November 9, 2012 (San Diego) -- Fans of modern design are invited to explore some of the most notable modern residences in San Diego this fall when the Dwell Home Tours (www.dwellhometours.com) come to America’s Finest City for the first time.
The San Diego Tours take place on November 10 and 11 showcasing ten amazing modern homes through the East County, North County and Central San Diego areas ranging from stunning new constructions to brilliant renovations.
November 8, 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:
November 8, 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:
Board majority to continue support for unification efforts
By Bill Weaver
November 7, 2012 (Alpine) -- The Alpine Union School District (AUSD) saw its top two campaign spenders become the winners of seats on its Board. Tim Caruthers was the top spender at almost $7,800, followed by Joe Perricone, who spent $5,300. Perricone got the most votes in the community, followed by Caruthers.
November 7, 2012 (San Diego)- After Juan Vargas beat Republican Michael Crimmins 69.9% to 30.1%, Vargas’ supporters shouted, “Sí se puede!” (Yes we can!) and, “Juan! Juan! Juan!” After his impressive win, Vargas told ECM, “I’m very excited and very happy about the results I’m seeing so far, and very excited to be working with social justice.”
An American success story, Vargas who graduated from Harvard Law School is the son of farmworkers , where he was a classmate of President Barack Obama, before serving on San Diego's City Council and in the California Legislature. Vargas will replace Congressman Bob Filner, who has been elected Mayor of San Diego.
The 51st Congressional district spans the southern portions of San Diego County and extends into Imperial County. Below are Vargas' goals in Congress and details his legislative record.
November 8, 2012 (San Diego)--Heartland Coalition has received the prestigious “Service Firm of The Year” award by the Minority Business Development Agency. The award, presented October 25 in Riverside, recognizes individuals and organizations that have demonstrated leadership and commitment in advancing minority business enterprises. The MBDA theme for this year is “Build it here-sell it everywhere.”
November 7, 2012 (Sacramento )- For California Democrats, the biggest plum of yesterday’s election is the sweeping victory of state legislative candidates that has given the Democratic Party a two-thirds "supermajority" in both the Assembly and State Senate.
A two-thirds majority means that Democrats can now pass tax increases without a single Republican vote. It also means that the Legislature has the power to override a veto by Governor Brown.
Governor Brown today called for "the prudence of Joseph,” a Biblical reference to planning for years of both prosperity and famine. "We have to make sure over the next few years that we pay our bills, we invest in the right programs, but we don't go on any spending binges," the Governor said in a press conference at the state capitol.
"Ask the Experts" and the most diverse water-wise plant sale in the County
November 8, 2012 (Rancho San Diego) -- Considering fall and winter as, “prime gardening months” would be scoffed at in many parts of the United States, but not in San Diego.
With its Mediterranean climate, characterized by mild-to-cool wet winters, and warm-to-hot dry summers, theFall Garden Festival, held at the Water Conservation Garden from 10am-4pm on Saturday, November 10, 2012, helps San Diegans make the most of the region’s fall-to-spring planting season…and save water while they do it!
Update November 8, 2012, 5 p.m.: McClellan's lead has grown to over 600 votes, making it appear likely that he has secured reelection.
November 8, 2012 (El Cajon) – Councilmen Tony Ambrose and Bill Wells appear to have won reelection to the El Cajon City Council, while Councilman Bob McClellan retains a slim 114-vote lead over challenger Ben Kalasho. The Registrar of Voters still has 475,000 absentee and provisional ballots left countywide to count. Asked how many are in El Cajon, the Registrar’s office declined to provide that information but said updates will be posted daily at http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/voters/results/election.xml. The election must be certified by December 4, meaning close races could take weeks before a final outcome will be know.
November 8, 2012 (Campo)—The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo rolls out its 2012 Santa Train, the North Pole Limited, each Friday and Saturday starting November 23 through December 22.
