Update: The device has been found to be harmless. "Itw as either debris or a device made to look like an explosive," said Maurice Luque with San Diego Fire. Also, the device was on Conrad in San Diego, not Conrad on Mount Helix.
January 18, 2012 *(San Diego's East County) – The Metro Arson Strike Team from San Diego Fire Department, along with a representative from the federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agency, has been deployed to a home at 4549 Conrad, Chris Hoffman with the ATF has confirmed to East County Magazine.
According to Incident Page Network, a suspicious device in front of the home has triggered the investigation and multiple homes on the street are being evacuated.
Pilot Program Will Offer Solar Options for All Customers
January 18, 2012 – San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has filed with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for approval of its new solar proposal called “connected…..to the sun.”The proposal complements rooftop solar and includes two different pilot programs that would give all SDG&E customers options to buy solar power even if they do not own a home, cannot afford a solar investment, or do not have the ability to put photovoltaic panels on their roof.
Customers could choose to buy all or some of their energy from solar projects located in SDG&E’s service territory or negotiate directly with a local solar provider.
“SOPA and PIPA go too far, allowing the government to take down any website for even a single unintentional post with copyrighted material. Even a comment posted by a reader could be enough to get a site shut down.” –ECM Editor Miriam Raftery
January 18, 2012 (San Diego's East County)--On Wednesday Wikipedia and many other major sites will go dark to protest the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA,).Other sites such as Google will remain on line, but post protest messages opposing the bills on their homepages.
January 17, 2011 (El Cajon) -- The Hyde Art Gallery at Grossmont College opens its spring semester with “Mmmultiplicy” Installation Works by Lea Anderson. This exhibition runs from January 23 to February 23, with an artist opening even on Tuesday, January 31 from 7-9 p.m.
January 17, 2012 (La Mesa)— The City of La Mesa is serving up “10 and Under Tennis” for kids. This is a new method using the QuickStart format to learn the game of tennis in a fun, fast, and effective way. Kids will use shorter lighter rackets, slower and lower-bouncing balls, smaller court dimensions and modified scoring systems tailored to the age and size of the child.
January 17, 2012 (Santee) -- The FBI and San Diego Sheriff’s Department are seeking the public’s assistance to identify a man who robbed the Pacific West Bank, 9955 Mission Gorge Road, Santee, California, on Tuesday, January 17, 2012.
January 16, 2012 (Palomar) – Friends of Palomar Mountain State Park has submitted a plan to the California Dept. of Parks and Recreation that could prevent the park from closing permanently on July 1 due to budget cuts. The group seeks pledges from inidividuals in hopes of reaching $60,000. [Editor's note: 16% of the goal was met when we posted this. Now on Jan. 17, 20% of the goal has been met. Thanks to our readers who helped! I made a pledge and hope many more of you will help save this beautiful place!)
January 17, 2012 (El Cajon)--World-renowned speaker Azim Khamisa on January 29, 2012 will kick off the 15th annual "Season for Nonviolence" at Christ Church Unity in El Cajon. Khamisa, who has been praised by dignitaries including the Dalai Llama and former President Bill Clinton, delivers his inspirational message following the senseless-gang-related death of his son, Tariq in 1995.
January 17, 2012 (Rancho San Diego)--The Cougars are unstoppable! Led by head coach Parris Pisiona, Steele Canyon’s Midget team has earned the coveted title of National Champions.
Co-Authored by Senator Joel Anderson, 36th District, Kathy Kassel, Executive Director, Lakeside Chamber of Commerce, and John Olsen – Executive Director, Santee Chamber of Commerce
January 17, 2012 (Lakeside)--Employers already struggling to survive in California’s difficult business climate can’t afford to take their eye off another lurking hazard: lawsuit abuse.
January 18, 2012 (Tecate) – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Tecate port of entry in East County have apprehended a 21-year-old fugitive, Jose Legaspi Jr., with an outstanding felony warrant for homicide.
Update February 4, 2012 -- The Department of Defense still has not listed the death of Jay Polk, nor has any notice of his death been published in New Iberia, Louisiana, where he claimed to live. A source informs ECM further that his name has not been provided for addition to a memorial for special forces soldiers. Thus it now appears he was not killed in service to his country and likely fabricated the "report" of his death and possibly his military service as well. Now a blog site claims to have obtained military records showing a Jamond Polk was thrown out of the military at Fort Jackson. We do not know if this is the same Jay Polk referenced below, but include this information for anyone who may be able to confirm or disprove the connection:
We are leaving this story posted, with this disclaimer, because the research on special forces operations includes numerous well documented links on that issue even if Polk's tale is a hoax.
By Nadin B. Abbott
January 17, 2012 (San Diego)— On January 2, a soldier in San Diego claiming links toSpecial Forces posted on his Facebook page that he was deploying to Syria. This tantalizing piece of information startled readers, leading many to ask: does our country have troops in Syria and if so, why?
January 16, 2012 (El Cajon)—A 12-year-old boy has died of stab wounds in a crime that has shocked a neighbors on Royal Road in the unincorporated area of El Cajon.The suspect is a 10-year-old boy, Lt. Larry Nesbitt with the Sheriff's Homicide Detail confirms.
