EL CAJON PAINT CO. MANAGER PLEADS GUILTY TO MISDEMEANOR HIRING OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS

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INTERVIEW WITH CAL FIRE CAPTAIN ON MONTE FIRE

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FERRET LEGALIZATION EFFORT CLEARS KEY HURDLE AT STATE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION

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VIDEO OF THE WEEK: LAKESIDE RESIDENTS THANK FIREFIGHTERS

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IRAN MISSILES FIRED AT U.S. AIR BASE IN QATAR; TERROR ATTACKS IN U.S. THREATENED

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DURING PRIDE MONTH, TRANSGENDER PEOPLE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE

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SEVEN VOTE CENTERS NOW OPEN FOR SUPERVISORIAL SPECIAL ELECTION

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BRAXTON’S CENTURY, VOL. 3: ROYAL HISTORICAL FANTASY

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COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY VOTES JUNE 26 WHETHER TO WITHDRAW FROM WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN: PETITION LAUNCHED TO SAVE GARDEN’S FUNDING

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U.S. BOMBS IRAN’S NUCLEAR FACILITIES

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A TREASURED EVENT: HEARTLAND COIN SHOW MAY 6 IN SANTEE

April 13, 2023 (Santee) -- Enjoy a Saturday full of fun and the opportunity to learn about how to start your very own coin collection or have the chance to add new coins to your collection. There will be plenty of U.S. and foreign coins, antique coins, AND currency too.

HEALTH AND SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS

April 12, 2023 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

SCIENCE AND TECH   

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

SDG&E SEEKING $100M IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO ADVANCE WILDFIRE SAFETY EFFORTS ON OR NEAR TRIBAL LANDS

Federal Funds Would Support the Strategic Undergrounding and Overhead Hardening of Power Lines around Tribal Lands
 
April 13, 2023 (San Diego) – As part of its commitment to reduce the impact of infrastructure costs on electric rates, this month, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) submitted an application to the United States Department of Energy (DOE) seeking up to $100 million in federal funds through the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships Grant program, which is part of the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). If awarded, the grant would help offset the costs of wildfire hardening efforts on and around federally recognized Tribal Nations’ land within SDG&E’s service territory. Pending final approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the federal funds would be matched with an additional $100 million from SDG&E.
 
“Our region has the most federally recognized Tribes of any county in the nation, and all are located in areas facing the highest risk for wildfire. These funds would help us continue to work with Tribes to provide safe and resilient energy in the face of a changing climate,” said Caroline Winn, CEO of SDG&E. “If approved, this grant would not only help advance wildfire safety initiatives planned on Tribal lands which have experienced wildfires and Public Safety Power Shutoffs in the past, but also plays a key role in in our strategy to reduce energy costs for customers.”

APRIL POOL DAY OFFERS FREE SWIMMING AND WATER SAFETY TIPS

April 13, 2023 (El Cajon) -- The City of El Cajon is hosting a FREE April Pools Day event to help kick off May as National Drowning Prevention Month on Friday, April 21, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Fletcher Hills Pool, located at 2345 Center Place in El Cajon.   

 

Drowning is the leading cause of injury death among children between the ages 1 to 4 years, and nearly 4,000 Americans drown each year. A study published in Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine found statistical evidence that children that participated in swim lessons had an 88% reduced risk of drowning.

 

“Living so close to the beach, we want children to learn to swim and parents to learn how to keep their family safe around water,” said Frank Carson, Director of Parks and Recreation. “The City of El Cajon is proud to offer a full range of aquatic programs to our community.”

 

Participants can learn about water safety, sun safety tips, or partake in mini CPR lessons. The event will feature free swimming, a free bag filled with activities (one per family), and crafts.

HELIX ENDS DROUGHT RESTRICTIONS

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy of Helix Water District

April 13, 2023 (La Mesa) -- The Helix Water District Board on April 5 adopted a resolution declaring an end to Level 2 Water Shortage response, which had mandated up to a 20% reduction in water use.  The action follows heavy rains that have ended drought conditions locally.

HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION IN EL CAJON AFTER MAN FOUND DEAD NEAR CVS

East County News Service

April 12, 2023 (El Cajon) ) – El Cajon Police Department is investigating the death of a man found dead this morning in front of the CVS store in the 500 block of Fletcher Parkway.

“The male, in his early thirties, suffered obvious trauma and his death is being investigated as a homicide,” states an ECPD press release.

WHAT CAN CALIFORNIA DO ABOUT ABOUT ABORTION PILL RULING? NOT MUCH

By Kristen Hwang, CalMatters

CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters 

Photo:  200 mg mifepristone and 800 μg misoprostol, the typical regimen for early medical abortion.  By VAlSiurua, CC BY-SA 4.0

April 12, 2023 (Sacramento) - California’s Democratic lawmakers have spent the past year enacting legislation to protect abortion rights in the wake of Roe v. Wade’s reversal, but a ruling Friday by a Texas federal judge is one thing they can’t touch. 

