February 14, 2013 (San Diego)--If you are a homeowner who is underwater and/or behind on your mortgage payment , you probably feel as though you have very few options. Believe it or not, you might just be in a better negotiating position than homeowners with equity and their home and who have made all timely mortgage payments.
February 15, 2013 (Ocotillo) – A turkey vulture narrowly escaped death as it soared between moving blades at a wind turbine at the Ocotillo Express Wind Facility on February 12. ECM photographer Jim Pelley documented the close call on video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo7fLJ9uSew
February 14, 2013 (La Mesa)- Seeking to prevent a repeat of problems at last year’s Oktoberfest, where teen gang members disrupted the event, La Mesa City Council on Tuesday weighed reactions to a report and three potential solutions. See agenda item: http://www.cityoflamesa.com/Archive.aspx?AMID=&Type=&ADID=5428
Police Chief Ed Aceves informed the Council that he had discussions with City Manager David Witt, fire officials, and representatives from the La Mesa Village Merchants Association and La Mesa Chamber of Commerce regarding options including removing carnival rides from this year’s Oktoberfest.
“It’s an open street event. Anyone can come in anytime anywhere,” Chief Aceves said of challenges posed for maintaining security. “How do we lower the service costs and still have merchants and the Chamber provide Oktoberfest that’s affordable and within their means?”
February 15, 2013 (La Mesa)--It’s not often that a mayor accuses a councilmember of lying in a public meeting, or that a councilmember contends the mayor is engaging in schoolyard banter. Both happened in La Mesa this week, where Mayor Art Madrid and Councilmember Ernie Ewin engaged in a terse dispute over appointments to three regional boards plus travel expenses.
February 15, 2013 (Valley Center)-- Sheriff's Deputies went door to door in Valley Center this morning to inform the community about a former Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) now living in their neighborhood. Mark William PLISKA reported to the Valley Center Sheriff's Substation on February 6th. He is now living at 15236 Woods Valley Road #41, Valley Center.
Deputies and members of the SAFE or Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement Task Force notified 110 homes within a half-mile radius of Pliska's mobile home. Deputies also notified the principals of Valley Center Elementary and Valley Center Middle Schools, which were closest to Pliska's residence. Pliska relocated to Valley Center from Escondido. He is current with his registration and a county probation officer will monitor his compliance.
February 17, 2013 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa Centennial Committee will hold its next meeting on Monday, February 18 from 4-5:30 p.m. at the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Drive. A reception honoring committee members will take place immediately after the meeting. Read more for the full agenda:
February 15, 2013 (San Diego)--The East County Regional Gang Task Force (ECRGTF) is seeking the public’s assistance to locate three fugitives who were charged with 30 other defendants on federal charges of possessing and distributing methamphetamine.
The 33 defendants were charged via federal indictments, case number 13cr0491-GPC and 13cr0492-GPC, with violating Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846 – conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) – possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
February 15, 2013 (San Diego) – Sometimes moviegoing is a leap of faith. One question I always dread answering is, “Do you recommend such-and-such film?” I'm not in the business of recommendations. Maybe I was in 2010, but my philosophy on film criticism has evolved and will continue to evolve. My critical approach is to evaluate and write about the elements of the film, my personal reaction to it, and whether the film succeeds or doesn't. I prefer to stimulate interest and discussion rather than tell you whether you will or won’t like a movie. (Personally, I would find it presumptuous for someone who doesn’t know my tastes to tell me I’d like a film, so why would I do the same to you?) I leave it up to you to decide if you should spend your money, but at least you'll be well informed and have an idea of what to expect.
February 10, 2013 (Ramona) – Milagro Farms Vineyards and Winery owners Kit and Karen Sickels have plenty to celebrate. At a Mardi Gras party for wine club members yesterday, Kit Sickels (right) and winemaker Jim Hart shared news that their boutique winery took home top honors in the 2013 Winemakers Challenge International Wine Competition in late January, beating out big-name winemakers.
February 19, 2013 (El Cajon)--Do you know where your Social Security card is located? Hopefully, it’s in a safe place, tucked away securely with your other important papers. It certainly should not be in your purse or wallet and should not be carried with you every day since it can be more valuable than cash to an identity thief.
February 15, 2013 (San Diego) – The Twilight movies are easy targets for online hostility and teasing. But at least those movies, as lifeless as they are to me (I gave up after the second one), respect their audience, especially their target young adult audience. They don't insult anyone’s intelligence. Beautiful Creatures, inspired by (or, rather, ripped off from) the Twilight series is offensive, rife with exaggerated phony accents, Southern stereotypes, hammy acting, and dialogue so awkward and bad that it confounds the actors who have to say these lines. I’m surprised my neck didn’t get stiff from all the double takes. Beautiful Creatures is downright insulting towards not just the general audience, but also particularly its target young adult audience and their intelligence, and the flagrancy of it is appalling.
