TASTE OF AFRICA: TICKETS NOW ON SALE! OCT. 8 IN LA MESA, BENEFITS EAST COUNTY MAGAZINE

BUNNY CHOW: SOUTH AFRICAN CUISINE THAT WILL HAVE YOU WANTING MORE

ECM WORLD WATCH: GLOBAL AND NATIONAL NEWS

EVERYBODY DIES BY THE END: HORROR FILM SHOT IN JAMUL AND SAN DIEGO NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

READER’S EDITORIAL: GEORGIA HAS SPOKEN—DONALD TRUMP IS NOT ABOVE THE LAW

STEELE CANYON GOVERNING BOARD APPROVES SALARY INCREASE FOR STAFF

SEARCH UNDERWAY FOR MISSING RAMONA WOMAN, 66

DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: APPLE FESTIVALS, HAUNTING HAPPENINGS AND MORE

JOGGER, 73, FIGHTS OFF ROBBER IN EL CAJON

MAYOR WELLS AND FRIENDS CONCERT SEPT. 30 TO HELP THE HOMELESS

ANDUJAR TAKES SEAT ON PADRE DAM BOARD HELD BY CAIRES

IN U.S. BORDER TOWN - STEADY STREAM OF MIGRANTS CONTINUES

TASTE OF AFRICA: TICKETS NOW ON SALE! OCT. 8 IN LA MESA, BENEFITS EAST COUNTY MAGAZINE

September 7, 2023  (La Mesa) –Tickets are now on sale for our “Taste of Africa” event!  The festivities will be Sunday, October 8 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the La Mesa Community Center in the Arbor Room (4975 Memorial Drive, La Mesa, CA 91941).

Join us for a fun-filled evening including tastes of African cuisine from local African restaurants and caterers, African dancers and drummers, DJ and dancing, speakers including wildlife conservation leader Coe Lewis of NSEFU and Assembly member Akilah Weber, Africa videos,awards to Juneeteenth founders, raffle, live and silent auction.

The grand prizes are six-night photo safari packages for two at Zulu Nyala - a fabulous private wildlife preserve in South Africa!

Get tickets now at early bird rates!

BUNNY CHOW: SOUTH AFRICAN CUISINE THAT WILL HAVE YOU WANTING MORE

Restaurant to be featured at East County Magazine’s “Taste of Africa” Oct. 8 

By Jessyka Heredia 

September 23, 2023 (San Diego) Have you tried African food before? East County Magazine gave South African Bunny Chow a try recently, located at 7128 Miramar Road. The flavors were bold and perfectly paired in each dish. You could smell the flavors of South Africa as you walked through the front door. Right away, I knew I was in for a culinary treat.  

ECM ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS

September 23, 2023 (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 round-up stories include:

LOCAL

STATE

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

ECM WORLD WATCH: GLOBAL AND NATIONAL NEWS

September 23, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

General  news

Politics and election

Indictments and prosecutions

WORLD

North America

Africa

Asia

Europe

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

SAPS AT SEA PRESENTS 'PRE-HALLOWEEN SPECTACULAR' OCT. 21

East County News Service

September 21, 2023 (Spring Valley) - The Saps at Sea, the San Diego chapter of the Sons of the Desert, the Laurel & Hardy fan organization, present their October "Pre-Halloween Spectacular" meeting October 21 at Williams Hall at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Spring Valley.

EVERYBODY DIES BY THE END: HORROR FILM SHOT IN JAMUL AND SAN DIEGO NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

By Jacob Pamus

Everybody Dies by the End is a feature film written by Ian Tripp and directed by Ian and Ryan Schafer. The film was partially shot in Jamul and downtown. The film stars East County locals such as Brendan Cahalan and Vinny Curran, who owns a bar called Thrusters Lounge in Pacific Beach. The synopsis of the film is: “A documentary crew follows cult classic horror director Alfred Costella as he makes his final film - An all-practical masterpiece...with a dark twist.” 

When asked about his experience during the production of the film, Ian Tripp told ECM, “You have to be agile to problems coming at you every minute, but the crew itself was why we surpassed any problems we had.” He went into further detail, explaining how well the crew worked together in an environment that could be very stressful.

