Want fresh vegetables?  Now you can pick up garden-fresh produce in El Cajon or City Heights—or have it delivered directly to your home, all while helping local refugees from war-torn nations.

To get started, just join the International Rescue Committee’s community supported agriculture (CSA) program for this summer season.  Participants will receive a colorful share of farm-fresh and local vegetables grown by refugee farmers participating in IRC’s sustainable agriculture program.

May 18, 2013 (Lemon Grove) -- The San Diego Sheriff’s Department is searching for a missing person at risk.  James Edward Smith of Lemon Grove is on medication for dementia and is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s.  Smith, 66, was last seen driving his 2006 Silver Chrysler 300 four-door sedan with CA license plate 5XLV296.

Smith is described by authorioties as black, 5 feet 11 inches tall, 207 pounds, bald, with brown eyes and a mustache.  He was last seen wearing a tan and brown jacket, baggy blue jeans, and a tan baseball cap.

He was last seen leaving Willy's Electronics on Mercury Street in San Diego on May 16 at 02:55 p.m., alone in his vehicle. He may have been heading to Harbor Freight supply in Chula Vista. He never arrived at the supply store, and never arrived home in the 1800 block of El Prado Ave, Lemon Grove.

May 18, 2013 (Spring Valley) – A 69-year-old Spring Valley man has been arrested in connection with the vicious beating of a dog. An officer with the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services (DAS) has arrested 69-year-old Charles Dudley on May 14. A neighbor called DAS saying he witnessed the beating in Dudley’s backyard on the 3500 block of Bentley Drive a day earlier.

The Animal Control Officer who responded to the scene found a two-year-old female Miniature Pinscher barely breathing in the backyard and rushed the eight-pound animal to an emergency veterinary hospital. Despite emergency care, the dog succumbed to its injuries overnight. A necropsy will be performed on the body to determine the exact cause of death.

By Jamie Reno, originally posted May 13, 2013

May 18, 2013 (San Diego) – In a rather unexpected rejection of Southern California Edison’s efforts to restart the shuttered San Onofre nuclear power plant north of San Diego, the Atomic Safety Licensing Board (ASLB) ruled today that the two reactors can not go back online before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) holds a formal license amendment proceeding with full public participation.

A three-judge panel of the ASLB granted a petition from Friends of the Earth, an environmental organization, asking the NRC to require Edison to undergo a license amendment process before a judge, including public hearings, sworn testimony from expert witnesses and rules of evidence.

Governor's May Budget Revise Increases Spending on Developmental Centers; People with Developmental Disabilities Urge the Governor to Stop “Taxpayer Supported Abuse”

May 18, 2013 (Sacramento) – People with developmental disabilities and their advocates are speaking out in reaction to Governor Brown's May Budget Revise, and his decision to spend even more taxpayer dollars on a system that has been repeatedly cited for abusing people with developmental disabilities:

“As a California taxpayer I’m outraged, and as a person with a developmental disability I’m repulsed,” said advocate Kiara Hedglin. “It’s unconscionable for the Governor to increase spending on a system that abuses people with developmental disabilities.   It’s time for these archaic centers to close and for people with developmental disabilities to receive the quality care they deserve in home-like settings.”

May 18, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – March Against Monsanto has announced that on May 25, tens of thousands of activists around the world will “March Against Monsanto.” Currently, marches are being planned on six continents, in 36 countries, totaling events in over 250 cities, and in the US, events are slated to occur simultaneously at 11 a.m. Pacific in 47 states. The San Diego March will be starting at 11am on May 25th at the Balboa Park fountain in front of the Science center.

By Sholeh Sisson 

May 17 2013 (San Diego)-- On May 15, the San Diego Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an ordinance waiving building permit and plan review fees for disabled veterans who need home modifications to accommodate their disabilities.

"We are always looking for ways to improve the lives of those who risk their lives to protect our country," said Supervisor Dianne Jacob, who introduced the measure along with Supervisor Bill Horn.

By Nadin Abbott

(May 16, 2013 (Ocotillo) – “It’s scary, all the dangerous things that could happen. I don’t want anybody to get hurt,” said Michaela Woolley, 13.  She spoke at a press conference at the Ocotillo Community Center today, after a wind turbine at the Ocotillo Wind Express Facility dropped a blade the length of a jumbo jet plane.  

Fortunately nobody was hurt by this accident, though Miachela’s younger brother, Albert added, “It’s scary, the blade of the wind turbine could have landed in a house.” The boy said he also said gets constant headaches that make it hard to do his homework since the turbines were installed.

