September 28, 2021 (Sacrament) -- Governor Gavin Newsom signed a package of legislation yesterday to increase voter access and strengthen integrity in elections, including a bill to send all registered voters a vote-by-mail ballot. Voters will have options to mail-in ballots, drop off ballots at designated locations, or still vote at polling places if they prefer.
September 28, 2021 (El Cajon) - Grossmont College’s Stagehouse Theatre, which has not permitted in-person performances for more than 18 months because of the COVID-19 pandemic, reopens to live audiences when it launches its 2021-22 season September 30 with a staging of Into the Woods.
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Photo: Maria Jimenez swabs her daughter, Glendy Perez, 7, for a COVID-19 test at Canal Alliance in San Rafael on Sept. 25, 2021.
September 27, 2021 (San Diego) - Sarah Voit likes to keep 10 to 15 rapid test kits on hand in case any of the residents of the Family Emergency Shelter Coalition in Hayward need to be tested for COVID-19. They’ve had some infection scares, and the antigen tests — which return results in minutes — have been crucial to curbing the virus in the family shelter.
September 27, 2021 (Escondido) - The public is invited to the monthly Escondido Art Association artists’ reception held at the Artists Gallery at 121 W. Grand Avenue, Escondido, on Saturday, October 9 from 4 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. Come on by the gallery, meet the artists and enjoy complimentary refreshments.
September 26, 2021 (Santee) -- The city Councilmembers and staff of Santee should be congratulated on their historical opposition to allowing cannabis dispensaries to open up in our city. For years, they have maintained the health and safety of our citizens as their primary concerns.
September 26, 2021 (San Diego) - Last night was another wild night in San Diego that of course featured the Padres losing. They tried to split the series against the Braves today. Jesse Chavez started for Atlanta against Grossmont High alum Joe Musgrove.
September 26, 2021 (San Diego) – The 18th annual San Diego Restaurant Week starts today and runs through October 3. This year, the 90 participating restaurants include six in East County. La Mesa’s emergence as a dining destination is evidenced in its five options: Antica Trattoria, Farmer’s Table, Oyster & Pearl Bar, Pioneer BBQ, and Smokey & the Brisket. Lemon Grove’s Giardino Neighborhood Cucina is also included. All have outdoor dining options.
Update September 30, 2021 - This order has been lifted.
Source: San Diego County Emergency Updates
September 25, 2021 (Julian) - The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health and Quality has issued a Boil Water Order for the Butterfield Ranch water system located at 14925 Great Southern Overland, Julian, CA 92036, effective immediately. All affected customers are advised to not drink the water without boiling it first.
September 24, 2021 (Anaheim) - When Helix High School junior tight end Quincy Herron took the bus up to Aneheim to face Servite High School tonight, he had no idea what would be waiting for him in Orange County.
September 24, 2021 (Julian) – A suspect has been arrested for severely beating and tying up a man and woman in Julian on September 19 in a domestic violence case, says Lieutenant Thomas Siever with the Sheriff’s Homicide Unit.
CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters
September 24, 2021 (Sacramento) - The second year of the coronavirus pandemic in California was shaped by two political undercurrents at the state Capitol: a budget awash with cash, thanks to a booming stock market and federal aid, and a looming recall election asking voters to throw Gov. Gavin Newsom out of office.
Photo: Rep. Sara Jacobs speaks on the House floor this week. Screenshot from video
September 24, 2021 (Washington, D.C.) - Rep. Sara Jacobs was the only member of the San Diego congressional delegation to cast a vote against the 2022 defense funding bill on Thursday, citing the end of the war in Afghanistan.
September 22, 2021 (Rancho Bernardo) – After two failed attempts to place sexually violent predator Douglas Badger in Campo or the Mt. Helix area, the state of California is now seeking conditional release of Badger at 17936 Frondoso Dr. in San Diego’s Rancho Bernardo community.
