Memorial services in San Diego April 27 and May 1

East County News Service

April 27, 2018 (La Mesa) --- Gladys Palast (1921-2018), a beloved mother, former La Mesa resident, progressive activist and military veteran, passed away Friday at age 96 in Kaiser Permanente Hospital.  A life-long activist for union, education and civil rights, she is survived by her son, journalist, author and film producer Greg Palast and her daughter, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor Geri Palast. 

Gladys Palast was a union activist with SEIU and the San Diego Teachers Union.  Until the age of 80, she was also a school teacher in Los Angeles then San Diego.  She and her late husband, Gil Palast, were cofounders of the La Mesa Democratic Club and Activist San Diego, owner of KNSJ radio.

The first woman to enlist in the Coast Guard during World War II, she will be interred with full military honors at Miramar National Military Cemetery, 5795 Nobel Drive, San Diego, CA 92122 today at 11 a.m. along with the ashes of her late husband, Gil Palast. A celebration of her life will follow at 1 p.m. in the rec room at 6780 Mission Gorge Road in San Diego, where friends are invited to bring memories, stories and songs to share.

Seahawks take Penny with 27^th pick of first round

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

April 26, 2018 (Arlington, Texas) - San Diego State running back Rashaad Penny was selected in the first round of the 2018 National Football League Draft on Thursday night by the Seattle Seahawks. Penny, who finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting in his final season in 2017, is SDSU’s first player taken in the first round of the NFL Draft since Kyle Turley in 1998 and ninth first-round pick in program history.

Proposed stadium allows for expansion to attract NFL team

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photos courtesy SDSU Athletics

April 26, 2018 (San Diego) - San Diego State University revealed today additional details regarding a plan for a multi-use stadium in Mission Valley that could serve as a future home of a San Diego National Football League franchise.

By Miriam Raftery

April 26, 2018 (El Cajon) – Flyers posted and distributed anonymously at a career expo at Cuyamaca College this week took aim at Cajon Valley Union School District trustee Jim Miller.  

The expo was co-sponsored by America's Job Center of Cailfornia and the East County Career Center. Over 50 employees were there to recruit employees for a wide variety of jobs including in healthcare, childcare, education, municipalities, county agencies, public utilities, nursing homes, nonprofits, law enforcement, gaming, landscaping, local legislators, San Diego's radio stations and more.

“As you know, the school district that you choose to work in will have an enormous impact on your classroom, your income, your career, your future, and the pride that comes with being associated with a good school district,” the flyer advises attendees, adding, “Due to the recent antics of one of the members of the Cajon Valley Union School Board, I feel obligated to give you a little background on the actions of this particular ‘loose cannon,’ named Jim Miller. We are also including a listing of other, nearby school districts, that you may consider while you make important decision.

By Kathy Carpenter

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

April 25, 2018 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa City Council on Tuesday night gave a unanimous thumbs down, turning its back on an earlier La Mesa Planning Commission conditional use permit approval of a marijuana dispensary in the La Mesa Medical Plaza near 70th and El Cajon.

April 25, 2018 (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

• Gillespie Field advisory board chairman has airport-related financial interests (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Art in the alley: murals liven up Lemon Grove businesses (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Local program gives much needed help to homeless (CBS 8)
• Daughter of former Lemon Grove mayor gets 4 years in prison for role in fentanyl ring (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• San Diego County’s campaign finance data is hard to search. We’re here to help. (inewssource)
• County sues pension board for refusing to implement reduced benefits for new employees (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• SDPD May Not Be Following State Law on License Plate Readers (Voice of San Diego)
• Democrat [Butner] Claimed Independent Status in Election Filings, but Records Show He Was a Republican (Intercept)
• Alpine names honorary mayor: Alpine Sun publisher Tschida (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Jimmie Johnson has long career ahead to sell to sponsors (KNSD)

STATE

• Where candidates for California governor stand on universal healthcare (Sacramento Bee)
• Bid to repeal rent control limits in California could be headed to ballot (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Groups claim thousands improperly removed from CA voting rolls (Public News Service)
• As lieutenant governor, Gavin Newsom has had few duties — and he skipped many of them (Los Angeles Times)

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

April 25, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• FDA 'blitz' aimed at reducing youths' use of Juul, other e-cigarettes (CNN)
• Marijuana-derived drug for epilepsy gets FDA committee recommendation (CNN)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• Electrical defects cause Priuses to stall: Toyota may be bracing for a legal fight as safety worries grow (Los Angeles Times)
• Why are tens of thousands of Americans still driving around with explosive devices in their cars? (Washington Post)
• This Start-Up Says It Wants to Fight Poverty. A Food Stamp Giant Is Blocking It. (NY Times)
• AT&T and Verizon are under federal investigation for potential collusion (San Diego Union-Tribune)

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

By Tom Christensen, County of San Diego Communications Office

April 25, 2018 (San Diego) - Two studies released today show an increasing economic and physical toll of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia on San Diego County families and the region’s health care economy.

The pair of studies, produced by the County’s Health and Human Services Agency, say the San Diego County region can expect the cost to provide care for those suffering and the number of caregivers needed will both balloon by 2030.

By Miriam Raftery

April 24, 2018 (La Mesa) — Looking for trees, shrubs, bedding plants, veggies, herbs, cacti or succulents? How about tools, accessories, pots and garden books?

 La Mesa Beautiful will host its 38^th annual plant sale on Saturday, May 5^th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, May 6^th from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 4816 Glen Street in La Mesa.

East County News Service

April 24, 2018 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is proud to announce the honorees for its 2018 Healthcare Heroes awards. GHD officials said the recipients are volunteers of all ages and walks of life who serve in health care in San Diego’s East Region community.

This year’s honorees include a family practice physician who helps those not able to afford health insurance, two volunteers who provide one-on-one comfort following crisis events, a 23-year-old who spends part of her weekends in a hospital emergency room, a couple who drives people to their cancer treatments and a non-profit board member who has volunteered for the past 20 years.

“The purpose of the Healthcare Heroes Awards is to recognize volunteers whose unsung work in healthcare might not otherwise be celebrated,” said Michael Emerson, GHD board president. “We are proud to recognize the 2018 winners and their inspiring commitment to caring for others.”

Here are the heartwarming stories of this year’s winners:

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Story and photos by Liz Alper

Cover photo:  Helix sophomore Thomas Caneday posted nine complete innings while giving up just four hits and no runs in the shutout win for the Highlanders.

April 24, 2018 (Lakeside) - El Capitan and Helix baseball have produced some outstanding college and MLB recruits and today, we got to see both programs in action at Hostetler Field on the campus of El Capitan High.  The Vaqueros, however, have had a rocky season, going 6-11, but the positive takeaway is that they are .500 (2-2) in the Grossmont League coming into today’s game.  The Highlanders have a decent overall record (12-7), but are strangely winless in league play, going 0-2.  Sophomore Thomas Caneday got the start today for Helix against senior Blake Peyton for El Cap.