READER’S EDITORIAL: PUBLIC CRIES FOUL OVER DENIAL OF RIGHTS TO ENJOY NATIONAL FOREST SERVICE FACILITY

By Carolyn McGavock

April 11, 2023 (Alpine) -- The closure of the Loveland Fishing Access in Alpine has the public at odds with the Sweetwater Authority. Recently, SWA drained Loveland Reservoir to deadpool, killing the fish population and the fishing program which was established jointly with the national forest service. Hiking and bird watching along the shoreline are also enjoyed there. When the reservoir was empty, Sweetwater claimed the resulting erosion had created a hazard. Since then, rain has refilled the reservoir and covered the erosion leaving the public area as safe for hiking and bird watching as it had been during the 25-year history of the recreational program. However, SWA’s public relations officer, Gwyneth Shoecraft, recently reported, “At this point we do not know the timeframe for restoring access.”

Some advocates suspect that the lake is closed to hide the fact that the fish population was killed and the publicly purchased fishing pier is in pieces. Advocates fear that SWA plans to exclude them permanently and are appealing to public officials in the forest service for representation.

SOUTH AFRICAN MUSICIAN, HUMANITARIAN SHARON KATZ IN CONCERT AT RAMONA RANCH WINERY APRIL 16

By Mimi Pollack

April 11, 2023 (Ramona) -- South African musician and humanitarian Sharon Katz, will be giving a complimentary concert at the Ramona Ranch Winery on Sunday, April 16th from 2:00 to 5:00 in the afternoon. What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon with a wonderful musician in a lovely setting?

Music can soothe and heal the soul, no matter where you are from. The Ramona Ranch Winery, which is also a working farm with animals, will provide a peaceful outdoor setting where one can enjoy their award-winning wines by the bottle or the glass as they listen to songs in Spanish and various African languages sung by Katz, a musician who also has quite a story to tell.

STAR PARTY AT SANTA YSABEL NATURE CENTER APRIL 15

East County News Service

April 11, 2023 (Santa Ysabel) – You’re invited to discover the night at a galaxy season star party at the Santa Ysabel Nature Center on Saturday, April 15 at 6 p.m.  In addition, a proclamation will be presented from County Supervisors to commemorate International Dark Sky Week April 15-22.

LEMON GROVE DISPENSARY HEARING RAISES ACCUSATIONS OF AN ATTEMPT TO BRIBE THE MAYOR AND RETALIATION AGAINST THE APPLICANT

By:Jessyka Heredia

Video video of hearing: part 1, part 2

Photo: Applicant Chris Williams addresses the City Council.

April 8, 2023 (Lemon Grove) -- During what would normally be a routine hearing by the Lemon Grove City Council on extending a conditional use permit (CUP), Mayor Raquel Vasquez revealed that she had been offered a trip to Las Vegas by an undisclosed person to discuss the project, a medical marijuana dispensary -- an action the City Attorney called an "alleged bribe."

The hearing also included allegations that the City’s opposition to the extension was retaliation against applicant Chris Williams of Pick Axe Holdings, who said the City had approved similar extensions for other applicants.

PLUMERIA CUTTING AND TROPICAL PLANT SALE ON MT. HELIX THIS WEEKEND

East County News Service

April 11, 2023 (Mt. Helix) – Atkinson Plumeria Farm in La Mesa will be hosting a plumeria cutting and tropical plant sale this weekend, April 15-16.

Eleven vendors will be selling hundreds of cultivars,  thousands of cuttings and rooted plants from small to large in a many different colors; some as low as $5.These are water-wise plants.

Plus there will be other tropicals such as hibiscus, air plants, hoyas, heliconia, ginger, and more.

SUPERVISORS HOLD EMERGENCY MEETING, CALL FOR FLETCHER’S IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION

By Miriam Raftery

April 11, 2023 (San Diego) – During a special meeting convened today,  San Diego County Supervisors passed a vote of no confidence and approved a letter calling on disgraced Supervisor Nathan Fletcher to resign immediately. The vote was 4-0, with Fletcher absent while undergoing treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and alcohol abuse.

On March 29, Fletcher announced his resignation effective May 15, after an MTS employee went public with allegations that Fletcher sexually assaulted and harassed her when he was MTS chair. Fletcher, who is married with children, has denied those allegations but said he had a “consensual” relationship. The woman, Grecia Figueroa, has denied this and filed a lawsuit against Fletcher and MTS. Fletcher has resigned as MTS chair and dropped his campaign for the State Senate.

