East County News Service

January 14, 2019  (Jamul) – The highly anticipated 2019 Restaurant Week will feature two Jamul Casino^® restaurants: Prime Cut and Tony Gwynn’s.  Sponsored by the California Restaurant Association’s San Diego Chapter, San Diego Restaurant Week is January 20-27, 2019.  Over 180 restaurants will participate in the event.  As an opportunity to highlight their tastiest fare, many restaurants will offer prix fixe lunch and dinner menus especially for the event.

East County News Service

January 14, 2019 (El Cajon) -- The City of El Cajon announced today  that it now accepts passport applications on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. 

U.S. citizens planning international travel may apply for their passports at the City Clerk’s Office by appointment.

East County News Service

January 14, 2019 (San Diego) - Yuko Maruyama, pianist-composer-arranger, will perform jazz compositions from her CD albums as well as her uniquely modern interpretations of favorite American classics from the 1940’s Big Band era with the Mercantile Alley Band – piano, bass drums, accordion, percussion, vocals. This free concert will be held on February 10 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Mission Trails Church, 4880 Zion Avenue.

Damian German also signed a homegrown contract with Real Salt Lake

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

January 14, 2019 (San Diego) - San Diego State defender Aleks Berkolds (Northridge, Calif.) was selected in the third round (68^th overall) by the Seattle Sounders in the MLS SuperDraft Monday morning.

“It feels amazing to have this opportunity with such a great club, and also knowing that all the sacrifice I put into this sport is paying off,” Berkolds said. “I’m going to work hard every day to show what I have to offer.”

Source:  San Diego Seals

Photo courtesy sealslax.com

January 13, 2019 (San Diego) - The San Diego Seals won their first home game in franchise history on Saturday night in front of 11,323 fans at Pechanga Arena San Diego.

“We knew that we had a special feeling in that room and we were so anxious to share it with that electric crowd out there and the city of San Diego,” said general manager and head coach Patrick Merrill. “Starting the first three games on the road, we were so anxious to get back here and I’m so proud that we were able to come out with a win tonight.”

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

January 12, 2019 (Colorado Springs, Colo.) - AJ Walker scored 19 points and Air Force closed with a 14-4 run to defeat San Diego State 62-48 on Saturday.

Ryan Swan had 15 points and 15 rebounds for the Falcons (6-10, 1/3 Mountain West) and Lavelle Scottie added 16 points with 11 rebounds.

By Suzanne Potter, Public News Service 

Council also discussed revising code governing citizens’ conduct during public comments and reaffirmed fine against landlord over illegal dispensary

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

January 11, 2019 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved new regulations regarding the increasingly popular use of dockless vehicles (scooters, bicycles, skateboards) on city streets and an “expanded Civic Center area” including City Hall, East County Regional Center, East County Performing Arts Center, Library, Community Center, and Fire Facility Headquarters Complex.

By Sam Warren © 2019 

“I love deadlines. I especially like the whooshing sound they make as they go flying by.” --Douglas Adams

January 11, 2019 (San Diego) – The San Diego Writers Conference, writing classes, book clubs and authors’ book signings are among the events coming up in our literary community.

CLICK TO SCROLL DOWN FOR A LIST OF BOOK EVENTS

East County News Service

January 11, 2019 (Alpine) — Baron’s Market in Alpine will host a backroom beer pairing with 100% of proceeds donated to benefit Alpine schools/PTA. The fundraiser will be held on Wednesday, January 30 from 6 to 8 p.m.  As the market transforms its loading dock and stockroom into a local brew speakeasy, guests will sample beers from Refuge Brewery with gourmet bites made from the market’s natural ingredients.

January 11, 2019 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

• More than 100 homeless people died in San Diego County in 2018, down 10 percent from 2017 (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Arrests for illegal border crossing hits 46 year low (NPR)
• The other new guy: For Supervisor Jim Desmond, it’s the fundamental things (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Two weeks later, no sign of 'Remain in Mexico' policy in action (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Salvation Army Center getting closer to opening day [in El Cajon] (San Diego Union-Tribune)

STATE

• Kamala Harris to seek the 2020 Democratic nomination for president (CBS News)
• Study: Number of monarch butterflies in California declined by 86 percent in one year  (S.F. Gate)
• Gavin Newsom’s health plan could help lower your insurance costs—or make you pay a fine (Sacramento Bee)
• Federal shutdown has halted some preparations for wildfires, and it could get worse (McClatchy)
• Cameras near Camp Fire did record in early stages: Cal Fire (Action News Now)

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

Our December 2018 radio shows are now online. For links to listen plus an index with full list of topics and interviews in each show, click "read more" and scroll down.  (Audio files may take a few moments to load).  We covered breaking news stories including the proposed Cottonwood sand mine, Borrego water shortage, Councilman Kalasho's trial hearings, a proposed parole office on Mt. Helix, holiday happenings and more.

The East County Magazine Show airs Mondays and Fridays from 5 to 6 p.m. on KNSJ, 89.1 FM.  Our shows rerun on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. Pacific Standard Time. Read more and listen to our December shows below, or click here for the index:

By Miriam Raftery

File photo: Dead trees smoulder during controlled burn in San Diego’s East County

January 10, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – Putting all San Diego County residents at higher risk of a major wildfire, winter controlled burning of two to three thousand acres in Cleveland National Forest have been put on hold due to the federal shutdown, fire officials have advised ECM news partner 10 News.

Council also approves changes to traffic-calming procedures, making it harder for neighobrhoods to approve speed humps



By Miriam Raftery

January 10, 2019 (La Mesa) – Heeding the urging of citizens for form a task force with citizens’ involvement to address homelessness,  La Mesa Mayor Mark Arapostathis at Tuesday’s City Council agreed to take action—taking the first steps toward forming a committee to address the issues.

“It’s beyond just setting up ways to work with faith-based centers,” the Mayor said, referencing local churches helping to feed and provide temporary shelter to homeless people. He said the city also needs to look at “how to help people not become homeless.”

…and they’re not just for grannies nowadays

By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

January 9, 2019 (San Diego) -- San Diego County’s Board of Supervisors took action Wednesday to fight the housing and affordable housing crisis by voting to spend $11 million on a five-year trial program to waive fees and encourage homeowners to build “granny flats” on their properties.