Update:   Hear our interview with Amanda Matti, author of A Foreign Affair, (originally aired on KNSJ radio) by clicking the audio link here.

A Foreign Affair, by Amanda Matti (W & B Publishers, Kernersville, NC, 2016, 343 pages).

Book Review by Dennis Moore

December 1, 2016 (San Diego) - Amanda Matti, an El Cajon (San Diego) resident who served six years in the United States Navy, including a 2005 deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, has written a riveting true story of romance and war; A Foreign Affair. Matti provides graphic details of her experience in a war that many in this country felt never should have been.

By Miriam Raftery

Next up: Alpine General Plan amendments to be considered in 2017

December 16, 2016 (San Diego’s East County)—By a  4 to 1 vote with Supervisor Dave Roberts opposed,  San Diego Supervisors on Wednesday voted to approve a Forest Conservation Initiative Lands General Plan Amendment, along with community plan amendments, rezoning and  certification of a supplemental environmental review. The action paves the way for development of parcels  in the Alpine and Descanso areas that were formerly protected under the Forest Conservation Initiative passed by voters, but that has since expired due to a sunset provision in 2010.

Travis Lyon, chair of the Alpine Community Planning Group, reports that the Supervisors “took all the recommendations ACPG made at the last meeting.” 

Jack Shu, president of the Cleveland National Forest Foundation,  said after the hearing, “The bottom line is that the County has moved to do away with what the voters – two thirds of them—wanted in 1993 to protect our local Forest."

By Jonathan Goetz

December 16, 2016 (El Cajon) – East County Magazine sat down with new Councilman Steve Goble, who share his views on the most important issues facing El Cajon,  his budget priorities,  background, and thoughts on pressing problems such as homelessness, the refugee crisis, the East County Performing Arts Center and marijuana regulation.

East County News Service

December 17, 2016 (Ocotillo) -- Jim Pelley captured this image of a spectacular sunrise over the desert in Ocotillo yesterday morning.

East County News Service

December 17, 2016 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County includes full moon fishing at Lake Jennings, a concert of many strings, Santa’s reindeer at Grossmont Center, a winter solstice hike up Cowles Mountain, a holiday homes tour and more.

Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions  including excursions to Split Mountain in the Anza Borrego desert, a New Year’s Eve party at Viejas, and a wintertime walk up Mt. Helix.

So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

The new, rare and endangered succulent is found only in Baja California

East County News Service

December 15, 2016 (San Diego) - Jimi Hendrix may have died more than 45 years ago, but his botanical legacy will live forever. In a new study, a team of researchers, including San Diego State University plant biologist Michael Simpson, identified a new and rare species of succulent and dubbed it Dudleya hendrixii, or “Hendrix’s liveforever,” in honor of the guitar virtuoso.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Eagle killed at a Danish wind farm; courtesy Save the Eagles

December 15, 2016 (Washington D.C.) – Wind energy companies will be immune from prosecution for up to 30 years, even if their wind turbines kill or injure up to 4,200 bald or golden eagles, under a new rule finalized this week by the Obama administration.

Mouth lacerations, cracked teeth reportedly caused by broken blades in food

Photos courtesy U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

East County News Service

December 15, 2016 (Washington D.C.) – Here’s some bad news for holiday chefs:  the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announces a voluntary recall on blades of approximately 8 million Cuisinart food processors sold nationwide from July 1996 through December 2015 and manufactured in China.

East County News Service

December 15, 2016 (El Cajon) - Become part of a program that gives the  elderly grandparents a gift at Christmas.  The fourth annual "Adopt-a-Grandparent" program will take place at Cottonwood Canyon Healthcare (1391 E. Madison Ave.,) on December 22 at 1:00 p.m.

Source: El Cajon Valley Lions

December 14, 2016 (El Cajon) - On Saturday December 17, 2016, El Cajon Valley Lions will box and deliver Christmas food baskets to needy families in El Cajon. Each family will receive turkey and all the fixings and toys for the children. El Cajon Valley Lions have been doing this program in collaboration with the El Cajon Salvation Army for more than 25 years.

By Miriam Raftery

December 14, 2016 (San Diego) — San Diego Supervisors voted 4-1 to raise their pay 12.5%, or $19,000, over the next nine months, with no public discussion.  The item will come up for a second reading on January 10^th and if passed, will take effect March 17^th. 

By Jonathan Goetz

Photo, left:  El Cajon’s new City Council, left to right:  Gary Kendrick, Bob McClellan, Mayor Bill Wells, Ben Kalasho, and Steve Goble

December 14, 2016 (El Cajon) -- Businessmen Ben Kalasho and Steve Goble were sworn in to their first terms on the El Cajon City Council Tuesday along with Bob McClellan, celebrating his 24^th year on the Council.

East County News Service

December 13, 2016 (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

• San Diego’s homeless senior population has more than doubled (Voice of San Diego)
• San Diego City Council offers Chargers lease deal in stadium saga (10 News)
• Casa de Oro working group to revitalize local community (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• La Mesa Live (La Mesa Today)
• How Jehovah’s Witnesses Leaders Hide Child Abuse Secrets at All Costs (KPBS)

STATE

• A problem 'too big to ignore' — how years of congressional wrangling led to a water compromise  (Los Angeles Times)
• California’s child vaccination law faces another legal challenge  (East Bay Times)
• California to investigate Prudential insurance policies sold through Wells Fargo (Los Angeles Times)
• Oakland warehouse fire leads to crackdown on illegal artist spaces around the country (Yahoo News)

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

East County News Service

December 13, 2016 (San Diego) – Tomorrow., San Diego Supervisors will consider a general plan amendment that would allow additional development on some Forest Conservation Initiative Lands. These properties were protected for 20 years by a vote of the people countywide, but the measure had a sunset provision. The issue pits environmentalists’ conservation goals against rights of private property owners.

The hearing starts at 9 a.m. at the County Administration Center, Room 310, 1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego.  Below are arguments on both sides of this contentious issue impacting inholding sites within or adjacent to the Cleveland National Forest.