December 31, 2011 (San Diego) -- New Year’s resolution: organize that paper monster, make that “To Do List”, control the clutter, sort – purge, sort - purge! Our new year always begins with positive possibilities for organization. Making those checklists for getting organized for taxes, bills, home repair, even cleaning out the closets helps us keep on course. For the New Year, we encourage you to consider a “Crime Prevention "To Do List” and a Paper Shredder.
Once-Lost Pit Bull Recovering From Amputation, Seeking Forever Home
December 31, 2011 (Dulzura) --A once-lost dog who had to have a leg amputated is on the mend and looking to change her luck in 2012 with a loving forever home. “Fergie,” a 1-year-old pit bull, went missing from her Dulzura home in September. She had been missing about two months when she arrived as a stray at the County Animal Shelter in Bonita.
Photos and video by Jon Nevin, firefighter/paramedic, Heartland Fire & Rescue (video edited by Paul Kruze, ECM)
December 29, 2011 (El Cajon) – Patrons of a restaurant helped three women passengers, including an elderly woman in a wheelchair, escape from a burning van in downtown El Cajon today.
December 30, 2011 (San Diego)--Since 1933, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has been helping refugees rebuild their lives after fleeing tumultuous wars or other catastrophes in their homelands. The IRC is currently active in 22 U.S. cities as well as overseas. In 2001, the IRC created its Microenterprise Program with the goal of helping refugees create their own businesses.
In the last 10 years, the IRC has helped 175 San Diego-based refugees become small-business owners. To showcase some of the great refugee-owned eateries of East County, the IRC hosted a Micro-finance bus tour, offering patrons a chance to sample some delicious cuisine from Iraq and East Africa.
December 29, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Looking for the best parties in town to ring in the New Year? This year, casinos on tribal reservations in San Diego’s inland regions are offering glitz, glamour, gambling and prizes galore at a variety of festive New Year’s Eve parties. Check out our guide below for details on the hottest options for welcoming in 2012:
A memorial service is set for December 31 in Alpine
December 30, 2011 (Alpine) --A trust fund has been set up at Chase Bank for the two young sons of Debbie Meltzer, who was killed December 23 by her husband, Justin Meltzer. (story: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/8213)
You can donate at any Chase bank to the Jacob and Lucas Meltzer fund. The account number is 3010155215.
From green hybrids and electrics to heavy-duty trucks for backcountry roads, this year’s show has it all
By Nadin Abbott
Photos by Thomas E Abbott
December 30, 2011 (San Diego)--The San Diego International Auto Show is presented by the New Car Dealers Association of San Diego. It’s a cool way for San Diegans to see what’s new in vehicles--and it is among the largest car shows in the nation. For those who are interested in more ecologically sound cars and even trucks, we are seeing more and more hybrids, flex fuel vehicles and electrics across most classes. The technology has come a long way in a short decade, making it both more compact and efficient.
Scroll down for highlights from the show—including our video of a test drive on a rugged Jeep track.
Update December 30, 2:15 p.m. - Wheeler has been located safely, SDPD confirms.
December 30, 2011 (San Diego) – San Diego Police seek help countywide to locate Gregory Jon Wheeler, 54. He suffers from depression, bipolar disorder and high blood pressure.
East County Performing Arts Center is among major projects at risk from the decision
December 29, 2011 (Sacramento) – Sounding a death knell for hopes to restore redevelopment funds eliminated by the Legislature to fund education, the California supreme Court today ruled that the state has the right to eliminate local redevelopment agencies. The decision has sparked criticism from local business owners and politicians on both the left and right.
December 28, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) –If you’ve over-indulged in all those holiday goodies, or just want to look and feel your best in the New Year, now is the perfect time to make a resolution to get in shape! East County Magazine invites you to join our editor and publisher in a “24 day challenge” sponsored by ECM and Advocare. Shaping up is more fun with friendsPlus we’ll have prizes and surprises.
The 24-day-challenge starts January 5.It includes a combination of supplements and meal replacement products, a healthy eating plan, and as a special bonus to ECM readers, a fitness “boot camp” with trainers and one-on-one personalized counseling to assure your success. The more, the merrier! (If you have a group of 10 or more, we can set up a special fitness boot camp at your location.)
December 28, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)—At year’s end, we reflect on the loss of several prominent residents of San Diego’s inland regions, as well as some less prominent individuals whose tragic deaths tugged at our heartstrings or sparked controversies.
December 29, 2011 (Sacramento)—As Californians close out 2011 and welcome in the New Year, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson highlights some of the new education and child safety laws that go into effect in 2012.
“Our goal for the new year and every year is to make education accessible and effective for all children,” said Torlakson. “These new laws will help ensure children are safer, enter kindergarten at the appropriate age, learn what they need to know to succeed in life and careers, and fulfill the dream of a college education.”
December 27, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Starting January 1, new California laws take effect. Some give new protections to the public.Buying a used car? You now have a right to know its history. The government can’t snoop into your online reading habits.Your employer can't peek at your credit report, in most cases. New laws also benefit pregnant employees, organ donors, renters, domestic partners, and bullied gay students.
Other laws impose restrictions.Want to buy popular cough syrups? You’ll need a prescription. If you order items online, you’ll be charged state sales tax. Shark fin soup and beer spiked with caffeine are banned.Employers have new requirements for notifying employees about pay and more.Kids must ride in a booster seat until age 8. Openly carrying a handgun is illegal, even if it isn’t loaded.
These are just a few of the new laws in 2012. Scroll down for details on these and more.
December 28, 2011 (El Cajon) – After heated testimony, El Cajon’s Council unanimously approved a ballot measure to grant the City Council “supreme authority over state law by having El Cajon become a charter city. Council members also approved a management team for a new planned business improvement district (PBID)in its December 13 meeting.
