Image credit: http://www.peopleinsight.co.uk/

January 18, 2013 (El Cajon) – San Diego East County Chamber is offering a free workshop, “A Model of Employee Engagement” on January 29, from 9-11 a.m. at the Chamber’s Board Room, 201 S. Magnolia Ave., El Cajon.  Learn how to take employee performance from good to great in this informative workshop. The workshop focuses on aligning overall organizational strategy, communication techniques to enhance engagement and the best ways to develop employee’s skills to help your business thrive.

January 22, 2013 (San Diego) -- The computer has become an integral part of genealogical research.  The San Diego Jewish Geneological Scoiety’s pursuit to understand family history has led to utilization of the latest technology from internet databases to DNA testing, to cutting edge software and social networking.  But, how safe and secure are computers and the information each of us shares and retrieve?  In this presentation Daniel Libby will cover the main concerns of computer security and safety.

January 20, 2013 (La Mesa) – Brew HaHa presents Ha Ha Heights at Haritna Mediterranean Restaurant, 7303 El Cajon Blvd., La Mesa on Jan. 23 from 7:30 – 9 p.m.  The featured stand up comedy act is Four Fabulous Femmes with International Comedian Diane Jean, Maria Herman and more.

By Brian Lafferty

January 18, 2013 (San Diego) -- It seems like it's been forever but Arnold Schwarzenegger, to borrow a familiar line, is back.  The Last Stand is his first starring role since Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines ten years ago.  It’s apparent the transition from governor back to actor isn’t easy for him.  His timing isn't as sharp as it was in True Lies and at 65 he’s not as physically overpowering as he was twenty years ago.  I liken it to someone relearning how to drive a car after having not driven for many years.

Of course I knew going in all of that was to be expected.  Sure enough, these are minor quibbles.

By Miriam Raftery

January 17, 2013 (San Diego)—San Diego Police Department Homicide Unit detectives are investigating the fatal shooting of a parolee by a San Diego Police Officer.  A stand-off ended in arrest of a second suspect. 

During the ordeal, Alvarado Hospital was placed on lockdown briefly and residents of an apartment unit were evacuated while police conducted a search.  A warning was also sent out to SDSU students and faculty, though the campus was not locked down.

January 17, 2013 (Sacramento)—Sweeping updates to California’s career technical education (CTE) standards—designed to reflect the changing face of technology and set higher academic goals—received approval from the State Board of Education Wednesday, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced.

The new standards are one of the cornerstone achievements of Torlakson’s Career Readiness Initiative. Building on the previous CTE standards, the revised standards were created with input from more than 300 representatives from business and industry, labor, and postsecondary and secondary education, ranging from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to mental health experts and environmental innovators.

By Janis Mork

January 17, 2013 (San Diego) --Recently, the Karen [pronounced ‘care-en’] organization held its fourth annual Karen New Year at Crawford High. Karen New Year is a culture celebration for refugees from Burma.

More than 1,200 refugees from Burma now call San Diego home, resettled here after living in refugee camps in Thailand. Many were forced to leave their homeland after the Burmese government began burning villages as part of a religious persecution. The Karen includes both Buddhists and Christians, who received a warm reception from civic leaders at the celebration. 

“We have an opportunity in San Diego to create a truly great international city; a city that respects and empowers its people; a city that protects and enhances their quality of life, and a city that promotes good-paying jobs and a healthy economy for all residents.” – Mayor Bob Filner

By Miriam Raftery

January 17, 2013 (San Diego)—In his State of the City address this week, newly elected Mayor Bob Filner  discussed financial challenges as well as his vision for the future. He likened the city to a “patient who has overcome a serious illness,” citing a past cover-up of financial problems.

“The budget surplus predicted by my predecessor last year could actually be a deficit as much as $40 million,” Filner said, noting that state funding issues and court cases remain to be resolved.   “But if we learned anything from the mistakes of the past, it’s that it is better to be truthful about these problems than to cover them up,” he said.  Despite challenges ahead, the Mayor laid out ambitious plans for revitalizing the region's economy, making San Diego the nation's solar capital, expanding redevelopment to neighborhoods city-wide, and improving communication systems for regional emergencies such as wildfires.

By Alfred Waddell

January 17, 2013 (San Diego’s East County)--The second amendment needs to be re-defined for the modern times.

