By Megan McGlamery

Photos by Woo-Jin Shim and Natalia Robert (http://full-circle-images.com/)

December 30, 2011 (San Diego)--Since 1933, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has been helping refugees rebuild their lives after fleeing tumultuous wars or other catastrophes in their homelands.  The IRC is currently active in 22 U.S. cities as well as overseas. In 2001, the IRC created its Microenterprise Program with the goal of helping refugees create their own businesses.

In the last 10 years, the IRC has helped 175 San Diego-based refugees become small-business owners. To showcase some of the great refugee-owned eateries of East County, the IRC hosted a Micro-finance bus tour, offering patrons a chance to sample some delicious cuisine from Iraq and East Africa.

December 30, 2011 (Jamul) -- Yesterday's fire at Skyline Truck Trail and Lawson Valley Road has left a family's lives in ashes.

By Miriam Raftery

December 28, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) –If you’ve over-indulged in all those holiday goodies, or just want to look and feel your best in the New Year, now is the perfect time to make a resolution to get in shape! East County Magazine invites you to join our editor and publisher in a “24 day challenge” sponsored by ECM and Advocare.  Shaping up is more fun with friends  Plus we’ll have prizes and surprises.

The 24-day-challenge starts January 5.  It includes a combination of supplements and meal replacement products, a healthy eating plan, and as a special bonus to ECM readers, a fitness “boot camp” with trainers and one-on-one personalized counseling to assure your success.  The more, the merrier! (If you have a group of 10 or more, we can set up a special fitness boot camp at your location.)

By Meg Jensen

December 28, 2011 (El Cajon) – After heated testimony, El Cajon’s Council unanimously approved a ballot measure to grant the City Council “supreme authority over state law by having El Cajon become a charter city. Council members also approved a management team for a new planned business improvement district (PBID)in its December 13 meeting.  

December 29, 2011 (El Cajon) -- Carey Hart, team owner of Hart and Huntington Racing, unveiled the new Supercross team riders and sponsors for the 2012 season during a press conference, Thursday, December 1 in San Diego at Sycuan Casino. The Dodge Motorsports/Sycuan Casino/Hart and Huntington/Bel-Ray Racing Team now include a brand new sponsorship with Sycuan Casino for the upcoming season and beyond, as well as, a continuing partnership with Dodge and Bel-Ray. Sycuan Casino is located at 5469 Casino Way, El Cajon, CA 92019, (619) 445-6002.

December 28, 2011 (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:  

• GOP candidates heading to Iowa for final sprint before caucuses (The Hill)
• Iowa caucus: Republicans zig-zag state in pre-vote push (BBC)
• Obama’s approval numbers climb into positive territory (The Hill)
• Gingrich questions Ron Paul on racist newsletters (Reuters)
• Former staffer: Ron Paul `wishes the Israeli state did not exist’ (RawStory)
• Romney falsely claims Obama ‘has not created any new jobs’ (Think Progress)
• Looking up: The economy makes headway (London Economist)
• New powerful painkiller has drug abuse experts worried (Fox News)
• SEC ups its game to identify rogue firms (Wall Street Journal)

• Arab League mission arrives amid violence in Syria (CNN)
• Russians make historic demand for an election rerun  (National Public Radio)
• Afghanistan sets ground rules for Taliban (Reuters)
• Czechs, world leaders remember irreplaceable Vaclav Havel at funeral (Christian Science Monitor) 

 
December 28, 2011 (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: 

• California could lose 1,500 inmate firefighters (Sacramento Bee)
• Rural schools hit hard by transportation grant cuts (Sacramento Bee)

• El Cajon SWAT standoff ends with arrest (10 News)
• 11% of city speeding tickets written in one spot (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Sweetwater committee seeks contractor support (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• If they make me go back, I will be lost  (espn.go.com) 

 
December 25, 2011 (Alpine) – TC Construction is offering a $500 reward for return of items stolen from a job site pump station at Victoria Drive and Victoria Park Terrace in Alpine, or for information leading to conviction of the person(s) who stole the equipment.  The theft occurred the morning of Wednesday  December 21.

Items taken include: 

• 1 ½” submersible pump
• 100ft extension cord
• 3 jackhammers: 90 lb., 60 lb. & 40 lb.
• 80 lbs. of aluminum

Local business leaders praise decision to expand renewable energy

Opponents hope Supervisors, court will protect scenic, cultural and wildlife resources

By Miriam Raftery

December 26, 2011 (McCain Valley) – U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar signed approval December 20 forTule Wind Project on federal lands in McCain Valley in East County. The federal lands portion approved by the Department of the Interior constitute the bulk of the project, capable of generating up to 186 megawatts (MW) of the project’s total 200 MW capacity. 

The project will need additional approvals from the County of San Diego, California Public Utilities Commission, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and California State Lands Commission.  The County will hold hearings on a major use permit in the first quarter of 2012.  Planning Commissioners and ultimately, the Board of Supervisors are expected to vote on the issue.

 Region’s community colleges eyed as potential future sites

By Buck Shott

Past presidential fibs have led to impeachment and resignation. Shouldn’t honesty be a key qualification for any presidential candidate?

December 28, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Voters, and the candidates they support, often have drastically different views on the various issues.  But honesty and integrity are two traits we should all agree upon as minimal “qualifications” for anyone seeking the presidency.

Granted, in the heat of a campaign any candidate may have a slip of the lip, forgetting a statistic or misstating an name. But when presidential contenders knowingly tell brazen lies, air campaign ads with outright falsehoods, and then shamelessly defend such fibbing, we should all think twice about the character of those seeking our nation’s highest office.