By Elizabeth Alper

September 9, 2015 (Julian) – Like apples?  Julian is hosting its Apple Days Festival as part of its Apple Days Celebration.  The festival will span two days, September 26 and 27, and will be held at the Menghini Winery (http://www.menghiniwinery.com/).

New public discussion series considers water, public safety, downtown redevelopment and urban issues central to city’s future ; first meeting Sept. 23

September 8, 2015 (La Mesa – La Mesa Conversations, a new civic group organized as a volunteer committee, announced a new series of public programs and social events today. The Committee’s objective is to broaden, enrich and invigorate La Mesa’s civic dialogue on issues of enduring importance to residents citywide.

September 7, 2015 (San Diego's East County)--As remnants of Hurricane Linda hit our high desert and mountain regions, a Sig Alert has been issued for State Route 78.  The highway is closed down from S-2 to Borrego Springs due to mudslides. Flash flooding is also reported on State Route 78 at Yaqui Pass.

There is also heavy rain reported in the southeast portion of the county. Reader Milt Cyphert e-mailed this message: "In Jacumba we had a brief downpour. But, the major storm was Northwest of us. Machine-gun-like lightning strikes and the subsequent thunder claps and booms rattled windows and lungs here. I can only imagine what it must have been like up there where it was happening."

Sign up to receive free East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts via e-mail at the top right side of our homepage and also receive our free weekly newsletter.  We thank the Grossmont Healthcare District for their generous sponsorship of our alerts, helping to keep you safe and informed.

September 7, 2015 (Spring Valley) – The San Miguel Fire Protection District is offering a free disaster preparedness training course for its Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Classes will be held on four Saturdays Oct. 17-Nov. 7 at the San Miguel Fire District Headquarters, 2850 Via Orange Way in Spring Valley from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

September 6, 2015 (Jacumba Hot springs) – Jacumba Hot Springs was the scene of a movie production team filming many scenes last month for the new movie “66 & Nowhere” from Soul in the Machine Pictures.

East County News Service

September 7, 2015 (Lakeside) – Residents of El Monte Valley and other community members concerned about a massive sand mining project proposed in Lakeside are invited to join a meeting convened by the Preserve El Monte Action Coalition.  The meeting will be held Thursday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. in the Lakeside Christian Church, 13739 El Monte Road in Lakeside.

The goal will be to help residents frame concerns to address them in writing to the County of San Diego.

From Dancing in the Park to Oktoberfest and Hauntfest, there’s a lot of hot happenings in El Cajon in September and October.

By Monica Zech, Public Information Officer for the City of El Cajon

EVENTS

September 7 – Labor Day - All City offices will be closed in observance.  

Nominations Now Being Accepted To Honor Women In Leadership

September 5, 2015 (El Cajon) - The East County Chamber of Commerce Annual Women in Leadership Luncheon will observe its 13^th anniversary at Mission Valley’s Town and Country Resort Hotel on Friday, October 16, 2014, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  The luncheon honors San Diego County women, recognized by their peers as exemplary leaders. Women will be honored in seven fields: Arts/Media/Culture; Business; Education/Academia; Hospitality; Government/Defense; Healthcare, and the Non-profit Sector. Nominees must be San Diego County residents and have demonstrated exemplary character, integrity and outstanding leadership, not only in their field, but in their community. This year, the keynote speaker is Mo Anderson, Co-Owner/Vice Chairman, Keller Williams Realty and author of A Joy-Filled Life – Lessons from a Tenant Farmer’s Daughter…WHO BECAME A CEO.  The cost is $70 per person.  The Town & Country Hotel is located at 500 Hotel Circle North.

East County News Service

September 4, 2015 (La Mesa) – The @Spacebar Café and Wine Bistro in La Mesa invites you to a wine tasting class featuring wines from Argentina and Chile, each paired with delicious tapas.  New World meets Old World at this event on September 13^th from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

September 4, 2015 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa Rotary Club invites you to a Comedy  Hypnosis show with Marsha Starr –where the audience members are the stars—on Friday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. in the La Mesa Community Center.  She’s performed on Broadway, in Vegas, and at the Comedy Store.

Residents' group plans meeting Sept. 30 to mobilize opposition

By Miriam Raftery

September 2, 2015 (La Mesa)—Helix Water District’s board will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, October 7 at 5 p.m. at its board room (7811 University Ave., La Mesa) to consider adopting rate hikes over the next five years.  View notice of the public hearing on proposed rate hikes.

The plan is drawing strong opposition including the Grossmont-Mount Helix Improvement Association, which is organizing a public forum on September 30 at 7 p.m. at Murdock Elementary School (4354 Conrad Drive, La Mesa).  The GMIA is also urging residents to write to Helix to register formal opposition.  The GMIA has posted a sample letter here.

Calling the five-year plan a “shock”, a letter sent to GMIA members states, “The proposed plan will permit, but not require, the District to increase rates 70% over the next five years—regardless of conditions..The character and quality of our region, as well as home values, is at stake.”

September 1, 2015 (Descanso)—A series of events are planned to honor the memory of famed saddle maker Garry McClintock including a memorial ride and barbecue on September 20^th, as well as a church service and reception September 26^th.

September 2, 2015 (Campo) -- An oak tree with a six-foot diameter and large canopy of branches crashed down onto State Route 94 in Campo yesterday, closing eastbound lanes temporarily until crews could clear away the debris.

East County Magazine's emergency alert service sent alerts via e-mail and Twitter about the lane closures.

Reader Susan Reilly senst this photo of the downed tree.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by James Fauset

September 1, 2015 (Santee) – East County Magazine extends our thanks to the Santee Solutions Coalition for hosting our “Meet the Editor” night at the Santee Library last week.

August 31, 2015 (El Cajon)--Don your Hawaiian shirt, sarong or other festive attire and join us this Saturday, September 5 from 4 to 7 p.m. at East County Magazine's Tropical Party as we celebrate summer's end and watch the sunset atop the roof of our studio building in El Cajon (1625 East Main St., just off the Greenfield exit from I-8)   Savor the flavors of the tropics:

 Tropical feast  including coconut curry &  tropical chicken from Pick Up Stix, Pina Berry Colada & Champagne Mango Cakes from Grove Pastry Shop, island-fresh pineapple from Baron’s Market.

Pacific Islanders Beer and Wine-tasting with San Pasqual Winery (award-winning wines including passionfruit!)

Live entertainment:  Reggae music by Ed Barrena & musical theater by Visionary Dance Theatre. 

Prize drawings & silent auction: Padres tickets, Italian dinner lover's basket, wine lover's basket with premium vintages, "Hairspray" musical theater tickets, pottery by Get Centered Clay, Kwai Sun studio passes (yoga, pilates, karate, fitness and more), dance lessons, beach-goers basket, Water Conservation Garden memberships, Santee Lakes fishing and pedal boat passes, Urban Jungle passes, Hawaiian wear, hand-crafted treasure chest, & more!   SPACE LIMITED: EARLY RSVP STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.