By Miriam Raftery

July 31, 2014 (Washington D.C.)—“We must at with urgency to stop the ever-increasing incidence of skin cancers in the United States,” Acting U.S. Surgeon General Boris Lushniak, M.D., announced this week.

By Don Rutkoff

Photo: Elaine Lyttleton, Hatfield Creek Winery

By Miriam Raftery

July 30, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--This week on Destination East County we’ve got music, music, music!  From a battle of the bands to a jazz concert-- and some good old ‘60s rock and roll.  Plus stay tuned for details on a political comedian, musical theater and a world championship event for sports fans—all in San Diego’s inland region!

July 31, 2014 (Washington D.C.)--A new bill in Congress would legalize use of medical marijuana, but only those varieties with very low levels of THC, the psychoactive ingredient that makes users high.

A quarter of all rural stations were closed –at the same time—during April

An East County Magazine special investigative report

By Miriam Raftery

July 31, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – The County Fire Authority has touted its successes in preventing the May wildfires in North County from destroying thousands of homes despite a County disaster declaration. But if fires were to start in East County, a more troubling result could occur—and an ECM investigation raises serious doubts over inadequate volunteer staffing to respond even to routine house fires and medical calls in rural communities.

Last October,  our investigative report revealed that Boulevard’s fire station was closed for two months during fire season and Jacumba’s station also had some dark days- -including one when a resident died of a medical emergency after a delay in emergency services arriving.  The County responded by funding emergency staffing and according to Supervisor Jacob’s staff, these two stations remained open every day  for at least several months thereafter, an ECM records check in late April revealed.   

But on July 9, Craig Williams, an information technology provider for the Campo Fire Department, advised ECM that “without any notification to the community leaders two days ago” Cal Fire “moved the overtime, off-budget, paid Cal Fire firefighters out of Boulevard to Jacumba Hot Springs. Now  Boulevard is stuck with Fire Authority `volunteers’ only, just like Campo.’”

Worse,  a new investigation by ECM reveals that this is the tip of an iceberg. 

Update July 30, 2014: By a 5-0 vote,  Supervisors adopted the feral pig eradication plan to trap and shoot wild pigs across our region.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy U.S. Forest Service

July 29, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--They wallow in waterways and root up sensitive habitat.  They breed prolifically—and they eat almost anything—from acorns to small animals—even goats with horns!  Those portly porkers – feral pigs in East County’s backcountry—can weigh up to 250 pounds. The largest wild pig caught anywhere--a gargantuan specimen dubbed "Hogzilla," tipped the scales at over 800 pounds.

Feral pigs are descendants of domestic pigs run wild and European boars brought over by Spaniards in the 1700s. Locally, San Diego's pig population has been around since only around 2006.  We don't know how they got here. One rumor is that  hunters released a few pigs as game animals. Another theory is that the pigs migrated in from elsewhere in California or Mexico. However they came, they've found fertile ground locally, where the number of wild pigs is now estimated at over a thousand. 

Hunting wild pigs is legal in California on private property and tribal lands – though not in our region's parks, preserves, or wilderness areas.  But bringing home the bacon isn’t as easy as it sounds.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Mister Oh

July 30, 2014 (San Francisco) – A federal grand jury has indicted Pacific Gas & Electric for allegedly obstructing an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board into the deadly San Bruno gas pipeline explosion. In addition, the public utility is charged with 27 counts of willfully violating the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act.

Suspects arrested for residential burglaries and Craig’s list sale of stolen property

July 30, 2014 (La Mesa) – Two separate incidents kept local police officers busy in the wee hours on July 26.

July 30, 2014 (San Diego County) – The County Water Authority voted Thursday to make water use restrictions mandatory in our region.

By Miriam Raftery

July 30, 2014 (El Cajon) – Outliers Collective (www.outco.com), the only legal,  licensed medical marijuana dispensary  in East County’s unincorporated areas, will open this Saturday, August 2 near Gillespie Field.  A grand opening party is set from 1 to 4 p.m. at the collective dispensary, located at 8157 Wing Avenue in unincorporated El Cajon.

