Photo, left: Noori Barka speaks as slideshow depicts Iraqi Christian refugees forced to walk across the desert, fleeing their homeland to escape ISIS terrorists with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
September 4, 2014 (ElCajon)--Community members and religious leaders came together on August 27 in El Cajon at a fundraiser to help save Christians in Iraq who have fled their homes to escape the Islamic State imposed by ISIS terrorists. ISIS is systematically massacring Christians and other minorities who refuse to convert to Islam. The event, which was emceed by KCBQ radio host Mark Larson, raised over $588,000.
Bishop Sharhad Jammo (photo, right) has pledged to personally travel to the Middle East to deliver the donations, despite grave dangers in the region, where Christian religious leaders have been kidnapped, tortured and murder.
September 4, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - SoCal Parrot is hosting its 2nd Annual Picnic with the Parrots, “A Celebration of Eco-diversity” on Sunday, October 26th 2014. This event is SoCal Parrot’s annual fundraising event and is a rare chance for the public to visit and enjoy the wildlife rehabilitation facility and special animals in a dynamic natural setting.
September 3, 2014 (San Diego) – Tropical Storm Norbert, the remnants of a hurricane, will move northwest off the coast of Baja California this weekend, bringing thunderstorms to Southern California beginning early Sunday. Stormy weather could last through Tuesday, with the highest chance of thunderstorms in the mountains.
September 4, 2014 (San Diego)--Fast food workers across America on Thursday put down their burger flippers and picked up picket signs. Workers went out on strike at an estimated 150 fast food restaurants nationwide. The workers want wages raised to $15 an hour . They point out that it’s not just kids working at fast food chains nowadays; the economy has forced many adults including parents with families to take jobs in the fast food industry. Many are struggling at minimum wage jobs.
In some places, striking workers engaged in civil disobedience, from New York to San Diego. Locally, workers in City Heights staged a march from McDonalds to Burger King and Jack in the Box outlets. Several staged a sit-in on the University Bridge over I-15 to draw attention of motorists, and some protesters were arrested, KPBS reports.
The Boulevard Planning Group meets Thursday night at 7 p.m. in the Boulevard Fire Training Room, 39919 Ribbon Wood Road in Boulevard. The rural planners will be discussing some hot issues, starting with disclosure of a lawsuit filed against the Planning Group, its Chair, the County and other parties over alleged loss of property values to Lansing Industries, which has been unsuccessful in its effort to develop its property as first a housing development and later, an industrial solar facility, amid large-scale community opposition.
Chair Donna Tisdale and two other incumbents won reelection to the Boulevard Planning Group unopposed.
September 4, 2014 (San Diego) – Educators and business leaders plan a rally today at 10:30 to urge Governor Jerry Brown to sign Senate Bill 850, a bill by Senator Marty Block (D-San Diego) allowing community colleges to offer four-year degrees in areas where a local workforce need for the degree program can be demonstrated. The bill arrived at the governor’s office on Aug. 28, and he has 30 days from receipt of the measure to approve or veto the legislation.
The rally is planned at SeaBotix, a manufacturer of mini-remotely operated vehicle systems with underwater expertise, and will include a demonstration of how the facility could benefit from the bill.
September 3, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – Neurotoxic snake bites, known as “super bites”, were formerly rare in our region, found mainly in the Mojave Desert. But 10 News reports these serious bites are occurring now in suburban areas of San Diego and East County.
A dog with a neurotoxin bite in Del Cerro, for example, went into shock and had difficulty walking. The dog was treated at Pet Emergency and Specialty Center in La Mesa, where vets told 10 news that three of the ten snakebites treated in the past week have been neurotoxic bites.
September 3, 2014 (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:
Theater managers speak out, object to City's actions, CityBeat reports
By Miriam Raftery
September 3, 2014 (El Cajon) – Citizens Oversight Panels (COPS) is organizing a rally tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. outside the East County Performing Arts Center at 210 East Main Street in El Cajonon to protest a proposed partnership between the City of El Cajon and Rock Church to lease the theater.
“We will be delivering a 30-plus page letter spelling out the legal case against the city should they go ahead with their plans to lease this public theater to the Rock Church, which is clearly unconstitutional,” says Ray Lutz, founder of COPS, on a Facebook page for the event. “Come and support the reopening of ECPAC as a performing arts and entertainment center and not as the new location for a mega church.”
September 3, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – I first discovered the enchanting music of the mbira while visiting Milagro Winery in Ramona. It turns out the mbira, inspired by the African kalimba but much bigger, is a unique musical instrument invented by a local entrepreneur and crafted by musician Patrick Hadley.
On our East County Magazine radio show on KNSJ, we interviewed Hadley, who shared news about the crafting of this amazing instrument--and some famous musical stars now including the mbira in their performances. Hadley also gave an improve performance on our show.
September 3, 2014 (San Diego's East County)--East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect 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:
Autumn is in the air – and this week’s Destination East County activities reflect that. This weekend you can enjoy apples, trains, grape stomping and a pow-wow! Plus we have a preview of coming attractions, from an attempt to break the world record for fireworks, to an end-of-summer music festival.