This popular attraction sells out early each year, so reservations are strongly recommended. Santa’s elves will serve cookies and hot cocoa while leading a sing-along of traditional Christmas carols and reading a famous Christmas story. The train departs the Museum on Highway 94 at Forrest Gate Road in Campo and stops at Santa’s workshop , where Santa will board the train and visit with all children on the return trip.
November 8, 2012 (San Diego) –Tuition at 23 California State University campuses—including San Diego State University and Cal State San Marcos locally, will rescind a $249-per-semestser tuition fee hike that had taken effect in the fall term. Fees will now revert back to $5,472, the same rate as last year.
“We are hopeful that the passage of Proposition 30 will be the beginning of the state’s reinvestment in higher education,” CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed said in a statement issued yesterday.
November 7, 2012 (san Diego)- In the hotly contested Lakeside Fire District, former Lakeside fire chief Mark Baker captured 39.6% of the vote while fire captain/paramedic/ and board director Jim Bingham clinched 36.6%, beating out challengers.
There has been controversy over these two figures, since Bingham voted to fire Baker as Chief, a move that sparked a backlash among community members and questions of influence by firefighting union members on the board. (http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/11356). Nonetheless, these two will have to set aside their differences and work together in this district, where some of East County’s largest wildfires have occurred.
November 9, 2012 (La Mesa) – The San Diego 5k Mud Run “Fall Edition” honoring our active duty military and veterans will be November 10 at Skyline Church, 11330 Campo Rd., La Mesa. The 5k individual race will begin at 10 a.m. The 5k team race will be at 11 a.m. and the Kid’s Mini-Mud will begin at 12:30 p.m.
November 8, 2012 (San Diego) -- The most watched proposition by many who are involved in education was California's Proposition 30. This proposition was highly promoted by Governor Jerry Brown as a solution to school funding in the time of budget cutting. During the evening, the proposition changed from passing to not passing as the vote counts came in. Ultimately, the measure passed 53.9% to 46.1%, increasing taxes on earnings over $250,000 for seven years and sales taxes by ¼ cent for four years, to fund schools. In addition, it guarantees public safety realignment funding. School districts had prepared for spending reductions in case the proposition didn't pass.
November 7, 2012 (San Diego)—Today, Carl DeMaio called Congressman Bob Filner and conceded defeat, then wished the Mayor-elect good luck.
With this concession, one of the most divisive races in recent San Diego memory is over. Filner will be inaugurated on December 3.
With the victory of Sherri S. Leightner at 54% over her challenger Ray Ellis with 46%, the City Council will also be in Democratic hands, though FIlner has pledged to consult with people who opposed him as well as those who supported him as he sets up his administration.
November 7, 2012 (La Mesa) — Incumbents Emma Turner, Psy.D. was re-elected, as was William "Bill" Baber, a local attorney, to the La Mesa-Spring Valley School Board. Both are Republicans and both have shown support for public education in their district.
November 7, 2012 (San Diego)—While Democrats failed to retake control of the United States House of Representatives, right now seats by party are at Republican 232, and Democratic at 191, with 12 seats still not decided. Among those not decided is San Diego’s own 52nd District contest between Scott Peters (D) and Congressman Brian Bilbray (R), where Peters now leads by a narrow margin.
November 8, 2012 (San Diego)-- The Democratic Party was expected to lose control of the Senate back in the Summer. Yet, they were able to maintain control, and this was due to a few important victories.
Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin became the first openly gay woman to be elected to the Senate. Her victory over Republican Tommy Thomson helped the Democrats maintain control. John Tester, a moderate Democrat from Montana, won re-election as well.
November 8, 2012 -- The Department of Justice, the FBI, and the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) remind the public there is a potential for disaster fraud in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Suspected fraudulent activity pertaining to relief efforts should be reported to the toll-free NCDF hotline at 866-720-5721. The hotline is staffed by a live operator 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the purpose of reporting suspected scams being perpetrated by criminals in the aftermath of disasters.
