August 26, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – CalTrans announces a full closure of the southbound 125 connector to westbound Interstate 8 on Sunday morning from 3-10 a.m. Closure is needed to allow crews to safely perform repairs.
Detour signs will direct traffic onto Grossmont Blvd. to northbound SR-125, then to westbound I-8.
August 26, 2011 (Jacumba) – An “international traveler” who crossed the U.S.-Mexican border was shot by a property owner in Jacumba around 5:27 p.m. yesterday. The shooting occurred in the 42000 block of Old Highway 80. The patient was life-flighted to Sharp Memorial Hospital.
August 25, 2011 (San Diego) -- Often the public is advised to report “suspicious activity,” but what exactly does that mean? A locally-produced video details the “Eight Signs of Terrorism” so that everyone can help law enforcement protect the region’s security.
August 26, 2011 (Mt. Helix)--East County’s most recognizable landmark, the cross memorial and amphitheater atop Mt. Helix, will be the site of the Fourth Annual heART of Mt. Helix. The event will be held on August 27 from 5:30 to 10 p.m. and will feature vignettes by local performing and visual artists.
August 24, 2011 (Iowa) – President Barack Obama has announced new initiatives recommended by the White House Rural Council for creating jobs in rural America and helping to grow the U.S. economy.
The new efforts include helping rural small businesses access capital, expanding rural job search and training services, and increasing rural residents’ access to health care workers and technology including broad-band Internet access.
August 16, 2011 (San Diego –Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) will host a Boot Camp for Job Seekers on August 30. Her office announced the event today, following a visit to her office by constituents concerned about jobs.
August 25, 2011 (El Cajon) – Two armed robbery suspects were arrested last night in the 1300 block of Peach Avenue in El Cajon following a high-speed chase. A third suspect is still outstanding, according to San Diego Police. The three suspects, all African-American, robbed a couple in their apartment at 4041 Oakcrest Drive in San Diego’s mid-city and pistol-whipped one of the victims.
August 25, 2011 (San Diego) – Robert Thome, an internationally acclaimed mouth painter, will be teaching Alvarado Hospital rehabilitation patients/former patients how to use art as a therapeutic tool on Friday, Aug. 26, 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Brain injuries affect more than 11,000 local families each year; local foundation “struggling” for funds to continue helping patients and families, including wounded veterans
August 26, 2011 (San Diego)--"When a person suffers a traumatic brain injury, it’s like a bomb explodes in the middle of the family," a release from San Diego Brain Injury Foundation observes. "Everyone is thrown into an emotional crisis and immersed in a medical emergency. Their lives are changed forever."
August 25, 2011 (La Mesa) -- Grossmont College is involving students in a campuswide learning experience based on Rebecca Skloot's book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. With the start of classes Aug. 22, faculty members in departments ranging from history to nursing, science to English, and culinary arts to the dramatic arts are participating in this interdisciplinary campus learning collaboration.
The bestselling book chronicles how cells of Lacks, a poor African-American woman from the South who died of cancer in 1951, were used to grow human cells in a lab. Cells taken from Lacks were used without consent from her and her family, raising ethical questions about medical research. Included in over 60,000 published studies, these cells have played a part in research on cancer, AIDS, and gene mapping, and led to many discoveries including the polio vaccine.
August 25, 2011 (San Diego County) -- The County Department of Housing and Community Development, or HCD, will host 10 meetings throughout the county in September on how to apply for federal community development funds. Meeting dates and locations are attached.
August 25, 2011 (Washington) -- U.S. Congressman Duncan Hunter (CA-52), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, has reiterated his call to resist further cuts to defense spending in response to the Pentagon’s annual report on China’s military and security developments. An additional $600 billion in cuts could occur through a trigger scenario involving the “super committee” created under the Budget Control Act.
August 25, 2011 (San Diego County) -- The San Diego County region’s agriculture report offers a ray of sunshine in today’s cloudy economy.
The 2010 Crop Statistics and Annual Report released by the San Diego County Department of Agriculture, Weights & Measures (AWM) shows the value of agriculture increased 7 percent over 2009 figures.
