By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left:  Author and historian James D. Newland with his book, Grossmont Hospital: A Legacy of Community Service

August 19, 2018 (La Mesa)—Author and historian James D. Newland’s latest book, Grossmont Hospital: A Legacy of Community Service, provides a fascinating look into the colorful history of East County as well as the hospital itself and the evolution of healthcare in our region.

Newland was honored Thursday at the Grossmont Healthcare District headquarters with a reception attended by the district’s board of directors and community VIPs. Following appetizers and brews served up by Burning Beard brewery, the district’s CEO Barry Jantz and board president Michael Emerson gave welcoming remarks. 

Newland signed copies of his book, noting that the biggest challenge in its creation was handling the controversy over the hospital merging with Sharp Healthcare, a move that kept East County’s major hospital financially viable at a time when rising costs drove some other healthcare facilities under.

The Artist Portrait Project: A Photographic Memoir of Portrait Sessions with San Diego Artists, 2006 – 2016, by Jennifer G. Spencer (She Writes Press, Berkeley, CA, 2018, 117 pages).

Book Review by Dennis Moore

“All photographs are memento mori. To take a photograph is to participate in another person’s (or thing’s) mortality, vulnerability, mutability. Precisely by slicing out this moment and freezing it, all photographs testify to time’s relentless melt.”

• Susan Sontag

August 17, 2018 (San Diego) - There is an old adage that says “A Picture is worth a Thousand Words!” Jennifer G. Spencer, a painter/photographer who creates images using alternative photographic processes and digital imagery, exemplifies that old adage in her groundbreaking memoir; The Artist Portrait Project: A Photographic Memoir of Portrait Sessions with San Diego Artists, 2006 – 2016.

By Miriam Raftery

August 17, 2018 (San Diego) – Language expert, author, columnist and radio personality Richard Lederer will be a special guest at our East County Fest 10-year anniversary party of the decade on Saturday night, August 25. (Tickets are going fast! Get tickets and learn more.)

In addition to speaking and signing copies of his latest books, Lederer has generously donated two special auction prizes – an entertaining and educational appearance by Lederer for your group, and a poker lesson by Lederer, whose skills enabled his two children to become world and national poker champions.

Lederer is the author of 50 books about language, history, and humor, including his best-selling Anguished English series and his current books, Amazing Words, Lederer on Language, and The Joy of Names. He is a founding co-host of “A Way With Words” on KPBS.

Dr. Lederer’s syndicated column, “Lederer on Language,” appears in newspapers and magazines throughout the United States, including the San Diego Union-Tribune. He has been named International Punster of the Year and Toastmasters International’s Golden Gavel winner.

By Sam Warren

"A synonym is a word your use when you can’t spell the other one." — Baltasar Gracián

July 20, 2018 (San Diego) – Author signings, book clubs, writers’ classes and more are coming up in our region.

CLICK TO SCROLL DOWN FOR A LIST OF BOOK EVENTS

By County News Center, County of San Diego Communications Office

Video by Andy Tolley

June 2, 2018 (San Diego) - Summer is officially underway at the San Diego County Library. Residents of all ages are invited to take the Summer Reading Challenge. Participants are awarded prizes based on the number of activities they complete. The more they read, the better their chance at winning prizes.

Source: County Library branch in El Cajon

Photo by Miriam Raftery: Pacific Crest Trail in Campo

May 29, 2018 (El Cajon) -- Local hiking enthusiast Dana Law will share his adventures and tips for hiking the legendary Pacific Crest Trail at a special presentation on June 16^th at 2:00 p.m. at the El Cajon Branch Library located at 201 E Douglas Avenue.

Families as Partners: The Essential Link in Children’s Education, by Andrea M. Nelson-Royes (Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham, Maryland, 2018, 170 pages).

