Show continues this weekend Oct. 12-14

Review By Kathy Carpenter

Associate Reviewer sdtheatrereviews.com

Freelance Writer Splash Magazine

October 10, 2017 - (Casa De Oro) - Kids are amazing. The Young Actors Theatre stars shine again and again. They are committed, work hard, and keep growing as talented young people—some of whom could have long careers in the arts if they wish.

Peter and the Star Catcher, directed and choreographed by Joe Dioisio, is a complex but not well known show that is at times hard to follow. The story is about Peter Pan, before he was Pan. Let your imagination take flight.

Backcountry hidden pleasures:   Our guide to unique lodging and adventures in San Diego’s beautiful backcountry

By Miriam Raftery

October 12, 2017 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – You’re invited to soak and stretch your way to relaxation and Nirvana at the second High Mountain Desert Yoga Retreat, tucked among boulders high in the In-Ko-Pah and Jacumba mountains near the eastern San Diego County line.

This four-day healing event from October 31 to November 3 will include natural sulfur hot spring pools, healing sessions at the Desert View tower including Kundalini Tantra Yoga, Reiki healing, and crystal sound healing. Guests will also savor delicious vegan meals scenic hikes and some desert surprises, plus a three-day stay at the nearby Jacumba Hot Springs Resort.

Wine industry organizations throughout California form support network to assist vintners in three counties; leaders call for national support

Photo: Twitter user RSLRutledge

October 11, 2017 (Santa Rosa) -- Wine industry leaders have formed a support network to provide immediate assistance and long-term aid to victims of the fires ravaging Northern California and are calling on the national wine community for additional help.  Organized by a group of association leaders representing the Golden State’s major winegrowing regions, support efforts include fundraising and creation of an online resource where vintners can find and offer resources, such as generators, trailers, lodging and manpower.

By Miriam Raftery

October 11, 2017 (San Diego) – Carfentanil, an elephant tranquilizer drug 5,000 times stronger than heroin, is turning up in street drugs marketed as opoid  narcotic painkillers such as Oxycodone, as well as in tainted heroin.  

The drug is so deadly that just a couple of granules the size of salt crystals will cause death, even with medical intervention, authorities warn. It’s turning up in street drugs locally and nationally, including drugs sold by dealers and on the Internet’s dark web—and deaths are skyrocketing as a result.

October 11, 2017 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

• Alpine man reflects on recovery after Vegas shooting (NBC 7)
• SDG&E wants to raise rates 11 percent, starting in two years (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Lemon Grove Councilman, City Manager accused of squelching free speech (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• New homeless camp area opens in San Diego (10 News)
• Following the Money in San Diego’s Community Choice Debate (KPBS)
• Clear the Air Coalition’s Ties to Sempra Aren’t Always Clear to the Public (Voice of San Diego)
• Sempra, Chamber lobbying asks city to put government-run electricity program on ice (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Padre Dam’s East County water purification project moves forward (Water World)
• San Diego's historic Santa Fe Depot is about to be sold (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Water board reports highlighted health risk before hepatitis outbreak (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Trolley workers fear hepatitis from riders who use trains as bathrooms (San Diego Union-Tribune)

STATE

• Battle on to halt march of Northern Calif. wildfires that have killed 17, destroyed 2,000 structures (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Power lines linked to wine country fires (San Jose Mercury News)
• Winless Chargers are having an awful time trying to grow roots in Los Angeles (LA Times)
• 224 new Calif. laws signed, 28 vetoed: list (Patch)
• New California law allows sex offenders to be removed from registry (San Francisco Chronicle)
• If Trump administration tries to sell public lands in California, a new state law says state gets first dibs (Los Angeles Times)
• At least 10 dead and two wineries destroyed as massive wildfires devastating parts of Napa and Sonoma counties (Wine Spectator)
• Scientists foresee major changes in rainfall patterns across California (San Diego Union-Tribune)

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

Refugee uses GRID training to launch his own solar installation company; other trainees meet top solar employers at graduation ceremony 

Source: Grid Alternatives San Diego

October 11, 2017 (San Diego) -- This month, GRID Alternatives San Diego, an affiliate of America’s largest nonprofit solar installer GRID Alternatives, introduced Syrian refugees and military veterans to the multi-billion-dollar solar industry through its Solar Installation Training Program. Attendees at the program graduation included refugee and long-time GRID volunteer Mohamed Hauter, who recently launched his own solar installation company and now employs several graduates of GRID’s training program.