February 14, 2013 (San Diego's East County) - Gusty northeast Santa Ana winds are forecast from tonight through Saturday afternoon. Sustained winds of 15-30 mph and gusts up to 55 mph are possible in some local mountain passes and canyons.
Driving may be difficult, especially for higher-profile vehicles. Minor damage to trees and outdoor objects that are unsecured may occur.
February 14, 2013 (San Diego) – Just in time for Valentine’s Day, here’s some news homeowners will love. In California, foreclosure filings plunged 39.5% from December to January – the first time since early 2007 that California did not have the highest foreclosure rates in the nation. Nationally, foreclosures have fallen too, though far less steeply: 11% from December to January, and 28.5% from a year ago.
What’s fueling the sudden change? According to Mortgage Daily News, the state and national shifts are due to California’s new Homeowners Bill of Rights, passed by the Legislature at the request of California Attorney General Kamala Harris (in photo, left, with Governor Jerry Brown).
February 14, 2013 (San Diego) – In a letter sent to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on February 8, San Diego Mayor Bob Filner urged denial of Southern California Edison’s request to restart Unit 2 at the San Onofre Nuclear Generation Station for five months at 70% as a test to see if similar problems that caused failure of a steam generator at Unit 3 would occur.
Mayor Filner stated bluntly, “The NRC has previously determined that both Unit 2 and Unit 3 steam generators had similar serious design flaws and errors in the computer models used for design. The restart of Unit 2, even at reduced power, is a dangerous experiment that threatens the safety of the 8.2 million Southern California residents living within a 50-mile radius, including much of San Diego.”
February 14, 2013 (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 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:
February 14, 2013--(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:
February 14, 2013 (San Diego) --The excitement and glamour of Hollywood are coming to San Diego on Oscar Night. Residents of San Diego can experience the thrills and surprises of the 85th Academy Awards on Sunday, February 24, at San Diego’s premier Oscar Experience.
A viewing party benefiting Community Campership Council Inc will be held in Celebration Hall at Market Creek Events & Venues beginning at 5:00 p.m. More information about the event and the Community Campership Council can be found at www.kidstocamp.org; tickets are on sale.
February 14, 2013 (La Mesa)--Wow! Just walking through the doors of the gym at Helix Charter High School was wonderful. Anyone could tell there was something exciting going on. The bleachers were filled with cheering students, the band was there--the cheerleaders were there. They were all cheering on students from the school's Special Education Department and other student groups going for the gold.
It was the Third Annual Helix Charter High School Games of Champions. Eighteen students with severe intellectual and physical disabilities participating in activities such as bowling, basketball, soccer goal challenge, agility course, and a throwing challenge.
February 22, 2013 (La Mesa) – Bring friends and come on out for some terrific comedy tonight (Feb. 22) at Holiday Inn Mesa Grill, 8000 Parkway Drive to benefit East County Magazine (ECM). Brew Ha Ha’s hilarious comedy team, Chris Clobber from HBO and Comedy Central and internationally known comic Diane Jean, will perform stand-up comedy for an evening of laughs. Show starts at 7 p.m., or come early to mix and mingle at 6 p.m. with our staff, readers and comics. Win prizes and surprises--including a Viejas gift basket, a winery tour, restaraunt gift certificates and more!
Update February 14, 2013: Edited to add reactions to President's speech; scroll to bottom for links to local and national reactions and analysis
February 13, 2013 (Washington D.C.) – President Barack Obama last night delivered his State of the Union speech. View video and read full text: http://www.whitehouse.gov/state-of-the-union-2013 . For highlights of the speech, scroll down.
The President opened by citing progress made during his administration, then announced new goals ranging from raising the minimum wage to putting Americans back to work, from reining in college costs to reducing global warming.
February 15, 2013 (San Diego) – In preparation for this film, I spent over six hours of my Saturday binging on the Die Hard sequels (I saw the first a couple of years ago). The experience was like riding a train careening at speeds upwards of 200 miles an hour. Following the massive adrenaline rush was an equally intense feeling of euphoria. It took a few days to recover.
February 13, 2013 ((Ramona) – An overturned trailer on Highway 78 near Third Street in Ramona resulted in the death of a camel from the Oasis Camel Dairy on February 1.