Nora Vargas, Chair of the County Board of Supervisors, said before the vote, “"My priority is ensuring that we are able to serve the people of San Diego” noting that Fletcher has been absent for the past two weeks and hasn't answered the troubling allegations against him. "We encourage him to resign immediately so he (can) focus solely on his treatment, and the people of San Diego can move forward with the representation they deserve."

DESCANSO DAY PARADE AND FAIR JUNE 3 CONTINUES TOWN’S TRADITION

By Miriam Raftery

April 11, 2023 (Descanso) – Descanso’s first community fair was held in 1899 under a tent near the creek. The tradition has grown through the years to include a parade and community fair, which this year will be held on June 3. The festivities take place at the historic Descanso Town Hall, 24536 Viejas Grade Road in Descanso, a small rural town east of Alpine.

DINNER AND A CONCERT SERIES OPENS MAY 5 WITH TWISTED GYPSY, FLEETWOOD MAC TRIBUTE BAND

East County News Service

April 11, 2023 (El Cajon) – El Cajon’s Dinner and a Concert series opens May 5 and will continue every Friday night from 6 to 8 p.m. from May through September.  Opening night will feature Twisted Gypsy, a Fleetwood Mac Tribute band taking you back to the early days of ‘70s rock and roll.

READER’S EDITORIAL: NEW STUDY BY 84 SCIENTISTS PROVES WILD HORSES ARE NATIVE TO NORTH AMERICA: CALIFORNIA MUST CHANGE ITS POLICY TO PROTECT THEM

An open letter to legislators and elected state and county officials
 
By William E. Simpson II, Executive Director Wild Horse Fire Brigade
Photo: Wild mustangs, courtesy U.S. Bureau of Land Management
 
April 9, 2023 (San Diego) -- A New Study conducted by 84-researchers and published in Science magazine (March 2023) dispels the myth that horses didn't exist in America until the Spanish arrived, and proves that horses were already  living in North America at the time of the Spanish arrival. And we know that wild horses were documented by Sir Francis Drake in 1580 as living among the local indigenous peoples in the area along what is today the Oregon-California border. 

NEW SDG&E PROGRAM OFFERS $10K SCHOLARSHIPS TO ENCOURAGE LOCAL STUDENTS TO PURSUE STEM CAREERS

10 scholarships to be awarded to students who self-identify as a woman or person of color

 
Source:  SDG&E
 
April 10, 2023 (San Diego) - High school and undergraduate students who reside in communities served by San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) are encouraged to apply for a $10,000 scholarship under a new initiative called the Inspiring Future Leaders STEM Scholarship Program.
 
This initiative is specifically designed to support students of color, girls and women in high school or college who plan on pursuing a degree in a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) or STEM-related course of study. Scholarship winners who maintain their eligibility and pursue their course of study in a traditional four-year university can have their scholarships renewed for an additional three years – meaning they could receive a total of $40,000 in financial aid.
 
The deadline to apply for this scholarship is April 27, 2023, 1p.m. Pacific Time.
 
“One of the best strategies to narrow the gender and racial gap in STEM fields is to increase access to higher educational opportunities and provide the financial support students need to pursue STEM degrees,” said SDG&E CEO Caroline Winn. An electrical engineer by training, Winn is a long-time champion of SDG&E’s #BeThatGirl initiative to inspire girls to pursue STEM careers through mentorships and outreach activities. “As a region, our economic prosperity depends on employers like us to develop the workforce of tomorrow in order to fill the growing number of jobs that require STEM knowledge. We need to set up the next generation for success in future careers, which includes helping to alleviate financial barriers like student loan debt.”

PUBLIC HEALTH CHAMPIONS

By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

April 10, 2023 (San Diego) - San Diego County’s Health and Human Services Agency honored 17 people and organizations Monday as Public Health Champions for their work in advancing public health and protecting and promoting the health and safety of San Diegans.

The Agency’s 2023 Live Well San Diego Annual Public Health Champion Awards Ceremony coincided with National Public Health Week. The annual observance is an initiative of the American Public Health Association and ran earlier this month.

Last week's gathering marked the first in-person celebration of the event since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

IN HEATED ALPINE MEETING, SWEETWATER OFFICIALS PLEDGE TO RESTORE SOME DAMAGE, REOPEN LOVELAND RESERVOIR—BUT WON’T RULE OUT FUTURE EXTREME DRAINING

Restocking with fish could take up to two years;  severe erosion on trails means a bridge may need to be built, district reveals

By Miriam Raftery

View video of hearing:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQW0avdKyE8&t=2165s

April 9, 2023 (Alpine) – A crowd of more than 100 angry residents turned out at the Alpine Community Planning Group hearing on March 23, where Sweetwater Water Authority officials addressed concerns over damage at Loveland Reservoir after SWA drained it to dead pool status. Audience members and planning group members peppered SWA officials with questions in the at times contentious session.