The grand opening will feature raffles, prize giveaways, meet and greet with model “Queen Esther”, poster signings, a food truck, 619 clothing and more.

July 30, 2014 (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.

• House votes to sue Obama (The Hill)
• House approves V.A. healthcare overhaul (KPBS)
• General Motors sued on behalf of hundreds of plaintiffs (CBS)
• Peters blasts House move to sue President Obama (Times of San Diego)
• Federal judge rules DC ban on handguns unconstitutional (Reuters)  
• What's happened since Detroit turned off delinquent residents' taps  (Marketplace)

WORLD

• Ebola: Liberia shuts all schools to tackle outbreak  (BBC)
• Hamas attacks by tunnel rattle Israelis on Gaza border (+video) (CS Monitor)
• Hamas and North Korea in secret arms deal (The Telegraph)
• Somalian jihadist group Al-Shabab calls for attacks on Jewish targets worldwide (JPost)
• U.S. evacuates Libya embassy after 'free-wheeling militia violence'  (Reuters)
• Barrel Bomb Attacks Devastate Iraqi Families (NPR)
• UN report finds Islamic State is undergoing a 'Syrian-ization' (CS Monitor)
• Putin sends a message? Opposition leaders get prison for staging riots (+video) (CS Monitor)

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

July 30, 2014 (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:

LOCAL

• Open spaces program to help Lemon Grove design its own public art (EC Californian)
• Home appreciation pace continues its dive (UT San Diego)
• Skydiver falls to his death in Otay Lakes (KUSI)
• Microsoft cutting 378 jobs in San Diego (UT San Diego)
• San Diego recovers poorly (SD Reader)
• Report: Increased Meth Use By Minors Booked Into Juvenile Hall (KPBS)

STATE

• In Mexico, a new Jerry Brown comes around to free trade (Sacramento Bee)
• Suspended California lawmaker Leland Yee faces new conspiracy charges (Reuters)
• Lawmakers scrap controversial section of energy bill (Mission Times Courier)
• Brown: California Willing To Shelter More Migrants (KPBS)

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

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by John Dill

July 29, 2014 (Lakeside)—Multiple spot fires broke out along Wildcat Canyon Road in Lakeside just south of Barona Creek Golf Club near Founders Way shortly after noon today. The blazes sparked some tense moments for residents in this rural community where the deadly Cedar Fire of a decade ago remains a smoldering memory.

John Dill told East County Magazine that his wife called in the fire at 12:09 p.m. at mile marker 6.5.  “Within the ten minutes it took for a response, the fire went from a small area fire to a very large fire,” he said.

July is dedicated as National Grilling Safety Month – Send the Right Smoke Signal - SAFETY!

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

July 29, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - “July, August and right into Labor Day we use our barbeques than any other months. Firefighters respond to many structure and wild-land fires that involve barbeques this time of year. We also treat many victims for injuries related to barbeques says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna. Barbeque Safety means sending the right smoke signal and that signal is Safety!”

By Miriam Raftery

July 28, 2014 (Boulevard) – The Boulevard Planning Group meets Thursday, August 7 at 7 p.m. in the Boulevard Fire Training room, 39919 Ribbonwood Road in Boulevard.  Action items on the agenda include a faux water tower wireless communications facility near Golden Acorn, a presented by the County’s groundwater geologist, concerns over closure of the White Star fire station, and updates to a Park Lands Dedication Ordinance project priority list.

There will also be updates on numerous major projects proposed in the Boulevard area including Tule Wind, Soitec Solar, Rough Acres Ranch campground/conference center, a complaint against the Eco Substation, court actions challenging the county wind ordinance and Tule Wind, and Sempra’s cross-border high voltage transmission line.

