Source: City of Santee

November 14, 2022 (Santee) -- Have a holly-jolly good time at the City of Santee’s annual Holiday Lighting Celebration on Friday, November 18 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Santee Trolley Square, located at 9884 Mission Gorge Road.

November 14, 2022 (La Mesa) -- The 7th annual La Mesa Holiday in the Village will once again be ringing in holiday cheer for everyone far and near on Saturday, December 3 from 12 to 9 p.m. The event takes place along La Mesa Blvd. between Spring Street and 4^th Street in the heart of downtown La Mesa.

La Mesa Village friends and family will have the chance to take part in free, festive fun with live music, cozy fires, craft vendors, food, holiday photo opportunities including selfies with Santa, and a kids’ area bigger than Santa’s Toy Shop.

By Miriam Raftery

November 13, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service is forecasting strong Santa Ana winds Tuesday night through Wednesday in San Diego County’s mountains and deserts, along with dry conditions and below average temperatures.

Strong winds will produce difficult driving conditions for high profile vehicles. Loose or unsecured objects may be blown away. On Wednesday, peak gusts of 40-60 miles per hour are forecast, with isolated gusts up to 70 mph in windy passes and canyons.

November 13, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Judge vacates Biden's student debt forgiveness plan  (NPR)
• Social Security recipients get 8.7% cost-of-living increase, the highest in more than 40 years (CNN)
• After clinching Senate, Dems eye the unthinkable: Holding the House (Politico)
• How Joe Biden and the Democratic Party defied midterm history (CNN)
• Election deniers lose races for key state offices in every 2020 battleground (Washington Post)
• Making history: Record 12 women form cohort, will simultaneously serve as governors in 2023  (USA Today)
• Putin-linked businessman admits to US election tampering (AP News)
• Hawaii’s big island gets warning as huge volcano rumbles (AP)
• Jan. 6 panel subpoenas Trump, demanding historic testimony (AP)
• Emails show Trump knowingly pressed false voter fraud claims, judge says (Reuters)
• The number of Venezuelan migrants attempting to get into the U.S. is soaring  (NPR)
• U.S. Supreme Court rebuffs fetal personhood appeal  (Reuters)
• Mississippi River is near record low from drought and Gulf saltwater is a threat  (NPR)

WORLD

• Ukrainians celebrate soldiers retaking Kherson, Russia's latest defeat (Reuters)
• Analysis: World has 9 years to avoid critical climate change threshold (The Hill)
• UN votes to condemn Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian regions  (Intellinews)
• UN finds Russia responsible for 'vast majority' of potential war crimes in Ukraine (Reuters)
•  Leak exposes Mexico military corruption, including collusion with drug cartels  (NPR)
• Flooding in Nigeria claims 500 lives, displaces 1.4 million  (Washington Post)
• Leaders of democracies increasingly echo Putin in authoritarian tilt (Washington Post)
• Mexico scraps daylight saving time except along border (AP)
• China Has Opened Up Secret Police Stations in These Countries (Newsweek)
• Saudis in US targeted as kingdom cracks down on dissent (AP)

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

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

November 13, 2022 (San Diego) -- Please Pass the Safety! And can you add some manners, too?

Thanksgiving signifies the beginning of the Holiday Season. Many of you are starting your Thanksgiving plans. Most will be spending more time in the kitchen preparing for the holidays.

It’s time to serve up these cooking safety tips. After all - Thanksgiving is the single worst day for residential fires!

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  some of the weapons and drugs seized

November 12, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – Harrison Lee Stone,18, was arrested Wednesday under suspicions of trafficking after SWAT teams seized large caches of guns and drugs at homes in La Mesa and San Diego, ECM news partner NBC 7 reports.

East County News Service

Photo: CC via Bing

November 12, 2022 (San Diego) -- As part of a joint investigation through the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force (SDHTTF), California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Nov. 7 announced results of “Operation Century Week.” As a result of the four-day operation, 30 individuals were arrested for alleged solicitation in San Diego, Santee, National City, Encinitas and elsewhere.

East County News Service

November 12, 2022 (Lakeside) – Deputies at the Lakeside Sheriff’s substation are investigating the shooting of a juvenile shortly before 1 a.m. on  November 6 near El Capitan High School.

Deputies found the victim near the intersection of Mapleview and Ashwood streets, suffering from a gunshot wound in the back. The victim was transported by paramedics to a hospital.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos: AUSD Trustees Glenn Dickie, Al Guerra and Eric Wray

November 11, 2022 (Alpine) –  Incumbents have solid leads in races for all three seats up for election in the Alpine Union School District and appear headed for reelection.

As of the latest returns tonight, Al Guerra has 26.10%, Board President Glenn Dickie 24.14%, and Eric Wray 23.38%.

The challengers, Erika Simmons and Darlene Cossio, have 16.99% and 9.39% respectively.  Simmons is a marketing and communications director for Goodwlil San Diego County; Cossio is director of assessment services at San Diego Unified School District.

By Suzanne Potter, California News Service

Photo: CC by NC via Bing

November 11, 2022 (Sacramento) -- Conventional wisdom said in a close election like this week's midterms, turnout is key, and a new poll from a Latino rights group found both parties might have blown it, in terms of outreach to their community.

East County News Service

November 11, 2022 (San Diego) - Starting this Veterans’ Day, members of the U.S. military, veterans and Gold Star Families can be admitted free to all national parks.

A free lifetime Military Pass is available for Gold Star Families and US military veterans. A free annual Military Pass is available for current US military members and their dependents. The passes provide free access to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including national parks, wildlife refuges, and forests.

National Park Service Director Chuck Sams says, "This is a small token of appreciation for veterans who have bravely dedicated their lives to defending our freedom.”

Source: Mount Miguel High School Foundation

November 11, 2022 (Spring Valley) – The Mount Miguel High School Foundation is having its “Holiday Craft Fair” on Saturday, December 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 8585 Blossom Lane, Spring Valley.

Tribe doubles annual donation to organizations serving veterans

November 9, 2022  (Jamul) – Today, Chair Nathan Fletcher and Supervisor Joel Anderson of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors will join Jamul Casino and the Jamul Indian Village of California Tribe to commemorate Veterans Day with the sixth annual luncheon at Jamul Casino paying tribute to the 53 members of the Tribe and Jamul Casino team who have served in the military.  The event will also feature check presentations to veterans’ organizations: Saddles in Service and Zero8hundred.