November 7, 2012 (San Diego)—Governor Jerry Brown has announced victory for Proposition 30. The ballot measure will raise income taxes on the wealthiest citizens in the state and temporarily increase the state sales tax by a quarter of a cent to fund K-12 schools, community colleges and state universities. Prop 30 is expected to raise more than $6 billion in revenue. If it had not passed, schools and colleges would have suffered significant trigger cuts in state appropriations.
November 7, 2012 (San Diego) – By a slim margin, Democrat Dave Roberts is ahead of Republican Steve Danon with 100% of precincts counted, though provisional ballots remain. Roberts would replace Republican Supervisor Pam-Slater Price, who is retiring and made a cross-party endorsement of Roberts.
“Tuesday's election is historic in two ways,” a press release from Roberts’ campaign said this morning.”It is the first time in 17 years there has been a new person elected to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors and Dave Roberts will be the first Democrat elected as County Supervisor in 19 years. The last Democrat to serve on the Board of Supervisors was Leon Williams who served until 1994.”
November 7, 2012 (La Mesa) – Councilwoman Ruth Sterling won reelection to the La Mesa City Council, with 28.06% of the vote. Attorney Kristine Alessio also won election with 25.27% of the vote, replacing retiring Councilman David Allan, the Council’s only Democrat, for the second of two seats.
Despite more than $37,000 in special interest money from real estate interests poured into an independent expenditure campaign in support of her candidacy, realtor Laura Lothian finished last out of five candidates, with 10.15% of the vote.
November 7, 2012 (El Cajon )—In one of the few victories for local conservatives thus far in the November 2012 elecitons, Councilmembers Tony Ambrose and Bill Wells have won reelection to the El Cajon City Council with 18.25% and 16.26% of the vote in the 8-person field. Councilman Bob McClellan is the likely victor in the third seat, with a narrow edge over challenger Ben Kalasho, 14.95% to 13.95%.
November 8, 2012 (Lemon Grove) – The election of Racquel Vasquez and reelection of George Gastil restores a Democratic majority to the Lemon Grove City Council. Vasquez won 29.30% of the votes cast, followed by Gastil with 23.01%.
“Racquel is a breath of fresh air,” said Gastil, who called the election of Vasquez, an African-American woman, “historic. She is the first person who is not white to be elected to the Council—and she comes in first place, which is a testament to her involvement in the community.”
November 7, 2012 (San Diego)—Congressman Brian Bilbray’s slim lead has evaporated in the 52nd Congressional District. With over 95% of the vote now counted, Democrat Scott Peters has edged into the lead--first by just 13 votes, and now by 311 votes.
Brian Bilbray addressed the press around 10:30 last night, thanking his supporters for knocking on doors, calling voters and walking precincts. This was a very hard campaign for the Congressman in the newly redrawn 52nd District, where the once-strong Republican majority is now razor-thin. Democrats have targeted this race nationally, hoping to unseat the incumbent Congressman who has been the brunt of ads critical of his ties to special interests.
Update Nov. 8: With 100% of precincts counted and a portion of the late absentee ballots, Schreiber and Stieringer have retained solid leads.
By Miriam Raftery
November 7, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – In one of the most bitterly contested races in East County, incumbent Priscillla Schreiber won reelection handily with 95% of votes counted with 28.17% of the vote in the Grossmont Union High School District. A Republican, Schreiber has been an outspoken champion for building a new high school in Alpine--and a vocal critic of the board majority on a range of issues.
That majority may shift, with challenger Jim Stieringer in second place at 19.04%--ahead of incumbent Gary Woods, who has 18.66%. Woods has taken heat for his opposition to the Alpine High School at a time when a Grand Jury investigation is probing possible misallocation of bond monies approved by voters for projects including the high school in Alpine.
