February 18, 2013 (La Mesa) – Sylvester J. Yanta, a resident of the Mount Helix area, passed away on Sunday, February 3, 2013.   A veteran of the U.S. Navy who served his country for 20 years, he later worked for the State of California until his retirement.

He was born December 30, 1920 in Little Falls, Minnesota to Thomas and Mary Yanta, one of 12 children.  He is survived by his wife, Esther Sabo Yanta, and his two daughters, Nina Monrreal and Paula Butler, two grandchildren, one great-grandson, one brother and four sisters.

By E. V. Small

February 14, 2013 (San Diego)--If you are a homeowner who is underwater and/or behind on your mortgage payment , you probably feel as though you have very few options.  Believe it or not, you might just be in a better negotiating position than homeowners with equity and their home and who have made all timely mortgage payments.

By Janis Mork

February 14, 2013 (La Mesa)- Seeking to prevent a repeat of problems at last year’s Oktoberfest, where teen gang members disrupted the event, La Mesa City Council on Tuesday weighed reactions to a report and three potential solutions. See agenda item:  http://www.cityoflamesa.com/Archive.aspx?AMID=&Type=&ADID=5428

Police Chief Ed Aceves informed the Council  that he had discussions with City Manager David Witt, fire officials, and representatives from the La Mesa Village Merchants Association and La Mesa Chamber of Commerce regarding options including removing carnival rides from this year’s Oktoberfest.

 “It’s an open street event. Anyone can come in anytime anywhere,” Chief Aceves said of challenges posed for maintaining security.  “How do we lower the service costs and still have merchants and the Chamber provide Oktoberfest that’s affordable and within their means?”

February 15, 2013 (Valley Center)-- Sheriff's Deputies went door to door in Valley Center this morning to inform the community about a former Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) now living in their neighborhood. Mark William PLISKA reported to the Valley Center Sheriff's Substation on February 6th. He is now living at 15236 Woods Valley Road #41, Valley Center. 

Deputies and members of the SAFE or Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement Task Force notified 110 homes within a half-mile radius of Pliska's mobile home. Deputies also notified the principals of Valley Center Elementary and Valley Center Middle Schools, which were closest to Pliska's residence. Pliska relocated to Valley Center from Escondido. He is current with his registration and a county probation officer will monitor his compliance. 

By Miriam Raftery

February 10, 2013 (Ramona) – Milagro Farms Vineyards and Winery owners Kit and Karen Sickels have plenty to celebrate. At a Mardi Gras party for wine club members yesterday,  Kit Sickels (right) and winemaker Jim Hart shared news that their boutique winery took home top honors in the 2013 Winemakers Challenge International  Wine Competition in late January, beating out big-name winemakers.

By Brian Lafferty

February 15, 2013 (San Diego) – The Twilight movies are easy targets for online hostility and teasing.  But at least those movies, as lifeless as they are to me (I gave up after the second one), respect their audience, especially their target young adult audience.  They don't insult anyone’s intelligence.  Beautiful Creatures, inspired by (or, rather, ripped off from) the Twilight series is offensive, rife with exaggerated phony accents, Southern stereotypes, hammy acting, and dialogue so awkward and bad that it confounds the actors who have to say these lines.  I’m surprised my neck didn’t get stiff from all the double takes.  Beautiful Creatures is downright insulting towards not just the general audience, but also particularly its target young adult audience and their intelligence, and the flagrancy of it is appalling.

By Miriam Raftery

February 14, 2013 (San Diego) – Just in time for Valentine’s Day, here’s some news homeowners will love.  In California, foreclosure filings plunged 39.5% from December to January – the first time since early 2007 that California did not have the highest foreclosure rates in the nation. Nationally, foreclosures have fallen too, though far less steeply: 11% from December to January, and 28.5% from a year ago.

What’s fueling the sudden change?  According to Mortgage Daily News, the state and national shifts are due to California’s new Homeowners Bill of Rights, passed by the Legislature at the request of California Attorney General Kamala Harris (in photo, left, with Governor Jerry Brown).

February 14, 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.