History of turbine/blade manufacturer Siemens is riddled with bribery, corruption, and other scandals

An East County Magazine special investigative report

By Miriam Raftery

Sierra Robinson, Sholeh Sisson and Jim Pelley also contributed to this report

May 16, 2013 (Ocotillo)—One day after San Diego Supervisors ignored residents’ safety concerns and approved a wind ordinance that would open much of East County to industrial wind turbines, a wind turbine at the Ocotillo Express Wind Energy facility hurled off an 11-ton blade. The blade, manufactured by Siemens, landed on a trail used by off-road vehicles.   The accident has shut down the wind facility pending investigation into the cause.

An investigation by East County Magazine reveals a dark history of serious safety hazards involving Siemens’ wind products as well as a corporate past that includes guilty pleas to corruption on a global scale, including accusations of bribery and other serious charges in at least 20 nations. 

Siemens contracted with Pattern Energy, a company with its own checkered corporate past, as ECM has previously reported, to build the controversial project on public land managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in Ocotillo and paid for with taxpayer subsidies.  Pattern's corporate predecessor also built the Kumeyaay Wind project in Campo, which blew apart in 2010, whirling blade parts over the area. All 75 blades on all 25 turbines had to be replaced; the project was off-line for months.

By Sierra Robinson and Miriam Raftery

May 16, 2013 (San Diego) – “This is the worse crime that’s ever been committed against the East County wilderness. Period,” Craig Maxwell, former La Mesa mayoral candidate and outdoor enthusiast told ECM after San Diego Supervisors voted 4-1 yestesday to approve a wind ordinance that industrial-scale wind turbine projects in rural and scenic backcountry regions.

Only Supervisor Dianne Jacob, who represents East County, made an impassioned plea to protect the health and safety of rural residents, who have repeatedly voiced concerns over risks from infrasound, stray voltage, noise , fire danger, turbine collapse and blades thrown off.

Emphasizing their point, less than 24 hours after the vote, a turbine in nearby Ocotillo threw off an 11-ton blade. (photo)

By Janis Mork

May 16, 2013 (La Mesa) – Graywater harvesting, a possible new dog park, and a community dialogue to discuss fiscal issues were among the agenda items weighed by La Mesa City Council at its May 14 meeting. 

Mayor Art Madrid wanted to develop a Graywater and rainwater harvesting ordinance for residential use in La Mesa.

April 29, 2013 (Julian)--Following last year’s success, Julian’s 2nd Annual Wild and Scenic Film Festival, benefiting Volcan Mountain Foundation, returns May 17 – 19, 2013. This year's festival features an expanded program of 44 new films, almost 12 hours of unrepeated screening time broken into 9 sessions from Friday evening to Sunday evening.

The weekend is packed full of entertainment to delight audiences of all ages, as well as other activities ranging from wine-tasting to a hike up  Volcan Mountain to a party with dancing and live music for festival attendees.

By Sierra Robinson

May 16, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – A new generation of bladeless wind turbines now in testing offers promise for designs that could reduce risk to birds, reduce noise, require smaller footprints and lower heights, thus less view disturbance.

For example, the slogan on the SheerWind website is “Changing the Course of Power Generation” and with the company’s new wind turbine design, it just might. Sheerwind began creation of a new energy technology three years ago, when founded by Dr. Daryoush Allaei. Since then, SheerWind has created a bladeless, funnel-shaped wind turbine that  it claims is a ‘revolution.’

May 16, 2013 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights brings you cutting edge news each week that could impact your health and our future.

• New Closed-Captioning Glasses Help Deaf Go Out To The Movies (NPR)
• A powerful use for spoiled food (Los Angeles Times)
• Why wind farms kill eagles with federal impunity (Christian Science Monitor)
• Is It Safe To Use Compost Made From Treated Human Waste? (NPR)
• Fears grow over deadly new virus (BBC news)
• Agent Orange Linked To Lethal Prostate Cancer In Veterans (KPBS)
• Ice wave comes ashore in Minnesota (Christian Science Monitor)

Click "read more" and scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.

