East County News Service

July 26, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes a Sip of Julian, Pine Valley Days, Gregory Page in concert at the garden, Lemon Grove concerts in the park, convertible night at El Cajon classic cruises and a Laurel and Hardy fan club film night.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including the HeART of Mt. Helix, the Barona Powwow, Sycuan Powwow and the Julian Grape Stomp Festa, So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

By Miriam Raftery

July 26, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – The filing period to run for local offices opened on July 16 and closes August 10.  But so far, no candidates have pulled papers to run, let along qualified, in most East County or other inland San Diego County races listed on the Registrar’s site for school boards, water boards, fire boards and community planning groups. In others, only incumbents have filed.

For instance, in the Grossmont Union High School District, heated controversies and lawsuits have erupted over alleged bond misappropriation, failure to build an Alpine High School, and efforts to shut down popular charter schools.  Yet so far, incumbents Jim Kelly, Robert Shield and Dr. Gary Woods have all pulled papers to seek reelection, but nobody has filed to run against them.

Note: City council and mayor candidates apply through cities and will not be listed until after the filing deadline has closed. ECM has requested info from East County cities on those races.

Below are other local races in East County, including names of any candidates who have pulled papers to run (though not yet qualified).

July 25, 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 Tax Cut Is Pushing the Federal Deficit to $1 Trillion (New York Times)
• Ninth Circuit: Second Amendment Secures Right to Carry Guns in Public (Reason)
• Former GOP governor calls on fellow Republicans to demand Trump’s resignation (The Hill)
• CNN airs audio of Trump, Cohen discussing payment tied to former Playboy model (The Hill)
• Trump-ally congressmen introduce impeachment resolution against Deputy AG Rosenstein (CNN)
• U.S. and Europe Ease Trade Feud With Tentative Deal on Tariffs (New York Times)
• U.S. Treasury sanctions people linked to Syria chemical weapons  (Reuters)

WORLD

• Greece wildfires: At least 74 dead as blaze 'struck like flamethrower' (BBC)
• Thai cave boys shave their heads to become novice Buddhist monks (BBC)
• Japan heatwave declared natural disaster as death toll mounts (BBC)
• U.N. rights experts press Russia on torture cases, deaths in custody  (Reuters)
• Turkey's Crackdown On Suspected Opponents Continues 2 Years After Attempted Coup (NPR)
• Magnitude 5.9 quake injures nearly 290 in western Iran  (Reuters)

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

Writing and Madness in a Time of Terror: A Memoir, by Afarin Majidi (Barnes & Noble/Amazon, 2014, 325 pages).

Book Review by Dennis Moore

“A woman forced to flee Iran with her family … bravely explores three explosive issues—mental illness, racism, and misogyny—with bracing candor … Majidi provides an engrossing and timely look at the way women of color are doubly objectified, as exotic sexual quarry and as individuals worthy of contempt.” – KIRKUS REVIEWS

July 25, 2018 (San Diego) - The very first time that this writer interviewed Afarin Majidi, the author of this memoir, Writing and Madness in a Time of Terror, what resonated with me was her reliance on and speaking of the current and timely “#MeToo” movement, as if everything written in this memoir is symptomatic of what women are experiencing throughout the country.

East County News Service

Update 7:20 p.m. -- Power is restored at the Smart and Final, but SDG&E's website indicates power is still out to over 1,200 customers.

July 24, 2018 (Santee) -- A power outage has occurred in the  Santee/Carlton Oaks area, affecting 2,359 customers. SDG&E is assesesing the cause but estimates restoration at 9:30 p.m.

ECM reporter Rebecca Jefferis-Williamson was shopping at the Santee Smart and Final when the lights went out.  "The big lottery Mega-millions is tonight and I can't buy my ticket," she quipped.

She was also unable to  buy groceries for dinner, since the store is accepting only cash during the blackout fur customers already inside the store.  Customers outside are being turned away.

East County News Service

July 24, 2018 (San Diego) -- Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-CA-53) and Congressman Brett Guthrie (R-KY-02), ranking member and chairman, respectively, of the House Education and the Workforce Committee’s Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee and co-chairs of the Congressional Apprenticeship Caucus, today introduced the Accessing Professional Partnerships and Resources to Enable Necessary Training and Improve Career Education (APPRENTICE) Act.

By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

July 23, 2018 (Santee) -West Nile virus made its first appearance of the summer in San Diego County this week when a batch of mosquitoes caught in routine trapping in Santee tested positive for the virus.

County officials reminded people they should follow the County’s “Prevent, Protect, Report” guidelines to protect themselves from all mosquitoes and the various diseases they can transmit, from West Nile virus to tropical diseases such as chikungunya, dengue and Zika.

East County News Service

July 23, 2018 (San Diego) -- Due to high temperatures in California and most of the western U.S., the California Independent System Operator Corporation (ISO) has issued a statewide Flex Alert that calls for voluntary electricity conservation from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 24 and Wednesday, July 25.

By Jonathan Goetz

July 23, 2018 (El Cajon) – George Gastil, a former Lemon Grove Councilman and history professor at Grossmont College and San Diego State Univesrity, opened the inaugural meeting of the East County Leadership Council (ECLC).  The newly formed 501c(3) nonprofit organization has a mission statement to promote “quality discussion of politics and public policy in the East County region of San Diego County.”

East County News Service

Photo:  Michael Brueggemeyer of M2 Digital post Inc., director of Emmy award-winning campaign, accepts award wearing a dinosaur suit.

July 22, 2018 (Santee) – M2 Digital Post Inc. of Santee was awarded three Emmys at the 44th Annual National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Pacific Southwest Chapter Emmy awards show in Palm Springs last month.  The awards were in the category of Commercial Campaign and Photographer Short Form.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: ECM News partner 10 News

July 21, 2018 (Ramona) – The Cinnamon Fire that scorched 13 acres in the Witch Creek area yesterday destroyed Ramona’s original stagecoach stop built in 1870, prompting rescue in efforts that saved the family's dogs. Other dogs in a boarding kennel on the property are also safe.

“We lived there for 12 years until we built a new house,” the owner of Kritter Camp Boarding Kennel, located on Creek Hollow Drive in Ramona, told East County Magazine regarding the historic structure. At the time of the fire, she added, “My daughter and her boyfriend lived there.”

East County News Service

July 21, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) - California Democratic Party Chair Eric C. Bauman announced today that the CDP will no longer be accepting contributions from companies or trade associations that operate private prisons, private detention centers or other incarceration services as for-profit businesses. 

By Miriam Raftery

June 29, 2018 (Julian) – Julian’s short-lived gold rush began in 1870, when the first sparkling flecks were found in a creek by cattleman Fred Coleman. Ever since, visitors have flocked to the picturesque town, a national historic landmark in the mountains of inland San Diego County.

East County News Service

July 20, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- Possible thunderstorms are forecast for this weekend as monsoonal moisture conditions continue.  In addition, the National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning for next week.  “Dangerous” temperatures are expected to reach 116 degrees in the desert, over 100 degrees in our mountain areas and 99 degrees in El Cajon.

East County News Service

July 19, 2018 (Pine Valley) -- Pine Valley Days will take place on July 27^th and 28^th.  Sponsored by the Mountain Empire Men’s Club in the mountain town of Pine Valley, Pine Valley Days will include a parade on Saturday at 9 a.m., live music by Barb Wire, craft fair, deep pit barbecue, kids zone, horseshoe tournament and other activities throughout the weekend.

For a full schedule of events, you can visit https://www.facebook.com/185443142839/photos/gm.253729028534281/10156350830237840/?type=3&theater.