4R Community - Alpine, CA

Well it’s time to start thinking about what the 3rd annual “Vitalize Alpine” event will be all about - February ‘07 is right around the corner! As you review the Revitalization results below, think about what the 2007 event should focus upon, and how we will engage even more of the community to participate this year.

I recently got a call from an Alpiner who said “I heard that Revitalization is dead. Is that true?” I said “Revitalization is alive and kicking!” Look at the results, and you can be the judge.

Take a look at the June ‘06 Matrix of Revitalization Projects that are getting worked. Additionally, below is a sampling of Revitalization results over the last 24 months! Some were quick wins others are ongoing campaigns, and a couple are dead ends (for now). This is a really respectable showing for a two year old community driven improvement effort. (more…)

Sterling Insights is pleased to announce an exciting new site to support sustained success in the greater San Diego region! That includes Alpine and east San Diego County!

Our new site, www.SDRegionalVision.com, is a compilation of all the visions, plans, and scenarios we can find about the future of the greater San Diego - Tijuana region. You will find the Alpine Revitalization effort representing some of the best thinking in east county.

What is it?
The site is making available for the first time, and in one place, the diverse visions and goals of groups from all over the region: government, non-profit, and commercial organizations. We are cataloguing the dreams and goals of as many regional stakeholders as possible from 1900 to date. These are the ideas that have made San Diego what is today, and give us some insight into what it could become in the next 100 years.

What is included and who is represented?
The site includes everything from land use and the environment to economic growth and social programs. You will find visions focused at the level of neighborhoods as well as at the level of the entire trans-border region. You will also find concise overviews from different San Diego area writers, architects, and historians, that give the thumbnail sketch of what area planners and visionaries have been dreaming about for the last 100 years.

Why is this important?
This dynamic and beautiful region in the southwest corner of the United States evolved and grew dramatically during the 20th century. As the 21st century gets underway, the San Diego region is being faced with many challenges and presented with tremendous opportunities. Finding common ground and aligning around shared visions will enable the regions residents, business owners, and governments to manage the challenges and maximize the opportunities to the benefit of everyone.

What can I do?
Visit this site to discover what 100 years of dreaming looks like and how it has shaped the region so far. If your community group, company, or local government has a vision you would like to see included, please contact us directly or contribute a comment at the site following the entry that gets your juices flowing.

What’s your vision for the San Diego region?
What is Alpine’s part in it?

For a comprehensive update on the Horse Fire see http://kfmb.com/stories/story.57457.html

For further updates from the County of San Diego including maps see http://www.sdcountyemergency.com

Here is an update from Neville Connell (neville.connell@cox.net), Greater Alpine Fire Safe Council:

The Horse Fire is still only 5% contained and has now burnt over 15000 acres as of 6am this morning. Currently, firefighters are defending Carveacre and are being helped by gentle westerly winds. They are also trying to prevent the fire from climbing out of Hauser Canyon into Potrero and Campo. It has also spread westwards from Barrett Lake along Lyons Valley since the map was drawn.

In Alpine we must hope that the fire does not jump west of Lyons Valley Road.
Neville Connell

This morning a fire started some miles south and east of Alpine . It began south of Insterstate 8 along Hwy. 79 south of Japatul Road in an area called Horsethief Canyon.

Here are the facts as I have them:

For additional updates:
Alpine Fire District 619-445-2635
California Dept. of Forestry (CDF) 619-590-3160

For those interested in listening in on the radio transmissions from all the concerned agencies go to www.ScanDiego.com for a list of frequencies used in the area.

This is a great time to phone your neighbors to make sure they know about it. Use this opportunity to run down your fire response check lists. Check your readiness supplies.

There is nothing like a fire in a nearby area to motivate one to top off that water barrel and check those fire extinguishers!

If you have news or questions you can post them here as a COMMENT. For those who have a fire related need or something to offer, please leave a comment with the item in the subject line. Remember to leave your name and an email address so others can reach you.

Cheers,
Joe Sterling

- Greater Alpine Fire Safe Council
- Alpine Revitalization
- Friends of Peutz Valley

Sterling Insights is pleased to announce our new book “Preparing for Pandemic Avian Flu - A Family & Neighborhood Workbook for Emergency Readiness”. A second workbook focused on pandemic issues affecting business continuity is in the works.

We have tracked the Avian Flu issue since 2003 and the time has come to help our friends and clients understand and prepare for it. Our position on Avian Flu is < !more> built on a broad cross section of current information from science, international health organizations, government policy makers, pandemic history and global Avian Flu media coverage. Our approach to readiness is based on common sense, advice from a physician and survival expert, and our own experience recovering from the 2003 San Diego wildfires. Our goal is that users of this workbook become more confident in the face of uncertainty and more prepared should the worst scenarios become a reality.

