November 29, 2012 (Escondido) – The 2012 San Pasqual Battle Day will be held on December 2 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with a flag-raising at 10 a.m.  The Battle re-enactments will be at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.  Other activities will include craft demonstrations, period music & dancing, children’s activities and a military equipment.  Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

The free event is cosponsored by the California State Parks and the San Pasqual Battlefield Volunteer Association (SPBVA) and is located at the San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park, 15808 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido.

By Miriam Raftery

November 29, 2012 (La Mesa) – Viejas firefighters, clad in uniforms, Santa hats and reindeer antlers, rolled into action at Target in Grossmont Center today to stock up on toys for needy local children.  More than 80 Viejas tribal government staffers donated funds to purchase 30  bicycles. 

“We’re here because we want to bring a little bit of joy to some kids who may need that,” Viejas Tribal Chairman Anthony Pico told ECM.  “We know what it’s like to be poverty stricken and perhaps to have Christmas with no gift.  It means so much more when you know where you’ve come from and where you’re going.”  He smiled, adding with a Santa-like twinkle in his eye, “These are some of the most fun times of the year.”

by Laura A. Lewis (Duke University Press, Durham, North Carolina, 2012, 370 pages)

Book Review by Dennis Moore

November 29, 2012 (San Diego) -- Before reading Chocolate and Corn Flour, I did not know that there was such a thing as a "Black" Mexico.” Having lived in Tijuana, Mexico for a number of years and visited a number of Mexican cities, such as Cancun and Rosarito Beach, this book comes as a revelation to me.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

November 29, 2012 (Lake Murray) – San Diego Police officers apprehended an adult and a juvenile suspected of beating an elderly resident with a pry bar after forcing their way into his home in the 8400 block of Harwell Drive in the Lake Murray area yesterday afternoon in broad daylight.

The victim suffered a serious head injury and injuries to his arms while trying to defend himself, said Watch Commander Dan Lasher.

November 28, 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:

LOCAL/REGIONAL

• Refugee grateful for new life in new country (U-T San Diego)
• San Diego Congressmen get campaign contributions for domestic drone support (San Diego Free Press)
• Report: We’re in the midst of a housing recovery (U-T San Diego)
• Witness to deadly shooting by border patrol agent disputes official account (10 News)
• El Cajon working to reduce pedestrian deaths (U-T San Diego)
• Border economy to see greater emphasis under Filner administration (San Diego Free Press)
• David Copley dies at 60; heir to Union-Tribune fortune was once worth $1.2 billion  ( La Jolla Patch)
• Republican activist seeks ouster of Tony Krvaric as GOP Chairman (Ramona Patch)
• New Lakeside fire station opens (East County Californian)
• El Capitan cross country team runs to state championship  (East County Californian)
• Deputies break up 20-man brawl at Carlton Oaks bar (Santee Patch)
• Ocotillo: worker airlifted after falling ( IV Press)
• SDG&E makes last push to bill users for wildfires (U-T San Diego)

STATE

• Unemployment checks to stop for 400,000 Californians (U-T San Diego)
• Erin Brokovich town faces new threat from utility company (NPR)
• Democratic power in state capitol has its limits (Sacramento Bee)
• California elected officials set to take pay cut (Sacramento Bee)
• First cap and trade auction a bust for California budget (Sacramento Bee)
• California man accused in plot to join al Qaeda denied bail (Reuters)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

November 28, 2012 (San Diego)--Congresswoman Susan Davis announced a lottery for tickets to the inauguration of President Barack Obama on January 21, 2013. Davis will randomly select inauguration tickets for constituents of the new 53rd Congressional District.

“Some lucky constituents will have a chance to be a part of history!” said Davis. “During inaugurations, Americans come together to celebrate our enduring democracy. Holding a lottery gives everyone who wants a ticket a fair chance.”

By Miriam Raftery

November 27, 2012 (La Mesa)—ECM writer Kristin Kjaero has asked us to post a request from a friend stationed in Afghanistan with the Army Corps of Engineers.  He seeks donations of twin-sized blankets for 300 female students.  Below is his letter, which tells their remarkable story.

Please read it, and consider donating new or second-hand blankets to bring some much-needed comforts to these courageous and determined young women.

November 27, 2012 (Alpine) – The Alpine Community Center, with Viejas Enterprises, presents Breakfast with Santa on December 1 from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. at the community center, 1830 Alpine Blvd., Alpine. A buffet style breakfast of pancakes, sausages and eggs will be served. 