East County News Service

October 10, 2017 (San Diego) -- The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to restrict drones from flying near or over fires and locations that have public safety temporary area restrictions to ensure public safety.

October 10, 2017 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Even deadlier form of fentanyl reaches San Diego County (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• School vaccinations 'cut cervical cancer alerts by 41%' (BBC)
• Brain's Link to Immune System Might Help Explain Alzheimer's (NPR)
• Why 'Plague Season' is a Big Worry in Madagascar This Year (NPR)
• Stomach acid blockers promote liver disease, study finds (San Diego Union-Tribune)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• Google closer to using balloons for telecom in Puerto Rico (Wired)
• Can Elon Musk fix Puerto Rico’s broken power grid? (CNN Money)
• Consumer alert: Beware of Netflix phishing scam (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Once Its AIM Was True, But Soon AOL's Instant Messenger Will Be No More (NPR)
• Butterfly swarm shows up on Denver radar system (BBC)
• Light Pollution Can Impact Nocturnal Bird Migration (NPR)
• 'Sooty birds' reveal hidden US air pollution (BBC)

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

By Vinny Lavalsiti and Matthew Ochoa, reprinted with permission from The Summit at Grossmont College

Images: property of The Summit and Grossmont College's Graphic design program

October 10, 2017 (El Cajon) -- Martha Amezcua was nine when she came to the United States, and she didn't know a lick of English, creating a hefty language barrier between her and her classmates once she enrolled in school. Her silence, because of the language barrier, led to a lot bullying.

By Miriam Raftery

October 8, 2017 (San Diego) – The City of El Cajon will be reholding public hearings on filing liens against city residents over unpaid bills for trash removal services provided by Waste Management. That decision comes after Councilman Ben Kalasho voted in favor of filing the liens after Waste Management paid $2500 in membership fees to a chamber of commerce that he founded and which his wife headed up since his election to the City Council. 

East County News Service

October 10, 2017 (La Mesa) - The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is continuing its support of the Challenge Center, a nonprofit facility in La Mesa where people with disabilities receive long-term physical therapy rehabilitation and fitness services.

Source:  El Cajon Elks Lodge

October 10, 2017 (El Cajon) - The El Cajon Elks Lodge 1812 is working with a local Haunted House Production Company, “Scareventures,” to present a Haunted Lodge for the community in their parking lot from October 26^th through 31^st.  This will be one of the only Haunted Houses in San Diego’s East County, it represents an important charity fundraising effort where the Elks will contribute 100% of proceeds from the event for children’s charities as a part of their annual “Purple Pig” (or CHEMPI) and “Youth Charities” fundraising efforts. 

East County News Service

Photo:  from left to right: GHD board members Randy Lenac, Gloria Chadwick; from GUHSD --  Paul Dautremont, Mary Nishikawa, Heather Peterson, Dr. Tim Glover (superintendent); GHD board members Michael Emerson, Virginia Hall, Robert “Bob” Ayres

October 9, 2017 (La Mesa) -- The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) has awarded a $202,500 grant to the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) in support of the GHD Health Career Pathways Initiative. The grant will provide curriculum materials, support and instruction for approximately 2,500 high school students interested in pursuing healthcare careers during the 2017-2018 school year. 

By Miriam Raftery, East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

October 9, 2017 (San Diego ) – Governor Jerry Brown has declared states of emergency in Napa, Sonoma and Yuba Counties due to wildfires that have burned at least 1,500 homes and commercial buildings and killed at least one person, Cal Fire director Ken Pimlott said at a press conference today. There is zero percent containment as of late morning.  At least 16 major fires are burning statewide.

An estimated 20,000 people have been evacuated as fires blacken skies even in Bay Area cities, forced evacuations of hospitals, shut down schools and  threaten thousands more structures in California’s wine region, gold rush towns and even coastal counties.  Many residents fled for their lives during the night as fast-moving flames destroyed wineries, vineyards, major stores and homes, dousing dreams with despair.

East County News Service

File photo: Sheriff SWAT officers

October 9, 2017 (Boulevard) – Brian Ellis, 34, was arrested around 11 p.m. last night for arson and assault with a deadly weapon following an overnight SWAT stand-off in Boulevard.

Deputies responded to a call reporting assault with a deadly weapon in the 38000 block of Tierra Real Road around 5:38 p.m..  According to San Diego Sheriff’s Sergeant William Hout, the suspect “had struck a female relative in the face with a baseball bat and injured a male relative with a sword.”