By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

August 13, 2017 (Pine Valley) -- Pine Valley resident and artist Norm Daniels has this to say about the use of a tiki torch: “To me it means warm, backyard memories.”

Tiki torches were well represented at the 2017 Tiki Oasis-International Intrigue, a four-day event held at Mission Valley’s Crowne Plaza hotel from August 10-13. This Tiki Oasis is the largest and longest-running tiki festival in the world.

By Miriam Raftery

August 12, 2017 (San Diego) – El Cajon Councilman Ben Kalasho is counter-suing two contestants in the Miss Middle East Beauty Pageant that he founded, alleging that his reputation has been harmed by their claims that include fraud and sexual harassment.

Aztecs yield goal 68 seconds into game

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

August 12, 2017 (Fullerton) - San Diego State endured a 49-minute delay before the start of the game and surrendered a goal in the first 68 seconds in a 1-0 exhibition loss at Cal State Fullerton. Outside of the lone goal, the Aztecs showed promise, outshooting the Titans 12-4 for the contest.

By Miriam Raftery

August 11, 2017 (Valley Center) – When an elderly woman came home and water running, she went in the bathroom and was astonished when a stranger stepped out of the shower – facing her stark naked.

She ran and yelled for her husband, who was working in his shop outside their home.  The discovered the intruder had fled and taken the woman’s watch.  She went outside, spotted him walking north on Valley Center Road, and followed him until law enforcement arrived, said Sargeant John Silva with the Sheriff’s Department.

East County News Service

August 11, 2017 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) recently hosted graduation ceremonies for 15 high school students who spent the month of July interning at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa as part of the Grossmont Union High School District’s (GUHSD) Healthcare Exploration Summer Institute (HESI) 2017 program. The ceremonies featured the students presenting about their experiences at the hospital.

East County News Service

August 11, 2017 (San Diego's East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes  a star party in Lakeside, a dive-in movie at Kroc Center, classic cruisin’ in El Cajon, outdoor concerts in Santee, El Cajon and Lemon Grove, ice skating and more.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including  Descanso’s deep pit barbecue, the Ramona Country Fair, La Mesa's Oktoberfest, an art show in Julian, Ramona’s first-ever grape stomp, a Laurel and Hardy comedy film night in Spring Valley,  the Laguna Mountain Rendezvous, World War II pilots sharing living history, the Alley Cat Art walk in El Cajon, Barona powwow and more.

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

East County News Service

August 10, 2017 (Lemon Grove) -- Bestselling author T. Jefferson Parker will visit the Lemon Grove Library on Saturday, September 30 at 2:00 P.M. to promote his new novel The Room of White Fire. Parker will read excerpts from the book, discuss themes from the story, answer questions from the audience, and sign copies of the book.

By Miriam Raftery

August 10, 2017 (San Diego) – Fraud, falsified documents and conspiracy to defraud a bank are among the crimes for which FBI investigators obtained a warrant and sought evidence during a February raid at offices of the treasurer for Congressman Duncan Hunter’s campaign, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. 

By Jordan Damond, East County Magazine

ECM Editor Miriam Raftery also contributed to this report

Image: North Korea News Agency

August 9, 2017 (San Diego) -- “North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States," President Trump told reporters yesterday at the Bedminster, N.J. retreat where he is vacationing. "They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen.”   (View AP video.)  The remarks came in response to growing threats by  North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

But Trump’s strong though inflammatory statement triggered a response by North Korea threatening to attack Guam, where U.S. has a military base, with “enveloping fire,” CBS reports.

By Kendra Sitton

Photo, left and inside photo:  Henderson and Voepel speak after the breakfast

August 9, 2017 (Alpine) -- “Frank asked me to not get political and keep it positive. I'm going to fail him miserably,” said state Assembly member Randy Voepel. He addressed the Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce at their monthly Hot Topics Breakfast at the request of Frank Sturnold, the interim executive of the Chamber while a restructuring is underway.

By Jonathan Goetz

August 9, 2017 (La Mesa) - Congress members Susan Davis and Scott Peters, Assembly members Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher and Todd Gloria, and Helix Director Mark Gracyk all shared at the La Mesa Foothills Democratic Club last week their reasons for running for public office.

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

August 9, 2017 (Alpine) — “I hear you singin’ in the wire,” lyrics from “Wichita Lineman” released in 1968 by the late Glen Campbell, are words many linemen might know by heart and perhaps sang under their breath at the 17^th annual SDG&E Gas and Electric Lineman’s Rodeo held August 5^th in Alpine.

Wood-smoked BBQ fired up night in annual town tradition featuring slow-cooked beef, beer garden, live Western music, cash prize darwing, vendor booth, kids' activities and more

By Valerie Watts

August 9, 2017 (Descanso) --Ready for a nostalgic mountain community bash on Labor Day weekend?  Our Lady of Light Catholic Church in Descanso invites you to their 80th annual deep pit barbecue. 

This family-friendly event will be held the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, September 3, from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at 9163 Riverside Drive.

The menu features their famous hand-wrapped deep pit barbecue beef, mountain ranch beans, handcrafted slaw and western rolls.  It doesn't stop there-- they also offer home made apple pie, "drinks galore" and more.

East County News Service

August 8, 2017 (Alpine) -- The quarterly potluck meeting of the Alpine Historical Society will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 20^th at the Alpine Woman’s Club, 2156 Alpine Blvd. The speaker, Rochelle Lynn Gaudette, will discuss new the exhibit titled Coast to Cactus in Southern California and the accompanying book Coast to Cactus: The Canyoneer Trail Guide to San Diego Outdoors. If you have ever been curious about the geology, ecology and biodiversity of San Diego County this is a great opportunity to learn from an expert.