The event will also feature arts and crafts, decorate your own cookie, door prizes, silent auction items and drawings.

Opponents to deliver photos of loved ones to be harmed by cuts at Rep. Hunter's office Wed. 

November 27, 2012 (Oakland)--Nearly 5 million Californians could be negatively impacted if Congress cuts Social Security, including 662,232 people with disabilities and 364,365 children, according to a new AFL-CIO report.

Of 11 million Californians who get health care coverage from Medicaid, 4.4 million children and nearly a million seniors could be affected if the lame duck Congress cuts Medicaid benefits. As the “fiscal cliff” approaches, members of Congress have suggested cutting these safety net programs, while calling for extending tax cuts benefitting the richest 2%.

November 28, 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 reflecti 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:

U.S.

• Supreme  Court blocks Illinois law banning taping of police (Chicago Tribune)
• More Republicans break with Norquist on anti-tax pledge (Washington Post)
• U.S. Fiscal cliff: Death, taxes and the GOP (BBC)
• U.S. gas prices see sharpest dip since 2008 (CNN)
• Millions will qualify for new options under health care law in next few months; most have no idea (Washington Post)
• Five economic trends to be thankful for (Washington Post)

WORLD

• Electronic tracking: New constraint for Saudi women (France24)
• Anger as Hungarian far-right leader demands list of Jews (Reuters)
• Spanish company involved in nuclear smuggling scheme with Iran (Reuters)
• Clinton announces cease fire between Israel and Hamas (The Hill)
• With Clinton’s shuttle diplomacy success, focus shifts to long-term Mideast solution (Washington Post)
• Egypt: Who holds the power? (BBC)
• Egyptian judges prepare for a strike (NPR)
• Call for noise based wind buffer laws (Queensland Country Life)

HEALTH

• Grapefruit and pills mix: warning (BBC)
• Abortion rate drops 5%, largest drop in decade (LA Times)
• Rare Meat Allergy Caused By Tick Bites May Be On The Rise  (NPR)
• Dogs being trained to sniff out ovarian cancer (CBS News)
• FDA halts operations at peanut butter plant (UT San Diego)
• Smoking rots brain, says study (BBC)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

November 27, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)—Thanks to reader Tom Lemon for letting us know that the International Space Station will be visible over East County this week. You can check this NASA site to learn about viewing opportunities in your community: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/index.html. 

Best viewing will be on Saturday, December 1 around 5:40 a.m., Lemon advises.

November 26, 2012 (San Diego) – California Public Utilities Commissioner Mark Ferron has issued a draft decision finding no current need for the Quail Brush and Pio Pico gas-fired power plants  proposed by SDG&E at Mission Trails and Otay Mesa. He concludes the plants would not be needed until at least 2018—and then only if a Carlsbad power plant is shut down and not replaced. A separate proposed decision by CPUC administrative law judge Halley Yacknin also rejected both plants.

The full CPUC will have the final say, and could opt to amend the draft decision before a public meeting, which has not yet been scheduled.

November 25, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)—Refugees living in El Cajon and City Heights are invited to free workshops at the New Roots Aqua Farm, 4035 Fairmount Avenue in San Diego.  Learn how to grow healthy organic vegetables in urban areas with no soil and minimal water!  Also see New Roots’  1,200 square foot aquaponics system that includes fish farming with tilapia that are sustainably raised and hormone free.

Workshops in December will be offered in several languages including English, Swahili, Spanish and Arabic.  See schedule below for details.

By Kurt Wannebo, CEO, San Diego Real Estate and Investments (SDREI)

November 26, 2012 (San Diego)--Did you know that right now that we are actually in a seller’s market and prices are starting to go up? If you are a buyer waiting for the bottom of the market to buy, news flash, you already missed it by a couple of months! Every day I speak with buyers and sellers that believe we are still in a declining market, when in actuality it’s the other way around.

November 27, 2012 (Alpine)—Piano students of Suzie Steenbergen held their autumn piano party recital celebration on November 18 in the sanctuary at Christ the King Episcopal Church in Alpine.

“It was a fine afternoon and 50+ family members and friends gathered to hear piano music on the church’s lovely piano,” Steenbergen said. 

Photo caption: Left to right:Alex Speck, Rhianna Speck, Sophia Parsons, Ashley Hoffman, Mia Moran, Avery Howard, and Bella Nedjar.