Chamber Chatter

Flock finds shelter in rain; owner puzzled

The recent storms through San Diego County had Dawna Ernster of JND Insurance Services questioning the IQ of some critters on her Alpine farm.
“My pastures are all flooded,” Ernster said midway through an unusually wet week. “I put out shelters for my cows, horses, pigs, chickens, turkeys. They’re all standing in the rain ---- except for the chickens.”
Of the two mysteries ---- why the other animals weren’t seeking cover and why the chickens, who once calmly stood outside under a frosty snowfall, took shelter, Ernster seemed most puzzled by the chickens.
“They’re the dumbest animals I have here, but they’re smart enough to come inside out of the rain,” said the businesswoman.
****
Fred Higginbotham, a long-time Alpine resident, said during the stormy week that he was “just kind of hunkered down.”
Higginbotham, an individual member of the Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce, lives on Chocolate Creek behind a gasoline station in the downtown area.
He remembers a steady three-day rain in the late 1970s that filled the creek.
“It rained so much a Volkswagen got in the tube (underground culvert) that starts behind the Alpine Inn parking lot,” Higginbotham said. “It goes down behind the Alpine Post Office. The VW went all the way down.”
****
Out in the Camp area the Golden Acorn Casino is a golden melting pot when it comes to diversity among its 270 employees.
There’s a young woman from Viet Nam, a gentleman from Guam and several Chinese employees, according to Diana Shea, who also works for the popular casino.
Mexico is represented by staff from as far south as the Yucatan Peninsula and Mexico City as well as the Tecate and Mexicali border towns. Employees with a Mexican heritage from the Imperial Valley and East Los Angeles are also part of the unusual workplace ethnic diversity.
The Indian Nations include a tribal elder from the Campo Kumeyaay who has kept the native arts alive through her basketry, pottery, beading and other skills.
Other local Campo tribal members, members of the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations from Oklahoma and employees who have traces of other Native American blood also work at the casino.
People of other ethnic backgrounds from all over the continental United States are on the staff, too.
“The Golden Acorn Casino presents a wonderful free opportunity to learn another language,” Shea said. “No need for night school. The interchange between people is what makes it a pleasure to come to work.”

Alpine & Mountain Empire News

Click here to go to the News Archives of past stories

Jump to the News Story on this list

See County Supervisor Dianne Jacob’s letter to the California Public Utilities Commission in the latest Sunrise Powerlink development

• Smart meters set the stage for energy savings and improved service
• Alpine Boulevard improvements, Powerlink traffic plan presented
• Alpine gets state Welcome Center; More tourists, business expected
• Ailing Alpine woman needs help

Charms of Italy, Ireland trips presented

Discovering the beauty of Italian art and sampling incredible wines under the Tuscan sun? Or exploring the friendly pubs and green loveliness of the Emerald Isle? Maybe both? Those were the questions people considered while listening March 9 at Holt Travel & Tours in Alpine to the delights of two great Collette Vacations trips to Tuscany and Ireland.

“We are the oldest tour operator in North America,” Pam Robinson, Collette Vacations district sales manager, assured the group. “This is our 93rd year. We’re debt free. We’re set to have our best year ever in 2010.”
Presented by the Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce and Holt Travel & Tours, the “Discover Tuscany” and “Shades of Ireland” trips are open to the general public. As outlined by Robinson, both 10-day vacations will be wonderful ways to relax. “I thought that they (trips) seemed like they would be a lot of fun,” guest Marcy Hohnemann of Help-U-Sell Horizons Real Estate said afterward. “Pretty good pricing . . . really good value. I think it’s a good way to go, especially for your first trip.”

In addition to experienced tour guides around the clock and the pleasure as well as the security of traveling with a group, Collette Vacations provides pickup in Alpine to the San Diego International Airport at Lindbergh Field. Rates are $2,999 per person, based on double occupancy, for the Tuscany trip, Nov. 2-11, and $2,499 for Ireland, March 12-21 of next year. The rates include air taxes and fees/surcharges, hotel transfers and round trip air fares from San Diego. Single and triple rates are available on request. Continued...

