February 1, 2015 (San Diego)--Former San Diego Chargers linebacker Junior Seau was elected for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday in his first year of eligibility. Seau died in 2012.

Seau headlines the 2015 Hall of Fame class, joining running back Jerome Bettis, wide receiver Tim Brown, defensive end Charles Haley, guard Will Shields, center Mick Tinglehoff and former NFL executives Ron Wolf and Bill Polian. The class of ’15 will be officially inducted this summer at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

By Miriam Raftery

January 31, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Superior Court Judge Joel Pressman this week denied a request by the Grossmont Union High School District, which sought a stay to halt a preliminary injunction issued to protect bond funds for construction of an Alpine high school.

You're invited to East County Magazine's "Treasures of East County" event to benefit our nonprofit community news and wildfire reporting! 

 Saturday, January 31 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1625 East Main Street, El Cajon

You can help by shopping (just in time for Valentine's Day) and by donating items for our big event, which features 4 sales in one location!

* Multi-community "treasures" sale (drop off yard-sale items in good condition starting at 7 a.m. RSVP to editor@eastcountymagazine.org with description of items you plan to bring)

* Valentine gift baskets to cherish  ($50 value and up)

* Arts and crafts vendors (we have plenty of spaces available - large location, high traffic!)

* Silent auction treasure trove - items valued at $100 to $5,000!

Fabulous items already donated include black pearl/diamonds/white gold earrings, large gallery-quality framed Leroy Nieman signed serograph "Downers" skiers (valued at $4,500), Super Bowl party pack from Cali Comfort, Glitter Coutour hand-made afghan, photography tour for 4 at Mission Trails Regional Park led by photographer David Cooksy, black pearl, white gold and diamond earrings, hand-knitted afghan, guided nature walk for 10 at Mission Trails, Glamour Girlz gift basket, his and her Valentine baskets, Carrizo Gorge Rocks & Gems wind chimes, Mediterraneo restaurant gift basket, wine lovers baskets from local wineries, one month of music lessons--guitar or vocal, Heritage of the Americas Museum gift basket, steel drums set, Urbn Pizza & Brewery gift basket, Sophie's Gallery gift basket, book lover's gift basket, gourmet picnic basket for two with gift certificate to Verona Bistro, crocheted scarf and peppermint scrub from Styla-Rama-Mama, golf clubs, and much, much more!  

Your help and support is greatly appreciated! For details on how to donate items and benefits you will receive, see our flyer. 

By Hayden Parsley

January 31, 2016 (San Diego) - In San Diego, the second most trafficked illegal commodity is human lives (after narcotics). Our county has become a hub for this deplorable practice, but now a new taskforce has been formed to combat this crisis.

February 1, 2015 (Lakeside) – The Barona Cultural Center and Museum invites San Diegans to learn the art of Native American beading on Saturday, February 7 at a special class presented by Ancient Spirits Speak, the museum’s public education program.

January 30, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - Blood donors giving at San Diego Blood Bank’s East County Donor Center beginning Monday, January 26 through March 8 will be awarded a buy one ticket get one ticket free coupon at Circus Vargas performances in San Diego County during February and March. There are several Circus Vargas locations planned including Mission Bay Park, El Cajon, Vista and National City.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

January 30, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - As you Coach and prepare Super Bowl festivities this weekend make sure to be a good sport and keep your ‘Safety’ front and center at all times says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.

By Miriam Raftery

January 29, 2015 (San Diego) – It’s rare for both parties in Congress to agree on anything these days.  But the House of Representatives has just approved 10 bills to help combat human trafficking.  All five of San Diego’s Congressional representatives voted in favor of two of the bills and the rest passed by voice vote without a roll call of members.

“I have seen so much evidence of corruption at the CPUC that it is appalling. Judges who appeared sympathetic to the consumer were regularly changed out for those who would do what Peevey wanted, which meant what the utilities wanted” – Susan Brinchman, , La Mesa

By Miriam Raftery

January 30, 2015 (San Francisco) – Investigators from the California Attorney General’s office reportedly raided the home of former Public Utilities Commission Chairman Michael Peevey this week, seizing computers and smart phones.  State law enforcement officials also seized evidence from the home of Pacific Gas & Electric Company executive Brian Cherry, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

By Miriam Raftery

January 30th 2014 (El Cajon)—The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on January 22^nd to welcome Milholland Solar and Electric to East County and celebrate the premier solar installation and electrical contractor’s 25^th anniversary.  

