December 8, 2010 (Kensington ) - Middle and high school students from San Diego’s Kensington Community Church (United Church of Christ) will present a traditional Mexican “Las Posadas” (“the inns” in Spanish) procession on Saturday, December 18 at 5:30 p.m.
The public is invited to follow by candlelight as Joseph, Mary and a donkey try to find lodging. A stable will feature live animals and the Nativity scene come to life.
Council should say "no" on Dec. 14 to Walgreen's plan to sell alcohol
By Garry Davis
December 8, 2010 (El Cajon)--Earlier this year, a lot of us began our effort to revitalize a key business district in El Cajon by forming the Second Street Business Association – Alliance for a Better Community. What we hope to promote is a balanced mix of businesses that generate jobs and revenue for our local economy.
And who am I kidding, we also obviously want more customers for businesses.
December 8, 2010 (Santee) – At the Association of California Water Agencies conference in Indian Wells on December 2, Padre Dam’s Santee Lakes received the Theodore Roosevelt Award, ACWA’s honor for innovative resource management.
December 8, 2010 (Lakeside)--The school doesn’t look that impressive: A waist-high, chain-link fence separates a gravel parking lot from the school, a cluster of portable structures But appearances can be deceiving. River Valley Charter, a small public school in Lakeside serving 7th to 12th graders, has been the highest rated high school in San Diego County for seven years running.
December 7, 2010 (San Diego) – Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) aims to load up ten buses with 8,000 pounds of food for hungry families this Saturday, December 11, at ten Vons stores across San Diego County.
December 6, 2010 (Washington D.C.) – Congress is under fire to take action before Bush-era tax cuts expire at year’s end. Republicans want to see all tax extended, but have opposed extending unemployment benefits, which also expire this month. Democrats wanted to extend tax cuts for the middle class but eliminate tax cuts for the wealthy in order to reduce the deficit, and also extend benefits for the unemployed. But Democrats could not pass their plan due to opposition from Republicans, who contend the wealthy need tax cuts to create jobs.
Now, President Barack Obama is pushing a compromise measure that would include a mix of new tax cuts, including a payroll tax cut and individual tax breaks, while also restoring some estate tax revenues.
December 7, 2010 (La Mesa) – Former Congressman Duncan Hunter (father of the current Congressman) is the author of a new book, Victory in Iraq: How America Won. He will be signing copies of his book on Saturday, December 18 from 3-6 p.m. at Maxwell’s House of Books at 8285 La Mesa Blvd. in La Mesa.
December 7, 2010 (El Cajon) – The landing gear collapsed on a Piper PA18 fixed-wing plane at Gillespie Field in El Cajon today, causing minor damage to the underside shortly after 3 p.m. There was no injury to the pilot and no passengers were on board.
December 7, 2010 (Alpine) -- On December 16, 17 & 21, the East County Toy and Food Drive will provide toys and a Christmas meal to over 1,500 East County families who have signed up with us requesting assistance. “To do this we need your help. We desperately need toys and financial donations to make this possible,” says Capt. Darren Norton with the East County Salvation Army.
Viejas will host Stoney and Rob's Holiday Party and Auction in the Viejas Dreamcatcher Lounge this Wednesday evening, December 8th from 6-9 p.m. to raise money for the toy and food drive.
December 7, 2010 (El Cajon) – A driver accidentally hit the gas pedal instead of the brake, rolling the front of the vehicle into the path of an oncoming trolley. The trolley struck the vehicle at North Marshall Avenue and Billy Mitchel in El Cajon, triggering a multi-agency response, Incident Page Network reported at 10:49 a.m. Fortunately, the driver was not injured.
December 7, 2010 (El Cajon)--I thought if you didn’t see very well you go to the eye doctor and have yourself checked. I was braced for learning I had a cataract forming and would need an operation.
