September 30, 2015 (Rancho San Diego) -- On Saturday, October 17th, The Garden at Cuyamaca College will once again be transformed into "The Enchanted Garden." Wander a magical path through illuminated gardens as you enjoy ethereal music, delicious, garden-inspired fare and captivating entertainment.

San Diego Lifesaving Association Raising Funds for Lifeguard Injured On Duty

September 30, 2015 (San Diego)-- After completing a routine rescue at Windansea beach in La Jolla on August 15th, San Diego Lifeguard Gareth “Chappy” Chapman was struck by a large wave in shallow water and driven headfirst into the ground.  The resulting impact left Gareth with several broken vertebrae in his neck and back, but fortunately did not cause any permanent damage to his spinal cord or nervous system.

September 30, 2015 (Alpine)—The Alpine VFW Bert Fuller Post 9578 will host a “Fall Deep Pit BBQ” on October 10 starting at 2 p.m. This event is open to the public and proceeds benefit veterans organizations.

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

September 27, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - 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.

September 29, 2015 (Alpine)—Alpine Country Gifts & Crafts is hosting its 22^nd annual “Something to Crow About”  Craft and Harvest Festival from Thursday October 8 through Saturday October 10. The event will be held at Alpine Woman’s Club, 2156 Alpine Blvd., Alpine, and features crafts and homemade items, including “Owl Nesting Boxes.”

East County News Service

September 10, 2015 (La Mesa)—Oktoberfest has been a tradition in La Mesa’s downtown village since 1942, drawing over 100,000 attendees in recent years.  This year, the La Mesa Village Merchants Association aims to host the Oktoberfest on Friday and Saturday, October 2 and 3 from 12 noon to 10 p.m.

After meeting its deadline for paying off past debt to the city and obtaining a permit, organizers plan to bring the popular festival goes back to its roots with a focus on German heritage. 

The Bavarian Beergarden Band, Alpine Gemutlichkeit Dancers, and the El Cajon German Band highlight the entertainment listed on the Merchants' website.  There will be German food including bratwurst and real German beer served up at two beer gardens. Beer lovers can choose from Oktoberfest Marzan, Hef, Munich Lager and kegs of Salvator. There will also be vendors.

Below is the lineup of entertainment:

By Miriam Raftery

September 30, 2015 (Sacramento) – If you’re a California driver with an overdue traffic ticket fine, you may be eligible for a limited amnesty program starting this week under Senate Bill 85, which was signed into law by Governor Brown.

Under the program, all fines due on or before January 1, 2013 will be reduced by 50 to 80 percent. In addition, all penalties added for late fees will be cancelled. You can also make payments to pay off the balance, based on your income. In addition, if you lost your license for failing to pay a fine or appear in court, you can apply to get your license restored.

By Mike Allen

Photo, left: Concrete pour for new sidewalk, courtesy City of La Mesa. See more photos on the City's Twitter feed for the project.

September 29, 2015 (La Mesa)--Several downtown La Mesa restaurants say the city’s Downtown Village Streetscape Improvement Project has taken a much bigger hit on their businesses than anticipated—and the owners aren’t happy about having to shell out more money to get their patio seating back.

While the project that began construction in July of last year is nearly finished, there’s still work to be done, and most restaurants haven’t had their outside patios re-installed in time for this weekend’s big Oktoberfest celebration.

East County News Service

September 29, 2015 (San Diego)—San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) on Friday asked the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to allow the company to charge ratepayers for 90% of its remaining costs to settle the 2,500 lawsuits from the 2007 firestorms.  SDG&E faced $4 billion in claims arising from the fires, but settle most cases for $2.4 billion.

Most of that was covered by the company’s liability insurance or recoveries from third parties. SDG&E now wants its shareholders to pay just 10% ($42 million) with the remaining 90% to be passed on to ratepayers.  If approved, SDG&E proposes to spread out the remaining $379 million over six years, which it estimates would raise monthly bills less than $1.70 for a typical residential customer using 500 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month.

