November 20, 2012 (San Diego)—By a 5-3 vote, San Diego’s City Council voted last week to pass the Property Value Protection Ordinance (PVPO) aimed at helping banks clean up blighted foreclosure properties.  It requires banks to register with the city and pay a $76 fee whenever they take action to foreclose a home. The registry makes it possible to immediately identify the bank responsible for a blighted property, and the fee revenue will increase code enforcement staff to hold banks accountable for neglected properties.

By Miriam Raftery

November 20, 2012 (Spring Valley) – On December 20, the Spring Valley Citizens Group will  determine the future of the organization.  The group, which has 200 members, may disband if volunteers are not found to help support the organization. 

“As president, I do not want to disband and am convinced that the people of Spring Valley will once again rally for their community. I believe that the services we provide are too valuable to call it quits,” leader Steven Relyea has said.  But membership is aging and the membership base has shrunk, so help is needed to save the community group and it's good works.

Regulators liken penny auction site to Ponzi scheme

By Rebecca J. Williamson

November 16, 2012 (San Diego's East County) -- What has 3,493 “likes” on one participant’s Facebook page that may turn into “hates” and lawsuits?

The answer?   ZEEK REWARDS --- an online penny auction house that is under investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for financial fraud.  See http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt041.shtm  and  http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2012/2012-160.htm.

November 14, 212 (Guatay) – Dennis Avner, a former Guatay resident also known by his Native American name, Stalking Cat,  was found dead on November 5 in Tonopah, Nevada. Avner was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most body modifications to resemble an animal, following numerous surgeries, piercings and tattoos to resemble a tiger. 

November 13, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--County Supervisor Dianne Jacob has added a new tool to stay in touch with her constituents – social media.

Jacob, who represents District 2, is now active on Facebook and Twitter, in addition to putting out a print newsletter, The Jacob Journal, and maintaining a website – www.dianne.jacob.com. “I’ve always valued my close contact with folks in my East County district,” said Jacob. “These online tools provide more ways to expand those ties, and to let my constituents know about the pressing issues facing our region and the rest of San Diego County.”

November 9, 2012 (El Cajon) – At approximately 6:50 AM this morning San Miguel Firefighters responded to Dehesa Road and Willow Glen, where a 45 year old male from El Cajon was traveling eastbound on Dehesa Rd. west of Willow Glen Dr. He was riding a 1996 Suzuki motorcycle. For reasons unknown he failed to maintain control of the bike and slid across the solid double yellow line west of the intersection with Willow Glen Dr.

November 8, 2012 -- The Department of Justice, the FBI, and the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) remind the public there is a potential for disaster fraud in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Suspected fraudulent activity pertaining to relief efforts should be reported to the toll-free NCDF hotline at 866-720-5721. The hotline is staffed by a live operator 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the purpose of reporting suspected scams being perpetrated by criminals in the aftermath of disasters.

November 5, 2012 (San Diego's East County) - IPN reports at 12:25 p.m. a major accident on Highway 84 at Barrett Lake Road has blocked lanes in both directions. A motorcyclist is down with serious injuries.  According to the CHP website, the injured rider will be airlifted from Barrett Cafe.

November 5, 2012 (Spring Valley) -- Spring Valley – San Miguel Firefighters responded to fire in a detached garage at 2501 Bancroft Drive yesterday shortly after 4:30 p.m. When crews arrived on scene the garage was spewing flames and thick black smoke and had already set a three-bedroom home next door on fire at 2505 Bancroft, about 12 feet from the garage where the fire reportedly started.

“There were three people in the home when it caught fire. All evacuated safely, however one resident was treated on the scene for smoke inhalation and released,” San Miguel spokesman Leonard Villareal said.

