A Word from Dan McAllister, San Diego County Treasurer/Tax Collector

November 2, 2015 (San Diego)--The season of giving has begun!  Annual secured property tax bills from our office were sent out in September.  So by now, all of you who are property owners should have received your annual secured bill.  This year, 2,269 additional bills were sent out – bringing the total to 986,858.  These secured bills will generate more than $5 billion for county operations to help our schools, our community colleges, our libraries, and so much more in our community.

By Susan A Mahalick

Photos by Zoë Jussel or Armando Muñoz

November 1, 2015 (Baja, Mexico) - “About an hour from the border, just south of Rosarito, Mexico, one can find a rare creature: a mermaid. Never mind that she’s made out of concrete and rebar. She doesn’t emerge from the ocean, but she provides a home and business for her maker. KPBS culture reporter Angela Carone visits the world’s only naked mermaid house,” KPBS reported.

Answering your questions about writing, publishing, and marketing books

By Sarka-Jonae Miller

October 27, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - Leigh Bennett joins us from the land Down Under to give advice about literary agents. Bennett is the author of the hilarious contemporary romance Flirting With Magick and the brand new urban fantasy Avalon's Child.

Leigh began as a self-published author before being recruited by me to join the publishing house Booktrope. Both of us have free giveaways coming soon, so be sure to check out the free books list at the end of this week's column.

For complete Calendar including Authors Events, go to www.SDWriteWay.org

This column is also published in the http://EastCountyMagazine.org. If you are from East County, I highly recommend that you check out the ECM for articles and the latest in what is happening in the East County.

For complete Calendar including Authors Events, go to www.SDWriteWay.org

October 21, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - This column is also published in the http://EastCountyMagazine.org. If you are from East County, I highly recommend that you check out the ECM for articles and the latest in what is happening in the East County.

By Leon Thompson and Miriam Raftery

October 18, 2015 (San Diego's East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes the 50^th annual Borrego Days Desert Festival, Haunt Fest on Main Street, a trick or treat dog show, Lamplighters Theatre production of “Stage Fright,” and a melodrama in Julian titled “Keeping the Doctor Away.

Plus we’ll have previews of coming attractions including a Marshall Scary Scotty’s haunted amusement park trail, the Odeum guitar duo in concert, and much, much more!

By Miriam Raftery

October 15, 2015 (San Diego) – After the CNN-hosted Democratic presidential candidate debate Wednesday,  all major polls--including CNN’s own poll--showed Bernie Sanders the winner by wide margins.  Yet post-debate coverage by CNN and other major media almost unanimously declared Hillary Clinton the winner. 

No matter what your party or political preference, this sort of blatant media manipulation should disturb you. Equally disturbing to advocates of a free press, many pro-Sanders comments or those questioning the network’s impartiality were repeatedly removed off CNN’s website stories on the debate.  How come?

The fact that CNN’s owner, Time-Warner, is one of Clinton’s largest campaign donors appears to have influenced the news organization to skew its coverage to favor  its corporate parent’s preferred candidate.  Other media that has given large sums to Clinton's campaign or to the Clinton Foundation similarly ignored polls and declared her the winner.

East County News Service

October 13, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Governor Jerry Brown has signed over a dozen bills to “help improve elections and expand voter rights and access in California,” according to the Governor’s signing statement.

Those include the New Motor Voter Act authored by San Diego Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez.  The measure will result in the Department of Motor Vehicles automatically registering Califoirnians to vote when they obtain a driver’s license, or renew one.  Drivers will have the right to opt out if they choose.

Answering your questions about writing, publishing, and marketing books

By Sarka-Jonae Miller

Is print publishing still a safe marketing bet for indie authors, especially in this colossal world of ebook publishing? - Joseph Beekman, Fantasy Author

October 10, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - Many indie authors are attracted to ebook publishing because it's essentially free. Or so they think. The truth is that with print-on-demand services like CreateSpace, print publishing and ebook publishing cost about the same.

For complete Calendar including Authors Events, go to www.SDWriteWay.org

This column is also published in the http://EastCountyMagazine.org. If you are from East County, I highly recommend that you check out the ECM for articles and the latest in what is happening in the East County.

October 4, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - It’s pretty inevitable living in California, even if your home is not in the path of a fire, you can still be affected by smoke particles released into the air from wildfires reminds Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.

For complete Calendar including Authors Events, go to www.SDWriteWay.org

October 3, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - This column is also published in the http://EastCountyMagazine.org. If you are from East County, I highly recommend that you check out the ECM for articles and the latest in what is happening in the East County.

Listen to Destination East County,  also aired on KNSJ radio, by clicking the audio link.

East County News Service

October 2, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – This week’s Destination East County includes the famous annual Oktoberfests held in both La Mesa and El Cajon and a reenactment festival about the 1800s. We also have a preview of some upcoming events in early to mid-October of theater, fairs, and classic cars.

East County News Service

September 29, 2015 (San Diego)--KPRI Radio, San Diego’s independent station known for its alternative rock format and cutting edge issues coverage, has sold the Educational Media Foundation which runs Christian music stations.  The deal will require approval from the Federal Communications Commission, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

In addition to music, KPRI radio has been home to programs such as a Morning Show that recently included discussions on issues and features ranging from climate change to the Master Chef competition.