East County News Service

October 22, 2010 (San Diego) -- After three public hearings and hours of testimony from scores of people, including the homeless, the San Diego City Council has chosen a site in its own backyard to serve as a winter shelter: Golden Hall, the convention complex attached to City Hall.

“This is the best compromise available for this year’s winter shelter,” said Councilmember Emerald, a former TV newscaster who once went spent a week living on the streets for an undercover story on homelessness. 

 October 22, 2010

No kidding! Youngsters had a great time at the San Miguel Fire open house in Spring Valley earlier this month, where this boy got a close-up look at goats owned by Johnny Gonzalez; the four-footed brush clearing team is used to create firebreaks in East County’s rural areas. Photo by Miriam Raftery.

“My son grew up here in Boulevard and loves what God gave us,” wrote reader Leslie Mauris, who submitted this photo of boulders balanced as if by divine design.

Scroll down to see more amazing images of East County.....

By Brian Lafferty

October 22, 2010 (San Diego)--Conviction has a well-told, if formulaic, story. The acting is OK, although I felt at times Hilary Swank was trying too hard. It somewhat touched me emotionally and I got mad at times, in a good way. However, I cannot recommend it because of its one major flaw: it’s nothing more than big screen television.

By Ray Wong

October 22, 2010 (San Diego)--Last week, a 19-year-old student named Diana Gonzalez was found dead in a men’s bathroom at San Diego City College. Investigators are looking for her estranged husband because there has been a history of domestic violence reported between them. It’s a shocking incident that has made front-page headlines.
 

I work as a counselor at San Diego City College and I don’t want to focus on the horror of the violence. What I want to tell you about is the candlelight vigil organized by the campus Associated Students in front of the school cafeteria Thursday evening in honor of their fellow student.

"It is a public good, and that’s why to starve it is crazy. We should invest more, not less.” -- Jerry Brown, on higher education funding

By Tanya Huang
Photos by David J. Olender

October 21, 2010 (San Diego) — Gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown addressed a crowd of hundreds at San Diego State University on Thursday afternoon—his only stop in San Diego—about the importance of funding higher education while criticizing his opponent, Meg Whitman for excessively spending on her campaign.  See full video of Brown's speech at SDSU or scroll down for details.

East County News Service

October 22, 2010 (San Diego) -- A proposal to implement a high-tech Graffiti Tracker Program was recently approved by The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee. The Grafitti Tracker Program is a comprehensive, web-based system designed to identify, track, prosecute, and seek restitution from graffiti vandals.

East County News

October 21, 2010 (Julian) -- On Sunday, October 31, at 5:00 p.m. Jeremy’s on the Hill California-Style Bistro teams up with Stone Brewing Company to host a five-course Beer Pairing. The event will feature local produce and ingredients, as well as specialty hops and at least one course featuring grass fed American bison from Star B Buffalo Ranch and Hops Farm.

Guests are invited to wear Halloween Costumes (if they dare….) and prizes will be awarded.

By Anne Spencer and Hub Thompson

October 21, 2010 (El Cajon) -- Valley Music Store hosts its next open mike nights  from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sasturday, October 30th. For many years now, the 58-year-old music store has had a reputation for drawing some of the best musical talent around at its open mike nights. These events are free and open to the public at the store’s new location at 1611 Magnolia Ave. in El Cajon.

October 22, 2010 (San Diego)-- The FBI and San Diego Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance to identify the unknown male who attempted to rob the Bank of America branch, located at 6801 El Cajon Boulevard, San Diego, on Wednesday, October 13th.

By Mary E. Paulet

This is no trick…treat your children to a free meal at Applebee's

October 22, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) - Applebee’s, a family-friendly restaurant, is offering a treat for parents; kids eat free on Saturday, October 30 and on Sunday, October 31, Halloween.

By Miriam Raftery

 

October 19, 2010 (Campo) -- A tip from the Campo Minutemen led to apprehension of two men charged with smuggling horses across the international border on Friday.

 

“Campo Minutemen have twice observed a new occurrence at the border this month—horses,” a blog entry posted by the group stated.

Veteran Michael Foster was hero who saved Alpine woman from burning home

October 19, 2010 – Michael Foster, a U.S. Army combat veteran who barricaded himself into his home in Alpine after firing shots at his wife this morning, has been shot by S.W.A.T. team snipers, ECM news partner 10 News reports.