By contrast, 2009 figures were down slightly from the year before. While many local industries are struggling to stay afloat during these hard times, agriculture remains not only a steadying force in the economy but a growing one as well.
August 25, 2011 (San Diego) -- Small business owners in San Diego County can recycle fluorescent lights free! California state law requires everyone to recycle fluorescent tubes and bulbs, which contain small amounts of toxic metal mercury. The recycling can cost small businesses hundreds of dollars a year.
Aug 24, 2011 – A call to action has been sent out to all East County and San Diego residents by the San Diego Foundation to preserve and improve our beautiful city throughout the foreseeable future. “Our Greater San Diego Vision,” is an ambitious initiative aimed at getting the community involved in preserving the San Diego way of life for the next generations.
August 24, 2011 (San Diego) – A bill making it easier for breweries to open tasting rooms has been signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown. AB 1014, authored by local Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher (R-San Diego) is expected to boost business for California’s growing craft brewing industry.
August 24, 2011 (San Diego) – The story is formulaic. The voice acting is rarely expressive. The musical numbers are largely forgettable except for one that will play on a loop in your head for a few days after you watch it. But nevermind. I sat in amazement while watching the Blu-Ray of Rio, not wanting to blink lest I miss a single frame of the animation.
August 25, 2011 (San Diego)--Christopher Blakeley, 26, an off-duty San Diego Police Officer, was killed in a traffic collision last night at 9:41 p.m. He was riding his motorcycle in Palm City, SDPD reports.
August 25, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – If you receive a mailer offering to sell you a carbon monoxide detector in order to comply with a new state law, think twice.
August 26, 2011 (La Mesa)—An 18-year-old woman attempted suicide Wednesday by jumping off the Baltimore bridge and landing in lanes on Interstate 8.
“She is alive,” Lt. Bell with La Mesa Police informed East County Magazine yesterday. The patient remains hospitalized at Sharp Memorial, he added.
Her identity and area of residence have not bee released. La Mesa Police attempted to talk the woman out of jumping, but were unable to prevent her actions.
August 24, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – A brush fire that started south of Highway 94 along the Bell Valley Truck Trail near Potrero this morning charred approximately 20 acres, Cal Fire reports.
A quick response that included 7 engines, 5 fire crews, 3 helicopters, 4 air tankers and 125 firefighters swiftly contained the blaze.
August 24, 2011 (San Diego) – The first five minutes of The Woman on the Beach are ominous, spellbinding and foreboding. Hanns Eisler’s booming and menacing score accompany the opening credits. The frame is backdropped with shots of the alluring beach and its forceful, foamy, and frothy tide. It’s a simple sequence of shots, but they’re chilling.
August 24, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and our region, published in other media. Top Roundup headlines include:
Waiting list hits 23,000 seats in Grossmont College District (La Mesa Patch)
Judge rules in favor of ex-principal in harassment case [against ex-Superintendent] (10 News)
Local Iraqis receiving threats after drug bust (10 News)
Construction blues and broken promises (KUSI-Turko Files)
Santee crime report: Wire/metal thieves still an issue (Santee Patch)
Two-wheelers make an impression in El Cajon (San Diego Union-Tribune)
SD Unified to review public records policy following complain (San Diego Union-Tribune)
PR gets half million in school bond money (Voice of San Diego)
Romney to quadruple La Jolla home size (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Smoking opponents praise El Cajon law (San Diego Union-Tribune)
August 26, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – CalTrans announces a full closure of the southbound 125 connector to westbound Interstate 8 on Sunday morning from 3-10 a.m. Closure is needed to allow crews to safely perform repairs. 
By Miriam Raftery
(San Diego)--"When a person suffers a traumatic brain injury, it’s like a bomb explodes in the middle of the family," a release from San Diego Brain Injury Foundation observes. "Everyone is thrown into an emotional crisis and immersed in a medical emergency. Their lives are changed forever." 
Small business owners in San Diego County can recycle fluorescent lights free! California state law requires everyone to recycle fluorescent tubes and bulbs, which contain small amounts of toxic metal mercury. The recycling can cost small businesses hundreds of dollars a year.
By Brian Lafferty
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