By Nancy Clement & Dawn Clement

Share creative ideas to assist people of all ages with tips to save money and improve their lifestyle!

September 2, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) —Want to save money on your college textbooks?  Why buy when you can rent? Now you can rent textbooks from Bookrenter for a semester.

We've also got tips for saving money if you do need to buy your textbooks.

by George J. Janczyn

Reprinted with permission from GrokSurf's San Diego

Update: Helix directors have voted to suspend the El Monte Valley Recharge project. 

September 4, 2011 (Lakeside)--This Wednesday, September 7, the Helix Water District Board of Directors will consider a staff recommendation to suspend the El Monte Valley Project.

The project is a groundwater recharge and recovery operation that would generate 5,000 acre feet of water per year using an advanced recycled water purification process known to water professionals as Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR).

Residents voice outrage; public comment deadline Oct. 3

 
 
September 3, 2011 (La Mesa) -- Students from Grossmont College’s cardiovascular technology (CVT) program will provide free screenings for Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Senior Resource Center, Brier Patch campus, 9000 Wakarusa St., La Mesa. The screenings will test the arterial blood flow to the legs and blood pressure at the ankles and arms. Symptoms of PAD can include aching, cramping or pain in your legs after walking or exercising. An appointment is required for the free screening. To register, call 1-800-827-4277, or visitwww.sharp.com.
 

September 3, 2011 (Julian)—September marks the opening of apple season at Julian, where you can sample everything from fresh apple cider to apple pie, or bring the family and pick your own apples at one of several roadside orchards. 

As part of Julian’s Apple Days Centennial Celebration, a two-day Apple Days Festival will be held October 1st  and 2nd at Menghini Winery featuring apple displays, music and dancing, an antique tractor display, children’s games and activities, gold panning demonstrations, a beer and wine garden, food and merchandise vendors, contests, and, of course, apple pie. The event runs from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., both Saturday and Sunday. The admission is $5 for adults with children 12 and under free of charge.

By Miriam Raftery
Video by Billy Ortiz

There comes a time in life when a person may decide to take a chance—to do something wild, so daring that it challenges the spirit and nurtures the soul.

September 3, 2011 (Blossom Valley) – When Dale Harker, a Vietnam combat veteran and cancer survivor, decided to train a wild mustang, friends thought he was crazy. “You old fool, don’t you know that horse is gonna kill you?” one roping expert told him.
 

But Harker defied the odds, relying on his faith—and training videos he found online—to gentle a wild horse that he obtained through the Bureau of Land Management. His amazing success was chronicled in a documentary, Mustang Man: How a Wild Horse Tamed a Vietnam Veteran. But his story doesn’t end there.

In an ECM Video special report, we reveal how Harker has now found a new calling in life, gentling wild mustangs for other East County residents.  View our video. 

September 3, 2011 (El Cajon) – The Chaldean American Institute present its Second Annual Chaldean Festival this weekend.  The event showcases authentic Chaldean food, traditional folk music, arts, dancing, sports tournaments and a fashion show. A special musical performance by TIMZ, a nationally awarded American-born rapper of Chaldean descent,  is scheduled for Sunday. Festival proceeds will be used to fund community development programs in San Diego County.

September 3, 2011 (San Pasqual) –Orfila Vineyards will host a Hawaiian-style luau in its Rose Park at 13455 San Pasqual Road, Escondido on September 11 from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Price includes signature “Wine Tai” cocktail, games on the lawn, Hawaiian lei, and live music. Dress in your best Hawaiian garb for a costume contest; winner takes home an Orfila gift basket. Food will be available for purchase from vendor trucks.

September 3, 2011 (Washington D.C.) – President Barack Obama will honor East County’s hometown hero, Jimmie Johnson, in a ceremony at the White House next Wednesday.

Johnson will be honored not only for his record fifth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship, but also for the efforts of Johnson and NASCAR to “give back to their community,” according to a White House press release.

Sept. 2, 2011 (Julian) – Think your homemade apple pie recipe rivals the renowned pies of Julian? The Julian Woman’s Club says, “The proof is in the pastry!”

The aroma of freshly baked apple pie will fill the air during the Julian Apple Days Pie Contest, Friday, September 30. The contest is free and open to all amateur bakers in the region.

Fall Home & Garden Festival, Backyard Flock, Build a Scarecrow, Tamale Making 101, From Laundry to Landscape, Small Space Garden, and Gardening on a Rooftop

September 3, 2011 (Rancho San Diego)--The Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College invites the public to enjoy its 2011 fall and winter events.  Gardening classes help residents save water and money by focusing on water-smart landscaping techniques and plants.  Classes are taught by professionals , with offerings for both adults and children. 

Scroll down for details on new classes sprouting up this season.

By Mike Copass

September 3, 2011 (City Heights)--Joining similar actions across 21 states, San Diego nurses stood with community residents in urban San Diego on September 1 to bring their message of jobs, living wages, health care, education and housing.

They proposed what the California Nurses Association calls a "Main Street Contract," an economic recovery program for America with a new funding mechanism: a simple financial transactions tax on Wall Street.

September 3, 2011 (San Diego) -- “San Diego CleanTech Beach: Riding The Green Jobs and Economy Wave” is an event to designed to help people countywide launch or expand clean technology careers, start-ups and community initiatives by providing briefings from leaders in the green economy sector.

