September 24, 2014 (La Mesa)--The City of La Mesa will host its fifth annual Senior Expo on Thursday, October 9, 2014.  With a wide variety of speakers and exhibitors, Senior Expo will offer free "one-stop shopping" for all adults facing life changes that may affect their independence, or for those who would like great tips on safety and security.  Senior Expo will be held at the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Drive, La Mesa 91942, from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm, and is supported by funding from the San Diego Association of Governments.

September 24, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – This week’s Destination East County features some major events this weekend, including Oktoberfests, a major music festival and street fair, a fiesta,  a parade, plus concerts by the Eagles and a Barbra Streisand tribute artist.  Plus we’ll have previews of some delicious events coming up soon, including Julian Apple Days, the East County Vintners Harvest Days, a Pumpkin Festival, and Jacumba Hot Springs centennial celebration! Find all these events and more below.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: U.S. Department of Defense

September 23, 2014 (Washington D.C.)—The U.S. Constitution states that Congress has the power to declare war.  Yet Congress has not provided such declaration to presidents for any war since World War II, back in the 1940s.  That puts presidents in the hot seat when confronting threats including those from terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda and now, ISIL, or the Islamic State.

September 24, 2014 (San Diego's East County)-- East County Magazine's 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.

U.S.

• U.S. to alert retailers to bomb materials to counter home-grown threat (Reuters) Silent crisis: 1 in 5 American kids is poor (CNN)
• U.S. hospitals unprepared to handle ebola waste (Reuters)
• Government self-interest corrupted a crime-fighting tool into an evil (Washington Post)
• Record share of Americans are unmarried – even though most want to say ‘I do’ (CS Monitor)
• U.S. to pay Navajo tribe $554 million in landmark settlement (Reuters)
• Jury: Arab bank liable in terrorist attacks (AP)
• ACLU: TSA Now Using 'Hypothetical Threats' to Assign Passengers to Watchlists (Reason)

WORLD

• Up to 1.4 million Africans could be infected with Ebola by 2015, US officials say (CS Monitor)
• U.S. hits Islamic State in Syria near Iraq border; fighters advance on Kurdish city (Reuters)
• It's not a small world after all: world population will soar (Reuters)
• Dozens of Turkish ISIS hostages freed in ‘rescue effort’ (Time)
• Unease in Scotland following independence vote (CBS)
• French jets strike in Iraq against Islamic state (Reuters)
• ISIS's Enemy List: 10 Reasons the Islamic State Is Doomed (Newsweek)
• China asserts paternal rights over Hong Kong in democracy clash (Reuters)
• Qatar expels Egypt Muslim Brotherhood leaders (UT San Diego)
• Czech president receives threatening letter (AP)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

By Miriam Raftery

Hear audio clip of Jorge D'Soria, a resident artist at Salerno (photo, right), performing his Pavarotti-style operatic rendition:  http://k007.kiwi6.com/hotlink/36dl3ft21v/opera-jorge_D_soria.mp3

September 21, 2014 (Ramona) - Opera and fine art in East County? Bravo! Salerno Winery in Ramona has forged a partnership that’s music to the ears of  those who love opera, sculptures and Italian-style wine.

Herman Salerno, an opera singer from Italy, and his wife, Rose, founded the winery and began displaying sculptures from a friend’s collection. Now, they have now teamed up with Jaime Chaljon, a Mexican businessman, to unveil an expanded sculpture garden featuring works by over 20 world-renowned artists including Jorge and Javier Martin, Tan Da WU, Julian Bravo, and Pedro Cervantes.

The winery is open on Fridays,  Saturdays and Sundays, when guests can enjoy not only wine and pizza cooked up in an outdoor oven, but also performances by Salerno and well known Mexican operatic stars.

Photo: Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, right, and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel testify before Senate Armed Services Committee on the threat from ISIL

By Miriam Raftery

September 22, 2014 (Washington D.C.)--U.S. military & partner nation forces have begun striking ISIL targets in Syria using mix of fighters, bombers and Tomahawk missiles, Rear Admiral John Kirby, the Pentagon Press Secretary, confirmed Monday evening.  The U.S. has previously led over 150 air strikes in Iraq, before joining with allies to expand the assault on ISIL, or Islamic State, forces into Syria.

Residents of Raqqa, the Islamic State’s self-proclaimed capital, have reported attacks on the city on social media sites.  An estimated two-thirds of ISIL forces are located in Syria.

Story and photos by Robert Gehr

September 23, 2014 (El Cajon)--The city of El Cajon recently installed signs at the downtown waterscape asking the public to stop feeding the ducks which gather there. It seems that the bread, etc. is contributing to the ill health of this fragile ecosystem, resulting in excessive algae, and fecal matter, plus a variety of toxins and diseases - some of which are transmittable to humans and could potentially make a person very sick, especially children.

By Miriam Raftery

September 23, 2014 (New York)--On the heels of the world’s largest march to halt climate change, support has come from an unlikely source.  Billionaire John D. Rockefeller made his fortune in oil, otherwise known as black gold. His Standard Oil Company was so big that the Supreme Court ordered it broken up into several smaller companies including such giants as Chevron, Exxon and Mobil.