By Miriam Raftery

March 20, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--A class action lawsuit has been filed by four individuals on behalf of California consumers who purchased certain wines in the past four years.  The suit was filed against 28 California wineries, claiming that their wines have high levels of arsenic—in some cases, 500 times higher than what is considered safe, plaintiffs contend. However, a California wine industry association insists that its wines are safe.

For complete Calendar including Authors Events, go to www.SDWriteWay.org

By Miriam Raftery

March 20, 2015 (Alpine) – Lou Russo, an outspoken former member of the Alpine Community Planning Group, may soon be back on the board, the Registrar of Voters office has confirmed.

James Roe defeated Russo on the November ballot, but moved out of the area for a job prior to the election and is thus ineligible to take the seat.

East County News Service

March 19, 2015 (La Mesa) – The public is invited to meet artist Vanessa Rusczyk and Sunbelt Publishers authors Philip Pryde, Diana Lindsay, Jack Innis and Nicholas Clapp. It’s all part of a “Going Native” spring equinox celebration on Friday, March 20^th from 6 to 9 p.m at O’Dunn Fine Art in La Mesa.

By Miriam Raftery

March 18, 2015 (San Diego)--This week is sunshine week, when media outlets are supposed to report to the public on just how well – or poorly—public officials and agencies have done in responding to public records requests under open government laws.

Ironically, during sunshine week, the White House announced that it’s Office of Administration will no longer be subject to the Freedom of Information Act, continuing a policy begun by the Bush administration to reject all information requests to that office.  

March 19, 2015 (La Mesa) – The City of La Mesa will host April Pools Day  to promote water safety.

By Miriam Raftery

March 18, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Blue Shield of California, the state’s third largest health insurance company, has lost its nonprofit status.  The California Franchise Tax Board revoked Blue Shield’s nonprofit status in August but the decision was only made public this week in a Los Angeles Times article.

By Miriam Raftery

March 19, 2015 (Alpine) – Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Gunther has ruled in favor of the San Diego Unified School District in a lawsuit filed against the Alpine Union School District over the Endeavor Academy (also known as the Albert Einstein Academy for Letters, Arts and Sciences, Inc.). View the judge’s order here.

By Miriam Raftery

March 18, 2015 (San Diego)--The U S. Justice Department has completed an investigation into officer misconduct at the San Diego Police Department.  The report found serious problems with supervision and failure to hold employees accountable for their actions over a five-year period.

March 18, 2015 (Jamul)—The HP Wren UCSD webcam atop Lyons Peak in Jamul caught this dazzling sunrise on St. Patrick’s Day.  Sure ‘n’ those glistening jewels in the sky look like a Leprechaun’s treasure!

March 18, 2015 (La Mesa) - The people of The Table:  United Church of Christ of La Mesa invite you to celebrate Holy Humor Sunday with us.  Bring your funny bones and happy faces and come prepared to laugh in the joy of the Christian faith!

By Ed Barrena

March 17, 2015 (San Diego) - The San Diego State Aztecs men’s basketball team will face off against the St. Johns Red Storm, this Friday night in North Carolina as March Madness begins with SDSU making its 6^th straight appearance at the NCAA Tournament.

By Spurgeon Thomas, photographer and blogger, http://urbanitylife.com

March 16, 2015 (Tierra del Sol)--Tierra Del Sol (TDS) Middle School hosted hundreds of 4th and 5th graders from neighboring Lakeside Union elementary schools in their third annual Student Teachers Educating Peers (S.T.E.P.) program on Saturday, March 7th.

A review of Oedipus El Rey  at the Lyceum Theater, by Mimi Pollack

March 19,2015 (San Diego)--Is a young man doomed to destiny or can he overcome his fate? Since the play, Oedipus El Rey, is based on a classic Greek tragedy, Oedipus Rex, we all know what the answer will be. Nevertheless, this adaptation written by acclaimed playwright, Luis Alfaro, set in a modern Chicano background or urban barrio, asks this age old question.