February 4, 2013 (La Mesa) – San Pasqual Winery will be hosting a Dessert & Wine Pairing at the Tasting Room & Gallery, 8364 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa Feb. 12 – 14 from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.  The Winery will pair five mini desserts with 5 specifically chosen San Pasqual Wines.

Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door ($20/$25 for wine club members).  For more information visit www.sanpasqualwinery.com.  For tickets call 619-462-1797.

February 4, 2013 (San Diego) – The Friends of Taka Sumi-e Art Society will exhibit traditional Japanese-style brush paintings, called sumi-e, on February 17 at Mission Trails Regional Park, 1 Fr. Junipero Serra Drive, San Diego from 1 to 4 p.m. as part of the Mission Trails Regional Park concert series featuring the Japanese bamboo flute.  The art show features the works of the members of the art- based society, Friends of Taka Sumi-e dedicated to studying and sharing the art of sumi-e brush painting.

By Jay Gee

February 4, 2013 (Boulevard)--I recently became aware of the numerous industrial size green energy projects being planned for the Boulevard area after looking at properties for sale. I have since changed my mind about purchasing property in the area as it will forever be changed in a negative way.

Having just read about the cumulative effects of the projects apparent "socioeconomic impact" to local residents the official response is that the impact will "diminish over time due to diminished sensitivity to the features". In other words, the local residents will get used to the beatings once they become numb to the pain.

By Aimee Walker

February 3, 2013 (Southwest U.S.)The southwest of the United States is of course widely known for that most magnificent of natural wonders, the Grand Canyon.  The region has much more to offer than a single scenic wonder, however.  The four states of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona have some of the most magnificent hiking trails in all of the US.

By Janis Mork

February 2, 2013 (El Cajon)- The Heartland Lions Club of El Cajon  will host its annual fashion show to benefit the blind on March 23 from 12-3 p.m.. The event will be held at Ronald Reagan Community Center, 195 East Douglas Ave, El Cajon 92020.

By Nancy White

It’s pretty easy to avoid America’s leading killer, lurking in that dark alley.

February 2, 2013 (San Diego)--Heart disease kills more Americans – 599,000 in a recent year -- than such likely suspects as cancer, automobile accidents or illicit drug use. Start with the ABC’s. A is for avoiding tobacco. B means becoming more active. C stands for choosing good nutrition.

Challenge Launched to Support and Expand Workplace Charging Availability for U.S. Employees

February 2, 2013 (Washington, D.C.)-- San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is one of 13 major U.S. employers and eight stakeholder groups to join the U.S. Department of Energy’s new Workplace Charging Challenge to help expand access to workplace charging stations for American workers across the country. In a speech at the Washington Auto Show today, Energy Secretary Steven Chu outlined the new initiative, which aims to expand the availability of workplace charging, increasing the convenience of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) and providing drivers with more vehicle charging options.

Unfairly accused of widespread sheep deaths, coyotes are among the most persecuted predators in North America, All Animals magazine

By Karen E. Lange

February 1, 2013 (San Diego)--The lucky ones hide when the helicopters and planes appear overhead. Most coyotes, though, take off running for their lives. And this is just what the men from Wildlife Services want. Armed with Benelli shotguns modified to fire six or seven times in quick succession, they shoot and shoot again at the animals flushed from cover. They’re flying so low—sometimes as little as 20 to 100 feet off the ground—it feels like they’re shooting sideways. It’s easy to hit the coyotes: Some take a shot to the chest and die instantly. Others are merely wounded and crawl off to lingering deaths. Any the gunners miss, they can get on the next pass. Or the next. They stop only when they’ve shot every single coyote—when they’ve knocked down all the predators on the ground.

By Brian Lafferty

February 1, 2013 (San Diego) -- Every year around this time, the Landmark Ken Cinema - the venerable go-to theater for niche movies - treats San Diego to its annual showing of the year's Oscar nominated short films.  This year boasts a mostly impressive slate of animated shorts (my review of the live action shorts can be read here). 

By Brian Lafferty

February 1, 2013 (San Diego) -- Bullet to the Head is the second film in three weeks - Arnold Schwarzenegger's The Last Stand being the other - to star one of my favorite action heroes from yesteryear.  The addition of long-absent action director Walter Hill (The Warriors, 48 Hrs.) ups the nostalgia factor.  Bullet to the Head recalls those 80s and 90s action crime films that Hill and Stallone are known for while keeping up with the 2010s. 

January 30, 2013 (San Diego) – The CPUC is holding a Public Forum on the Quail Brush Power Plan along with two other proposed power plants in San Diego County on Feb. 1 at 6 p.m. at Al Bahr Temple/Shriner’s Auditorium, 5440 Kearny Mesa Rd., San Diego. The CPUC’s proposed decision will prevent the emission of over 900,000 annual tons of greenhouse gases by denying purchase power tolling agreements.

Speakers see parallels between destruction by energy companies in our region to environmental degradation, erosion of protections for people around the world

By Miriam Raftery

January 31, 2013 (San Diego) – Idle No More, a movement for the rights of indigenous people and environmental protections that began in Canada, has spread around the world and has now taken root here in San Diego.  Earlier this month,  members of local Native American tribes met convened at a forum sponsored by Activist San Diego to share their concerns and invite all people to join the movement.

“We must stand up to unite, to respect the Mother Earth,” Dennis  Alto, a Viejas tribal member, said.  “We are not just addressing the red nations; we are addressing all people.”

The Idle No More movement arose in Canada as a protest against the Canadian Government passing bills which enabled the government to control lands reserved for native people and reduce environmental protections for lakes and rivers.  Tar sands, pollution from mining and other sources are polluting  the waters and the lands.  Tribal members draw parallels to what is happening in the U.S., where mining, dams, and now large-scale wind and solar projects are ravaging the environment , destroying cultural resources and the way of life for many indigenous Americans.

January 31, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) -- The AARP Tax Aide Program offers free tax preparation and E filing for seniors and low income residents and others in need in the East County Community.

Tax sites will be open the week of February 4, 2013 and continue until April 15, 2013

Listed below are the tax sites and phone numbers for appointments:

January 31, 2013 (Escondido)--Lovers, chocolate lovers, and art lovers unite! The Chocolate Festival returns to Downtown Escondido again this year on Saturday, February 9^th, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Grand Avenue will be transformed into the perfect destination for anyone looking for something different to do for Valentine’s Day this year. “For The Love of Chocolate” and “SweetArt” Festival, guarantees to satisfy the sweet tooth and the sweetheart.

By Janis Mork

January 31, 2013 (El Cajon)—A dozen trees in El Cajon have been found infested by an insect carrying a disease that is deadly to citrus disease and which has prompted a countywide quarantine, agriculture experts informed El Cajon Council members at yesterday’s meeting.

Mark Olson, a representative for the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Program, wanted to give the community an update on the Asian Citrus Psyllid and the disease it carries- Huanglongbing (HLB). “It was recently found in El Cajon for the first time,” he said. “The good news is that the pest has been found and the disease has not shown up. We’re preparing for it though; it will probably show up in El Cajon.”