By Devoreo Bell

September 2, 2015 (San Diego)--The San Diego County Water Authority is owed $188.3 million plus interest from the Los Angeles-based Metropolitan Water District, a judge has affirmed in a final ruling which found Metropolitan charged illegal rates to the San Diego district from 2011 to 2014.

August 31, 2015 (El Cajon)--Don your Hawaiian shirt, sarong or other festive attire and join us this Saturday, September 5 from 4 to 7 p.m. at East County Magazine's Tropical Party as we celebrate summer's end and watch the sunset atop the roof of our studio building in El Cajon (1625 East Main St., just off the Greenfield exit from I-8)   Savor the flavors of the tropics:

 Tropical feast  including coconut curry &  tropical chicken from Pick Up Stix, Pina Berry Colada & Champagne Mango Cakes from Grove Pastry Shop, island-fresh pineapple from Baron’s Market.

Pacific Islanders Beer and Wine-tasting with San Pasqual Winery (award-winning wines including passionfruit!)

Live entertainment:  Reggae music by Ed Barrena & musical theater by Visionary Dance Theatre. 

Prize drawings & silent auction: Padres tickets, Italian dinner lover's basket, wine lover's basket with premium vintages, "Hairspray" musical theater tickets, pottery by Get Centered Clay, Kwai Sun studio passes (yoga, pilates, karate, fitness and more), dance lessons, beach-goers basket, Water Conservation Garden memberships, Santee Lakes fishing and pedal boat passes, Urban Jungle passes, Hawaiian wear, hand-crafted treasure chest, & more!   SPACE LIMITED: EARLY RSVP STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.

By Miriam Raftery

File photo: Black jaguar

September 1, 2015 (Cedar Creek Falls) – Last year, East County Magazine ran a two-part series  on numerous reported sightings of large black wildcats in our region :

http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/are-black-wildcats-prowling-east-county

http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/hello-kitty-more-black-wildcat-reports-surface

Today, we received an email from Chris and Peter Ruth, Forest Service volunteers and trail head hosts at Cedar Creek Falls.  “We now have had two reports of a black `cat-like’ animal down by the falls,” they wrote, adding that there is water in the pond though the waterfall is dry this time of year.

Multiple hikers reported seeing a “large black animal” resembling a big cat in a tree near the falls in San Diego's backcountry in Cleveland National Forest between Julian and Descanso. The sightings were reported to the ranger.  In addition, the Forest Service volunteers state, “Today, two female volunteers who hike the trail and pick up trash heard growling noises three times. With the drought, we wonder if animals are frequenting the pond to get water.”

East County News Service

Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

August 29, 2015 (La Mesa) – The Albertson’s grocery store on Fletcher Parkway in La Mesa was evacuated around 2 a.m. on August 26^th due to a fire the erupted in trees between the store and State Route 125.

By Miriam Raftery

August 28, 2015 (San Diego) – Native American dancer Chuck Cadotte seeks public help to find his lost regalia, or ceremonial attire which he lost en route to the Tachi pow-wow north of our region. A box containing the regalia festooned with many eagle feathers fell off the roof of his vehicle somewhere along his pre-dawn route this morning, which stared at Balboa Avenue onto 805 north, then I-5 north and the 405 freeway before the Castaic Lake exit, where he discovered the treasured items were missing.

“I’m at a loss,” he posted on his Facebook page.  “If anyone out there has found my regalia items on the freeway, please, please call me to return my feathers.” It is illegal for non-Native Americans to possess eagle feathers, which are considered sacred in Native American culture.  Cadotte adds that he has a permit to prove his right to possess them. His phone is 619-929-2875.

East County News Service

August 27, 2015 (Jamul) – A 75-year-old man driving a Chevy Blazer is dead of injuries sustained in a crash that occurred at 12:50 p.m. on State Route 94 west of Steele Canyon Road in unincorporated San Diego County near Jamul.

According to Officer Kevin Pearlstein from the California Highway Patrol, the  elderly driver’s vehicle drifted across a turn lane and into oncoming traffic, striking a Toyota Sienna taxi head-on.

By Miriam Raftery

August 27, 2015 (Sacramento)—Senate Bill 350 aspires to set new standards for renewable energy in California that the authors day will grow the state’s economy and improve public health by cutting petroleum use, increasing energy efficiency in existing buildings. But opponents contend that raising taxes on gas and vehicle users’ fees would create economic hardship for some Californians.

City Manager announces a successor to replace retiring Police Chief Jim Redman

August 24, 2015 (El Cajon)--City Manager Douglas Williford announced today that Police Captain Jeffery “Jeff” Davis will become El Cajon’s next Chief of Police on December 5, 2015. Davis, a long-time member of the El Cajon Police Department, will replace retiring Chief Jim Redman. Earlier this month, Redman announced that he will retire on December 4, 2015.

August 22, 2015 (Poway)--The Most Rev. Samir Hana Kafity, twelfth president-bishop and primate of Jerusalem and the Middle East, and bishop-in-residence at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Poway, died on Friday afternoon at home after a stroke. He was 81 years old.

August 24, 2015 (San Diego)--The California Transportation Commission (CTC), San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), and San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce are hosting a public forum on Tuesday in San Diego on road infrastructure and maintenance needs at the local, regional and state level.  The forum from 4 to 6 p.m. will be held at the CALTRANS building’s Garcia auditorium at 4050 Taylor St., San Diego.

Representatives from the CTC, SANDAG, and the Chamber will discuss the reasons for California’s deteriorating transportation system, and potential short-term and long-term funding solutions to stabilize road repair and maintenance funding. Topics to be covered include:

East County News Service

August 21, 2015 (San Diego) – A suspected drunk driver who ran a light at Golfcrest and Navajo road struck and killed Rocia De Anda Leamon, a 38-year-old mother of three teenage sons.  The young mother was crossing the street to go walking on Cowles Mountain as she did daily, when she was hit and thrown 57 feet, landing face down on the pavement, the Union-Tribune reports.

By Miriam Raftery

August 21, 2015 (La Mesa) – “Although we have been asking to cut back on water, please do not let the trees dry,” Helix Water Board member Kathleen Coates Hedberg urges customers.  She provided a flyer with tips for how to water your trees within the district’s guidelines and keep them alive during the drought , such as  using soaker hoses that are exempt from level 2 drought restrictions.

Here are some benefits that trees provide--and tips for how to keep your shade or fruit trees healthy even in the drought:

August 18, 2015 (San Diego)-- San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has issued a reminder to the public about the importance of calling 8-1-1 before you dig. Last year, nearly 283 natural gas lines were damaged by third-party contractors or residents, which is an increase from the same time period in 2014.

East County News Service

August 17, 2015 (Sacramento)--California’s Department of Education is being sued for denying access to records on the number of students who are English language learners.  The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area and Public Counsel has filed a lawsuit in Sacramento County Superior Court to obtain the records pursuant to the California Public Records Act.