“Forever chemical” crisis seeps into Southern California: from Sweetwater Reservoir to Orange County, districts grapple with how to protect drinking water supplies
August 6, 2011 (San Diego)—A NATO helicopter was shot down today during a conflict with the Taliban in Afghanistan, killing 31 U.S. soldiers and seven Afghans in the deadliest single incident in the 10-year war, Reuters reports. ABC News reports that 25 Navy Seals were on board, plus seven Afghan Special forces soldiers, five crew members and an interpreter.
August 6, 2011 (Rancho San Diego) – Last time appraiser Craig Helm came to town, one lucky East County resident discovered her yard sale find was actually a Ming Dynasty vase. Others learned that art or collectibles in their households were worth thousands of dollars.
August 5, 2011 (La Mesa)--The Miss San Diego Cities, Miss San Diego, Miss Greater San Diego, Miss La Mesa and Miss Santee pageants are teaming up to hold the third annual Fashion Show Fundraiser “Rockin’ SD County Fashion” benefiting all of the pageant’s scholarship funds.
August 5, 2011 (La Mesa, CA) -- It was less then two months ago that Mocha, a five-year-old terrier blend sat and waited in a kennel the County Animal Shelter in Bonita waiting for her forever home. She was relinquished by her owners like many dogs who are affected by the tough economic times.
August 6, 2011 (Alpine)--The Ultimate Music Challenge is a cover band contest held in the DreamCatcher Lounge at Viejas Casino. The competition will be held every Sunday night from August 14th through October 23rd, from 6pm-10pm. Three lucky winners will take home a total of $40,000.
Heartland Fire & Rescue, serving the cities of El Cajon, La Mesa, and Lemon Grove Fire Departments, now has a new website: www.heartlandfire.org. The website incorporates information on emergency preparedness, fire prevention, photos, and current fire department news.
August 5, 2011 (El Cajon ) – San Diego Police seek help to locate Natasha Martin, 13. She was last seen July 29 in the vicinity of Main Street and Anza Avenue in El Cajon. Natasha, who is African-American, has brown hair and blue eyes. She is 5 feet tall and weighs 130 pounds.
August 5, 2011 (Boulevard)—San Diego Police ask the public’s help to locate Jerry Perez, 53, who was last seen July 15 at 6:30 a.m. on Pacific Highway in San Diego. His car, a 1996 white Honda Accord (CA license 3TDT884) was found July 15 at 8 a.m. abandoned on Interstate 8 in Boulevard, a half mile east of the La Posta Creek Bridge.
LIVE & UP CLOSE CONCERT SERIES TO FEATURE SURVIVOR, MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT, MIDTOWN MEN & MORE
August 4, 2011 (El Cajon) – This fall, Sycuan Casino will welcome famous bands, musicians and Broadway actors to its intimate Live & Up Close concert venue. Performances start August 6 with '60s favorites Herman's Hermits and conclude November 22 with Monty Python's SPAMALOT.
August 5, 2011 (Borrego) – Famed stargazing columnist/expert Dennis Mammana informs ECM that the aurora borealis, better known as the Northern Lights, may be visible tonight on the West Coast starting around 9:45 p.m.(View the "aurora webcam" in Alaska here)
“Sky watchers in Europe are getting one whale of an auroral display right now,” Mammana wrote at 3:45 today, adding that viewing will be best and high and middle latitudes, though the spectacular sky show is also expected to be visible at low latitudes.
August 5, 2011 (Alpine) – East County Magazine Editor Miriam Raftery will be the guest on Billie Jo Jannen’s “TGIF Report” tonight. Hot topics include:
• A sexual harassment suit against a former Mountain Empire Union School District Superintendent
• Rural Fire Protection District’s revocation of approval for SDG&E’s ECO-Substation
• The County’s first legal marijuana dispensary
• AT&T’s proposed merger with T-Mobile and how it may impact rural phone service
• Updates on the state fire parcel fee
• County’s approval of a new General Plan
August 5, 2011(Escondido)-- The San Diego County Board of Supervisors this week unanimously approved the acquisition of four properties needed to complete the widening of Bear Valley Parkway in unincorporated Escondido, between Boyle Avenue and Highway 78.
To date, the County has negotiated real property contracts to acquire or use 31 of the 50 properties that will be needed to complete the project. This week's vote follows approvals given earlier this year to proceed with property acquisitions and relocation of homeowners displaced by the widening project.
August 5, 2011 (San Diego) – The original Planet of the Apes was a thoughtful, intelligent commentary on the human race. Rise of the Planet of the Apes is an ambitious but mostly mindless prequel that is yet another entry in the “changing things that aren’t meant to be changed” genre.
August 5, 2011 (San Diego) – On August 6 at 7 p.m., Ballet Folkorico en Aztlan Dance Theatre Company and Academy will present “The Herminia Tribute: Flor y Canto 2011” at the Joe and Vi Jacobs Center, 404 Euclid Avenue. The program will celebrate the dance, songs and insight in the life of artist Herminia Acosta Enrique Tecihtzin and her legacy of excellence.