It is my notion that the right to bear arms is very similar to the right to smoke; they both have a cancerous effect that contributes to the decay in modern society. We as a society can continue to ignore and look the other way with temporary fixes that give the appearance of seriousness; however, the reality is: there are too many guns in the US; and our too-many-guns are being turned on us.

January 17, 2013 (La Mesa) –The City of La Mesa is nearing completion of a draft environmental impact report on Park Station, a proposed 18-story high-rise project that would be 10 stories taller than any existing structure in the city. 

Before planners and council members weigh in, Urban Housing Partners, marketers of the project have issued a survey, which you can take here: 

http://fluidsurveys.com/surveys/UrbanHousingPartners/la-mesa-community-survey

January 16, 2013 (San Diego) – The San Diego Sheriff is warning the public to beware of phone scammers posing as members of the Sheriff’s Department.  There are at least two separate scams.  One involves canceling arrest warrants or court appearances for a fee.  The other scam entails notifying the victim that they have won a prize, then asking for payment for taxes.  Scroll down for details.

Update: ECM has obtained the complete list of Executive Actions taken by the President from the White House press office. View them here.

By Miriam Raftery

January 17, 2013 (Washington D.C.) – Joined by families victimized by gun violence, President Barack Obama yesterday announced a comprehensive plan to reduce gun violence, including background check,s limits on ammunition purchases, improved mental healthcare, better resources for schools and law enforcement.

The President has the backing of most Americans, according to several new polls which found strong support for key elements of the proposal.

January 16, 2013--(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:

STATE 

• Calif desert aquifers contain high chemical levels (Sacramento Bee)
• California Poverty Rate Highest in Nation Based on New Census Department Figures(Huffington Post)
• Judge continues to block part of Calif. Initiative on human trafficking  (Sacramento Bee)
• Calif. teachers fund moves to divest from firearms (Sacramento Bee)
• Pilfering plastic a booming industry in Calif. (Sacramento Bee)
• Can San Andreas Break At Once? Study Says Maybe (AP)

LOCAL//REGIONAL

• Gillespie Field Expansion Brings Promise And Controversy(KPBS)
• Filner’s agenda for change tempered by finances (U-T San Diego)
• Murder rises second year in row U-T San Diego)
• DA: La Mesa doctor is a fake (U-T San Diego)
• Date set for power plant implosion (UT San Diego)
• Steps taken for possible restart at Cal nuke plant (Sacramento Bee)
• Ground rules set for Somali terrorism trial (U-T San Diego)
• How Will Junior Seau's CTE Diagnosis Affect The Next Generation? (KPBS)
• Local college students turning to ‘sugar daddies?’ (U-T San Diego)
• FBI Says Crime Rates Increased Across San Diego Area In First Half Of 2012 (KPBS)
• San Diego Lawsuit Says Blue Cross Illegally Targeting HIV/AIDS Patients (KPBS)
• City Heights Stuck in the Middle of Filner-Gloria Spat (Voice of San Diego)
• San Diego Will Take A $40 Million Hit On Pension Costs (KPBS)
• San Diego Ordinance Would Require Businesses To Increase Recycling (KPBS)
• Shames sues UCAN for libel (U-T San Diego)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

January 16, 2013 (San Diego) – Graduating high school seniors can earn up to $10,000 towards a college education through to Cox Cares scholarship program.  Cox Communications has been awarding college scholarships for 13 years and this year will be awarding $100,000 state-wide.

January 16, 2013 (Campo) – The Campo Diner is a popular place in East County – and co-owner Carmen Delaguerra is happy to announce that rumors of the diner’s demise are not true.  The Diner is now reopened, following a two-week closure over the holidays due to discovery that well water was contaminated with nitrates.

“We’re getting a new filtration system. They’ve approved us being open for 30 days,” Delaguerra said, adding that while awaiting installation, the restaurant is serving bottled water and relying on paper plates.  “Our customers don’t care about eating on paper plates. They’re telling us they’re thrilled that we’re back open."

Closure came without warning at the busiest time of the year, just before Christmas, when the nearby Pacific Southwest Railway Museum runs its Christmas train rides.  “We had a party coming in that evening and we had to shut down that afternoon,”Delaguerra said. "It couldn't have happened at a worse time."