READER’S EDITORIAL: GEORGIA HAS SPOKEN—DONALD TRUMP IS NOT ABOVE THE LAW

 

By Brenda Thompson, La Mesa

Photo:  Trump 's mugshot, via  Fulton County, Georgia Sheriff's department

 

September 21, 2023 (La Mesa) -- By now, we’ve all heard the news that Donald Trump was indicted for a fourth time, this time on racketeering charges in Georgia for the criminal conspiracy he allegedly led to overturn the 2020 election.

The indictments in Georgia and Washington, D.C. made clear that Trump knew he had lost the 2020 presidential election, but worked with his cronies on a variety of illegal schemes to change the election’s outcome so he could remain in power. When his plans to pressure state officials to overturn the will of voters and create fake elector certificates failed to secure him the presidency, Trump and his allies resorted to instigating a violent insurrection to try to keep Trump in power.

STEELE CANYON GOVERNING BOARD APPROVES SALARY INCREASE FOR STAFF

 

Story and photos by Branda Gorgies


The Steele Canyon High School governing board recently held a meeting to approve final decisions regarding salaries of the teachers.

The special meeting was on Monday at 3:45 p.m. in the school library. It was only about five minutes long, but the board members approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) as well as the new salary schedules and extended curricular salaries. 

SEARCH UNDERWAY FOR MISSING RAMONA WOMAN, 66

September 21, 2023 (Ramona) -- The Sheriff's Search and Rescue (SAR) Unit has been activated to help locate a missing woman in Ramona.

Zita Swanson, 66, left her home early this morning in the 700 block of G St. in Ramona and did not return home, says Lt. John Malan.

She does not have a vehicle, and is not believed to be carrying a cell phone or purse. Shie is Hispanic, 5'5" tall, 174 pounds with gray hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a purple or blue striped blouse, blue jeans and black shoes.

DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: APPLE FESTIVALS, HAUNTING HAPPENINGS AND MORE

By Miriam Raftery

September 21, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) -- As autumn arrives and Halloween draws near, East County has a wealth of festivals and events coming up.  These include Julian’s Autumn Jubilee and an Heirloom Apple Festival, Oktoberfests in La Mesa and El Cajon, the Borrego Days Desert Festival,  Haunt Fest on Main in downtown El  Cajon, a Pumpkin Bash and Spooky Campover at Lions, Tigers and Bears in Alpine,and a Pumpkin Express train ride in Campo.

Plus there are live entertainment stars taking stage in East County, including comics Paula Poundstone and Randy Rainbow at The Magnolia, the rock artist  Sting at SDSU, and El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells with his band in a benefit concert to help the homeless in El Cajon.

Scroll down for details on all of these events and more.

JOGGER, 73, FIGHTS OFF ROBBER IN EL CAJON

By Miriam Raftery

September 21, 2023 (El  Cajon) – A homeless man with an extensive criminal record has been arrested for attempting to rob a 73-year-old man. The victim was jogging near Mollison Ave. and Greenfield Dr. on Sept.15 at 11:09 a.m.  when the suspect demanded five dollars. He then “threatened to “tase” the man, grabbed onto his arm, and reached for his wallet,” says Lieutenant Jeremiah Larson, public information officer with El Cajon Police.

The man fought off his attacker and ran toward an apartment complex yelling for help.

ECM PADRES REPORT: PADRES SWEEP AGAIN FOR SEVENTH STRAIGHT

Story by Liz Alper

Photo via @padres on Twitter

 

September 20, 2023 (San Diego) - Blake Snell pitched an impressive seven innings with no hits last night and Xander Bogaerts hit the two-run jack for the win in the ninth.  The Padres looked for the sweep today with Chase Anderson on the mound for Colorado against Seth Lugo.

MOTORCYCLIST KILLED IN PINE VALLEY CRASH

East County News Service

September 19, 2023  (Pine Valley)—A 56-year San Diego man missed a curve while driving a motorcycle Sunday afternoon southbound on Sunrise Highway, around 1.5 miles north of Old Highway 80 in Pine Valley. He struck a guardrail and was ejected, landing approximately 100 feet down an embankment.