Representatives for officials including Supervisor Dianne Jacob, State Senator Joel Anderson and Assemblyman Brian Jones were on hand to present awards, along with Chamber leaders, at Milholland’s spacious new headquarters at 1475 North Cuyamaca Street in El Cajon.

January 30, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County has events ranging from  our own East County treasures event to an art show at Mission Trails Regional Park. Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including a Ballet Folklorico dance performance and Circus Vargas bringing its mesmerizing performances to our region. Stay tuned for all of these events and much more, from East County Magazine.

By Miriam Raftery

January 29, 2015 (Borrego Springs)—A domestic dispute in Borrego Springs ended in an explosive situation that resulted in a home in flames and a Sheriff’s deputy risking his life to save an arsonist from a burning home.

January 29, 2015 (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

• Flu Season Deaths Rise To 9 In San Diego County (KPBS)
• Planning commission still up in the air in Lemon Grove (UT San Diego)
• Planners put conditions on solar proposal (Ramona Sentinel)
• They haul meat: Golden eagle tracking project yields unexpected data (San Diego Reader)
• Drug-Laden Drone Crashes Near US-Mexico Border (KPBS)
• Groundbreaking home for disabled (U-T)
• Nude pics posted online humiliated women (U-T)
• Will San Diego be a pot mecca? (U-T)

STATE

• Big Brother in Your Car (Reason)
• Fewer Kindergarteners Skip Vaccinations Under California Law (KPBS)
• California's public-worker payroll increased post-recession (AP)
• California runs risk of financial relapse, ratings agency says (LA Times)
• Suspected Ebola patient admitted to California hospital (Reuters)

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

January 29, 2015 (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.

• Starving and torturing animals with $22 million of your tax dollars (Huffington Post)
• Supreme Court Rules for Federal Whistleblower in Homeland Security Case (Reason)
• Russia sends clear message - and spy ship - on eve of US-Cuba talks (CS Monitor)
• U.S. Scientist Jailed For Trying To Help Venezuela Build Bombs (NPR)

WORLD

• Gas truck blast rocks Mexico hospital; two dead, 66 injured (Reuters)
• Mexico university campus shuttered over gang threats (AP)
• Afghan air force ascent slow, imperiling battle with Taliban (Reuters)
• Palestinian terrorist stabs 12 aboard crowded Tel Aviv bus (JPost)
• Police arrest 153 in South Africa after xenophobic attack (CS Monitor)
• Greek leftist leader Tsipras claims victory over austerity (Reuters)
• HarperCollins omits Israel from school atlas (Telegraph)
• Piece By Piece, Monks Scramble To Preserve Iraq's Christian History (NPR)

By Kristin Kjaero

January 28, 2015 (La Mesa) – At his first City Council meeting with a full agenda, recently elected Councilmember Guy McWhirter joked that he used to think the meetings were boring and overly lengthy and dreamed of better efficiency. But after attending a League of California Cities course for newly elected representatives, he’s learned why this format is necessary to allow for full public participation and disclosure.

That fairly sums up Tuesday’s La Mesa Council meeting, one moment compellingly informative, the next protractedly bureaucratic.

Two presentations of particular interest could have significant impact on their parts of town, namely a presentation by the Cushman family about their vision for redevelopment of Grossmont Center, and a staff report on a study investigating the possibility of building a parking building in the Village.

By Hayden Parsley

January 29, 2015 (Jacumba Hot Springs)—Take a trip into California’s past at the Desert View Tower, a quirky and whimsical relic of the past that is still open to the public in San Diego’s East County.  Located just off Interstate 8 at the In-ko-Pah exit, the tower is poised on a rocky overlook surrounded by desert on all sides.

Built in the 1920s by Bert Vaughn, a real estate tycoon who owned much of Jacumba,  this 70-foot watchtower has become a tourist attraction and a local landmark on the outskirts of the small town today known as Jacumba Hot Springs.

By Miriam Raftery; Kristin Kjaero contributed to this story

Big changes could soon be coming to Grossmont Center.

