February 18, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup covers top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s eastern regions, published in other media.

Top Roundup stories include:

• Cartels crumble in Tijuana
• City of San Diego needs 10 new fire stations, study says
• Lemon Grove trying to protect funds
• $2 billion in aid open to struggling homeowners
• San Diego County’s homeless numbers rise
• California parks must refocus to survive, study says
• La Mesa thrift store gives its profits back to community
• Group in honor of Amber Dubois gets new 4-footed member

“Your guide to financial planning & socially responsible investing”

By Judith L. Seid, CFP ®
President, Blue Summit Wealth Management

February 17, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) -- We had been updating you throughout 2010 on Congress’ inaction in addressing the estate tax debacle. It seems as though this inaction and deaths of four billionaires alone last year cost the federal government roughly $6.5 billion in taxes. Yikes!

So the debate is over, for now, with the 11th hour passing of “The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010″ on December 16th. This fix is temporary for only two years, therefore the debate now begins on what to do after 2012.

Commutation Transparency Legislationl Sponsored by San Diego County District Attorney

February 17, 2011 (San Diego)--Assemblymember Marty Block (AD-78) today joined with San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and Assemblymember Nathan Fletcher (AD-75) to announce legislation that would provide notification to victims and their families when the Governor considers an application for commutation of a sentence.

In December, outgoing Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger provoked outrage locally when he commuted the sentence of Esteban Nunez, son of a former Assembly Speaker. Nunez pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the near-fatal stabbing of Louis Don Santos, 22, near San Diego State University.

February 16, 2011 (La Mesa)--The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, will host a free seniors' discussion group on “The Aging Process: What is Normal, What is Not,” on Wednesday, February 23 at 11 a.m.

February 16, 2011 (San Diego) – San Diego Police seek the public’s help to locate Sarita Esquilin, 71. According to police, “Esquilin has recently begun to experience memory loss and has trouble finding her way home.” She was last seen at 110000 Westonhill Drive in San Diego  at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, February 14th . She was driving a 2003 silver Honda CRV with California license ## 5AUD254.

By Dilkhwaz Ahmed
 

Trek draws national attention to impact of diet on diabetes

By Jeremy Los

Photos courtesy of the Viejas band of Kumeyaay Indians

February 15, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Rain is forecast starting Wednesday, with snow levels dropping to around 4,000 feet Wednesday night. The weather will break Thursday, but another storm system will bring heavy rain and mountain snow Friday night and Saturday, with scattered showers Sunday, the National Weather Service predicts.

February 15, 2011 (San Diego) – Dan Reagan, a graduate student in San Diego State University’s master’s program in jazz studies and coach of the SDSU jazz band, is a member of the Spanish Harlem Orchestra which won best tropical Latin album for Viva la Tradicion at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards February 13th.

February 14, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) -- ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about the most important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecting all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views.

Wants falls to stay accessible to public; offers safety suggestions for hikers--and for the U.S. Forest Service
 

By Miriam Raftery
 

February 13, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – “Someone was watching out for me,” says Ofelia Gutierrez , 56, who is home from the hospital after two surgeries for serious injuries sustained when she tumbled head-over-heels at Three Sisters Falls in East County on February 6th. In an exclusive interview with East County Magazine, the seasoned hiker shares her dramatic story.
 

By Marc Arndt

February 13, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – The San Diego Sheriff’s Departments Court Services, Field Unit, conducted a warrant sweep yesterday in East County. The sweep included unincorporated areas in Alpine, El Cajon, Lakeside, La Mesa, and Santee.

February 13, 2011 (City Heights) – Three men were stabbed, requiring treatment at local hospitals, as the result of a fight that began with four men in dark clothing who made derogatory comments about the victims’ sexual orientation. The victims were walking in the3900 block of 46th or 47th Street around 1:30 a.m. when they were approached by the suspects, all in their 20s.

Nothing but the truth!

February 14, 2011 (San Diego)--Though I have personal interest in music and songwriting, every year I watch the Grammy Awards with dread. Like the academy Awards, it's an exercise in mutual admiration, driven by who has the best publicist.

This year was no different. Lady GaGa looked like an alien. with her pointy eyebrows and wedgy shoulder pads. She can dance, but what I saw from her act was spectacle, not music.