ECM Special Report

By Miriam Raftery
 

Sept. 4, 2011 (Rancho San Diego) – After four and a half years of organizing numerous major community events as well as programs to benefits its 143 members, the Rancho San Diego-Jamul Chamber has closed its doors. The closure reflects today’s tough economic times—but also raises questions over why the America’s Finest Beer Festival, a three-day event at Qualcomm Stadium sponsored by the RSDJ Chamber, was cancelled.
 

An ECM investigation reveals that questionable actions by management of Qualcomm Stadium, owned by the City of San Diego, left organizers as well as vendors on the line for hefty expenses. While questions have been raised over the Chamber pulling the plug on the event, the City’s actions appear to have left the Chamber with no viable option except cancellation. Yet ironically, experts predicted that both the City and the Chamber would have generated significant profits had the event been allowed to go forward.

September 2, 2011 (Lakeside)--Tribal dancers from across the United States will compete for $60,000 in prize money at the Barona Poway. The pow-wow will be held Friday, September 2 through Sunday, September 4 at the Barona Baseball Field on the Barona Indian Reservation in Lakeside. 

This event, which also features Native American crafts, jewelry and food vendors, is free and open to the public.

September 2, 2011 (San Diego) -- The Associated Builders and Contractors of San Diego marked the beginning of its 35th anniversary year with a celebration held at the private Emma Estate in Del Mar. ABCSD members, their guests, and numerous elected officials attended.

By Brian Lafferty

September 2, 2011 (San Diego) – Satyajit Ray’s Pather Panchali. David Lynch’s Eraserhead. Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead. Kevin Smith’s Clerks. What does Evan Glodell’s Bellflower have in common with all these films? They are all great movies shot on shoestring budgets.

September 2, 2011 (Lakeside)-- Lakeside's River Park Conservancy will unveil a new trail as it celebrates its 10th anniversary at the Once in a Blue Moon Gala, including dinner plus live and silent auctions at twilight along the banks of the San Diego River on Saturday, September 10th.

September 1, 2011 (San Diego)--The San Diego Police Department, San Diego Sheriff’s Department and the San Diego Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation have issued the following joint intelligence bulletin:
 

The 10th anniversary of the tragic events of 9/11/2001 is upon us. 9/11 was the result of an al-Qa’ida terrorist attack on all citizens and residents of the United States. This bulletin is to bring awareness of the sensitivity of the anniversary and provide actionable steps that the community and law enforcement can take together to prevent further terrorists acts.

There are strong ties between the 9/11 heroes in New York and our own La Mesa Fire Department--forged in the fires of dual tragedies in both regions

September 1, 2011 (La Mesa)--The City of La Mesa will host a remembrance ceremony on the ten year anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. A memorial wreath will be placed at the 9/11 Memorial at Fire Station 12, 8844 Dallas Street.

September 1, 2011 – Sen. Christine Kehoe’s (D-San Diego) legislation to allow renters to display political signs in their apartments and homes passed the Assembly today with bipartisan support and now heads to Gov. Jerry Brown for consideration.

“Renters deserve the right to participate in our democracy and express their views just as much as homeowners,” said Kehoe. “There is no reason to continue this ‘second class’ status for the 40 percent of Californians who are renters and wish to post signs supporting candidates.”

September 1, 2011 (San Diego)--The San Diego Police Department Traffic Unit, along with members of the “Avoid” team, will be conducting DUI checkpoints on Saturday, September 3 at undisclosed locations within the city limits between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m.

September 1, 2011 (San Diego's East County)--Effective today, fire restrictions on the Cleveland National Forest have been moved to the “Elevated” level. The increase in fire restrictions is due to dryer fuel conditions, higher temperatures, and the likelihood of small fires becoming larger fires.

"There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things." Niccolo Machiavelli

By Walter Hall

September 1, 2011 (La Mesa)--This second installment of ECM’s three part series on the proposed Property-based Business Improvement District (PBID), examines governance, including the City’s high-visibility role, and the proposed PBID budget. For Part I and readers’ comments, see http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/6980.

After months of rumors and lingering concerns about the proposal process, there are signs of PBID fatigue along La Mesa Boulevard. These are offset by growing interest across the district and into the larger community. La Mesa residents do have skin in the game, regardless of their street addresses--not least because the City is about to commit approximately $60K of tax dollars to fund PBID operations.

September 1, 2011 (LA Mesa) -- Speeders, beware.  On August 21, the La Mesa Police Department was notified that it was the recipient of a grant award from the San Diego County Law Enforcement Foundation. Each year the generous organization awards law enforcement in San Diego County with grant funds to be used toward an agencies life saving efforts.

September 1, 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:

WORLD
• CIA drone is said to kill Al Qaeda’s #2 (New York Times)
• Mexico deploys 1,500 troops after ‘terrorist’ casino attack (CNN)
• 140 Mexican schools shut down amid extortion fears (NPR)
• Fukushima caesium leaks 'equal 168 Hiroshimas' (UK Telegraph)
• Luxury, horror lurk in Gadhafi family compound (CNN)

• Astronomers discover planet made of diamonds (Yahoo News)
• Anti-cancer virus shows promise (BBC)
U.S.
• Disaster aid account faces shortfall (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Hurricane Irene and the staggering cost of climate change (Nelson Daily)
• Hurricane Irene blamed for at least 44 deaths in 13 states (Washington Post)
• Did fracking cause the Virginia earthquake? (OpEd News)
• Bachmann says she’d consider minimum wage changes (Yahoo News)
• Ron Paul on hurricane watch: “We should be like 1900” (Salon)
• Make it in America: How we can bring back manufacturing (Truthout)
• 6 years after Katrina, lower 9th ward still bleak (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• NOAA Warns of gap in future forecasting abilities (NPR)