• REI CEO named head of Department of Interior (Sustainable Business)
• A Secretary  to match the setting (New York Times)
• US military deaths in Afghanistan at 2,045 (U-T San Diego)
• U.S. withdrawing 34,000 troops from Afghanistan within a year (Reuters)
• US gas prices jump 25 cents over past 2 weeks (Sacramento Bee)
• Mississippi tornado hits Hattiesburg, leaves no fatalities (+video) (Christian Science Monitor)
• Navajo, Hopi tribes struggle without water in Southwest cold snap (Reuters)
• Massive power outages as ‘Nemo’ storm lashes northeast (USA Today)
• Death By Drone, And The Sliding Scale Of Presidential Power (NPR)
• Solar industry grapples with hazardous wastes  (Sacramento Bee)
• 'Every new car' connected to web by 2014 (BBC)

WORLD

• Vatican announces Pope to step down by end of February (10 News)
• Bizarre stories of the 4 other popes who resigned in the last  1,000 years (Washington Post)
• Exiting U.S. general says Afghan women's rights are key (Reuters)
• Pakistan Says U.S. Drone Strikes Violate Its Sovereignty (NPR)
• Iran's Khamenei rebuffs U.S. offer of direct talks (Reuters)
• Irish marchers protest nationwide against austerity (Reuters)
• Exclusive: U.N. monitors see arms reaching Somalia from Yemen, Iran (Reuters)

HEALTH

• Folic acid in pregnancy  may help lower autism risk (CNN)
• DePuy Hip Implant Problems In San Diego (KPBS)
• Chain Restaurants Boost Sales With Lower-Calorie Foods (NPR)
• Lenses could 'cure colour-blindness' (BBC)
• Pig Manure Reveals More Reason To Worry About Antibiotics (NPR)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

February 14, 2013 (San Diego) --The excitement and glamour of Hollywood are coming to San Diego on Oscar Night.  Residents of San Diego can experience the thrills and surprises of the 85th Academy Awards on Sunday, February 24, at San Diego’s premier Oscar Experience. 

A viewing party benefiting Community Campership Council Inc will be held in Celebration Hall at Market Creek Events & Venues beginning at 5:00 p.m. More information about the event and the Community Campership Council can be found at www.kidstocamp.org; tickets are on sale.

Join the most fun event in town!

LIMITED SEATING -- RESERVE SPACE (619) 922-9057 

By Caprice Harrison

February 22, 2013 (La Mesa) – Bring friends and come on out for some terrific comedy tonight (Feb. 22) at Holiday Inn Mesa Grill,  8000 Parkway Drive to benefit East County Magazine (ECM).  Brew Ha Ha’s hilarious comedy team, Chris Clobber from HBO and Comedy Central and internationally known comic Diane Jean, will perform stand-up comedy for an evening of laughs. Show starts at 7 p.m., or come early to mix and mingle at 6 p.m. with our staff, readers and comics. Win prizes and surprises--including a Viejas gift basket, a winery tour, restaraunt gift certificates and more!

By Brian Lafferty

February 15, 2013 (San Diego) – In preparation for this film, I spent over six hours of my Saturday binging on the Die Hard sequels (I saw the first a couple of years ago).  The experience was like riding a train careening at speeds upwards of 200 miles an hour.  Following the massive adrenaline rush was an equally intense feeling of euphoria.  It took a few days to recover.

February 13, 2013  (San Diego)--Mylar balloons can make great Valentine’s Day gifts, if they’re kept indoors or securely tied down, but they can also pose a safety hazard.  San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) today urged customers to be aware of the dangers that can arise when Mylar balloons touch power lines. 

The metallic coating on Mylar balloons is an excellent conductor of electricity. If a Mylar balloon touches a power line, it could cause a power outage in your neighborhood, and even an electrical fire.

February 13, 2013 (La Mesa)--The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is seeking nominations for its 2013 Healthcare Hero Awards, the annual program honoring residents whose volunteer efforts help advance the delivery of quality healthcare in the East County region. Nomination forms are attached or available at www.grossmonthealthcare.org. Deadline for submission of entries is 3 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 25, 2013, at the GHD offices, 9001 Wakarusa St., in La Mesa.