Arabo praises support for relocation of displaced Christians

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Syrian refugee children at clinic in Jordan, by Russell Watkins, Dept. for International Development

March 6, 2015 (San Diego’s East County ) – Today the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops urged the global community, led by the United States and Europe, to take action to save the lives of 4 million Syrian refugees.

Valdez stars in Oedipus Rex,  running March 7-29

By Mimi Pollack

Photo by Daren Scott

March 6, 2015 (San Diego)--It couldn’t always have been easy growing up as part of “Chicano theater royalty” or a Latino dynasty, yet Lakin Valdez, son of Luis and Lupe Valdez, comes across with ease and grace. The youngest of three brothers, all of them working in various aspects of theater, film, and television, Lakin is unassuming, smart and thoughtful.

By East County Magazine

View a detailed list of pedestrian accidents resulting in serious injuries or deaths in El Cajon

March 5, 2015 (El Cajon)--El Cajon has had 17 fatality pedestrian accidents from 2011 to 2014, including six on Main and East Main Street. The city also had 61 serious injury accidents involving pedestrians during the same period.  During the first few weeks of 2015, fatal pedestrian accidents have claimed more lives, including a 7-year-old boy and an elderly woman in El Cajon.

East County News Service

March 5, 2015 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police Officer Christine Greer has filed a lawsuit against the department alleging discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation and disability.

March 3, 2015 (San Diego) – San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister has announced that the County will be auctioning off  324 local properties on March 24^th.  Registration to bid on these properties is now open.

March 5, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - The County of San Diego opens a new application cycle for the Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement (PACE) Program! The program provides financial compensation to eligible property owners in exchange for placing an agricultural conservation easement on their property. Since the inception of the program over 1,150 acres have been preserved to date.

March 5, 2015 (Borrego Springs) - Desert artwork will be on display at the Circle of Art Show in Borrego Springs on March 14th and 15^th.

East County News Service

March 4, 2015 (Alpine) – A panel of three appellate court justices have denied a request by the Grossmont Union High School District, which had asked the justices to issue a stay halting an injunction ordered by Superior Court Judge Joel Pressman.

Federal  civil rights investigation finds blatant, systemic racism in Ferguson Police Dept., but criminal probe finds no grounds to prosecute officer who killed Michael Brown

By Miriam Raftery

March 4, 2015 (Washington D.C.) – U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder on Wednesday announced results of two federal probes into the Ferguson, Missouri police department which drew national attention following the shooting of an unarmed African-American teenager. A criminal investigation found no grounds to prosecute Officer Darren Wilson, who killed the teen, Michael Brown. However a separate civil rights investigation found systemic racism in the department and mandates changes.

The Justice Department has ordered corrective action. Holder emphasized in a press statement, “Let me be clear: the United States Department of Justice reserves all its rights and abilities to force compliance and implement basic change.”

March 4, 2015 (La Mesa) - The Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, a consumer health library at 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, is now hosting its Winter Art Exhibit featuring artwork from Sophie’s Art Gallery, an off-campus art program of St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC), a non-profit, non-denominational organization serving adults with developmental disabilities.

March  2015 (La Mesa) – The San Pasqual Winery announces a series of events in March at its tasting room in La Mesa’s downtown Village.  Events include concerts, painting classes, and a wine, women and wealth event.  Below is a full schedule, provided by the winery. For details, visit http://www.sanpasqualwinery.com.

Tips for finding a reputable jeweler, quality stones, settings and designs

By Terry Whyte, master goldsmith at www.GoldenArtistry.com in La Mesa

March 4, 2015 (La Mesa)—When it comes time to choose your engagement and wedding rings, start by checking Yelp to find a reputable jeweler.

Call and ask if they have a goldsmith on staff.  Ask if they make their own original jewelry.  (Do you really want one of 10,000 made in Bangkok?)  Clerks at a store that only sell jewelry, not design the products,  may have limited knowledge of how they are made.  If possible, purchase American-made jewelry.

March 4, 2015 (El Cajon) - The El Cajon legal clinic is back—with new hours, open Wednesdays from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Free legal assistance is available in the areas of  family law, immigration, consumer law, employment law, business law, wills and trusts, civil litigation and more.

Driven: When Obstacles Take Center Stage , by Magetta Chantiloupe (Austin Macauley Ltd., London, England, 2014, 379 pages).

“Keep guard over your eyes and ears as the inlets of your heart, and over your lips as the outlet, lest they betray you in a moment of unawareness.”

Anne Bronte, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

Book Review by Dennis Moore

March 4, 2015 (San Diego) - Looking from the outside at Magetta Chantiloupe and all that she has accomplished in life, one would think that this San Diego resident and author of Driven: When Obstacles Take Center Stage, has always had it together. But looks would be deceiving, as this Certified Financial Planner with the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards – retired General Stock Broker and native of Jamaica West Indies, and mother of four adult children has fought and struggled to attain all that she has accomplished. Also the author of Iraq: The War That Shouldn’t Be – You Decide, Chantiloupe has been a world traveler – she has cruised the world, 41 of which were on the CUNARD Line. Her actual achievements and overall story could fill several books.