Book Review by Dennis Moore

May 5, 2018 (San Diego) - Andrea M. Nelson-Royes, EdD, an educational researcher and writer, and author of Transforming Early Learners into Superb Readers: Promoting Literacy at School, at Home, and within the Community and Success in School and Career: Common Core Standards in Language Arts K-5, continues this trend in advocating for excellence in education, in her new book; Families as Partners: The Essential Link in Children’s Education.

By Miriam Raftery

May 10, 2018 (Santee) – Who was our youngest president?  Who was our oldest? Who was our tallest, shortest and fattest?  Find out on Wednesday, May 16^th,^, when San Diego Union-Tribune columnist Richard Lederer will offer a treasury of fascinating facts about the feats, families, foibles and firsts of our American presidents.  

The self-proclaimed “Wizard of Idiom, Attila the Pun and Conan the Grammarian” will be sharing his wit and wisdom on our nation’s presidents at the Santee City Hall, building 7, at 10671 Magnolia Avenue in Santee from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The even is sponsored by Santee Seniors 55 Plus and San Diego Oasis. It’s free and worth every penny!

Dr. Lederer has sold over a million books, also hosting “A Way With Words” on KPBS and authoring “the “Lederer on Language” column in the San Diego Union-Tribune. He will be signing copies of his books at the event.

Copyright 2018 by Sam Warren

May 5, 2018 (San Diego) – “There's many a bestseller that could have been prevented by a good teacher.” — Flannery O'Connor (1925-1964)

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Source:  Fresh Eggs Daily

March 31, 2018 (San Diego) -- Just because your chickens live in a coop doesn’t mean they – and more likely – you, can’t appreciate a few touch ups. Backyard chicken keeping expert Lisa Steele has been sprucing up her coop creating Pinterest-worthy DIY touches you’ll want to copy for your own feathered friends’ humble adobe.

From wallpaper to wooden signs, chandeliers to a fresh coat of chicken safe paint, Steele offers up creative, pin-able décor for the posh flock. These looks will be sure to bring a smile to your face every time you visit the coop. You can find all Steele’s great sprucing ideas on her blog at www.fresheggsdaily.com along with her advice for everything related to backyard chicken keeping.

Steele’s blog, website, TV show and books are the inspiration for flock masters everywhere. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for her upcoming book, 101 Chicken Keeping Hacks, due out in September.

Copyright 2018 by Sam Warren

Writing is a way of talking without being overheard. — Jules Renard

March 23, 2018 (San Diego) – From events at local libraries to appearances at bookstores by best-selling libraries, here are the literary happenings coming up across our region.

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By Jonathan Goetz

Photo: Councilmembers Colin Parent (left) and Bill Baber (right) release a Civic Center memo without the word “library” (credit: City of La Mesa)

March 6, 2018 (La Mesa) – In response to a city memo on the future of La Mesa’s civic center that omitted any mention of a long-promised new library, Friends of the Library members showed up at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, speaking volumes on the need for more library space.

Why is library omitted from the plan?

By Dr. Anthony McIvor

February 27, 2018 (La Mesa) -- Tonight the City Council agenda includes a returning item: engagement of an urban planning firm to update feasibility tests for the Civic Center site. Included are the introduction of market-rate housing, as well as office and/or governmental use, park and parking uses in combination with another civic building.

And once again we see a baffling omission.  Surrounding cities – from Alpine to IB – are proudly opening – and winning awards with – new town libraries. Just yesterday, San Diego Mayor Faulconer lauded libraries as “…hubs for inspiration, discovery and opportunity.” But in La Mesa, the long-delayed new library continues to get the crickets treatment at City Hall.

Why?

Copyright 2018 by Sam Warren

February 11, 2018 (San Diego) — “If you want to stand out from the crowd, give people a reason not to forget you.” — Richard Branson

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Copyright 2018 by Sam Warren

"We do not write because we want to; we write because we have to." — Somerset Maugham

January 28, 2018 (San Diego) -- From book signings to authors’ tips for writers to a lecture on the First Amendment, here are highlights of events in our local literary community coming up.

CLICK TO SCROLL DOWN FOR A LIST OF BOOK EVENTS