“Everybody forgot the Mission. But we are making a comeback. Our goal is to recognize and reconcile long-time differences between the Native, Anglo and Hispanic populations by restoring the Mission and bringing back historical community events like the annual Harvest Festival and Fiesta.” -- Gil Koda, parish finance councilman, volunteer

By Miriam Raftery

August 31, 2018 (Santa Ysabel) – A Herculean effort is underway to restore the Santa Ysabel Indian Mission (23013 Hwy 79) in time for its bicentennial celebration on Sunday, September 16th,^, 2018 at 10 a.m..  The multi-cultural celebration will include an outdoor mass and brunch with the Bishop, Native American bird singers and drummers, a flyover by the Navy’s Blue Angels, military salutes, multi-cultural dance groups, local celebrities, a historical wagon train show, tours of the mission and museum, Native speakers and historians, an arts and crafts show, and more.

Two other long-time community traditions are also being revived: the Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 20^th and a Fiesta in June 2019. There will also be a golf tournament on September 8^th at the Warner Springs resort as a fundraiser for these ambitious plans.

With Rep. Duncan D. Hunter indicted on federal corruption charges, will you vote for Hunter, a Republican, his Democratic opponent, Ammar Campa-Najjar, or not vote?

50th Congressional District voters, please take our poll here:   http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/poll/rep-duncan-d-hunter-has-been-indi...

East County News Service

September 5, 2018 (San Diego's East County) - Toyota has ordered a recall of some Prius hybrid vehicles  made between June 2015 and May 2018, due to an electrical system defect that can cause fires.

Wire harnesses connected to the vehicles’ power control units can wear out and overheat, causing fires. The company reports it will fix the problem free and will notify customers starting this month.

Update 3:30 p.m.:  This missing person has been found.

September 4, 2018 (La Mesa) - Amir Abbas Khorram, 84, is missing and has dementia, so he may not remember his address. He was last seen this morning in the area of 7100 Colony Road, La Mesa.

He is Middle Eastern and speaks both Farsi and English. He walks with a cane and has white hair and a white beard.

The naturally-occurring algae can form toxic blooms, causing severe illness in humans, kill pets, livestock, and other animals

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

September 3, 2018 (San Diego )-- Some people believe in the health benefits of blue green algae as nutritional supplements found at health food stores.  But too much of it can make humans very sick and even kill pets and larger animals exposed to blue-green algae scum that forms on lakes and reservoirs.

While the County of San Diego has been battling a full-scale war on blue-green algae at Lindo Lake County Park in Santee, East County Magazine has received inquiries from readers who spotted algae scum at Lake Morena and voiced concerns.

East County News Service

September 2, 2018 (Alpine) – The County is seeking public input on a proposed update to Alpine’s community plan.  County Planning and Development Services Department will hold a public scoping meeting on September 18, 2018 at 6 p.m. in the Alpine Library, 1752 Alpine Blvd.   See Notice of Preparation: https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/pds/CommunityGroups/AlpineCommunityPlanUpdate.html.

By Miriam Raftery

September 2, 2018 (Sacramento)—California ratepayers could be forced to pay for costs of the 2017 wildfires and some future firestorms caused by utilities’ equipment, if Senate Bill 901 currently on the Governor’s desk is signed into law. Consumers who wish to weigh in can call Governor Jerry Brown’s office at (916) 558-2840 or fax (916) 558-3160.

The language is in an omnibus bill that addresses many wildfire-related issues including wildfire prevention, response and recovery as well as funding for mutual aid, fuel reduction and forestry policies, wildfire mitigation plans by utilities and cost recovery by electricity utility corporations for wildfire-related damages.

All of East County’s legislators voted for the bill including Republicans Randy Voepel and Joel Anderson as well as Democrats Ben Hueso and Shirley Weber.

By Miriam Raftery

September 2, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – A new TV ad takes aim at Republican Congressman Duncan D. Hunter, who has been indicted on criminal corruption charges along with his wife. View it here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSPbbLKlQug&feature=youtu.be

“Every citizen has a responsibility to read this indictment. Forty-seven pages of  corruption and greed. Duncan Hunter Jr. stealing campaign funds for lavish vacations and gifts, defrauding wounded warriors, insulting our military,” states the ad funded by Hunter’s opponent, Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar.  

