January10, 2012 (Lakeside)  - ECM photographer Dennis Richardson snapped this photo of the unusually bright full moon this weekend at his home in Lakeside.

 
“I took it from my back yard using a 100 X 400 mm Canon lens set on 400 mm,” he said. 

 January 8, 2012 (San Diego) – The Salvation Army Kroc Center invites guests to visit the facility at 6845 University Ave La Mesa, CA 92115 on Saturday January 14, 2012 from 10a.m. to 2 p.m.  Bring the family and enjoy child care, tours, fitness assessments and drop in on exercise classes in the gym and pool. All activities are free during the open house. 

 
January 9, 2012 (Sacramento) -- State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today announced that the 2012 Heritage School Registration System is open. Heritage schools—which give students a chance to focus on the language, culture, and traditions of a foreign country—must register online annually with the California Department of Education (CDE) by the end of January.

Update: The male suspect and a woman have been taken into custody early this afternoon.  No injuries were reported.

January 9, 2012 (Del Cerro) – Shots have been fired at law enforcement officers by a suspect who has barricaded himself inside a Days Inn Motel at 5343 Adobe Falls Road near Waring Road in Del Cerro, visible from I-8 in the east end of Mission Valley, ECM has learned.

January 5, 2011 (La Mesa) – If the holidays have left you with old computers, TVs or other electronic items you no longer need, you can recycle them at the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce’s electronic waste and recycling event January 14-15 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will be held at Grossmont Center between B2B Fit and Fuddruckers. 

January 7, 2011 (San Diego's East County)--The National Weather Service has issued a "fire weather planning forecast" for southwestern California. In San Diego County, moderate to strong northeast winds and very dry weather with low humidity are forecast for inland areas, combining to create "near critical fire weather conditions" on Sunday.

 Update 8:35 p.m.: The fire is now knocked down and residents are cleared to return to their residences.

January 7, 2012 (Lakeside)--Firefighters are on the scene of a garage fire  at 12097 Gay Rio Drive in Lakeside.  "The fire is putting up a lot of smoke and they're getting people out of the houses nearby," ECM photographer Dennis Richardson told ECM.

One person is reportedly suffering smoke inhalation and will be transported to a local hospital.

 
January 7, 2012 (La Mesa) -- In the past three months the La Mesa Police Department management team has gone through many new changes.  With Chief Lanning’s retirement in September of 2011 and Captain Medero’s retirement in December 2011, seven promotions of existing LMPD staff were made in 2011 to consist of a new Chief of Police, two new captains, two new lieutenants and two new sergeants.

 
January 6, 2012 (La Mesa) – Police seek two suspects who led police on a high-speed chase early this morning in a stolen white 1988 Toyota Camry (CA plate 2LQR720).  The chase began when La Mesa Police officers tried to stop a stolen vehicle leaving the parking lot at the Heritage Inn at 7851 Fletcher Parkway in La Mesa at 5:49 a.m. 

 
January 6, 2012 (Alpine and Spring Valley) -- TC Construction is offering a $500.00 reward for the return or conviction of the person(s) responsible for taking the following items from a jobsite in Spring Valley on December 27, 2011. This is the second theft within the December 2011 time frame.

Items taken include:

 Aluminum shoring, Flanges, Ladder, and Traffic Control Signs. Scroll down for photos and details.

 
January 6, 2012 (East County) --  Estela De Los Rios, social justice advocate from El Cajon, has been selected to receive the Ashley Walker Social Justice Award from the San Diego Human Relations Commission.  She has championed battles to end human trafficking, hate crimes, and discrimination in our region. 

 

January 6, 2012 (Alpine) -- In  December, the “Alpine Squares” square dance club held their 27th annual Christmas Sock Hop for the benefit of Rady Children’s Hospital.  Over $3700 was raised at this event, to be used for recreational therapy for the severely medically challenged children being treated there.  The dance was co-sponsored again by Toyota of Santee, and held at their showroom.