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August 31, 2022 (Chicago)—In her acceptance speech for the Democratic party’s presidential nomination delivered last week in Chicago, Vice President and former prosecutor Kamala Harris presented her case to the American people. She spoke of domestic and foreign policy priorities, sharply contrasting her goals with those of her opponent.

“My entire career, I have only had one  client. The People,” said Harris, former California Attorney General and a former district attorney.  “With this election, our nation has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism and divisive battles of the past. A chance to chart a New Way Forward.”

Pledging to be a President for all Americans, she added, “You can always trust me to put country above party and self. To hold sacred America’s fundamental principals—from the rule of law to free and fair elections, to the peaceful transfer of power,” alluding to her opponent, former President Donald Trump, convicted of felony fraud and facing numerous pending charges related to his efforts to overthrow the 2020 election results.

Harris said that if elected, she would strive to unite Americans around “our highest aspirations” and be a President “who leads and listens, who is realistic, practical, and has common sense. And always fights for the American people.”

View video of Mayor Racquel Vasquez’s State of the City 2024 address

By Miriam Raftery

August 28, 2024 (Lemon Grove) – In her 2024 State of the City address delivered August 14, Lemon Grove Mayor Racquel Vasquez said,  “We are gathered tonight to celebrate our remarkable accomplishments and to embrace the exciting opportunities that are before us, and to report a shared vision for the future of our city.”

That progress includes strengthening the city’s finances, enhancing infrastructure and elevating the quality of life, according to the Mayor.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos, top left to lower right:  Sitivi "Steve" Faiai, Councilman George Gastil, Jessyka Heredia,and Seth Smith

August 27, 2024 (Lemon Grove) – Four candidates are running for two City Council seats in Lemon Grove.  Councilman George Gastil seeks reelection. The other candidates are Sitivi “Steve” Faiai, Jessyka Heredia, and Seth Andrew Smith.  Depending on the outcomes in the Council and mayoral races, Lemon Grove will have at least one new face on its City Council, and could have as many as three. 

That’s because Councilmembers Liana LeBaron and Alysson Snow are challenging incumbent Racquel Vasquez in the mayoral race. LeBaron’s Council term is up this year, meaning if she loses her mayoral bid, she will be off the Council.  Snow’s term isn’t up until 2026, meaning she will stay on the Council if she loses her mayoral bid. If Snow wins, this would create a new open seat, which the new City Council could fill by appointment or special election.  Read ECM’s article on the mayoral race.

Lemon Grove’s City Council meetings have often been contentious, with clashes among some Councilmembers as well as pushback from some members of the public on issues including homelessness, housing, business development, street repairs and flooded storm drains. The city has a smaller budget than other East County cities, making it a daunting challenge to meet the many priorities voiced by residents.

Here are highlights of each candidate seeking to represent residents on the Lemon Grove City Council, listed in alphabetical order.

Source: Bonitafest Melodrama

Photo:  Ella Aldridge plays the star-crossed Sadie in the 47^th annual Bonitafest Melodrama "Thin Skins and Hayseeds."

August 26, 2024 (Bonita)--South County’s 47^th annual Bonitafest Melodrama will look a lot like the first.  “Thin Skins and Hayseeds,” the popular musical-comedy produced as the first ever Melodrama in 1978, returns in September, freshened up and still rich with local history. It is the true story of the epic Sweetwater Valley Flood of 1916, sprinkled with poetic license, including a dash of “Romeo and Juliet.”

“Thin Skins and Hayseeds” runs September 25-28 at the Sweetwater Church Theater, 5305 Sweetwater Road. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and available by calling (619) 850-7126.

“The flooding of the Sweetwater and Otay Valleys in January 1916 remain the most remarkable historical events of this region,” said Bonitafest Melodrama Artistic Director Max Branscomb, a journalism professor at Southwestern College. “Weeks of epic rain caused the Sweetwater Dam to wash out and the Otay Dam to fail. Hundreds of people were killed and everything in the path of the water was destroyed.”

The flooding occurred after the city of San Diego pledged $10,000 to a purported rainmaker, Charles Hatfield, if he could end a drought. Hatfield promised to fill the Lake Morena reservoir and set up operations in Campo. Days after his efforts, heavy rains overflowed the dam at Lake Morena, causing devastation downstream throughout the Sweetwater river valley.  Coincidence, or did Hatfield truly have rainmaking secrets?  

By Miriam Raftery

August 23, 2024 (El Cajon) – Three seats are on the ballot in El Cajon.  In districts 2 and 4,  Councilmembers Michelle Metschel and Phil Ortiz are running unopposed.  In district 3, Councilman Steve Goble, a retired businessman, faces a challenge from  Courtney Hall, a public policy expert and data analyst.

Below are details on their experience, qualifications, accomplishments and endorsements.

View video of full acceptance speech by Tim Walz

By Miriam Raftery

August 22, 2024 (Chicago, IL) – Cheered on by Democratic National convention delegates and many of his former students, Minnesota GovernorTim Walsh accepted the vice presidential nomination as Kamala Harris’ running mate last night. “I haven’t given a lot of big speeches like this,but I have given a lot of pep talks,” the former high school football coach, teacher, former Congressman and military veteran told the crowd.

He likened the 76-days until Election Day to a football game in the fourth quarter, adding, “We’re on offense and we’ve got the ball...and boy, do we have the right team.” He called Harris tough, experience and ready to “build a country where workers come first, healthcare and housing are human rights, and the government stays the hell out of of your bedroom.”

Walz said it was the players he once coached and his students who first inspired him to run for Congress.  “They saw in me what I had hoped to instill in them: a commitment to the common good, an understanding that we’re all in this together, and the belief that a single person can make a real difference for their neighbors.”

East County News Service

Update August 21, 2024:  The victim has been identified as Arthur Stephen Andreatta, 74.

August 19, 2024 (Boulevard) – The Sheriff’s homicide unit is investigating the death of a 75-year-old man found dead with head trauma inside his home in the 900 block of Tierra Del Sol Road in Boulevard.

Cal Fire  called for deputies from the Pine Valley Sheriff’s station to assist after finding the man unresponsive and later pronouncing him dead.

Source: Sharp Healthcre

August 18,2024 (La Mesa) -- Hospice care is a vital service that offers support, comfort and compassion for people with life-limiting medical conditions. But despite its importance, many myths and misconceptions surround hospice, often deterring people from seeking the help they need.

“More than 1.5 million people receive hospice care each year in the United States, but it’s still a service many people don’t know they’re eligible for or don’t think can help them,” says Suzi K. Johnson, vice president of Sharp Hospice and Palliative Care.

From when and where to seek care to how much it costs patients, Johnson addresses the five most common misconceptions about hospice.

From the Editors of E - The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: How can we get better at predicting when and where wildfires will occur so we can adequately mitigate their impact? -- R.K., Tarrytown, NY

In recent years, the wildfires incidents have intensified, driven by factors including climate change, land use patterns and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. As we grapple with the growing risk, efforts to enhance predictive capabilities and mitigate the impact of wildfires have become paramount.