December 7, 2010 (El Cajon) – Two men stole cash and phones from the Cricket Wireless Store at 1110 Broadway, El Cajon Police report. Police responded to a call around 6:10 p.m. from a witness who said she saw two masked men running from the store, according to Lt. Tim Henton.
December 4, 2010 (San Diego’s East County)—By a 256-152 vote, the House of Representatives has approved the Claims Settlement Act of 2010, which will provide $3.4 billion to settle a lawsuit which alleged federal mismanagement and loss of billions of dollars in trust funds for Indian tribes and individual Native Americans. Arizona Senator John McCain, former chair of the Senate committee on Indian Affairs, has called the government’s mismanagement “theft from Indian people” and declared that Native Americans are “rightfully owed the money.”
Although the measure had bipartisan support, among San Diego’s Congressional representatives, Republicans Duncan Hunter and Brian Bilbray voted against the settlement. Democrats Susan Davis and Bob Filner voted for it, while Republican Darrell Issa did not vote.
Watchdog activist says he will file complaints with FPPC and Attorney General; 2nd watchdog group also questioned board’s actions
By Miriam Raftery
December 6, 2010 (La Mesa)—By a unanimous vote, the Grossmont Healthcare District Board voted to recognize recently resigned board member Jim Stieringer as director emeritus and to name the District conference center after him. The Board made these votes despite a letter from Citizens Oversight Projects founder Ray Lutz stating that he believes such actions violate the law.
Terry Francke, general counsel for CalAware, a statewide watchdog group on open government issues, also questioned legality of the emeritus title and suggested that ”an attorney general’s opinion could and should be sought before action is taken” by the Board, La Mesa Patch.com reported shortly before the vote was taken.
Each week, 50 children are backed over by vehicles, resulting in serious injuries and deaths
By Miriam Raftery
December 5, 2010 (Washington D.C.) – The U.S. Department of Transportation this week proposed a new safety regulation to help eliminate blind zones behind vehicles.
“There hasn’t been an announcement this big since seatbelts and airbags were added to vehicles. We will no longer be backing up blindly,” Janette E. Fennell, founder and president of KidsAndCars.org, said of the new safety standards proposed.
December 5, 2010 (Lakeside) – Yesterday afternoon, investigators following- up leads in the case of missing 17-year-old Christopher Cory Carioscia discovered a male body in a remote area on the Barona reservation.
Carioscia, who was a student at El Capitan High School and lived with his mother in Lakeside, disappeared October 27th. His burned vehicle was later found on the reservation, where the investigation has focused.
December 5, 2010 (Jacumba) – Bill George Amantidis, 41, a medical courier, was found by a bystander lying in the road near a crashed Honda CRV on westbound I-8, just east of Jacumba at 5:52 this morning. Cal Fire and El Cajon CHP officers responded and confirmed death at the scene from blunt force trauma.
December 5, 2010 (El Cajon) – Wings and Snow, an annual holiday celebration featuring holiday art, seasonal gifts and angelic dolls by artists with developmental disabilities, will be on display throughout December and January at Sophie’s Gallery & Gift Shop.
View our video adventure on Lakeside River Park, where an East County community has reclaimed a former sand mine site to create trails, habitat, and a place of beauty to enjoy the riverfront--and scroll down to learn more about this unique environment.
December 5, 2010 (Lakeside) --Growing up in Lakeside, California, the San Diego River has been a big part of my life. Although I’ve only experienced the full force of the river two times in the late 70’s and early 80’s, it has always fascinated me and captured my imagination.
Babies Are at Higher Risk For Complications from Whooping Cough
December 5, 2010 (San Diego)00The pertussis epidemic has resulted in 41 hospitalizations, most of them infants, San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency announced on December 1st. . The total number of whooping cough cases jumped to 960, including two infants who died.
December 4, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Californians Aware (CalAware), the nonprofit center for public forum rights, has advised state associations representing most local government agencies that their members may be subject to short notice lawsuits for common violations of California’s open meeting law, the Brown Act.
