July 28, 2015 (La Mesa)--Hospital food that’s not only healthy, but also savory, full of fresh ingredients, and visually stunning?  That’s what two celebrated San Diego chefs plan to cook up when they redesign the kitchen menu at Sharp Grossmont Hospital. These culinary experts collective experience includes cooking up feasts for heads of state, rock stars and other celebrities, starring on cooking shows, serving as top chefs at resorts and top hotels, plus winning a Culinary Olympics competition.

As the new executive chefs at Sharp Grossmont, Larry Banares and William Sauer bring their extensive culinary talents to the Sodexo team at Sharp Grossmont, which operates food and nutrition services at the La Mesa hospital. 

East County News Service

July 28, 2015 (Washington D.C.) – A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) shows dramatic improvements in the care and safety of Medicare patients.  Across the nation, the death rate among Medicare patients fell 16% from 1999 to 2013. In addition, hospitalizations dropped sharply – and costs also fell sharply.

By Kathy Carpenter

www.sdtheatrereviews.com Associate and Youth Reviewer

July 23, 2015 (El Cajon) - Grossmont College 2nd annual Summer Conservatory (where high school students work alongside college students in all aspects to put on a theatrical show) brought us Cinderella A New, Pop Musical. The classic story updated and written by Jennette Thomas, directed by Beth Duggan and Molly Stillens, with fresh music and songs from the 80's and 90's and a fresh attitude from Cinderella, who doesn't need a man to survive, a King willing to adapt to his son's happiness, and a Prince who still thinks Cinderella the most perfect of all.

The show was funny, fun, well-acted, and you couldn't help leaving the theatre with a smile on your face.  This is a perfect summer show for the students to weave their magic, proving as Cinderella's Godmother says "Anything is possible if you believe."

Listen to this week's Destination East County broadcast from the East County Magazine Show on KNSJ radio 89.1 FM! Click the orange link above.(note: sound files make take a few moments to load.)

By Miriam Raftery

July 28, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County features a once in a blue moon hike, a vocal and jazz trio concert, and a watermelon festival at a camel dairy. Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including movies at Santee Lakes, a Sip of Julian, the reopening of Rancho San Diego’s Farmer’s Market, and a rollicking new Lamplighters Theatre production.  So stay tuned for all of these events and much, much more!

By Miriam Raftery

July 27, 2015 (Fletcher Hills) – As gas prices climb, gas thieves are on the prowl in East County.

East County News Service

July 28, 2015 (San Diego)--Mounarath-Powell Productions presents the premier of a new girl group, Tres, at the Visionary Performance Space (7202 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego) on August 14th at 7 p.m. 

This cabaret-style production features three powerhouse vocalists: Nicole Isablele, Caliope Marin, and Sophia Rogers. Listen to these young divas as they sing some of today's and yesterday's popular hits by artists such as Adele, Beyonce, Tina Turner and many more.

East County News Service

July 27, 2015 (San Diego)—How can a sandbox filled with powdered walnut shells help firefighters and property owners?  It’s all part of 3-D models created by San Diego State University’s Visualization Center, which is partnering with SimTable to create modeling softare that will predict how wildfires will spread.

East County News Service

July 27, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - Lamplighters Community Theatre continues its 78th season with “The Supporting Cast,” a comedy to be staged August 14 through September 13, when Ellen, the wife of a successful author, writes a sizzling novel her friends are thrilled — until she invites them to her Malibu beach house and reveals that they are the characters!

July 26, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)—Two animal rights activists have been apprehended in Oakland and will face trial in San Diego for vandalizing furs across the nation, including locations in San Diego and East County. They face charges under the Conspiracy to Violate the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act.

East County News Service

July 26, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--Enjoy the sunny weather while it lasts.  Thunderstorms and rain are apt to return to San Diego County this week, the National Weather Service predicts.

Hear our interview with Spencer Powell and Mickey Mounarath from Visionary Dance Theatre here:  https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

By Miriam Raftery

July 26, 2015 (La Mesa) –Visionary Dance Theatre and Visionary School for the Performing Arts is asking for help to move to a safer, more family-friendly location.  Visionary specializes in helping to keep the arts accessible and affordable to students regardless of income and also make the arts accessible to the community.

Newflash! Visionary also hopes to find space large enough to include East County Magazine’s office and recording studio at its new location – at a minimal cost or ultimately, free for our nonprofit! (Our rent where w are has gone up, and we need to move, too.)  We're looking at space in or near La Mesa - with your help.

We think this is a perfect partnership, enabling us to support local arts and theatre while also providing the affordable space we need to grow!  Donations can be made at http://GoFundMe.com/MovinOnOut. Please help - every dollar counts!

Update July 26, 2015, 8 p.m. -- The CutCa fire is now 50% contained, Cleveland National Forest's Inciweb site reports. Crews are spiked out on the line for this evening and will resume work in the morning. Heat remains in the interior of the fire perimeter. Infrared mapping will occur this evening. Crews will continue mop-up operations tomorrow and cooler temps expected will help their efforts. Firefighters will maintain a community presence and provide structure protection if needed.The south/southeast portion of the Cutca fire is an area of concern with several hotspots and potential for ignited fuel rolling across the fireline. Crews are working to suppress this high priority section of fire.

In the fire area there is no previously recorded fire history. Fuels remain critically dry due to drought conditions and can be difficult to suppress, so firefighters are being highly vigilant in mopping up and patrolling for hot spots.

East County News Service

July 25, 2015 (San Diego)--After discussion in the most recent Neighborhood Market Association (NMA) board meeting, a shift in the organization’s official position on minimum wage has been indicated. No longer will the NMA board support an exemption for small business.

East County News Service

July 25, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – AT&T wants to phase out landline phone service by 2020.  But as many San Diego County residents have learned during firestorms that burned cell phone towers and a multi-state blackout that crippled cell service, land lines are critical during such emergencies. Land lines also make it easier for people with disabilities such as the visually impaired or anyone who has suffered injury to easily access a land line to call for help.

By Robert Gehr ©

July 25, 2015 (El Cajon)--A combination of several factors caused an electrical power outage in El Cajon Friday evening beginning around 6:20 p.m.