September 12, 2013 (San Diego's East County) --ECM 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.

• Millions of workers might dump employer plans under Obamacare: study (Reuters)
• The shocking videos lawmakers saw (CNN)
• 'Baby Veronica' birth father freed after surrendering (Reuters)
• The Unemployment Rate Went Down This Month Because Hundreds of Thousands of People Quit Looking for Work (Reason)
•  US teen births fall to historic low: what has been helping(CS Monitor)
• America Violates, Exempts Self From ‘International Norms’ it Aims to Unilaterally Enforce (Reason)
• NSA Has Keys To Most Internet Encryption (NPR)
• New details in how the feds take laptops at border (AP)
•  U.S. court takes on Internet traffic fight (Reuters)

 WORLD

• CIA begins delivering arms to  Syrian rebels (Washington Post)
• Syria crisis: Russia ‘hands Syria chemical arms plan to U.S.’ (BBC)
• 'US intercepts Iranian order to attack American interests in response to Syria strike'
• Military Leaders Skeptical, "Embarassed" By Administration's Push for Strikes Against Syria, Says Former Army Major General  (Reason)
• Egypt minister warns of terrorism wave after assassination attempt
• Nuremberg Prosecutor Makes The Case For Trying Assad (NPR)
• Former U.S. Ambassador Cautions Against Attack on Syria
• Israeli organization delivers hundreds of tons of food, medicine to Syrian refugees (JPost)
•  Australia's new gov't vows to limit foreign aid (U-T San Diego)
• Taliban hit Afghan intelligence HQ

To view excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more’ and scroll down. 

Introductory club training for swimmers ages 6 to 18  

September 12, 2013 (El Cajon) – East County parents who have been looking for an inexpensive and fun way to involve their children in year-round club swimming now have that opportunity. Heartland Swim Association, East County's premier swim club, is offering a Fall Special Program at special introductory pricing.

Registration is $275 for swimmers between the ages of 6 to 18 and covers practices four to five days a week through December 15.   There is also a $60 fee for membership in USA Swimming.

September 12, 2013 (Barrett Junction) The Highway 94 Club will showcase local wines at a special tasting event Thursday September 19 at the Barrett Junction Café, 1020 Barrett Lake Road in Dulzura. Everyone (at least 21 years old) is invited. Come and meet the vintners, learn a little about grape growing and wine making and taste some excellent wines. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. and will be held on the back patio of the café. Dinner is $9 per person and the wine tasting is complimentary with each purchased dinner.

Winemaking is taking hold in East County. Local wine grape growers and wine makers are starting small, boutique wineries on their properties. These vineyards are beginning to produce some very high quality wines. Over the past few years, several of these wines have won Gold, Silver and Bronze awards at the San Diego County Fair’s yearly Amateur Wine Competition.

By Nadin Abbott; editor Miriam Raftery also contributed to this report

Photo credti: UCSD's HPWren webcam atop Lyon's Peak

An advisory evacuation clearly means that authorities believe those homes are at risk of burning.  But by not opening shelters-- or closing shelters unannounced in the middle of an emergency--officials are sending a disturbing signal: If you leave now, you’re on your own.

September 10, 2013 (San Diego) East County Magazine has encountered disturbing issues with emergency shelters found closed during three major evacuations in the past two months alone. How many other times has this have occurred—and what can be done to better protect residents during disasters? Today, we brought the issue to the County Board of Supervisors at a public hearing.

September 11, 2013 (Boulevard) -- Melody Ponchot found beauty after the recent storms on September 2 and September 7 at the ranch where she lives in Boulevard, from golden rays to rainbows. For those who ask why people want to leave way out in rural East County, here are a few inspiring reasons!  Click "read more" and scroll down to view more.

The German American Societies of San Diego, Inc., will host its traditional Oktoberfest on Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the last weekend in September and the first weekend in October. The event will be held at 1017 South Mollison in El Cajon.

The  Guggenbach-Buam, band joins the festivities from Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Hear a song by the band here. Visitors are also invited to savor authentic German food, such as bratwurst, ox-on-the-spit, potato salad, potato pancakes, sauerkraut, red cabbage and a variety of German pastries, along with a selection of German beers and liquors.