39TH ANNUAL SAN DIEGO BLOOD DRIVE IN EAST COUNTY THIS WEEK

By Cassie Klapp, County of San Diego Communications Office

April 9, 2023 (San Diego) -- One in seven people entering a hospital needs blood. Even more urgent, blood banks supplying those hospitals are often faced with shortages.  

That is why for 39 years, the County has hosted an annual blood drive to meet the critical need for donations.  

This year’s month-long event kicked off Monday, outside the County Administration Center, with Chief Medical Officer Eric McDonald describing the importance both donating and creating diversity among donors. 

“We don’t have to look far to find someone we know in need of blood. My mother needed a transfusion, and we are thankful to blood donors who made it possible for her to be here with us today,” said Dr. McDonald. “It is important for those who have donated, and for those who haven’t, to step forward to provide a diverse blood pool. Certain blood types and surface proteins are unique to specific groups and if you have someone with a similar ethnic background, a blood transfusion is less likely to cause a reaction.”

DAY’S INN SELLS FOR $8.35 MILLION, NEW OWNER PLANS MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING IN LA MESA

East County News Service

 

April 9, 2023 (La Mesa) – The 42 room, 22,410 square foot Days Inn lat 7475 El Cajon Blvd in La Mesa sold for $8,350,000 on March 31, Commercial Asset Advisors (CAA) announced. The new owner plans to convert the property to apartments, according to CAA.

 

Mike Conger and Brian Jenkins of Commercial Asset Advisors represented the Seller, Lotus Hotel, Inc. The Buyer, La Mesa Multi-Family Partners, LLC was represented by Salvatore DeMaria of Coldwell Banker Realty.

 

The Days Inn features 42 large rooms, with existing kitchen infrastructure in the heart of the multi-family supply constrained La Mesa. 

MTS LAUNCHES INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT BY NATHAN FLETCHER

Calls grow for Fletcher to step down immediately from Board of Supervisors; second woman claims harassment by Fletcher

By Miriam Raftery

April 9, 2023 (San Diego) – The Metropolitan Transit Board (MTS) on Thursday announced that it will hire outside counsel to conduct an independent investigation into allegations of sexual assault and harassment made by MTS public information officer Grecia Figueroa  against Nathan Fletcher, ([photo, left), who was chair of MTS at the time.

Grecia was fired on February 6, the date Fletcher announced his intent to run for the State Senate. Fletcher withdrew from that race on March 26 and announced he was entering rehab for PTSD and alcohol abuse. After the MTS allegations surfaced soon after, he  resigned from the MTS board and announced he will resign as Supervisor effective May 15.  Fletcher, who is married with children, has denied sexually assaulting or harassing Figueroa but claimed a “consensual” relationship.

Acting MTS Board Chair Stephen Whitburn issued a statement after a closed-door session of the MTS board,  Whitburn indicated that findings in the independent investigation will be made public. The transit board has also cut off legal support to Fletcher, who must pay for his own defense. ”Mr. Fletcher failed to act in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in the best interest of MTS,” Whitburn stated.

SUNRISE EASTER SERVICE ATOP MOUNT HELIX SUNDAY

East County News Service

April 8, 2023 (Mount Helix) – The 106th consecutive Sunrise Easter Service atop Mt. Helix will be held tomorrow at 6:30 a.m.  Free shuttle services begin at 5 a.m. from Grossmont High School, since there is no parking at the amphitheater.

The event is the second longest running Sunrise Easter Service in America, according to the Mt. Helix Park Foundation. The nation’s oldest is in Salem, North Carolina, which has held consecutive services since 1772.

The Mt. Helix Park Foundation and College Avenue Church invite you to enjoy a glorious sunrise over the mountains just as the service begins. 

MAN WHO MURDERED EX-GIRILFRIEND’S TWIN DAUGHTERS IN LEMON GROVE SENTENCED TO LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE

East County News Service

April 8, 2023 (Lemon Grove) -- San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced yesterday that defendant Dwayne E. Groves Jr., 41, was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole plus 72 years formurdering 15-year-old twin sisters, Caira and Leah Christopher, in April 2020. Both were students at Helix Charter High School in La Mesa.

BERKLEY HART TO PERFORM AT JULIAN TOWN HALL APRIL 22

East County News Service

April 7, 2023 (Julian) -- San Diego Music Hall of Fame curator Java Joe Flammini brings the music of Berkley Hart to the iconic Julian Town Hall, a historic, intimate setting that comfortably seats 200.  The well-known musicians will perform their Americana original songs in a concert as American as Julian apple pie on April 22 at 3 p.m.

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