By contrast, a poll of East County Californian newspaper readers found that 100% believe  SDG&E and its shareholders, not ratepayers, should bear responsibility for the wildfire settlement costs.

East County News Service

September 29, 2015 (San Diego)--KPRI Radio, San Diego’s independent station known for its alternative rock format and cutting edge issues coverage, has sold the Educational Media Foundation which runs Christian music stations.  The deal will require approval from the Federal Communications Commission, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

In addition to music, KPRI radio has been home to programs such as a Morning Show that recently included discussions on issues and features ranging from climate change to the Master Chef competition.

September 29, 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.

• Pope tells Congress U.S. should reject hostility toward immigrants (Reuters/Moderate Voice)
• Here’s what’s in Donald Trump’s tax plan (Washington Post)
• FBI finds Hillary Clinton’s deleted 'personal' emails: What now? (+video)  CS Monitor
• NSA chief says Clinton emails were 'opportunity' for foreign powers (Reuters)
• No Fly Zone: Why TSA soon won't take some states' driver's licenses as ID (CS Monitor)
• Chinese activists in US blame Beijing for relentless cyberattacks (CS Monitor)
• Professor takes care of toddler: Should colleges provide free day care? (CS Monitor)
• American trained rebels gave equipment to al-Qaida Syria affiliate (JPost)
• OPM: millions more government fingerprints stolen in cyberattack (CS Monitor)
• Chinese jet buzzes US spy plane: Pattern of aggressiveness?  CS Monitor
• Banks must turn over Sudanese assets to USS Cole victims: U.S. court (Reuters)

WORLD

• Putin plans air strikes in Syria if no U.S. deal reached: Bloomberg (Reuters)
• Build a solar-powered school in rural Kenya – in 48 hours (CS Monitor)
• NHS uncovers 1,000 FGM cases in England  (BBC)
• Iraq says Russia, Iran, Syria cooperating on security issues in Baghdad (Reuters)
• Germany's Merkel says U.N. Security Council must be reformed (Reuters)
• As Europe embraces Syrians, a cooler reception for other refugees (CS Monitor)
• VW scandal exposes cozy ties between industry and Berlin (Reuters) - Angela Merkel learned early in her political career that taking on the German car industry carries risks.
  
  Volkswagen CEO Resigns, Saying He's 'Shocked' By Emissions Scandal (NPR)

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

East County News Service

September 28, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Western Blend horse feed, manufactured by Western Milling, has been linked to deaths of three horses and illness of dozens more.  The feed contains monensin, an ionophore that is used to put weight on cattle but that is toxic to horses. There is no antidote for the poisoning.

On Sunday, the company announced a recall of Western Blend sold in 50 pound bags in California and Arizona, with the lot number 5251. ABC news reports the deaths occurred in Fresno.

By Robert Gehr © 2015

September 28, 2015 (El Cajon)--You’re invited to reserve Friday night, Oct. 23 from 5 to 10 p.m. to attend the 4^th annual HauntFest on Main event that has become very popular with folks in East County celebrating Halloween.

This is a fun-filled family affair with plenty to do including a pumpkin patch for ‘picking’ that perfect orange decoration, two candy trails this year, an expanded carnival ride area, an LED rock climbing wall, face painting, food and drink, the famous TNT dancers, a KIDZ zone, outdoor movies on a 26- foot screen, arts and crafts booths, game booths, costume contests, live music on 2 stages, inflatables and more.

By Miriam Raftery

September 28, 2015 (Washington D.C.) – Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has announced he will resign from Congress at the end of October.  With a September 30^th deadline looming to pass a spending bill or force a government shutdown, Boehner has stated on Face the Nation that he expects a continuing resolution to pass for funding at least through the end of the year, averting a shutdown.  But after that, all bets are off, since the likely successor to Boehner, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, of California, is backed by conservative Tea Party forces.

East County News Service

September 26, 2015 (San Diego)—The San Diego Sierra Club plans a rally on October 7^th at 12 noon outside Sempra Energy headquarters (488 8^th Ave., San Diego) to protest the utility’s actions that environmentalists say are aimed at “crippling solar.”