Instar "Star" Bales takes oath of office, alongside her husband, Gerald

By Janis Mork

December 19, 2013 (El Cajon)- At Tuesday’s El Cajon City Council meeting, Council appointed InStar Bales, an Iraqi Chaldean woman who has served on the planning commission, to fill the Council vacancy after interviewing 27 candidates.

After the meeting, Bales told ECM that she is “very honored” to be chosen.  “When Councilman Bob McClellan said my name, I cried a little bit,” admitted Bales, whose integrity and willigness to stand up against special interests as a planning commission member were key factors in Council's decision to select her.

By Miriam Raftery

December 19, 2013 (Alpine) – The Alpine Union School Board voted unanimously to slash pay and benefits for teachers by an average of 30 percent.  Teachers fear losing their homes with such deep cuts – and in January, the teachers’ union will vote on whether to go on strike.

December 19, 2013 (La Mesa)--Supervisor Dianne Jacob will be the featured speaker at the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce breakfast on Tuesday, January 21 at 7:30 a.m. The event will be held at Marie Callender’s restaurant at 6950 Alvarado Road, San Diego.

Cost is $15 for Chamber members and $20 for guests with advancer reservation, or $25 at the door.

By Miriam Raftery

December 19, 2013 (San Diego) -- Christopher Caluza, Philippine national champion, performed as the grand finale at last night's holiday ice show at the Ray & Joan Kroc Community Center Ice Arena.  The show also included performances by skating school students, from tots to senior citizens.

Caluza got his start training at local ice rinks before gaining international acclaim.  I recall seeing him landing splits on the ice when he was a young kid; we all knew he was destined to be a star!  Click here to view the video of his performance: http://youtu.be/7gHnrQA21Gw

December 19, 2013 (San Diego) – San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and the U.S. Forest Service have partnered to preserve and protect 448 acres between El Cajon Mountain and the El Capitan Reservoir. Known as Oak Ridge Ranch, the property is now National Forest system land donated by SDG&E.

The partnership at Oak Ridge Ranch protects native Engelmann oak trees that only grow naturally in a narrow band that stretches along the mountain foothills of Southern California and Baja California, Mexico. The Engelmann oak is an indicator species, which means that when this beautiful evergreen oak thrives, so too does the surrounding forest ecosystem.

State Board of Equalization Now Accepts Online Requests for Payment Plans

Sacramento – The California State Board of Equalization’s (BOE) newest convenient website service allows qualifying tax or fee payers to request a payment plan online. Payment plans allow tax or fee payers to pay down a past due balance over time, helping them avoid additional penalties and interest.

December 19, 2013 (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

• El Cajon gets $1.5 miliion in federal grants (UT San Diego)
• La Mesa faces $800,000 fine for 2010 sewer spill (La Mesa Patch)
• San Diego Water Authority enters high stakes water fight (KPBS)
• Dozens of sailors from USS Ronald Reagan suffering cancer after earthquake assistance in Japan (American Live Wire)
• Cal Trans clarifies Route  67 media barrier project, pros and cons (Ramona Patch)
• What’s Behind San Diego’s Gang Problem (Voice of San Diego)
• The gift of raptors (SD Reader)
• Judge: San Diego To Receive $77M In $1B Lead Paint Ruling (KPBS)
• SWA adds nonstops from SD to 4 more cities (UT San Diego)
• Claims against Filner total $4M (UT San Diego)
• San Diego Avocado Growers Brace For New Invasive Beetle (KPBS)
• Attempted rapist Anthony Washington ordered to stand trial (10 News)

STATE

• California health exchange struggling to enroll Latinos (LA Times)
• Brown calls for federal unemployment extension (Sacramento Bee)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click "read more" and scroll down.

December 19,  2013 (San Diego’s East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news each week that could impact your health and our future.

