By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office
May 22, 2021 (San Diego) - More than half of all San Diegans 12 years old and older — 50.3% — have now been fully vaccinated, County officials announced Thursday in an important milestone.
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May 22, 2021 (Jamul) – A tenant asked to move out of a residence on Lyons Valley Road in Jamul in February shot his landlord, then killed himself following an argument. The landlord’s health declined and on May 7th he was readmitted to a
hospital, where he died.
The Medical Examiner has determined that the cause of death was homicide due to complications from the gunshot wound to his torso.
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May 22, 2021 (El Cajon) -- Demitri Machhour, 18, left his worksite in El Cajon on May 10 and has been missing ever since. Machhour, a triplet, was last seen leaving for a lunch break from his workplace, East County Pre-Owned Superstore, presumed to be heading to Parkway Plaza shopping mall.
He is 5’8,” 130 lbs., a Moroccan-American with brown hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a green baseball cap and green pants with a black t-shirt and a black hooded jacket as seen in the picture.
He left his belongings in his car and vanished.
He recently moved here from Arizona.
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May 22, 2021 (Deerhorn Valley) – Visitors to Deerhorn Valley Vineyards’ tasting room in Jamul over Memorial Day weekend will have the opportunity to sample a wine directly from the barrel, complimentary with any winetasting purchased.
If you visit, please tell them you learned of their event on East County Magazine. Many of our readers had the delightful opportunity to taste their wines at our recent event. For those who missed our festivities, stop by and enjoy a real treat!
The wines are hand-crafted in small batches, with red wines aged in oak. The winery offers a full range of whites, reds, rosés and blends. In addition, you can sample a wide variety of flavored balsamic vinegars and olive oils.
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May 22, 2021 (San Diego) – Fifteen months after COVID-19 shut downs began, the state of California will be lifting all capacity limits and color-coded tiers starting June 15, allowing all businesses to reopen at full capacity without physical distancing. Locally, that includes Padres games at full capacity, a return of symphony concerts, festivals and more.
The announcement came Friday from Dr. Mark Ghaly, head of the California Health and Human Services Agency, who indicated the state will largely follow guidelines U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There will, however, be some requirements for mega-indoor events as well as guidelines for massive outdoor events. In addition, rules remain pending for workplaces and some travel limits may be imposed for travelers from nations with high rates of COVID, in accordance with CDC recommendations.
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May 21, 2021 (San Diego) - After sweeping two teams in a row, the Padres took a well-deserved break from NL play and welcomed the Mariners to San Diego. Chris Flexen started tonight’s game one for Seattle against Chris Paddack.
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May 21, 2021 (Lemon Grove) – The Baha’is of Lemon Grove invites you to a virtual program in recognition of Race Amity Day on June 13 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., followed by interaction dialogue sessions June 14-18 which will include viewings of short films depicting influential Americans working hand in hand to blur the color line.
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May 21, 2021 (Santee) -- Members of the Santee Interfaith Alliance came together on two weekends in April to help the Santee Christian Church repair and upgrade its parking lot.
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Virtual workshop kicks off new grant cycle for nonprofits serving East County
East County News Service
May 21, 2021 (La Mesa) - Grossmont Healthcare District has announced a free public grants workshop from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Tuesday, June 8, ahead of its upcoming grant cycle opening on July 1, 2021.
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Congresswoman Jacobs is lead co-sponsor of Military Child Care Expansion Act, filed by Congresswoman Speier
May 21, 2021 (Washington, D.C.) – Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53) has joined Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA-14), Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Congresswoman Stephanie Bice (R-OK-5) in introducing H.R. 3121, the Military Child Care Expansion Act, legislation to address the child care crisis facing military families.
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May 21, 2021 (Washington D.C.) -- Congressman Darrell Issa (R-San Diego), the ranking Republican Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet, announced last week with his Democratic counterpart, Subcommittee Chairman Hank Johnson (GA), the introduction of the Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Through Improvements to Patent Litigation Act, amending the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009 (BPCIA).
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May 20, 2021 (San Diego) --This week, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Education announced the specific relief totals available to state and local governments and postsecondary institutions as part of the American Rescue Plan, which was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden in March.
