By Dennis Richardson

Photo by Trever Richardson

November 28, 2010 (Lakeside)--Lakeside Historical Society opens its annual Christmas Resale Shoppe on December 1st.  The  shoppe will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Christmas Eve, December 24th. 

November 27, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued an urgent weather message warning of strong, gusty winds tonight and Sunday in mountain and desert areas. A fast-moving storm system will bring winds of 25-50mph, with gusts up to 60 mph. Strongest winds over mountain crests and on desert slopes of the mountains.

By Jeremy Los

November 27, 2010 (Washington and Sacramento) -- Do you know how your Congressional and State Legislative representatives voted on important recent bills? Find out here! Recent major bills include the Paycheck Fairness Act, the Small Business Jobs & Credit Act, the State Budget, plus bills to reform campaign financing and raise age limits for pre-school and kindergarten.  Scroll down for details.

November 26, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) --Before you pull out a ladder to put up holiday decorations or clean the attack, please read these holiday decorating and clean-up safety tips from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

November 26,2010 (Lemon Grove) – An early morning fire the day before Thanksgiving destroyed a home at 2759 Washington Street in Lemon Grove. Just before 4:30 a.m., firefighters responded to fin heavy flames coming from the windows. A family of five was able to escape the burning home safely before fire crews arrived.

By Miriam Raftery

November 26, 2010 (San Diego, California) – As temperatures hit record cold Thanksgiving night, San Diego’s homeless still had no winter shelter.

“People are literally freezing out there,” said Bob McElroy, director of the Alpha Project, which helps San Diego’s homeless and mentally ill get off the streets.

Council first considered a shelter in the East Village area, to serve homeless people countywide. (East County has no winter shelter.) Then in October, Council voted to open Golden Hall as a temporary winter shelter—but reneged on that pledge the day after the election, voting to shift the shelter to Barrio Logan instead. But yesterday, workers were still assembling beds—leaving the homeless outside in a bitter cold that dipped below freezing.

Funds to benefit senior citizens with no local family members

November 25, 2010 (Lemon Grove)--The Sheriff’s Lemon Grove Station, Lemon Grove Kiwanis, and Spring Valley Kiwanis will host a Holiday Pancake Breakfast on Friday and Saturday, December 3 & 4,  from 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Pancakes, sausage, coffee, milk and orange juice will be served. Children can also visit with Santa at the United Methodist Church.

November 25, 2010 (Sacramento) -- After hearing that a Salvation Army in Compton was overwhelmed with 140 more requests from needy families for turkeys than it could fill, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger took action.  He called the center and wrote a check for 240 turkeys, "to make sure you don't run out," the Los Angeles Times reported.  

November 25, 2010 (El Cajon) – Alex Gilliam, Jr., 53, was struck and killed Tuesday evening by a westbound car while crossing the 500 block of East Chase Avenue in El Cajon on his motorized scooter.

November 24, 2010 (San Diego) -- Californians are becoming increasingly worried about the cost of higher education. A new survey from the Public Policy Institute of California found that 74 percent of those polled said the state does not provide enough money to its public colleges and universities.

November 24, 2010 (La Mesa) — Sharp Grossmont Hospital has been awarded the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s "Get With The Guidelines® Gold Plus Performance Achievement Award" for applying evidence-based guidelines in providing the best possible care to stroke patients.

Coalition Web Site Provides Technology Gift Ideas

November 23, 2010 (San Diego)--If you have an older relative on your holiday shopping list, perhaps this is the year to look past traditional gifts such as robes, socks, perfume or candy and consider a more tech-savvy gift such as an e-book reader, a gaming system or even computer classes.

November 23, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) -- On November 20th, the San Diego Sheriff's Court Services Field Unit conducted a warrant sweep in the cities of El Cajon, La Mesa, Santee, and the unincorporated areas of El Cajon, Alpine and Lakeside. The focus was on apprehension of suspects with outstanding misdemeanor and felony warrants. A total of 67 persons were arrested and 96 warrants were cleared.

By Billy Ortiz

Flume-riding was a popular East County sport in the late 1800s.  What was it like to travel via water flume from Cuyamaca to San Diego?

November 23, 2010 (La Mesa) – A 17-year-old has been arrested after attempting to rob the Yum-Yum Doughnut store for the second day in a row.

Yesterday 10:50 a.m., the teen stole a tip-jar from the store at 7550 El Cajon Blvd. According to La Mesa Police, he told the employee that he was sorry, but had no money and needed the cash. The employee and suspect struggled briefly over the tip jar, which contained about $10.