SCIENCE

• GAIA billion star surveyor takes off (BBC)
• Yellowstone supervolcano: 2.5 times bigger than anyone knew (CS Monitor)

HEALTH

• Severed hand kept alive on ankle (BBC)
• Yogurt a solution to hospital infection? (Jewish World Review)
• Patient with mysterious illness diagnosed with H1N1 (KHOU)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

December 18, 2013 (California) -- Voters who live in California's High Desert have a strong connection to public lands and see the benefits they provide for clean water, recreation and wildlife. That's according to a poll that found three-quarters of local residents have visited public lands in the last year.

Pollster Lori Weigel, Public Opinion Strategies, said voters value these lands for a number of reasons.

By David Dickens

December 18, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – Monte Vista (7-6) was expected to cruise through this Division 4 rematch on December 8th against the Sweetwater High Red Devils (9-4) for the SDCIF crown. However, just like the age-old saying, “On any given Sunday,” this time the whims of fate kicked in on Saturday. Playoffs at any level discount regular season play as a whole new atmosphere. The ironic stat in this battle: not a single pass was thrown in the Monarch triumph early in the regular season play; this time it was the pass that stole the game.

The Monarch strength all season long was the elite rushing attack led by running back Jermeil Jackson. This time around Monte Vista was stymied for a mere 186 yards – all rushing – and only amassed 31 yards total the entire second half of play. This hard-fought contest was full of turnovers and miscues on both sides. The slippery weather added to the ball security issues as well.

December 18, 2013 (San Diego) – As Californians ready for their holiday travels, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is set to begin its annual Christmas Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP).  The two-day holiday enforcement effort is designed to help ensure the safety of the motoring public during a time when celebrations are in full swing. 

The MEP begins at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, December 24, and continues through 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, December 25.  The effort coincides with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s ongoing Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over anti-driving under the influence (DUI) campaign, which began on December 13, 2013, and continues through January 1, 2014. 

 By David Dickens

December 18, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – Christian High School in El Cajon won the CIF Division3 championship against  the San Marcos High Knights  on December 8. But another battle loomed in the courtroom over the prior week.

On December 9, Superior Court Judge William Sato denied Christian High’s request for injunctive relief to gain consideration as a Division 4 school in the state football series hosted by the San Diego CIF.  Athletic Director David Beezer  sought to create a fair advantage that Christian High should be entitled to based to its enrollment size.  According to the SDCIF handbook, Christian High should be a Division 4 school as far as athletics are concerned contended Beezer, who believes Christian High is being discriminated against and that this is in conflict with the CIF’s own written policy.

December 17, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – This holiday season, More on the Menu, or MOM, is asking San Diego County residents to step up to the plate — the salad plate — to help senior citizens in our region.

MOM is a non-profit program that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables to local, homebound senior neighbors across San Diego County.  The organization has been dedicated to supporting seniors with home-delivered meals since 1992. But, with many seniors unable to shop for themselves or able to afford the cost of fresh produce, it is the recipients’ everyday nutrition that now seems most pressing.

By Greg Dunne

December 17, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – Our County has many migratory birds.  This week, I’m highlighting two of them: the Northern Shoveler Duck (although a few will stay year round) and a small song bird, the Townsend’s Warbler, a winter visitor.

The Northern Shoveler is primarily a winter visitor to the County, abundant this time of year at Santee Lakes, Lindo Lake and I’ve even spotted a few this year at Lake Murray. The Northern Shoveler is a medium sized duck with a very long bill that is wider at the tip than the base. It has a glossy dark green head similar to the Mallard Duck but the bill of the shoveler stands out from any other duck.  Shovelers use this bill to filter out food from the water.

By David Dickens

December 17, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) -- -Monte Vista (7-6) was expected to cruise through this Division 4 rematch on December 8th against the Sweetwater High Red Devils(9-4)for the SDCIF crown. However, just like the age old saying, “ On any given Sunday,” this time the whims of fate kicked in on Saturday. Playoffs at any level discounts regular season play as a whole new atmosphere.

The ironic stat in this battle:  not a single pass was thrown in the Monarch triumph early in the regular season play; this time it was the pass that stole the game.