By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Texas National Guard,  U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Zachary West

August 29, 2017 (San Diego) – Rescue personnel from the San Diego region including East County are heading to Texas, where  Hurricane Harvey, a category 4 hurricane since reclassified as a tropical storm,  has dumped the heaviest rainfall ever recorded on the U.S. mainland—50 inches or more in places.

Much of Houston, Texas is submerged beneath a swath of floodwaters 50 miles wide.  so much rain fell that the National Weather Service had to add new color coding to its maps.

At least eight people have died.  An estimated 1.7 million  have evacuated  in Texas and Louisana as the storm continues its destructive path, according to the White House website, with many people still awaiting rescue, trapped amid rising waters. Now, a levee south of Houston in Brazoria County has broken and residents in its path are ordered to get out immediately. 

By Valerie Watts

August 28, 2017 (Julian) - As the days start to shorten and the mountain air (finally) starts to get a little nippy, our thoughts drift to warm drinks and apples and then to Julian.  What better way to indulge during the season than with an apple-themed tea at the lovely Julian Tea & Cottage Arts?  From September 21 through Monday, September 25, they are offering an apple-themed menu highlighting that Julian specialty.  Tucked away a block from the busy Main Street in a historical home at 2124 Third Street, their "special-tea" features Hungarian apple soup, apple themed finger sandwiches, scones with apple butter and an apple dessert, and, of course, fine teas.  Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available with advance notice. 

By Miriam Raftery

Sources: National Weather Service and San Diego County News Center

August 28, 2017 (San Diego) -- A dangerous heat wave will continue the rest of this week across all of San Diego County, with isolated thunderstorms through Labor Day weekend also forecast, the National Weather Service advised today.  The County of San Diego also issued an alert urging residents to take precautions during the extreme heat.

By Jonathan Goetz

August 28, 2017 (Lemon Grove) - The Lemon Grove Lions Club is hosting a Salsa y Salsa Fiesta to raise money to buy new bleachers for Lemon Grove Little League.

Lemon Grove Mayor Pro-Tem Jennifer Mendoza cited safety concerns with the current bleachers . “Lemon Grove is one of the poorest communities in San Diego,” she said. “Our Little League has been here for some fifty years and is showing its age, so our Lions Club adopted it as our project.”

By Miriam Raftery

August 28, 2017 (Jamul) – The Jamul-Dulzura Community Planning Group is seeking a park in Jamul. At its last meeting, the group voted unanimously to approve a proposal by Joe Stuyvesant to ask SDG&E to donate a 3.75 parcel that it purchased from Simpson Nursery for a community park.

According to the meeting minutes, SDG&E pad $1 million for the property, but the value may have dropped to as little as $180,000, giving SDG&E a tax advantage to donate the parcel, which the County could be asked to maintain as a park for the benefit of residents. Stuyvesant offered to head a sub-committee if SDG&E will agree to the proposal.

Below is a copy of the letter sent to SDG&E:

Free opportunities include entertaining assemblies and more

East County News Service

August 28, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - As students return to class across the region, the San Diego County Water Authority is offering schools, teachers and students an array of water-themed resources, including several that are free.

Aztecs fall to 1-3 on the season

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

August 27, 2017 (San Diego) - San Diego State’s late offensive flurry came up empty in a 2-0 home loss to Long Beach State on Sunday night. The loss put the Aztecs at 1-3 on the year, while the 49ers moved to 2-1-1 with the decision.

By Vinny Lavalsiti

Originally published in the Grossmont Griffin

August 27, 2017 (El Cajon) -- It was fitting that dark, gloomy and ominous clouds hovered over Grossmont College’s campus on Thursday, Aug. 24. In response to the recent heinous acts and demonstrations committed in Charlottesville, VA, Grossmont College’s President Dr. Nabil Abu-Ghazaleh felt compelled to lead an impromptu vigil in the quad out in front of the Learning Tech Resource Center. He held a moment of silence to console any Griffin hearts that may be distraught after watching white supremacists and people affiliated with Neo-Nazism marching with guns and torches, chanting racist slogans in the streets of Charlottesville, where a woman was killed and 19 injured after a Nazi-sympathizer rammed a vehicle into a crowd of counter-protesters.

Redshirt senior Dallin Cutler scored in the 95^th minute to seal SDSU’s first win

Source: goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

August 27, 2017 (West Point, N.Y.) - The San Diego State men’s soccer team earned its first win of the season thanks to a golden goal scored by redshirt senior Dallin Cutler in the 95^th minute to break a 1-1 tie in the team’s first-ever meeting with Vermont. With the win, SDSU ends its east coast swing with a 1-1 record on the young season.

By Suzanne Potter, Public News Service

Photo credit:  NACHC

August 27, 2017 (San Diego) - If Congress doesn't act by September 30 - the nation's nearly 1,300 community health centers will lose 70 percent of their funding.

This issue will be front and center for thousands of patients, providers and advocates at the annual Community Health Institute and Expo, which starts today in San Diego. New data show that community health centers now serve 27 million mostly low-income Americans.

By Mike Allen

August 27, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- When West Hills High School in Santee replaced its artificial turf field in April, the feeling among the school’s administrators, staff and students was positive.

The old artificial football field in the school’s signature Wolf Pack blue had been wearing down, and needed upgrading, said West Hills Athletic Director Don Rutledge.

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

August 26, 2017 (La Mesa) -- Hurricane Harvey, in addition to ravaging the Texas coast, hit locally at La Mesa’s The Hills Local Pub.

“So, Louisiana Fishing Company was unable to send us crawfish for our Crawfish Boil due to Hurricane Harvey”, said the Hills’ manager, Leilani Donea.  “We got the call yesterday.” As a result, they had to cancel today’s scheduled “La Mesa’s Block Party and Crawfish Boil,” a fundraiser for the La Mesa Police Department’s PEER Support Group.

By Miriam Raftery

August 25, 2017 (Ramona) – Midway rides, crafts, critters, fair foods from funnel cakes to bacon-wrapped hotdogs,  kids activities and more are all part of the fun at the Ramona Country Fair, which continues tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.  From 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday you can also enjoy the Ramona Bluegrass Festivals on the Main Stage, plus a Gymkhana equestrian show in the arena from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  

We visited  today, arriving to the aroma of slow-cooked, barbecued meats and the sights of butter slathered corn on the cob.

By Valerie Watts

August 26, 2017 (Julian) - “Stomp the grapes.  Drink the wine.” 

The Menghini Winery is hosting the 21^st Julian Grape Stomp Festa on September 2 from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m.  The festivities are located at 1150 Julian Orchards Drive outside of Julian.  This unique event invites you to immerse yourself in the old-world Italian experience, tasting wines from ten local wineries, humming to Italian tunes by Roman Holiday, trying your hand at bocce ball, eating and shopping.  This year a falconry demonstration has been added to the list of attractions, where you can watch these regal birds “volare.”

East County News Service

August 26, 2017 (Rancho San Diego) - Leaders of the thriving Chaldean community in San Diego’s East County will be on hand for a special Chaldean Culture & Traditions celebration at Cuyamaca College on Monday, Aug. 28.