated facility. Their student body is expected to grow to 125 high school students for the next school year.

REAL seeks rural economy crafted by local residents
Is the Back Country really economically blighted? Will property values really continue to slide when countywide zoning changes take effect? Is local education really doomed unless we double our community populations?

Girl Scouts change their world with new garden
This year the Girl Scouts cookie sales theme was, "Imagine if we could change the world.” The Daisy Girl Scouts had the theme that "Daisies will lead the way to a healthier earth.”

40th annual Descanso Fair and Parade
Forty years of marching enters into history as the Descanso Parade and Fair convened on Saturday, July 11. The parade, even with shaky beginnings, took off on schedule at 10 a.m. This little community has upheld forty years of tradition, celebrating mountain life through horses, tractors and community business.
 

Columns/Opinion

My Turn with Stephanie Weiner: Fire reorganization puts Back Country residents at great risk

Spiritual Sunrise with Merry Murray: The fast that lasts a lifetime

Smart Money with Merv Banks: Make sure your savings earn interest

Educational Ideals with Amy Saflar: Class size is the key to success