November 17, 2011 (La Mesa) -- TV and radio personalities, sports stars, elected officials, comedians and entertainers will be serving up fare at Hooley's Irish Pub & Grill in La Mesa from 5-9 p.m. tonight--all for a good cause. 

November 1, 2011 (Mt. Helix) --As part of a larger cast iron pipeline replacement project, Helix Water District crews will replace two 60-year-old valves at Mt. Helix Drive and Vivera Drive and install a new valve at Mt. Helix Drive and Alto Drive on Thursday, November 17.

Much of Mt. Helix is served by a single pipeline. As a result, construction activity will create a 10-hour water shutdown between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 242 customers on 20 streets in the vicinity.

November 11, 2011 (San Diego) Looking for a lively time over Thanksgiving weekend?  The public is invited to America's Finest San Diego Thanksgiving Dixieland Jazz Festival November 23 - 27 at the Town & Country Resort and Hotel, 500 Hotel Circle North in San Diego. The Festival features over 25 bands and guest artists from across the U.S. as well as bands with East County ties.

 November 14, 2011 (National) --  It’s you against the turkey. Are you going to come out of this thing a butterball or a better woman for it? Don’t succumb to stuffing yourself this Thanksgiving, says internationally-renowned fitness and nutrition expert JJ Virgin, co-star of TLC’s hit series Freaky Eaters. If you’re like most people during Thanksgiving, you mindlessly slip back into the kitchen to “clean” and nosh on seconds… and thirds… initiating the holiday-season binge that carries through New Year’s Eve.

Don’t give in and pack on the pounds unnecessarily! Instead, put the leftover triple-layer pumpkin pie back in the fridge and replace eating with these suggestions:

 November 15, 2011 (Valley Center) --  Bates Nut Farm will host the Annual Santa’s Coming-Craft Fair over Thanksgiving weekend. The Craft Fair will be open November 25, 26 and 27; Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Approximately 80 artisans will be selling a variety of handmade crafts and fine art, just in time to start your holiday shopping.

November 16, 2011 (San Diego) – Talented musicians from 41 schools in the East County Youth Symphony will perform a concert of classical music at 7 p.m. tonight in the Joan B. Kroc Theater, 6611 University Avenue in San Diego (one block east of La Mesa).

Update: The deceased has been identified as Mark Andrew Jones, 52, who resided with his family in Ramona.

November 14, 2011 (Ramona) – A Ramona resident who was not wearing a seatbelt died after being ejected from a vehicle in a rollover accident yesterday afternoon.  Two other men were taken to a hospital with injuries. The driver faces charges for driving under the influence,  ECM News partner 10 News reports.

According to a witness, the driver of the car, a 1970 Plymouth Barracuda, may have been trying to avoid hitting a woman who was unlading her horse from a horse cart.

Earth | Time Lapse View from Space, Fly Over | NASA, ISS 

November 13, 2011 (San Diego)--Amy Lynn Kanner returns to the Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center Theater with her Celtic Harp, for a performance on Sunday, November 20, at 3 p.m. The concert will be followed by a public reception in the Visitor Center Gallery.

Story by Nadin Abbott

Photos by Nadin Abbott and Jennifer Douglas

November 12, 2011 (San Diego)—Over a hundred women walked from the other side of Third Avenue downtown, pushing wheelbarrow and carrying trash bags filled with supplies such as dry socks. The rain came down hard, soaking them. Many East County women were among the crowd, including a Jamul mother and her son.

They chanted “We are the ninety-nine percent,” and “Banks got bailed out, we got sold out.” The occupiers peeked out from under plastic tarps, or came out from whatever cover they were allowed by San Diego Police, and cheered. To them, it was a surprise. A few faces, filled with emotion, had tears. View a video:

November 12, 2011 (Alpine) -- Santa arrives in Alpine Friday, December 9 at 6:30 p.m. riding down Alpine Boulevard for the 16th annual Alpine Village Christmas Parade of Lights. 

Immediately following the parade, Santa and his helpers will help light the Alpine Community Christmas Tree at the Alpine Creek Town Center, 1347 Tavern Road. Join a holiday sing-a-long, and stay for the free snow hill sledding.