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

August 31, 2018 (San Diego's East County) --Long-time East County politician Joel Anderson (R-Alpine), likely didn’t intend to end his tenure in the California State Senate with accusations that he recently made a threat to strike a female lobbyist at the Diplomat Steakhouse Restaurant, across the street from the state Capitol in Sacramento.

Anderson, who is running for State Board of Equalization now that he is termed-out in the Senate, denies making a threat and says his words were misunderstood in a noisy restaurant.

Lobbyist Stephanie Roberson with the California Nurses Association has filed a complaint with the Senate Rule Committee. Another lobbyist who witnessed the incident said that Anderson approached Roberson to complain that the group didn’t endorse him. He allegedly made harassing comments about Roberson’s appearance and then said, “You better shut up before I bitch slap you.”

By Ana Nita

View video of the arraignment here:  https://youtu.be/I-youN7TlHU

August 29, 2018 (San Diego) -- After being indicted on 60 counts for wire fraud, campaign finance violation and falsifying records, Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine) and his wife, Margaret, were summoned last week to appear in front of a federal judge at the Edward J. Schwartz U.S. District Court, San Diego. 

Next meeting set for Sept. 6 in Lakeside as community seeks solutions to its growing homelessness problem

By Ana Nita

View video here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOWE1HAQS7c&feature=youtu.be

August 29, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- Eric J. Lund, Director of the East County Homeless Task Force and CEO of the East County Chamber of Commerce, announced last week that East County will receive $2 million out of the $18.8 million in state funding for San Diego County to solve the homelessness problem.

East County News Service

August 27, 2018 (San Diego) — The heat is on.  For those who may still be skeptics on climate change, the National Weather Service in San Diego has released statistics on record-breaking heat this summer in our region:

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Runway at Gillespie Field, where the plane departed from on Wednesday

August 26, 2018 (Descanso) — David Alan Derby, 77, of Santee and Ryan Michael Willis, 36, of San Diego were killed in a plane crash near Descanso on Wednesday.  The plane, a single-engine 1682G Champion 7KCAB, was owned by Derby’s company, Three Point Partners Inc.

TICKETS NOW ON SALE!

Saturday, August 25th 

6-10 p.m. (VIP reception at 5:30 p.m.)

Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center

One Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego

It’s the party of a decade!

East County Magazine invites you to join us at East County Fest, our 10^th anniversary celebration!  Proceeds benefit our East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts and our award-winning community news reporting.

Festivities include: Foods, wines, cider and beer from top restaurants, wineries and breweries in East County, wonderful artists, artisans, authors, athletes, communitiy leaders, live music and entertainment, raffle, auction, stargazing, guest speakers, a look back at the last 10 years and forward to the future!

Tables and individual tickets are available, plus there’s a VIP reception.  Buy a table or a VIP reception ticket and get our free “Best of East County” cookbook on a souvenir thumb drive as thanks, plus preferred parking, auction preview, gourmet goodies and more.

Our VIP party is catered by Bekker's Catering, known for their fabulous food for weddings and other special occasions, and sponsored by California Coast Credit Union. Our thanks to Bekker's for generously donating most of the delicious foods for the VIP reception.

Individual tickets: $65 ($60 for sustaining donors and dining club members) or for $20 extra add VIP reception ($85 total).

Tables: $480 ($60 a person) or $680  ($80 a person) with the VIP reception. 

This event is for age 21 and up.

CLICK ARROWS BELOW TO VIEW AND CHOOSE ALL PRICE OPTIONS.

  For all the delicious details, click "read more" and scroll down.

Hunter stripped of committee assignments over "deeply serious charges", House Speaker Paul Ryan acknowledges

Update: August 23, 2018: Congressman Hunter and his wife have entered not guilty pleas. ECM news partner 10 News has details: https://www.10news.com/news/rep-duncan-hunter-set-to-be-arraigned-follow....

By Miriam Raftery

August 22, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – Congressman Duncan D. Hunter and his wife, Margaret, have been indicted on federal charges of conspiring to commit wire fraud and falsifying campaign records to take over a quarter of a million dollars in campaign funds and use them for personal expenses, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced yesterday.

The indictment alleges that the Hunters also falsely represented personal expenses as purchases made to help wounded veterans and other charitable causes. in addition, a letter from Hunter's attorney to the Justice Department reveals, prosecutors suggest campaign funds were spent on "extramarital infidenlities and excessive drinking."