September 8, 2012 (Washington, D.C.) -- Food is expensive, but preparing your own meals can be healthier and less expensive than eating out. Get ideas on how to eat healthy meals on a budget, including:

• Sample 7-Day Menu
• Smart Shopping for Veggies and Fruits (PDF download Adobe Reader)
• 10 Tips for Eating Better on a Budget   (PDF download Adobe Reader)
  

September 1, 2012 (La Mesa)--The Grossmont Healthcare District and the City of La Mesa have jointly announced that Saturday, Sept. 22 will be the date for the 2012 Kids Care Fest, a free, family-oriented event featuring free health care screenings at Briercrest Park, 9001 Wakarusa St., La Mesa. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will be the 11th annual Kids Care Fest event. The public is invited to attend.

September 6, 2012  --  (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:

LOCAL/REGIONAL

• La Mesa-Spring Valley schools face cuts of $12.5 million  if tax vote fails (La Mesa Patch)
• Wages in San Diego not rising fast enough (UT San Diego)
• La Mesa City Council Candidates (La Mesa Courier)
• 10 privatization fact checks (Voice of San Diego)
• 21 homes red-tagged: What to expect from classic Brawley earthquake swarm  (NBC)
• Recruiting allegations haunt Helix, defending state football champions (Mt. Helix Patch.com)

STATE

• California jobs picture brightens (Sacramento Bee)
• Gov. Brown promotes Prop 30, warns of devastating cuts to education if it fails (Santee Patch)
• Most tax deals die as GOP stands united (UT San Diego)
• Self-driving cars approved by California legislature (CNBC)
• California way behind Germany in solar development (KCET)
• Three races could tip the balance of power in state Legislature (Sacramento Bee)
• U.S. Chamber launches ad attacking California budget, economy (Sacramento Bee)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

August 24, 2012 (El Cajon)—Native Americans from across the nation will convene September 7 -9 at the Sycuan reservation for the 23rd annual Sycuan Pow-wow. 

More than $125,000 in prize money will be awarded for top participants in bird singing and dancing and a drum/singing contest.  Native American arts and crafts will be available for purchase, as well as food.  The event, which is free and open to the public, is an opportunity to learn more about Native American culture and heritage. 

September 6, 2012 --  (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:   

U.S.

        GENERAL NEWS

• The way ahead: U.S. hands of war to Afghan troops (UT San Diego)
• Sorry savers, interest rates set record lows (ABC News)
• Federal  Reserve audit finds $16 trillion in secret loans  (Senator Bernie Sanders, author of amendment requiring the audit)
• Residents impacted by Isaac return home (CBS News)
• National Conference of American Indians opposes Dept. of Interior fast-tracking on renewable energy projects near Colorado River
• Are small businesses being heard this election year? (Entrepreneur)
• Dumped by home insurance after a disaster?  (BankRate.com)
• VA phone calls won’t solve massive problems (The Reno dispatch)

        PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

• Obama’s 2008 promises:  kept or broken? (CBS)
• Democratic convention to make case for 4 more years (BBC)
• Romney and Ryan fault Obama’s economic maneuvers (Los Angeles Times)
• Romney on the offensive (CBS)
• Video: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7420224n&tag=stack
• Obama: GOP ideas “better for the last century” (Yahoo News)
• Video: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/obama-gop-ideas-better-last-century-191555406--election.html
• Obama finds key asset in Bill Clinton’s support (Washington Post)

WORLD

• More than 100,000 Syrians flee in one month (CNN)
• 7.6 quake in Philippines triggers tsunami alert (CNBC)
• Syrian rebels hit back at Assad’s air power (Reuters)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

September 5, 2012 (Lakeside) – The Grand Ladies of the Old West host their annual dance on September 8 at the VFW Hall, Post 5867, 12650 Lindo Lake Lane, Lakeside from 6:00-11:00 p.m.  The “Honky Tonk Kings” will provide live entertainment at the event, which also features dancing, raffles, food and drinks.

The cost is $15 per person or $25 for a couple.  The event will benefit the 2012 donation to “Project Safehouse and Big Sisters League”. 

August 31, 2012 (El Cajon)--California State Ballot Propositions 30 through 40 will be discussed at the East County Democratic Club Meeting on at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012. 

The main speaker will be Eric Banks, immediate past-president of SEIU Local 221, who will be addressing issues embedded in Proposition 32, focusing on the questionable issue of "paycheck protection" and sharing information about his public employee union.  Diane Cates, a new member of the SEIU Executive Board will be in attendance and adding her insights.  ECDC President John Martes and his wife Gloria will be presenting information about the other propositions.  Also local Propositions C,D,G,and V, which are bond issues for public education, will  be addressed. 

September 3, 2012 (San Diego) -- The 30-day countdown has begun for the largest innovation conference this year: Tijuana Innovadora. This event is unlike any other event in the U.S. or Mexico in the range of renowned speakers and the variety of cultural events. Nearly 700,000 people attended the last time the conference was held. San Diegans are invited to attend this celebration of innovation and culture close to home. Mayors Sanders and Bustamante are celebrating their cities' historic cooperation to promote Tijuana Innovadora. Community groups  on both sides of the border have been invited to promote the upcoming conference. 

