"Into Abstraction" exhibit at Hyde Art Gallery

Grossmont College’s Hyde Art Gallery, located on the El Cajon campus, is now presenting “Into Abstraction,” an exhibit of 23 abstract paintings by seven local artists, through Sept. 13. The seven artists include Kathleen Thum, Doris Bittar, Jessica McCambly, Michael Whiting, Mark Sengbusch, Jeremy Gercke and Eva Struble.

The exhibit showcases contemporary abstract composition, imagery, methods, materials and techniques, according to Larry Kline, curator of Hyde Art Gallery. The paintings explore a variety of themes, ranging from politics, optics and music to history, gravity and patterns.

Admission is free to the Hyde Art Gallery. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The gallery is located on the college campus in Building #25. The closest parking can be found in Parking Lot #1. Grossmont College is located at 8800 Grossmont College Dr., in El Cajon. For information, call (619) 644-7299, or visit www.grossmont/edu/artgallery

Grossmont-Cuyamaca board opposes use of long-term bonds



Governing Board: Bill Garrett, Debbie Justeson,
Edwin Hiel, Mary Kay Rosinski and Greg Barr



The Governing Board of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District has unanimously passed a resolution opposing the use of long-term bonds, assuring East County residents that the district will seek bonds with a reasonable repayment rate should Proposition V be approved by voters in November.

The resolution approved by the district’s Governing Board Tuesday night promises to follow a policy set by the San Diego County Taxpayers Association against obtaining long-term bonds unless it can be shown that their debt costs are less than shorter-term alternatives. Other school districts in San Diego County have been criticized recently for obtaining 40-year capital appreciation bonds, resulting in a repayment schedule more than nine times the cost of the original bond.

Heritage of the Americas Museum hosting "Museum Roadshow"

Craig Helm

 On Saturday, August 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 pm, the Heritage of the Americas museum will host Craig Helm, certified appraiser, who specializes in Native American, pre-Columbian, antique pictures, guns, western memorabilia, and Asian artifacts.

 

The public is invited to bring in their unusual treasures so Craig can say what they are and what they may be worth.  The museum asks for a donation of $5 for each multiple of three or less items that are brought in. 

Proceeds from the Museum Roadshow will support the non-profit museum’s educational programs that benefit over 5,000 school children each year from throughout San Diego County.  Admission to the museum and parking will be free that day.

 

The Heritage of the Americas Museum is located on the campus of Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego.

 

For more information, please call the Heritage of the Americas Museum at 619-670-5194.  Be sure to check the museum web site for more details:  www.cuyamaca.edu/museum. 

Chancellor's message: An Olympic effort

Chancellor Cindy L. Miles sent the following message to the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District staff on Aug. 14.

“Don’t put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the further you get.” - Michael Phelps, American swimmer and the most decorated Olympian of all time with 22 medals, 18 gold

It’s been inspiring to watch the Olympics the past few weeks and the array of magnificent athletes pushing themselves beyond natural limits and showing superb teamwork to achieve their goals. Athletes and coaches from countries all over the world (including Cuyamaca College coach Tim Seaman and Grossmont College alum Nic Long) came together in their mutual love and respect for the Games.

As we start another school year, I know we’ll all be making an Olympic effort to keep our District thriving and ensure our students have the best educational experience possible. We have many initiatives before us this year – some will be sprints and others will be marathons. I’ve outlined our major events below. With our continued collective dedication, we can be as intrepid as Gabby Douglas, as inspirational as Oscar Pistorius, as winning as Michael Phelps, and as legendary as Usain Bolt.

Fall semester starts at Cuyamaca, Grossmont colleges

Fall semester begins Aug. 20 at Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges, with faculty and staff committed to serving more than 25,000 students in 160 degree and certificate offerings, despite four years of state budget cuts and fewer students that the state will fund to attend college.

Economic and political uncertainties have added to the planning and budget challenges of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District and its two East County colleges, which has forced the district to drastically cut back course offerings and reduce staff through attrition and retirement incentives.

State increases in community college fees mean students at Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges now pay fees of $46 per credit unit, a 22 percent increase from the $36 per credit unit students paid a year ago, but still a bargain compared to public and private four-year campuses and for-profit vocational schools.

District board votes to place $398 million bond measure on November ballot

The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Governing Board unanimously voted Tuesday to place a $398 million bond measure on the Nov. 6 ballot, citing the need for expanded career training facilities, veterans’ centers to assist former and active-duty military, and updating aging classrooms, infrastructure and technology systems.

The ballot measure will be placed before about 230,000 voters residing in the East County cities and communities located within the college district, which stretches from the East County cities of El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove and Santee to the Imperial County and Mexican borders.  To pass, the measure requires approval by at least 55 percent support of the votes cast.

College district board to vote Tuesday on bond measure

The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Governing Board is holding a special meeting at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Aug.  7, at Grossmont College’s Griffin Gate to consider placing a $398 million facilities bond measure on the Nov. 6 ballot.

The bond measure proposal is based on a facilities master plan that has identified needs such as expanded career training facilities, veterans’ centers to accommodate the growing numbers of Post 9/11 G.I. Bill beneficiaries, and updating aging classrooms, infrastructure and technology systems.

Grossmont College was built 50 years ago, and has classrooms and other buildings that lack necessary technological upgrades and are badly in need of repairs. Cuyamaca College opened in 1978, and many of its roads, mechanical systems and fixtures are no longer adequate to serve the campus and its students.

Grossmont, Cuyamaca alum to compete in Olympics

Nic Long

 Update Aug. 9: Nic Long went down in crash during his BMX quarterfinal heat, ending his Olympic journey. "I'm super bummed for Nic Long -- he rode like a champ," said USA Cycling BMX Director Mike King.



          BMX racer and Grossmont College alum Nic Long hopes to return to Lakeside with a shiny medal to match the tattoos on his feet of Queen Elizabeth and the five interlocking rings of the Olympics.

            Long, who attended Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges in 2007 and 2008, is one of the five Americans taking to the brand new 400-meter BMX track in London’s Olympic Park for three days of racing starting Aug. 8. The total 48 riders start with a seeding round in which each athlete takes a single run to determine ranking and position. The men’s quarterfinals on Aug. 9 narrow the field for the semifinals and the medal runs Aug. 10. NBC will be airing the highlights of the last two days of BMX competition during its primetime television broadcast.

            For the 22-year-old graduate of El Capitan High School, going to the Olympics is a highlight to a career that began in earnest in 2008, when he joined USA Cycling’s  BMX development program. In 2010, Long claimed his first World Cup title, upsetting the Olympic gold medalist from the 2008 Games in Beijing, where BMX made its debut as an Olympic event.

Two renovated Grossmont College buildings are certified green

Grossmont College's Griffin Center

Grossmont College’s two newest renovated buildings have received LEED certification from the United States Green Building Council, indicating that the buildings were designed, built and are operating using green strategies that incorporate energy and water efficiency and sustainable building materials.

The El Cajon college’s Student Services and Administration Building was recognized with a gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification while the college’s student center, the Griffin Center, earned a silver LEED certification. This is the first time that a building on the Grossmont or Cuyamaca campuses has achieved LEED certification.

“We are extremely proud of our project management team for their outstanding efforts that demonstrate our commitment to integrating high standards of sustainability and responsible, environmentally-friendly building practices throughout the construction process,” said Bill Garrett, president of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District board.

Student Services and Administration Building