Go to www.lulu.com/content/263485 to preview the book and order electronic or print copies. A portion of the book procedes support increasing neighborhood readiness in rural Alpine, CA and low income areas. Please call us with your questions and comments.

Preparing for Pandemic Avian Flu - Family & Neighborhood Workbook for Emergency Readiness
by Joe Sterling , Rita Sterling
This 150-page workbook is for families and neighborhoods. It can improve confidence and readiness for a pandemic and other challenges. It answers 51 common questions about the avian flu and how to prepare. Based on government planning assumptions, the checklists help you affordably build 14 different “Readiness Kits”. Use this workbook to make better decisions and develop pride in your readiness. The May ‘06 edition also includes: Communicating about Avian Flu with friends & employers; the “Neighborhood Shock Absorber” for making your community ready; and, many useful links (news, science & advice). The authors have 15 years of professional experience guiding corporations and communities to plan, improve, and take leadership. Federal, state, and local authorities recognized them for leading recovery efforts after the 2003 San Diego wildfires. Editor: Marcia Bilbao, MD, physician and survival expert. For workshops and discounts on large orders: 619-659-1234.

An Alpine, CA Revitalization Priority - Rehabilitating Alpine Creek has environmental, social, economic benefits.

One of the six “highest leverage ideas” to come from the “Vision of Alpine – Revitalization” event (February 2005) was to “Conduct a range of beautification programs for Alpine including but not limited to a focus on Alpine Creek”.

A team of Alpine volunteers is forming to work on grant funding and community action to begin this most important improvement project for the town center. Please give us your comments about this effort so we can keep the dialogue going. If you are interested in participating contact Joe Forlenza at 619-699-3782.

Restoring creeks like this one recovers more than the beauty and park like aspects of watershed ecology, there are other important side effects. (more…)

Matrix of Alpine Revitalization Projects - updated: January 20, 2006
Download in MS Word or PDF

The 2006 Community Group Leader Packet is finally available! Use this tool to orient your group to the Revitalization effort in Alpine and the 2nd Annual “Vitalize Alpine” event.

Download the 2006 Group Leader Packet in MS Word or Acrobat PDF.

This year’s packet highlights accomplishments to date including a matrix of current projects and contact information of project leaders. You’ll see photos of last year’s participants in action. A directory of last year’s participating organizations and contact persons is included as well.

To update the vision and priority project lists for 2006, you’ll find a set of instructions for running your own “Vision of Alpine” mini-workshop. A delegate from your group can bring your results to the event to be included with those of all the other groups.

In addition to celebrating concrete results, and updating the vision and projects lists, this year’s theme is sustainable economic development and what that could mean for Alpine. Additionally, we’ll be looking at what can be done to make Alpine recession-proof and disaster-proof. It’s been said that into every life a little rain must fall. Having an umbrella is just plain smart!

Have fun with your Mini-Workshop! We’ll see you at the “Vitalize Alpine ” kick-off on Friday evening, March 17.

For information about using this packet with your group call:
Joe Forlenza 619-699-3782 or Paul Rohal 619-445-7333

To volunteer for the Support Team or donate food/beverages call:
Allegra Pajot 619-531-2110 or Carol Morrison 619-445-2544

Alpine residents are invited to the second planning session for the 2006 “Vitalize Alpine Conference” Mark your calendars if you have a desire to be one of the event sponsors. We already have 7 Sponsor Team members to help produce the event and have room for another 5 or 6. (more…)

Joe Sterling and Joe Forlenza will be speaking at the Alpine Chamber of Commerce January Networking Opportunity event on Wednesday Januray 18, 2006, starting at 5:30pm. (more…)

(copied from email)
From: Sharon Ford (Sharon.Ford@sdcounty.ca.gov)

Below is the Calendar for all of the 2006 Community Revitalization Meetings. (more…)

It’s Vitalization time again!
Alpine residents are invited to the first planning session for the 2006 “Vitalize Alpine Conference” Mark your calendars if you have a desire to be one of the event sponsors. (more…)

Welcome to a community driven site to support the social, environmental, and economic development of Alpine, CA and the surrounding communities in East San Diego County. This site provides a forum for community members, local businesses, and government representatives to exchange information, ideas, dialogue, and connect with each other. It is a tool for increasing the vitality of Alpine and it’s surrounds.

For those wishing to help support this site there are several ways to do so: (more…)