MAYOR WELLS AND FRIENDS CONCERT SEPT. 30 TO HELP THE HOMELESS

By Miriam Raftery

September 18, 2023 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells and his all-star band will revisit pop and soul classics in a concert to benefit the East County Transitional Living Center, a facility which helps homeless individuals and families transition off the streets and transform their lives.

ANDUJAR TAKES SEAT ON PADRE DAM BOARD HELD BY CAIRES

By Mike Allen
 
September 19, 2023 (Santee) -- Ivan Andujar (photo, left) was appointed by the board of directors of Padre Dam Municipal Water District to the Division 4 seat formerly held by the late Augie Caires earlier this month.
 
Caires, who served as the general manager of the district from 1993-2006 and then on the board of directors from 2007 to 2023, died Aug. 2. Andujar, an Alpine resident, will serve the remainder of Caires term, which expires in December 2024.
 
The board selected Andujar after interviewing three candidates at its Sept. 6 meeting. The two other candidates were Paul Tarpy and Kimberly Hales.

ECM PADRES REPORT: SNELL, SUAREZ ALMOST NO-NO, PADRES WALK OFF

Story by Liz Alper
 
Photo:  Blake Snell was dominant, pitching seven shutout innings with 10 strikeouts.  Via @padres on Twitter
 
September 19, 2023 (San Diego) - The Padres got a win last night against the Rockies, but they almost let it get away from them in the ninth.  They tried to take the series today with Ryan Feltner on the mound for Colorado against Blake Snell.

JULIAN FARM AND ORCHARD NAMED ONE OF USA TODAY'S BEST APPLE ORCHARDS

By Kyle Alderman

Julian, (September 19, 2023) – Julian Farm and Orchard is a winner in the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Award for Best Apple Orchard in the USA. The farm was nominated by an expert panel from the publication that includes editors and relevant contributors. The nominees were then voted on by the public and the farm placed among the top 10, representing the only location in California.

Julian Farm and Orchard was recognized for its vast apple orchard that boasts over 1,400 trees and covers a large portion of the 25-acre property. The panel also considered other factors including their activities and other Autumn offerings.

IN U.S. BORDER TOWN - STEADY STREAM OF MIGRANTS CONTINUES

By Rebecca Person

photos By Pete Cerep

September15,2023 (Jacumba Hot Springs) -- Just when a recent crisis of hundreds of stranded undocumented people seemed to abate, local residents of San Diego County border town Jacumba Hot Springs are reporting new waves of migrants seen on foot emerging from the rugged desert here.

In recent weeks, the numbers and frequency of sightings have increased from occasional to now several groups are observed each week. The latest group on September 13 numbered 62 people who scurried over a remote desert trail and clustered in the shade of tamarisk trees beside Old Highway 80 in Jacumba.

Photos of the travelers reveal them to be mostly young men, possibly Asian, though a few women and children were seen. By contrast, most of the May migrants said they were from Haiti, Turkey, Brazil or Guatemala, according to residents who brought them water and survival supplies.

Those pictured in photos in this article were loaded into vans late in the day on  Sept. 13 to be transported to their next destination under the apparent supervision of Border Patrol, witnesses told  ECM.

SPEAKER MCCARTHY ORDERS IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY OF BIDEN WITHOUT A HOUSE VOTE, AND WITHOUT EVIDENCE

By Miriam Raftery

September 17,2023 (Washington D.C.) – House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, under pressure from right-wing extremists in the House who have threatened to remove him as Speaker, has directed that an impeachment inquiry be opened into  President Joe Biden.

McCarthy claims  that unsubstantiated allegations of “abuse of power, obstruction and corruption” warrant further investigation to learn whether Biden ever benefitted financially from business dealings of his son, Hunter Biden. 

The GOP has spent months investigating those claims. Yet major media outlets confirm not as shred of evidence to substantiate those claims has been found. 

National Public Radio (NPR) states that thus far, “There has been no evidence that the president has benefitted  financially from any of his son Hunter’s business dealings.”

Nor has there been any indication of obstruction by Biden,  as some  Republicans claim. In fact, 100% of documents subpoenaed or requested by the Republican-led committee have been turned over by the White House.  Republican Congressman James Comer appeared on the Fox Business Network last month and confirmed that he has  received 100% of records that he as chairman requested as chair of the oversight committee. 