Big cats inspire, business motivates Chamber breakfast

The Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors helped welcome new and renewing members at the Chamber’s March 9 Hot Topics Business Networking Breakfast at the La Carreta Restaurant in Alpine. Pictured, left to right, are Attorney Carter F. Johnston and Merv Banks of Alpine Financial/The Resource Center, both Ambassadors; Pauline Silver, Alpine Mobile Home Estates; Ambassador Pene Manale, Manale Media; George Manale, Manale Insurance; Ambassador Sallie Brown, Mary Kay Cosmetics; Pat Wood, Soroptimist International of Alpine; Jeffrey Carlos, Edward Jones Investments; Robert Rowsell, Alpine Auto Repair; Attorney James L. Lofton; Valerie Watts, Comfort & Joy Vocals; the Rev. Steve Benson of Lift High the Cross Lutheran Church, and Sue Roff of the Alpine Community Center, both Ambassadors, and Kelly Grove, Westcore Properties.

Continued from home page
Big cats need help

When the animals are rescued, they can’t be released into the wild because they have known humans. At the almost 100 acres of Lions, Tigers and Bears, all of the cats they save live the rest of their natural lives with dignity.
“They come up to see you,” Brink said about the animals. “They want to be around people. They want the attention.” The nonprofit Lions, Tigers and Bears also has an educational program to help people learn more about the cats and how to help and protect them. It takes about $20,000 a month to provide the big felines with food, nutritional supplements, medical attention and maintenance. Lions, Tigers and Bears relies on membership fees, financial donations, special events and facility activities to support the rescue effort. Fund raisers such as the White Oaks Wild Nights outings, the April 3 Easter Egg Hunt and the May 15 Wild in the Country event are essential.

Breakfasts inspiring

In addition to good business and community information, the Chamber breakfasts always offer a cheerful way to start the day and members make the most of such opportunities. “Oh, what a beautiful morning,” sang Attorney James Lofton, a new Chamber member, as he began to introduce himself. Valerie Watts of Comfort & Joy Vocals, a renewing member, spontaneously joined him in his brief, beautiful rendition from the popular musical “Oklahoma!” The impromptu duet drew delighted smiles and applause. The drawings included opportunities, contributed by Chamber member Marilyn Fitch of YTB Travel & Cruises in Alpine, to eat at some of the best restaurants in the area ----the 94th Aero Squadron, the Butcher Shop and Taste of Italy.

To learn more about Lions, Tigers and Bears or to become a member, phone (619) 659-8078 or visit www.lionstigersandbears.org.
For more information about the Chamber, its members and events, call (619) 445-2722

Alpine gets state Welcome Center; More tourists, business expected

(picture on left) Eric Lund, San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau

(picture on right, Installation of Chamber board) ---- Taking the oath as Chamber board directors were, left to right, Jeffrey Carlos of Edward Jones Investments; George Wood, Village Carpets; Al Haven, Institute for Instructional Management; Attorney David Dow, Littler Mendelson, P.C.; Julie Ramirez, Alpine Country Day School; Bob Ring, Albertsons, and Virginia Fellows, Virginia Fellows, CPA.

Alpine will have its own California Welcome Center to attract tourists and business! That announcement was part of the good news, good networking and fun as Alpine’s Honorary Mayors were honored at the Feb. 22 installation of the officers and directors of the Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce.

Eric Lund, vice president of community relations and membership for the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau, told the crowd at The Vine restaurant at 2502 Alpine Blvd. how important the center at the Viejas Outlet Center will be to this region. “It means you’ll get about $150,000 from the state to promote Alpine as a destination,” Lund said. “It should triple the number of visitors at the Welcome Center. That means we have the first chance to get to them.” He said the advertising in state publications will ultimately draw more business for Alpine and the surrounding area. “It’s your community visitors’ center,” said Lund. “Alpine was one of three sites chosen. There are only 16 (Welcome Centers) in the whole state, so it’s a big deal.”

Centers offer much

State Welcome Centers, which have their own websites, provide travelers and tourists with specific information about each area as well as things to see and do, events, places to stay, transportation and more. The California Welcome Center Alpine will be the first one on a Native American reservation, Lund noted. The only other state Welcome Center in San Diego County is in Oceanside.

