By Rebecca J. Williamson

November 3, 2012 (Santee)--Ashley and Jaycee, employees at the newly opened Phil’s BBQ in Santee, get into the mood to serve before the onslaught from “Friends & Family” night to benefit the East County Boys & Girls Club.  The benefit was held before the grand opening and was very well attended.  The restaurant opened up officially on Tuesday, October 30th. 

November 3, 2012 (La Mesa)--To date Brew Ha Ha Comedy has produced over 200 live stand-up comedy shows.  They currently have two shows per week in La Mesa:  every Wednesday at Haritna Mediterranean Restaurant and recently every Friday at The Holiday Inn, Mesa Grill. 

International headliner Chris Clobber and his partner businesswoman and Comedian Diane Jean started producing Brew Ha Ha Comedy at Twiggs in University Heights in October 2009.  Brew Ha Ha Comedy gives talented comedians an opportunity to work their craft, regardless of their age, sex, race or sexual orientation. 

November 3, 2012 (San Diego) – It is a surprise to many that wild rainbow trout still exist in San Diego County. One place they do is on Boulder Creek, at the foot of the towering Cuyamaca Peak in East County. 

The San Diego River Park Foundation, in partnership with San Diego Fly Fishers and other organizations supporting wild trout conservation, has launched a project to ensure the survival of the wild trout on Boulder Creek, one of two known creeks in the San Diego River Watershed which support the trout.

November 3, 2012 (San Diego) -- For complete Calendar, go to www.SDWriteWay.org

By Eleanora Robbins

“This is where Doug Manchester has decided to build high rise buildings, right on liquefiable soils.”

November 3, 2012 (San Diego)--Italy isn’t the only place making dumb decisions over earthquake prediction.  Here in San Diego, never-ending broken utility lines and stinky sewers are occurring because our local and state government officials have suspended their responsibility for oversight of development on known and suspected faults downtown.  Surprisingly, the City and Port of San Diego actually funded studies of downtown faults but refuse to release them. The reason?  They probably don't want to turn down potential development money and the resulting property taxes.

November 3, 2012 (San Diego)—Kensington Community Church welcomes the Rev. Darryl Kistler as its new senior minister.  For the past five years, the Rev. Kistler, 37, served as pastor of Community Congregational Church in Kalispell, Montana, where he tripled average attendance, led the congregation through a vision process, prioritized the church’s online presence and use of technology in worship, and created and led a multi-faith youth group.

November 3, 2012 (Sacramento) – State officials have started mailing notices to tens of thousands of San Diego County property owners warning that they will soon be billed $150 annually to help shore up Cal Fire’s budget. Budget cuts have dropped the number of firefighters per engine, among other cutbacks in wildfire protection.

Residents of Alpine, Dehesa and other communities in Jacob’s Second District report receiving the notices in recent days. They consider the new fire tax an unfair burden, noting they already pay state property taxes to help fund public safety and often community fees for additional fire protection.

Animal rescue operation announces push for volunteers, interns and grant writers to help continue mission of compassion to save animals in need. Sanctuary serves neglected population of animals.

November 3, 2012 (La Mesa) – The Helping Hands Animal Sanctuary of La Mesa announced on October 23 a unique holiday volunteer drive to help continue its mission of providing help to a neglected population of animals in need. The volunteer drive will seek individuals who are willing to assist with the rescue of dogs, cats, birds and other small animals in neighborhoods that may be overlooked by larger animal shelters.  The drive will begin immediately and continue through the end of the year.

November 2, 2012 (Boulevard) – Thanks to our generous readers who helped raise several thousand dollars plus supplies to benefit 11 families who lost homes in the recent Shockey fire.

“So many wonderful people are out there with wonderful caring hearts,” Lorrie Ostrander, who organized a fundraising event for fire survivors told ECM.  Some fire surivors are now placed in old trailers donated and others are on the Campo reservation. "A home is what we make of it and for now they are thankful for life,” said Ostrander, adding that items needed most now are cooking utensils, curtains, towels, bedding, dishes and toys. 

She also offered this “wish list” for the kids for Chirstmas:  a girl's bike for a 10 year old, sports items for a boy, 9, who lost his baseball bat, ball, football and basketball, and a motorized toy truck for a 2-year-old whose treasured truck was lost to the flames.

November 2, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego’s local Republican Congressmen Brian Bilbray, Duncan Hunter and Darrell Issa voted for the Paul Ryan budget which would have deeply reduced emergency response and preparedness to disasters such as Hurricane Sandy and local wildfires. An analysis from Third Way says that the Ryan-Bilbray budget “would set the clock back on disaster preparation to the days before Hurricane Katrina.”

