By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

February 7, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--It’s Valentine month and February is also American Heart Month.  Cardiovascular Disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Now is a good time to take preventive steps and beat it!

By Nadin Abbott

February 5, 2014 (Jamul)—It was standing room only as Director Baldwin called the Rural Fire Protection District meeting to order in Jamul. In question was whether the Rural Fire District should dissolve and join the County Fire Authority. In phase three of the takeover, the County aims to absorb both the Pine Valley Fire District and the Rural Fire Protection District.

If the Rural District dissolves, the money that the County now puts into the District, to the tune of $3.6 million will continue. If the district does not dissolve, those funds will go away, and the district will only have the $1.6 million that it collects from residents. In effect, if the Fire District does not dissolve, it will have to reduce service and will only be able to staff the Jamul and Otay Stations, Director Dale Amato warned. The rest of the stations will have to go dark, or rely on volunteers—and there will be a significant degradation of fire protection service.

By Nadin Abbott

February 6, 2014 (Jamul) Last night, the auditorium at the Jamul Middle School was filled beyond capacity. Residents came to learn the status of a controversy that started over 20 years ago over Jamul Indian Village’s plans to build a casino in this rural community.

Jamulians Against the Casino, a citizens’ group, led yesterday’s meeting and gave a presentation revealing that that three lawsuits have been filed seeking to halt the project.

February 6, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD), the public agency that serves as landlord of Grossmont Hospital on behalf of the community, has launched an effort to prepare for a possible June 2014 ballot measure to extend the existing lease agreement with Sharp HealthCare for the operation of the La Mesa hospital.

February 6, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - A zapateado will be performed by Ballet Folklorico en Aztlan on February 9^th at 2:00 p.m. at the Muevete Dance Studio in Lemon Grove.

February 6, 2014 (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 reflect 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.

• To save lives, it's time for our cars to 'talk', US says. Are there risks? (CS Monitor)
• U.S. abortion rate falls to lowest level in 40 years (RawStory)
• U.S. safety agency says 22 million vehicles recalled in 2013  (Reuters)

WORLD

• Airlines warned on possible Olympics toothpaste bombs (USA Today)
• Volcanic ash smothers part of Indonesia, kills 15 (CNN)
• Should E.U. Police Be Given Darth Vader-Like Powers to Stop Cars Remotely? (Reason)
• More than 400 dead dolphins on north Peru coast (UT San Diego)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click "read more" and scroll down.

February 5, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) -- Several East County artists, including painters and a carver, are among the exhibitors at the 41st annual California Open Wildlife Art Festival, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 15 and 16, at Liberty Station in San Diego’s Point Loma area. Local artists include El Cajon resident and wildlife painter Gloria Chadwick, Jamul resident and wildlife and western watercolorist Ron Dotson, Alpine painter Nancy Bradshaw Palm and Bob Berry of El Cajon, a winner of four world titles in fish carving.

February 5, 2014 (San Diego)-- To encourage science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) among high school students, Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) announced she is holding a House App Contest in her congressional district.  Students who are interested in participating can get more information at Rep. Davis’s website.

February 5, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - The Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS® (PSAR), a 2,000-member trade group for San Diego area realtors, hosted El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells at a recent PSAR brown-bag lunchtime conversation presented by PSAR’s Government Affairs Committee. Wells, a city councilman in El Cajon since 2008 and mayor pro tem since December 2012, was appointed mayor in November 2013, succeeding Mark Lewis who served for 14 years.

Meeting set for Feb. 19 in Alpine

February 4, 2014(San Diego)—U.S. Forest Service ((USFS) officials, in conjunction with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), have announced a supplemental scoping period to provide the public with an additional opportunity to comment on the topics and alternatives that should be included in the Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) being prepared for the SDG&E proposal.

The Forest Service and CPUC will hold a Supplemental Scoping Meeting for the SDG&E Master Special Use Permit and Permit to Construct Power Line Replacement Projects at the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Boulevard, Alpine, CA on Wednesday, February 19, 2014 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.  The meeting is open to all.

February 3, 2014 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce presents “Lights, Camera, Action!”, the 6^th Annual Salute to Local Heroes on Feb. 19 from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.  The event will celebrate 8 local heroes from the La Mesa Police Department, Fire Department, paramedics and the Retired Volunteers of the La Mesa Police Department.  Enjoy bidding on an assortment of silent auction items and get lucky on raffles that offer many prizes.