By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

December 28, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) --This New Year’s Eve, we should all vow to take a closer look at our lives and make decisions about ourselves. Here are 16 New Year’s Resolutions to help you for a better 2016.

by Sarka-Jonae Miller

December 18, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - New York Times best-selling author and former La Jolla resident Eileen Goudge drops by to answer her favorite reader question and a few of mine. Goudge is the author of more than a dozen books, including Garden of Lies, Trail of Secrets, Thorns of Truth, Such Devoted Sisters, The Replacement Wife, and her latest novel Bones and Roses.

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

December 1, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) --This week’s Destination East County includes an array of holiday happenings including major community festivals such as the Alpine Parade of Lights and Snow Festival, Lakeside’s Christmas on Maine, a tree-lighting and sleigh rides in Ramona’s Old Town, Santa at Santee Lakes, as well as holiday music performances and stage productions, plus a Chaldean Christmas Gala to help people in need.

Plus we’ll have previews of coming attractions including La Mesa Shimmers, La Mesa’s Christmas in the Village, a holiday home tour in Alpine, and a holiday open house at an alpaca farm in Descanso. Scroll down for all of these events and more.

For complete Calendar including Authors Events,

go to http://SDWriteWay.org

This column is also published in the http://EastCountyMagazine.org

Readers

November 30, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - November 30 (Monday, 12:00 pm) — Warwick's and Words Alive are proud to be hosting bestselling author of worldwide acclaim Isabel Allende at the San Diego Marriott Marquis and Marina. She will present her newest novel, The Japanese Lover. This is a ticketed luncheon in conjunction with Words Alive.

Donations to help  victims of the French terrorist attacks are being accepted through Friday on the Adventures by the Book website

by Sárka-Jonae Miller, Ask an Author columnist

On the drive home to San Diego from an event in Los Angeles, USA Today best-selling author Jennifer Coburn and Adventure by the Book owner Susan E. McBeth came up with an idea to throw a fundraiser benefiting the French Red Cross. The two women had recently taken trips to Paris and wanted to do something to help the victims of the November 13 attacks.

By the time they arrived home, they already had four authors of Paris-themed books on board, according to Coburn. Eight days later on November 22, the Je Suis Paris fundraiser was realized and proceeds exceeded the initial goal of $5,000.

Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

November 23, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving, when holiday gift buying begins.  Sales offering big discounts lure customers into stores, often beginning in the early hours of the morning.  “Unfortunately, Black Friday is a day when shoppers may become victims of crimes and injuries,” reminds Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.

By Dr. Omar Ghausi

November 21, 2015 (San Diego)--On average, someone suffers a stroke every 45 seconds. The good news is that 80% of all strokes are preventable. Equally important, patients who arrive at an emergency room within 3 hours of their first symptoms tend to have less disability 3 months after a stroke than those who delayed care.

Some of the keys to managing risk factors are to control high blood pressure, eat a healthy diet, maintain a healthy weight, exercise, don’t smoke and limit alcohol use.

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

By Miriam Raftery and Leon Thompson

November 18, 2015 (El Cajon)--This week’s Destination East County includes the Mother Goose Parade in El Cajon, cowboy and Indian tales along the Butterfield stage coach route, Pomegranate Days at the Oasis Camel Dairy, and the start of Parkway Plaza’s holiday music festival.

Plus we’ll have previews of coming attractions including Santa Claus and snow at Santee Lakes, a joyous holiday music concert by the San Diego Festival Chorus, the Christmas in Alpine homes tour, a production of Kracked Nutz, and a Christmas  festival at Lions, Tigers and Bears.

November 17, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - New York Times and USA TODAY best-selling author Kristan Higgins will be appearing at the Mira Mesa Barnes & Noble (10775 Westview Parkway San Diego, CA 92126) on November 18 at 7PM. Higgins is the two-time RITA award-winning author of more than two dozen books, including the acclaimed Blue Heron series. I caught up with the romance and women's fiction authoress to discuss her latest novels, what's she most looking forward to during her trip to San Diego, and helpful advice for writers.

By Susan A Mahalick

Photos of Vintango provided by Jo Ann Martino

November 13, 2015 (Baja California, Mexico)--It was a fine fall day to visit one of my favorite winemakers, Jo Ann Knox Martino who owns Vintango. She has been making wine for six years now and this year she only put up Nebbiolo. In years previous she has done Zinfandel and a blend of  Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. She harvested 16 tons of grapes and put up 15 barrels of this wine. She still has 10 cases left of my favorite, the 2011 Zinfandel, which she poured for my friend, Rocky, and I. She is also experimenting with pomegranate wine since there are trees on the ranch. We were able to sample some of this as well and give feedback she appreciated.

Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

November is American Diabetes Awareness Month!

November 11, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - Did you know that Diabetes is one of the leading causes of disability and death in the United States? It can cause blindness, nerve damage, kidney disease, and other health problems if it’s not controlled reminds Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.

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.

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

East County News Service

November 5, 2015 (San Diego's East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes guitar concerts, a Plantstravaganza, the Toast of East County featuring local wineries, the Ramona Art and Wine Festival, and a Punkin Chunkin contest!

Plus we’ll have previews of coming attractions including a  harmonica concert, Wrangler at Red Mountain Ranch dinner theatre, a storytelling celebration, and the Mother Goose Parade. Scroll down for details on these events and many more.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

October 31, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) --As you circle the house, changing clocks back make time for this short safety checklist. It'll see you into the winter with a safe and organized home: