Each wave is a nice start.

Novel by Sally J. Pla; reviewed by Pennell Paugh

July 9, 2023 (San Diego) - San Diego author Sally J. Pla has released her fourth novel, The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn.

By Miriam Raftery

July 8, 2023 (Rancho San Diego) – Firefighters found the body of a woman inside a home in the 9100 block of Lavell Street in Rancho San Diego this afternoon, the San Diego Sheriff’s watch commander reports.

Road closures are at San Juan Place /Lavell Street, and Bancroft Drive /Edgewood Drive. The intersections will be closed for the next several hours.

July 6, 2023 (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 a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Study says drinking water from nearly half of US faucets contains potentially harmful chemicals (AP)
• Federal judge blocks Biden administration officials from communicating with social media companies(CNN)
• Republican 2024 hopefuls back abortion limits after Roe v. Wade (Reuters)
• America's Hot Labor Market Fuels Job Growth in Unexpected Places  (Wall Street Journal)
• Supreme Court rejects Republican-led challenge to a Biden policy on deportations (AP)
• Supreme Court rejects theory that would have meant radical changes to election rules  (Washington Post)
• 3 M reaches $10.3 billion settlement over contamination of water systems  (NPR)
• Activists Spurred By SCOTUS Affirmative Action Ruling Sue Harvard Over Legacy Admissions(Huffington Post)
• Freight train carrying hot asphalt, molten sulfur plunges into Yellowstone River as bridge fails  (AP)
• Ford Explorer recall prompts Transportation Department investigation  (AP)
• States clamp down on freight trains, fearing derailments and federal gridlock (AP)
• At least $200 billion in pandemic aid potentially went to fraudsters, federal watchdog estimates  (NPR)

WORLD

• In Lula’s first six months, Brazil Amazon deforestation dropped 34%, reversing trend under Bolsonaro (AP)
• The planet saw its hottest day ever this week. The record will be broken again and again (CNN)
• Wagner boss Prigozhin is in Russia, Belarus ruler Lukashenko says (BBC)
• Rebel Russian mercenaries turn back short of Moscow 'to avoid bloodshed'(Reuters)
• Russians join the resistance with pirate radio and Tinder (Economist)
• Orca Rams Into Yacht Near Scotland, Suggesting the Behavior May Be Spreading (Smithsonian)
• Charities say Taliban intimidation diverts aid to Taliban members and causes(NPR)
• Orcas disrupt boat race near Spain in latest display of dangerous, puzzling behavior (AP)
• Ukraine brings first charges for deporting Kherson orphans (Reuters)

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

By Dennis Moore

July 6, 2023 (San Diego) - Meet the new host of the “Bookshelf” section, Anat Tour. Tour, an East County resident and High School Math teacher, along with being an acclaimed author of children’s books, has assumed the role of host of the East County Magazine “Bookshelf” section, where local luminaries and authors come on the show to talk about their books which is video-taped and put in their book reviews online. Generally, I provide her with the guests to be interviewed. Authors are already waiting in line!

Tour, a much accomplished talent, who has been a singer and international model, which is why I once referred to her in an article that I had written in the East County Magazine as East County’s Renaissance Woman, started this process of being the host of the “Bookshelf” section in 2011 at an event that I was hosting in La Mesa, California, at Barnes & Noble for aspiring authors. I recall her coming up to me and asking me how to start getting her idea of a book published, and at the end of my session of informing others, I suggested an eBook. Now, several published books later, she is the host of a show talking with other authors.

Her first hosting of the “Bookshelf” section occurred just a week ago, and by clicking the attached link one can see how talented she is. See here.

Dear Readers,

We are the only regional publication dedicated to reporting news that matters here in East County.  Please support our mid-year fundraising drive to help us keep you safe and informed. With several major wildfires already this season, the need for a real-time, online news source in East County is clear. Funds are also needed to sustain our community news reporting, which has won 142 journalism awards.  Give now.

In just the past few weeks, community donations have enabled us to report on many important stories, including:

• Brush fires in Campo, Jamul, Lakeside,  El Cajon and more
• A livestock virus prompting quarantines across East County
• A parole center proposed in La Mesa
• Supreme Court decisions impacting student loans, affirmative action, tribal adoptions, the LGBTQ community and businesses
• A fugitive murder suspect holding elected office in Campo
• Efforts to reopen Loveland Reservoir
• New laws impacting the homeless
• Candidates running for supervisor
• City Council meetings in Lemon Grove, El Cajon, La Mesa and Santee
• Budget priorities in  East County cities and the County
• Tribal members’ cross-country run for clean water
• The MTS bus strike
• Festivals and events, theater and restaurant reviews in East County
• Lamar Odom opening treatment centers in Lemon Grove and El Cajon
• Good works of local service clubs and nonprofits

Many of those were stories that we broke, as well as stories we covered in depth while other media focused on coastal and downtown issues.

We’re your community media – dedicated to telling the stories that matter here in East County! We reflect your interests—the public interests—not special interests.

East County News Service

Update July 10, 2023: The Medical Examiner has identified the deceased as Gary Zing, 59.

July 5, 2023 (El Cajon) – Heartland Fire & Rescue responded to a 9-1-1 call at 11:10 a.m. requesting help for a man who fell while cutting down a large tree at his property at 1962 Altozano Way in El Cajon.  Fire crews found that the tree had fallen onto the victim.

“Paramedics attempted to render aid but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene,” says Andy McKellar, emergency preparedness coordinator at Heartland Fire & Rescue.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo; Left, Cottonwood Golf Course pond, before it was drained; right, a sand mining operation

July 5, 2023 (Rancho San Diego) – The County of San Diego has issued a revised draft environmental impact report (EIR) on the proposed Cottonwood sand mine. View documents and details. 

The public has until August 14 at 4 p..m. to submit comments on the revised EIR.

Comments can be sent via email to Christopher.Jacobs@sdcounty.ca.gov.  The County will also hold an in-person public meeting regarding the Recirculated Draft EIR on July 25, 2023, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at Hillsdale Middle School (1301 Brabham Street, El Cajon).

July 5, 2023 (San Diego) – Most Americans may not know that gun control was common throughout much of America’s history, even in such iconic wild west settings as Tombstone, Arizona. The idea that the right to own guns is a foundational American belief is among the misperceptions shattered in an explosive interview with Thomas Gabor, Ph.D., author of American Carnage: Shattering the Myths That Fuel Gun Violence, conducted by Anat Tour, new host of the Bookshelf segment on East County Magazine’s radio show.

Dr. Gabor is an internationally recognized expert on firearms and public safety.  A professor of criminology for 30 years at the University of Ottawa, he holds a doctorate from Ohio State University and runs a criminal justice consulting firm, Thomas Gabor LLC, in Florida. His clients have included the United Nations, Canada’s Dept. of Justice, and the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister’s office. He has authored over 200 publications including articles and books.

His coauthor of American Carnage is Fred Guttenberg, an activist whose 14-year-old daughter was murdered in the Parkland High School massacre. Together, the authors have created a valuable resource book documenting that much of what many Americans believe about gun rights and gun violence are, in fact, fallacies.

Scroll down to read highlights of the interview and find links to audo, video, book review, author's website and more.

By Miriam Raftery

July 4, 2023 (San Diego’s East County)—The San Diego Blood Bank has five blood drives coming up between July 12 and July 14 in the East County communities of El Cajon, Lakeside, and Santee.

Anyone age 17 and older who weighs at least 114 pounds and is in good health may be eligible to donate bloodand help save a life. A good meal and plenty of fluids are recommended prior to donation. Appointments are honored first and walk‑ins are welcome. Photo identification is required..

Below are details on the upcoming blood drives: