Event includes expanded entertainment, but no parade this year
East County News Service
August 29, 2022 (Borrego Springs) – The 56th annual Borrego Days Desert Festival offers a weekend filled with activities October 22-23. The festival takes place at Christmas Circle Community Park and Palm Canyon Drive in Borrego Springs.
August 29, 2022 (Spring Valley) – The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified a man who was fatally shot on August 16 shortly before 9:30 p.m.near Jamacha Blvd. and Thayer Drive. The victim is Jorkim Rose, 32.
Photo via U.S. Department of Justice: Erik Herrera in Senate Parliamentarian’s office
August 29, 2022 (El Cajon) – Erik Herrera, 34, of El Cajon has been found guilty of felony and misdemeanor charges for his actions during the January 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection. News of his arrest and trial came as a shock to this editor, who had hired Herrera for freelance photography work locally just months before.
August 28, 2022 (Santee) -- In a first for the city of Santee, two incumbent members of the City Council were appointed to another four-year term and will avoid the November election, because no challengers in either district filed papers to challenge them.
August 28, 2022 (El Cajon) – You’re invited to Alley Cat Art Walk, a free evening event Friday, September 16 from 4 to 8 p.m. Eight art galleries, two art studios, a museum, and other local small businesses will participate, encouraging the public to discover the arts in downtown El Cajon while enjoying fine art, art demonstrations, live music, food and beverages.
Pope Francis urged new cardinals to remember “poor families, migrant and homeless persons.”
Photo: Pope Francis speaks with Cardinal Robert in St. Peter’s Basilica. Screenshot of EWTN
August 28, 2022 (San Diego) – Former San Diego Bishop Robert McElroy was inducted yesterday as the first cardinal from our region. McElroy, 68, along with 18 other new cardinals from five continents, received a scarlet skullcap, gold ring and silk hat from Pope Francis during the consistory ceremony in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
By Helen M. Ofield, Treasurer/Historian to the Board, Lemon Grove Historical Society
August 28, 2022 (Lemon Grove) -- The 44th season of "History Alive," the signature, free lecture series of the Lemon Grove Historical Society kicks off Sept. 1 at 7p.m. in the H. Lee House Cultural Center, 3205 Olive, Lemon Grove. Free parking in Treganza Heritage Park, home of the Society's buildings.
On deck will be Jesus Benayas, charismatic president of the House of Spain, Balboa Park, discussing the case of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, the first European to explore the California coast. Long thought to be Portuguese, Cabrillo is actually Spanish. Dr. Wendy Kramer broke the story after exhaustive research into 16th century Spanish archives. Benayas will display Kramer's books in English and Spanish from the Society's reading room in the H. Lee House.
August 28, 2022 (San Diego) – Days after a civil lawsuit filing accused Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza and two others of gang raping a 17-year-old girl while on the SDSU Aztecs football team last October, the Buffalo Bills have given the boot to the star punter.
“Our culture in Buffalo is more important than winning football games,” Brandon Beane, general manager for the Buffalo Bills, tweeted yesterday in announcing that Araiza has been released from the team.Araiza had been dubbed “Punt God” for the length and accuracy of his kicking.Araiza received the Ray Guy Award last November as the top punter nationwide in college football.
August 27, 2022 (San Diego) – There are no Labor Day discounts when it comes to safety. Labor Day marks the beginning of the end of summer – so for many of us it’s a chance to pack one last fun-filled weekend in, enjoying the outdoors with family and friends.
Following are some tips to make the most of Labor Day:
UPDATE AS OF 8/27: Bills have released Matt Araiza following allegations.
By Miriam Raftery
August 25, 2022 (San Diego) – Three current or former San Diego State University Aztecs football players, including one who is now a pro football player with the Buffalo Bills, are accused in a civil lawsuit of gang-raping a 17-year-old girl during an off-campus Halloween party last year.
August 27, 2022 (San Diego) – Reset, a romantic science fiction story by San Diego author Sarina Dahlan, is thought-provoking. Reset will make you cherish your life’s loves and losses—allowing them to give your life deep meaning and purpose.
