November 2, 2012 (Boulevard) – Thanks to our generous readers who helped raise several thousand dollars plus supplies to benefit 11 families who lost homes in the recent Shockey fire.

“So many wonderful people are out there with wonderful caring hearts,” Lorrie Ostrander, who organized a fundraising event for fire survivors told ECM.  Some fire surivors are now placed in old trailers donated and others are on the Campo reservation. "A home is what we make of it and for now they are thankful for life,” said Ostrander, adding that items needed most now are cooking utensils, curtains, towels, bedding, dishes and toys. 

She also offered this “wish list” for the kids for Chirstmas:  a girl's bike for a 10 year old, sports items for a boy, 9, who lost his baseball bat, ball, football and basketball, and a motorized toy truck for a 2-year-old whose treasured truck was lost to the flames.

November 2, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego’s local Republican Congressmen Brian Bilbray, Duncan Hunter and Darrell Issa voted for the Paul Ryan budget which would have deeply reduced emergency response and preparedness to disasters such as Hurricane Sandy and local wildfires. An analysis from Third Way says that the Ryan-Bilbray budget “would set the clock back on disaster preparation to the days before Hurricane Katrina.”

Mitt Romney, in a primary debate, called disaster relief “immoral” and said he would privatize FEMA.  Following Hurricane Sandy, he has sought to blur his stance, though his running mate’s budget would also have radically cut federal aid and hampered states’ abilities to respond when disasters strike.

Hundreds of drugs recalled, ranging from antibiotics to blood thinners, pain prescriptions to pediatric medications recalled

Update:  “Sharp Grossmont Hospital and any other entity of Sharp HealthCare does not purchase products from Ameridose, the pharmaceutical company that is linked to the drug recall,” spokesman Bruce Hartman has informed ECM.

October 31, 2012 (Washington D.C.)--The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that Ameridose, LLC, based in Westborough, Mass., is voluntarily recalling all of its unexpired products due to serious sterility concerns. The move follows 54 cases of fungal meningitis linked to steroid injections.

However, the drug recall is much broader, including hundreds of drugs in oral and inhalable forms as well as injectibles. The list includes many commonly used medications such as Ibuprofin, Acetaminophen, Lidocaine, Penicillin, Vancomycin, Oxytocin, Morphine, Vancomycin and Heparin, to name just a few.

View a complete list of all products subject to this recall here with more information at www.ameridose.com. Products from Ameridose can be identified by markings that indicate Ameridose by name or by its company logo. Despite the recall, doctors and healthcare professional have NOT been urged by the FDA to followup with patients who received these drugs, so check the list carefully to see if medications you have received may be on the list. Scroll down for more information.

Clean tech/green tech research and manufacturing jobs for East County? A local hearing on energy impacts? It could happen–now that Davis’ district has expanded east

By Miriam Raftery and Janis Mork

October 29, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Many East County residents may be surprised to open their ballots and see that they’re now in Congresswoman Susan Davis’ district instead of Congressman Duncan Hunter’s.  With redistricting, Davis’ 53^rd district now includes La Mesa and most of El Cajon, along with San Carlos, Allied Gardens, Del Cerro, Rolando, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley, Bonita, large portions of San Diego and Chula Vista.  View map.

Just who is Susan Davis and what might her representation mean for people in East County?  ECM sat down for an exclusive interview with her last week.

October 31, 2012 (La Mesa) – Last year, La Mesa Council voted 3 to 2 against declaring La Mesa a “Fair Trade Town.”  But on October 12, Mayor Art Madrid signed a commendation letter posted on the Fair Trade La Mesa website. Under a rule change by the national Fair Trade Towns USA group, La Mesa has now been granted the designation despite Council's objection, drawing both controversy and praise.

November1, 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:

U.S.

