To help brighten the holidays for families in need, the Salvation Army in El Cajon will be holding the 38^th Annual East County Toy & Food Drive. 

To apply for help, applications will be taken on Saturday, November 23^rd and on Saturday, December 7^th, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Salvation Army offices, located at 1011 E. Main Street in El Cajon.  Toys are for children ages 12 and under.

November 16, 2013 (El Cajon ) --The final car show for the season in El Cajon is the “Parade of Lights” on Wednesday, December 4.

Get in the spirit of the holidays and enjoy a parade of vehicles decorated for the season on downtown El Cajon’s Main Street from 5-8 p.m.  You can also have a photo with Santa,  enjoy holiday music and carolers.

By Miriam Raftery

November 16, 2013 (La Mesa) – Paul Day, 49, of La Mesa has been arrested after leading La Mesa police on a pursuit that led through backyards and streets of La Mesa, ending after he reportedly rammed a police car and attempted to back the vehicle into two officers. 

The wild chase in pursuit of the alleged prowler comes just days after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled  that a La Mesa Police officer should not be held liable for an accidental injury to a homeowner that occurred during a hot pursuit of a suspect into the resident’s yard.  

To hear our exclusive interview with Sycuan Chairman Daniel Tucker, click here. 

By Miriam Raftery

November 14, 2013 (El Cajon ) – History books in California schools teach a view of our past that focuses on Spanish missionaries , conquistadors and other Europeans while omitting the Kumeyaay Native American people who  had lived here for thousands of generations before the first settlers came.  A new documentary produced by the Sycuan band of the Kumeyaay nation aims to change that.

Our People, Our Culture, Our History  premiered this week and will be distributed to local schools.  The film reveals a side of San Diego history that most area residents have never been taught—the exploitation and near extermination of the Kumeyaay people.  This powerful film also documents a triumph of the human spirit, detailing the Sycuan band’s struggle to survive and thrive as a new generation rediscovers a heritage nearly lost.

November 15, 2013 (Washington D.C.) – President Barack Obama yesterday announced changes aimed at fixing flaws in the Affordable Healthcare Act and the roll-out of ‘Obamacare.’

A key change is to allow consumers with individual healthcare coverage to keep their existing policies for another year. The move comes in response to criticism that some insurers had cancelled policies despite promises made by the White House that consumers could keep their existing healthcare plans if they chose to do so. An assessment will be done to determine whether additional changes or extensions are needed.

By Tom Budlong

I just mined the Ocotillo project's Environmental Impact Statement issued before the project was approved. The document's job is to predict the project's impacts.

On noise: “Under this worst-case scenario the wind farm would be considered an acceptable land use and…would meet the Imperial County daytime and nighttime noise limits. (p. 4.9-7).

November 14, 2013 (Alpine) – For the past 8 years the Alpine Woman’s Club has sponsored “Christmas in Alpine” Home Tour. However, as of October, the group has only one house for this year’s tour.

“This fundraiser helps to provide scholarships that we give away each year. Since 1950 the Alpine Woman's Club has given away more than $95,000 to exceptional Alpine graduating seniors,” said Carlette Anderson, president of the Alpine Woman’s Club. “We are reaching out to the community and looking for Alpine residents who love to decorate for the holidays and would enjoy sharing their decorating skills with others. The event is scheduled for Saturday Dec 14th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All we ask of you is to decorate your home. We provide insurance, booties to wear over your shoes (if you want them) and docents who are present in your decorated rooms.”

November 14, 2013 (Alpine) – When Amy Gorence saw an email in her inbox from Scholarshare, she didn’t open it because she assumed it was advertising. It turns out she overlooked a notification that her daughter, Ryley, had won a scholarship for $529 through a contest, “Reading Makes Cent$,” at the Alpine Library.

Luckily, the folks with California’s official 529 College Savings Plan didn’t give up too easily. A few weeks later, Amy got a phone call asking if Ryley was still interested. “Interested in what?” she asked. The answer was a big surprise: Ryley’s name was chosen, out of all the entries from the San Diego County Library system, to receive $529 in a tax-advantaged savings plan for her college education. As if this weren’t enough good news, there’s more: the Alpine Library will receive matching funds—another $529—to spend on materials.