September 22, 2021 (El Cajon) – A nine-hour standoff has ended peacefully in rural East County. The incident began shortly after 1:30 this morning when a woman called 9-11 to report that her husband had a gun and was threatening to hurt himself in front of their children at the family’s home in the 1400 block of Wilson Road in unincorporated El Cajon near Dehesa.
September 22, 2021 (Julian) – Michael Jon Hart, long-time publisher of the Julian News and past president of the San Diego County Umpires Association, died September 14 after battling brain and lung cancer. His wife, Michelle Harvey, confirmed Hart’s passing on her Facebook page.
“Mike and I have so many friends,” Harvey posted. “I am glad that we spent our lives working to help others.”
The newspaper has been for sale for months; Hart’s death leaves the future of Julian’s newspaper in limbo. A newspaper listing in July asked $300,000 for the publication, which was described as “highly profitable” despite pandemic lockdowns.
Hart and Harvey acquired the independent weekly newspaper on July 4, 2004; the paper has been the voice of Julian, CA since 1984. It’s been a labor of love for Hart, who covered major news stories ranging from the 2007 Witch Creek Fire that ravaged the region to controversies involved the county’s acquisition of Julian’s formerly all-volunteer fire department. Hart sometimes took heat for his coverage but took pride in covering all sides of community issues, according to Harvey.
National survey by ResumeBuilder finds 63% of hiring managers prefer candidates who list vaccine status—and many reject unvaccinated applicants
Source: ResumeBuilder.com
September 22, 2021 (Seattle, Wash.) – If you’re looking for a job, you may want to roll up your sleeve and get the “jab” first. A nationwide survey of 1,250 conducted by ResumeBuilder.com, a resource for professional resume templates, found that one-third of hiring manages will ignore resumes without a COVID-19 vaccine status – and 63% say they prefer candidates who list vaccine status on their resumes. A growing number of companies are now requiring vaccines and/or giving first preference in hiring to those job-seekers who are fully vaccinated.
September 22, 2021 (Allied Gardens) – Robin Henkel is a four-time recipients of the San Diego Music Awards “Best Blues” award. On Sunday, October 10 at 4 p.m., the Robin Henkel trio will perform at Mission Trails Church, located at 4880 Zion Ave. in the Allied Gardens neighborhood of San Diego.
September 21, 2021 (Spring Valley) - For this year's Halloween show, the Saps at Sea, the San Diego chapter of the Sons of the Desert, the Laurel and Hardy appreciation society, present "Halloscream Sapstravaganza." The fun happens on Saturday, October 16 at 7 p.m. at Williams Hall at Trinity Presbytarian Church, 3902 Kenwood Drive, in Spring Valley.
San Diego’s rate is substantially lower than state – and County has even higher vaccination rates
By Miriam Raftery
September 21, 2021 (San Diego) – California has the lowest rate of COVID-19 cases of any U.S. state, according to new data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control – and San Diego County is faring even better. Both have high vaccination rates, a fact the CDC credits for the dramatic difference between COVID spread in California and other states.
September 20, 2021 (Ocotillo) – Residents in Ocotillo are voicing concerns after yet another wind turbine collapse at the Ocotillo Wind Energy facility. There were no injuries or damage to other structures when the 300-foot-tall turbine crashed to the desert floor at the trouble-prone facility on Thursday, September 16. But residents are raising serious questions over public safety at the site, which produces energy to SDG&E to power the San Diego region.
Patrick Henry alum Mia Fishel scored a goal in the ninth minute
Story and photos by Liz Alper
September 19, 2021 (San Diego) - Last week, ECM Sports was on the SDSU Sports Deck taking in Aztecs men’s soccer defeating CSU Bakersfield to remain undefeated. This week, the lady Aztecs footballers are in action against UCLA in their non-conference finale at a packed SDSU Sports Deck. The women aren’t as hot as the men, starting the season with a 2-5 record.