A big media day that will include elected officials and state tourism and travel commission authorities will be held on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, Lund said. He said welcome signs urging people to visit the center will start showing up along area highways and roads within four to six months. In the meantime, Lund said, work is already moving ahead on some projects, such as recognizing Highway 94 as a historic route.
The four-month process to get the California Welcome Center Alpine started when the San Diego East Visitors Bureau applied to the California Tourism and Travel Center. Lund said Welcome Center sites are chosen based on such qualifications as size, freeway access and 24-hour security as well as parking for recreational vehicles and buses.

Installation highlights

Among the Honorary Mayors honored were Bob Ring of Albertsons, 2009; Al Guerra, 2008; Peggy Easterling, 2003, and Carlette Anderson of Save-A-Heart, 2010. Alice Villa, 2005 Honorary Mayor, also was recognized.

The Chamber installation event, which included a lot of business networking, was a great place to announce the California Welcome Center Alpine. The friendly informal evening also included wonderful wines and great food. “Very nice,” said Chamber member Marilyn Fitch of Luv 2 Travel Online. “I got a good contact already.”

Congressman Duncan Hunter was unable to attend because he’s catching up with legislative work in Washington, D.C., after the recent snow storms there, so Lund stepped in for Hunter to do the Chamber installation and recognition honors. He cheerfully swore in Bob Ring of Alpine Albertsons as the new Chamber board president, along with Becky Kirkwood of Western Realty; Julie Ramirez, Alpine Country Day School; Virginia Fellows, Virginia Fellows, CPA; Attorney David Dow, Littler Mendelson, P.C.; Al Haven, Institute for Instructional Management; Gary Stockwell, Chase Bank; Charlie Brown, Viejas Enterprises; George Wood, Village Carpets and Jeffrey Carlos, Edward Jones Investments.

Former Alpine Honorary Mayors Peggy Easterling, 2003; Katy Andersen, 2004; Alice Villa, 2005; Michael James of Michael James Insurance, 2006; Greg Fox, 2007; Al Guerra, 2008, and Ring, 2009, as well as 2010 Honorary Mayor Carlette Anderson of Save-A-Heart were recognized for their hard work at raising money for Alpine schools. The annual Honorary Mayor’s Race is one of the events the Chamber and its members have used to bring in more than $60,000 during the past six years to help Alpine schools with educational needs that aren’t covered under current budgets.

Ring told Anderson that she’s “going to do absolutely wonderful.”
Anderson thanked everyone and reminded them that she and Ring are still raising money for Alpine schools through her “Your Change Brings Change” program and Ring’s “Apples for Education.”
“I’m really, really excited about being the new Honorary Mayor, but don’t ask me about potholes,” Anderson quipped.

