By Mike Allen

August 4, 2023 (Santee) -- One year into the construction of the $950 million East County Advanced Water Purification Program (AWP_, the largest infrastructure project in the region’s history is starting to take shape.

Huge concrete and steel structures with names such as digesters, headworks, clarifiers, equalization tanks, and aeration basins are sprouting at the end of Fanita Parkway in Santee where the Ray Stoyer Water Recycling Plant used to exist.

The facility that once produced some 2 million gallons of water used for irrigation is being transformed to a far larger entity that will produce some 11.5 million gallons of drinkable water daily for about 500,000 East County residents.

July 31, 2023 (San Diego's East County) -- Join the San Diego County Sheriff's Department for National Night Out on Tuesday, August 1.  Sheriff's Stations and Substations across the county will be hosting family-friendly community events to take a stand against crime. Find details on each station’s event below. 

National Night Out is an annual event that promotes law enforcement-community partnership and neighborhood camaraderie.

Meet your local Sheriff's Deputies and receive public safety resources.  Crime Prevention Specialists will share tips on how to keep your families safe.  Many of our events will feature giveaways and more.

By: Jessyka Heredia

Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/live/EfC-xnCUzmo?feature=share

July 25, 2023 (El Cajon)—Hundreds of residents showed up Tuesday evening to a public meeting held at Hillsdale Middle School, convened by The County of San Diego Planning Commission regarding a revised Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on the controversial Cottonwood sand mine proposal.  Those present in the packed room showed solidarity in opposition to the sand mine project currently under consideration by the County of San Diego on a 214 acre section of Cottonwood golf course in El Cajon.

By Miriam Raftery

Image: CC via Bing

July 29, 2023 (Sacramento) – California voters will decide next year whether or not to raise the state’s minimum wage, allow local governments to approve rent control, tax the rich to fund prevention of future pandemics, ban workers from suing employers over state labor law violations, and make it harder for voters, state or local governments to raise taxes.  Backers of these measures have submitted enough signatures verified by county election officials to be eligible to qualify for the ballot by 131 days before the next statewide election.

Source: County news Center

July 30, 2023 (San Diego County)--Five San Diego County parks will be closed in August, a safety measure taken each year because of the expected high temperatures.

$543,171 in potential refunds available; deadline to file claim is September 21, 2023  

Source:  Treasurer-Tax Collecter, San Diego County

July 29, 2023 (San Diego) - The countdown has started! Go online now to find out if you are owed part of $543,171 in unclaimed money before it is rolled into the County General Fund.    

By Jacob Pamus

Photo, right: Interior of existing library

July 27, 2023 (La Mesa) – In July, 2021, La Mesa created a library task force to decide what changes would be made to the San Diego County Library in La Mesa. On July 25th, three options were presented to the La Mesa City Council. All three would result in approximately the same sized facility, around 16,000 square feet, but with different layouts. Two would entail expanding the existing structure, while the third would have authorizing construction of a new facility.

Update August 3, 2023:All evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted.

By Miriam Raftery

July 29, 2023 (Aguanga, CA) – The #Bonny Fire in Aguanga has grown to 2,069 acres and is threatening 632 structures,  Cal Fire reports this morning. The fire is currently burning in Riverside County, but evacuations have been ordered in Terwilliger Valley including areas north of the San Diego County line, west of Anza Borrego State Park,Southof Bowers,Bailey and Ramsey,and East of Bonny.  View evacuation map: http://linktr.ee/calfirerru

The fire is 5% contained but is burning in extremely rugged, steep terrain. Escalating temperatures today pose challenges for firefighters, and one firefighter injury is reported. A chance of thunderstorms this afternoon heightens risk of erratic fire behavior.

92% of comments supportive of the Public Lands Rule

July 28, 2023 (Washington D.C.) - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on July 5 ended a 90-day comment period on the proposed Public Lands Rule, which will put conservation on equal footing with oil and gas development and other extractive uses - 92% of the comments supported the Public Lands Rule, and were submitted from all 50 states.

Update July 29, 2023: The evacuation warnings have been lifted.

Update July  28, 2023 8:40 a.m.: The #Border21Fire fire remains four acres in the US, acerage in Mexico is undetermined, Cal Fire reports. Evacuation warnings remain in effect for the area just west of Tecate, CA. Crews will work through the day to minimize the threat of the fire extending any further northwards.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left:  Border 32 Fire on Mount Cuchama, by Robin Brailsford

July 27, 2023 (San Diego’s East County)  -- An evacuation warning, meaning impending danger to property, has been issued due to the #Border21Fire.  The fire is burning in the southeastern part of the county off Grapevine Truck Trail and Tecate Truck Trail.  The evacuation warning is in effect for the Tecate and Potrero area in the shaded areas shown on the map below this story.

A temporary evacuation center has been set up at Steele Canyon High School, 12440 Campo Rd., Spring Valley.

When a warning is given, you should assume an evacuation order will follow, the Sheriff advises.  Start now to gather important items for your family and pets, and if you feel you are in danger, don’t wait—go.

Remember these six “Ps” when preparing to evacuation:

Reviewed by Pennell Paugh

July 26, 2023 (San Diego) -- The San Diego Writers & Editors Guild is a nonprofit, member-supported organization dedicated to promoting the writing arts for youth and adults in San Diego. The Guild has been publishing anthologies of its members’ short stories, essays, and poetry since 2012. The 2022 version, New Beginnings, is the Guild’s best collection of stories so far.

Reviewed by Pennell Paugh

July 27, 2023 (San Diego) -- San Diego resident Henry Herz’s latest picture book is titled I Am Smoke. Smoke is the narrator, relating how it has served humankind since prehistory for signaling, beekeeping, curing and flavoring food, religious rites, and fumigating insects.

by Donald H. Harrison , Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Rabbi Aharon Shapiro said incident at this College Avenue 7-Eleven reflects hateful rhetoric by some political figures. Times of San Diego photo illustration

July 27, 2023 (San Diego) -- An Orthodox rabbi Wednesday said his tzitzits — ceremonial fringes — were torn from the woolen garment he wears under his shirt and thrown on the floor by a man who cussed Jews and Israel.

Rabbi Aharon Shapiro, formerly of Cape Town, South Africa, said the incident Monday near San Diego State University is a reflection of the hateful rhetoric spouted by some American political figures and celebrities.