September 19, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes some thrilling and chilling October events, including Oktoberfests in La Mesa and El Cajon, the Festival of Sunflowers and Bathhouse Bazaar in Jacumba Hot Springs, an Autumn Jubilee in Santa Ysabel, the new El Cajon Foodie Fest, Dinner and Flamenco dancers in Lemon Grove, the Borrego Days parade and festival, the Lakeside River Park Conservancy’s Trail of Terror titled “Curse of the French Quarter,” Trick or Treat on Maine in Lakeside, spooky campouts at Lake Jennings, and Haunt Fest on Main in downtown El Cajon.
September 19, 2021 (La Mesa) – The 48th annual La Mesa Oktoberfest returns October 1-3 with all of the event’s traditional activities including three bier gardens, Gluckglich games, Dackeldorft Daschsund Village, a Ferris wheel, Kinder Karneval, craft fair, over 100 vendors, live music including oompah bands, dancing, traditional and international foods and more.
September 19, 2021 (San Diego) -- Rescue Task Force (RTF), a nonprofit founded in San Diego's East County and now headquartered in Temecula, provides disaster relief response and medical aid around the world. They also started schools for girls and women in Afghanistan. But since the U.S. troop withdrawal and Taliban takeover, the RTF team has had to close its schools, dimming hopes of students under the Taliban's brutal regime and endangering the lives of RTF's coordinator and his family, who remain trapped and in hiding inside Afghanistan.
East County Magazine editor Miriam Raftery today interviewed Steven Prusky, a director with Rescue Task Force, on the Afghanistan situation as well as other projects around the world in which RTF is currently involved ranging from water purification to disaster relief and more.
September 18, 2021 (Sequoia National Park) – Two wildfires, the Colony and Paradise fires, have merged into one dubbed the KNP Complex Fire. Estimated at 18,000 acres, the blaze has been burning for a week inside Sequoia National Park and has now reached the edge of a historic grove of ancient giant redwoods.
By José A. Álvarez, County of San Diego Communications Office
September 17, 2021 (San Diego) - A 53-year-old San Diego County resident is the first locally acquired case of West Nile Virus this year, the County Health and Human Services Agency announced today.
September 17, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) -- Caltrans crews anticipate closures at Interstate 8 (I-8) and Crestwood Road for four to six weeks beginning Monday to replace guardrail systems. The work will require full closures of the westbound I-8/Crestwood Road on-ramp and the eastbound I-8/Crestwood Road off-ramp near the Golden Acorn Casino, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through early November. Advance notification signs have been placed to inform motorists about the closures. See map below for closure areas.
September 17, 2021 (Santa Ysabel) – Fort Cross Old Timey Adventuresinvites you to their 5th annual Autumn Jubilee. The fall festivities happen Saturdays (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Sundays (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) from Sept. 18 through Oct. 30.
Six of 11 non-conference games will be played in Viejas Arena and five opponents played in the postseason last year.
Source: goaztecs.com
Photo courtesy goaztecs.com
September 16, 2021 (San Diego) - Having posted an 18-1 record in non-conference contests in the past two seasons, San Diego State men’s basketball program revealed its 2021-22 non-conference schedule on Thursday morning. The slate has a total of 11 games, which includes five teams that participated in the postseason last year. Four competed in the NCAA Tournament and one participated in the NIT.
East County News Service
By Kristen Hwang, CalMatters
East County News Service
By Erik Wiese, President, Wiese & Associates
By Liz Alper
By Miriam Raftery
By Liz Alper
East County News Service
Source: Lemon Grove Lions Club
By CalMatters staff, CalMatters
By Chris Jennewein, 
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
National survey by ResumeBuilder finds 63% of hiring managers prefer candidates who list vaccine status—and many reject unvaccinated applicants
East County News Service
East County News Service
San Diego’s rate is substantially lower than state – and County has even higher vaccination rates
By Henri Migala and Miriam Raftery
Patrick Henry alum Mia Fishel scored a goal in the ninth minute
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
By 
Source: Caltrans
Six of 11 non-conference games will be played in Viejas Arena and five opponents played in the postseason last year.
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