February 8, 2012 (San Diego)--Gabe, a San Diego military veteran, is a seemingly laid-back, young guy. He's quick to smile, easy to joke with and can often be found wearing a tee shirt that's printed to appear like a tuxedo. However, if you get to know Gabe, you quickly realize how intense he actually is. He is fearless and ambitious - an unstoppable combination.
February 10, 2012 (San Diego) -- An individual who jumped off a bridge in an apparent suicide was struck by a vehicle and died at the scene, Officer Larry Landeros of CHP informed ECM at 1:40 p.m. All lanes but one have been shut down on southbound 805 at Balboa.
February 10, 2012 (San Diego) -- Local off-road enthusiasts don't have to head east to the Mojave Desert to enjoy watching the "King of Hammers" competition, which starts today. You can view a live-streaming video here: http://www.ustream.tv/ultra4.
February 10, 2012 (San Diego) – Democratic delegates and party activists from East County are among the participants at the three-day California Democratic Party Convention taking place Friday through Sunday at the San Diego Convention Center.
RSVP by Feb. 21 for “lunch and learn” with prizes and more
February 10, 2012 (San Diego) – If you’re an active senior or retiree with plenty of free time and a desire to make a positive difference in people’s lives, you’re invited to a free “Lunch and Learn” at Alvarado Hospital on Saturday, February 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Plus win an “Ultimate Romance Package” vacation in Sycuan’s Facebook Contest
February 10, 2012 (El Cajon)-- Sycuan Golf and Tennis Resort, is putting on a unique Aphrodisiac themed Valentine's Day dinner, created by Executive Chef Augie Saucedo (formerly of the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club).
February 10, 2012 (El Cajon)--Sycuan Golf & Tennis Resort understands ‘golf romance’ and how to treat sweeties to a day on the course…and tagging along. Can you play your lie? Know where to park your cart? Ready to talk it up? After polling our golfers, instructors and staff, here’s the top tips of what to do.
The resort is also offering a special "couple's retreat" for a full weekend of romance on the greens.
February 10, 2012 (San Diego) – Has Daniel Espinosa seen every single Tony Scott film? Based on what I saw in Safe House, I don’t doubt it. Safe House is so influenced by his films that it could very well have been directed by Scott.
February 10, 2012 (San Diego) – After watching Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, I wondered what Six Year Old Me would have thought. Six Year Old Me would have loved it. He would have laughed, he would have been thrilled, and he would have had fun.
February 10, (Ramona) -- A public tour of Oasis Camel Dairy is being offered February 19 at 1:00 p.m. This is a rare opportunity to see, touch and even ride a camel!
Visit the store front for Camel Milk Soap and Camel Milk Chocolate available for purchase after the tour.
February 9, 2012 (Oceanside) – A major brush fire, now 25 acres, is burning on Camp Pendleton at Las Flores Road and Range 21, Incident Page Network reported at 10:21 p.m. Fire officials have requested strike teams immediately with mutual aid from Escondido and Vista Fire Departments.
February 9, 2012 (San Diego)--Tuesday’s decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to rule the Proposition 8 ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional may withstand a challenge to the nation’s highest court, due to the tight legal grounds surrounding the issue that are specific to California.
February 9, 2012 (Alpine) –At 8:15 p.m. tonight, Sheriff’s dispatch confirmed that a suspicious device has been found at the Viejas Outlet Center, 5000 Willows Road in Alpine. The Sheriff’s Bomb and Arson squad was dispatched and found the device to be harmless.
"Out of an abundance of caution, we evacuated the outlet center," Robert Scheid, Viejas spokesman told ECM.
February 9, 2012 (Santee) – The Randy Jones “5K For Independence” walk and fun run will be held on February 18 at Santee Lakes.The event benefits Home of the Guiding Hands, which assists developmentally disabled adults and which has been hard-hit by state budget cuts.
Participants are invited to stay at Santee Lakes for a day of family fun, picnic lunch, beer garden, and awards ceremony.
February 9, 2012 (Los Angeles) -- Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today announced an historic commitment to California of up to $18 billion that will benefit hundreds of thousands of homeowners in the state hardest hit by the mortgage crisis.
"California families will finally see substantial relief after experiencing so much pain from the mortgage crisis," said Attorney General Harris. "Hundreds of thousands of homeowners will directly benefit from this California commitment."
February 9, 2012 (La Mesa)--In 2006 East County voters approved Proposition "G" authorizing the sale of general obligation bonds of $247 million to provide and improve various facilities at Grossmont Hospital. Included is an expansion of the hospital's central energy plant. The Grossmont Healthcare District is now considering adding a cogeneration feature to the plant to be acquired through a "lease/purchase" agreement for $17,900,000 to be paid over a ten year (120 month) period at a rate of around $2,000,000 per year.
February 6, 2012 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa Centennial kicks off on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 from 3:00–3:30 p.m. at the La Mesa Blvd. Trolley Station, where the City Council and Centennial donors will ride a specially wrapped La Mesa Centennial trolley to the Trolley Station. You will be able to remember the event with a free Centennial keepsake that will be given away at the unveiling.
