“May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields.” – Irish blessing

January 26, 2016 (San Diego’s East County)—Those winter rains have left our drought-parched hills wearing a lovely coat of green.  In fact, some areas in San Diego’s backcountry now bear a striking resemblance to Ireland!  Can you tell which photo was taken in East County yesterday, and which was shot in the Irish countryside? (Click “read more” for the answer.)

January 26, 2016 (San Diego's East County)-- East County Magazine's 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.

Presidential campaign

• How Trump and Cruz differ on the issues (CBS)
• In Iowa farm town, immigration debate yields surprising views (LA Times)
• Inspector General: Clinton emails had intel from most secretive, classified programs (Fox)
• Bloomberg considers third-party run for president: report (The Hill)

Other national news

• Suicide rate of female veterans is called ‘staggering’ (Los Angeles Times)
• Planned Parenthood cleared, but 2 indicted over video (AP)
• Blizzard for record books paralyzes New York and Washington (Reuters)
• Ohio town may be the next Flint with its water crisis (CBS)
• Magnitude 7.1 quake rocks Alaska  (Anchorage Daily News)
• The Delicate Politics Of Rising Crime (NPR)
• Exclusive: U.S. weighs making Hawaii missile test site operational - sources (Reuters)

WORLD

• Nearly 19,000 Civilians Killed In Iraq In 22 Months, U.N. Report Says (NPR)
• 50 percent pay cut: a tough break for ISIS fighters (CS Monitor)
• Photos show destruction of oldest Christian monastery in Iraq by ISIS (CS Monitor)
• North Face widow offers land to Chile (BBC)
• Migrants storm French port of Calais and board British ferry
• Hong Kong democrats find a deeper resonance in Taiwan's orderly election (CS Monitor)
• Israeli troops evict Jewish settlers from West Bank homes (Reuters)

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

By Brigitte Garcia

January 26th, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- Dale and Mike Pearson wanted to start a new career after working in hazardous occupations.  So they founded Pearson and Pearson, a honey-wine making business in rural El Cajon. Now they’re savoring sweet success-- including a multi-million dollar deal pending to sell their products into Asia.

East County News Service

January 26, 2016 (Ramona) — The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department has withdrawn its plans for an Emergency Vehicle Operations Course at the Golden Eagle Farm in rural Ramona off Highway 78.

Update: After searching the premises, authoroities have concluded the report of gunfire was unfounded.

January 26, 2016 (San Diego)--An active shooter is reported at Balboa Naval Hospital in Balboa Park.  KNSD TV indicates there have been reports of three shots fired. Avoid this area.  There is a heavy law enforcement presence including U.S. marshals and a S.W.A.T. team in the area. The public is advised to avoid the area.

Balboa Naval Hospital posted on its Facebook page:

**!ATTENTION!** An active shooter has just been been reported in building #26 at Naval Medical Center San Diego. All occupants are advised to run, hide or fight. All non-emergency response personnel are asked to stay away from the compound, located at 34800 Bob Wilson Drive, San Diego, CA 92134

By Ed Barrena

January 25, 2016 (Santee) -- Twisted Manzanita.  The name brings images of arid trails on East County hillsides. Hikes in our local backcountry can make one thirsty, and the tasting room at Twisted Manzanita Ales and Spirits is a great destination to cure that internal drought.

East County News Service

January 24, 2016 (Jacumba Hot Springs) -- A sexually violent predator with a long history of violent sexual attacks including rape at gunpoint and  a stabbing will be placed in Jacumba Hot Springs for supervised outpatient treatment, Superior  Court Judge David Gill has ordered.  Authorities received 11 emails and five phone calls on Ural Davis’ proposed release, but no one showed up at Friday’s hearing to provide public comment in person. 

4 patients in Los Angeles, 1 in San Francisco undergoing testing for Zika virus

CDC broadens travel warning: pregnant women urged to avoid travel to over a dozen countries including Samoa, Mexico, parts of South and Central America (see map)

By Miriam Raftery

January 24, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Zika virus may be responsible for a rise in Guillain-Barre syndrome that can cause temporary paralysis, muscle weakness, and sometimes life-threatening breathing problems. In Brazil, 24 of 42 people diagnosed recently with Guillain-Barre, a normally rare condition, also tested positive for Zika virus, a mosquito-borne illness, ABC reports. World Health Organization has warned that a similar link is being found in other places including El Salvador and French Polynesia.

Energy efficient and long-lasting high intensity grow lights will provide the greatest yields when growing tomatoes and other fruiting plants indoors.  Photo courtesy of Gardner's Supply Company. 

By Melinda Myers

January 18, 2016 (San Diego's East County) - Add some homegrown flavor to your winter meals.  From microgreens to tomatoes, it is possible to grow produce indoors.

East County News Service

January 24, 2016 (El Cajon) — The San Diego Early Music Society will present  Dorothee Oberlinger on recorder, Florian Birsak on harpsichord, and Marco Testori on cello in “Flauto Veneziano,” a concert on Sunday, April 3 at 3 p.m. in the Cuyamaca College Performing Arts Center.

Update January 23, 2016 -- The Medical Examiner has identified the victim as Donnie Chipp, 28.  Cause of death was a stab wound to the chest.

East County News Service

January 22, 2016 (Pine Valley) – Pine Valley resident Douglas Kell, 20, has been arrested and charged with murder.

Photo: David Charles Price   1929 - 2016                            

January 22, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- Services will be held Saturday, January 30 in Carlsbad for David C. Price, who passed away January 13 at age 86.

A lifetime San Diego resident, David C. Price was instrumental in the formation and operation of several San Diego area businesses and real estate developments, and was actively involved with various philanthropic ventures benefiting San Diego County. Most recently he lived in Carlsbad and formerly resided on Mt. Helix with his family for over 30 years. He also served for eight years on the Cajon Valley School District board in the 1960s. 

Price was born in San Diego on October 21, 1929.  He was a 1947 graduate of Grossmont High School and graduated from San Diego State University in 1951 with a bachelor's degree in chemistry. After serving two years in the Army, he worked in the aeronautical industry for 15 years, including serving as General Manager of Advanced Structures in La Mesa, a division of Whittaker Corporation.

By Miriam Raftery

January 22, 2016 (El Cajon) – Grossmont Union High School District’s board voted unanimously last Thursday to shift from at-large elections to district elections in which each trustee will represent a specific portion of the district. The move comes after an attorney for Diego Valley Charter School sent the district a letter advising that it may be in violation of the Voting Rights Act and threatening legal action.

By Miriam Raftery

January 22, 2016 (Washington D.C.) – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of some models of Britax infant car seats due to fall hazards, as well as Britax strollers due to a choking hazard. Below are details from the USPSC:

East County News Service

“The Water-Wise Garden Tour” Will Showcase Drought-Tolerant Home Gardens

January 21, 2016 (El Cajon)—The Water Conservation Garden invites the public to its first annual Water-Wise Home Garden Tour.  The tour will highlight a variety of five beautiful gardens utilizing an array of color, variety, and low water usage.  The gardens also emphasize plants from semi-arid regions of the world including Australia, New Zealand, Southwestern U.S. and South Africa.