By Nadin Abbott

November 3, 2012 (San Diego) -- The East Coast has been battered by Hurricane Sandy, which caused dramatic damage. Many of us in sunny San Diego may believe our only major risks are earthquakes and wildfires. But our region is not immune to hurricanes. The first recorded major hurricane to hit San Diego County was 1858. Then in 1976, Hurricane Kathleen reduced I-8 to rubble, washed out a railway and destroyed a bridge in San Diego’s East County, causing major flooding as far east as Ocotillo in Imperial County. View photos of Hurricane Kathleen's damage from a book written by a CalTrans engineer.

Wikipedia lists several tropical storms and hurricanes that damaged Southern California and Arizona. Moreover, with climate change,storm tracks are slowly moving north from Mexico, so we are at increased risk. Regardless, you should be ready for a disaster. Government authorities have warned for years that people need to be ready to be on their own for 72 hours. This is a general civil defense recommendation not limited to the United States.

November 3, 2012 (San Diego) – Poll workers are still in demand for the Nov. 6 Presidential General Election. The Registrar of Voters needs a variety of positions filled.

A high demand remains for bilingual workers especially those who speak Chinese and Vietnamese.

November 2, 2012 (Boulevard) – Thanks to our generous readers who helped raise several thousand dollars plus supplies to benefit 11 families who lost homes in the recent Shockey fire.

“So many wonderful people are out there with wonderful caring hearts,” Lorrie Ostrander, who organized a fundraising event for fire survivors told ECM.  Some fire surivors are now placed in old trailers donated and others are on the Campo reservation. "A home is what we make of it and for now they are thankful for life,” said Ostrander, adding that items needed most now are cooking utensils, curtains, towels, bedding, dishes and toys. 

She also offered this “wish list” for the kids for Chirstmas:  a girl's bike for a 10 year old, sports items for a boy, 9, who lost his baseball bat, ball, football and basketball, and a motorized toy truck for a 2-year-old whose treasured truck was lost to the flames.

Hundreds of drugs recalled, ranging from antibiotics to blood thinners, pain prescriptions to pediatric medications recalled

Update:  “Sharp Grossmont Hospital and any other entity of Sharp HealthCare does not purchase products from Ameridose, the pharmaceutical company that is linked to the drug recall,” spokesman Bruce Hartman has informed ECM.

October 31, 2012 (Washington D.C.)--The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that Ameridose, LLC, based in Westborough, Mass., is voluntarily recalling all of its unexpired products due to serious sterility concerns. The move follows 54 cases of fungal meningitis linked to steroid injections.

However, the drug recall is much broader, including hundreds of drugs in oral and inhalable forms as well as injectibles. The list includes many commonly used medications such as Ibuprofin, Acetaminophen, Lidocaine, Penicillin, Vancomycin, Oxytocin, Morphine, Vancomycin and Heparin, to name just a few.

View a complete list of all products subject to this recall here with more information at www.ameridose.com. Products from Ameridose can be identified by markings that indicate Ameridose by name or by its company logo. Despite the recall, doctors and healthcare professional have NOT been urged by the FDA to followup with patients who received these drugs, so check the list carefully to see if medications you have received may be on the list. Scroll down for more information.

November 1, 2012 (San Diego) – Sempra Energy Foundation today pledged $50,000 in disaster-relief assistance funds to East Coast storm victims. In support of Sempra Energy companies’ employee giving efforts, the Foundation also will be matching up to an additional $50,000 in employee donations, bringing the total potential donation to $150,000 by the Foundation and company employees.

Sempra Energy Foundation will direct the funds through the American Red Cross National Relief Fund.

November 1, 2012 (Poway)—A hiker who collapsed on a trail on the Poway side of Mount Woodson has been declared dead, Lt. J.T. Faulkner with the San Diego Sheriff’s office informed ECM.

A friend who was hiking with the victim called for help at 11:04 a.m.  “Our unit got there at 11:14 and the Fire Department was already there,” Lt. Faulkner told ECM.  The victim was found about halfway up a trail.  Copter 12 and ASTREA were called in to assist.