Twelve-year-old killed, two other children critically injured crossing street in San Carlos

La Mesa raises parking meter fees

Health and Science Highlights

Artillery round from Camp Pendleton celebration explodes over I-5, hits CHP vehicle

Advancing Healthy Communities: 2025 substance use and overdose report card released

Trump aims to slash refugee admissions and add racist criteria

No Kings rallies draw millions nationally, over 85,000 locally to protest authoritarianism

Destination East County: Notable November Events

Looking for Tank Man by Ha Jin

El Presidio de San Diego: Excavating Southern California’s Lost City by Richard Carrico

Jamul Casino Resort officially unveils brand new hotel tower

Lemon Grove film premiere Oct. 17 and 18 shines light on community spirit and history

OCCUPYING WALMART: BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPERS GREETED BY FLASH MOBS IN SAN DIEGO

November 26, 2011 (San Diego) – Startled shoppers in two San Diego Walmart stores received a message delivered by 75 Occupy San Diego protesters forming a human microphone. The protesters urged Walmart shoppers to support locally-owned small businesses instead of corporate-owned mass merchandizers.

View a video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgafr1uO_EY&feature=share

THE SAN DIEGO TROLLEY RENEWAL PROJECT AND INFORMATION FOR RIDERS

 By Mayan Avitable

Reading about the new elevators at the Grossmont Trolley Station in East County Magazine, made me wonder about other news regarding the trolley system. When I went to the website for the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, I found it had done an excellent job providing information for its riders about the Trolley Renewal Project that will affect the schedules and locations for catching the trolley. 
 

SAFE LIGHT PROJECT PUTS SOLAR LIGHTING ON HOMES TO IMPROVE SAFETY

 

November 25, 2011 (San Diego) -- Councilmember Marti Emerald, Council President Tony Young, the San Diego Police Department and Rebuilding Together teamed to launch the “Safe Light Project”  on November 22, beginning with the neighborhoods of Mt. Hope and Mountain View. The organizations are teaming with community volunteers to install solar lighting on homes in neighborhoods that lack adequate lighting.

 

LIGHT UP THE NIGHT AT THE LEMON GROVE COMMUNITY BONFIRE DECEMBER 2

 November 25, 2011 (Lemon Grove)-- Lemon Grove will kick off the Holiday Season with the 14th Annual Community Bonfire, Friday, December 2 from 6--8 p.m. at Civic Center Park. The celebration features games, face painting, laser tag, live music and horse-drawn carriage rides. This family event is free, and features an Open House at the Parsonage Museum and H. Lee House. Free Refreshments are available.

7 EAST COUNTY STUDIOS FEATURED ON SAN DIEGO POTTERY TOUR DEC. 3-4


November 25, 2011 (East County – San Diego) The fourth annual San Diego Pottery Tour is a free, self-guided tour of open studios and beautiful handmade pottery by some of the best potters in San Diego County. The dates for the 2011 Pottery Tour are December 3 and 4, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

STARS VIE TO RAISE MONEY FOR CHARITY AT VIEJAS CELEBRITY SLOT TOURNAMENT MONDAY NOV. 28

November 25, 2011 (Alpine) -- Gretchen Rossi of Bravo's hit reality series "The Real Housewives of Orange County" will join 11 other local celebrities at Viejas Casino on Monday, November 28 in a Celebrity Slot Tournament at Viejas Casino.  100 percent of the winnings from the tournament, which begins at 10:30 a.m., will be donated to the local Salvation Army.

SWAT STANDOFF ON THANKSGIVING NIGHT ENDS WITH ARREST IN EL CAJON

November 25, 2011 (El Cajon) – Stephen Anthony Harris, 20, has been arrested following an all-night stand-off at 118 West Chase Avenue in El Cajon. Residents called 911 at 10:20 p.m. to report that Harris showed up in violation of a court order and began vandalizing property inside the home. Residents fled the home in fear of their safety.

TURKEYS GALORE AND MORE: TOP THANKSGIVING DESTINATIONS IN SAN DIEGO’S INLAND REGIONS

 

By Miriam Raftery

 

 

 

November 19, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Looking for a traditional Thanksgiving feast—or a totally untraditional experience?  Our guides at East County Magazine have left no stone unturned in our quest for the most unusual, delightful and delectable offerings in San Diego’s inland regions this Thanksgiving weekend.  Here are our favorite finds:

GROSSMONT CENTER CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF HOLIDAY SHOPPING: GROOVY DECOR KICKS OFF RETRO 1960'S HOLIDAYS STARTING FRIDAY

 

November 23, 2011 (La Mesa) – On Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, Grossmont Center will unveil new holiday décor complete with bright-colored pencil trees, retro colored lights and peace signs, bringing back nostalgic memories of holidays in the 1960s for the shopping mall’s 50th anniversary holiday season.

WHERE WESTERN MEETS GLAMOUR: COWGIRL BLING OPENS IN PARKWAY PLAZA—WITH SOME COWBOY THINGS TO BOOT

Rhinestone jeans, Montana West leather purses, glitzy saddle blankets and more  in El Cajon’s new store

Story and photos by Miriam Raftery

November 21, 2011 (El Cajon)-- “This is my passion,” says Hannah Blume, 16, co-owner of the new Cowgirl Bling store in Parkway Plaza. 

Her mom,  Cheryl Smith, helped Hannah open the shop to bring glitzy Western wear to East County—and to provide a better future for Hannah, a student at El Capitan High School in Lakeside.  

SENATOR JOEL ANDERSON TO HOST HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE DEC. 7

November 23, 2011 (El Cajon) -- Senator Joel Anderson is inviting the local community to a holiday open house, Wednesday, December 7, 6:00 p.m. - 8 pm. at the Ronald Reagan Community Center, 195 East Douglas Avenue in El Cajon.