August 31, 2012 (San Diego) - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with Sunbeam Products Inc., announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

August 31, 2012 (Santee) -- The League of Women Voters will be moderating a Candidates’ Forum on Tuesday, September 18 at the Santee City Hall, Room 7, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. with refreshments served after the forum.

It will be held in the City's Event Hall, Building 7 of the City Complex at 10601 N. Magnolia in Santee.

By Helen Ofield, President Lemon Grove Historical Society

August 31, 2012 (Lemon Grove)--The last living link with Lemon Grove's pioneer past died at midday on Aug. 29 in her Lemon Grove home of congestive heart failure. Pearl Johnson Holaday -- better known by her favorite nickname Susie -- was born and raised in Lemon Grove. With her at the last were her daughter, Maxine McWilliams, and her son, Bob Holaday, and San Diego Hospice.

By Nadin Abbott

August 30, 2012 (Rancho Bernardo)-- At a gathering today in Rancho Bernardo outside the Republican party’s county headquarters, members of labor and the Democratic Party reacted to the Romney\Ryan ticket.

Lorena Gonzales, Secretary-Treasurer CEO of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO, issued a statement which read: “In President Obama's first term, we've seen 4.5 million new private sector jobs, more than one million jobs saved in the auto industry alone, and tax cuts for 95% of working families. And tonight, we'll listen to Mitt Romney accept his party's nomination as the standard bearer for a plan to dismantle Medicare, destroy Social Security, and hand out more tax breaks to corporations and millionaires.”

From the U.S. Department of Labor

August 31, 2012 (Washington D.C.) – What are your rights if you observe safety hazards or certain other wrongdoing at your workplace? 

This Labor Day, learn how you can help protect coworkers or the public from dangerous conditions and key illegal activities—and be protected under federal and state whistleblower laws. 

Ryan speech draws media criticism for factual errors

By Miriam Raftery

August 30, 2012 (Tampa) -- "I am running for president to help create a better future,” Mitt Romney declared, accepting his party’s presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention.  (View speech:  http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7419730n&tag=mg;mostpopvideo )

 Delayed a day by Hurricane Isaac,  the convention concluded with Romney assailing President Barack Obama on everything from the economy to global warming policy, then pledging to focus on jobs and family if elected. 

August 30, 2012 (San Diego) – On the 92nd anniversary of women winning the right to vote, Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) gave an impassioned speech warning about threats to women’s hard-won rights.

“I don’t think any of us would have thought that we’d be fighting the kind of extremist legislation that we’ve seen in the last two years,” she said.  View video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzyDO6l9VJU&feature=em-share_video_user

Davis, a former League of Women Voters president, spoke of efforts by the Republican-controlled Congress and presidential/vice presidential candidates to redefine rape, weaken the Violence Against Women Act, defund Planned Parenthood, restrict access to birth control, and prevent military rape victims from obtaining abortions. 

She also denounced voter suppression efforts, which she called “chilling.”  

August 30, 2012 (Lakeside) -- Authorities have recovered the body of Milt Eisen, 41, who drowned August 26 in the El Capitan Reservoir. 

Eisen, manager of the El Cajon Kia dealership, reportedly jumped from a boat into El Capitan reservoir to cool off but was unable to make his way back to the boat. Divers searched the 197-foot-deep for multiple days in conjunction with several agencies.

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August 30, 2012 (Rancho San Diego)—The Water Conservation Garden invites the public to enjoy its 2012 Fall/Winter calendar of classes and 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. Pre-registration is required for all classes. To enroll call 619-660-0614 x 10. Below are descriptions of upcoming offerings on everything from landscape design basics to raising urban chickens.

August 30, 2012 --  (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:   

• U.S. economy expands more than anticipated  (BBC)
• Isaac reduces to tropical storm, lashes Louisiana (USA Today)
• Do wind turbines cause forest fires? (Bangor Daily News)
• Army issues multi-billion dollar solicitation for large scale renewable and alternative energy production for federal installations (Foley) 

• Republicans highlight Romney nomination, but poll shows low popularity (ABC News) 
• Romney: I’d cut PBS, Obamacare, arts subsidies (CBS News)
• McCain: America “can’t afford” another Obama WH (CBS News) 
• President Obama answers questions on Reddit-AMA; read his full answers (CBS News) 
• publicans hate Obama’s defense cuts. The trouble is, they voted for them (Washington Post wonk bl
• Vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan on abortion: Rape is just another “method of conception”(RawStory)
  
• Paul Ryan’s speech in 3 words (FoxNews.com) 

• Al Qaeda followers call for death of Seal who wrote Osama bin Ladin capture book (Washington Post) 
• Venezuela investigates alleged massacre in Amazon village (Reuters) 
• Romney: Nuclear Iran “unacceptable” (CBS)