By Miriam Raftery

September 30, 2012 (Ocotillo ) -- U.S. District Court Judge William Hayes has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Community Advocates for Renewable Energy Stewardship (CARES).  The group sought an injunction to halt construction of the Ocotillo Express wind energy facility on public land.  Hayes ruled that the plaintiffs lacked standing.  

E - The Environmental Magazine

Written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss

September 29, 2012 -- Dear EarthTalk: I’ve always suspected that perfumes and colognes must not be too healthy simply because of the way the smell of most of them bothers me. Am I correct? Is there information available on this issue?                                                        -- Lucinda Barry, Minneapolis, MN

By Janis Mork

September 29, 2012 (La Mesa)—At Sharp Grossmont Hospital’s Briar Patch Campus, families flocked to the 11^th annual Kidscare Fest, a free event just for kids. Over 1200 kids were in attendance at the September 22 event.

September 28, 2012 (San Diego)—Extremely hot temperatures and dry conditions are forecast for Sunday through Wednesday,creating elevated fire weather concerns.

Temperatures could reach 110 in the low deserts and 100 in high desert areas. In San Diego County valleys, 95 to 105 degree temperatures are forecast, with highs up to 95 in coastal and mountain areas.  

Sgt. Craig Johnson, also wounded, is recovering after surgery

Suspect pleads not guilty to attempted murder

By Miriam Raftery

September 27, 2012 (El Cajon )—The San Diego Blood Bank seeks blood donations for San Diego Sheriff Detective Ali Perez, who is in critical condition after being shot with a high-powered rifle yesterday during an attempted arrest in Lakeside. 

September 27, 2012 (El Cajon) – The Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College will offer a fire-wise gardening seminar with Greg Rubin, native plant expert from California’s Own Native Landscape Design. Cost is $20 for members, $28 for nonmembers. The program will be held on Saturday, September 29 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.

For more information or to register, visit http://www.thegarden.org/calendar/index.php

Republican maverick has challenged his party on ethical issues in past, says he avoids "special interest money"

By Janis Mork

September 28, 2012 (San Diego)- Republican Michael Crimmins is running against Democrat Juan Vargas for Congress in the 51st district, which includes the entire border with Mexico and Imperial Valley. View a map of the district: http://www.crimminsforcongress.com/map/.  The seat is open, since incumbent Congressman Bob Filner is stepping down to run for Mayor of San Diego.

Crimmins says he running because he wants to make a difference.  His qualifications include military service and an education background. He is a retired military officer and San Diego teacher with two master degrees in education.  Currently he resides in Point Loma, which is not in the district.  If elected, he says he would move to Imperial Beach.  Married in Florida in 1977, he divorced in 1988 and has a daughter, Ashley, a flight attendant.

September 28, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – For the fifth year in a row, East County Magazine reporters and photographers will be taking home awards in the San Diego Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards.  Nadin Abbott, Tom Abbott, Jim  Pelley, Ryan Schuler, and ECM editor Miriam Raftery are all winners in the 2012 competition.

The winning categories—and just how many awards ECM has won – will be announced on October 23 at the San Diego Hall of Champions.

September 27, 2012 (El Cajon)--The Grossmont College Guitar Guild will present “Bach to Beatles,” a solo concert by Fred Benedetti, Grossmont College guitar instructor, at 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28, on the Grossmont College campus, Building #26, Room #221. The public is invited to attend.

Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and military and $5 for students. Proceeds will benefit the Grossmont College Music Department. 

September 27, 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.

• Judge rules Arizona can enforce strict provision to immigration law (Reuters)
• Worrisome levels of arsenic in rice (Consumer Reports)
• Massive tumors in rats fed genetically modified corn (CA Right to Know blog)
• More than 1,000 pastors plan to challenge IRS by endorsing candidates (Fox)
• As tax credit wanes, jobs vanish in wind power industry (New York Times)
• Tesla offers free solar travel with new super-charged tech (RawStory)
• Senators to Hilary: Show us the ambassador’s cables (ForeignPolicy)
• Mormons want to expel Romney critic (Daily Beast)
• Whose next in line for a kidney transplant? The answer is changing (NPR)

WORLD

• Out with color: Islamists force Timbuktu women to wear black veils or face corporal punishment (Observers)
• Fake Italian pilot traveled in cockpit, police say (Reuters)
• Marijuana and cancer: Researchers find cannabis stops metastasis in aggressive forms of cancer (Huffington Post)
•  Report: restrictions on religious views rise worldwide (Jerusalem Post)
• Second day of anti-Japan attacks rock China (NPR)
• Man held in revenge plot over Muslim cartoons (Christian Science Monitor)
• Russia reveals shiny state secret: It’s awash in diamonds (Christian Science Monitor)
• Pakistani TV stations air a real ‘made in USA’ video. Will it calm violence? (Christian Science Monitor)
• The terrorist veto (City Journal)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

September 27, 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

• County hires planning director from bankrupt city (UT)
• Census: El Cajon Has Highest Poverty Rates In San Diego County (KPBS)
• Blaze roared through quiet community like a freight train (UT San Diego)
• Turko tackles Alpine Boulevard construction woes (KUSI)
• Judicial race pits establishment against Tea Party (North CountyTimes)
• Will San Onofre outage mean relief for ratepayers? (UT San Diego)
• Pattern Energy: The bad stuff just goes on and on (Hawaii Free Press)
• Prolific disabled access lawyer to be disbarred (UT)
• San Diego’s median income drops (Fox 5)
• Pensions fall well below 80% funding level (UT San Diego)
• Could bullying be behind Ramona boy’s suicide? (10 News)

STATE

• Watchdog group faults states’ inspection of oil, gas wells (Los Angeles Times)
• Jerry Brown signs two-year reprieve for state parks (Sacramento Bee)
• Jerry Brown signs bill allowing same-day voter registration (Sacramento Bee)
• Gov. Brown signs 18 bills to help veterans, families (Sacramento Bee)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

The Lemon Grove Historical Society's popular series, "History Alive," will continue on Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. in the H. Lee House, 3205 Olive, Civic Center Park, with "A Fireside Chat with Sally Rae Harris," a woman whose bucolic childhood in Lemon Grove begs the question, "How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm after they've seen Paree?"

The following details were provided in a press release from the district, which has been plagued by budget shortfalls, contentious public meetings, and labor-management disputes in recent years.

September 27, 2012 (Spring Valley) -- The San Miguel Consolidated Fire Protection District’s Board of Directors voted onSeptember 25 to approve a Cooperative Service Agreement with CAL FIRE. The Board voted unanimously to approve  the five and a half-year agreement. Board President Chris Winter said, “This Cooperative Agreement allows the District to proceed with a balanced budget, maintain the current level of service for our residents and provide for the long-term viability of the District.

Local Democratic candidates will also be on hand

September 27, 2012 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club will sponsor a 2012 Presidential Debate Watch Party at the La Mesa Community Center on Wednesday, October 3rd, at the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Drive in La Mesa. The Club has arranged to have a large screen TV to view the faceoff between President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney.