By Sylvia Hampton

August 6, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) -- I did not watch every minute of the George Zimmerman trial, but I did see the closing arguments and enough testimony to get the basic evidence against him and the arguments from the defense.  I was convinced the jury would take the hint from the judge and find him guilty of manslaughter. Most talking heads have missed an important key to why the verdict came down as “not guilty” and that was the fact that the most powerful personality on the six-women jury turned out to be wrong, biased, and she pressured and got a unanimous vote. The hold-outs caved to her pressure because they were intimidated, I believe.

August 6, 2013 (El Cajon) – Advanced Training Associates, a career training college in El Cajon, has formed a unique relationship with the city’s growing Chaldean community.  Noticing an influx of Chaldean students at its El Cajon campus, the school’s staff contacted Chaldean community leaders to offer friendship and support. This new partnership bore fruit this summer as Advanced Training awarded a scholarship to a young member of the Chaldean community. 

“It’s such a treat for us to welcome these new Americans,” said Advanced Training Education Coordinator Steven Howard. “I’m enjoying the opportunity to watch them learn and grow.  These are some hard working people.  They seem determined to make the most of life in this country.”

August 6, 2013 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, located at 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, will host a free senior discussion group presentation on “Emergency Preparedness” from 10 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 28.  The public is invited to attend, and an RSVP is not required. 

August 6, 2013 (San Diego) – WANT TO READ BOOK REVIEWS OF LOCAL AUTHORS? Go to:

http://sdwriteway.org/readers_lounge/book_reviews/1a_reviews_book.htm

FOR ALL SAN DIEGO COUNTY LIBRARY EVENTS go to:

http://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/news-events/index.shtml

EARLY BIRD RATES EXTENDED THROUGH FRIDAY: $15 INCLUDES WILD WEST SHOW, BBQ DINNER, LIVE MUSIC, DANCING & THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN PRIZES!

Late breaking news: Wind Spirit Drum, winner of the Native American Music Awards, to perform

Our "Wild West Fest" this Saturday, August 10 from 4-7 p.m. is shaping up to be our wildest event ever with some amazing prizes. entertainment and great food!

Want to be a cowboy for a day (or cowgirl) and ride the range at a working cattle ranch?  We're giving away this experience---for two--thanks to Campo Creek Ranch. (view video) Or win a stay at the new Viejas Resort, plus steakhouse dinner and outlet center shopping spree?

How about $165 in hay bales? Gift certificates to restaurants, salons, markets, major stores and shops?  Wine baskets? Leather bag from McClintock Saddleworks? Event tickets to "Magic in the Mountains" in Julian? Wine baskets? And much more? All to benefit wildfire reporting in this severe fire season.

Don't miss the fun - we still have tickets left so we've extended the early bird rates through Friday.  We've also added kid rates - $10 for kids ages 4-12. The fun takes place this Saturday, August 10 from 4-7 p.m. at the historic Descanso Town Hall, 24536 Viejas Grade Road in Descanso (Please note corrected address of event).

Western wear is encouraged - channel your inner cowboy (or cowgirl), round up the family and head on out! 

August 4, 2013 (Boulevard) -- A body has been found by firefighters inside a burned two-story resident at 2071 Ross Avenue in Boulevard.  A full wildland response was ordered for the fully engulfed residential fire earlier this evening, due to concerns it could burn into nearby brush. 

The blaze started on Ross Avenue just south of Highway 80, about a mile south of I-8. 

At 9:07 p.m., Boulevard Planning Group Chair Donna Tisdale advised ECM, "I spoke to a Ross Avenue property owner whose tenant reported one structure, several houses down the block,  has almost burned to the ground, and about a dozen fire trucks are on scene and seem to have stopped the fire spread for now."

By Miriam Raftery

August 4, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – By a bare majority, the Republican-controlled House of representatives passed the Farm Bill after stripping out all funding for food stamps to feed the poor, but approved lavish subsidies for agribusiness.  After the Senate passed a less extreme version, a conference committee is now seeking a compromise. But thus far, the Republican leadership has shown no concern for the potential to leave millions of Americans facing starvation.

Among San Diego’s five Congressional representatives, only Republican Darrell Issa voted for  the measure.  Republican Duncan Hunter did not vote, but previously  voted for earlier deep cuts in Food Stamps and against restoring benefits. Democrats Susan Davis, Scott Peters and Juan Vargas voted against stripping Food Stamps from the Farm Bill.