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Photo: Grossmont High alum Joe Musgrove was immaculate today, pitching seven innings and striking out 11, giving up only two hits. Via @padres on Twitter
May 19, 2021 (San Diego) - After walking it off last night against the Rockies in extras, the Padres looked to complete their second straight sweep this week. Chi Chi Gonzalez started for Colorado against Grossmont High alum and Padres sole no-hitter owner Joe Musgrove.
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May 19, 2021 (Santee) -- Students at Santee’s West Hills High School, class of 2021, will be holding their senior prom on a football field. The event is titled: “Under the Stars” and is literally under a canopy of starlight this year.
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed many high schools’ senior prom plans. West Hills High School is also switching up their prom to be held this Saturday, May 22, as well. The dance floor will be at the 50-yard line with the stadium decorated with a light tunnel and more. It is undetermined if the football field lights will be dimmed for slow dances.
The event will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Additionally, the night will be capped off with fireworks at 9:45 p.m.
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May 19, 2021 (Casa De Oro) – The California Highway Patrol is asking for public help to identify a vehicle that struck a 74-year-old man this morning who was crossing Bancroft Drive in the Casa de Oro community in Spring Valley around 5:53 a.m.
The vehicle was driving from Bancroft Drive onto State Route 94 westbound when it struck the pedestrian, who was within the intersection. He sustained major injuries and was transported to Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego for treatment of his injuries.
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May 19, 2021 (Campo) – A San Diego man has died after being shot following a pursuit by U.S. Border Patrol agents.
Silvestre Vargas Estrada, 26, was driving a vehicle with two men as passengers during the pursuit on May 14 shortly before 10 p.m. According to Lt. Thomas Seiver with the Sheriff’s homicide unit, “The pursuit ended in a gas station parking lot at the intersection of State Route 94 and Buckman Springs Road in Campo. A confrontation ensued, resulting in three agents discharging their firearms.”
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May 19, 2021 (San Diego) – With over two-thirds of Californians now at least partially vaccinated and half fully vaccinated, many people are looking forward to resuming normal activities. But if you haven’t had the COVID-19 vaccine, you may be surprised to learn that you won’t be allowed to go many places.
These include all cruise ships, many colleges and universities, and some sports arenas and stadiums. Nursing homes and other senior care facilities may require vaccinations before admitting new patients or indoor visitors. Some employers are also requiring vaccines. Even some event planners are requiring guests to be vaccinated to attend functions such as weddings.
Not getting the vaccine is a personal choice, but a growing number of places are opting to protect their customers, workers or patients by banning the unvaccinated. Others are allowing unvaccinated people only if they can pass a COVID test. But who really wants to have your nose swabbed every time you go to a Padres game? Similarly, some places are allowing unvaccinated travelers – but only if you both pass a COVID test and quarantine in your hotel room for a number of days after arriving, which can spoil vacation plans unless you have an extended trip.
So where can’t you go, as of now, if you’re not vaccinated?
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May 18, 2021 (San Diego) – California and San Diego officials have announced that they will wait until June 15 to lift mask mandates for most public places. The four-week wait allows young people age 12 and up to get vaccinated, since the CDC just approved COVID-19 vaccines for younger teens starting last week.
Starting June 15, assuming cases remain low, as expected, Californians who are fully vaccinated will be able to go without masks in most indoor settings, according to Dr. Mark Ghaly, California’s Health and Human Services Secretary. Vaccinated people can already go without masks in most outdoor settings.
“We urge all Californians to get vaccinated to ensure that infection and hospitalization rates remain low across the state and that we can all return to the activities we love,” Dr. Ghaly advises.
“San Diego County is aligned with the California Department of Public Health and will wait until June 15 to adopt CDC mask guidance,” Nathan Fletcher, Chair of the County Board of Supervisors, announced yesterday on twitter. “This short time frame allows us to ensure everyone has access to the vaccine and time for business and entities across our county to prepare for the change.”
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Photo: Blake Snell pitched well, going six innings with a season-high 11 strikeouts. Via @padres on Twitter
May 18, 2021 (San Diego) - The Padres took game one against the Rockies in a landslide victory last night. They looked to take the series in game two tonight. Austin Gomber started for Colorado against Blake Snell.
