By Miriam Raftery

February 23, 2018 (San Diego) – Few family trees are without some bad apples.  But should the actions of an ancestor you never met haunt you if you decide to seek public office?

Ammar Campa-Najjar was born in America to a Catholic mother of Mexican descent and a Palestinian Muslim father. Now a Democratic candidate for Congress running for Rep. Duncan D. Hunter’s seat, his platform includes calling for a lasting peace in the Middle East that respects both Israelis and Palestinians.  

This week, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz ran a story headlined, Grandson of Munich Massacre Terrorist is Running For Congress – Sounding a Peaceful Tone on Israel. The story claims that Campa-Najjar’s grandfather was in the terrorist organization Black September that was responsible for killing Israeli Olympic competitors in Munich, and was later killed by Israeli security forces.

The newspaper also acknowledges that Campa-Najjar has rejected violence and won endorsements from San Diego rabbis,“winning praise from members of the local Jewish community for his moderate positions on the Israeli-Palestinian issue.”

February is Career Technical Education Month

East County News Service

February 22, 2018 (El Cajon) -- Automotive students in teacher Jordie Lehr’s classes at Grossmont High School were treated to a fun experience as part of Career Technical Education Month. On Wednesday, February 21, La Mesa Police Chief Walt Vasquez, Captain Matt Nicholass, and Officer Dan Paugh brought the La Mesa Police Department’s 2016 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C7 onto campus for the day.

East County News Service

February 22, 2018 (Valley Center) – Like the mythical hydra monster that grows new heads and refuses to die, a revived Environmental Impact Report (EIR) of the proposed and highly controversial Lilac Hills mixed use project in Valley Center has been submitted to the County and is now available for public review starting today. You can view it here:  https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/pds/ceqa/LHR_Recirculation_2.html

February 22, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Alzheimer’s disease is completely reversed by removing just one enzyme in new study (Newsweek)
• Glasses give the color blind the red and blue they’ve never seen (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• More U.S. babies dying of suffocation, often in bed (Reuters)
• WHO warns of soaring rates of measles in Europe (BBC)
• Ovarian cancer: persistent tummy bloating can be sign, charity warns (BBC)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• Get ready for the era of hypersonic flight – at five times the speed of sound (Los Angeles Times)
• Meet the scientists running to transform Congress in 2018 (Science)
• Fishermen are harvesting more than half of world’s oceans (Science)
• SpaceX gets U.S. regulator to back satellite internet plan (Reuters)

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

East County News Service

February 22, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – Last month, Congresswoman Susan Davis volunteered to participate in the annual “We All County” homeless survey in East County.  In this photo, she is shown listening to Jesse, a homeless man who told his story to his representative.

February 22, 2018 (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 news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views.  Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Trump signals shift on guns (The Hill)
• Students protest gun violence outside the White House (The Hill)
• “Additional criminal conduct” unearthed against Manafort, special counsel alleges (CBS)
• Prosecutors level new claim of bank fraud against Manafort(Politico)
• Russia investigation leads to charges against lawyer linked to Trump's former campaign aides (Los Angeles Times)
• Fed officials see stronger growth and reason to raise rates (CBS)
• Pence could be next president and he was hand-picked by Manafort (Newsweek)
• ‘We would literally not survive’; how Trump’s plan for the social safety net would affect America’s poorest (Washington Post)
• Billy Graham, 99, dies; pastor filled stadiums and counseled presidents (NY Times)
• The second amendment was ratified to preserve slavery (RawStory)
• Donald Trump, a Playboy model, and a system for concealing infidelity(New Yorker)
• House Republicans just voted to eliminate the only federal agency that makes sure voting machines can’t be hacked (The Nation)

WORLD

• Before Russia’s ‘troll farm’ turned to U.S., it had a more domestic purpose (Christian Science Monitor)
• IDF cyber warriors thwart major ISIS aviation terror attack (JPost)
• Jokhang Temple: fire engulfs ancient heart of Tibetan Buddhism (Guardian)
• Nigeria’s Boko Haram crisis: More than 100 school girls missing after attack (BBC)

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

By Miriam Raftery

February 22, 2018 (Ramona) – You’re invited to meet artists, art teachers, furniture artisans and celebrate the life of the late, great artist Helen Petre  on Friday, March 2 from 6-8 p.m. at the 2Create Gallery, 438 Main Street in Ramona.  The event is the first of a series of “First Friday” art events that the gallery plans to host, each featuring art, music and refreshments.

Helen Petre was a colorful and acclaimed artist who lived in Julian and continued creating works of art well into her nineties. Known for her stylish hats and fashionable clothing that she designed herself, during her long and productive life she became a prolific artist excelling in collage, monoprinting, mixed media and bookarts. 

Source: San Diego Sheriff

February 21, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- Due to this week's winter storm, there is the possibility of snowfall in San Diego County Mountain areas including Julian, Pine Valley and Descanso.

For those planning to head out to the mountains, the Sheriff's Department wants to remind you to be prepared. Be sure to check road conditions before heading out. Have a full tank of gas, water and food supplies in case you are stranded in traffic since this region is known for “snow jams.”

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

Photo: Sunrise Powerlink high voltage lines in Lakeside, by Billy Ortiz

February 21, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) president Michael Picker has suggested that utilities be allowed to charge residents in high-fire risk areas higher rates for electricity.  The reason would be to cover costs of upgrades to prevent power lines from causing wildfires, including changes to meet tougher new fire safety rules approved by the CPUC in December, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. 

Picker’s proposal, made during a meeting on fire safety for utilities on January 31^st, has sparked outraged responses among East County residents, planners, and County Supervisor Dianne Jacob.

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

February 21, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) --This week’s Destination East County includes Seussical, the Musical in Spring Valley’s Encore Theatre, Hawk Watch in Ramona, the Boots Ball in Borrego Springs, Gregory Page at Mission Trails, and the St. Patrick’s Day Half Marathon in El Cajon.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions, including a First Fridays art show at 2Create Gallery in Ramona, the Laguna Mountain Rendezvous, Circle of Art in Borrego Springs, Tomatomania at the Garden, the Alaskan String Band at Kroc Center, the Bunny Train at the Campo Depot, Spring Extravaganza at Santee Lakes, Spring Harp Fest in La Mesa and a night of Laurel and Hardy comedy films in Spring Valley, all in March.

April’s events include Julian Gold Rush Days, Julian Family Fiddle Camp, Sweet Pea Days and an antique show at Summers Past Farms in Flinn Springs, Heritage of the Americas Museum’s 25^th anniversary party, the season opening of Cajon Classic Cruises in El Cajon, and Musical Journeys, a spring concert presented by the San Diego Festival and Chorus.

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

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

February 20, 2018 (San Diego) – Earthquake warning systems have been proven effective in Japan, Taiwan and Mexico, where residents received warnings ranging from a few seconds to a minute before major earthquakes struck. 

Even a short warning can be enough to save lives at hospitals, airports, power plants, schools and other locations.