May 16, 2013 (San Diego's East County) -- ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• White House pushes media shield law (Washington Post)
• IRS: First heads roll (The Hill)

• Companies won't face charges in condor deaths    (Los Angeles Times)

• Senate overwhelmingly approves water infrastructure bill  (Sacramento Bee)
• U.S. Safety board is proposing tougher drunk driving standards (CNN)
• Associated Press: Feds Secretly Obtained Reporter Phone Logs (NPR)
• Holder Defends Subpoena Of Journalists' Phone Logs
• Monsanto: The behemoth that controls 90 percent of soybean production (Marketplace.org)
• Exactly what did the IRS want to know?  (NPR)
• Who is profiting from charters? The big bucks behind charter school secrecy, financial scandal and corruption (Alternet)
• Texas man held on pipe bomb charges denies role in fertilizer plant blast  (Chicago Tribune)
• Tsarnaev 2011 murders? Boston-bombing brothers also could be linked to earlier deaths. (Christian Science Monitor)

WORLD

• Award goes to Pakistani girl shot by Taliban (U-T San Diego)
• Mexico sets shelters as volcano shakes, spews ash (U-T San Diego)
• Ex-dictator convicted of genocide in Guatemala (U-T San Diego)
• Rat meat and Chinese food safety (BBC)

Click "read more" and sccroll down down for excerpts and links to full stories

May 16, 2013 (San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL/REGIONAL

• SDSU ranked 7^th most dangerous college (Daily Aztec)
• No Vegas, baby: Council denies Mayor Madrid’s trip to annual conference (La Mesa Patch)
• Grossmont High arts program honored (U-T San Diego)
• Nuclear board rules San Onofre restart requires public input (Reuters)
• La Mesa Meadows project plows ahead despite outcry over bird deaths  (La Mesa  Patch)
• La Mesa Prostitution Investigation (La Mesa Today)

STATE

• Quest for clean water enters unknown, expensive territory  (U-T San Diego )
• Israel divestment vote at UC Berkeley the latest sign of hostile campus environment
• Calif. fails to screen substance abuse counselors (Sacramento Bee)

May 16, 2013 (El Cajon) – Children, seniors and families had fun exploring better ways to live at the free Farragut Circle Health & Safety Fair on May 11 in El Cajon.

The community outreach effort of the Neighbor-to-Neighbor Program of the First Presbyterian Church of El Cajon drew a steady stream of people to the 500 block of Farragut Circle. Mother Goose and local princesses helped welcome the early crowds. 

“Everybody’s smiling,” said Jackie Jackson, library assistant at the Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library of the Grossmont Healthcare District in La Mesa. “This has to be the friendliest fair ever.”

“Your source for Trusts, Wills, Probate, Family Law & more”

By: Stephen C. Ross, Esq.

May 16, 2013 (San Diego County) – Advance planning concerning your medical care decisions is important for both you and your family. It ensures your desires will be met while providing guidance to loved ones making difficult decisions regarding your care. People have varying opinions concerning what procedures to allow, medications to take, whether-or-not to prolong life and organ donation. Having an understanding of the terminology and decisions you may have to make will help ensure your wishes are met by those responsible for making your medical care decisions in the future.

May 16, 2013 (El Cajon) – Grossmont College is an official pit stop for “Bike to Work Day 2013,” a nationally recognized event celebrated on the third Friday of May.

Some 50 to 60 riders are expected from 6 to 9 a.m. May 17, in parking lot No. 1 at the intersection of Highwood Drive and Grossmont College Drive on the Grossmont College campus.

Refreshments and support will be available, along with free T-shirts for the first 30 riders. Cyclists needing a break can ride free on any transit system operated by the Metropolitan Transit System or the North County Transit District if space is available. For more information, go to icommutesd.com

May 15, 2013 (Bonita) – A man has been arrested for sexual assaulting a teenager in the 3200 block of Bonita Road at 10:48 on May 13. The victim reportedly fought off the attacker and flagged down a motorist who gave her a ride.  They called law enforcement while maintaining visual observation of the subject, who was on foot.

The victim reported that she believed the suspect grabbed her with the intent of pulling her into the bushes to be sexually assaulted. The suspect, a 20-year-old African American man, was captured after briefly attempting to elude deputies in heavy vegetation, according to Sgt. D.M. Ting.

May 16, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has issued a Boil Water Order and Public Notification for the Los Tules Mutual Water Company located at 32995 Camino Moro, Warner Springs, CA 92086 effective immediately.  This public water system serves 100 residential homes.