Looking for a new plant for your garden or architectural endeavor?
By Matt Kopjak
August 4, 2011 (San Diego's East County)--Choosing the right plant for your garden can be a daunting task, but with Plants-Pediayou can sift through 48,000 plants from the USDA plants database and narrow down your choices, complete with charts and images. You can filter your options by growth period, soil texture, lifespan, shade tolerance, temperature, toxicity, fire tolerance, drought tolerance and more, depending on your needs. This tool is simple enough for the average gardener and has enough advanced options to be useful for even the most experienced botanist.
(San Diego, CA) San Diego Police Department Mid City Division detectives have arrested a suspect for a series of recent robberies linked to “Craigslist” postings that occurred in the Talmadge, Mt. Hope and Corridor neighborhoods. Keith Randall Smith, 34, was arrested for the crimes. A blond female accomplice remains at large.
August 4, 2011 (San Diego's East County) ---Two fires are burning in Mexico, with smoke visible across portions of East County. According to Cal-Fire Captain Mike Mohler, the blaze is approximately seven miles south of the border but poses no threat to the U.S. at this time. One is south of Potrero/Tecate, the other south of the Otay area.
Get ready to witness a different kind of learning experience this fall at the Encore! Theatre in Spring Valley. The Young Actors’ Theatre is set to bring to life the beloved musical animated series School House Rock come September. It’s sure to be a fun, knowledge-infused event for the whole family.
August 4, 2011 (Alpine) -- Gary Spivey, internationally acclaimed psychic, medium and predictor of future events, will appear August 6 in the DreamCatcher at Viejas Casino.
August 4, 2011 (San Diego's East County)--If you see smoke today over East County, don't panic. Cal Fire and the San Diego Fire Authority will be burning brush piles in the Corte Madera area. These piles are a result of a fuels management program, said Cal Fire Captain Mike Mohler.
August 4, 2011 (San Diego)--As a bankruptcy attorney, I meet with clients everyday who struggle to make mortgage payments on their homes. Most of these clients participate in their bank’s loan modification program. But despite government pressure on banks to offer loan modifications, the sad truth is that most clients will never actually receive a modification.
Despite this fact, the bank’s programs will “consider” every applicant; no matter how likely they are to ultimately qualify. While it seems like this over-inclusiveness would be good, or at least neutral, it is in fact harmful to the struggling homeowner.
August 4, 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.
• FAA shutdown: Obama urges Congress to settle latest row (BBC)
• Deal could endanger healthcare law (Politico)
• General Mills partners with American Refugee Committee to aid famine relief efforts in Somalia (Wall Street Journal Market Watch)
• Obama signs U.S. debt bill into law (BBC)
• The Fires This Time (Fairness and Accuracy in Media)
• Accused Fort Hood plotter got bomb-making recipe from Al Qaeda (Christian Science Monitor)
• Study: Forests absorb much more greenhouse gases than previously known (Christian Science Monitor)
• Missing Iraq money may have been stolen, auditors say (Los Angeles Times)
WORLD
• Somali famine’s brutal toll: 29,000 kids dead in 3 months (Newser/AP)
• Arab League discusses Palestinian state (Al Jazeera)
• Nigeria Ogoniland cleanup ‘could take 30 years’ (BBC)
• Islamist show of state in Tahir state angers activists (Christian Science Monitor)
• Iran vows to skirt nuclear shutdown; watchdog embarrassed (Reuters)
• Hamas executives two Gazans as spies for Israel (Jerusalem Post)
• Norway shooting: Names and photos of victims published (Norwegian press)
• Fukushima radiation levels rise, area closed (Christian Science Monitor)
• Mubarak’s trial begins in Cairo (BBC)
August 5, 2011 (La Mesa)--The Miss San Diego Cities, Miss San Diego, Miss Greater San Diego, Miss La Mesa and Miss Santee pageants are teaming up to hold the third annual Fashion Show Fundraiser “Rockin’ SD County Fashion” benefiting all of the pageant’s scholarship funds.
August 5, 2011 (La Mesa, CA) -- It was less then two months ago that Mocha, a five-year-old terrier blend sat and waited in a kennel the County Animal Shelter in Bonita waiting for her forever home. She was relinquished by her owners like many dogs who are affected by the tough economic times.
LIVE & UP CLOSE CONCERT SERIES TO FEATURE SURVIVOR, MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT, MIDTOWN MEN & MORE
August 5, 2011 (Borrego) – Famed stargazing columnist/expert Dennis Mammana informs ECM that the aurora borealis, better known as the Northern Lights, may be visible tonight on the West Coast starting around 9:45 p.m.(View the 
By Brian Lafferty
By Matt Kopjak
by Elena Peña
August 4, 2011 (Alpine) -- Gary Spivey, internationally acclaimed psychic, medium and predictor of future events, will appear August 6 in the DreamCatcher at Viejas Casino. 
by Jason Jones, J.D.
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