East County News Service

September 26, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes the La Mesa Oktoberfest, El Cajon’s summer concert season finale, opening weekend of El Cajon’s Oktoberfest, fall concerts at Cuyamaca College, and an art reception for Padre Johnson at Cuyamaca College.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including the Ramona Air Fair and Fly-In, the Laguna Mountain Rendezvous, Kids Care Fest in Lakeside, the Borrego Days celebration, El Cajon’s Haunt Fest on Main, a Haunted Elks Lodge, a Halloween Harvest Family Festival on Mt. Helix, a spooky sleepover at Lions Tigers and Bears in Alpine, and the Boulevard BOO Parade.

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

East County News Service

September 28, 2017 (El Cajon) - The German America Club of San Diego hosts its annual Oktoberfest at its headquarters (1017 Mollison Ave.) in El Cajon over two weekends, September 29^th through October 1^st and again October 6^th through 8^th.

By Dr. Anthony D. McIvor

September 28, 2017 (La Mesa) --The City Council is understandably embarrassed by its serial fumbles on Little Flower Haven’s future. Having the four lawyers who sit on the dais (three Councilmembers and the City Attorney) publicly schooled by a lone attorney from Silvergate Development must have hurt. Most folks can understand that.

But the peevish attempt to shift culpability for the Little Flower fiasco by discrediting and then threatening to abolish the Design Review Board (DRB) resists all understanding. Burying the DRB in the Planning Commission would be a significant loss for residents. Here’s why.

By Miriam Raftery

September 26, 2017 (Santee) – Today, County Communications specialist Gig Conaughton reported that 11 cases of Hepatitis A have been diagnosed in Santee.

In response to a request from East County Magazine, the city of Santee responded that it has been working closely with the County Health and Human Services Agency to address the Hepatitis A virus outbreak by taking preventative measures to protect local residents.

By Miriam Raftery

September 27, 2017 (San Diego) – Today the California Supreme Court denied a request by the San Diego County Water Authority (CWA) to reverse a Court of Appeals decision in June that allows the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) to include its State Water Project costs in rates it charges to transport CWA’s independent Colorado River supplies through MWD’s pipeline and aqueduct.

See below for statements in full from the CWA and MWD.

Source:  San Diego County Grand Jury

September 27, 2017 (San Diego) - Jeff Bryson, a retired San Diego State University psychology professor, was named chairperson of the 2017-2018 San Diego County Grand Jury, which began service on July 10, 2017.

The jury members, six women and 13 men, were drawn by lot from 90 volunteer applicants.  They serve for one year under a state constitution mandate that counties establish the full-time "watchdog" panels to look into the workings of city and county governmental agencies.

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Story and photos by Liz Alper

September 27, 2017 (La Mesa) - It’s been a little cold the last few days, but it’s starting to warm up again and it’s perfect water polo weather as the varsity Santana Sultans boys--who are having an impressive season so far, sporting a 6-2 record (but 0-1 in league) made the trip to Helix to take on the Highlanders, who aren’t doing as hot at 4-7 overall and 0-2 in league play.

By Miriam Raftery

September 27, 2017 (Mt. Helix) – Michael Todd Littlefield, 50, was taken into custody Monday on Weston Road near Grandview in the Mt. Helix area.  “Littlefield had a felony warrant for auto theft,” Ryan Keim, Media Relations Director for the San Diego Sheriff department informed East County Magazine.

September 27, 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

•         Buyer’s remorse? Chargers could reportedly move back to San Diego (Times of San Diego)
•        Borrego Springs trying to deal with underground water crisis (San Diego Union-Tribune)
•         Lemon Grove moving on climate action plan (San Diego Union-Tribune)
•         Cox Communications to begin charging heavy Internet users who exceed monthly data caps (San Diego Union-Tribune)
•        Diabetes-Related Amputations Up Significantly in California — and San Diego (KPBS)
•        State seeks more documents from El Cajon councilman's beauty pageant (San Diego Union-Tribune)
•         New FBI Data Places San Diego Among 2016's Safest Cities Nationwide (KPBS)
•          CCAs Have Value Far Beyond Just Price (Voice of San Diego)

