By J.W. August, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

August 17, 2022 (San Diego) - What do you do with a stray cat that crosses your path?

By José Eli Villanueva, County of San Diego Communications Office

August 17, 2022 (San Diego) - Officials from the County’s Health and Human Services Agency, local hospitals and healthcare agencies gathered Thursday to celebrate the county becoming the first in the nation to earn a regionwide “senior-friendly” emergency department accreditation for all 18 of its hospitals.

By Miriam Raftery

August 17, 2022 (Washington D.C.) – President Joe Biden has signed the Inflation Reduction Act, calling it “one of the most significant laws in our history.” He added, “With this law, the American people won and the special interests lost.” The bill cuts prescription drug costs for Medicare and has healthcare savings for many others, provides tax breaks and rebates for households and companies investing in clean energy, funds IRS collections from tax dodgers and levies new taxes on some corporations, also aiming to sharply reduce the federal deficit.

Children and pets and especially vulnerable to HABs

Source:  California Water Boards

August 16, 2022 (Riverside) - The State Water Resources Control Board and Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board are urging fisherman and recreational users to stay out of the water until further notice at Lake Elsinore in Riverside County. Tests results in portions of the lake confirmed the presence of harmful algal blooms (HABs), which can be a health threat to humans and pets.

East County News Service

August 15, 2022 (Lakeside) -- Shiloh Ireland Photography sent in this horseback-view image of the San Vicente Reservoir in Lakeside.

By Henri Migala

August 12, 2022 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa City Council voted Tuesday to approve a Conditional Use Permit and allow Urbn Leaf to build a cannabis (marijuana) dispensary at 7901 Hillside Drive. The Council unanimously voted 5-0 to repeal its earlier approval of an appeal that had blocked the project, after applicant Urbn Leaf filed a legal challenge.

By J.W. August

August 12, 2022 (San Diego) -- The message must have been  clear to leaders in Sacramento.  Assembly Bill 2790 --- the bill seeking to end reporting of domestic violence to law enforcement--failed in the Senate Appropriations Committee.   The “how” is rarely revealed when a bill doesn’t get out of the appropriations committee.  But the “why” can be explained, says Casey Gwinn, co-founder and president of the Family Justice Center. Gwinn led the effort to create the first and “all under one roof” domestic violence help center and strongly opposed AB2790.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos, top left to lower right of antique and vintage butter dishes: EAPG Victorian beaded emerald green, pink Depression glass, Summit Art amethyst carnival glass with embossed holly, Jeanette cobalt blue Depression glass with cherry pattern, vintage ‘60s amber glass, EAPG Delaware glass gold encrusted circa 1899, Fenton hobnail milk glass for weddings, green uranium glass, L.E. Smith aqua Blue Moon and Stars.

August 11, 2022 (San Diego) - Before refrigeration, butter dishes were essentials to keep butter soft and ready to serve.  Many antique and vintage butter dishes from the 1800s and early 1900s are elegant display pieces, some in colored glass or ornately cut crystal.  Older ones are round, from when butter was hand-churned and served in a ball. More recent versions are rectangular, in a variety of colors and styles. 

By Elijah McKee

Photo:  former Councilmember Kristine Alessio will challenge La Mesa Mayor Mark Arapostathis.

Updated August 15 with additional candidates qualified

August 10, 2022 (San Diego's East County) — Each city in East County will have elected seats up for grabs in the approaching November election — but the deadline to file for candidacy ends this week on August 12.

Along with each city’s elected positions, filing periods for school, fire and water districts will close too, as well as community planning groups. 

Incumbents can be granted a five-day extension for filing their nomination, but time is almost up for challengers and political newcomers. Those interested in running for an office can refer to the appropriate city or board clerk for nomination paperwork.

Local councils and staff members have a wide scope of impact on ground-level development and policy changes that matter to residents, as they are tasked with designing priorities and implementing budgets. City council terms are typically four years, while staff positions may be longer.

ECM asked East County's four cities for information on who has filed to run so far. Below are the responses.

Experienced administrator and educational technology leader will lead the Wolf Pack

Source:  Grossmont Union High School District

August 10, 2022 (Santee) - At its August 9, 2022 meeting, the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) Governing Board (Board) appointed Mrs. April Baker to serve as Principal of West Hills High School (West Hills). Mrs. Baker will succeed Mrs. Robin Ballarin who accepted a leadership position as a Director of GUHSD Human Resources.