By Eric Martin

Reviewed by Pennell Paugh

August 18, 2024 (San Diego) -- Erik Christopher Martin lives and writes in San Diego, California. In The Case of the Greensboro Gremlins: Dotty Morgan Supernatural Sleuth Blook Three, Gremlins and fashion don’t mix!

Summer vacation before seventh grade Dotty is expanding and her girlfriend, Hannah, is getting taller. Hannah fights in a wrestling championship and is hired in a fashion show to model Parker’s clothes. He’s Dotty’s best friend.

Parker, is competing in a young designer fashion show in Greensboro, the prelude to Fashion Week. After a series of accidents plague the rehearsals, Parker hires Dotty to investigate. Her sleuthing reveals gremlins are behind the mishaps. Worse, someone put them in the theater on purpose. Sabotage!

Court finds City Council should have allowed citizens to vote on ballot initiative before approving project

By Mike Allen

Photo: Fanita Ranch site, courtesy of Preserve Wild Santee

August 15, 2024 (Santee) -- Santee’s Fanita Ranch project, which would put about 3,000 new homes into the northwest quarter of the city, was dealt another set back last week when a Superior Court judge ruled that the City Council didn’t follow its own rules regarding new development.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Mayor Racquel Vasquez,Councilmember Liana LeBaron, and Councilmember Alysson Snow

August 15, 2024 (Lemon Grove) – Lemon Grove Mayor Racquel Vasquez will face two elected officials as challengers in her quest to win reelection in November: Councilmembers Alysson Snow and Liana LeBaron.  The city, which is smaller than other East County incorporated communities, faces greater challenges in addressing issues such as homelessness, housing, and infrastructure including road repairs and storm drains that caused recent flood damage.

Here are highlights of each candidate's background and stances on key issues.

Photo via CalFire: Border 47 fire was started by migrants, possibly seeking rescue in a remote location near the border, according to Cal Fire.  The blaze charred 50 acres. 

August 13, 2024 (San Diego) – The vast majority of California’s wildfires are caused by humans, as Cal Matters recently reported. Vehicles and lawn equipment are the most common culprits in accidental fires, while a few have natural causes from lightning. 

But along the international border, campfires lit by migrants and fires set by smugglers have sparked numerous recent blazes -- also igniting public safety concerns.

After a surge in border fires in May, Amy Reichert, chairwoman of Restore San Diego, obtained public records from CalFire from May 1 through June 1. .Reichert claimed that  of the eight fires along the border May 1-June 1, seven were tied to illegal border crossers, with one of undetermined cause, since it started in Mexico. 

ECM fact-checked that claim and found it largely accurate, with migrant fires the most likely cause of six fires, shooting the most likely cause in one fire despite a campfire nearby, and the Mexico fire of undetermined cause.

Edited by Kimberly Lee and Kate Manning

Reviewed by Pennell Paugh

August 11, 2024 (San Diego) -- Published by San Diego Writers, Ink, The 17^th Volume Anthology: A Year In Ink, is an anthology of the creative work of San Diegans. In the 2024 version, 281 entries were submitted from all genres.

Of those, 46 pieces were selected to be in this year's anthology (23 poetry and 23 prose). Submissions include short stories, novel and memoir excerpts, creative nonfiction, satire, flash fiction/nonfiction, and poetry.

 By Shiloh Ireland

August 10,2024 (Lakeside) -- The annual Vaqueros Run rumbled down Maine Avenue in Lakeside on August 1st. El Capitan High School football team, a Grossmont Union district school, marched down Maine Avenue with their football team and cheerleaders while Maine Avenue was lined with fans. The small-town spirit was alive and the marching band complimented the atmosphere.

By Branda Gorgies

Photos from Creative Commons, Pew Research Center

Who is Gen Z?

August 9, 2024 (San Diego) -- Generation Z, also known as Zoomers, includes all those born from 1997 to 2012, making the older end of the generation 27 years old this year and the younger end 12 years old. Before Gen Z, there were the Millennials(1981-‘96), and then Gen X(1965-‘80), the infamous Boomers(1946-’64), and the Silent generation(1928-‘45).

Generational divides have long been used as a way to categorize age in order to study demographics. Age and experiences are key factors in moral, political, and economic interests. By grouping people up by the year they were born, researchers can gain a good understanding of the difference that age creates. It also becomes easier to study the effects of environment and socioeconomic events on the development of those interests. It’s important to note that while there isn’t a concrete difference between those born in December of 1996 and those born in January of 1997, the sole use of generational divides is to work as a tool that makes research easier.

