East County News Service

August 31, 2017 (Houston) -- Supplemental Health Care is working with multiple hospitals in Houston and surrounding flooded areas in southeastern Texas to help provide urgently needed registered nurses (RNs)  of all specialties.  “We need R Ns with a minimum of one year RN experience who can commit to traveling to Texas to help with Hurricane Harvey relief efforts immediately,” says Mary Lucas, chief talent officer for Supplemental Health Care.

Winery part of emerging Highland Valley wine region

East County News Service

August 31, 2017 (Escondido) – Located high above the San Pasqual Valley in Escondido, winery Domaine Artefact secured prestigious wins at the 37^th San Francisco International Wine Competition and the Sunset International Wine Competition. The honors draw attention to an emerging, thriving wine region called Highland Valley, located just west of Ramona.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: San Onofre nuclear facility, before its shutdown in 2013.

August 31, 2017 (San Diego) – Finding a safe place to store spent nuclear fuel from the shuttered San Onofre Nuclear Generating Stations is a daunting task. Yesterday, East County Magazine reported on a settlement reached between Citizens Oversight and Southern California Edison that aspires to move the radioactive waste away from the beach at San Onofre over the next couple of decades.

One of the proposed sites   is in Arizona. But now officials at Arizona Public Services Company, which operates the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station west of Phoenix,  say they won’t take California’s nuclear wastes. 

August 30, 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

• San Diego lifeguards apologize to Texas officials in letter (10 News)
• Jamul tribe gives $1.1 million to County for road upgrades (SD Union-Tribune)
• Boy injured in trolley crash in Santee (Santee Patch)
• In San Diego, Haitians watch community shrink as countrymen leave for Canada (Union-Tribune)
• Rep. Hunter gives President Trump a profane compliment (SD Union-Tribune)
• National City Proceeds with Lawsuit Against Bernie Sanders Campaign for Payment (NBC)

STATE

• Executions could resume after California Supreme Court leaves most of Proposition 66 intact (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Interior Secretary recommends keeping California national monuments (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Antifa Attack Peaceful Right-Wing Demonstrators in Berkeley (Reason)

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

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: SEIU via Facebook

August 30, 2017 (San Diego) – Last night, Service Employees International Union Local 221 workers voted to hold a strike on September 12 and 13 over what the union contends are unfair labor practices. The union represents over 10,000 county employees in San Diego and Imperial Counties including public workers in county and city governments as well as school districts. Those workers include public health nurses, social services employees, librarians, clerical staff and more. 

Source: Ramona Valley Vineyards Association

August 30, 2017 (Highland Valley) -- Wines from Altipiano Vineyard and Winery, Escondido, received double-gold, silver, and bronze medals out of 4,300 entries from more than 30 countries around the world at the 37^th San Francisco International Wine Competition held June 29 to July 2, 2017.

By Miriam Raftery

August 30, 2017 (Warner Springs) – Wings of Rescue is working to fly out pets stranded or lost from areas flooded by Hurricane Harvey.  On Monday from 12 noon to 4 p.m., Hawk Watch Winery in Warner Springs is hosted a benefit for Wings of Rescue’s hurricane relief efforts.

Source:  SANDAG and Caltrans

August 30, 2017 (San Diego) - Officials opened to the public today a key bikeway connection in San Diego that provides a protected bike lane parallel to State Route 15. The new bike route established a safe and convenient connection between Mission Valley and the Mid-City communities, including City Heights, Kensington-Talmadge, and Normal Heights, while eliminating challenges that riders have had to cope with on other routes including high-speed traffic and long, difficult hills.

The American Red Cross will collect donations in Aztec Village

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

August 30, 2017 (San Diego) - The American Red Cross will be on site for San Diego State football’s season opener against UC Davis on Saturday, Sept. 2, collecting donations for those affected by Hurricane Harvey.

The American Red Cross will be accepting cash donations in Aztec Village, which is located in parking areas C1/D1 at San Diego Stadium. Aztec Village is open from 2:30 p.m. until 5 p.m.

By Miriam Raftery

August 30, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes the Julian Grape Stomp, Barona Powwow, Descanso Deep Pit Barbecue, and the Julian Arts Guild Fall Show.

Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including Oktoberfests in La Mesa and El Cajon, the Ramona Grape Stomp, Alley Cat Artwalk in El Cajon, the Sycuan Powwow, Julian Apple Festival, Apple Tea Time, the hot new dance show Bamboozled, a Twilight Tasting at the Trails, an International Day of Peace celebration in La Mesa, Julian Music Festival, a reception with artist Jack Jordan, Lakeside River Park Conservancy’s Once in a Blue Moon Gala, Laguna Mountain Rendezvous, Kids Care Fest in Lakeside, and more.

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

East County News Service

August 29, 2017 (Spring Valley) – Jaquan Ramsay, 30, has been arrested for allegedly shooting a woman in Spring Valley this afternoon.  The victim, described by authorities as a black female adult, suffered a gunshot wound to her right hand and left arm.

By Valerie Watts

August 29, 2017 (Lakeside) -- The Grossmont Healthcare District presents its Kids Care Fest Saturday, October 14 from 9 a.m.to 1 p.m. at the Lakeside Rodeo Grounds, 12584 Mapleview Street in Lakeside.  This event will offer FREE checkups and health information as well as safety demonstrations and fun activities for the whole family.  This year there will be dental and vision screenings and flu shots (while supplies last),   The District hasn’t forgotten the adults--they can have their cholesterol and blood pressure checked.  To alleviate the sting of the flu shots,  the kids can ride ponies, climb a wall or participate in other fun activities.  For more details and to see a video of last year's event, go to kidscarefest.org.  You can also get more information by calling 619-825-5050.

East County News Service

August 29, 2017 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) has awarded a $20,000 grant to the East County Transitional Living Center (ECTLC). The grant will provide transportation to medical and dental appointments, along with prescription pick-up, for some of the 400 men, women and children who are served daily by ECTLC, an El Cajon-based community services nonprofit.

The New Whistleblower’s Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Doing What’s Right and Protecting Yourself, by Stephen Martin Kohn, ESQ (Lyons Press, Guilford, Connecticut, 2017, 550 pages).

Book Review by Dennis Moore

“You can’t fix something if you don’t know it’s broken. That’s just common

sense.”

-          Senator Charles Grassley, July 30^th 2015 – Whistleblower Day Celebration

August 29, 2017 (San Diego) - Stephen Martin Kohn, nationally acclaimed expert on whistleblower law, has written a provocative book on an issue that seems timely in this day and age; The New Whistleblower’s Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Doing What’s Right and Protecting Yourself.

This book resonates with me for a number of reasons, most notably, as Kohn indicates that he dedicates the book to one of his “extraordinary teachers”, A. Leon Higginbotham Jr., whom I met many years ago at an event in my hometown of Chicago, and Mr. Higginbotham signed and autographed his book to me stating; “Keep fighting for justice!” Also, my earlier personal involvement in a whistleblower and retaliation case.