Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

November 17, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - The Kitchen is the heart of the home during the holidays. Keep it safe with these safety tips:

Warner Springs Ranch Habitat and Cultural Conservancy oversees protection of the resort currently under renovation

November 16, 2015 (Warner Springs)--Warner Springs Ranch Resort has formed the nonprofit Warner Springs Ranch Habitat and Cultural Conservancy to protect and manage the property’s numerous historic, cultural and natural assets.

November 17, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - New York Times and USA TODAY best-selling author Kristan Higgins will be appearing at the Mira Mesa Barnes & Noble (10775 Westview Parkway San Diego, CA 92126) on November 18 at 7PM. Higgins is the two-time RITA award-winning author of more than two dozen books, including the acclaimed Blue Heron series. I caught up with the romance and women's fiction authoress to discuss her latest novels, what's she most looking forward to during her trip to San Diego, and helpful advice for writers.

Refugees in Europe, most fleeing ISIS, risk death with winter approaching if not enough places will accept them. But fear of potential terrorism has led some nations to bar entry.

Photo: Refugees marching across Europe arrive in Slovenia; source: Slovenia Ministry of Defense.

By Miriam Raftery

November 16, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – After Friday's terrorist attacks in Paris, for which the Islamic State (ISIS) has claimed responsibility, President Barack Obama reaffirmed his commitment to admit 10,000 Syrian refugees into the U.S. over the next year.

But governors in half of all states nationwide have reportedly said that they oppose taking any Syrian refugees in their states, or want to postpone admitting them until screen procedures are approved, according to reports by Associated Press, CNN and USA Today.

Board to vote Nov. 19 on whether to incur $550,000 in new debt to fund continuing legal battle

By Miriam Raftery

November 16, 2015 (Alpine)— Superior Court Judge Joel Pressman  has set a December 17^th hearing date for a trial filed against the Grossmont Union High School District by supporters of an Alpine High School. The suit seeks to assure that a fair share of bond money approved by voters will be used to build the long-promised school.  

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that Judge Pressman urged both sides to settle and even offered to help—after an appeals court ruled that Grossmont violated an obligation to voters by failing to build the Alpine high school and upheld Pressman’s decision to order funds set aside.

But far from seeking to settle, the GUHSD this week will be considering approval of $550,000 in additional legal fees to continue the battle. The GUHSD already has authorization to spend $1.8 million and had spent $1.4 million as of June on the case, board documents reveal.

November 16, 2015 (San Diego's East County)-- East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• New York, other U.S. cities beef up security after Paris attacks (Reuters)
• Supreme Court to hear abortion case that could erode Roe v. Wade (Huffington Post)
• Experts: Terrorists learning from each other and going after soft targets (Washington Post)
• About 1,500 Mormons resign from church in protest of same-sex policy (Reuters)
• Second democratic presidential debate: 7 moments that mattered (ABC news)
• GOP field takes new shape after Paris attacks (Politico)
• Jeb Bush: Respond to Paris attack by only accepting Christian refugees(Raw Story)
• In new shock poll, Sanders has landslide over both Trump and Bush (The Hill)
• Clinton Has 45-To-1 'Superdelegate' Advantage Over Sanders NPR

WORLD

Europe

• Video: world shows solidarity with France in wake of terror attacks (France 24)
• Islamic State video threatens attacks in Russia 'very soon': site monitoring group (Reuters)
• British jihadist may have planned Paris-style attack in Istanbul (CS Monitor)
• Europe worries Malta giving Libyans backdoor to EU (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Athens erupts in violent protests over austerity measures (CS Monitor)

Middle East

• Battle for Sinjar: IS-held town  in Iraq“liberated” (BBC)
• Hezbollah chief condemns Paris attacks, vows retaliation for Beirut bombings (Reuters)
• U.S. strike believed to have killed ‘Jihadi John’ (BBC)
• Two suicide bombers hit Hezbollah bastion in Lebanon, 43 killed (Reuters)
• Lebanon detains 7 Syrian, 2 Lebanese terror suspects (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• U.S. to provide $115 million in aid to Syrian, Iraqi refugees (Reuters)
• Indyk: Israel offered Palestinians portions of Area C in West Bank and a building freeze (JPost)
• Palestinian songs encourage youth to attack Jews with 'knives and cleavers'(JPost)

Other world news

• Human trafficking survivor: I was raped 43,200 times (CNN)
•  Brazil levies initial fines of $66 million against mine for burst dams (Reuters)

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

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: #PrayforParis, Twitter

November 15, 2015 (San Diego) – In the aftermath of the worst bombings in Paris since World War II,  eight coordinated attacks Friday that killed at least 129 people and wounded hundreds more, France has launched massive air strikes against ISIS in Syria, NBC reports.  The air strikes reportedly destroyed an ISIS command post, arms depot and terrorist training camp.

