Photo: Firefighter Paramedic Brenton Rowell from the Mt. Laguna County Fire Station is completing his morning checks of the Advanced Life Support gear.
November 2, 2021 (San Diego's East County) - The County is moving forward with a Community Health and Injury Prevention Initiative to expand health services and community education to areas that lack health care facilities and transportation.
November 2, 2021 (El Cajon) - The Cirque Musica Holiday Spectacular Tour is coming to El Cajon’s The Magnolia on Wednesday, November 17 at 8 p.m. This all-new production will feature favorite holiday songs of all time performed with the world-renowned cast of Cirque Musica.
November 2, 2021 (Santee) -- The City of Santee’s annual Holiday Lighting Celebration returns this year, and will provide the community with the traditional elements they have come to expect when celebrating the holiday season. The event will take place Friday, November 19 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Santee Trolley Square.
November 2, 2021 (San Diego) – After 20 long months, Mission Trails Regional Park welcomes back many of its programs including Trail Guide walks, Hawk Talk, Star Parties, the Native Flute Circle and more. For details, visit www.MTRP.org.
November 2, 2021 (Escondido) -- I can’t believe that I have lived in San Diego for over 20 years and have only now discovered the magic and fun of the Renaissance Fair in Escondido! I’m really sorry I never took my children there when they were little. I’m sure they would have loved at least as much as I did.
“After months of teamwork, a brave family is finally coming home.” – Rep. Darrell Issa
Nov. 2, 2021 (El Cajon) -- Today, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) announced that a seventh family and schoolchildren from the El Cajon school district has escaped Afghanistan and will be returning to their home in California.
“For months, my staff and I have joined an unprecedented community wide effort to bring this family and these kids home. Today, we can say that they are for certain on their way back to us,” said Issa. “There are so many people to thank for making this possible.”
November 2, 2021 (Pala) -- Bipartisan legislation to facilitate the Pala Band of Mission Indians’ work to protect a sacred San Diego County site passed in the House of Representatives today. H.R. 1975 – The Pala Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer Act of 2021 – was authored by Congressman Darrel Issa (CA-50) and cosponsored by Congressman Juan Vargas (CA-51).
The legislation will authorize the Secretary of the Interior to transfer approximately 720 acres of land – which includes a sacred site known locally as Gregory Mountain or Chokla– that was acquired by the Pala into trust for the benefit of the tribe and its members.
The action ends a two-decade battle by the tribe to prevent the Gregory Canyon Landfill. In 2016, the land was purchased by the Pala Band of Mission Indians to prevent construction of a landfill on the mountain, a site of tremendous cultural significance to Pala tribal members.
November 2, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) -- As many Californians struggle financially during the pandemic, the Golden State Stimulus program continues to provide cash assistance to those who were affected. Eligible Californians earning between $30,000 to $75,000 a year can soon expect to see the stimulus payments.
Sophia Ramos finished with 14 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals
Source: goaztecs.com
Photo courtesy goaztecs.com
November 1, 2021 (San Diego) - The Aztec women’s basketball team defeated Biola 79-52 in an exhibition Monday evening inside Viejas Arena. SDSU poured in 56 points in the first half and at one point led by as much as 38 points.
File photo: Daniel Sullivan, founder and president of Sullivan Solar
November 1, 2021 (San Diego) – Consumers who hired Sullivan Solar Power have cast a pall over the company’s once-shining reputation. The company has closed its doors without notice to its customers. Some report being stiffed for tens of thousands of dollars, including deposits paid for work not completed, as well as having to pay subcontractors that Sullivan reportedly never paid.
November 1, 2021 (San Diego) - Approximately 50% of local community college students grapple with food insecurity. As a result of not having reliable, consistent access to food, students are more likely to miss classes or drop out of school. The pandemic continues to severely impact students, and has increased the demand at food pantries on local college campuses.
With the 3rd annual Pack the Pantryfood drive, California Coast Credit Union is partnering with all of the local community college campuses and the San Diego Food Bank to raise funds and fill local college pantries. During the month of November, you can donate online to help provide much-needed food for local college students at https://www.calcoastcu.org/news-and-events/pack-the-pantry-2021/. Donors can even select which college food pantry they want their donation directed to.