By Rachel Williams

August 8, 2024 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon’s City Council unanimously voted  on Tuesday  to put a 1/2 cent sales tax extension on the November 5 ballot. If approved by voters, the measure would continue a half-cent tax that is set to otherwise expire.  The tax has generated more than $13 million annually for El Cajon’s General Fund, and at least 75% of these funds support the City’s public safety operations.

If voters choose to pass Measure J, continuing this sales tax, significant budget cuts would be avoided, including but not limited to these essential services below:

• Firefighters and paramedics
• Police Officers
• Street Maintenance (pothole repair and repaving)
• Stormwater and sewage

When comparing El Cajon to other San Diego County cities, the Valley of Opportunity receives a smaller percentage of its property tax, which isn’t enough to sustain the community’s needs.

Don't like your new pet? "We'll take her or him or them back," assures East County Magazine the Director of Public Relations at the San Diego Humane Society (ECM) (official)

By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

August 7, 2024 (San Diego) --When the County broke ground last month on its seventh Crisis Stabilization Unit in El Cajon—a place to give people in the midst of crisis a calm place to recover—it wasn’t just a boon for behavioral health. It was also a boost for the environment, sustainability and thwarting climate change in San Diego County.

That’s because when the building opens next year it will be the County’s 68th to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED environmental standards. LEED stands for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.”

It will also be the County’s 11th “Zero Net Energy” building, meaning it will produce more electrical energy than it uses—thanks to solar rooftop panels, ample use of natural lighting, air circulation and other green amenities.

By Miriam Raftery

August 6, 2024 (San Diego) – The U.S. State Department has issued a level 4 advisory urging Americans not to travel to Lebanon, and for Americans in Southern Lebanon, near the Syrian borders, or in refugee settlements to immediately depart. Those who do not leave should be prepared to shelter in place for a prolonged period, due to escalating military actions between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Following Hezbollah strikes in Israel, Israel launched an airstrike that killed Hezbollah leader Fuad Shukr in Beirut. Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate. Hours later, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed by a bomb in Tehran, Iran. Iran has blamed Israel and has threatened to attack Israel in response, though Israel has not confirmed nor denied responsibility for the Iranian death.

Any attacks on Israel are expected may trigger a wider military response by Israel. Today, Israeli fighter jets reportedly flew low over Beirut,  producing sonic booms that scattered frightened residents, according to Reuters.

For travelers and foreign nationals in Beirut, fleeing is becoming more difficult. Insurance companies have raised premiums due to unrest in the region, prompting Air France, Lufthansa and other European airlines to halt flights into Beirut, NPR reported yesterday. Middle East Airlines is still flying, but there are not enough planes to accommodate all who seek to leave.

August 5, 2024 (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.

• US and Russia complete biggest prisoner swap in post-Soviet history, freeing Gershkovich and Whelan
• 4 revelations raising heat on Secret Service after Trump shooting (The Hill)
• Kamala Harris was less than 20 ft from pipe bomb during Jan 6 attack, new Homeland Security report reveals (UK Independent)
• Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigns  (CNN)
• Historic flood of cash pours into Harris campaign and allied groups  (Washington Post)
• Simone Biles becomes most decorated American gymnast in history of the Olympic Games( Today)
• US allies grapple with J.D. Vance (Politico)
• Largest housing provider for migrant children engaged in pervasive sexual abuse, US says (AP)
• As cartels take a stake in ‘green gold,’ US and Mexico rethink how avocados reach American kitchens (Apple News)
• Takeaways from the scathing appeals court ruling denying immunity to Donald Trump (CNN)

WORLD

• Ukraine confirms F-16s have arrived in country as Zelensky heralds 'new chapter' in fight against Russia (CNN)
• Israel believes Hezbollah senior commander killed in Beirut strike, Israeli media report says Reuters)
• Hamas leader was killed in Iran by bomb planted months before blast, source says (CNN)
• Sudan says it conditionally accepts invitation to U.S.-sponsored peace talks  (Reuters)
• Erdogan says Turkey might enter Israel to help Palestinians  (Reuters)
• France investigates death threats sent to Israeli athletes (Reuters)
• Vandalism hits communication lines in France during Paris Olympics (AP) 
• Explainer: What is happening with Venezuela's contested election?  (Reuters)

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