December 16, 2011 (Washington D.C.) – Final votes are expected today in both houses on a compromise funding measure to avoid a government shut-down--just in time for the holiday adjounrment.
December 14, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) –Doing our part to support our local economy, we bring you more delightful gift ideas from Mom-and-Pop retailers in our community. (If you missed part I, click here:http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/7950 )Scroll down to see our newest additions. Shopping locally not only helps support local merchants, artists and artisans and grows our local tax base, it also means you can view gifts first-hand, find some special items, get personalized service, and not worry whether items shipped from far away will arrive in time for the holidays.
December 12, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)—From the Real Estate Trenches is a weekly column focused on real estate news that impacts East County’s real estate market. This week’s local and national real estate highlights include:
Fannie and Freddie suspend evictions for the holidays
Prudential Financial sells its real estate brokerage for $110 million
December 16, 2011 (Alpine) - It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Viejas Outlet Centers and Viejas Casino. ECM editor Miriam Raftery snapped this shot of holiday lighting at Viejas, where you'll find San Diego's largest outdoor ice skating rink, a holiday fountain light show, national-brand shops and more this holiday season.
December 16, 2011 (Poway)--A search is underway in Poway for Dan Hoff, 43 a missing La Mesa man. He was last seen on Monday, December 12. His mother reported him missing yesterday, December 15 at 11 a.m.
Today, a Sheriff’s Deputy on patrol in Poway found his car at the base of Iron Mountain on Poway Road and Highway 67 at 3:07 a.m. A check of the license plate turned up a missing person report from La Mesa Police.
December 15, 2011 (La Mesa) – Emotions ran high as advocates and opponents of a Planned Business Improvement District (PBID) presented their views before the La Mesa City Council last night.
December 15, 2011 (Washington, D.C) -- Congressman Duncan Hunter has reported that he was informed by Major General David Baldwin, the Adjutant General for the State of California, that on February 29, 2012, the presence of National Guard troops on the Southwest border will be cut by half, at a minimum, and reapportioned along the border. Specifically for California, the state share of National Guardsmen will be reduced from 264 Guardsmen to only 14 Guardsmen.
The San Diego Bicycle Club’s 24th Annual Light up a Life Holiday Toy Drive
December 15, 2011 (San Diego) -- Don’t miss this visual shot of more than 150 bikes, led by Santa, pulling up to The Kroc Center with toys in tow! On Saturday, December 17th, approximately 150 local bikers led by Santa himself will participate in a bike ride which begins in La Jolla, and ends at the Salvation Army Kroc Center.
Dozens of toys, hundreds of dollars donated for East County Toy & Food Drive
December 15, 2011 (La Mesa)—Thanks to all of our generous guests , sponsors, and VIP visitors who made this year’s East County Magazine holiday party very merry indeed!As always, we invited community leaders and officials in all parties, plus other special guests.
Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego), whose district will soon include much of East County, joined the festivities.Assemblyman Brian Jones (R-Santee) sent Assembly commendations for our award-winning writers and photographers. Santa and Mrs. Claus heard children’s Christmas wishes, while an elf handed out prizes.
December 15, 2011 (El Cajon) – For an artsy twist on the holiday season, stop by the Holiday Open House Extravaganza located at the Silver Creek Fine Art Gallery and Custom Framing, 120 East Main Street in El Cajon on December 16 from 5 – 8 p.m. Meet featured artists Rick Knight, glass artist, and Denise Rich, cow artist.
Dec. 14, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--With a large budgetary gap on the horizon, Governor Brown announced $980 million in mid-year budget cuts on Tuesday. Colleges, libraries, and childcare facilities were hit with the hardest cuts, while K-12 education dodged the worst-case scenario that many districts had feared.
December 15, 2011 (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 reflecting 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.
Made in America gift ideas (ABC)
Possibility of government shutdown looms (Washington Post)
House passes payroll tax bill packed with poison pills (Huffington Post)
President Obama: The economy, the Congress, the future (CBS 60 Minutes interview)
Lawmakers in showdown over payroll tax cuts (Reuters)
Attorney General vows to protect U.S. voters’ civil rights (BBC)
WORLD
As troops leave, Iraq wants surge of American business (CNN)
Far fewer enter U.S. illegally from Mexico (Wall Street Journal)
Company once known as Blackwater ditches XE for yet another name (Wall Street Journal)
Gunman turns Belgian Christmas market into bloodbath (Reuters)
Chained students rescued in Pakistan (Reuters)
Scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.
La Mesa smart meter opponent voices outrage over families left in the cold
By Miriam Raftery
December 14, 2011 (La Mesa)—“We have just learned of a very troubling situation,” Susan Brinchman, a La Mesa activist leading statewide efforts to oppose smart meters, has informed ECM.“Power has been cut off for three families who changed out the smart meters on their homes for analogs.”
