The Healing Shower, by Eloise Laws (Knowledge Power Books, Valencia, California, 2012, 131 pages).

Book Review by Dennis Moore

When all the odds say there’s no chance,

Amidst the final dance,

I’ll be your comfort through your pain

I’ll be your shelter in the rain.

• Stevie Wonder

Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter, musician, political           activist and philanthropist.

November 13, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - Eloise Laws, an award-winning vocalist, Tony-nominated actress, author, and breast cancer survivor – in her debut book The Healing Shower, shares her personal journey, surviving the “ups and downs’ of breast cancer. Inspired by the outpouring of love and support she received from family and friends, prompted her to write this thought provoking and deeply moving book. In this thoughtful and well-written book are all the tools one who is suffering from a life-threatening illness will need as a guide when considering a “Healing Shower” before or possibly returning home from surgery. As East County’s Jamie Reno attested to in his book Hope Begins in the Dark, which this writer also had the honor of writing a review of in the East County Magazine, cancer can be a never ending battle. San Diego City Councilwoman Marti Emerald is also fighting this debilitating disease of cancer.

By Jake Christie

November 11, 2014 (La Mesa)--No grand statement was made; no final red tag sale was held. The All Things Bright and British shop at 8401 La Mesa Boulevard  just faded away during the first fortnight of October, due to an unforgiving new landlord and general exhaustion by store owner Bill Jaynes, who has run the store since 2009.

East Count News Service

November 12, 2014 (San Diego's East County)--This week’s Destination East County includes a barbecue and beer-tasting event, a star party, a health faire, a brass quintet concert, the musical Mulan, and a holiday open house!  Plus we’ll have previews of coming attractions, such as Woodstock the Musical, Pomegranate Days at a camel farm, live music in Lemon Grove, a World of Bats program for nature-lovers, the Mother Goose Parade, and for working up an appetite for all that Thanksgiving Feasting, the Waddle and Trot 5 K run!

So stay tuned for all of these events and much, much more, from East County Magazine.

By Miriam Raftery

November 11, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) –Owners of Ivanpah, the world’s biggest concentrated solar energy facility, borrowed $1.6 billion from the federal government to build the project in the Mojave Desert. Now they are seeking a $539 million federal grant to pay off that debt.  In other words, they want taxpayers to pay off their loan that was also funded by U.S. taxpayers.

November 12, 2014 (El Cajon) – The City of El Cajon will host an event honoring veterans on Wednesday, November 12 at 11 a.m. at El Cajon’s Centennial Plaza, 200 Civic Center Way in El Cajon.

Commander Clark, representing the El Cajon Veterans’ Commission and American Legion Post, will be on hand, along with music performed by the U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Diego Color Guard and the Hillsdale Middle School Symphonic Band.

November 11, 2014 (El Cajon)--The East County Democratic Club (ECDC) will focus on the Middle Eastern crisis brought on by actions of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) (also known as the Islamic State of Iraq in the Levant (ISIL)) on November 20, 2014.  Dr. Todd Myers will address the issues involved at 7 p.m., at Coco’s Restaurant, 1026 Fletcher Parkway, El Cajon.   The public is invited to the meeting, without regard to membership in the club or party.

By Janis Russell and Miriam Raftery

November 11, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – A week after the election with 28,000 absentee and provisional ballots remaining to be counted countywide, two East County race remain too close to call.

East County News Service

November 11, 2014 (Alpine)—The Alpine Beer Company has long been popular among East County beer lovers. This week, the company announced it has been acquired by Green Flash.

East County News Service

November 11, 2014 (San Diego) - San Diego’s City Council on Monday voted 8 to 1 to remove the cap on the number of taxi cab permits issued by the city.  Supporters led by Councilwoman Marti Emerald said the limit on caps had created an underground market.  Permits issued initially for a $3,000 fee were being resold for up to $140,000—with cab owners passing on costs to drivers, who were forced to work long hours at low wages.

EarthTalk®

E - The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that global warming is causing our crops to be less nutritious?

                                                                                                            -- William Persson, Glendale, OH

November 9, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - It is difficult to say whether or not the climate change we are now experiencing is negatively impacting the nutritional quality of our food, researchers warn that it may be only a matter of time. “Humanity is conducting a global experiment by rapidly altering the environmental conditions on the only habitable planet we know,” reports Samuel Myers, a research scientist at the Harvard School of Public Health.

November 10, 2014 (Santee) –Santee Lakes reports that a week after its Trout Opener event, the lakes continue to provide some excellent trout fishing – and more trout stock will be added this Friday around mid-day.  Participants took home not only fish, but prizes including a BMX bike, fishing gear and gift certificates.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

November 10, 2014 (San Diego)--Cooler weather is upon us so why not put your best foot forward by keeping yourself free from accidents says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.  ‘Walk this Way’ and plan walk-able routes. Map out a well-lit route with sidewalks and crosswalks and little traffic. Let someone know when and where you are going. Walks are a great opportunity to educate kids about safety. Explain the different traffic signals, remind your kids to stop at the edge of driveways to watch for cars, and teach them never to cross streets without being in a crosswalk.

November 9, 2014 -- On Thursday, November 27 at 8:00 a.m. Pathways Community Church will host the 3rd Annual Waddle and Trot 5K and Fun Run. All proceeds will once again go to Santee Santas and the Santee Food Bank.

This fun family event is intended for runners and walkers of every fitness level.

November 9, 2014 (San Diego)—A free choral concert, “Bright Mornings, Silent Nights” will be presented by the Pacificaires and Cedar Center Chorus on Saturday, December 6 at 2 p.m. in the College Avenue Baptist Church, 4747 College Avenue in San Diego.   The concert features Christian and Jewish holiday favorites as well as secular music.

“You’ll hear the full chorus of 100 singers plus ensembles and soloists, accompanied by a 7-piece orchestra of talented instrumentalists, and maybe a bit of theatrics,” says Kelci Cell, publicity chair. She adds, “We are united by our delight in the power of music to restore and enliven both singers and audiences, especially among seniors.”