October 31, 2014 (Alpine)– Viejas Outlets kicks off the holiday season a little earlier this year with the October 31^st opening of the popular Viejas Ice Rink – the largest outdoor ice rink in Southern California.

Four of the five candidates sat down for in-depth radio interviews with East County Magazine. 

Hear their full interviews here (listed in the order they aired on KNSJ); or to read highlights click "read more" and scroll down:

Patrick Dean: http://kiwi6.com/file/bchwu7qbqx 

Pete Gregorovic: http://kiwi6.com/file/78puh4vuq3

Bill Baber:  http://kiwi6.com/file/t8a9fxd7io

Mary England: http://kiwi6.com/file/qn2jcyft15

Updated 11/1/14: Bill Baber has clarified his position on recusals and raised questions over possible conflicts of interests by Mary England.  See his remarks in the text below.

Update October 31, 2014: Guy McWhirter, who was not available for a radio interview, provided written responses to our candidate questions today, after the story below was published. Read his responses here.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: L. to R.: Bill Baber, Patrick Dean, Mary England, Pete Gregorovic, Guy McWhirter

October 30, 2014 (La Mesa) –La Mesa has two open seats on its City Council, since long-time Councliman Ernie Ewin is retiring and Councliman Mark Arpostathis is running for mayor.  Five candidates are running—and the winners could swing the Council in new directions for the future.   Overall, this year's pack of candidates brings extensive experience and enthusiasm to the contest to represent the citizens of La Mesa.

By Ariele Johannson

October 30, 2014 (San Diego)--Brightly colored flowers of scarlet, white, orange, violet, yellow, and blue adorn the carpet where student immigrants from as far away as Europe are seated. The friendly group here in the Exhibition Gallery at New Americas Museum is preparing the flowers for a unique exhibit to celebrate Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead on Saturday, November 1, 2014.

The New Americans Museum is creating an altar for the late  dancer and film star Rita Hayworth to be exhibited November 1st from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., along with other open museums and galleries celebrating Dia de los Muertos at Liberty Station that day.

Dia de los Muertos at Liberty Station runs from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m., when galleries and studios are open to the public, some with demonstrations, workshops, altars, and “Meet the Artists” events. There will be performances and live music, food trucks, sugar skulls, face painting throughout the day. Admission to the galleries and studios is free.

October 30, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)-- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

• Local church gets involved in abortion struggle (Scoop San Diego)
• Suspended Chaldean Priest Continues To Work, Awaits Word From Pope (KPBS)
• Utility scandal may impact nuke settlement (UT San Diego)
• Suit brought against nursing homes operator (SD Jewish World)
• San Diego Scientists Experiment With Crowd Funding (KPBS)
• Should Lemon Grove eliminate its Planning Commission? (UT San Diego)
• Marijuana Use Among San Diego County Arrestees Reaches 14-Year High (KPBS)
• San Diego Nurses Say Not Enough Being Done To Prepare For Ebola (KPBS)

STATE

• Cyber breaches put 18.5 million Californians' data at risk in 2013: report (Reuters)
• State won't delay nuclear settlement decision (U-T)

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

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy of Jill Terp, Rancho Jamul Ecological Preserve, looking west toward the preserve from the Dulzura Creek area.

October 27, 2014 (Jamul) – Grading is underway for a waterline project at the Rancho Jamul Ecological Preserve.

October 28, 2014 (La Mesa)—The Om Center for Spiritual Living in La Mesa is holding its second Thanksgiving Health Faire and Open House, Saturday, Nov. 15th, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The La Mesa community is invited to the Center at 7232 University Ave., just east of Massachusetts. Admission is free.

“The claim of the administration and teachers' union that an Alpine separation would result in insolvency is a Halloween season scare tactic.” – Michael Waterman

By Michael Waterman, an East County attorney and writer

October 29, 2014 (La Mesa)--The state of the Grossmont School Board is not good. It's abysmal. Last year the County Grand Jury essentially charged the board majority with duping voters over the promised Alpine High School. In August the County Board of Education voted 5-0 to recommend to the State Board of Education that Alpine be allowed to break away from the District and build its own high school. This month a lawsuit was filed against the District which aims to stop bond spending on new projects until the State Board weighs in on the Alpine secession petition and a concomitant division of assets between Grossmont and Alpine.

East County News Service

October 29, 2014 (Borrego Springs)--The state is proposing to release convicted child molester Gary Snavely, a sexually violent predator, in Borrego Springs.  A hearing will be held on December 5^th in San Diego Superior Court and the public can provide with comments.

East County News Service

October 29, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - This week’s Destination East County includes lots of fun festive activities including an ice-skating Halloween costume party in Alpine , an art and wine festival at a Ramona castle, and the trout fishing season opener at Santee Lakes. Plus we’ll have previews of coming attractions, including an Acorn Festival and a Hike by the Light of the Moon in our mountain regions.

So stay tuned for all of these events and much, much more, from East County Magazine!

By Jordan Schafner

October 21, 2014 (San Diego)—Dave Peiser is asking residents in the 49^th Congressional District to “Fire Issa” and “Hire Peiser.” 

His opponent, Republican Darrell Issa, is the richest man in Congress and has become a national lightning rod for controversy. Issa chairs the powerful House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, where he has launched repeated investigations into the Obama administration, while failing to investigate allegations of corporate wrongdoing that impact consumers.

By Miriam Raftery

October 28, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - An ABC News investigation that includes 10 News in San Diego reveals that the maker of the Essure birth control device covered up evidence that patients have been seriously harmed by the device for over a decade.

Source: San Diego Sheriff’s Department

October 27, 2014 (San Diego)--They look like chocolate bars, cookies, brownies and gummy or jelly candies. Children might mistake them for Halloween goodies, but these treats are not what they seem. Parents are advised to carefully check their children's trick‐or‐treat bags for candies infused with marijuana, Sheriff Bill Gore warns.

By Brian Lafferty

October 27, 2014 (San Diego) -- Only death could stop prolific French director Alain Resnais from making movies. Resnais passed away on March 1 this year, having directed 50 features, shorts, and TV series. Even at 87 years young, when he helmed Wild Grass (released in the United States to deserved critical acclaim in 2010), he was as much a master of cinema as he was at 37, when he directed the film that quickly established him as one of France's preeminent filmmakers: Hiroshima Mon Amour (1959). 

By George Barnett, Alpine

October 27, 2014 (Alpine)--Alpine’s Steve Hunyar has been staking-out positions this week on “dirty politics coming to “little old, sleepy Alpine”, and has been attacking AUSD board members Eric Wray and Glenn Dickey.