TB EXPOSURE AT SDSU

By Cassie N. Saunders, County of San Diego Communications Office

September 14, 2023 (San Diego) --The Tuberculosis Program in the Public Health Services (PHS) department, of the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, in collaboration with San Diego State University (SDSU) and Aztec Shops are working closely to notify employees potentially exposed to tuberculosis (TB) on the SDSU campus, primarily at the Charles B. Bell Jr., Pavilion. Exposures to the general public, SDSU students and faculty, and to other employees are considered to be limited.

The dates of potential exposure are from Feb. 16, 2023 to June 22, 2023. Those known to have been potentially exposed have been directly notified and have been provided direction from health officials. People sick with TB may be sick for many months before they are diagnosed, and as such, exposure periods can be long.

TB is an airborne disease that is transmitted from person-to-person through inhalation of the bacteria from the air. The chance of infection is higher for people with prolonged indoor exposure to a person who is sick with TB.

ECM FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: SCOTTIES STAY UNDEFEATED WITH HARD-FOUGHT 35-21 WIN OVER CATHEDRAL

Story and photos by Liz Alper
 
September 15, 2023 (San Diego) -  We’ve got another matchup for week five before our two-week break and it’s a divinely good one from Cathedral Catholic High School, where the undefeated HIghlanders of Helix went up to do battle with the Dons at Manchester Stadium on the campus of Cathedral Catholic.

CAL-FIRE: KEEP DRONES OUT OF FIREFIGHTING AIRSPACE

CAL FIRE Issues Urgent Warning Regarding Incursions of Unmanned Aircraft Systems

East County News Service

September 15, 2023 (Sacramento) -- CAL FIRE, alongside their cooperators, wishes to issue an urgent warning regarding the incursion of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), commonly known as drones, into firefighting airspace. These incursions have raised serious concerns as they have led to the temporary suspension of critical aerial firefighting operations on a half-dozen incidents so far this year.

HOW DID I GET HERE: TRAVELING THE ROAD TO RESILIENCE

Book by Andrew Fitzgerald

Reviewed by Pennell Paugh

September 14,2023 (San Diego)  -- In How Did I Get Here? Traveling the Road to Resilience, author Andrew Fitgerald shares his difficulties and determined resilience to overcome health issues. He also recounts how  he and his wife later struggled to settle in the United States. The second time they emigrated, they stayed. Then, after four miscarriages, they had a healthy boy. They live in San Diego County.

Fitzgerald begins his debut story being faced with death. His heart needed to be stopped and restarted. Doctors did this procedure twice before doing surgery on his heart to solve the problem. Over time, Fitzgerald reclaimed his strength and love of sports. 

He and his wife decided to move to the United States but initially had hardships and difficulties that drove them back to Ireland. They recommitted themselves and successfully relocated to the San Diego region, where they flourished in their second move. 

HOSPITALS PLEA WITH CONGRESS TO AVOID CUTS

By Ashley Murray, Kansas Reflector CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Photo: CC by Bing

September 15, 2023 (Washington, D.C.) -- Health care representatives from across the United States are urging Congress to halt cuts to funding that helps hospitals care for uninsured or low-income patients who rely on Medicaid.

More than 250 hospitals and health systems appealed to House and Senate leadership in a letter Thursday asking the lawmakers to avert or delay a forthcoming $8 billion cut to “America’s health care safety net.”

LIGHTS, CAMERA, CELEBRATE: SALUTE TO LOCAL HEROES OCT. 5 AT SYCUAN

 

September 14, 2023 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce invites you its 14th annual  Salute to Local Heroes dinner on Thursday,  October 5 at  Sycuan Casino Resort.

“This evening is our opportunity to come together and honor those that are dedicated to the citizens of La Mesa and our community,” says La Mesa Chamber President Mary England. “The pandemic has given us a great opportunity to see our local heroes in action. We are celebrating those that serve our community in extraordinary ways from: the La Mesa Police Department, Heartland Fire & Rescue – La Mesa, AMR Paramedics, and the Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol. During this evening we will also install our Board of Directors.”

The event will be held from 5:30 to 8:45 p.m. in Sycuan Casino Resort’s Heritage Ballroom at5485 Casino Way,  El Cajon 92019.

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