August 25, 2011 (San Diego) – Robert Thome, an internationally acclaimed mouth painter, will be teaching Alvarado Hospital rehabilitation patients/former patients how to use art as a therapeutic tool on Friday, Aug. 26, 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Brain injuries affect more than 11,000 local families each year; local foundation “struggling” for funds to continue helping patients and families, including wounded veterans
August 26, 2011 (San Diego)--"When a person suffers a traumatic brain injury, it’s like a bomb explodes in the middle of the family," a release from San Diego Brain Injury Foundation observes. "Everyone is thrown into an emotional crisis and immersed in a medical emergency. Their lives are changed forever."
August 25, 2011 (La Mesa) -- Grossmont College is involving students in a campuswide learning experience based on Rebecca Skloot's book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. With the start of classes Aug. 22, faculty members in departments ranging from history to nursing, science to English, and culinary arts to the dramatic arts are participating in this interdisciplinary campus learning collaboration.
The bestselling book chronicles how cells of Lacks, a poor African-American woman from the South who died of cancer in 1951, were used to grow human cells in a lab. Cells taken from Lacks were used without consent from her and her family, raising ethical questions about medical research. Included in over 60,000 published studies, these cells have played a part in research on cancer, AIDS, and gene mapping, and led to many discoveries including the polio vaccine.
August 25, 2011 (San Diego County) -- The County Department of Housing and Community Development, or HCD, will host 10 meetings throughout the county in September on how to apply for federal community development funds. Meeting dates and locations are attached.
August 25, 2011 (Washington) -- U.S. Congressman Duncan Hunter (CA-52), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, has reiterated his call to resist further cuts to defense spending in response to the Pentagon’s annual report on China’s military and security developments. An additional $600 billion in cuts could occur through a trigger scenario involving the “super committee” created under the Budget Control Act.
August 25, 2011 (San Diego County) -- The San Diego County region’s agriculture report offers a ray of sunshine in today’s cloudy economy.
The 2010 Crop Statistics and Annual Report released by the San Diego County Department of Agriculture, Weights & Measures (AWM) shows the value of agriculture increased 7 percent over 2009 figures.
By contrast, 2009 figures were down slightly from the year before. While many local industries are struggling to stay afloat during these hard times, agriculture remains not only a steadying force in the economy but a growing one as well.
August 25, 2011 (San Diego) -- Small business owners in San Diego County can recycle fluorescent lights free! California state law requires everyone to recycle fluorescent tubes and bulbs, which contain small amounts of toxic metal mercury. The recycling can cost small businesses hundreds of dollars a year.
Aug 24, 2011 – A call to action has been sent out to all East County and San Diego residents by the San Diego Foundation to preserve and improve our beautiful city throughout the foreseeable future. “Our Greater San Diego Vision,” is an ambitious initiative aimed at getting the community involved in preserving the San Diego way of life for the next generations.
August 24, 2011 (San Diego) – A bill making it easier for breweries to open tasting rooms has been signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown. AB 1014, authored by local Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher (R-San Diego) is expected to boost business for California’s growing craft brewing industry.
August 24, 2011 (San Diego) – The story is formulaic. The voice acting is rarely expressive. The musical numbers are largely forgettable except for one that will play on a loop in your head for a few days after you watch it. But nevermind. I sat in amazement while watching the Blu-Ray of Rio, not wanting to blink lest I miss a single frame of the animation.
August 25, 2011 (San Diego)--Christopher Blakeley, 26, an off-duty San Diego Police Officer, was killed in a traffic collision last night at 9:41 p.m. He was riding his motorcycle in Palm City, SDPD reports.
August 25, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – If you receive a mailer offering to sell you a carbon monoxide detector in order to comply with a new state law, think twice.
August 26, 2011 (La Mesa)—An 18-year-old woman attempted suicide Wednesday by jumping off the Baltimore bridge and landing in lanes on Interstate 8.
“She is alive,” Lt. Bell with La Mesa Police informed East County Magazine yesterday. The patient remains hospitalized at Sharp Memorial, he added.
Her identity and area of residence have not bee released. La Mesa Police attempted to talk the woman out of jumping, but were unable to prevent her actions.
August 24, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – A brush fire that started south of Highway 94 along the Bell Valley Truck Trail near Potrero this morning charred approximately 20 acres, Cal Fire reports.
A quick response that included 7 engines, 5 fire crews, 3 helicopters, 4 air tankers and 125 firefighters swiftly contained the blaze.
August 24, 2011 (San Diego) – The first five minutes of The Woman on the Beach are ominous, spellbinding and foreboding. Hanns Eisler’s booming and menacing score accompany the opening credits. The frame is backdropped with shots of the alluring beach and its forceful, foamy, and frothy tide. It’s a simple sequence of shots, but they’re chilling.
