By Miriam Raftery (a parody based on the poem by Clement Clark Moore)

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through East County

Not a creature was stirring, from Borrego to El Monte.

Hiking boots were hung by chimneys with care

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

From Barona to Ramona, Jacumba to Jamul

East County residents this 2021 Yule

Celebrate the season with favorite dishes

And send Santa Claus these holiday wishes:

December 23, 2021 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• FDA authorizes first antiviral pill for COVID-19 (NPR) 
• Omicron is now the dominant COVID strain in the U.S., making up 73% of new infections : Coronavirus Updates  (NPR)
• Fauci warns some at-home tests may not detect Omicron variant as Covid cases spike across US (UK Independent)
• Vaccine protection vs. omicron infection may drop to 30% but does cut severe disease (NPR)
• Federal appeals court reinstates Biden COVID-19 vaccine-or-testing mandate for large employers (USA Today)
• COVID can lead to lasting harm to the brain, scientists find (NPR) 
• A tantalizing clue to why omicron is spreading so quickly (NPR)  
• Study shows dramatic decline in effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines (Los Angeles Times)
• Supreme Court upholds New York's vaccine mandate for health care workers  (NPR)
• Judge Overturns Purdue Pharma’s Opioids Settlement (NY Times)
• F.D.A. Will Permanently Allow Abortion Pills by Mail (New York Times)
• Dogs get cancer, too. This San Diego biotech is trying to catch canine tumors earlier (San Diego Union-Tribune)

SCIENCE AND TECH

• France orders Clearview AI to delete the selfie data it gathered (DIY Photography)
• ICO issues £17 million fine to facial recognition firm Clearview AI - and orders cessation of processing personal data (Lexology)

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

By Miriam Raftery

December 15, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – Several local venues are planning New Year’s Eve parties on December 31^st including Viejas Casino and Resort with a signature ball drop and fireworks, Jamul Casino with a rocking party atop the new Rooftop venue, Courtyard Marriott in El Cajon with dancing at a benefit to help children with cancer, dance bands and more at Pala Casino, plus fishing at Lake Jennings beneath the light of a full moon on New Year’s night, January 1, 2022.

UPDATE:  Men's basketball game against San Diego Christian CANCELED

Source:  goaztecs.com

Video courtesy goaztecs.com

December 23, 2021 (San Diego) - Four Aztecs scored in double figures led by Nathan Mensah's career-high 19 points as the San Diego State men's basketball team cruised to a 78-57 victory over the UC San Diego Tritons 78-57 on Wednesday night at Viejas Arena.

By Miriam Raftery

December 21, 2021 (San Diego) – If you’re traveling this week, be sure to allow extra time and drive with caution. Heavy rain is forecast for Thursday night and Friday, Christmas Eve, the National Weather Service predicts. Cool weather and lighter showers are expected to continue through the holiday weekend into next week.

The Aztecs held the Buckeyes 21 points under their season average

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

December 21, 2021 (San Diego) - The Aztec women’s basketball team (6-5) fell to No. 24 Ohio State (9-2) 66-54 Tuesday afternoon inside Viejas Arena.

The Buckeyes entered the game top five in the nation in points per game and the Aztecs held them 21 points below their season average.

East County News Service

December 20, 2021 (Deerhorn Valley) – Tanner Valladares shared these photos he took of a bobcat on December 19 in Deerhorn Valley.  The photos were taken with a Samsung s21 Ultra at about 10x zoom.  

“The cat was about 75 yards off our back porch,” he says.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Scott Lagace

December 20, 2021 (Santee) – A fire in an upstairs apartment in Santee on Sunday morning displaced eight residents. 

East County News Service

December 19, 2021 (Running Springs) – Numerous enhancements at Snow Valley Mountain Resort await skiers and snowboarders for the 2021-2022 Winter Season in the San Bernardino Mountains. Improvements at Southern California’s longest continuously operating ski area include a new 100-foot moving carpet lift in the Children's Learning Center; expanded snowmaking for the Snow Play sledding area; and new Head rental equipment.

These and other improvements come on top of Snow Valley’s $8 Million investment over the past four winter seasons, including opening Southern California’s only six-person high-speed chairlift, expanded snowmaking,  increased access to legendary Slide Peak, a faster equipment rental process, 100% expansion of Snow Play/sledding lanes, and new alfresco drinking and dining options.

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

December 17, 2021 (Phoenix) - Senior guard Trey Pulliam was one of three Aztecs in double figures and for the eighth time in 10 games San Diego State's men's basketball team limited its opponent to under 40 percent shooting in a 63-53 victory over the Saint Mary's Gaels at the Footprint Center.

Sophia Ramos led the Aztecs with 20 points

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

December 17, 2021 (San Diego) - The Aztec women’s basketball team (6-4) edged out UC San Diego (3-6) 65-57 Friday evening inside Viejas Arena.

SDSU was led by Sophia Ramos and Asia Avinger who combined for 35 points and 17 rebounds. Ramos had 20 points, her 17^th career game with at least 20, on 7-for-14 shooting and collected eight rebounds. Avinger had 15 points and a career-high nine rebounds.

For an analysis of the new state legislative districts, see https://sdrostra.com/new-congressional-and-state-legislative-districts-a....

By Miriam Raftery

December 17, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – Effective immediately, some East County residents now have a different County Supervisor.  On December 15, the San Diego County Redistricting Commission presented its final redistricting maps to the County Clerk, outlining supervisorial district boundaries for the next ten years.

The biggest change impacting East County is shifting several communities out of District 2, represented by Joel Anderson, into district 4, represented by Nathan Fletcher, the current chair of the County Board of Supervisors. Areas shifted into Fletcher’s district include La Mesa, Lemon Grove, Rancho San Diego, Mount Helix, and parts of Spring Valley. Fletcher’s new district  also includes unincorporated areas of the city of San Diego, while he loses coastal areas including La Jolla.

The commission made one last-minute change to keep the city of El Cajon in District 2, after earlier proposing to move it into District 4. However some Chaldeans have objected to splitting their community between Districts 2 and 4, threatening legal action.

East County News Service

December 17, 2021 (Lemon Grove) – Lemon Grove residents are invited to a drive-through food distribution on Saturday, December 18 from 9 a.m. for as long as supplies last at the Lemon Grove Recreation Center, 3131 School Lane. The Deputy Sheriff’s Association will also be on hand to pass out stockings for children (children must be in the car to receive a stocking).

Be sure your trunk is clear so food can be loaded and stay in the car; no walkups allowed.  The first 200 vehicles to arrive will be served and must show proof of Lemon Grove residency.

By Miriam Raftery

December 16, 2021 (Spring Valley) – A 39-year-old man surrendered to Sheriff’s deputies at 2 a.m. after barricading himself inside a home near Avocado Street and Bancroft Drive in Spring Valley.