By Ariele Johannson

July 21, 2013 (Descanso) Efforts of the Mountain Empire Men’s Club culminated in a demonstration of the maxim “It takes a village to raise a child.”

An outpouring of volunteer effort, donations, and pitching-in from the mountain community of Descanso made this year’s scholarship fundraiser on June 28 event another success. Tammy Cooker and her crew from Descanso Junction and Catering served up a fabulous barbecue dinner of Jack Daniels tri-tip and chicken, while the Blue Mountain Band performed live music onstage at the historic Descanso Town Hall.

July 20, 2013 (San Diego’s East County)—The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch effective now through Sunday evening in burned areas of San Diego County’s mountains and deserts. Showers and isolated thunderstorms are also forecast.

Monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action if the flash flood watch is elevated to a flash flood warning.

By Mark Gabrish Conlan

July 19, 2013 (San Diego) – Just when you thought the current sex scandal involving San Diego Mayor Bob Filner couldn’t get any weirder, it did. On July 17 KGTV Channel 10 broke the news that Filner had been booked to be the keynote speaker at the National Military Women Veterans’ Association of America’s gala event in San Diego August 30-31. They had originally planned to give him a “Lifetime of Leadership” award honoring his work on behalf of veterans in general and military veterans in particular. But with allegations that Filner routinely harassed women, including his staff members, in the workplace and at community events, the group decided to rescind the award but keep him on as a speaker. “He is now the keynote speaker for these injustices,” said the group’s official statement.

July 19, 2013 (San Diego) – Yesterday, during opening day at Comic-Con, Mayor Bob Filner announced support for expanding the San Diego Convention Center.

“I am dedicated to keeping Comic-Con here in San Diego.  That dedication includes my support for expanding the San Diego Convention Center.   I am pleased to announce that I have been working closely with the Center’s Board of Directors and San Diego business leaders to develop a solid plan for the expansion effort,” he said. “I support what the Board has in mind and will be working with City staff at all levels to ensure we do everything necessary to get the project underway and completed in a timely fashion.”

By Miriam Raftery

San Diegans are speaking out on the anonymous sexual harassment allegations against Mayor Bob Filner--and their opinions are as diverse as the city's population. While some have called for the mayor's resignation or a recall election, others are urging him to stand his ground pending outcome of any investigaiton--and object to anonyous allegations being leveraged to try and force the mayor from office.

A rift has also occurred within the Democratic Party, with some prominent former supporters and multiple members of the City Council now calling for his resignation. But others say the Mayor is entitled to due process and that demands for his resignation are inappropriate absent proof of  illegal actions. In addition, the party is divided over who should replace Mayor Filner should he step down or be forced from office.

Photo courtesy San Miguel Fire District/Cal Fire

July 18, 2013 (Rancho San Diego )–Firefighters from Cal Fire/San Miguel Fire District responded to a six vehicle incident at Jamacha Road and Cuyamaca College Drive in the Rancho San Diego Area shortly after 11 a.m. today.

According to witnesses, the driver of a silver van was traveling eastbound on Jamacha Road when her vehicle sped up and hit five other vehicles, plunging over an embankment.  The vehicle also knocked over  a tree and continued through a Mobile gas station parking lot, then up a slight embankment, crashing into a light pole at  Rancho San Diego Town Centre before bursting into flames.

July 18, 2013 (Mission Valley) – San Diego County Credit Union (SDCCU), San Diego’s largest locally-owned financial institution with three local East County branches in El Cajon, La Mesa and Santee, is inviting the public to its SDCCU Super Shred Event featuring free document shredding services from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday, July 20 at the Qualcomm Stadium northwest parking lot located at 9449 Friars Road, San Diego. SDCCU is hoping to shred the Guinness World Record for most shred paper collected in 24 hours. The current world record of 111,920 pounds of paper is held by Comerica Bank, Iron Mountain and KDFW FOX 4 in Dallas.

July 18, 2013 (San Diego)--“San Diego Family Magazine” readers voted Mission Trails Regional Park (MTRP) “Best of Family Fun” for 2013 in four categories: Best Place to Connect with Nature, Best Lake, Best Guided Nature Walk, Best Lake, and Best Horseback Riding Trails (bring your own horse). MTRP was the only entry to win in four categories.   