County News Service

November 14, 2013 (San Diego) -- The County’s latest annual report has been published and you can check it out at SDCountyAnnualReport.com from either your home computer or –wait for it – your smart phone.

That’s right, this year for the first time ever, you’ll be able to read the County’s annual report on your smart phone.

And no, despite its name or any fusty reputations about reports in general, it won’t take a year to read the annual report. It’s designed to be a snapshot: a very, very condensed version of the County’s Operational Plan along with some extra accomplishments and fun facts and figures.

November 14, 2013 (Lakeside) – The Lakeside Chamber is offering free admission to all who bring a new, unwrapped toy (with a $5 value or more) to its November 21 business mixer at the Lakeside Rodeo Grounds.  The event takes place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.   Guests are invited to come for the networking and stay for the friends and food provided by Café 67.

Aztecs announce plans for a 23,500-square-foot facility for men’s and women’s basketball.

Story by SDSU Athletics

November 14, 2013 (San Diego) -- San Diego State University President Elliot Hirshman and Athletic Director Jim Sterk announced Tuesday that plans for a 23,500-square-foot Basketball Performance Center are in design, with a plan to break ground on the project in late spring 2014.

November 14, 2013 (San Diego's East County)--Our October shows are now online—including special reports on East County issues, interviews with top newsmakers, local musicians, authors, colorful characters and people making a positive difference in our community.  Click here for a list of October shows and guests with links to listen online now.

You can also hear our show live when it airs on KNSJ 89.1 FM on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 5 p.m. and reruns Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 9 a.m.  Or listen live online during those hours at www.KNSJ.org.

East County Magazine's special report on the Cedar Fire, originally aired on KNSJ, is now online. Listen here:

https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

Our editor, Miriam Raftery, covered the Cedar Fire back in 2003 for several publications and our own publisher, Mark Hanson, lost his home in Lakeside's Wildcat Canyon. Thus we were able to reconnect with a broad network of contacts to create our special report, which includes some never before told stories and interviews with fire survivors, firefighters and elected officials including Cal Fire Captain Mike Mohler,   Lakeside resident Mark Hanson,  Lakeside Fire Chief Andy Parr,  burn survivor Rudy Reyes,  Supervisor Dianne Jacob, San Diego Councilman Mark Kersey, Santee Councilman Brian Jones, retired Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mark Ostrander, Kathy Kassell, cofounder of the Cedar Fire Rebuild Resource Group, and other eyewitness stories from California’s worst wildfire ever. 

We conclude with reflections on what’s changed since then, as well as a reading from The Fire Outside My Window by Lindra Millers Younger.

November 14, 2013 (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

• Water use triples at East County project (UT San Diego)
• Related video: Tapping the water (UT San Diego)
• No restrictions in San Diego yet, despite another dry year (KPBS)
• Supreme Court rules in favor of La Mesa Police officer (La Mesa Patch)
• In San Diego, taxpayers want more than what they pay for (SD Free Press)
• Housing for sexual predator Badger to be determined by judge (KPBS). 
• Police use face scans in the field (UT San Diego)
• Man surfaces at San Diego church 34 years after abduction to Mexico (Reuters)
•  La Mesa City Council: Oktoberfest report calls for major changes (La Mesa Today)
• El Centro solar mega-project operational (UT San Diego)

STATE

• Homemade food vendors hail new law (UT San Diego)
• 20 top scientists urge CA gov. to stop fracking (SacBee)
• When Caregivers Are Abusers: Calif. Complaints Go Unanswered ( NPR)
• Calif.'s low community college fees face scrutiny (AP)

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

By Richard Lederer and Caroline McCullagh

November 13, 2013 (San Diego) – SDW/EG members Richard Lederer and Caroline McCullagh are the proud co-authors of American Trivia: What We All Should Know About U.S. History, Culture & Geography (Gibbs Smith Publisher, 2012). Over a span of three years, Rich and Caroline will share with you their journey through American history.