By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Nat Roberts and Miriam Raftery

Hear our radio coverage of this event for KNSJ:  https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

December 29, 2014 (City Heights) – At the Nile Sisters’ 2^nd annual community celebration, Portraits of Success, local refugees and immigrants were honored for their achievements and heard inspirational and motivational stories.

“Keep dreaming, keep believing in yourselves,” urged keynote speaker Mark Kabban, a CNN hero and founder of Youth and Leaders Living Actively (YALLA).

By Miriam Raftery

Updated December 31, 2014 with link to 10 News story and response from the County Animal Control Department.

December 29, 2014 (Blossom Valley) –For the second time in three years, a pit bull running loose has viciously attacked a horse and rider outside the same Blossom Valley residence.

“Me and my horse were attacked yesterday,” Stacey Russell told East County Magazine.  According to Russell, a bluish-gray pit bull dog seriously injured her horse outside 10937 Quail Canyon – the same address where a similar attack occurred in 2011.

By Miriam Raftery, East County News Service

December 31, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--It’s been a turbulent year around the world and across the nation, when occurrences far away had an impact right here in East County. There were also many major statewide, regional and local issues that hit home right here--including some stories uncovered through our own investigative reporting team.

These are the hot topics of the year that most affected our readers:

December 30, 2014 (Lemon Grove) - A Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Concert will be held on Saturday, January 17^th at 5 p.m. on Lemon Grove’s Main Street Promenade (3443 Main St. in Lemon Grove).

By Miriam Raftery

December 29, 2014 (San Ysidro) - A man killed by Customs and Border Protection agents at the San Ysidro crossing  on Christmas Eve was an El Cajon resident.  The County Medical Examiner’s office has identified the man as Francisco Manuel Cesena, 40.

East County News Service

December 29, 2014 (San Diego)—Pope Francis, who has voiced concerns over climate change impacts, is set to issue an edict calling on 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide to take action on climate change—and a San Diego scientist may have played a role in influencing the Pope to take action.

December 29, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)-- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

By Joe Gandelman, Editor in Chief, The Moderate Voice

Reprinted with permission from The Moderate Voice, a member of the San Diego Online News Association (SDONA)

December 28, 2014 (San Diego)--Yes, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is a contender for the Republican Presidential nomination, even if he has not officially announced. Bigtime. A new poll shows his leaping to the top of the GOP presidential poll pack:

December 29, 2014 (San Diego's East County)-- East County Magazine's 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.

• On Christmas, Obama marks end of Afghan combat (USA Today)
• Jeb Bush jumps to head of Republicans’ 2016 race (The Hill)
• Half of all children will be autistic by 2025, warns senior research scientist at MIT
•  Poll finds Clinton up 57 points on Warren (The Hill)
• As drones are given as gifts, FDA issues warning (CBS)
• If cyberwar erupts, America's electric grid is a prime target (CS Monitor)
• Viral secret Santa story inspires millions (CBS)
• Requiring Abortion Doctors to Narrate Ultrasound Violates First Amendment, 4th Circuit Rules (Reason)
• Getting High Safely: Aspen Launches Marijuana Education Campaign (NPR)

WORLD

• Air Asia jet “likely at bottom of the sea,” airline official says (CBS)
• Pope’s Christmas message: Iraq and Syria have suffered too long (CNN)
• Coalition strikes kill another ISIS governor (CNN)
• Death toll rises in Greek ferry disaster (CBS)
• After 522 years, Spain seeks to make amends for expulsion of Jews (KPBS)
• Pope treats homeless to new sleeping bags (AFP)
• France steps up patrols after spate of lone-wolf attacks (Reuters)
•  Saudi women drivers referred to terrorism court (AP)
• Islamic State targeted in 39 strikes by U.S., allies: Task Force
• New Russian military doctrine says NATO top threat
• Third priest killed in dangerous southern Mexico

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

Source: County News Service

December 28, 2014 (San Diego)--San Diego County’s Health and Human Services Agency has teamed up with the San Diego Chargers for their annual “Join the Team” Chargers calendar to raise awareness for children waiting to be adopted.  The collaboration has proven to be a winning team, year after year.

East County News Service

December 28, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – A cold Alaskan storm is set to strike our region Tuesday night, continuing through New Year’s Eve on Wednesday night, the National Weather Service predicts.  The storm is forecast to bring two to four inches of snow on mountain peaks, with snow also accumulating as low as 2,000 feet –including communities such as Alpine, Descanso, Julian and Jacumba.

Applications Due March 20

December 26, 2014 (San Diego)--To incentivize projects that promote smart growth, as well as increase walking, biking, and transit usage, SANDAG is calling on local jurisdictions to submit applications for $15 million in competitive grants available under its TransNet Smart Growth Incentive Program (SGIP) and TransNet Active Transportation Grant Program (ATGP).

Photo: Left to right: Tony Gwynn, Michele Tarbet, Aubrey Dunne, Duane Stainston, Penny Halgren, Joe Drew

December 26, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--East County lost community leaders, a sports star, a former elected official, business owners and beloved volunteers in 2014.  Some were well-known, such as Padres Hall of Famer and Aztecs coach Tony Gwynn, ex-school board member Penny Halgren, Drew Ford patriarch Joe Drew and Grossmont Hospital CEO Michele Tarbet. Others were active in nonprofits, politics, schools and other community endeavors, such as Council candidate and Save ECPAC volunteer Duane Swainstom or beloved teacher Aubrey Dunne.  Some weren’t well known, but their deaths made headlines and pulled at our heartstrings, including as missing persons, a military pilot and young people lost in the prime of their lives due to tragic circumstances.

East County News Service

December 25, 2014 (Alpine)—There are two major new developments in the battle over a high school for Alpine.  At the December 11 meeting of the Grossmont Union High School District, trustee Jim Stieringer stunned fellow board members by announcing his support for unification—the effort by Alpine parents to break from the GUHSD and unify Alpine Union School District (AUDS) to include K-12 grades, so that it can build the high school that the GUHSD has failed to build.