MTRP is 12 miles from downtown San Diego and five miles northeast of Qualcomm Stadium off Mission Gorge Road. The park encompasses about 5,800 acres, and offers 40 miles of trails for hiking, bicycling – including mountain biking, rock climbing, horseback riding, and a 14,750-square-foot Visitor Center located at One Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego 92119.  It is the largest urban open space park west of the Mississippi and everything is free--including many special summertime activities.  Scroll down for details.

July 18, 2013 (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.

• Florida jury acquits George Zimmerman in killing of teenager (Reuters)
• Everybody Sues NSA over Surveillance (Reason)
• Journalism Is an Act, Not a Profession (Reason)
• Soldier Prescribed Controversial Anti-Malarial Drug Before Afghan Massacre(KPBS)  
• Uh, Hooray for Transparency? Government Propaganda Now Legally Available in America (Reason)
• U.S. regulators fine Barclays for energy price manipulation (Marketplace.org)
• Driving somewhere? There's a gov't record of that (U-T San Diego)

WORLD

• Egypt set to receive U.S. jets, despite recent overthrow (Christian Science Monitor)
• Mexico May Ease Restrictions On Foreign Ownership Of Property (KPBS)
• Japan nuclear regulator alarmed at Fukushima contamination reports (Reuters)  
• Bangladesh gives former Islamist leader life term for war crimes
• Mexico Captures Powerful Drug Cartel Leader (KPBS)
• Human toll of Syria's civil war echoes Rwandan genocide, says UN (Christian Science Monitor)

By Miriam Raftery

July 18, 2013 (Pine Valley) – A 38-year-old Pine Valley resident died at the scene of a rollover accident that occurred July 17 at 10:18 p.m.   The driver, whose name has not yet been released by the Medical Examiner, was driving a 2001 Volkswagen GTI westbound on I-8 east of East Willows Road in Alpine at a high rate of speed, a witness told the California Highway Patrol.

"It was avery sad night indeed. It was a very dangerous scene to roll upon in the darkness."

 said Don Lumb, who sent the photo in this story. "He was still alive, but took almost 30 minutes before the first emergency vehicle even arrived. He passed away while at the scene just prior to advanced help."

By Janis Mork

July 17, 2013 (El Cajon)- At the July 9 meeting, El Cajon City Council unanimously voted to authorize the city manager to issue a formal request for qualifications to hire an architect to prepare and provide construction documents ready for bid on renovations to reopen the East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC).

According to Ray Lutz from Citizens Oversight, who also organized a Save ECPAC group last year when the theater was threatened with possible demolition, “This is the best news we have had on this issue for over a year."

By E.A. Barrera

July 16, 2013 (San Diego) – On the continued fight over forcing the Mayor to resign - It is not too smart to call a press conference, like the one Briggs, Frye and Gonzales called yesterday in an attempt to use the media to force San Diego Mayor Bob Filner to resign, then attack the media for asking legitimate questions.

I believe Bob Filner should resign for the good of San Diego, but if he survives this thing, it will be due to his opposition playing such heavy handed politics - from the left and the right - that the public decides this is all just another power grab and there is no difference between Bob and his adversaries.

By Daniel J. Smiechowski

July 15, 2013 (San Diego) --Equivalent to our Independence Day, Bastille Day is the great national holiday of France. In the true Gallic tradition, Bastille Day is also celebrated in America.

Why have we Americans so fervently embraced a foreign holiday of which we know so little about? It is due, perhaps, to the unmistakable joie de vivre we have imported from the French culture. Our thoughts about Bastille Day are not so much an exercise in history, but rather a reflection of the things we view as endemic to the nation of France.

July 15, 2013 (El Cajon) -- Are you a military member or veteran? If so, the County wants to hear from you.

The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency is sponsoring a forum at the El Cajon Library on July 18 from 4 to 6 p.m. to gather information that will help service members make a successful transition to civilian life.

July 15, 2013 (Lemon Grove) – This summer the music is floating over Berry Street Park, 7071 Mt. Vernon, Lemon Grove on Thursday evenings.  The free concerts are sponsored by the City of Lemon Grove and are from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.