November 7, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – For Shirley Weber, PhD, victory in the 79th Assembly District is particularly sweet. “This is the first time an African-American has served in theLegislature in San Diego or south of Los Angeles,” Dr. Weber told ECM. “The 79th district is only 10% African American, which says a lot about voters in this district.”
The daughter of a sharecropper, Weber found education to be the key to her future. She earned three degrees by age 26. “I’ve always been a strong voice for education,” said Weber, a Democrat. With over 88% of the votes counted, Weber leads her Republican challenger, Lemon Grove Councilwoman Mary England, by approximately a 60-40% margin.
November 7, 2012 (San Diego)-- As we left the Lincoln Club Party downtown late this evening, Carl DeMaio was in the lead and had just faced the press to note that “We do not have the final outcome.” This was about two hours ago, and as of now Congressman Bob Filner has gained a slim lead at 50.37% with Carl DeMaio trailing at 49.63% with 78% of precincts counted. This race is as tight as it can get.
November 6, 2012 (San Diego)--Congressional members Duncan Hunter and Susan Davis appear headed for easy victories, while Juan Vargas has won the seat vacated by Bob Filner. Rep. Brian Bilbray has a slim 3 point margin over Scott Peters in the hotly contested 52nd district.
In the Assembly races, Dr. Shirley Weber has a solid lead with 54.23% over business leader Mary England's 40.19%. Brian Jones has won reelection over Pat Hurley, while Brian Maienschein has a strong lead over RJ Hernandez. Marty Block appears headed for victory in his State Senate race over George Plescia, 51.38 to 42.39%.
November 9, 2012 (San Diego) -- Fans of modern design are invited to explore some of the most notable modern residences in San Diego this fall when the Dwell Home Tours (
November 8, 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:
November 8, 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:
Board majority to continue support for unification efforts
By Janis Mork
Story and photos by I.C. Jimenez
By Miriam Raftery
"Ask the Experts" and the most diverse water-wise plant sale in the County
Update November 8, 2012, 5 p.m.: McClellan's lead has grown to over 600 votes, making it appear likely that he has secured reelection. 
November 8, 2012 (Campo)—The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo rolls out its 2012 Santa Train, the North Pole Limited, each Friday and Saturday starting November 23 through December 22. 
By Bill Weaver
By Janis Mork
November 9, 2012 (La Mesa) – The San Diego 5k Mud Run “Fall Edition” honoring our active duty military and veterans will be November 10 at Skyline Church, 11330 Campo Rd., La Mesa. The 5k individual race will begin at 10 a.m. The 5k team race will be at 11 a.m. and the Kid’s Mini-Mud will begin at 12:30 p.m.
By Mayan Avitable
By Nadin Abbott and Miriam Raftery
By Bill Weaver
By Nadin Abbott
By Nadin Abbott
November 8, 2012 -- The Department of Justice, the FBI, and the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) remind the public there is a potential for disaster fraud in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Suspected fraudulent activity pertaining to relief efforts should be reported to the toll-free NCDF hotline at 866-720-5721. The hotline is staffed by a live operator 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the purpose of reporting suspected scams being perpetrated by criminals in the aftermath of disasters.
By Bill Weaver
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
vember 8, 2012 (Lemon Grove) – The election of Racquel Vasquez and reelection of George Gastil restores a Democratic majority to the Lemon Grove City Council. Vasquez won 29.30% of the votes cast, followed by Gastil with 23.01%.
By Nadin Abbott
Update Nov. 8: With 100% of precincts counted and a portion of the late absentee ballots, Schreiber and Stieringer have retained solid leads. 
By Miriam Raftery
y Nadin Abbott
November 6, 2012 (San Diego)--Congressional members Duncan Hunter and Susan Davis appear headed for easy victories, while Juan Vargas has won the seat vacated by Bob Filner. Rep. Brian Bilbray has a slim 3 point margin over Scott Peters in the hotly contested 52nd district.
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