By Miriam Raftery

Photo of Boston Free Speech counter-protest rally by Ken Breeman (cc)

August 23, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) - Across the U.S., 67 rallies in 23 states organized by hate groups including Nazis and  Ku Klux Klan members have been cancelled, Newsweek reports.  The groups say that they will instead hold a virtual event online on September 9th, but will not be wielding torches and marching through America’s streets  chanting anti-Jewish, anti-black and anti-immigrant messages as they did in Charlottesville, Virginia.

August 22, 2017 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Probiotic prevents sepsis in infants (Chemical and Engineering News)
• Peanut allergy treatment lasts up to four years (BBC)
• Too many babies still placed on stomach to sleep: study (WebMD)
• Dangers of Marijuana Experienced Firsthand (American College of Emergency Physicians)
• To Get Calcium, Navajos Burn Juniper Branches to Eat the Ash (NPR)

SCIENCE AND TECHNNOLOGY

• Solar eclipse through the eyes of NASA (NASA.gov)
• Trump administration just disbanded federal advisory commission on climate change (Washington Post)
• Silk Road: Google Search Unmasked Dread Pirate Roberts (BBC)

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

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Nadin Abbott

August 22, 2017 (Mount Laguna) — Many of you may know the Shriners as the clowns in fez hats driving miniature cars to delight crowds at the Mother Goose Parade each year.  But they also own hospitals across the nation dedicated to treating children.

By Kendra Sitton

August 22, 2017 (Spring Valley) -- Bob Eble and John Scott Shaffer were appointed to Seat 14 and Seat 8 of the Spring Valley Community Planning Group, respectively. This occurred on August 11,  two weeks after the last minute application of Brenda Simmons was not included on that agenda because this would have been a violation of the Brown Act had the group voted.

By Julie Pendray

Photo courtesy County Parks and Recreation

August 22, 2017 (Lakeside) -- Lindo Lake Skatepark in Lakeside has been a source of community pride since it opened in 2014, next to Lindo Park Elementary School. But, for the past few months, Sheriff’s deputies and County Parks staff have been asked to keep a closer watch there due to increased concerns over alcohol and drug use. Some parents say they no longer take their children there because of bad examples and potential risk. Others are encouraging residents to keep supporting what has been a highly popular facility that was 20 years in the making, from conception to fruition. They say it still offers many positive outlets for all ages. Parks staff and law enforcement encourage the public to call whenever they see a problem.

By Nancy Hauer

August 21, 2017 (Dehesa) -- On Friday, August 18, 2017, Dehesa School hosted Derek Clark, an inspiring motivational speaker and the author of Never Limit Your Life and the critically acclaimed I Will never Give Up book series.

Source: San Diego Sheriff

August 21, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- Do you recognize the man in this sketch? He is suspected of following two young girls in the East County.

The first incident happened just before 8:30 a.m. on June 29th near Royal Road and Winter Gardens Boulevard in Lakeside. The suspect honked his car as he drove by a 14-year-old girl. The victim says the suspect made a U-turn and pulled over to tell her she was "too pretty to be walking." The suspect then asked the victim if she wanted a ride. She said no and he drove away.

By Miriam Raftery

August 20, 2017 (San Diego) – Already one of the largest urban park in the United States, Mission Trails Regional Park is expanding by 178 acres, to a total of 7,400 acres.  The addition is due to a dedication by Pardee Homes as open space mitigation for its 415-unit housing development, Weston, formerly known as Castlerock in Santee, just off State Route 52 north of Mast Blvd.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy of the District Attorney’s office

August 20, 2017 (San Diego) – “What we saw in Charlottesville is a bunch of thugs, bullies and criminals masquerading behind the freedom of speech,” said newly appointed San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan in a statement issued today, referring to white supremacists who rallied in Virginia, a gathering that included Nazis and Ku Klux Klan members armed with guns, chemicals, and other weapons.

East County News Service

August 20, 2017 (Ramona) – The Ramona Chamber of Commerce will present the 47th annual Ramona Country Fair, Thursday, Aug. 24 to Sunday, Aug. 27, at the Ramona Outdoor Community Center, 421 Aqua Lane, Ramona. Admission is free. Parking is $5 per carload. Fair hours are: 5 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 24; 5 to 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 25; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 27.

By Sam Warren, copyright 2017

August 19, 2017 (San Diego) – From a happy hour adventure with a New York Times best-selling author to the San Diego Festival of Books, you’ll find many local events for literary lovers coming up across our region.

By Paul Kruze

August 19, 2017 (El Cajon) -- Yet more eyes are going to be fixed on embattled El Cajon Councilman Ben Kalasho with news that he has filed a discrimination complaint with the State of California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. The action follows last Tuesday’s 4-1 vote affirming that the only electronic device permitted to be used by Council members at the dais during City Council meetings are city-provided Apple iPad tablets.

The iPads provided to members of the City Council will be configured to only allow access to City of El Cajon official websites and access to the city’s financial budget documents and municipal codes, but other Internet sites will be blocked.  Note-taking software will be downloaded onto the iPads and an attached keyboard will be provided.

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Story and photos by Liz Alper

August 18, 2017 (San Diego) - The SDSU men’s soccer team took the pitch on SDSU Sports Deck for the first time in 2017 tonight against Cal Poly Pomona.

By Jennifer Mendoza, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Lemon Grove

August 18, 2017 (Lemon Grove) -- Less than a year ago, the voters of Lemon Grove narrowly approved an ordinance to allow Medical Marijuana Dispensaries (MMD) to operate in our city. This ordinance was written by a coalition of MMD businesses and proponents. This same coalition is now unhappy with some of the language and restrictions they wrote into the ordinance. They wish to force the city to hold a special election in 2017, so that they can change the language.