November 1, 2021 (San Diego) - The San Diego County Probation Department received a $335,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to provide more intensive monitoring for people convicted of driving under the influence.
November 1, 2021 (El Cajon) --East County Magazine interviewed Rick Hall, President of the El Cajon Historical Society, via Zoom last week regarding the Society's efforts to preserve local history, funding challenges due to COVID-19, and encouraged residents including newcomers from around the world to share their stories as part of the city's ever-changing history. The interview also aired on our radio show on KNSJ 89.1 FM.
Hall also talked about his own heritage as a descendant of one of El Cajon’s pioneering families and shared anecdotes from the city’s colorful past.
Donations are needed to help sustain the Society’s efforts to keep history alive in our region, due to a loss of funds during the pandemic lockdowns.
Nov. 1, 2021 (La Mesa) The appeal on a future housing project that challenged the steps toward building a 49-unit mixed-income project on Wilson Street was denied during an online Zoom meeting of the La Mesa City Council on Oct. 26. The motions moved forward with councilmember Bill Baber the sole no vote.
The multi-story building was proposed as a density-bonus affordable housing project for households earning less than 60% of the median area income and four units designed for very low-income seniors over age 55, earning 50% or less of the area median income. Developer CityMark Communities, LLC. sought waivers to height, parking, pedestrian standards, open space, and landscaping standards. Per state law, these waivers for affordable housing cannot be denied unless a project would adversely impact health, safety or the environment and cannot be mitigated.
Photo: County administration building, from Flickr by Tony Webster
November 1, 2021 (San Diego) -- Everything old is new again, and California seems likely to revive an old idea to solve its modern challenges. Public banking isn’t a well-known or often discussed subject, but proponents believe that it might just be the catalyst of much needed reform in California.
In general, there are two kinds of public banks: investment banks and deposit-taking banks. The latter is the kind that most of us are familiar with—those that offer checking and savings accounts—and while there is an ongoing discussion about public deposit-taking banks, it’s the investment banks that are currently getting the most attention in San Diego and in Sacramento.
UPDATE AS OF 11/1 8:17 AM: Bob Melvin has been confirmed as Padres manager.
By Liz Alper
Photo via Keith Allison on Wikipedia, CC by SA 2.0
October 28, 2021 (San Diego) - Former Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin has agreed to a three-year deal to manage the Padres, according to Twitter and two sources reporting to mlb.com.
November 1, 2021 (San Diego) – Manzanita Concerts will present concert accordionist Henry Doktorski on Sunday, November 14 at 4 p.m. in the Mission Trails Church, 4880 Zion Avenue, San Diego.
Henry Doktorski is one of the leading concert accordionists in the United States. He has delighted hundreds of thousands with his tasteful and sophisticated musical interpretations, including radio and television appearances and performances on accordion with several major orchestras. Besides classical music, He is equally adept at popular and international music. His extensive repertoire ranges from Bach, Brahms and Piazzolla to George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Henry Mancini, and tunes from hit Broadway musicals and Hollywood movies.
October 31, 2021 (Santee) -- With the recent grand opening of "The Plaza," Lantern Crest Senior Living in Santee might have created a national model for how we provide care for our aging population. The senior living facility is complete with a theater, a '50s-style diner with soda fountain, bowling lanes custom-designed for seniors, on-site medical center and doctor, pharmacy, gym, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, dog park, community garden, an award-winning chef serving three restaurants and two bars, an elaborately appointed tea room, live music and entertainment venues and much more.
October 31, 2021 (San Diego) – The San Diego Sheriff’s Department tonight issued a warning for consumers to beware of phone scammers posing as an employee of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.
So far, six people have reported receiving the bogus phone calls to the Sheriff’s Department’s non-emergency line on Saturday, October 30.