December 30, 2011 (Poway) – A traffic accident caused a power outage in the Poway area briefly yesterday morning, seriously injuring the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle.
December 29, 2011 (El Cajon) -- Carey Hart, team owner of Hart and Huntington Racing, unveiled the new Supercross team riders and sponsors for the 2012 season during a press conference, Thursday, December 1 in San Diego at Sycuan Casino. The Dodge Motorsports/Sycuan Casino/Hart and Huntington/Bel-Ray Racing Team now include a brand new sponsorship with Sycuan Casino for the upcoming season and beyond, as well as, a continuing partnership with Dodge and Bel-Ray. Sycuan Casino is located at 5469 Casino Way, El Cajon, CA 92019, (619) 445-6002.
December 28, 2011 (East County) – The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce will host its first Friday “Power Breakfast” on Friday January 6, 2012 at 7:15 a.m. at the Hometown Buffet, 390 W. Main Street, El Cajon.
December 28, 2011 (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.
GOP candidates heading to Iowa for final sprint before caucuses (The Hill)
Iowa caucus: Republicans zig-zag state in pre-vote push (BBC)
Obama’s approval numbers climb into positive territory (The Hill)
Gingrich questions Ron Paul on racist newsletters (Reuters)
Former staffer: Ron Paul `wishes the Israeli state did not exist’ (RawStory)
Romney falsely claims Obama ‘has not created any new jobs’ (Think Progress)
Looking up: The economy makes headway (London Economist)
New powerful painkiller has drug abuse experts worried (Fox News)
SEC ups its game to identify rogue firms (Wall Street Journal)
WORLD
Arab League mission arrives amid violence in Syria (CNN)
Russians make historic demand for an election rerun (National Public Radio)
Afghanistan sets ground rules for Taliban (Reuters)
Czechs, world leaders remember irreplaceable Vaclav Havel at funeral (Christian Science Monitor)
Scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.
Dec. 28, 2011 (Lakeside) - One lucky San Diegan's life was forever changed on Dec. 23 with the drawing of Barona Resort & Casino's largest, guaranteed grand finale prize in its history: The Golden Ticket Giveaway. Ending 2011 on an exciting note, Mary T. of San Diego was thrilled to learn that her Golden Ticket was the winning ticket drawn out of 53 daily winners over the 53 day promotion.
December 28, 2011 (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:
STATE
California could lose 1,500 inmate firefighters (Sacramento Bee)
Rural schools hit hard by transportation grant cuts (Sacramento Bee)
LOCAL
El Cajon SWAT standoff ends with arrest (10 News)
11% of city speeding tickets written in one spot (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Sweetwater committee seeks contractor support (San Diego Union-Tribune)
If they make me go back, I will be lost (espn.go.com)
Scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.
December 28, 2011 (San Diego) – All lanes on I-805 are shut down due to a fatality accident in which a vehicle struck a bridge support post just south of H Street at 4:37 p.m. A SIG Alert has been issued.
December 25, 2011 (Alpine) – TC Construction is offering a $500 reward for return of items stolen from a job site pump station at Victoria Drive and Victoria Park Terrace in Alpine, or for information leading to conviction of the person(s) who stole the equipment. The theft occurred the morning of Wednesday December 21.
December 27, 2011 (La Mesa) -- La Mesa will hold it's New Year's Eve party on Friday, December 31, from 8:00 p.m. until midnight. The party will be at The La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center at 8450 La Mesa Boulevard in La Mesa.
Local business leaders praise decision to expand renewable energy
Opponents hope Supervisors, court will protect scenic, cultural and wildlife resources
By Miriam Raftery
December 26, 2011 (McCain Valley) – U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar signed approval December 20 forTule Wind Project on federal lands in McCain Valley in East County.The federal lands portion approved by the Department of the Interior constitute the bulk of the project, capable of generating up to 186 megawatts (MW) of the project’s total 200 MW capacity.
The project will need additional approvals from the County of San Diego, California Public Utilities Commission, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and California State Lands Commission. The County will hold hearings on a major use permit in the first quarter of 2012.Planning Commissioners and ultimately, the Board of Supervisors are expected to vote on the issue.
December 28, 2011 (Tierrasanta)--Andiamo Ristorante Italiano in Tierrasanta, invites you to celebrate the New Year in style with live music and northern Italian food on Saturday, December 31.
Region’s community colleges eyed as potential future sites
December 30, 2011 (El Cajon) -- A two-day seminar at Cuyamaca College offers students important lessons outside the traditional academic subjects. In this class, students at Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges learn how to lead.
December 28, 2011 (East County) -- Anat Tour, this East County (San Diego) resident , has done it again – following up her debut publication of Mama’s Shoe with an enchanting story of friendship and hope, The Rainbow Animals. She has taken The Rainbow Animals a step further by having it published as a bundled package, CD/DVD and booklet insert.
Past presidential fibs have led to impeachment and resignation. Shouldn’t honesty be a key qualification for any presidential candidate?
December 28, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Voters, and the candidates they support, often have drastically different views on the various issues.But honesty and integrity are two traits we should all agree upon as minimal “qualifications” for anyone seeking the presidency.
Granted, in the heat of a campaign any candidate may have a slip of the lip, forgetting a statistic or misstating an name.But when presidential contenders knowingly tell brazen lies, air campaign ads with outright falsehoods, and then shamelessly defend such fibbing, we should all think twice about the character of those seeking our nation’s highest office.
By Paula Dickenson, San Diego Sheriff’s office
From green hybrids and electrics to heavy-duty trucks for backcountry roads, this year’s show has it all
December 30, 2011 (Jamul) -- Yesterday's fire at Skyline Truck Trail and Lawson Valley Road has left a family's lives in ashes. 
Dece
By Buck Shott
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