By Nadin Abbott

August 6, 2014 (San Diego)--The County of San Diego has recognized the reality of climactic change since the County Board of Supervisors adopted the Climate Action Plan in 2012, This is a comprehensive plan that partly complies with the state mandate imposed by AB 32. AB 32, which is the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, signed into law by then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Church launches drive to save lives, help children fleeing violence

"Jesus himself was a refugee, who with his family fled to a foreign as an infant." --Rev. Kaji Dousa

Hear our interview with Doug Brunson from UCCLM: http://www.kiwi6.com/file/gvviv3lgb6

View or sign a petition to help the children: http://tableucc.com/witness/sign-the-petition-central-american-refugee-crisis/

By Miriam Raftery

August 7, 2014 (La Mesa)—United Church of Christ in La Mesa has stepped forward to help children from Central America who have sought refuge in the United States, fleeing violence, drug trafficking and threats of death.   The public is invited to a Border Children panel discussion on Sunday, August 17 at 3 p.m.  at the church, located at 5940 Kelton Avenue, La Mesa.

 “We need to welcome the strangers. We need to help those in need,” Doug Brunson with UCCLM told East County Magazine in a recent radio interview, quoting Jesus.  “This is a crisis…something that needs to be addressed now,” he said of the 50,000 children.

July 31, 2014 (San Diego)--Flamenco, jazz, classical and popular music will be performed in free a guitar concert by noted musician Fred Benedetti on Saturday, August 17 at 3 p.m. in the Mission Trails Regional Park visitor center theater.   This acclaimed entertainer plays with several local bands. He is also a full-time music professor at Grossmont College, where he heads up the guitar studies program, and serves as chair of the guitar program at San Diego State University.  He has toured in the U.S. Europe, Canada, Mexico and Taiwan. Locally, Benedetti has performed with the San Diego Symphony, the San Diego Opera, Starlight Opera, American Ballet Company,  and the Old Globe Theatre, plus he has shared the stage with such musical luminaries as opera star Luciano Pavarotti and jazz artist Dave Brubeck.

August 7, 2014 (Mt. Helix)--The 7^th annual HeART of Mt Helix will be held on Saturday, August 16 from 5:30 pm until 10 pm up in the pPark atop Mt. Helix.  

The event features live music on two stages, visual artists at work, restaurant tastings, auction, a signature cocktail, craft beer, wine and spectacular sunset views. 

Hear our interview at the Ramona Fund for Animals Wildlife Center: https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

By Miriam Raftery

August 7, 2014 (Ramona) – The Ramona Fund for Animals Wildlife Center is one of only three facilities in San Diego County that rehabilitate injured or ill wildlife for release back into the wild. Currently the Center is nursing back to health two coyote pups found with burned feet during the May wildfires.

The Center, founded by Cleveland Amory, also has some permanent residents that cannot be rereleased, including  a hand-raised captive cougar in these photos (shot through the bars of its enclosure). This mountain lion was reported by a local veterinarian after its owner, who purchased it illegally from out of state, brought the cub in for a “well kitten” checkup.

August 6, 2014 (San Diego) – It’s back to school time—and Check Center locations around San Diego County will give away free backpacks and school supplies to the first 250 children who stop by on Saturday, August 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.   This includes an East County location at 1090 East Main Street, Suite 103 in El Cajon.

August 6, 2014 (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

• SDG&E proposal bypasses clean energy sources (UT San Diego editorial)
• Supervisors adopt Ramona village design plan (Ramona Sentinel)
• Regulator keeps San Onofre study secret (UT San Diego)
• Suicidal wrong-way driver had meth, pot in her system (UT San Diego)
• City to defend Goldsmith over records (UT San Diego)

STATE

• California Governor declares emergency amid fires (AP)
• More Than 25 Percent Of California's Firefighting Budget Already Up In Smoke
• Peeved to be sure: Newspapers called for utilizes chief Peevey’s head (SD Reader)
• Utilities commission was cozy with utility (SD Reader)
• Neel Kashkari, candidate for California governor, poses as a homeless man (Sacramento Bee)
• California Assembly Passes Bill Requiring Police to Get a Warrant for Surveillance Drone (Reason)
• California revises rules on use of force with mentally ill inmates (Reuters)
• PG&E to stop providing bottled water in Hinkley (Sacramento Bee)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” or scroll down.

By Miriam Raftery

August 5, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--Have you ever wondered just how effective those online petitions can be?  Do they really make a difference?

August 5, 2014 (San Diego)—The Chaparral Institute, a San Diego-based environmental organization, has issued a press release revealing that a CBS affiliate in Sacramento recycled a sensationalized 2013 Associated Press news article this week with a new headline that reads,  “1 Year Later, Scientists Find Yosemite Rim Fire Left Behind a Sierra Moonscape.” The story suggested that “everything is dead” – a point disputed by the Chaparral institute.

August 5, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - The third annual San Diego Comic Fest will be held October 17-19 at the San Diego Town & Country Resort and Convention Center. The guest of honor is Neal Adams, the legendary artist for such super-heroes as Batman, X-Men, Deadman, Green Arrow and Superman.

Coming soon: Finding Kitty

East County News Service

August 5, 2014 (San Diego)--Finding Rover, a new facial recognition software program, is helping to reunite lost pets with their owners. Here in San Diego, it even worked for Roxie, a Shibu Inu dog who turned up in the County Animal Shelter in Bonita.

August 3, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – National 811 day, appropriately on August 11^th, urges people to call 811 before doing ANY type of digging. That means homeowners in their gardens as well as contractors. The service is free; two days notice is requested for an inspection to locate and mark underground lines.

E - The Environmental Magazine                                           

By Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss

August 2, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) --Dear EarthTalk: Where are some good “eco-travel” destinations right here in the continental U.S. that I can consider for a family vacation?                                               -- Janet Devino, Brooklyn, NY

August 5, 2014 (San Diego)--An ebola outbreak has killed nearly 900 people in West Africa and stricken more than 1,600.  Left untreated,  about 90% of  patients with the ebola virus have died – and until recently, there was no known treatment or cure.

By Janis Russell

August 3, 2014 (El Cajon)- Yesterday was another protest rally over violence against Christians in Iraq and Syria at Prescott Promenade in El Cajon. There was also a rally last month and a prayer vigil. The latest event was organized by the East County Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce. There was an estimated attendance of about 100 at this rally.