A neighbor, Derek Gorton, 18, told 10 News that the boys were close friends, but indicated that the younger child suffered from severe emotional issues. “Even though he threw temper tantrums, we never thought he’d do anything like this,” he said.
Brothers had long criminal pasts, court records reveal
January 16, 2012 (Santee)--Anthony Tesch, the man who was shot inside a Santee home on January 13, has died at a local hospital. He was 41, according to the San Diego Medical Examiner.
January 16, 2012 (Lindo Lake) -- The latest poser for my Canon was this beautiful Mandarin Duck on January 14. On a cold, cloudy Saturday morning at the water’s edge at Lindo Lake it was my first new bird of the year 2012! This is the first time I’ve seen a Mandarin Duck in the wild.
January 16, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Richard Bradley Smith, 61, was found dead this morning by San Diego Sheriff’s Search and Rescue volunteers. Smith had become separated from friends while fowl hunting in the McCain Valley area of Boulevard, near Cottonwood Campground. He resided in San Diego with his wife.
January 16, 2012 (Rancho San Diego)A fundraiser to benefit the two young sons of Debra Meltzer will be held tonight at Hooley’s Irish Pub and Grill, 2955 Jamacha Road in the Rancho San Diego area of El Cajon.Meltzer’s estranged husband is accused of killing her on December 23.
Hooley’s will donate 20 percent of all proceeds between 5 and 9 p.m.at tonight’s event, which also includes live entertainment, silent auction and raffle.
January 16, 2012 (La Mesa) – A 67-year-old man who drove to a dumpster behind his residential complex at 4842 Parks Avenue in La Mesa to discard trash was robbed shortly after 11 a.m. The thief stole the victim’s red 2005 Hyundai Elantra 4-door car and wallet at gunpoint, then fled northbound on Williamsburg toward El Cajon Blvd.
By Doug Deane, Chair, 2011 GUHSD Boundary Committee
January 16, 2012 (San Diego East County) -- I’m writing this in response to residents of the GUHSD who believe that they were not given adequate notification of changes recommended by the 2011 Boundary Committee. I was Chair of that committee. I’d like to make it clear that I speak only for myself. The opinions stated below are mine only, and are not necessarily the opinion of the GUHSD, its Trustees or its administrative staff.
January 15, 2012 (San Diego) – Southern Gospel singers Ernie Haas & Signature Sound will be performing at the College Avenue Baptist Church, 4747 College Avenue in San Diego on January 26 at 7:00 p.m.
The vocal group, founded in 2002 and winner of three GMA Dove awards, recently finished a nine country European tour and is soon to release its first new studio album in three years.
January 16, 2012 (Alpine) -- The Council for Youth Empowerment, a 501 c 3 non-profit organization announces their 2012 Father-Daughter Dance on Friday, February 3, 2012 at the Alpine Community Center. Attendance is limited to the first 100 couples who apply and this event completely sells out each year.
January 16, 2012 (La Mesa)--Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, will host a free seniors discussion group on “What is Laughter Yoga” from 10 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 25. The public is invited to attend, and RSVP is not required. The speaker will be Michael Coleman, executive director of Laughter Matters, a San Diego-based non-profit organization that promotes the physical, mental and social health benefits of laughter yoga.
The Dead Celebrity Cookbook, By Frank DeCaro (Health Communications, Inc., Deerfield Beach, Florida, 2011, 370 pages.)
Book Review by Dennis Moore
January 15, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--Best known for his years as the flamboyant movie critic on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Frank DeCaro has written a book with wit and humor – packed with celebrity profiles and pop-culture ponderings, party menus, and more – The Dead Celebrity Cookbook pays homage to the departed stars of television, film, radio, and Broadway.
January 15, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) -- The San Diego East County Chamber of commerce celebrates 100 years of service to the business community with an elegant gala on February 4. The soiree of the century for East County business leaders will be held at the opulent U.S. Grant Hotel in San Diego.
January 15, 2012 (La Mesa) -- The city of La Mesa holds frequent household hazardous waste and electronic waste disposal dates at the EDCO Disposal site at 8184 Commercial Street in La Mesa.
January 15, 2012 (Scripps Ranch) -- The FBI and San Diego Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance to identify the man who committed a takeover robbery of the California Coast Credit Union, 9835 Mira Mesa Boulevard, in Scripps Ranch this morning at 10:30 a.m.
Pilot Program Will Offer Solar Options for All Customers
New! View a video of what may be lost: 
January 17, 2012 (Rancho San Diego)--The Cougars are unstoppable! Led by head coach Parris Pisiona, Steele Canyon’s Midget team has earned the coveted title of National Champions. 
By Nadin B. Abbott
January 16, 2012 (Santee)--Anthony Tesch, the man who was shot inside a Santee home on January 13, has died at a local hospital. He was 41, according to the San Diego Medical Examiner. 
Advice For Weekend Warriors to Extreme Sports Enthusiasts
January 15, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) -- The San Diego East County Chamber of commerce celebrates 100 years of service to the business community with an elegant gala on February 4. The soiree of the century for East County business leaders will be held at the opulent U.S. Grant Hotel in San Diego. 
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