County News Service

July 27, 2014 (Santee)-A 43-year-old Santee man has the first confirmed local case of West Nile virus  this year, the County Health and Human Services Agency reports.  There has not been a human case of the disease in San Diego County since 2012.

“We  expressed our concern over the current debate that is focusing on sending the children back while we believe it should be focusing on the care and safety of the children.”—Doug Brunson, UCCLM Committee on Border Justice

View or sign petition: http://tableucc.com/witness/sign-the-petition-central-american-refugee-crisis/

Over 50,000 young children have crossed the border to seek refugee status in the U.S. this year.  Some are fleeing gang violence and drug trafficking, others are escaping grinding poverty or trying to reunite with family already in the United States.  Many have paid large sums to smugglers and made dangerous journeys atop trains to get here from Central America, only to be placed in overcrowded, often unhealthy holding facilities while awaiting determination of their status by understaffed courts.  Some have also endured the verbal abuse of militant protestors seeking to banish them back to the horrors from which they fled.

Inspired by The Rev. Kaji Douŝa’s sermon on Sunday, July 13, members of the United Church of Christ of La Mesa gathered to discuss the child immigration crisis and how the congregation, as a justice-oriented church, should respond.

July 26, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)—The East County Magazine Show sat down with Anat Tour, whose passion is illustrating and writing children’s books produced in multi-media format with CD/DVD audio to delight youngsters.

Hear our interview here, which originally aired on KNSJ 89.1 FM:  http://kiwi6.com/file/slr2nuzhqw

 Her works include Mama’s Shoe, The Rainbow Animals and her latest work, I Dream of Puffy Clouds.  East County Magazine book reviewer Dennis Moore has called Anat Tour  East County’s “own Renaissance woman.”  Originally from Canada, Tour is a master of mathematics, art, music, writing and more. By day, she is a mother of four and a math teacher at a local high school By night she is a lead singer in a local band.  In between, she is a writer and illustrator of children’s books as well as an animator.  She has also been an international model.  Stay tuned for more works by this intriguing author!

Hear highlights of Bill Walton's inspirational speech, originally aired on East County Magazine's radio show on KNSJ 89.1 FM,  here:  http://kiwi6.com/file/rdlekk220f

By Miriam Raftery

July 26, 2014 (La Mesa)—NBA Hall of Famer and former Helix High School superstar Bill Walton is best known for his exceptional achievements on the basketball court.  But he’s also proud to be in the boys & Girls Club Hall of Fame, and knows first-hand the importance of positive role models. 

So now he’s leading efforts to raise funds to build a Bill Walton Gymnasium at the Boys & Girls Club in La Mesa, giving back to the children in this community, where mentors before him helped young Walton to achieve his dreams.  On Thursday, Walton delivered an inspiration speech at the Boys and Girls Club’s new Brady Family Clubhouse. 

“What great leaders do is inspire pride and loyalty,” said Walton.  “Loyalty is that human attribute that allows us as a community to come together and be part of a team—and to realize that what we have is so special, as a result of our caring about what goes on.  It’s not about us; it’s about these young children here who just have these fantastic smiles…who are just so full of dreams and full of hope.”

By Grey Feathers

Barona Cultural Center, Wildcat Canyon Road, Lakeside

July 26, 2014 (Barona) - To document, describe and explain the complex relationships between cultures and the uses of plants is the practice of ethnobotany.  This includes the use of plants as food, clothing, currency, ritual, medicine, dye, construction, cosmetics and more.The Barona Cultural Center and Museum and the Barona Indian Charter School have partnered together to practice ethnobotany.

July 25, 2014 (Santee)--Santee’s City Council has voted to approve $2,000 as its fair share to assist the San Diego Regional Task Force on the Homeless.

The vote was 3-1, over the objection of Santee Mayor Randy Voepel. Councilman John Ryan was not present.

By Miriam Raftery

Listen to our show on KNSJ 89.1 FM on Monday at 5 p.m. to hear our special report including audio highlights from this event.

