September 15, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top news stories of interest to our region, published in other media. This week's top Roundup stories include:

LOCAL

• SDUSD may close 10 San Diego schools (10 News)
• East County college district adopts lean budget (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Sewer problems highlight region’s utility weak spots (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Grossmont High School District hopes for ‘soft landing’ in case of midyear cuts (La Mesa Patch)
• Fiery ball seen streaking across SoCal sky (10 News)
• Underlying cause of the Southwestern blackout, Sept. 8, 2011: Failure of the smart grid (La Mesa Patch)
• Congresswoman Davis: Campaign robbed of $250,000  (10 News)
• Helix grad Shoshana Hebshi makes world news (passenger detained in Detroit) (La Mesa Patch)
• Sempra announces new company president

STATE

• Jerry Brown calls for ‘war on unemployment’ (Sacramento Bee)
• Chamber of Commerce wins big on its “job killer” list (Sacramento Bee)
• Mercury chairman dumps $8 million into insurance initiative drive (Sacramento Bee)

By Miriam Raftery

September 14, 2011 (San Diego) – I-5 is now open and a SIG alert cancelled following collapse of a construction platform that landed on vehicles and injured 11 people, one seriously, at the San Ysidro border crossing this afternoon.

September 12, 2011 (Escondido) – Get a close-up look at what fresh and local agriculture is all about from those who know it best: San Diego farmers! On Saturday, Oct. 15, six local growers will open their farms to the public for San Diego County Farm Bureau’s second annual Farm Tour Day, with guided walking tours from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

 
 By Steve Doss, Wells Fargo’s SBA Regional Manager for the Southern California Market
 
 
September 14, 2011 (San Diego) -- “What does it really take for a small business owner to get a loan from a bank today?” It’s one of the top questions our bankers hear – and I would like to share our answer to this question.
 
  
 

September 14, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Lightning strikes have ignited two small brush fires in Shelter Valley, between Julian and Borrego Springs, Cal Fire confirms.

By Buck Shott
 

September 16, 2011 (La Mesa) -- Grossmont Healthcare District and the City of La Mesa will host the 10th annual Kids Care Fest on Saturday, Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This free family event features free health care screenings at Briercrest Park, 9001 Wakarusa St., La Mesa.

September 13, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) -- Parents, students, staff and community members from throughout Eastern San Diego County are welcome to attend the 2nd Annual iParent event, sponsored by the Grossmont Union High School District.

The event, which will feature keynote speakers Marsha Dodson and Dr. Darlene Willis and their presentationEmpowering Parents: A Guide to Taking Control of Your Child's Educational Journey, will take place on Saturday, September 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Vallhalla High School. 

September 9, 2011 (San Diego) – Local residents are swapping stories of how they coped during the biggest blackout ever to hit our region. Their tales vary widely – and show that amid a crisis, attitude is everything! Neighbors helped neighbors—and some hosted impromptu blackout parties.

Tax reforms including “plenty of loopholes to close” should be on the table, Hunter aide suggests

September 12, 2011 (Washington D.C.)—Congressman Duncan D. Hunter (R-El Cajon) has issued a press release urging the “Super Committee” tackling debt reduction to reach a timely agreement in order to avoid a trigger clause that would spark massive cuts to U.S. national security. 

By Billie Jo Jannen
For East County Magazine

September 11, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--As the state legislative session came to a close with the usual last minute hustle to get bills passed before midnight Friday, rural residents narrowly escaped a rewritten state fire fee that would have increased many property owners’ bills by hundreds – or even thousands – of dollars per year.

The bill, dubbed SB1X7 in the senate and ABX 1 24 in the assembly is far from dead, however, and could be reintroduced in the new session, which starts Jan. 4, 2012.   Meanwhile the Dept. of Finance plans to begin sending bills to property tax owners this fall under the plan originally approved.

September 13, 2011 (Tierrasanta) –After treating patio furniture with teak oil on Sunday, a homeowner at 4608 Seda in Tierrasanta discarded the teak oil can in a trashcan. “A fire started in the trash can a few hours later and the homeowner was unable to put it out,” said Officer J. Jacobsen with San Diego Police.