Funds raised will help stop abductions, child soldiers in Africa
By Jeremy Los
December 4, 2010 (Santee)--Santana High School students channeled their inner super models on Friday night for a charity fashion show at the New Heights Community Church in Santee. Using clothes from their own wardrobes, students from Santana high’s Invisible Children club took to the catwalk to raise money for the Invisible Children Foundation.
December 4, 2010 (Lemon Grove)--The Navy Band Southwest Brass Quintet, balloons, dignitaries--and legions of fans--will welcome Rosemary Putnam, doyenne of the Friends of the Lemon Grove Library, on Dec. 9 at 3 p.m. at the Lemon Grove Library, 8073 Broadway, for the gala Rosemary Putnam Naming Ceremony.
December 4, 2010 (San Diego's East County) – This fall, as part of the Helix Water District’s watershed awareness campaign, a photo contest was held for residents that live within the Lake Jennings watershed. The District has now announced the winner—Sid Cavey who lives near the reservoir and submitted a spectacular photo of a rainbow over the Lake, which is located in Lakeside.
December 8, 2010 (Santee) – At the Association of California Water Agencies conference in Indian Wells on December 2, Padre Dam’s Santee Lakes received the Theodore Roosevelt Award, ACWA’s honor for innovative resource management. 
By Ray M. Wong
December 7, 2010 (San Diego) – Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) aims to load up ten buses with 8,000 pounds of food for hungry families this Saturday, December 11, at ten Vons stores across San Diego County.
December 6, 2010 (Washington D.C.) – Congress is under fire to take action before Bush-era tax cuts expire at year’s end. Republicans want to see all tax extended, but have opposed extending unemployment benefits, which also expire this month. Democrats wanted to extend tax cuts for the middle class but eliminate tax cuts for the wealthy in order to reduce the deficit, and also extend benefits for the unemployed. But Democrats could not pass their plan due to opposition from Republicans, who contend the wealthy need tax cuts to create jobs.
December 7, 2010 (Alpine) -- On December 16, 17 & 21, the East County Toy and Food Drive will provide toys and a Christmas meal to over 1,500 East County families who have signed up with us requesting assistance. “To do this we need your help. We desperately need toys and financial donations to make this possible,” says Capt. Darren Norton with the East County Salvation Army. 
December 7, 2010 (El Cajon) – A driver accidentally hit the gas pedal instead of the brake, rolling the front of the vehicle into the path of an oncoming trolley. The trolley struck the vehicle at North Marshall Avenue and Billy Mitchel in El Cajon, triggering a multi-agency response, Incident Page Network reported at 10:49 a.m. Fortunately, the driver was not injured.
avan Baker Hart
December 7, 2010 (El Cajon) – Two men stole cash and phones from the Cricket Wireless Store at 1110 Broadway, El Cajon Police report. Police responded to a call around 6:10 p.m. from a witness who said she saw two masked men running from the store, according to Lt. Tim Henton.
December 6, 2010 (La Mesa)—By a unanimous vote, the Grossmont Healthcare District Board voted to recognize recently resigned board member Jim Stieringer as director emeritus and to name the District conference center after him. The Board made these votes despite a letter from 
December 5, 2010 (Lakeside) – Yesterday afternoon, investigators following- up leads in the case of missing 17-year-old Christopher Cory Carioscia discovered a male body in a remote area on the Barona reservation. 
By Billy Ortiz
Babies Are at Higher Risk For Complications from Whooping Cough
Naming ceremony scheduled for Dec. 9
December 4, 2010 (San Diego's East County) – This fall, as part of the Helix Water District’s watershed awareness campaign, a photo contest was held for residents that live within the Lake Jennings watershed. The District has now announced the winner—Sid Cavey who lives near the reservoir and submitted a spectacular photo of a rainbow over the Lake, which is located in Lakeside.
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