July 26, 2014 (El Cajon)--Local political and religious leaders offered messages of hope for Iraqi Christians fleeing persecution and genocide in Iraq, many of them seeking to find refuge in America.   They offered a safe haven here in East County, as well as political actions now underway in Washington D.C. and Sacramento to aid Christians in their homeland.

“When they come here, I want you to tell them they will be safe here,” Mayor Bill Wells told the crowd during a prayer vigil in El Cajon’s Centennial Plaza last night  that was attended by an estimated 2,000 people.

The Mayor denounced the “unconscionable” slaughter of Iraqi Christians by ISIS terrorists who have declared a caliphate, or Muslim state, in the Mosul area, where churches dating back to Biblical times are being destroyed and Christians ordered to convert to Islam or die by the sword.

July 24, 2014 (Descanso)-- Sheriff's Deputies went door to door yesterday  in Descanso to inform the community about a registered sex offender now living in their neighborhood.

Former Campo artist now creating film on cofounder of Rancho La Puerta

By Mimi Pollack

On July 24^th, 2014, my good friend Vivian Blackstone will celebrate her 86th birthday. A woman in excellent health, she has lived an unconventional life with an artistic, bohemian and spiritual bent. That artistic side still continues as she is working on a film about Edmond Szekely [aka the professor], who along with Deborah Szekely, created and developed the world famous spa and resort in Tecate, Mexico, called Rancho La Puerta. This film is important to Vivian as the professor was an influential person in her life and she hopes this film will honor him and the influence he had on her.

By Miriam Raftery

July 23, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – Just two weeks ago, Sheriff’s deputies at the Santee station became among the first law enforcement officers in the program to carry Naloxene, a drug that reverses the effects of heroin, under a new pilot program.

By Mimi Pollack

July 24, 2014 (Tecate)--Many of us lead hectic, stressful lives, so it is always healthy to find ways to unwind. Spending a week at a spa is one good way to relax and recharge, but not everyone can afford that or has the time. Here in San Diego, we are lucky to have a world class spa and retreat, Rancho La Puerta, just across the border from East County. Founded in Tecate, Mexico in 1940 by Edmond and Deborah Szekely, Rancho La Puerta has built a solid reputation and a loyal following over the years.

By Janis Russell

July 23, 2014 (El Cajon)- At yesterday’s El Cajon Council meeting, Council had a public hearing on electronic cigarettes and hookahs, then voted unanimously to outlaw hookah lounges in the city.  One existing hookah vaping lounge in the city will be grandfathered in as a legal but non-conforming use, however no new facilities will be permitted.

East County News Service

July 25, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)- A hazardous weather warning remains in effect through tonight across our region, with high temperatures expected to continue through this weekend, cooling slightly.

Thunderstorms are also moving across the region.

East County News Service

July 25, 2014 (El Cajon) -- The recent persecution of Iraqi Christians has outraged people all over the world. Over 40,000 Chaldeans and other Iraqi Christians live in the San Diego suburb of El Cajon, which has one of the world’s largest concentrations of Chaldeans.  Tonight, elected officials, community leaders and Christian leaders of all denominations are coming together I El Cajon for a vigil in support of persecuted Iraqi Christians. 

The event is organized by City Transformation, San Diego Leadership Forum and the Chaldean Council for Public Affairs.  Leaders in attendance will include El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, Bishop Sarhad Jammo from St. Peter Chaldean Diocese, Dr. Jim Garlow, pastor at Skyline Church, Pastor Mark Hoffman from Foothills Church, and other local political representatives, community and church leaders.

Plus previews of coming attractions

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Les Miserables on Mt. Helix

This week on Destination East County, we’ll start with some hot concerts and summer plays, a star party campout and the Pine Valley Days Parade.  Plus we’ll have previews of more super summertime events, from jazz in Julian to some rollicking times at the Ramona Country Fair.