East County News Service

September 15, 2019 (La Mesa) – Get your Lederhosens ready – the 46th annual La Mesa Oktoberfest is gearing up for over 100,000 revelers celebrating German traditions over three full days of free festivities October 4-6.

East County News Service

By Miriam Raftery

July 31, 2019 (Valley Center) – My daughter and I savored a soothing summer’s eve at Keys Creek Lavender Farm in Valley Center, partaking of an outdoor high tea on a shaded patio--an idyllic way to relax and indulge in some scrumptious treats.

After rambling down winding country roads, we arrived to be greeted with a hand-washing station complete with a lavender sugar scrub that left our hands not only clean, but soft and smooth.  I recommend arriving early to take a stroll past lavender fields, albeit past the peak spring bloom season.  

By Miriam Raftery

Photos:  2017 gray wolf litter, courtesy Calif. Department of Fish and Wildlife

July 31, 2019 (Lassen) – Like the grizzly bear, wolves were exterminated from Califiornia in the 1920s. But now they are making a comeback.

In the past several years, wolves have crossed into northern California from Oregon—and several litters of wolf pups have been born.  In 2014, gray wolves received endangered species protection status from the state of California.

East County News Service

Photo: Mobile homes burning during July 2018 West Fire in Alpine

July 31, 2019 (Sacramento) -- After earning strong bipartisan support in the Senate and Assembly, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 508 authored by Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino) that will require insurers to provide timely disclosures and information to mobile home and condominium residents regarding their residential property insurance policies and their rights associated with their policy.

By Miriam Raftery

July 30, 2019 (Julian) – In a precedent-setting case over preservation of agricultural land protected under California’s Williamson Act, California’s Fourth District Court of Appeal has published a decision that reverses a Superior Court ruling in Cleveland National Forest Foundation et al. v. County of San Diego. 

The July 25th decision held that San Diego County officials acted wrongly when they approved a map for a housing subdivision  on the 1,400-acre Hoskings Ranch near Julian. The court found the Genesee Properties project would have set the stage to replace ranching with residential development--all while allowing the property owner to enjoy tax breaks intended to keep the land in agriculture.

East County News Service

July 30, 2019 (San Diego) - ArtWalk @ Liberty Station will return to Ingram Plaza for its 14^th year of “Connecting Creative Communities” on Saturday, August 10 and Sunday, August 11 in the Arts District at Liberty Station. The fine arts festival brings visual arts, music and interactive art experiences to the historic San Diego community all weekend long. More than 200 visual artists will be on hand including East County artists Linda Drake, Jason Humphrey, Bette Barnett, Cindy Teyro and Island Paper. Thousands can peruse through the garden browsing artwork and enjoying food, wine and beer, and live entertainment at the two-day, free event.

Council votes 3-2 to keep market downtown, but have Beevers Farmers Market run the event instead of merchants’ group

By Allan Acevedo

By Mike Allen

Photo: Howard Choy, EES Consulting

July 26, 2019 (Santee) -- Santee’s City Council took a more in-depth look this week at establishing a new entity that promises to provide energy at reduced rates while obtaining more of the power from renewable sources.

By Miriam Raftery

July 27, 2019 (Proctor Valley) – Last week, San Diego County Supervisors approved the controversial Otay Ranch Village 14 master-planned community in Proctor Valley near Jamul, which passed by a 3-2 vote. 

Now environmental groups have filed lawsuits, hoping a judge will cast the deciding vote to block the project, based on fire danger to residents and threats to wildlife.  A press release issued by the plaintiffs, Center for Biological Diversity, Endangered Habitat League, Sierra Club, California Chaparral Institute, Preserve Wild Santee, and California Native Plant Society, calls the project “a sprawl development that will pave over hundreds of acres of habitat for golden eagles and other imperiled wildlife and build new homes in one of California’s most dangerously fire-prone areas.”

East County News Service

July 29, 2019 (Ramona) – The Ramona Chamber of Commerce will present the 49th annual Ramona Country Fair, Thursday, Aug. 1 to Sunday, Aug. 4 at the Ramona Outdoor Community Center, 431 Aqua Lane, Ramona. Admission to the fair is free.

By Miriam Raftery

July 29, 2019 (San Diego) – A Cal Fire firefighter on a training hike with his engine crew suffered a medical emergency this morning. He was airlifted by a San Diego County Sheriff’s helicopter and an air ambulance to Temecula Valley Hospital in critical condition, where he died despite the diligent efforts of medical staff. 

Governor Gavin Newsom order the flag at the state capitol flown at half mast.  “On behalf of all Californians, Jennifer and I extend our sincere condolences to CAL FIRE Firefighter Yaroslav Katkov’s family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time," the Governor states. "It’s the work of brave firefighters like Yaroslav that keep our communities safe, and we are deeply grateful for his service.”

UPDATE July 29, 2019 8:20 a.m.:  The fire has burned 150 acres and is now 50 percent contained, Cal Fire reports.  One lane of Dehesa Rd. has been opened for traffic according to the Dept. of Public Works.

UPDATE 8:38 p.m.:  Forward spread has been halted. The fire has burned 50 acres and is now 10% contained.  Dehesa Rd. is closed at Willow Glen Dr. on the west and Harbison Canyon Rd. on the east.  Three homes remain evacuated but no structures were damaged and none are threatened. Cal Fire, the USFS, Sycuan Fire, San Miguel Fire, San Diego Sheriff, CHP and County Animal Control are at the scene, where 17 engines are working on the fire. Mop-up is underway/

UPDATE  7:09 p.m.:  Per the Incident Commander, the fire is now estimated to be 50 acres and 0% contained. 3 homes have been voluntarily evacuated along Dehesa Rd but no evacuation warnings or orders have been issued. There are no homes that are currently being threatened.

East County News Service

July 28, 2019 (Dehesa) - Cal Fire is responding to a reported vegetation fire in the area of Dehesa Rd. near Sycuan Summit Dr. The fire is 25 acres with a moderate rate of spread.

View photos:

Photo right: View from Target in Rancho San Diego, by Paul Kruze.

Photo, left: Smoke acros East County, by Andy Calderon

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