The holiday season is a time to reflect on the experiences of the past year and this open house will provide legislative updates. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be provided (Paid For With Private Funds, Not Tax Dollars). RSVPs are requested to ensure there are enough hors d’oeuvres and refreshment.

SAN DIEGO OFFICIALS JOIN LOCAL AUTHOR IN SPEAKING OUT AGAINST SCHOOL BULLYING – AND OFFERING SOLUTIONS


By Walter G. Meyer
 
November 24, 2011 (San Diego) -- How many people have been bullied at school?  When Councilman Todd Gloria asked that question of adults during a screening of the film “Bullied” at Lestat’s West in Normal Heights, the vast majority raised their hands. 
 

A KNOX HOUSE CHRISTMAS - CELEBRATE THE JOY OF THE SEASON DECEMBER 3

November 23, 2011 (El Cajon)—El Cajon Historical Society invites you to A Knox House Christmas on  December 3, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the Knox House Museum, 280 N. Magnolia Avenue, El Cajon CA 92020.


Enjoy tours, an antique police car, sale of handmade and holiday crafts, home baked goods, antique items, art, dolls, old lace, photos plants, new and gently used items, etc., and the Broken Strings band will play. Donations are welcome.

COMFORCARE IN EL CAJON OFFERS PRESCRIPTION DRUG DISCOUNT CARD

 Local in-home care provider comes up with new
ways to save on prescription drugs
 for seniors and their pets.


November 24, 2011(El Cajon, CA) -- Nearly half of all Americans regularly take one prescription medication, according to an August 2011 survey conducted by Consumer Reports National Research Center.

YOGURT STORE EMPLOYEES BOUND AND ROBBED IN LA MESA

November 23, 2011 (La Mesa)— A lone gunman forced a female employee to open the door after closing time at the Golden Spoon Frozen Yogurt, 5640 Lake Murray Blvd., around 9:46 p.m. on November 21.   He ordered two employees to a back room and tied up the hands of one behind her back, using zip ties. He then ordered the other employee to hand over money from a safe.

GLASS ELEVATORS OPEN AT LA MESA TROLLEY STATION, GIVING COMMUTERS EASY ACCESS TO SHOPPING AND HOSPITAL


November 23, 2011 (La Mesa) – Mayor Art Madrid cut the ribbon this week at the grand opening of twin glass elevators rising from the Grossmont Trolley Station to the street above. Before, commuters and apartment dwellers along the transit line had to climb a steep flight of 77 stairs to access Grossmont Shopping Center or Grossmont Hospital above, an impossible feat for those in wheelchairs.

ANZA BORREGO SCULPTOR’S ARTISTIC JOURNEY RECOUNTED IN RICARDO BRECEDA: ACCIDENTAL ARTIST

Ricardo Breceda: Accidental Artist, By Diana Lindsay (Sunbelt Publications, San Diego, California, 2012, 240 pages.)
 
Book Review by Dennis Moore
 
“For weeks, for months, I’d been hearing about this crazy-loco artist who does huge life-size metal sculptures of elephants, giraffes, and dinosaurs. Well, the moment we drove up to Ricardo’s compound off of the 215, I’d, too, begun grinning – I just couldn’t help it, I mean, it’s every kid’s dream to travel back in time and come face to face with gigantic mammoths and huge sloths. And all these metal sculptures looked so real and menacing. Then here came Ricardo himself to greet us. He, too, was all smiles and full of happy crazyloco energy.” – Foreword by Victor E. Villasenor

SUPER COMMITTEE FAILURE TRIGGERS STEEP CUTS IN DEFENSE, MEDICARE, VETERANS' BENEFITS AND MORE

By Miriam Raftery

November 23, 2011 (Washington D.C.) – The Congressional budtet “super committee” charged with reducing the deficit by $1.2 trillion over the next 10 years failed to reach a deal by Monday's deadline. This sets in motion triggers forcing automatic deep cuts starting January 2013 in Defense spending and social programs including Medicare, Social Security, veterans’ benefits and food stamps.

The six Republicans on the 12-member committee demanded spending cuts in domestic programs listed above and sought to extend Bush tax cuts. Democrats wanted to raise taxes on millionaires, minimize cuts to social programs and add stimulus spending aimed at creating jobs while off-setting costs with savings from ending the Iraq War.

KEEP BACTERIA OFF YOUR HOLIDAY GUEST LIST

Safe Food Handling Tips from the Department of Environmental Health

November 23, 2011 (San Diego County) -- Thanksgiving is a time when family and friends come together to celebrate. Because large amounts of food are often prepared and served, food safety is very important. Here are a few safety tips to prevent microscopic guests from joining your party.

 

JULIAN MAKES ‘CHRISTMAS CAROL' NEW AGAIN DECEMBER 9 – DECEMBER 18

 
November 22, 2011 (Julian) --The Julian Stage Company and the Julian Chamber of Commerce present the 2011 stage production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol--a Julian holiday tradition. 
 
Give a holiday spirit a boost with the classic story of a lonely, miserable, hard-hearted old man who finds the true meaning of life and love during one haunted Christmas Eve. It is a classic story of redemption and good cheer with a corpus of ghosts thrown into the mix.

CLERGY SHARE “OCCU-PIES”


November 23, 2011 (San Diego) -- On the Monday before Thanksgiving, multi-faith leaders from San Diego County held a short service to promote peace and gratitude in support of Occupy San Diego.

Clergy members brought pies to protesters at the Civic Center “to give thanks for all those lifting up the issues of fairness, compassion and equality being shared by this movement,” Rev. David Miller observed.

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