White House fires back at critics who had federal loans forgiven too
By Miriam Raftery
August 27. 2022 (Washington D.C.) – If you have a federal student loan and earn less than $125,000 a year, you are eligible to have $10,000 forgiven – or $20,000 if you were a recipient of a Pell Grant awarded to help low-income students attend college.
President Joe Biden announced the plan this week, also extended a pause on student loan repayments until December 31. In addition, Biden’s plan caps future repayments at 5% of your monthly income, down from the current 10% threshold.
An application for the partial student loan forgiveness will be posted later this year; borrowers can sign up at https://www.ed.gov/subscriptions to receive updates on the federal student loans.
August 27, 2022 (San Diego) -- On August 16, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department announced a series of changes aimed at keeping deadly fentanyl and other drugs out of jails to prevent inmate deaths. The action followed a unanimous vote by County Supervisors the same day to approve funds aimed at reducing jail deaths including purchasing body scanners, staff incentives, wellness teams and access to Naloxone to save inmates who overdosed.
August 27, 2022 (Lemon Grove) – The City of Lemon Grove sent a tweet out on Aug. 25 which states, “Looking for a few talented professionals to join our team. Click here to find your fit.”
August 26, 2022 (El Cajon) - Whenever Granite Hills and Valhalla meet up, there’s always drama. And tonight was gonna be a doozy since both teams have one loss on the season and are hungry for a win. This year, they met on Norsemen turf in week two.
August 26, 2022 (El Cajon) – A San Diego woman, 23, has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol after driving the wrong way on State Route 52 that resulted in a crash, killing an El Cajon man, 49.
August 26, 2022 (Santee) -- On the road and in Santee-Yesterday I returned to my favorite Thai restaurant. When I have Thai Cuisine, it has to be authentic, fresh and delicious. Thai Thai Restaurant is located at 10251-B, Mast Blvd; Santee. Phone: 619.335.3453. Thai Thai features dine-in and carry-out, offers reservations and has reasonable prices.
What I especially enjoy, too, is the friendliness of staff and willingness to explain or recommend any dish as there are many. I love curries and their yellow, red and green is a pleasant surprise. One month ago, they added a sushi bar to their operation and it looks very popular also. Thai beer is also on the menu.
August 26, 2022 (Washington, D.C.) - The Consumer Product Safety Commission announces the following recalls are posted in cooperation with firms listed below on products ranging from coffee makers to toys, bicycle handlebars, stand-up paddleboards and a rolling chassis for utility vehicles. Recalls can be viewed at www.cpsc.gov.
August 26, 2022 (Ramona) – The San Diego Sheriff tweeted a video today seeking public help to identify suspects in a Ramona Crime. The Tweet states: Do you recognize anyone in this surveillance video? They are suspected in a burglary at a business in the 2000 block of Main Street in Ramona on August 12. If you have any information, call@SDSORamona Detective Sobczak at (760) 738-2488 or @sdcrimestoppers at (888) 580-8477.
August 24, 2022 (Pine Valley) – Victoria Casteel captured this heavenly image of the sun’s rays radiating through clouds after this evening’s storm in Pine Valley.
August 24, 2022 (La Mesa) – A fire that broke out inside Office Depot in La Mesa today caused over $1 million in damage to the building and its contents, according to Andy McKellar, public information officer for Heartland Fire & Rescue.
August 24, 2022 (La Mesa) – Good job, La Mesa drivers. A DUI checkpoint conducted by the La Mesa Police Department Saturday night of 427 vehicles found nobody driving under the influence. No arrests were made for DUI or any other criminal charges.
August 24, 2022 (Lemon Grove) – The Lemon Grove Lions Club, the nonprofit organization devoted to service and volunteering, is hosting a Cornhole Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 9 a.m. at the Lemon Grove VFW, 2885 Lemon Grove Ave, Lemon Grove.
August 23, 2022 (Fallbrook) – Jacob Daniel Oberg, 29, is under arrest after San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies found Molotov cocktails, or handheld firebombs, in his vehicle this morning.
