East County News Service

May 31, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) - This week’s Destination East County includes Fly Day at Gillespie Field in El Cajon, the In-Ko-Pah outdoor overnight concert at Jacumba’s Desert View Tower, La Mesa’s Flag Day Parade, and Family Day at the Van Ommering Dairy in Lakeside.

Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including Lavender Day at Summers Past Farms, the Julian Dance, Fido Fest in Santee, summer concerts in La Mesa and Santee, a Taste of La Mesa, night fishing at Santee Lakes, Julian Blues Festival, a Father’s Day brunch with Cowboy Jack, a Father’s Day adventure at Fort Cross, the Secret Life of Pets showing at Santee Lakes, Julian’s 4^th of July Parade, plus Independence Day events with fireworks in Santee and El Cajon.

So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

East County Magazine

June 2, 2017 (Spring Valley) -- Ever wonder how to eat a bowlful of spicy crawfish?  ECM reviewer Jordan Damond demosntrates the technique at the Mardi Gras Cafe in Spring Valley.

East County News Service

June 1, 2017 (Julian) --Sons of the American Legion will present the 11^th annual Julian Dance on June 10^th from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. The backcountry dance and barbecue features music by Three Chord Justice and the California Rangers, a large dance floor, plus dinner slow-cooked Santa Maria style over open oak-wood flames. 

This event is described as a “throwback to a simpler time with twinkly lights and bonfires backdropped by dark mountain skies,” a time for mountain residents and visitors to get together for a great time.

East County News Service

May 31, 2017 (San Diego) – Amie Brenner knew she needed to do more to help animals in need.  After volunteering at the Helen Woodward Animal Center for over a year, and having two rescue animals of her own, she decided to start a company designing and selling rescue themed phone cases.  Her company, PhoneCasesToTheRescue, donates 15% back to the rescues and shelters and has already seen the positive impact the proceeds have made, which is her entire goal. 

East County News Service

May 31, 2017 (Santee) — The Santee Sheriff’s station will host a coffee with the community on Monday, June 12 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Cameron Family YMCA pool deck, 10123 Riverwalk Drive in Santee.

By Miriam Raftery

May 31, 2017 (Lakeside) – California Highway Patrol’s El Cajon office is seeking witnesses to help find two drivers who fled the scene after striking and seriously injuring a 29-year-old woman who was standing in traffic lanes.

By Jordan Damond

May 31, 2017 (Washington D.C.) -- Ever since President Donald Trump released his budget plan for 2018, it’s caused an uproar among concerned citizens and some members of Congress. Many have deemed the plan illogical or harmful, while others defend and even praise it.

May 31, 2017 (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

• San Diego kids plead to get their parents back after immigration raid (10 News)
• Ice raid near National City schools:  parents arrested, children left unattended (San Diego Free Press)
• How Trump’s proposed budget could affect San Diego County (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Sempra VP surprises, say 100 percent renewable grid is possible now (iNewsource)
• Solana Beach Becomes First in County to Opt for Alternative Energy Program (KPBS)
• San Diego DROP pensioners return for more city pay (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• San Diego Among Cities with Largest Population Growth (KPBS)
• San Diegans Pay Some of the Highest Water Rates in the State and Country (Voice of San Diego)
• Religious Liberty Group Suing San Diego Schools Over CAIR-backed 'Islamophobia’ Program (Jewish World Review)

STATE

• The price tag on universal health care is in, and it’s bigger than California’s budget (Sacramento Bee)
• Can I get fired for using legal recreational marijuana?  An FAQ for California workers (Sacramento Bee)
• Amendment proposed to give control of UCOP budget to state legislature (Daily Bruin)
• Edison violated San Onofre testing rules, NRC says (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• More government transparency needed in California (San Jose Mercury News)
• California desert town Adelanto plans its future around pot (Marketplace.org)
• Brown's top aide gets $300 ethics fine, critics say that's low (San Diego Union-Tribune)

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

May 31, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting-edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Study finds 73% of sunscreens don’t even work – how to find one that does (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
• Autism symptoms of five boys increase improve in early trial of century-old drug (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Parents discuss how autistic children improved after receiving experimental drug (SDUT)
• Zika detected in India for first time (Associated Press)
• Fitness trackers poor at measuring calories burned (BBC)
• Thousands of known bugs found in pacemaker codes (BBC)
• Trump's Medicaid 'Cuts' Actually Increase Federal Spending (Reason)
• Zika struck Florida up to 40 times before detection (San Diego Union-Tribune)

SCIENCE & TECH

• Mark Zuckerberg’s great American road trip (New York Times)
• Google plans to track credit card spending (BBC)
• NASA’s Jupiter mission reveals the ‘brand new and unexpected’ (New York Times)

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

By Jose A. Alvarez, County of San Diego Communications Office

Video by James Kecskes

May 30, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - More than one-third of local fifth, seventh and ninth graders in public schools are overweight or obese.

This the key finding in the 2016 State of Childhood Obesity report released today by the San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative, a public-private partnership tasked with reducing and preventing childhood obesity in the region.

By Jonathan Goetz

Miriam Raftery also contributed to this report

May 30, 2017 (El Cajon) – El Cajon’s City Council had a packed agenda Wednesday at its 3 p.m. meeting, taking actions including:

• Voting 5-0 to put an item on an upcoming agenda to have staff prepare a report on feasibility of hiring a Crisis House “homeless navigator” expert to match unique needs of homeless people with private and public programs to help house the homeless;  
• Voting 4-1 to hold two town hall meetings annually to allow residents to propose agenda items and for Council to set agenda priorities;
• Heard a report from the County Water Authority claiming Metropolitan Water has been squandering funds and overcharging ratepayers;
• Honoring participants and supporters of America on Main Street;
• Presented awards to local youths and Friends of East County Arts contest winners
• Praised a resident for using a drone to get evidence of an illegal marijuana dispensary.

By Nick Pellegrino

Photo courtesy CCCAA

May 30, 2017 (El Cajon) - The last time former West Hills High standout Jeremiah Barr played in a big-time stadium, many thought his baseball career might be over.

 “This campaign is about solving economic injustice, regardless of your views or hues. Regardless of whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat, pain is pain.”—Ammar Campa-Najjar

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

May  29, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Earlier this month, we sat down for an in-depth interview with Ammar Campa-Najjar, a Democrat running for the 50^th Congressional  district seat held by Republican Duncan Hunter.  (Hear the full interview, which aired on KNSJ radio, by clicking the audio link and scroll down for highlights.)

 He has a rare combination of qualifications, with  background in helping promote job creation both as public affairs officer for the Labor Department under President Obama and as director of communications for the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. 

A native San Diegan of Hispanic and Arab descent, he’s also  the son of immigrants and a Christian who’s worked with his church to help working people and  deported veterans.   Now he says he’s running to listen to the problems faced by all people in the district,  use his experience in Washington to bring good-paying jobs to East County including rural areas, and bring “national pride, not national shame” as our region’s representative in Congress.