ISIS, or the Islamic State, claimed responsibility for Saturday’s attacks, calling them the “first of the storm,” according to a New York Times article.  ISIS indicated the attacks were retaliation for French forces supporting a U.S.-led coalition against ISIS in Syria and Iraq.  Meanwhile, people around the world have taken to social media to show solidarity with France.

November 13, 2015 (Santee)--You loved them so much last year, Pickwick Players, your East County theatre family, is bringing them back again! Come join Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Snoopy and the entire Peanuts gang as they come to life one more time on the Off Broadway Live stage (9490 Cuyamaca Street in Santee)  to look for the true meaning of Christmas in A Charlie Brown Christmas December 4-19.

East County News Service

November 14, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) –Strong winds across our region are forecast for Sunday afternoon through Monday, with gusts over 70 miles per hour possible on mountain crests and desert mountain slopes and gusts of 35 to 60 mph in mountain and desert areas. 

Gale force wind gusts of 35 to 40 knots are also forecast over coastal waters, says Stephen Harrison, meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

Showers are also forecast, with rainfall light in most areas, though mountains could receive a half inch of precipitation.

For complete Calendar including Authors Events, go to www.SDWriteWay.org

This column is also published in the http://EastCountyMagazine.org. If you are from East County, I highly recommend that you check out the ECM for articles and the latest in what is happening in the East County.

Originally Published on the ECOreport

By Roy L Hales

November 13, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - The joint study from Stanford University and UC Riverside reads like a report card. The authors recognized that, “solar energy has one of the greatest climate change mitigation potentials” of all renewable energy sources. It can play a leading role in helping the United States reach its’ goal of reducing emissions to 80% of 1990 greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This would require covering a great deal of land surface.  Using current technology, close to 71,428 square kilometres  (44,383 sq.  miles), or an area roughly comparable to South Carolina, could be covered with panels. Rebecca R. Hernandez et al examined more than 160 sites in California to find out how utility scale solar impacts the land.

By Susan A Mahalick

Photos of Vintango provided by Jo Ann Martino

November 13, 2015 (Baja California, Mexico)--It was a fine fall day to visit one of my favorite winemakers, Jo Ann Knox Martino who owns Vintango. She has been making wine for six years now and this year she only put up Nebbiolo. In years previous she has done Zinfandel and a blend of  Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. She harvested 16 tons of grapes and put up 15 barrels of this wine. She still has 10 cases left of my favorite, the 2011 Zinfandel, which she poured for my friend, Rocky, and I. She is also experimenting with pomegranate wine since there are trees on the ranch. We were able to sample some of this as well and give feedback she appreciated.

East County News Service

November 14, 2015 (La Mesa)--Winners of La Mesa’s K-8 Our Planet, Our Home Environmental Literacy and Art Contest have been announced. Mayor Arapostathis has kindly agreed to hand out the awards at the Block Party on November 14 at 11:15 a.m. at the Farmer’s Market site on Allison Avenue near La Mesa Blvd, and the winning flat artwork will be exhibited for one month in the foyer of the La Mesa Library.

The contest is a cooperative effort of the City's Environmental Sustainability Commission, the La Mesa Urban Trails grant from the County, the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District and the La Mesa Library branch. Sponsorship and prizes for the contest were contributed by SDGE and the Water Conservation Garden.

November 13, 2015 (San Diego's East County)--Haggen today announced that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Delaware in Wilmington confirmed the sale of certain stores. The Court approved two separate purchase agreements for certain assets with Gelson’s Markets and Smart & Final LLC.

Gelson’s purchased certain assets related to eight stores located in California for approximately $36 million. Under a separate agreement, Smart & Final purchased certain assets of 28 stores located in California for $56 million.  In addition, Haggen's has accepted bids on other stores from a variety of bidders, including Albertson's bids on several local stores.  Below is a listing of stores' status.

Updated 11 p.m. with State Dept. contact nunbers for those seeking to locate loved ones in France, along with a link to 24 hour live English-language coverage from France.

East County News Service

November 13, 2015 (Paris, France) – Multiple explosions, suicide bombings and shootings at major entertainment venues across France today have left at least 140 people dead, many wounded and others held hostage by the attackers, Associated Press reports.

French President Francoise Hollande was evacuated from the Stade de France, the national stadium during a soccer match after explosions erupted outside, Reuters reported.  Calling the attacks “horrific” and of an “unprecedented scale,” Hollande ordered borders sealed and said his government has “mobilized all the forces we can muster to neutralize the threats and secure the region.”

“This is an attack not just on Paris, not just on the people of France, but an attack on all humanity and the universal values we shares,” President Barack Obama said at the White House, CNN reports.