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By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D., San Diego Jewish World, a member of the San Diego Online News Association.
May 18, 2021 (Jerusalem) - Lots of missiles coming from Gaza to Israel.
Lots of damage in Gaza.
And something close to civil war within Israel, with Arab mobs attacking Jews and their property in what had been peaceful settings with two communities; plus Jewish mobs doing the same to Arabs and their property.
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May 18, 2021 (San Diego) – The International House at the University of California, San Diego will present a global forum webinar titled “Campus Free Speech in the Shadow of Foreign Governments: China/Hong Kong and Israel/Palestine. The forum will be held on Wednesday, May 19 at 6:30 p.m.
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Photo: Yu Darvish was impeccable tonight, pitching seven innings, striking out 10 and only giving up four hits. Via @padres on Twitter
May 17, 2021 (San Diego) - The Padres didn’t get the sweep against the Cardinals, but they took two out of three and that’s okay. Now it was time to welcome the Rockies back to Petco Park. Jon Gray started for Colorado in tonight’s game one against Yu Darvish.
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May 17, 2021 (San Diego) - Whenever there’s a news report that a sexually violent predator is proposed to be placed in a community, the neighbors are always outraged – even though a Superior Court judge has heard the evidence and determined the person is safe to be conditionally released. Then why are the neighbors so upset?
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Photo: part of a proposed bump in education funding would cover free pre-K education for all 4-year-olds in California. (Briana Jackson/iStockphoto)
May 17, 2021 (Sacramento) -- Education advocates are cheering Gov. Gavin Newsom's May budget revise, which pours almost $122 billion into public schools, the highest level of funding in California's history.
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Data raises troubling rural/urban equity disparity in vaccine distribution
By Miriam Raftery
May 17, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – COVID-19 Vaccination rates in East County communities are significantly below the county average – but most rural, mountain and desert communities haven’t even been documented.
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May 16, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – Should you get your dog vaccinated to protect against rattlesnake bites?
The County of San Diego’s Department of Animal Services cautions that rattlesnake season is year-round, but sightings may spike during hot spells or in the summer months. The San Diego Humane Society also notes that rattlesnake bites can happen all year-round, but the worst months are from April through September. County Animal Services says rattlesnakes can show up at any time from the coast to the deserts.
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May 16, 2021 (San Diego) - The Padres went for the sweep tonight against the Cardinals in a nationally televised game. Kwang Hyun Kim started for St. Louis against Ryan Weathers.
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San Diego State falls 8-1 on Sunday and suffers its second in a three-game sweep in the state of Nevada in the last three weeks.
Source: goaztecs.com
Photo courtesy goaztecs.com
May 16, 2021 (Las Vegas) - San Diego State baseball held the UNLV offense in check for the first four innings on Sunday at Earl E. Wilson Stadium, but the Rebels scored eight times from the fifth inning on and defeated the Aztecs 8-1 to earn a three-game series sweep.
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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
Sheriff's Deputies arrest suspect, recover cultural artifacts stolen from casino.
East County News Service
May 16, 2021 (Valley Center) -- A man has been arrested on suspicion of stealing priceless cultural artifacts from a historical exhibit at Harrah's Resort Southern California in Valley Center.
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By Miriam Raftery 
By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson
By Miriam Raftery
The wines are hand-crafted in small batches, with red wines aged in oak. The winery offers a full range of whites, reds, rosés and blends. In addition, you can sample a wide variety of flavored balsamic vinegars and olive oils.
By Liz Alper
East County News Service
By Miriam Raftery
Virtual workshop kicks off new grant cycle for nonprofits serving East County
Congresswoman Jacobs is lead co-sponsor of Military Child Care Expansion Act, filed by Congresswoman Speier
By Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
By Liz Alper
By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson
East County News Service
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
By Liz Alper
By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D., 
East County News Service 
By Liz Alper
By Kathleen Hedberg, PE, MPH
By Suzanne Potter, Public News Service (CA)
Data raises troubling rural/urban equity disparity in vaccine distribution 
By Liz Alper
San Diego State falls 8-1 on Sunday and suffers its second in a three-game sweep in the state of Nevada in the last three weeks.
Sheriff's Deputies arrest suspect, recover cultural artifacts stolen from casino.
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