By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Pixabay

March 13, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Residents from Alpine to Mt. Helix have reported mail theft during the past week. In some cases, even locking mailboxes have been burglarized by determined thieves, neighbors report.

East County News Service

March 13, 2016 (La Mesa) -- The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, will host “Learn Isha Kriya Meditation,” a free guided meditation practice, from 10 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 23. The program is part of the library’s Wellness Wednesday series, normally held on the fourth Wednesday of the month.

Also featuring: Lyonhearted 5K walk/run & Green mile fun run

By Robert Gehr

March 12 - 2016 (El Cajon) -- Let the races (and games) begin!

By Liz Alper

Saturday, March 12, 2016 (La Mesa) - On Saturday night, I saw the Lamplighters Community Theatre’s production of Mack and Mabel.

East County News Service

Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

March 12, 2016 (El Cajon) – Three lawsuits have been filed against the Grossmont Union High School District over its handling of James Chatham, a former Granite Hills drama teacher accused of molesting a student, 10 News reports.

Trump supporter arrested for punching black protester in face at North Carolina rally; Trump event in Chicago shut down by protesters

By Miriam Raftery

March 12, 2016 (San Diego) — A supporter of Donald Trump has been arrested for punching a black protester in the face at a Trump rally in North Carolina, later stating, “The next time we see him, we might have to kill him,” CNN reports. John McGraw, 78, has been charged with assault, disorderly conduct and making threats.

By Donald H. Harrison

Photos by Donald H. Harrison and Leon Thompson

Reprinted with permission from San Diego Jewish World, a member of the San Diego Online News Network.

Photo:  Manuela Bump, president of the La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club, left, and honorees Kathi Anderson, Estela De Los Rios, Mimi Pollack, and Bobbi Brink.

March 12, 2016 (Spring Valley) – La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club honored four women on Saturday, March 5, for their advocacy in behalf of Syrian refugees, victims of sex trafficking, survivors of torture, and abused wild animals. Besides a certificate of appreciation and half the proceeds from the tea for them to donate to their favorite charities, the women were honored with Paul Harris Fellowships, named for one of the founders of Rotary International.

By Liz Alper

Photo credit:  San Diego Padres on Twitter

March 11, 2016 (Peoria, Az.) - The Padres’ pitching woes continued as they faced off against the Chicago White Sox today in Peoria in another day of spring training.

By Miriam Raftery

March 10, 2016 (San Diego) –Senator Bernie Sanders scored an upset victory over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the Michigan primary, shocking pollsters who had predicted Clinton would win by as much as 20 points in the delegate-rich state. Clinton won in Missisippi, however, maintaining her edge overall, for now. 

A record turn-out of 2.5 million people in Michigan helped Donald Trump win big in the Republican primary; the billionaire businessman also won Mississippi and the Hawaiian Republican caucus.Senator  Ted Kruz placed second in all three states, strengthening his position as the only Republican likely to have any chance to top Trump before the Republican nominating convention.

By Steve Lauria

March 7, 2016 (Lakeside) -- This Saturday, March 12^th, will be the 11^th annual It’s How We Live health and community fair at Lindo Lake Park in Lakeside. The event will start at 9 a.m., right after the Lakeside Unified School District’s Run For the Arts, a fundraiser for the District’s arts program.

Listen to Destination East County, also aired on KNSJ radio, by clicking the audio link.

We thank the County of San Diego for a Community Enhancement Grant supporting Destination East County.

East County News Service

March 10, 2016 (San Diego's East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes a Gatlin Brothers concert, a St. Patrick’s Day fun run, a Circle of Art Show in Borrego Springs, and live theater including Mack and Mabel, set in the silent movie era of yesteryear.

Plus we’ll have previews of coming attractions including Tomatomania for garden lovers, Lake Jennings spring carnival,  garden tours galore and the Spring HarpFest in La Mesa. So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

March 10,  2016 (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

• Luxury development approved for Julian (U-T)
• Heavily redacted memo shields notes in fatal San Diego police shooting (KPBS)
• Charity accused of improper billing (U-T)
• MTS Board Members Ask For Faster Data Security Upgrades (KPBS)
• Contractors lose appeal on 'free speech’ gifts (U-T)
• San Diego Politicians Asked To Stop Voting On Their Own Salaries (KPBS)
• Is ballot crowding at work in San Diego city council races? (KPBS)
• Southern California aerospace industry continues to lose jobs (U-T)

STATE

• Brown’s judge friend removed from CPUC case (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Motivating the state’s refugee voters (KPBS)
• My $54,000 helicopter ride (Los Angeles Times)
• California advances bills to raise smoking age, regulate vaping (Sacramento Bee)

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

AB 2757 would establish an 8-hour workday and 40-hour workweek standard for California farmworkers

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Pixabay

March 10, 2016 (Sacramento) – California State Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) announced legislation to establish equitable overtime standards for farmworkers in line with other Californians, as well as the support of former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton for the idea.

By Miriam Raftery

March 9, 2016 (Alpine) – The Alpine Union High School District(AUSD)  has turned down an offer by the Alpine Education Foundation to conduct independent testing of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) at the Alpine Elementary School campus, citing legal concerns. 

But Superintendent Bruce Cochrane suggests the door is open to a compromise to get the readings done.  “IF AEF were open to donating the necessary funds to the AUSD, the district would be open to contracting out to the firm they have recommended to do testing at AES,” the Superintendent told ECM.

“Government By the People Act”  would make Congress more responsive to needs of everyday citizens

East County News Service

March 9, 2016 (San Diego) -- During a roundtable discussion at the Copley-Price Family YMCA, Congresswoman Susan Davis (CA-53) and Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD) unveiled the Government By the People Act (H.R 20), a bold new reform that would help everyday people in San Diego and across the country fight back against wealthy and well-connected special interests.