Photos by Billy Ortiz

September 11, 2013 (San Diego) -- San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has renewed agreements with the County and City of San Diego and firefighting agencies to make a heavy-lift air-crane available to support fire suppression efforts during fire season again this year.

With the Erickson Air-Crane back in San Diego and ready for action, any fire agency with legal responsibility and authority to suppress wildland fires may request support of the helitanker to respond to a fire incident.  The 70-foot-long air-crane can be dispatched by San Diego Fire-Rescue Department to a fire in 20 minutes with as much as 1,000 gallons of water at takeoff and can release up to 2,500 gallons in a single water drop.

By Miriam Raftery

September 11, 2013 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – “The  people of this town came together,”  said famed sculptor Ricardo Breceda after hoisting a 1200-pound metallic rattlesnake sculpture into place in front of the Jacumba Community Park.  

Best known for his larger-than-life sculptures of present and prehistoric wildlife in the Anza-Borrego desert, Breceda yesterday sold additional sculptures to Jacumba Hot Springs art fans – works that will soon grace rocks and roadways in this high desert community seeking to reinvent itself as an arts colony.

It all started with a winged dragon.

September 11, 2013 (Jamul) -- UCSD's  HP Wren webcam on Lyons Valley peak images have been combinedi n a fascinating time-lapse video.

June 20, 2013 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news each week that could impact your health and our future.

• .Bacteria from slim people could help treat obesity, study finds (RawStory)
• Your Kitchen Spices Can Often Harbor Salmonella (NPR)
• How one scientist hacked another scientist's brain (CS Monitor)
• How To Disappear When Someone's Spying On You (NPR)
• The Case For Clearing More Arteries During Heart Attacks (NPR)
• VIDEO: Vietnam's 'children of Agent Orange' (BBC)

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

September 11, 2013 (La Mesa) – Two men robbed the Shell Station at 9090 Dallas Street in La Mesa on September 10 shortly before 11 p.m.  A suspect armed with a gun demanded cash and lottery tickets while a second suspect in a mask waited outside as a lookout, armed with a tire iron.  They were last seen fleeing north on Meadow Crest Drive.  The suspects have not yet been found.

September 10, 2013 (El Cajon) – The 15th Annual All Fore R.E.C Golf Tournament, Dinner & Auction is September 20 at the Sycuan Golf Resort, 3007 Dehesa Rd., El Cajon.  The Shotgun Start is at 12 p.m.  This event is presented by the City of El Cajon Recreation Department and Crest Kiwanis Club to support recreational activities for East County youth.

September 10, 2013 (Alpine) – Lions Tigers & Bears is hosting a networking mixer on September 18 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.  Visitors will be able to network with local businesses, visit the big cats and bears and enjoy food beverages and entertainment.

Tickets are $40 per person and can be purchased here or by calling 619-659-8078 and selecting option 2.  Lions Tigers & Bears is located at 24402 Martin Way, Alpine.  Visit www.lionstigersandbears.org for more information.

September 10, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – Combine kids’ love of electronics with the outdoors, throw in some prizes and an online nature journal and just like that, you have them outside discovering the beauty of nature.

That’s the concept behind TRACK Trails, a new system that County Parks and Recreation is bringing to California and the west coast for the first time.

The grand opening for the trails system took place at San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve in Cardiff on Saturday.

“While we are celebrating the grand opening of this TRACK Trails system here in Cardiff, families can also take their children to Lindo Lake and Louis Stelzer County Parks in Lakeside to see this new way of discovering the outdoors,” said County Supervisor Dave Roberts. “They can use smart phones right on the trail to log on to a website and mark their progress in a nature journal to win prizes or wait until they get back home to get online.”

By Derek Carlyon

September 9, 2013 (San Diego) -- Charger season is once again upon us, with the opening game tonight at 7:20 PST.  The buzz in the air is different than it normally is in San Diego; instead of lofty goals of the Super Bowl, fans seem to just be looking to avoid a historically bad year. Considering the Chargers haven’t made a playoff appearance since 2009, you can’t blame the pessimistic views of the Chargers’ faithful coming into the 2013 campaign. 

The Bolts have had their fair share of unfortunate off-season events, including the losses of linebacker Melvin Ingram and receiver Danario Alexander to injuries that will sideline them both for the season.