At the La Mesa City Council meeting on Tuesday night January 27^th, Steve Cushman  gave a presentation  regarding the future of the regional shopping mall and surrounding properties owned by the Cushman family.

A 50-year lease with developers of the shopping center expired in mid-January and now the shopping mall and adjacent properties are reverting back to the Cushman family.  That includes 125 acres, extending beyond the mall itself to many surrounding sites.

February 6 – March 15, 2015

January 28, 2015 (La Mesa) -- Israeli artist Aaron Zigel is bringing his wonderful oil paintings to O’Dunn Fine Art in La Mesa Village, an international first for the gallery. The artist will be present at the opening of the exhibition on Friday, February 6, from 5 pm to 9 pm: 8325 La Mesa Boulevard, in La Mesa Village.

By Hayden Parsley

January 28, 2015 (San Diego) - The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted this week to implement involuntary treatment for mentally ill patients. The legislation that would allow this is known as Laura’s law. This motion was passed 4 to 1 on Tuesday. Staff now has 90 days to develop a plan to implement the law countywide.

By Hayden Parsley

January 27, 2015 (San Diego) - San Diego’s first pediatric heart transplant patient was released from Rady Children’s Hospital Tuesday. This is following a 12 day stay and a successful surgery.

By Hayden Parsley

January 28, 2015 (Washington D.C.) - Leaders of the United States House of Representatives have decided to postpone a vote on the “Secure Our Borders Act.” Otherwise known as H.R. 399, the bill was called for by Republicans and would require the Border Agency to stop all illegal border crossings within five years or be penalized.

January 28, 2015 (San Diego) - Doctors at University of California student health centers went out on strike Tuesday, including physicians who picketed at UC San Diego.

January 27, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - Bernardo Winery invites you to its annual Vino Valentino Valentine’s Day dinner on Saturday February 14^th at 6 p.m.

NAKED ADDICTION – CAITLIN ROTHER (Wildblue Press, Evergreen, Colorado, 2014, 415 pages).

Book Review by Jacqueline Carr

January 27, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - The story takes place in the wealthy La Jolla California area.  It’s a story that holds your interest from start to finish.  Ms Rother is a superb story teller who writes fluidly, and vividly.  She has a canny way of introducing her characters into the story line so one gets a vivid description of the person. The use of imagery helps the reader relate to the role each character plays in the story.

January 27, 2015 (Lemon Grove) Community outreach is a priority of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. Members of the community should feel comfortable bringing problems related to safety and security as well as deputy-community relations to his staff, the Sheriff says.

Janju: The Voice Of One Girl, by Priscilla Koranteng (Poised Publishing LLC, Lanham, Maryland, 2014, 150 pages.)

Book Review by Dennis Moore

January 27, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - Priscilla Koranteng, an author and businesswoman born in Ghana, West Africa, to a teacher and politician, and who grew up with a lot of optimism and the zeal to achieve the best in all she could, has written a warm and fictional account of a young girl growing up in Africa; Janju: The Voice Of One Girl.

January 27, 2015 (Alpine)--Happy Valentine’s Day! You’re invited to come celebrate the “perfect romantic evening” at Mediterraneo Bistro on Saturday February 14, 2015. Enjoy a Special Menu & extensive wine List on this lovely day.

January 27, 2015 (San Diego) – Trouble in Mind, a groundbreaking classic about a racially integrated cast rehearsing for what the actors hope will be the next big hit on Broadway, takes stage at the Moxie Theatre (6063 El Cajon Blvd.)in San Diego from January 31^st through February 22^nd.  Plus on February 8^th, you can join the director and actors for a post-show discussion to learn more about the play and enrich your theater-going experience. The playwright, Alice Childress, was first African-American woman to have a professional play produced in New York.

By Miriam Raftery

January 27, 2015 (Sacramento) – E-cigarettes could soon be prohibited in restaurants, bars, workplaces and hospitals.  State Senator Mark Leno has introduce a measure, Senate Bill 140, that would ban e-cigarettes everywhere that standard cigarettes are currently prohibited.

By Miriam Raftery

January 26, 2015 (San Diego) – A 15-year-old boy hiking at Mission Trails Regional Park on Sunday was bitten by a rattlesnake.