Mitt Romney, in a primary debate, called disaster relief “immoral” and said he would privatize FEMA.  Following Hurricane Sandy, he has sought to blur his stance, though his running mate’s budget would also have radically cut federal aid and hampered states’ abilities to respond when disasters strike.

Hundreds of drugs recalled, ranging from antibiotics to blood thinners, pain prescriptions to pediatric medications recalled

Update:  “Sharp Grossmont Hospital and any other entity of Sharp HealthCare does not purchase products from Ameridose, the pharmaceutical company that is linked to the drug recall,” spokesman Bruce Hartman has informed ECM.

October 31, 2012 (Washington D.C.)--The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that Ameridose, LLC, based in Westborough, Mass., is voluntarily recalling all of its unexpired products due to serious sterility concerns. The move follows 54 cases of fungal meningitis linked to steroid injections.

However, the drug recall is much broader, including hundreds of drugs in oral and inhalable forms as well as injectibles. The list includes many commonly used medications such as Ibuprofin, Acetaminophen, Lidocaine, Penicillin, Vancomycin, Oxytocin, Morphine, Vancomycin and Heparin, to name just a few.

View a complete list of all products subject to this recall here with more information at www.ameridose.com. Products from Ameridose can be identified by markings that indicate Ameridose by name or by its company logo. Despite the recall, doctors and healthcare professional have NOT been urged by the FDA to followup with patients who received these drugs, so check the list carefully to see if medications you have received may be on the list. Scroll down for more information.

Clean tech/green tech research and manufacturing jobs for East County? A local hearing on energy impacts? It could happen–now that Davis’ district has expanded east

By Miriam Raftery and Janis Mork

October 29, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Many East County residents may be surprised to open their ballots and see that they’re now in Congresswoman Susan Davis’ district instead of Congressman Duncan Hunter’s.  With redistricting, Davis’ 53^rd district now includes La Mesa and most of El Cajon, along with San Carlos, Allied Gardens, Del Cerro, Rolando, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley, Bonita, large portions of San Diego and Chula Vista.  View map.

Just who is Susan Davis and what might her representation mean for people in East County?  ECM sat down for an exclusive interview with her last week.

October 31, 2012 (La Mesa) – Last year, La Mesa Council voted 3 to 2 against declaring La Mesa a “Fair Trade Town.”  But on October 12, Mayor Art Madrid signed a commendation letter posted on the Fair Trade La Mesa website. Under a rule change by the national Fair Trade Towns USA group, La Mesa has now been granted the designation despite Council's objection, drawing both controversy and praise.

November1, 2012 --  (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 reflecting 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.

• Sandy blamed for 157 deaths (CNN)
• Impact by state: States pick up pieces as Sandy fades (CNN)
• Hurricane Sandy blows election off course (Reuters)
• Obama on storm recovery: We will not quit until this is done (CNN)
• Romney’s challenge: How to campaign after Sandy (CBS)
• Romney ties to voting machine company that could decide the election causing concerns (Forbes)
• Romney’s lax regulation may have fueled meningitis outbreak (Salon)
• Did U.S. go too far in secret surveillance of citizens? Case heads to Supreme Court  (Christian Science Monitor)
• U.S. sues Bank America for mortgage fraud (NPR)
• Citing food safety concerns, Kroger calls it quits on sprouts (NPR)
• Bloomberg Backs Obama, Citing Fallout From Storm

WORLD

• Death knell for wind farms: Enough is enough, says Energy Minister in Britain (UK Telegraph)
• In world first, biggest refugee camp gets university (Christian Science Monitor)
• In vitro fertilization increases risk of birth defects (Jerusalem Post)
• AP interview: Japan nuke plant water worries rise (U-T San Diego)
• Did Israel just blow up an Iranian weapons factory in Sudan? (Christian Science Monitor)
• Death toll tops 100 in ethnic strife in Myanmar (NPR)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

November 1, 2012 (San Diego) – Sempra Energy Foundation today pledged $50,000 in disaster-relief assistance funds to East Coast storm victims. In support of Sempra Energy companies’ employee giving efforts, the Foundation also will be matching up to an additional $50,000 in employee donations, bringing the total potential donation to $150,000 by the Foundation and company employees.

Sempra Energy Foundation will direct the funds through the American Red Cross National Relief Fund.