Facility trains therapy dogs for people with epilepsy, autism, hearing impairments, physical and mental disabilities
By Henri Migala
August 23, 2022 (Jamul) -- Little Angels Service Dogs, an Assistance Dogs International (A.D.I.) accredited organization based in East County, is entering into a creative and exciting two-yearpartnership with San Diego-based Neurelis to help people suffering from epileptic seizures obtain life-changing companionship and other benefits provided by service dogs specially trained to care for people suffering from epilepsy.
Update: The suspect's last name as Al Rawi, not Al Wari. The earlier misspelling was provided by El Cajon Police based on a a translation error. Friends of his have voiced shock at his arrest and doubts about the accusations against him, calling him a good father and pillar of the Syrian community locally who has helped other refugees, 10 News reports.
By Miriam Raftery
August 22, 2022 (El Cajon) -- Abdulhannan Abdurazaq Al Rawi is under arrest for allegedly shooting and killing his wife, 37, in the bedroom of their El Cajon home at 1599 Soma Place. The couple's nine children, ages 2 to 17, were in the home at the time, according to Lieutenant Randy Soulard with EL Cajon Police.
Dilkhwaz Ahmed with License to Freedom, an El Cajon social services agency supporting refugees, posted on Facebook tonight “Please pray for these kids who lost their mom today. Out team of therapists and myself stayed with them all day to make sure they have a safe place to go. If you would like to support them, please let me know. They are refugees from Syria.”
Approx. $12.4 million will help build unit at Edgemoor Hospital
Source: Joel Anderson
Image by gyansingh13 from Pixabay
August 22, 2022 (Santee) - San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted today to accept the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP): Round 3 Launch Ready grant that will go towards building a 12-bed Acute Psychiatric Unit at the Edgemoor Hospital in Santee.
Update 6:10 p.m. -- Dozers and hand crews will work through the night to make progress on containment. The bulk of the aircraft have been sent back to their bases and only a few will be on scene tomorrow if needed. A radio report from the Incident Commander to USFS indicates fire is 175 to 200 acres.
August 22, 2022 (Pine Valley) -- The #ValleyFire has scorched over 120 acres in the Pine Valley area and is 0% contained as of 4:40 p.m. The blaze began near Pine Creek Road and Noble Canyon. Pine Creek Road is closed while firefighters battle the blaze.
The fire is spreading away from structures and there are no evacuations at this time. The terrain is steep and isolated and conditions are moderately breezy; the fire is spreading at a moderate rate in heavy brush.
ECM reporter Josh Stotler reports that multiple agencies have responded; there are at least four helicopters and five fixed wing tankers currently dropping water and retardant on the fire as hand crews are trying to cut lines to slow the spread.
New California alcohol law promotes safer service—and indicates future policies
Source: California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
Photo: CC via Bing
August 22, 2022 (Sacramento) -- On July 1, 2022, state Assembly Bill 1221 went into effect. According to this new policy, any individual in California who sells alcohol at a bar or restaurant is required to undergo a state-certified training, known as Responsible Beverage Service (RBS). The training must be completed by Aug. 31, 2022 or risk the legal and financial consequences. Provided by trainers approved through the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), RBS training teaches servers about how to serve—and when not to, as the course provides information on avoiding over service and refusing service to already-intoxicated patrons.
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
By Mike Allen
East County News Service
East County News Service
By Helen M. Ofield, Treasurer/Historian to the Board, Lemon Grove Historical Society
By Miriam Raftery 
For the Love of Labor!
UPDATE AS OF 8/27: Bills have released Matt Araiza following allegations.
Review by Pennell Paugh
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
By Ben Christopher and Sameea Kamaal, CalMatters
East County News Service
Story and photos by Liz Alper
By Miriam Raftery
On the road with the East County Eater
Source: Consumer Product Safety Commission
East County News Service
East County News Service
East County News Service
By Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
By Miriam Raftery
Facility trains therapy dogs for people with 
Approx. $12.4 million will help build unit at Edgemoor Hospital
New California alcohol law promotes safer service—and indicates future policies
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