September 3, 2014 (San Diego)--Three brothers in the Wise family went to war, serving in our military. Beau remains on active duty in Iraq. Jeremy joined the Navy Seals and Ben joined the Army’s elite Green Berets. A suicide bomber took Jeremy’s life in Afghanistan in December 2009. Just over two years later, in January 2012, Ben died in a firefight in Afghanistan.
August 30, 2014 (Descanso) – Julia Elizabeth Hills, 53, was killed in a motorcycle crash on State Route 79 in Julian on August 24th. Her husband, Norman "Scott" Allen, broke his hip and suffered a compound break in his right leg in the crash. Hills is survived by her son, Chuck, as well as her mother, two sisters and a brother serving in the mlitary in Iraq.
Ericka Dehoyos, a friend of the famliy, has set up the Norman "Scott" Allen fund. "They need financial help in burying the love of his life as well as his medical bills and help so he doesn't lose his home and what he has worked for," Dehoyos states. To donate, visit http://www.gofundme.com/djq08k.
Photo: Constituents join Davis at a press conference in support of her resolution
September 2, 2014 (San Diego) -- With the U.S. Postal Service already beginning to phase out door delivery, Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) has introduced a bipartisan House Resolution stressing that door delivery should not end. Two Republicans joined Davis as lead cosponsors of House Resolution 711.
September 2, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – Just a few months ago, the future of Lake Jennings, in Lakeside appeared dire, with someHelix Water District board members ready to close it permanently or eliminate campgrounds. But a special committee was established to come up with solutions to save this resource for the public enjoyment--and the results are promising, based on a dramatic drop in losses and increasing use by the public.
The future of the lake is on the agenda this Wednesday at 6 p.m. at a special meeting of Helix Water District’s Board at 7811 University Avenue in La Mesa. (View full agenda: http://www.hwd.com/board/package090314.pdf)
September 2, 2014 (Sacramento)--On Friday, the California Senate closed its annual legislative session. Not a single Senator would sponsor AB 2145, which opponents had dubbed the “anti-competitive Monopoly Power Grab Act,” so the bill is now dead.
The measure, authored by Assemblyman Steven Bradford, would have undermined efforts in San Diego to create an alternative to San Diego Gas & Electric under community choice energy law.
September 2, 2014 (Campo) – Over the objections of Campo residents and Supervisor Dianne Jacob, San Diego County Superior Court Judge Margie Woods has ruled that a convicted child molester can be released to live in Campo starting in late October.
September 2, 2014 (Sacramento)--One in five students nationwide is a victim of sexual assault, Increasingly, campuses across America are facing criticism for not doing enough to protect students from sexual assault.
September 2, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - The ballot box may soon be a relic of the past for voters in special elections.
A bill on the Governor’s desk would allow the Registrar of Voters to conduct all special elections entirely by mail. San Diego has had many special elections in recent years, including mayor, city council, state legislature and Congress.
From head to toe, 3-D implants are revolutionizing modern medicine
By Miriam Raftery
September 2, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - Doctors at Peking University in China have implanted the first-ever vertebra in a patient made using a 3-D printer, Business Insider reports. Unlike most items printed in 3D, which use plastic, the custom-designed vertebra is made of titanium powder – a lightweight, porous material that allows real bone to grow through it, eventually creating a more natural fusion for the young patient’s spine.
September 1, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - Thirsty lawns and fussy shrubbery are out of place in East County. The Earth Discovery Institute's (EDI) annual Native Plant Sale is a great opportunity to locally source native plants.
September 3, 2014 (Jacumba) – “It’s impossible to gauge the size of this substation from this photo. It’s huge,” Wayne Brammer writes of the still-under-construction ECO substation project that SDG&E is building in rural Jacumba.
September 1, 2014 (San Diego) – San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is continuing to alert customers to be aware of an ongoing wire fraud that has been targeting SDG&E residential and business customers. Reports indicate that individuals are misrepresenting themselves as utility employees by calling customers and threatening to turn off electric and gas service if an immediate payment is not made. Customers are instructed to purchase a pre-pay credit/debit card, and are directed to call another phone number where information is then obtained from the card and the cash value is then removed.
September 1, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - You hear the term, but you don't know what it really means. Why are some grapes called Bordeaux grapes, if what I drink is from California? And why are they sometimes called vinifera or Vitis vinifera and why are they connected to each other? What is a cultivar, or a Bordeaux grape?
September 1, 2014 (San Diego) - Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego)--has four measure that she authored now on the Governor’s desk awaiting signature. The measures address medical and education issues, rights of homeowners, and protection for peace officers injured in the line of duty.
September 1, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – A reward of up to $1,000 is offered by Crimestoppers for information leading to the arrest of Tavarris Deshawn Garcia.
September 1, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)—San Diego Supervisors meet Tuesday and Wednesday this week, with many important items on the agendas impacting East County and our region overall.
September 1, 2014 (Washington D.C.) – Two former investigators with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are speaking out to say that the federal government is ignoring harm to wildlife caused by industrial scale wind and solar facilities.
the Islamic State imposed by ISIS terrorists. ISIS is systematically massacring Christians and other minorities who refuse to convert to Islam. The event, which was emceed by KCBQ radio host Mark Larson, raised over $588,000. 
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