  Issa’s 49^th district includes 7,691 households receiving food stamps (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP). Of those, 44.2% have incomes below the poverty level and 79.5% have children; 20.2% have at least one senior citizen.

National and international leaders in social justice, politics, faith and entertainment to speak

August 6, 2013 (La Mesa)-- While the hallowed halls of downtown San Diego are echoing with strategies for staying in office and getting through the next week, more than 500 local participants are preparing to be inspired by some of the nation’s most effective leaders at the annual Global Leadership Summit, August 8-9, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.  at Journey Community Church, 8363 Center Drive, La Mesa.

“This is a chance to hear from men and women who demonstrate influence in many arenas – politics, social justice, faith and entertainment – and tobe inspired to become confident truth-sayers in our own spheres of influence,” said Ed Noble, Lead Pastor.Speakers such as General Colin Powell, former U.S. Secretary of State, Mark Burnett, executive producer of Survivor and The Voice, Bob Goff, General Counsel to Uganda and Founder and CEO of Restore International, Liz Wiseman, executive strategy and leadership consultant and more will make the case for becoming a leader, not for a term of office or for a bottom-line result, but for life. 

“Your source for Trusts, Wills, Probate, Family Law & more”

By Stephen C. Ross, Esq.

August 3, 2013 (San Diego) – A “premarital” (also called “prenuptial” or “antenuptial”) agreement is a contract entered into between prospective spouses in contemplation of marriage, or between domestic partners in contemplation of registering their partnership with the State. The agreement establishes property rights and financial responsibilities upon consummation of the marriage or registration of the partnership. A premarital agreement is typically intended to create conditions that will preserve a forthcoming marriage or registered domestic partnership.

An ECM special report finds Bob Filner had good cause to know  the seriousness of sexual harassment claims—long before he was the target of complaints

By Nadin and Tom Abbott

August 2, 2013 (San Diego)— Amid mounting sexual harassment accusations against Mayor Bob Filner, including a civil lawsuit, on Wednesday Filner’s lawyer tried to place all the blame on the City of San Diego. In a letter to the City, attorney Harvey C. Berger wrote, “The City has a legal obligation to provide sexual harassment training to all management level employees within six months of hire.”

He also claimed in the letter that the “trainer for the City unilaterally cancelled and never rescheduled such training for the Mayor.”  http://media.10news.com/image/Harvey_Berger_letter.pdf

But later, Voice of San Diego revealed, “Former city Chief Operating Officer Jay Goldstone said Filner’s office canceled several training sessions, which would have covered payroll, benefits and other employee and management roles and responsibilities, because the mayor’s office said it didn’t have time for them.” http://voiceofsandiego.org/2013/07/31/sources-mayors-office-canceled-harassment-related-training-sessions/

So we decided to look a little deeper, and what we found was highly problematic.

Originally posted July 27, 2013 on San Diego Loves Green

By Roy L. Hales

I recently asked one of San Diego’s better known engineers, Bill Powers, a number of questions about the Sunrise Powerlink and rooftop solar energy. These are his answers.

By Nadin Abbott

August 1, 2013 (San Diego) – Dreamers, children of immigrants led by Carolina Valdivia of the San Diego Dream Team, held a press conference just outside San Diego Sheriff’s Department central booking on July 29.

The Dreamers contend that Border Patrol used force to break-up a peaceful demonstration at Friendship Park on the U.S.-Mexico border.  They provided media with a video showing Border Patrol, U.S. Customs enforcement, trolley security personnel, and private contractors holding back a noisy crowd of demonstrators on July 28.

August 1, 2013 (East County) – The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department is having its Free Night Out Against Crime events on August 6.  It’s a day when communities across the country take a stand to let criminals know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.  Meet deputies who patrol your community and mingle with neighbors while enjoying food, drinks, giveaways and activities for kids.  All locations will have a crime prevention specialist on site and display with tips on how to stay safe.

August 1, 2013 (Dulzura) – Dulzura-Barrett Fire Dept. and the Dulzura Community Center host a Deep Pit BBQ on August 4 from noon to 4:00 p.m. at Camp’s Grove, 17087 Hwy 94, Dulzura.  A dinner of beef, pork, coleslaw, beans, corn-on-the-cob, roll and 8oz drink will be served from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.  The entertainment will include music from DJ, Bill the Breeze, dancing, Chicken Game, horseshoes, raffles, an auction and activities for the kids.