August 24, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and our region, published in other media. Top Roundup headlines include:
Waiting list hits 23,000 seats in Grossmont College District (La Mesa Patch)
Judge rules in favor of ex-principal in harassment case [against ex-Superintendent] (10 News)
Local Iraqis receiving threats after drug bust (10 News)
Construction blues and broken promises (KUSI-Turko Files)
Santee crime report: Wire/metal thieves still an issue (Santee Patch)
Two-wheelers make an impression in El Cajon (San Diego Union-Tribune)
SD Unified to review public records policy following complain (San Diego Union-Tribune)
PR gets half million in school bond money (Voice of San Diego)
Romney to quadruple La Jolla home size (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Smoking opponents praise El Cajon law (San Diego Union-Tribune)
August 26, 2011 (San Diego) – The trouble with Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark isn’t so much that it’s not scary but that it’s boring. It ranks right up there with the original Amityville Horror (1979) as one of the dullest haunted house movies I’ve seen.
August 24, 2011 (El Cajon) -- At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, August 23rd, San Diego Gas & Electric representatives presented a sizeable check to the El Cajon City Council. The check for $71, 340.00 was for the City’s hard work and leadership in energy efficient building for the new El Cajon Police Station.
August 24, 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.
• Earthquake aftermath: National landmarks damaged (ABC News)
• White House issues new rules to cut bureaucratic red tape (Washington Post)
• A new era in foreign policy (CNN)
• Gold price drops sharply on U.S. economy hopes (BBC)
• Hurricane Irene marks 1st big U.S. threat in years (Yahoo News/AP)
• Report: Government probe of Standard & Poors (AP)
• Obama plan to review deportation cases stokes heated debate (Los Angeles Times)
WORLD
• Price put on Gadhafi’s head (Reuters)
• No Gadhafi kids in custody: Escapes and false reports (ABC News)
• Analysis: West looks to avoid Iraq errors in post-Gadhafi Libya (Reuters)
• Russian Progress space freighter lost (BBC)
• Large zone near nuclear reactors to be off limits (New York Times)
Update 9:55 a.m. - All lanes are now open, though traffic remains slow.
August 25, 2011 (La Mesa) 9:15 a.m. -- A SIG ALERT has been issued for I-8 westbound due to a multi-vehicle accident just west of Fletcher Parkway in La Mesa.
August 25, 2011 (San Diego) San Diego Women's History Museum invites you to grab your banners, your signs and your 1911 hats and join with women from all over San Diego and our state in the California Suffrage Parade today.
August 24, 2011 (San Diego) – How is all that political wrangling in Iowa impacting the presidential race? Which candidate has boots on the ground in San Diego’s East County? What are the latest actions and shenanigans by local politicians? Which Congressional members constituents are hosting an “empty chair” forum to substitute for a representative who isn’t coming home for town hall meetings? You’ve got questions, we’ve rustled up the answers!
August 23, 2011 (San Diego County) -- The San Diego County Gourd Patch is presenting the 2011, 2nd annual GOURDSTOCK FESTIVAL on August 26th (for setup and classes), 27-28 (for Festival & classes) from 9:00a.m. until 5:00 p.m.The festival will take place at Bates Nut Farm, which is located at 15954 Woods Valley Road in Valley Center, California 92082.
August 23, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Rural homeowners will pay a fire parcel fee of $90 at most, and in many cases considerably less. Statewide, the total annual fire parcel fee will average just $30 under emergency regulations approved yesterday by the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Officer Faces a Difficult Recovery after Sustaining a Gunshot Wound to the Head
August 23, 2011 (El Cajon)--The El Cajon Police Officers’ Association (ECPOA) has opened a benefit account for wounded El Cajon Police Officer Jarred Slocum and his family. Officer Slocum is in critical but stable condition after receiving a gunshot wound to the head during a shootout on August 21st. A press release issued by the ECPOA describes Slocum, 28, as a "loving father" of two young children and reveals that his wife is expecting a third child.
The ECPOA seeks community donations to assist the Slocum family during this tragic time.
(San Diego)--"When a person suffers a traumatic brain injury, it’s like a bomb explodes in the middle of the family," a release from San Diego Brain Injury Foundation observes. "Everyone is thrown into an emotional crisis and immersed in a medical emergency. Their lives are changed forever." 
Small business owners in San Diego County can recycle fluorescent lights free! California state law requires everyone to recycle fluorescent tubes and bulbs, which contain small amounts of toxic metal mercury. The recycling can cost small businesses hundreds of dollars a year.
By Brian Lafferty
August 24, 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. 
August 25, 2011 (San Diego) San Diego Women's History Museum invites you to grab your banners, your signs and your 1911 hats and join with women from all over San Diego and our state in the California Suffrage Parade today.
By Buck Shott
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