November 21, 2010 (San Diego) – Angela Dawn Mendez, 33, died in a pre-dawn 4:45 a.m. yesterday morning on I-15 south of State Route 76 in Fallbrook. She was the driver and sole occupant of a 2004 Range Rover Discovery that veered off the highway, rolled down an embankment several times, and landed on its roof on a service road below.

Black Comedians On Black Comedy: How African-Americans Taught Us To Laugh, By Darryl Littleton (Applause Theatre & Cinema Books, New York, NY, 2006, 343 pages.)

Book Review: by Dennis Moore

November 20, 2010 (San Diego)--If laughter Is the medicine that cures all ills, then Darryl Littleton’s Black Comedians On Black Comedy: How African-Americans Taught Us To Laugh will cure any ailment we might have. I was introduced to Littleton and his brand of humor at a comedy club in El Cajon, California in 2009, where I was fortunate enough to win his book in a raffle. Littleton was gracious enough to autograph his book to me, stating: “To Dennis Moore, keep supporting black comedy and keep laughing.” I have been laughing ever since!

I-15 may be shut down again as officials detonate more powerful explosives
 

By Miriam Raftery

November 20, 2010 (Escondido) – More than nine pounds of Hexamethylene Triperoxide Diamine (HMTD), a powerful explosive used in suicide bombings and terrorist plots including the planned Millennium bombing in L.A., have been discovered by authorities at an Escondido home.

November 20, 2010 (Lakeside) – Christopher Cory Carioscia, 17, told his family he was going surfing at Pacific Beach on the evening of October 26th. The former El Capitan High School student hasn’t been seen by his family since.

The Sheriff’s department never notified the media about the teen’s disappearance, although it’s been reported on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Chldren website and other missing children sites. Now, the Union-Tribune reports that Carioscia’s car was found burned on the Barona reservation the day after he vanished.

November 20, 2010 (San Diego) – Yesterday, Caltrans District 11 hosted a blood drive with the San Diego Blood Bank, capturing 42 pints to help members of the Lakeside Saddletramps motorcycle club who were injured in a November 13 crash in Ocotillo that also killed four club members.

November 20, 2010 (La Mesa)--Holiday offerings of smaller paintings priced for gifting is a tradition in the art world; many galleries feature shows entitled "Little Gems", "Holiday Miniatures Exhibit", and the like. 

Farmer powers dairy operations with electricity from cow’s methane waste, diversified business by opening pumpkin patch and Christmas tree patch for visitors

November 20, 2010 (Lakeside) – Dave Van Ommering, co-owner/operator of Van Ommering Dairy in Lakeside, was honored as the 2010 Farmer of the Year for San Diego County at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido on Thursday night. 

November 19, 2010 (El Cajon) -- The FBI and El Cajon Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance to identify a man who robbed the US Bank inside of the Albertsons grocery store, 1608 Broadway, El Cajon, California, on Thursday, November 18 at approximately 4 p.m.

Update 5:30 p.m.  The freeway is now reopened.  Authorities used a robot to detonate six explosive devices, Incident Page Network reports.  More details at 10 News:  http://www.10news.com/news/25843031/detail.html 

Update 11:45 a.m.:  Closure was delayed but the highway is now closed as of 11:21 a.m.  in the southbound direction only.  Authorities have decided to leave the northbound lanes open.

Explosives have been found in a home in the 1900 block of Via Scott, where homeowner George Jakubek has been arrested.  A gardener, Mario Garcia, was seriously injured yesterday when an explosive went off, damaging his foot.  Several homes in the neighborhood have also been evacuated as the investigation continues. 

November 19, 2010 (Escondido) -- ECM news Partner Channel 10 reports that discovery of explosives at an Escondido home will result in a shut down of both sides of Interstate 15  from 9 a.m. to noon today (Friday).  

November 14, 2010 (Santee) -- The city of Santee is doing its part to prevent the holidays from becoming ho-ho-ho-hum.A special events team from the Community Services Department has choreographed an event that features some unlikely holiday pairings: Santa Claus, live Doo-wop music, skating on synthetic ice, and an old-fashioned horse-and-carriage ride.

November 14, 2010 (Santee) – Volunteers are needed on November 20 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon to help San Diego River Park Foundation complete creation of an East County native Plant Garden at the Edgemoore Polo Barn—future home to a museum on the history of East County and Santee.

Company is under federal and state investigation for allegations of fraud, high rates of life-threatening infections

By Miriam Raftery

November 18, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Prime Healthcare Services, Inc. has acquired Alvarado Hospital, a 306-bed facility east of San Diego State University, from Plymouth Health. But the buyer's troubled trackrecord raises concerns about the quality of patient care and more.

November 18, 2010 (El Cajon) – A coalition of artists calling themselves the 50/50 the group converted a vacant building at 140 East Main Street into a dynamic art gallery. A showing which opened last week has been extended for the full month of November.

November 18, 2010 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Historical Society invites the public to “A Knox House Christmas” at the Knox House Museum on Saturday, December 4 from 2-4 p.m. Handcrafted gifts, ornaments, textiles, period items, jams, jellies and bakery items will be offered for sale—along with free cider with purchase.