• Sandy blamed for 157 deaths (CNN)
• Impact by state: States pick up pieces as Sandy fades (CNN)
• Hurricane Sandy blows election off course (Reuters)
• Obama on storm recovery: We will not quit until this is done (CNN)
• Romney’s challenge: How to campaign after Sandy (CBS)
• Romney ties to voting machine company that could decide the election causing concerns (Forbes)
• Romney’s lax regulation may have fueled meningitis outbreak (Salon)
• Did U.S. go too far in secret surveillance of citizens? Case heads to Supreme Court  (Christian Science Monitor)
• U.S. sues Bank America for mortgage fraud (NPR)
• Citing food safety concerns, Kroger calls it quits on sprouts (NPR)
• Bloomberg Backs Obama, Citing Fallout From Storm

WORLD

• Death knell for wind farms: Enough is enough, says Energy Minister in Britain (UK Telegraph)
• In world first, biggest refugee camp gets university (Christian Science Monitor)
• In vitro fertilization increases risk of birth defects (Jerusalem Post)
• AP interview: Japan nuke plant water worries rise (U-T San Diego)
• Did Israel just blow up an Iranian weapons factory in Sudan? (Christian Science Monitor)
• Death toll tops 100 in ethnic strife in Myanmar (NPR)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

November 1, 2012 (San Diego) – Sempra Energy Foundation today pledged $50,000 in disaster-relief assistance funds to East Coast storm victims. In support of Sempra Energy companies’ employee giving efforts, the Foundation also will be matching up to an additional $50,000 in employee donations, bringing the total potential donation to $150,000 by the Foundation and company employees.

Sempra Energy Foundation will direct the funds through the American Red Cross National Relief Fund.

By Danielle Cook

November 1, 2012 (Jacumba)--Much talk is being bandied about especially by conservatives on how there could possibly be undecided voters out there. After all, there hasn’t been such a clear choice between the two parties in years (goes their argument).  The implication is that we are stupid or uninformed. In reality, it isn’t as simple as that.

Like many Independents, I have a love/hate relationship with election years.  As someone who isn’t tied to either major political party, I am like the un-attached and solo guest at a Valentine party, relegated to the sidelines and watching the enthusiastic bonding of committed couples with envy.

November 1, 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

• The end is near (Turko Files helps bring end to Alpine Blvd. repaving nightmare)
• The Mayoral candidate scorecard, general election edition (Voice of San Diego)
• For Filner, it’s always sunny in San Diego  (Voice of San Diego)
• Filner’s travel becomes campaign issue(UT San Diego)
• The 2012 elections:  vital issues that affect Latinos (San Diego Free Press)
• Supervisors could end $1,000 limit on contributions (KPBS)
• Helix Highlander band takes first place (La Mesa Today)
• Tesla stores challenge auto dealerships (U-T San Diego)
• ACLU sues over photo restrictions at border (Sacramento Bee)
• Spring Valley grocery worker is poster child for New York Times story (La Mesa Patch)
• From Sex Dolls to Staged Garbage: The Election's Worst Campaign Dirt

STATE

• Debunked: 6 lies that Biotech and Big Food are telling voters about Prop 37 (San Diego Free Press)
• CA Charter schools grow to over 1,000 for 2012-13 (U-T San Diego)
• Court says Arizona group must provide information in CA election (Sacramento Bee)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

By Lauren Schmitt, MS, RD, CPT, www.heatforhealth.com

November 1, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Want to shape up for the holidays?  Lauren Schmitt, Healthy Eating and Training (www.heatforhealth.com), offers these helpful tips.

Healthy Habit #1: Don’t wait until the New Year.

October 31, 2012 (Santa Ysabel) – The bodies of  a couple believed to be in their 80s were found Monday evening in a home in the 25200 block of Mesa Grande Road in Santa Ysabel. The Medical Examiner’s office has ruled the woman’s death a homicide resulting from a single gunshot wound, however the man’s death has been found to be from natural causes due to heart failure.

October 31, 2012 (El Cajon)—  At the October 23rd Council meeting, Councilmember Wells proposed that the El Cajon City Council authorize the City Manager to expend General Fund revenues as a 50 percent match with the dealerships for the costs of creating an “El Cajon Auto Dealership Association,” not to exceed the amount of $10,000. 

The City Council voted 4-0 to support this new partnership.

Top Bishops, Rabbis, and Muslim leaders say “our future is at stake” on November 6

October 30, 2012 (Sacramento)-- Leading Christian, Jewish & Muslim clergy and religious leaders from throughout California issued a powerful statement today in support of Proposition 30, the tax initiative on the November 6 ballot that would raise $6-9 billion to fund schools, public safety, and vital services.