By Miriam Raftery

November 8, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – For many Americans,  this presidential election poses the most difficult choice ever.  Whoever you choose for president—even if you leave the top of the ticket blank – remember that there are many other down ticket races that matter.  Recent local elections for school board and fire board have been decided by a single vote.

I can’t tell you who to support for president.  But as a news editor,  a mother, and a long-time political observer,  I can share thoughts on factors to weigh before you cast your vote--an analysis of the pros and cons of the two major candidates and even some third party alternatives.

Aztecs close exhibition season with victory

Source: goaztecs.com press release

November 7, 2016 (San Diego) - San Diego State cruised past Cal State San Marcos on Monday night, 80-42, inside Viejas Arena. The game was the final tune-up for the Aztecs, who officially open the 2016-17 campaign on Friday.

East County News Service

Photos, left to right: Stephen Houlahan, Mason Herron, and Dustin Trotter

November 7, 2016 (Santee) — Santee City Council candidate Mason Herron has raked in $58, 246 in campaign contributions from 131 individuals, of whom only 6 live in Santee, including himself.  That’s 95% of donations coming from outside Santee.

East County News Service

November 7, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes a Veterans Day commemoration, breakfast with firefighters, Kidz Dance Kompany’s production of 1968, a Wieghorst Museum Holiday Lunch, a wine and painting gathering in La Mesa, and the Spinners live in concert at Sycuan.

Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including a Turkey Bowl in Spring Valley, Casa de Oro’s first Fall Festival, the Mother Goose Parade, Pomegranate Days at the Oasis Camel Farm in Ramona, Jesus Christ Superstar at San Diego State, breakfast with Santa in Santee, a Jingle Paws walk for pets, Lakeside’s Spirit on Maine, and a Country Christmas in Julian.

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

East County News Service

November 7, 2016 (San Diego) -- The pop rock musical Jesus Christ Superstar will be presented at San Diego State University’s Don Powell Theater on December 1-4.  Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday plus a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday.

November 7, 2016 (Lemon Grove) –Charlene McAdory, president of Thrive Lemon Grove and a long-time community activist, is running for the Lemon Grove City Council.  She reached out to us to talk about key issues in Lemon Grove.  In addition, as a past member of a citizens police oversight board in another city,  she gave us her perspective on the recent police shooting in El Cajon and the importance of oversight.

You can hear our interview, originally aired on KNSJ Radio, by clicking the  audio link: https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au... and scroll down for more information on this race.

November 7, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Nick Marinovich chaired a school bond oversight committee in the Sweetwater Union High School District, where officials were convicted for illegal pay-to-play.  He resigned his position on the Grossmont Union High School District’s Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, contending Grossmont’s committee acted like a lapdog,  not a watchdog—failing in its oversight duties.

He reached out to us to share his concerns over Measure BB,  a $128 million school bond measure.  

You can hear our interview, originally aired on KNSJ radio, by clicking the audio link: https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...  and scroll down for highlights.

Photos: Palm tree (right) heavily damaged by South American palm weevil (left); photos courtesy of the Center for Invasive Species Research at UC Riverside

By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

November 6, 2016 (San Diego) -- They’re 1 ½ to 2 inches long, jet black, with long snouts and a deadly appetite for one of Southern California’s biggest icons — palm trees.

In September, South American palm weevils were determined to have killed palm trees in San Ysidro.

East County News Service

November 6, 2016 (Jamul) – In honor of “Shop Small Business Saturday”,  a Holiday Pop-Up Market will be held on November 26 from 9 a.m.to 4 p.m. at 13910 Lyons Valley Road in Jamul.

Guests can shop for unique gifts including hand-made hats, scarves and gloves, gift baskets, jams, jellies and tamales, jewelry, fine art, poinsettias,  holiday floral arrangements and vintage collections. A fashion show will take place at 1:30p.m.  The Upper Hand Salon will offer gift certificates for manicures, pedicures, massages, cuts  and colors.

Aztecs will play in the MW Championship for a second straight season

Source: goaztecs.com press release

November 6, 2016 (Colorado Springs) - San Diego State has clinched the West Division crown of the Mountain West for the second straight year and a spot in the 2016 Mountain West Football Championship game, the league announced Sunday. The game is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 3 and will kick off at either 4:30 p.m. PT, 4:45 p.m. PT or 5 p.m. PT on either ABC, ESPN or ESPN2.

For more sports coverage, visit ECM's Sports section

Source: goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

November 5, 2016 (San Diego) - Donnel Pumphrey ran for 112 yards, Rashaad Penny added 108 yards on the ground and San Diego State beat Hawaii 55-0 on Saturday night.

By Miriam Raftery

November 5, 2016 (Ramona) – If you’re looking for an unusual way to spend Thanksgiving weekend,  stop by Pomegranate Days at the Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona.  The 6^th annual event on November 25, 26 and 27 will include camel rides,  feeding pomegranates to camels, family shows,  and a race featuring “pardoned” turkeys.

November 5, 2016 (El  Cajon)—Anonymous citizens have added commentary above and below a sign touting three conservative candidates for El Cajon City Council: Paul  Circo,  Star Bales and Bob McClellan. 

New signs cheekily note that these three candidates “did not show for debates,  did not show for a prayer vigil” (in response to a  police shooting), and “can’t spell their own name on their own signs,” a reference to a misspelling in McClellan’s name.

Update: The victim has been identified as Richard Kent Chartier. The cause of death was a penetrating gunshot wound to the abdomen. The manner of death was ruled a homicide. Chartier was a resident at the 1321 Oro Street property in unincorporated El Cajon.

 

By Miriam Raftery

November 5, 2016 (El Cajon) – Vincent Frank Peterson,42, has been arrested and will be charged with the murder of a man found with mortal wounds Friday night in unincorporated El Cajon.

Deputies were called to a home on Oro Street near Greenfield Drive after a caller to 911 reported an assault with a deadly weapon around 10 p.m. Friday.  The victim, 42, was found with injuries to his torso and died on the way to a hospital.

By Gene Carpenter and Anthony Mc Ivor

November 4, 2016 (La Mesa) -- Earlier this week, many La Mesa residents found a rude surprise in their mailboxes. It was a particularly vile attack mailer targeting La Mesa Council candidate Colin Parent.  The piece is slick, but  intellectually dishonest and shabbily written.  After three polite debates in city venues, who would use the post for such a vulgar purpose?