MULTI-VEHICLE CRASH KILLS FIVE, LED TO BRUSH FIRE THAT CLOSED STATE ROUTE 67 BOTH DIRECTIONS

SANDAG MEETING FRIDAY ON DRAFT 2025 PLAN

DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: MIDSUMMER FUN

MEMORY WEAVERS: AWARD-WINNING NOVEL OF TWO WOMEN BONDED BY TRAUMAS

COUNTY WINS NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS

ANIMAL ADVOCATES CELEBRATE HOUSING COMMISSION DROPPING PROPOSED NEW LIMIT ON PET OWNERSHIP

LA MESA CITY COUNCIL APPROVES RENOVATIONS FOR GROSSMONT CENTER

ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

SAN DIEGO NAMED CANDIDATE HOST CITY FOR INVICTUS GAMES 2029

STATE PARKS PHOTO CONTEST RUNNING THROUGH SEPT. 30

GROCERY WORKERS AT RALPHS, ALBERTSONS, VONS, AND PAVILIONS VOTE TO RATIFY NEW CONTRACTS

SUNCREST TRUCK TRAIL NOT A VIABLE OPTION FOR FIRE EVACUATION ROUTE IN CREST, ACCORDING TO FIRE OFFICIALS

ALPINE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION’S SPRING GALA: APRIL 21 AT VIEJAS’ OAK BALLROOM

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

March 21, 2018 (Alpine) – The Alpine Education Association will hold its sixth annual Spring Gala on Saturday, April 21 at 6:30 p.m. at Viejas Casino & Resort in the Oak Ballroom. The event includes a buffet-style dinner, silent and live auctions, music and dancing – all to improve education for children in Alpine schools.

For tickets, visit https://aef4kids.org/events/aef-gala-2018//.

DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: TOP FESTIVALS AND EVENTS MARCH 22-APRIL 29

 

East County News Service

March 21, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes a lilac festival in Santa Ysabel, a water-wise garden tour, Spring Eggstravaganza at Santee Lakes, a Bunny Train ride in Campo, and a Plein Air art show in Borrego Springs.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including Harp Fest, Laurel and Hardy comedy night, a remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr. in Lemon Grove on the 50th anniversary of the civil rights leader’s death, the Peg Leg Smith Liar’s Contest, meet the winemaker weekend, Sweet Pea Days, Cajon Classic Cruises, Heritage of the America’s 25th anniversary celebration, an arts and crafts fair, and the San Diego Festival Chorus and Orchestra’s spring concert.

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

TRUMP’S WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COUNCIL PROMOTES TROPHY HUNTING

 

By Miriam Raftery

March 21, 2018 (Washington D.C.) – President Trump is drawing fire from wildlife protection groups for launching a “wildlife conservation council” with a mission to promote big-game trophy hunting, not preserve wildlife, Mother Jones magazine reports.

SAN DIEGO LEGISLATOR BECOMES FIRST WOMAN TO LEAD STATE SENATE

 

By Miriam Raftery

March 21, 2018 (San Diego) – San Diego State Senator Toni Atkins this week became the first woman to lead California’s State Senate, as well as the first gay or lesbian person to hold the legislature’s highest office. Atkins previously served as Speaker of the Assembly.

AS RUSSIAN PROBE WIDENS, SO DO CREDIBILITY GAPS

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

March 20, 2018 (Washington D.C.) – In direct conflict to warnings from top U.S. intelligence agency representatives, The House Intelligence Committee’s Republican majority shut down its investigation and  issued an overview of its report which concluded that Russia’s election hacking and social media attacks were merely intended to cause discord, not help Donald Trump win the 2016 presidential election.  The GOP report also concluded that that it found no “evidence of coordination, collusion or conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russians. “

WINTER STORM EXPECTED; FREE SANDBAGS AVAILABLE

 

The National Weather Service is predicting rain around San Diego County this week, potentially heavy rain on Thursday.

People in unincorporated areas can get free sandbags at numerous locations to help them protect their homes, properties and communities.

SPRING SPECIAL AT COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES: HALF PRICE PETS

 

Spring is here and County Animal Services is celebrating with a half-price special on dogs and cats through Sunday, March 25.

Dozens are available at the County’s three animal shelters and you can get a sneak peek at the pets available on the Animal Services website.

CANDIDATE'S SUGGESTION OF MILITARY SERVICE AS CONGRESSIONAL QUALIFICATION SPARKS CONTROVERSY

 

By Chris Jennewein

Originally published in Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

March 20, 2018 (San Diego) - Democratic Congressional Candidate Josh Butner‘s suggestion in an interview that military service should be a requirement to run for national office sparked a controversy Monday.

ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION THIS SATURDAY AT KENNEDY PARK

 

Source:  City of El Cajon

March 20, 2018 (El Cajon) - Join the City of El Cajon to celebrate the 29th annual Arbor Day at Kennedy Park on Saturday, March 24th at 8 a.m.  During the ceremony, the City will receive its 21st Tree City USA award presented by CAL FIRE. If you want to get your hands dirty, join members of the community, including the Lions Club and Key Club to plant trees at Kennedy Park and Granite Hills High School.

STAGEHOUSE THEATRE PRESENTS "THE HEIR APPARENT" CONTINUING THROUGH MARCH 24

 

By Kathy Carpenter

March 19, 2018 (El Cajon) - Grossmont College continues its performances of The Heir Apparent, a French farce by Jean-Francois Regnard that was relevantly unknown in American theatre until David Ives adaptation more than 300 years later. The production has been updated it for a modern ear, yet keeping the rules of a French domestic farce::decorum, repartee, rhyming couplets, satire without being condemning, sexually charged characters, mistaken identity, a sometimes macabre tone and doors slamming in faces--everything needed to make things fun.

READER’S EDITORIAL: THE SO-CALLED VACCINE DEBATE, FALSE BALANCE IN THE MASS MEDIA & THE RISK TO PUBLIC HEALTH

 

An example from the San Diego Union-Tribune

By Joel A. Harrison, PhD, MPH

March 19, 2018 (San Diego) -- As a retired epidemiologist, especially interested in public health, I have been following the so-called “vaccine controversy” for many years. Recently I wrote a rather long paper that was published on a popular blog, Science-Based Medicine. I wrote this Reader’s OpEd for East County Magazine because the False Balance in this case was in our own local newspaper, The San Diego Union-Tribune, and the opinion piece by Terry Roark that my paper refutes point by point concerns California Senate Bill 277 which limits exemptions for vaccinations, clearly a topic that many East County Magazine readers will be interested in. My hope is that this short Reader’s OpEd will interest East County Magazine readers to go to the longer article, which can be accessed by clicking here. Note that the longer article allows one to link to a downloadable pdf version

JALEN MCDANIELS TO TEST NBA WATERS

 

Rising sophomore to put name into NBA Draft

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

March 19, 2018 (San Diego) - San Diego State rising sophomore forward Jalen McDaniels will declare for the 2018 NBA Draft, but not hire an agent to maintain his college eligibility.

“I think this is a great idea,” Dutcher said. “This allows him to see what the NBA thinks of him and what improvements he can make in his game.”

“After thoughtful consideration with my family, I have decided to enter my name into the 2018 NBA Draft,” McDaniels said. “I will not hire an agent in order to maintain by college eligibility. Testing the waters allows me to get feedback directly from NBA teams.”

SDSU HOSTS KYOTO PRIZE WINNER: TAKASHI MIMURA WILL SPEAK MARCH 21

 

 

SDSU News Center

March 19, 2018 (San Diego)  – As part of the annual Kyoto Prize Symposium, San Diego State University will host renowned engineer Takashi Mimura, who received the 2017 Kyoto Prize—Japan’s highest private award for global achievement—in Advanced Technology.

AZTEC SOFTBALL FALLS IN SERIES FINALE AT SAN JOSE STATE

 

SDSU is swept in its opening Mountain West series

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo:  Courtesy goaztecs.com

March 18, 2018 (Los Altos, Calif.) - The San Diego State softball team ended its Mountain West opening series with a 9-1, five-inning loss at San José State Sunday afternoon at Foothill College in Los Altos, Calif. The Aztecs are now 9-20 and 0-3 in MW play.

READER’S EDITORIAL: PLANNERS SHOULD OPPOSE LA MESA SUMMIT, PROPOSED LUXURY HOMES ON CITY’S HIGHEST WESTERN HILLTOP

 

An open letter to La Mesa Planning Commission Chair James D. Newland

By Dr. Anthony D. McIvor

March 18, 2018 (La Mesa) -- As 60-year residents of La Mesa, our family objects to The Phair Company’s La Mesa Summit housing proposal. Luxury houses (at $1million+) usually offer green energy and amenities, but the sum of them, for just a handful of buyers, cannot begin to offset the loss to the larger community, if the plan were approved as is.  

JUDGE APPROVES PLACING SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATOR IN BOULEVARD

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

March 18, 2018 (Boulevard) – On Friday, Judge David Gill approved placement of Michael Joseph Martinez at 2135 McCain Valley Road in Boulevard, a small town in San Diego's East County, starting in late April. Martinez has been in  state mental hospital since 2009 but was approved last year for release. He was committed as a sexually violent predator and has been diagnosed with a pedophilia and personality disorder.

SEND IN YOUR BEST SHOTS: LAKE JENNINGS PHOTO CONTEST

 

East County News Service

March 17, 2018 (Lakeside) -- Do you love the great outdoors? Do you have a digital SLR or cell phone camera?  If so, you’re invited to come out and compete in this year’s Lake Jennings Spring Photo Contest.