The drinking water system has tested present for total coliform bacteria and absent for E. coli.  Total coliform bacteria can come from soils and other sources in the environment and can indicate a problem with the water supply system.   The Boil Water Order was issued to ensure all water used is free from contamination.  The Boil Water Order will remain in effect until the distribution system has been disinfected and additional samples confirm the absence of bacteria in the water supply.

May 15, 2013 (El Cajon) – Concerned Citizens of El Cajon will be meeting on May 29 at 6:30 p.m. at IHOP, 1286 Oakdale Avenue, El Cajon.  The meeting will be to address concerns and solve problems.  Everyone is welcome and can bring their concerns.  Concerns can also be posted at http://www.elcajonneighbors.org/blogs.html.

May 15, 2013 (San Diego) – OASIS is hosting a technology fair on May 18, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Macy’s in Mission Valley, 7017 Friars Road.  The event will help local adults 50 and older learn how to use social media and today’s technology, including smart phones and tablets.  Various technology experts will be presenting 30 minute sessions as well as one-on-one coaching.

Attendees will be able to attend a variety of classes, attend a hands-on computer lab session and get individual help from tech experts.  Lunch will be available and a raffle for prizes will follow.

President of the San Diego CSDA Chapter, Kathleen Coates Hedberg presents a check to Science Teacher Rosie Beck and the SeaPerch team, Katarina Gustin, Jake Connors, and Benjamin Evans.

May 15, 2013 (La Mesa) -  In an effort to provide educational outreach and awareness of Special Districts and their role in local government, the California Special Districts Association, San Diego Chapter and sponsor Helix Water District, provided St. Martin of Tours Academy (www.stmartinacademy.org) $515 for the 2012/2013 school year to pursue implementation of a SeaPerch Remote Operated Vehicle school program (www.SeaPerch.org).  St. Martin Academy entered their SeaPerch project at a local San Diego SeaPerch competition held on April 27, 2013, at Grossmont Community College and won first place.  The competition consisted of three-student teams who built the underwater vehicle, provided a presentation, competed in an obstacle course, and a deep water recovery mission.

For complete Calendar including Authors Events, go to www.SDWriteWay.org

May 15 (Wednesday, 5:00 pm) — Greg van Eekhout, San Diego-based author of the middle-grade novel Kid vs. Squid, The Boy at the End of the World and the adult novel Norse Code will be signing copies of his books at Barnes & Noble, Oceanside, 2615 Vista Way, Oceanside.

Lisa Kovach - Community Relations Manager, at 760-529-0270 or crm2153@bn.com for additional information.

“Pattern Energy is going to pollute what it couldn't destroy… Monsanto’s Roundup was the ingredient in Agent Orange--the defoliant sprayed in Viet Nam that harmed a generation of veterans and their children… This herbicide—a neurotoxin--is going to get carried downwind. Did Pattern fail to notice that there is still a community with children here in spite of its industrialization of the area with 112 turbines and a substation?”

By Linda Ewing, Ocotillo resident

Photo: Sahara mustard, a “weed” the BLM wants to eradicate with toxic herbicides

May 14, 2013 (Ocotillo) -- Herbicide Mitigation? What is that? I heard these two disturbing words and felt panic.

I knew instinctively that it was going to have something to do with this Ocotillo Wind Energy Facility because nothing good has come from this controversial project since the day Pattern Energy uttered its first words of deception to the town of Ocotillo. Since the day the company first tried to convince us that its massive 438 foot-tall industrial-sized wind turbines were good for the economy.  And yes, the very same day we realized that human lives were disposable and irrelevant in the statistical world of giant wind turbine developers.

May 13, 2013 (San Diego) – The San Diego City Council will vote on proposed changes to the city’s regulation and permitting process for sidewalk cafés at its meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 202 C St. in San Diego.

Leaders of the California Restaurant Association (CRA) San Diego County chapter have worked closely with city officials and the community to find ways to reconsider the existing burdensome and costly regulations that make it difficult for restaurant operators to expand their dining areas outdoors.

Mother misled investigators about location of drownings, authorities say

May 13, 2013 (Mt. Helix) --A one-year-old girl is dead and her two-year-old brother have died after their mother awoke this morning and found both children unconscious  in a swimming pool. The family had been staying at the residence on Mt. Helix at 10011 Sunset Avenue in unincorporated La Mesa.

The mother pulled the children from the pool with help from her friend and drove to La Mesa Fire Station #13 for assistance. “After arrival at the fire station, the friend ran away and has not been located,” Lt Gle,n Giannantonio with the San Diego Sheriff’s Homicide Detail reported.