February 9, 2012 -- (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.
General news
Group urges FTC action on Google privacy (USA Today)
Dems fight back against GOP in contraception battle (CBS)
Forgetting a key lesson of Watergate? (CNN)
Child labor for Victoria’s Secret cotton examined by U.S. (Bloomberg Business)
Part II of the Forging a Sustainable Future Conference will be held March 3 and 4 at San Diego State University. For tickets and details click here. If you missed Part I of this important event, ECM is publishing a series of articles highlighting presentations by key speakers last November, starting with these colorful opening statements.
February 9, 2012 (San Diego) – Councilwoman Marti Emerald, a former TV consumer affairs journalist called on San Diegans to join with her in calling for sustainable practices here in our community, and around the world during Part I of United Green's Forging a Sustainable Future conference in November 2011.“This is survival, folks,” she said.
She brought a surprise guest: Cassis, a green-winged macaw who joined her onstage during opening remarks to drive homeher message. "You won't find these in the wild," Emerald said. "Their habitat has been destroyed."
February 9, 2012 -- (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:
LOCAL
Grossmont High School teachers vote to explore becoming charter (La Mesa Patch)
Fire Chief Augie Ghio chats about state of San Miguel Fire District following release of RFPs (La Mesa Patch)
City Council okays livestock for city residents (10 News)
A Guide to Understanding the Sweetwater Scandal (Voice of San Diego)
San Onofre shutdown costing up to $1 million a day (KPBS)
Secrets of the Centennial: How suffrage put progressive town on path to self determination (La Mesa Patch)
Light on cockroaches (Valley Roadrunner editorial on Supervisors’ recent actions)
Bob Filner to La Mesa: You have a stake in who is mayor of San Diego(La Mesa Patch)
Nuke inspections focus on unusual wear on tubes (Sacramento Bee)
STATE
Federal appeals court: CA gay marriage ban is unconstitutional (AP)
Governor signs bill that allows internal borrowing (Sacramento Bee)
Scroll down for excerpts and links to full stories.
Plus how the County creates its own poster children for “red tape reduction”
By Billie Jo Jannen
February 8, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--The San Diego County Board of Supervisors is due to vote later this month on a series of initiatives entitled “Red Tape Reduction Task Force Recommendations.” The idea behind it is to make it simpler and cheaper to get projects through the permitting process. The document includes giving staff members rewards for moving projects through faster and shifting more projects to entitlement or ministerial approval.
Also among the suggestions is the elimination of community planning and sponsor groups, or alternatively, imposing term limits and terminating indemnification for members.
February 9, 2012 (Santee) -- Lack of access to healthy, fresh foods has contributed to the rise in obesity rates in Americans. One way to address this concern is by increasing the availability of gardens accessible to the community. An initiative under way is assisting communities to build gardens that can be sustained for many seasons is Healthy Works.As part of Healthy Works, a volunteer garden is currently being established at Edgemoor Hospital in Santee (655 Park Center Drive) which can be utilized by both local residents and Edgemoor staff.
February 8, 2012 (San Diego) -- Across California thousands of people are burned every year in fires and countless lives are lost, including young children. During the week of February 5 – 11, 2012, CAL FIRE is teaming up with fire departments across the country to highlight the fire risks and burn injury prevention during the winter months for National Burn Awareness Week. This year fire officials are focusing on the increased risk to children for burn injuries and offer safety tips to keep them protected from burn injuries.
February 8, 2012 (Santee) -- Pathways Community Church will be offering gently-used clothing in infant through adult sizes Saturday, February 18 from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Even people who don’t have clothing to donate, can come in and stock up. Everyone welcome!
February 6, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) — San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob is asking state regulators to review GPS data from helicopters working on the Sunrise Powerlink transmission line after SDG&E helicopters violated “no fly” zones on three separate occasions last month. The “no fly” zones are designed to protect golden eagles during nesting season.
February 7, 2012 (Lakeside) -- No, it's not an insect or an invader from outer space. It's an up-close view of the Erickson air crane "Sunbird" erecting the Sunrise Powerlink in Lakeside's Wildcat Canyon/El Monte Valley area.
Billy Ortiz snapped this head-on closeup image of the massive helicopter, which is capable of hoisting heavy loads including transmission towers.
By Kate Malatino
February 10, 2012 (El Cajon)-- Sycuan Golf and Tennis Resort, is putting on a unique Aphrodisiac themed Valentine's Day dinner, created by Executive Chef Augie Saucedo (formerly of the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club). 
By Brian Lafferty
By Brian Lafferty
ary 10, (Ramona) -- A public tour of Oasis Camel Dairy is being offered February 19 at 1:00 p.m. This is a rare opportunity to see, touch and even ride a camel! 
By Ryan Schuler
Part II of the Forging a Sustainable Future Conference will be held March 3 and 4 at San Diego State University. 
By Billie Jo Jannen 
February 7, 2012 (Lakeside) -- No, it's not an insect or an invader from outer space. It's an up-close view of the Erickson air crane "Sunbird" erecting the Sunrise Powerlink in Lakeside's Wildcat Canyon/El Monte Valley area.
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