The shooting window is from March to the end of May and contest participants can get a free day pass to explore the reservoir to seek, find and capture eye-catching images.

LA MESA PLANNING COMMISSION TO CONSIDER TWO MEDICAL MARIJUANA FACILITIES MARCH 21

 

By Miriam Raftery

March 17, 2018 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa Planning Commission will consider applications for two medical marijuana dispensaries during public hearings March 21st at 7 p.m. in the La Mesa City Council chambers (8130 Allison Ave., La Mesa).  

COLLEGE AREA ROBBER POSED AS TICKET SELLER

 

By Miriam Raftery

March 17, 2018 (San Diego) – San Diego State University campus police have issued an alert following a robbery that occurred yesterday at 11:05 a.m. in the east alley of 5100 College Avenue.  The suspect offered to sell basketball tickets to the victim, but instead reportedly stole the victim’s money.

SDG&E, AMERICAN RED CROSS, 2-1-1 SAN DIEGO HOST COMMUNITY ROUNDTABLES ADDRESSING WILDFIRE RISK AND POWER SHUT-OFFS

 

Upated March 16, 2018 with more meeting times and details added.

March 8, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- SDG&E announces five upcoming community forums from March 9 through April 6 in high fire risk communitie to get feedback from residents and share information on fire resiliency and power shut-offs.  Dates are March 9 in Pine Valley, March 16 in Descanso, March 23 in Valley Center, March 30 in Ramona, and April 6 in Warner Springs.

Below is the press release from SDG&E:

DRIVER TOWING CONCRETE BLOCKS KILLED IN I-8 CRASH AT BOULEVARD

 

By Miriam Raftery

March 17, 2018 (Boulevard) – A driver, 67, from the Salton Sea was killed last night shortly before 7 p.m.  He was driving a 1996 Dodge Ram 2500 truck and towing a three-axle flatbed trailer loaded with concrete blocks on I-8 eastbound near Ribbonwood Road when he lost control and plunged down an embankment.

VIDEO SHOWS THIEVES STEALING $200,000 IN JEWELRY: EL CAJON STORE OWNER UNINSURED FOR LOSS

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Screenshot from surveillance video, courtesy of ECM news partner 10 News

March 16, 2018 (El Cajon) – The owner of Forever Fine Jewelry has suffered a devastating loss after thieves stole $200,000 worth of gold and silver jewelry. A group of nine people, including five men and women with babies, distracted the owner while a woman dressed in black, shown on surveillance  video, crawled on the floor to snatch jewelry from display cases and a safe in a back room, 10 News reports.

The owner, an Iraqi immigrant who came here a decade ago,borrowed money from family to start the business and had no insurance for the losses, NBC 7 reports.

ON THE SILVER SCREEN: LARA CROFT RETURNS IN ACTION-PACKED BIG SCREEN FUN (TOMB RAIDER)

 

By Liz Alper

Photos via jeddjong.wordpress.com

March 13, 2018 (San Diego) - When I was a kid, my best friend had a PlayStation.  On that PlayStation, he had the original Tomb Raider game.  Gaming was simpler back then; feminists didn’t have to complain about the “sexualization of women” (there is none) in games because, you know, this was the 90s; women and men in video games were just...blocks (Goldeneye, anyone?).  So, I went to see Tomb Raider under the premise of nostalgia.

EL CAJON POLICE OFFICER WINS COUNTYWIDE AWARD

 

By Miriam Raftery; photos by Monica Zech

Photo: El Cajon Police Chief Jeff Davis, left, and Officer Jordan Walker, right

March 15, 2018 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police Officer Jordan Walker was named Top Vehicle Theft Recovery Officer of the Year countywide by the Auto Theft Advisory Committee out of 33 officers honored yesterday in Balboa Park.

GROSMONT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ADVANCES TO POETRY OUT LOUD STATE FINALS

 

East County News Service

Photo by Ron Logan:  Write Out Loud Executive Director Walter Ritter, San Diego Regional Champion Kylie Greaves and Write Out Loud Artistic Director Veronica Murphy

March 15, 2018 (San Diego) -- Kylie Greaves, a Senior at Grossmont Middle College High School in El Cajon took first place in the 2018 countywide Poetry Out Loud competition on February 6th at The San Diego Central Library downtown. Greaves will represent San Diego at the upcoming state finals March 18 and 19 in Sacramento.

KEY FARMING ISSUES HIGHLIGHTED AT COMMUNITY EVENT SPONSORED BY INDIVISIBLE RAMONA

 

By Joyce Strand

Photo from left to right: Democratic candidate for Congress Ammar Campa-Najjar, Republican candidate for Congress Shamus Sayed, Luawanna Hallstrom and Warren Bacon.

March 15, 2018 (Ramona) - The topics of water, farm labor, and NAFTA dominated presentations at Indivisible Ramona’s second community meeting to understand issues of importance to San Diego County, held at the Ramona Library Community Room on February 27th.

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