“To sound convincing the caller identifies himself as Lieutenant Hartman. The storyline involves a missed court appearance. He demands the person come alone to Sheriff’s Department Headquarters located at 9621 Ridgehaven Court in Kearny Mesa immediately,” the Sheriff’s release states. “He also makes a threat, claiming the issue will escalate into a criminal matter if the person fails to show up. Those who reported receiving the call say they heard a robotic voice or a computer recording instead of a real person.”
October 31, 2021 (Washington D.C.) – By a 6-3 majority, the U.S. Supreme Court declined an emergency request to block a vaccine mandate for healthcare workers in Maine. Unlike mandates in most other states, Maine has no exemptions for religious beliefs.
October 31, 2021 (Carson, Calif.) - Jake Haener passed for 306 yards and a touchdown, Jordan Mims rushed for a career-high 186 yards and two scores, and Fresno State handed No. 21 San Diego State its first loss with a 30-20 victory Saturday night.
October 30, 2021 (Washington D.C.) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is awarding a total of $797.5 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding to support survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and their children.
Photo: Outlier’s Collective near Gillespie Field is one of five legal dispensaries that will be allowed to expand to include recreational, edible and drinkable cannabis products
October 30, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – Five medical marijuana dispensaries that were legally licensed to open in San Diego County’s unincorporated areas faced closure after Supervisors in 2017 repealed legalization and allowed existing dispensaries to stay open only until April 2022. But now the current board of Supervisors has voted to remove the sunset clause and allow the five legal dispensaries to continue operations, as well as expand by up to 10,000 square feet to add recreational cannabis products including edibles and beverages.
October 30, 2021 (San Diego) – On Tuesday, Supervisors approved a measure introduced by Supervisor Joel Anderson to bring help to homeless people in East County.
The new ordinance gives staff 120 days to propose locations for homeless shelters in unincorporated areas, as well as safe parking lots for people living in vehicles. The sites will have wrap-around services, so homeless families and individuals will receive support to get off the streets.
“The goal is to put these individuals on a path towards stability, independence, and employment,” says Anderson.
October 29, 2021 (San Diego) – You’re invited to meet Gwynne Margaret Bruck, author of the children’s book Dasha on the Trail, at Mission Trails Regional Park on November 13 at 10 a.m. She will read and sign copies of her book in the amphitheater next to the visitor center, where you can also enjoy sights and sounds of the park.
October 29, 2021 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa-El Cajon Branch of the American Association of University Women will hold a panel discussion about women in law enforcement, fire protection and who serve as dispatchers for local agencies. The meeting will take place on November 13, 2021 in King Hall at Foothills United Methodist Church beginning at 9:30 a.m.
October 29, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – A recall has been issued on Citterio Premium Italian-Style Salame Sticks sold at Trader’s Joe’s across San Diego County and other locations. Trader Joe's voluntarily pulled the sticks from its shelves, but the item may be sold at other grocery stores, the CDC warns.
October 29, 2021 (San Diego) – San Diego County’s latest COVID-19 update provided Oct. 27 reveals that 90.2% of all residents countywide are at least partially vaccinated and 81.5% are fully vaccinated. But 27 of the 28 deaths in the past week from COVID-19 were among people not fully vaccinated, further demonstrating the effectiveness of vaccines at protecting people from severe COVID cases.
October 29, 2021 (La Mesa) - Wine Works in La Mesa invites you to Hall-o-Ween on Saturday, October 30th. Come in costume for a 7 p.m. costume contest and get $2 off a glass of wine or $5 off bottles. You can also enjoy live music by Blame Betty and food from Birria Madrical.
Wine Works is located at 8167 Center Street, La Mesa, CA 91942.
By 
By Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
East County News Service
By Henri Migala
“After months of teamwork, a brave family is finally coming home.” – Rep. Darrell Issa
East County News Service
Source: Assemblymember Akilah Weber
Sophia Ramos finished with 14 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals
By Miriam Raftery
50% of area college students face food insecurity
By 
By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson
By Brian Schrader
UPDATE AS OF 11/1 8:17 AM: Bob Melvin has been confirmed as Padres manager.
By Daniel Steinman
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
Source: goaztecs.com
Source: U.S. Health and Human Services
By Miriam Raftery
Source: Sunbelt Publications
Source: AAUW
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
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