Alpine Boulevard improvements, Powerlink traffic plan presented

“San Diego Gas & Electric said at the last (Sunrise Powerlink) meeting that the U.S. Forest Service approval would have to be done first (before construction could start),” said George Barnett, chair of the planning group’s Sunrise Powerlink ad hoc subcommittee.
It became clear during the public meeting at the Alpine Community Center that the proposed boulevard improvements project, part of the Alpine Revitalization Committee efforts, was being presented now because the Powerlink work could start in three months.
“It’s my understanding that the community would like to use this (county) report to provide SDG&E with information” about what Alpine Boulevard should be after the construction, project manager Michael J. Long of the county’s Department of Public Works said later.
A cost estimate for the proposed improvements isn’t available yet and no funding has been identified for the work, Long said.
After hearing the 10-minute presentation about improving the street, board member Brad Bailey said he wanted to meet with county Public Works officials to get more answers about the proposed boulevard improvements before deciding whether to endorse them.
The planning group agreed to get more information before making an endorsement decision.
Alpine resident Patricia Cannon, president and CEO of the Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce, later asked for consideration of another Alpine Boulevard issue at the planning group’s March 26 meeting.
Noting that the county supervisors have a fund for undergrounding overhead utilities, Cannon asked that the planning group seek money from the supervisors to underground the overhead power lines along the community’s busy main street.
The board put the matter on their March agenda.
Powerlink traffic
As far as the Sunrise Powerlink project’s traffic control plan for undergrounding 6.2 miles of major electric transmission lines and room-size vaults along Alpine Boulevard, there was little new in SDG&E’s 10-minute power point presentation.
“Drive access will always be maintained throughout Alpine Boulevard” during the two-year project, said SDG&E project manager Jose Lopez.
Lopez also said the company is coordinating design and construction efforts with local school districts, the county, law enforcement and emergency services’ agencies and other community-related groups to keep traffic impact to a minimum.
“We’ll need to set a vault about every fifth day,” he said. “It takes about 8 to 10 minutes to set a vault.”
The plan calls for a continuous two-way traffic plan that will require flagmen at times, said Lopez. He said the SDG&E plans include access to businesses so they can remain open.
Chairman Greg Fox noted that the recent county tree cutting at the boulevard’s five-way intersection considerably affected traffic.
“It actually created a traffic jam all the way to the east end of town,” Fox said, wanting more information. “And they were just cutting trees.”
Lopez said SDG&E is working on access. Later he noted that the company finished a similar project in major urban areas of San Diego three months ahead of schedule.
In response to a question from board member Cory Kill, Lopez said that after the 40 underground vaults are installed they will have to be inspected once every three years. It takes about 10-15 minutes per vault, he said.
Boulevard improvements
Before the meeting began people checked out large designs from the county’s detailed preliminary engineering report of the proposed improvements. The target area is bounded by parts of Alpine Boulevard, Arnold Way and Tavern Road.
Based on information gathered over the past 25 years in Alpine, the county study looked at ways to create parkway zones, increase pedestrian use, make intersections effective and safe, and improve the business environment.
“One of my big questions is about businesses and street parking,” said businesswoman Vanessa Rusezyk of the Art of Problem Solving, 2271 Alpine Blvd. “My main thing is to be sure they know what they’re doing before they start it.”
Long explained that the boulevard improvements presentation involved a conception, not the final design. RBF Consulting prepared the draft of the preliminary engineering report.
“It’s a little bit of a hybrid,” said James R. Haughey, RBF Consulting project manager.
He said the company tried to keep certain structures, facilities and parking on the boulevard while also attempting to reduce the environmental impact and follow the general plan.
Long said proposed parking would all have to be parallel because of the limited space. Hard center medians are proposed, but that could be revised, he said.
“There’s lots of (retaining) walls, primarily to protect the environment,” said Haughey.
Encroachment issues
In response to questions from the board, Long said the county has tried to keep the plan within the right of way without encroaching on existing buildings.
“There are a significant amount of encroachments along the boulevard,” and people can apply to the county for permits to continue encroachments, he said.
A significant part of the Alpine Inn Restaurant & Pub, a popular landmark business, is in the county’s right of way along the boulevard. Long said the improvements are designed around the Alpine Inn so it can continue doing business.
Discussion included possibly going through a process to vacate the county’s right of way.
Before the meeting ended the board decided not to take action on Barnett’s proposal to join a revitalization committee request for a facilitator to ease Sunrise Powerlink tensions.
They also declined to pursue a draft letter to the California Public Utility Commission to file an amicus brief with a court to support legal action against the Powerlink project.

Ailing Alpine woman needs help

An Alpine woman who has often helped others could use some assistance right now to pay for very expensive medical treatment.Former 2005 Honorary Mayor Alice Villa was a familiar face for 36 years at the Alpine Pharmacy until it closed about four years ago. She is also a charter member of the Alpine Stagecoach Lions.Now Villa, 86, has thrombocytopenia, an immune deficiency disorder, according to Irene Griffin, co-owner of Comfort Keepers and a member of the Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce. Thrombocytopenia can cause abnormal bleeding.

“She needs treatment,” Griffin said. “Her insurance co-pay is a little over $800 for each treatment. She needs six weekly treatments and there might be more later.” The Alpine Stagecoach Lions have set up an account for Villa at California Bank & Trust. Griffin said contributors can receive tax credit from the Alpine Stagecoach Lions.

“A lot of people know her,” Griffin said. “She’s a quiet person who was always active in the community and gave a lot to it.”Named Lion of the Year several times, Villa has worked hard for all the Lions fund raisers in addition to being active with both the Alpine and Santee chambers of commerce, said Griffin.As Honorary Mayor, Villa also helped raise money for Alpine schools.

Donations may be made or sent directly to the Alice Villa fund at California Bank & Trust, 2250 Alpine Blvd., Alpine, CA 91901. They may also be mailed to the Alpine Stagecoach Lions, P.O. Box 1983, Alpine, CA 91903.

Top of page