By Miriam Raftery

September 16, 2016 (La Mesa) - The La Mesa First United Methodist Church will host a public forum for Mesa City Council candidates and important ballot initiatives.  The forum will be held on September 28^th, with a candidates’ meet and greet at 6:30 and the forum beginning at 7 p.m.

By Miriam Raftery

August 30, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes a living history pageant on Mt. Laguna, the Barona Powwow, a grape stomp festival in Julian, Stockzilla at Santee Lakes and more.

 Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including musical festivals in Santee and Julian, the Sycuan Powwow, a chili cook-off in Alpine, Julian’s Apple Days, and La Mesa’s expanded Oktoberfest.

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

East County News Service

August 31, 2016 (La Mesa) - The Grossmont Symphony Orchestra and Grossmont Master Chorale, under the direction of Randall Tweed, opens its fall season with a 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, performance at St. John of the Cross Catholic Church at 8175 Lemon Grove Way in Lemon Grove, and a 2 p.m. performance Sunday, Sept. 18 at All Saints Episcopal Church, 625 Pennsylvania Ave. in San Diego.

Conservation groups call on the state of California to use new agreement as a launching point for on-the-ground projects

Source: Audobon Society press release

August 31, 2016 (Salton Sea) -- A coalition of conservation groups– Defenders of Wildlife, Audubon California, the Pacific Institute and Sierra Club -- today called on the State of California to use a new agreement with the Federal Government on the Salton Sea as a launching point for a renewed effort to get much-needed conservation projects started on the ground.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

August 30, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- There’s nothing wrong with being defensive, and providing some space!  Firefighting resources can get stretched thin this time of year as multiple brush fires break out. It’s important that homeowners do their part to mitigate the threat of wildfire by creating defensible space around their homes. .

By Liz Alper

Photo courtesy @Padres on Twitter

August 30, 2016 (Atlanta) - After a C+ series in Miami, the Padres ended August by traveling to legendary Turner Field in Atlanta to take on the Braves.  Edwin Jackson started against Braves ace Julio Teheran.

East County News Service

August 30, 2016 (San Diego's East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• FBI detects breaches in two state voter systems (Reuters)
• Obama declares land from Burt’s Bees co-founder a national monument (Sacramento Bee)
• 'The Travel Detective' Explains How Airlines Became A ‘Mafia' (NPR)
• The question no one’s asking about the Clinton Foundation (Mother Jones)
• Clinton hasn’t had a news conference since last year (Washington Post)
• New Trump campaign chief faces scrutiny over anti-Semitism, voter registration (Washington Post)
• Clinton-Trump race heats up over racial relations (CBS)
• Donald Trump’s response to his shoddy doctor’s letter? A call for Clinton to disclose more (Washington Post)

WORLD

• U.S., Russia say they are close to cooperation deal on Syria war (Washington Post)
• Columbian peace deal: FARC to announce cease fire (BBC)
• Court overturns burkini ban in French town (New York Times)
• Under New Philippine President, Hundreds Have Died In Extrajudicial Killings (NPR)

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

East County News Service

August 30, 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

• MD Anderson Center, Scripps Health announce partnership  (NBC 7)
• Judge denies injunction against vaccine law (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Housing crisis: death of California’s American dream? (Union-Tribune editorial board)
• Fact check: Will a sales tax hike relieve traffic congestion? (Voice of San Diego)
• San Diego Blood Bank Working To Comply With FDA Mandate To Test Donations For Zika (KPBS)
• Fire board member steps down (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Plans move forward for Montecito Ranch in Ramona (Ramona Sentinel)

STATE

• Utilities face new disclosure rules (San Diego)
• Major changes in California elections are on the way if Gov. Jerry Brown signs this bill (Sacramento Bee)
• New rules on small drones: what you need to know (Los Angeles Times)
• Officials at odds over government providing storage lockers for homeless (Daily Bulletin)
• Woman kidnapped, held for 18 years cannot sue U.S. over parole failures: court (Reuters)

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

East County News Service

August 30, 2016 (Jamul) — Oak boring beetles have killed thousands of oak trees across East County.  But now there is hope to save them. On October 1^st, the Lyons Valley Trading Post (17608 Lyons Valley Road in Jamul) will host a free workshop under the oak trees. Experts from U.C. Berkeley, U.C. Riverside and Cal Fire will be on hand to share the latest information including treatments that can save your trees.

East County News Service

August 30, 2016 (Santee) - Stockzilla comes to Santee Lakes on October 1st and 2nd.  All seven lakes will be stocked with 3,500 pounds of catfish.

By Chris Jennewein

Reprinted from Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Congressional candidate Doug Applegate greets a supporter. Campaign photo

August 30, 2016 (San Diego) -- A new poll released Monday by the Doug Applegate campaign shows him to be in a statistical dead heat with eight-term Republican Rep. Darrell Issa in the 49th Congressional District.

By Miriam Raftery

August 29, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – If you see a bird that looks suspiciously like a flying Fruit Loops mascot, you’re probably not imagining it.  Residents from Alpine to Jamul are reporting sightings of a tropical toucan – and the Alpine Community Network website even posted a photo with the observation, “OMG ITS REALLY A TOUCAN!”

San Diego State plays its second of four consecutive road matches at San Diego on Fri., Sept. 2 at 7 p.m.

Source: goaztecs.com press release

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

August 29, 2016 (Long Beach) - San Diego State women’s soccer was unable to overcome a three-goal deficit in the first half and fell to No. 23 Long Beach State, 3-0, on Monday night.

East County News Service

August 29, 2016 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting-edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• More and more women are now dying in childbirth, but only in America (Vox)
• FDA: All blood donations should be tested for Zika (The Hill)
• San Diego scientists find Zika may infect adult brains, too (KPBS)
• Zika remains in sperm for record six months (BBC)
• Aetna Joins Other Major Insurers in Pulling Back From Obamacare (NPR)
• People Are Happier Later in Life, Study Finds (KPBS)
• Here's what you need to know about the CEO behind the big EpiPen price hikes (CNBC)

SCIENCE

• Monsanto just made a massive mistake (Mother Jones)
• NASA just found a spacecraft that’s been missing for two years (Washington Post)

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

By Kim Cooney

August 29, 2016 (San Diego) - On August 10, 2016, Congressman Scott Peters (D-San Diego), along with city and county officials, met to discuss the issue of homelessness in San Diego.  The key question is how funding by the U.S. Department of Housing and Development (HUD) can be updated so that San Diego gets its fair share of money each year.  A recent Voice of San Diego report found that despite having the nation’s third largest homeless population, San Diego gets less than many other cities with fewer homeless people.