The dromedary camel, Sahara, was en route to Camp Verde, Arizona when the trailer detached from the vehicle towing it. According to Ramona Patch, the camel dairy’s co-owner, Nancy Riegler, informed the publication that”unfortunately not only did the trailer hitch fail, but the chains broke.”
February 13, 2013 (San Diego)--Mylar balloons can make great Valentine’s Day gifts, if they’re kept indoors or securely tied down, but they can also pose a safety hazard. San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) today urged customers to be aware of the dangers that can arise when Mylar balloons touch power lines.
The metallic coating on Mylar balloons is an excellent conductor of electricity. If a Mylar balloon touches a power line, it could cause a power outage in your neighborhood, and even an electrical fire.
February 13, 2013 (La Mesa)—At its March meeting, La Mesa’s City Council will take up issues raised by residents in a pair of community meetings last month. This is a tradition that has gone on for five years.
Council members listened to the questions, complaints, and comments of concerned citizens at the meetings held January 15 and 17 in auditoriums at Lemon Avenue Elementary School and the La Mesa Middle School, where the crowds were standing-room -only at times.
February 13, 2013 (La Mesa)--The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is seeking nominations for its 2013 Healthcare Hero Awards, the annual program honoring residents whose volunteer efforts help advance the delivery of quality healthcare in the East County region. Nomination forms are attached or available at www.grossmonthealthcare.org. Deadline for submission of entries is 3 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 25, 2013, at the GHD offices, 9001 Wakarusa St., in La Mesa.
February 13, 2013 (Norway) – A major study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reveals that Norwegian researchers have found a strong link between folic acid and autism. Of 85,000 pregnancies studied, women who took folic acid supplements four weeks before conception and through the eighth week of pregnancy were 39% less likely give birth to children with autism.
Alcohol Policy Panel of San Diego County working to reduce youth access to alcohol
February 13, 2013 (San Diego) – Girls and young women throughout San Diego County share common drinking habits with their counterparts elsewhere in the country. About one in five high school girls in San Diego County reported binge drinking on the latest California Healthy Kids Survey, mirroring national statistics on binge drinking released recently by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
February 13, 2013 (Ocotillo) -- Photographers Jim Pelley and Parke Ewing were interviewed Sunday on the national "Wind Wise" radio program regarding the Ocotillo Express Wind Facility. Russell Graham, construction manager at the Pattern Energy project, was arrested last week for allegedly making violent threats against the photographers and attempting to wrestle a camera away from Ewing.
The freelance photographers' videos and photos have been featured extensively in East County Magazine, documenting environmental destruction and raising serious questions about limited winds at the project. The Sheriff's office has indicated it would request filing of felony charges in the case, which is currently under review by the District Attorney. A restraining order has been issued against Graham, whose violent threat against Ewing was caught on the audio portion of a video recording.
The Administration is opting to needlessly turn multiple-use public lands into permanent industrial zones. Solar development belongs on rooftops, parking lots, already-developed areas, and on degraded sites, not our public lands."- Janine Blaeloch, Western Lands Project
February 12, 2013 -- Three public-interest environmental organizations have filed a legal challenge against Interior Secretary Ken Salazar’s decision to keep millions of acres of public land available to industry for siting of destructive utility-scale solar plants.
In the complaint filed Tuesday, the Desert Protective Council based in San Diego, Western Lands Project in Seattle, and the Western Watersheds Project cited the government’s failure to consider alternatives that would focus solar development on degraded lands and in the already-built environment. The government’s analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) ignored alternative approaches that would be less damaging to the environment, more efficient, and less costly to taxpayers and ratepayers.
February 12, 2013 (La Mesa)—La Mesa Police warn that a 14-year-old girl riding her bicycle home on Dallas Street near Nagle Street this evening reports that a man in a white pickup truck jumped out of his vehicle and tried to kidnap her this evening.
Police responded at 6:23 p.m. According to the victim, the man wore a red and white jacket and black baseball cap with logo. He is described as mixed race, 20-30 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a medium stocky build. He drove a newer, medium-sized white pickup with white camper shell.
By E. V. Small
By Brian Lafferty
By Brian Lafferty
February 14, 2013 (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 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:
February 14, 2013--(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:
By Brian Lafferty
February 13, 2013 (La Mesa)--The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is seeking nominations for its 2013 Healthcare Hero Awards, the annual program honoring residents whose volunteer efforts help advance the delivery of quality healthcare in the East County region. Nomination 
February 12, 2013 (La Mesa)—La Mesa Police warn that a 14-year-old girl riding her bicycle home on Dallas Street near Nagle Street this evening reports that a man in a white pickup truck jumped out of his vehicle and tried to kidnap her this evening.
Recent comments