The shut-offs were made by Pacific Gas & Electric Company in Santa Cruz. Like a growing number of Californians, the families left in the dark had complained of health problems that they believed were caused by smart meters installed on their residences. Now, Brinchman fears that the same thing could happen in San Diego County.
December 14, 2011 (Deerhorn Valley) – The Deerhorn Valley Antler has published a warning from regarding a dog poisoning which reportedly occurred last week.
“Our farm dog was poisoned by antifreeze last week somewhere at the end of Deerhorn,” wrote Eowyn Smith of Wilde Oaks Farms, located near the top of Deerhorn Valley Road.He recalled, "Several years ago there was a rash of similar dog poisoniongs in the area, killing at least six dogs at the end of Deerhorn.”
December15, 2011 (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:
STATE
Majority supports Jerry Brown’s tax plan, poll finds (Sacramento Bee)
Jerry Brown’s cuts to California schools less than feared (Sacramento Bee)
California’s financial forecasts this week will have real-world consequences (Sacramento Bee)
Groups say closing state parks is bad economics (KPBS)
LOCAL
County won’t take on SDG&E over higher solar rates (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Inside La Mesa’s Traffic ‘killing zone’ (La Mesa Today)
Helix football team earns state bowl berth (San Diego Union-Tribune)
District Attorney settles public records lawsuit [filed by Lakeside resident Mel Shapiro] (San Diego CityBeat)
Planning group, Mussey Grade alliance oppose suggested changes in local planning input (Ramona Patch)
Guitar-making class hits all the right notes (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Private paramilitary training complex slated for border hits a hitch (Narco News)
County okays turkey hunt for youth—again (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Changes at VOSD (Voice of San Diego)
Scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.
December 14, 2011 (Europe) –On December 10, the European Platform Against Windfarms (EPAW) and the North American Platform against Windpower (NA-PAW) served notice to two European countries regarding health hazards associated with wind policies. The groups, which plan to notify more government as well as the wind industry in coming weeks, claim to represent 600 citizens' groups from 26 countries.
“Hundreds of families around the world have developed unbearable symptoms of the WTS (wind turbine syndrome) as described by Dr Nina Pierpont in her world-famous book of the same name. Many have been forced to leave their homes,” a letter sent to the Danish government states.
Heaven, Iron and I: The Ron Martinelli Story, By Ron Zuccaro (Tribute House Publishing, Macomb County, Michigan, 2011, 145 pages.)
Book Review by Dennis Moore
December 13, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--Ron Zuccaro, a highly decorated former Marine, has written a riveting and at times spiritual memoir of a tumultuous time in our country’s history, the Vietnam War--and how it steeled him to overcome a devastating personal tragedy after coming home.
December 3, 2011 (Jamul) – At Jamul Haven, a five-star Victorian bed and breakfast inn in Jamul, a cherished holiday tradition is the annual “Children’s Candy Train Party.” Held on December 17, this free and festive occasion includes making candy trains and gingerbread houses.
December 13, 2011 (San Diego)--Texas Governor Rick Perry made another major Senior Moment in a recent speech. Governor Perry said their were only eight judges on the US Supreme Court (The real total is nine!)
December 13, 2011 (San Diego) -- Live Nation is pleased to announce Rise Against at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University. Showtime is 7:00 PM. Doors open at 6:00 PM. Chicago rockers Rise Against recently announced the first leg of their 2012 tour kicking off January 17th at the Austin Music Hall in Austin, TX. Special Guests A Day to Remember and Title Fight will open the show in San Diego.
December 15, 2011 (San Diego County) -- The San Diego County Sheriff's Department has been awarded a new traffic safety grant for a year‐long anti‐DUI program aimed at preventing deaths and injuries on our roadways.
Dec. 13, 2011- The “failed” leadership of Congressman Duncan Hunter was the topic of discussion Wednesday night at the Ramona Forum. Candidates in both the Democratic and Republican party vying to unseat the incumbent Congressman in the newly created 50th district introduced themselves to the voting public—and took shots at Hunter’s record.
December 13, 2011 (El Cajon) – A motorist who hit the gas instead of the brake crashed into Tyler’s Taste of Texas restaurant yesterday shortly before noon, but fortunately no one was injured.
December 23 deadline for public comment on County's proposed wind ordinance
By Caleb Trainer
December 12, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--The eastern portions of San Diego County have become areas for increased interest in wind energy production. In response, County officials are proposing changes to current regulations that, in effect, will make it easier for wind energy development—including both wind farms with large-scale turbines and smaller scale residential windmills.
December 12, 2011 (La Mesa) – David Gonzalez, 16, and his grandmother, Celia Torres, 73, have been identified by family members as the victims who perished in a fiery collision Friday on Highway 125 just south of I-8. Gonzalez was a sophomore at Grossmont High School and hoped to join the military.
By Miriam Raftery
and officials in all parties, plus other special guests. 
By Miriam Raftery
Nothing but the truth!
By Brian Lafferty
By Jere
Story by Miriam Raftery, video by Jack Winemiller
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