STATE

•        A Tale of Two States: California Loses and Texas Wins Under GOP Health Plan (KQED)
•         University of California Blows Big Money on Gold-Plated Pensions (Reason)
•        What a difference three days makes: How voters shook up California’s Legislature (Cal Matters)
•        Solar growth threatened by trade ruling, with Trump to have final say (San Francisco Chronicle)
•        Lawsuit accuses MWD of predatory water diversions in Riverside, Imperial counties (San Diego Union-Tribune)

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

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Existing border fence in Campo

September 27, 2017 (San Diego) – Construction of eight border wall prototypes, each costing up to a half million dollars, is now underway in Otay Mesa.  After testing of alternative materials and designs built here, President Donald Trump aims to erect a wall along the entire U.S.- Mexico border at a cost of some $60 billion.  But it is unclear why San Diego was chosen for the prototypes and many local officials have raised concerns.

East County News Service

Photo:  (from left to right):  Marla Black, Junior Achievement of San Diego County; Wendy McKinney, American Red Cross of San Diego and Imperial Counties; Martha King, King Schools; Van Tran, Sharp Grossmont Hospital; Michelle Bergquist, Connected Women of Influence; Kristine Costa, Waste Management, Inc.; Barbara Ryan, Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego; Bonnie Rush, Breast Imaging Specialists.

September 26, 2017 (La Mesa) – The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce recently honored eight women with 2017 Women in Leadership Luncheon (WILL) awards. Now in its 15th year, the annual WILL event honors women for their outstanding leadership, exemplary character and integrity in the community, as well as their efforts to empower women to succeed and prosper in life and business, Chamber officials said. The awards event was held Friday, Sept. 22 at the Town and Country Resort Hotel in Mission Valley

Source:  Sycuan

September 26, 2017 (El Cajon) – Rick Michel, a master impressionist who has performed and headlined in Las Vegas since 1981, will present “Sinatra Forever,” a show focusing on the music of Frank Sinatra. Michel has been called “the closest thing to Sinatra we have ever heard” by Variety.

Update:  The CPUC has announced it will hold this agenda item slated for the Thursday morning hearing, meaning no vote will be taken on this agenda item.  Public comment will still be accepted before all five commissioners at the start of the mornng hearing .

Public comment will also be taken during an all parties meeting later in the day, but not all commisioners will be present at the later meeting. See more details at the end of this story.

By Miriam Raftery

September 26, 2017 (San Diego) –The California Public Utilities Commission will hold a public hearing Thursday at 9:30 a.m. in the Chula Vista City Council Chambers  (276 Fourth Ave., Chula Vista) on the CPUC’s proposed decision to deny SDG&E’s application to charge ratepayers $379 million for recovery of its uninsured losses related to the 2007 Witch, Rice and Guejito wildfires.  A similar request for $594 million was previously denied in 2012.

SDG&E sought to recover those losses through a Wildfire Expense  Memorandum Account (WEMA).  The proposed decision against SDG&E has drawn praise from some, including Supervisor Dianne Jacob, but concerns from others including a fire survivor and intervener in the case.  Some ratepayer advocates also warn that the CPUC could  change its mind on the proposed denial of SDG&E’s WEMA application or postpone action following ex-parte lobbying efforts by the utility company.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Screenshot, CNN debate

September 26, 2017 (Washington D.C.) -- In a lively debate on the future of healthcare in America hosted by CNN last night, Republicans Lindsay Graham (R-SC) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) authors of a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare) sought to defend their measure while admitting they lack enough votes for passage. 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Washing hands for at least 20 seconds with soap is an important step you can take to prevent spread of Hepatitis A.

September 25, 2017 (La Mesa) – After the County’s emergency declaration over Hepatitis A,  ECM learned that eight cases have been reported in La Mesa and at least six cases in Santee. So we asked both cities what steps they are taking to  address this public health problem.