Resolution is prompted by Lakeside case of 11-year-old murder suspect with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

September 7, 2012 (San Diego)-- Professors in the UC San Diego School of Medicine and directors of the California Teratogen Information Service (CTIS) Pregnancy Health Information Line applaud the American Bar Association's (ABA) new resolution urging attorneys, judges, state, local and specialty bar associations, and law school clinical programs to receive training that will help them identify and respond effectively to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) in children and adults. The resolution was passed on the heels of a high profile East County murder case and just ahead of International FASD Awareness Day, which is recognized on September 9, 2012.

September 7, 2012 (San Diego) -- The Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation will present "Sumi-e Journey," an art exhibit featuring Asian Brush paintings by Iris Lowe-Reiss and Joan Rasp. The exhibit will be on display in the Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center Art Gallery from September 8 through 28, 2012.

The public is cordially invited to a reception for the artists on Sunday, September 16, from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

View more information on the artists and examples of their work here. For directions to the park, visit www.mtrp.org.

By Brian Lafferty

September 7, 2012 (San Diego) – There are two people who have had the biggest influence on me as a critic.  The first is Duncan Shepherd, who authored film criticism for the San Diego Reader from its inception in 1972 until he retired in November 2010.  I didn't really know Duncan that well as a person.  I saw him at pretty much every screening, but I was too shy to approach him.  He was the type of critic who preferred to keep to himself, who expressed himself best in writing rather than with the spoken word.  I didn't read his criticism until I started writing for East County Magazine, but I immediately noted his frequent, adept commentary on cinematography.  If you wonder why in every review I write these days I talk about image, this is part of the reason.

By Nadin Abbott

September 6, 2012 (San Diego)-- Mayoral candidates Carl DeMaio and Congressman Bob Filner met at the Photographic Museum in Balboa Park in a lively debate hosted by Innovation Alliance, moderated by Erik Anderson of KPBS this week.

The candidates sparred over innovation, the arts and education issues, offering clear choices for voters.

“I don’t think we have a taxing problem; I think we have a spending problem.”—Bill Baber

By Janis Mork

Incumbent La Mesa-Spring Valley School Board President William ‘Bill’ Baber is up for re-election this November, running against Emma Turner and Jay Steiger for two spots on the school board. The LMSV district includes El Cajon, Spring Valley, and La Mesa. View a map of the district.

September 5, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)-Since being in office since 2004 as president of the board, William Baber believes major achievement has been “the fiscal stability of the district with very prudent financial management.” 

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna, East County Magazine’s “In-House Fire Chief”

September 5, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – We continue in our summer “monsoon season” which can quickly and unexpectedly bring flash floods. More people lose their LIVES in floods than in any other weather-related event. 80% of flood deaths occur in vehicles, and most happen when drivers make a single, fatal mistake - trying to navigate through floodwaters.

Three incumbents and four challengers are vying for three seats on the El Cajon City Council. ECM has requested interviews with each. Below is the first in our series of in-depth candidate profiles.

By Miriam Raftery

September 6, 2012 (El Cajon)—Earlier this year, when a vacancy opened on the El Cajon Council due to a resignation, the Councilmembers refused to accept applications from the public – including an Iraqi Chaldean immigrant and an African-American woman who wanted the job. Instead, they appointed an insider like themselves--a white male, who served on Planning Commission. 

To Ben Kalasho, that action exemplifies what’s wrong in El Cajon –and why  the Council needs people from diverse backgrounds.

September 6, 2012 (Sacramento) – Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced this week that the Health Insurance Rate Justification and Accountability Act has enough valid signatures to qualify for the November 2014 ballot. The measure will give the California Insurance Commissioner the power to review and reject excessive health insurance rate hikes.

By Jamie Reno

September 6, 2012 (San Diego)--Will the 2012 San Diego Chargers energize this city the way they did a few years ago and again reign supreme in the AFC West?

Without consulting a meteorologist, I'd say the chances of lightning striking this season in Mission Valley are about 50-50.

Read the full post at The Reno Dispatch:  http://therenodispatch.blogspot.com/2012/09/san-diego-chargers-forecast-partly.html. 

September 6, 2012 (Alpine) – Congressman Duncan D. Hunter (R-Alpine) will be the featured guest at the Alpine Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Tuesday, September 25 from 12-2 p.m. Rep. Hunter will inform Chamber members and guests about current issues in Congress.

September 6, 2012 (La Mesa)--La Mesa Fit Body Boot Camp, a program designed to help its clientele achieve fitness and weight management goals in a fun and motivating atmosphere, will host an open house on Saturday September 8 from 4:00--8:00 p.m. The event includes an 80s band and DJ, plus a raffle with all proceeds going to Rady Children’s Hospital.

Talks on fitness and nutrition will be provided, as well as fitness demonstrations, chair massages, fitness games, entertainment and healthy food. Raffle prizes include an iPad2 and a six-month personal training program.

By Dennis Moore

September 5, 2012 (San Diego)--A NEW PATH, or PATH (Parents for Addiction Treatment & Healing), is a voluntary, non-profit group of concerned parents of individuals suffering from addiction. They partner with health care professionals, the criminal justice system, recovering addicts and concerned members of society to seek better understanding of the illness and to create "therapeutic justice" for substance abuse related crimes. PATH's goals are  to reduce recidivism, save lives, heal families and move toward a healthier society.

On September 8, PATH invites you to the organization's annual “Strut for Sobriety” fashion show celebrating recovery from addiction.  The event, held at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, will also feature a luncheon, awards, silent auction, live entertainment and boutique.( For full details, see http://www.anewpathsite.org/newevents1.html.)

By Sal Casamassima, Chair of the Alpine High School Citizens Committee

September 3, 2012 (Alpine)--Divorce is a traumatic and difficult subject that many folks have to deal with in their lives.  However, it is often the only path that can be taken when one spouse becomes abusive and deceitful to the other. 

There is no better metaphor than divorce to describe what must be done by the Alpine Union School District (AUSD) to escape the abusive and deceitful relationship it has with the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD).

September 1, 2012 (San Diego) – Beginning September 2, all trolley lines end in the downtown area, providing single seat service to downtown from everywhere on the Trolley network. It’s all part of the Trolley Renewal project, designed to improve Blue Line and Orange Line stations and bring low-floor cars to the entire Trolley system.

Now, the Green Line will travel through Old Town and terminate at 12th & Imperial via Seaport Village, Convention Center and Gaslamp Quarter stations. Blue Line trains will travel between San Ysidro and America Plaza. Orange Line trains will travel between El Cajon and Santa Fe Depot. 

In addition to an improved Trolley network, the Metropolitan Transit System will add considerable bus services on September 2.

September 4, 2012  (San Diego) -- The 2012-2013 Grossmont Community Concert Association has announced  six outstanding concerts featuring a variety of music including vocalists, Motown, Jazz, and the music of popular artists.  The mission of the Grossmont Community Concert Association is to cultivate, in citizens of the local community and surrounding area, an interest in quality music and the performing arts by a variety of artistic genres featuring live performances by professional artists.