Watchdog group that won lawsuit says last-minute amendment inserted by election officials would allow 40 to 70 percent of ballots to be omitted from audits

By Miriam Raftery

September 1, 2017 (San Diego) --- Citizens' Oversight, a nonpartisan group that focuses on election integrity, announced today that it has filed written comments in opposition to CA AB-840, a bill which will make drastic changes to the one-percent manual tally of elections, which would omit 40% or more ballots from the scrutiny of this important audit process. Local Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez-Fletcher (D-San Diego) is a coauthor of the bill.

ECM asked Vu late Thursday for comments. Vu replied via email, “The amendment came through and is sponsored by the California Association of Clerks and Election Officials (CACEO) and is supported by the Secretary of State and the County."

By Miriam Raftery

August 30, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes the Julian Grape Stomp, Barona Powwow, Descanso Deep Pit Barbecue, and the Julian Arts Guild Fall Show.

Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including Oktoberfests in La Mesa and El Cajon, the Ramona Grape Stomp, Alley Cat Artwalk in El Cajon, the Sycuan Powwow, Julian Apple Festival, Apple Tea Time, the hot new dance show Bamboozled, a Twilight Tasting at the Trails, an International Day of Peace celebration in La Mesa, Julian Music Festival, a reception with artist Jack Jordan, Lakeside River Park Conservancy’s Once in a Blue Moon Gala, Laguna Mountain Rendezvous, Kids Care Fest in Lakeside, and more.

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

Grant Yourself Immunity

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

August 14, 2017 (San Diego) -- Every week it seems there’s some new virus, disease, airborne, food contamination in which we have to exercise caution around or get an immunization.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could get an immunization against the 405 freeway and stop that spread of toxic traffic! How about from rude and obnoxious people? I guess we can never rid ourselves of those.  However, vaccine-preventable diseases can be prevented if we take the time and get our immunization shots.

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

August 9, 2017 (Alpine) — “I hear you singin’ in the wire,” lyrics from “Wichita Lineman” released in 1968 by the late Glen Campbell, are words many linemen might know by heart and perhaps sang under their breath at the 17^th annual SDG&E Gas and Electric Lineman’s Rodeo held August 5^th in Alpine.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

August 7, 2017 (San Diego) -- When I was younger, I hated all the back-to-school commercials. They were a dreaded reminder that summer was over and pretty soon, I’d be back inside a hot, stuffy classroom, mourning my lost freedom.

By Joey Collado, General Manager at The Montera 

August 2, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- Over time our bodies go through more changes than we might often realize, and our everyday beauty regimens should evolve to work with these changes. As we age our hair, skin and nails have the biggest changes, with hair color fading, skin acquiring wrinkles and age spots, and nails losing some shine and strength. It’s vital to make sure our daily routines are modified to embrace and enhance our changing appearance. While aging will always involve some stress and fear, encouraging your loved one to embrace aging with some beauty tips can help them maintain their mental and physical wellness:

By Miriam Raftery

August 2, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes the Dog Days of Summer at Ramona wineries, a Sip of Julian, Cajon Classic Cruises, plus outdoor concerts in Lemon Grove, Santee and El Cajon.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including the HeART of Mt. Helix, a Star Party in Lakeside, a dive-in movie and ice skating at Kroc Center, the Chippendales at Sycuan, the Ramona Country Fair, Laurel and Hardy comedy films with Thelma Todd n Spring Valley, a Fall Art Show in Julian, the Ramona Grape Stomp, and Lakeside River Park Conservancy’s Once in a Blue Moon.

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

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

July 26, 2017 (Alpine) -- Falconry – the sport of kings, can now be the sport of East County residents and others.  Kirk Sellinger and Denise Disharoon operate an Alpine-based company called Sky Falconry that offers a basic falconry class plus a Hawk Walk.

East County News Service

July 19, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes the Jungle Book Movie at La Mesita Park,  a Museum Roadshow at Cuyamaca College,  a family hike and falconry presentation at Santa Ysabel Preserve, plus community concerts in La Mesa, Lemon Grove, El Cajon and Santee.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including Mariah Carey and Lionel Ritchie in concert at San Diego State, a murder mystery dinner theatre in Julian, Pine Valley Days, the Pomerado Jazz Quintet at Mission Trails, a Sip of Julian, the HeART of Mt. Helix, the Ramona Country Fair,  and a Laurel and Hardy film presentation in Spring Valley.

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

East County News Service

July 12, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes Cal Fire family day at Lake Morena, astronomy night on Mt. Helix, the author of “Nature Adventures” in La Mesa, and a showing of The Jungle Book in La Mesita park.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including a family hike plus falcons and hawks at Santa Ysabel Preserve, superstars Lionel Ritchie and Mariah Carey at San Diego State, a murder mystery theatre in Julian, a Pacific Coast Trail presentation, Laurel & Hardy night in Spring Valley, Pine Valley Days, Julian’s Apple Pie Grand Prix, the Heart of Mt. Helix, and Ramona’s Country Fair.

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

East County News Service

July 5, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes the Descanso Days parade and festival, a star party and family campout in Lakeside, a hike up Volcan Mountain in Julian, radical reptiles in Rancho San Diego, a falconry demonstration in Julian, a concert by Sara Petite at the Ramona Library, blues and barbecue night in Santee.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including Cal Fire family day at Lake Morena, astronomy night on Mt. Helix, a family hike plus falcons and hawks in the Santa Ysabel preserve, superstars Lionel Ritchie and Mariah Carey in concert at SDSU, a murder mystery dinner theatre in Julian, the Pine Valley Days parade and festivities, the Julian Apple Pie Grand Prix, and the Pomerado Brass Quintet in concert at Mission Trails.

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

By Miriam Raftery

July 4, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – President Donald Trump hit below the belt, in the view of professional journalists, when he tweeted a 28-second video altered to depict Trump wrestling and punching a figure with the CNN logo transposed on its head. The video also alters the CNN logo to read, “FNN: Fraud News Network.”

Hunting down the wildest jobs in San Diego’s East County

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

June 26, 2017 (La Mesa) -- “I saw Jurassic Park, I know how this ends!” said MAX 105.7 FM DJ Rob Zilla of his fellow DJ, Karen “ChaCha” Harlow.  ChaCha was sitting in a self-styled snake pit with a red-tailed boa, among other reptiles, at La Mesa’s Grossmont Center’s courtyard on Saturday, June 24^th.  It was all part of the job—for a good cause of bringing in food donations for The Jacob & Cushman San Diego Food Bank.  Thankfully, Jurassic Park’s grisly endings went unrealized.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos: BNS Brewery, Santee

June 18, 2017 (San Diego) – Already famed for producing among the best beers in the nation, San Diego now has the most craft brewing operations of any American city, according to a new report from the real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield.  America’s finest city now boasts 125 craft breweries, according to the report, which along with brew pubs popping up in urban neighborhoods are fueling the latest “cool trend” revitalizing communities.