Dozens of toys, hundreds of dollars donated for East County Toy & Food Drive

December 15, 2011 (La Mesa)—Thanks to all of our generous guests , sponsors, and VIP visitors who made this year’s East County Magazine holiday party very merry indeed!  As always, we invited community leaders and officials in all parties, plus other  special guests. 

Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego), whose district will soon include much of East County, joined the festivities. Assemblyman Brian Jones (R-Santee) sent Assembly commendations for our award-winning writers and photographers. Santa and Mrs. Claus heard children’s Christmas wishes, while an elf handed out prizes. 

By Jeremy Los

Dec. 14, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--With a large budgetary gap on the horizon, Governor Brown announced $980 million in mid-year budget cuts on Tuesday. Colleges, libraries, and childcare facilities were hit with the hardest cuts, while K-12 education dodged the worst-case scenario that many districts had feared.

La Mesa smart meter opponent voices outrage over families left in the cold

By Miriam Raftery

December 14, 2011 (La Mesa)—“We have just learned of a very troubling situation,” Susan Brinchman, a La Mesa activist leading statewide efforts to oppose smart meters, has informed ECM.  “Power has been cut off for three families who changed out the smart meters on their homes for analogs.” 

The shut-offs were made by Pacific Gas & Electric Company in Santa Cruz. Like a growing number of Californians, the families left in the dark had complained of health problems that they believed were caused by smart meters installed on their residences. Now, Brinchman fears that the same thing could happen in San Diego County.

December15, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media.  This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

• Majority supports Jerry Brown’s tax plan, poll finds (Sacramento Bee)
• Jerry Brown’s cuts to California schools less than feared (Sacramento Bee)
• California’s financial forecasts this week will have real-world consequences (Sacramento Bee)
• Groups say closing state parks is bad economics (KPBS)

• County won’t take on SDG&E over higher solar rates (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Inside La Mesa’s Traffic ‘killing zone’ (La Mesa Today)
• Helix football team earns state bowl berth (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• District Attorney settles public records lawsuit [filed by Lakeside resident Mel Shapiro] (San Diego CityBeat)
• Planning group, Mussey Grade alliance oppose suggested changes in local planning input (Ramona Patch)
• Guitar-making class hits all the right notes (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Private paramilitary training complex slated for border hits a hitch (Narco News)
• County okays turkey hunt for youth—again (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Changes at VOSD (Voice of San Diego)

Veteran/Wrestler pens a poignant memoir

 
Heaven, Iron and I: The Ron Martinelli Story, By Ron Zuccaro (Tribute House Publishing, Macomb County, Michigan, 2011, 145 pages.)

Book Review by Dennis Moore

December 13, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--Ron Zuccaro, a highly decorated former Marine, has written a riveting and at times spiritual memoir of a tumultuous time in our country’s history, the Vietnam War--and how it steeled him to overcome a devastating personal tragedy after coming home.

 Nothing but the truth!

 
December 15, 2011 (San Diego County) -- The San Diego County Sheriff's Department has been awarded a new traffic safety grant for a year‐long anti‐DUI program aimed at preventing deaths and injuries on our roadways. 

Story by Miriam Raftery

Photos by Monica Zech

December 13, 2011 (El Cajon) – A motorist who hit the gas instead of the brake crashed into Tyler’s Taste of Texas restaurant yesterday shortly before noon, but fortunately no one was injured.

 December 12, 2011 (La Mesa) – David Gonzalez, 16, and his grandmother, Celia Torres, 73, have been identified by family members as the victims who perished in a fiery collision Friday on Highway 125 just south of I-8.  Gonzalez was a sophomore at Grossmont High School and hoped to join the military.

December 12, 2011 (El Cajon) --  Senator Joel Anderson (R-Alpine) will present the Senate District 36 “Business of the Year” award tomorrow to Bob Taylor (photo, left), founder of Taylor Guitars.  The award will be made on the bustling factory floor  in El Cajon where the company’s world famous musical instruments are made.  

           
“Taylor Guitars is an example of the American dream come true,” Senator Anderson says.

By Nadin Abbott

December 12, 2011(San Diego) – Around 100 Occupy San Diego protesters took part locally today in a multi-state effort to shut down West Coast ports.  The protesters succeeded in preventing some trucks from off-loading cargo from ships docked at the port.

December 12, 2011 (San Diego)--The Department of Environmental Health has issued a General Advisory for the coastal waters of San Diego County due to recent rainfall. Swimmers, surfers, and other ocean users are warned that the levels of bacteria can rise significantly in ocean and bay waters, especially near storm drains, creeks, rivers, and lagoon outlets that discharge urban runoff.