By Miriam Raftery

June 19, 2017 (San Diego) – The Department of Defense has released the names of seven sailors who were reported missing but have since been confirmed dead after the Navy destroyer USS Fitzgerald collided with a merchant vessel from the Philippines on Sunday, June 18^th at 2:30 a.m.

East County News Service

June 18, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – A new state program authorizes school districts to work with local water districts to provide free lead testing of drinking water at all school sites.  The results are in for Cajon Valley Union School District campuses, which draw water from three water agencies: Helix Water District, Otay Water District and Padre Dam Municipal Water District.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Mark Raftery celebrates Father's Day with tri-tip and sangria at Ramona Ranch Winery

June 18, 2017 (Ramona) – What could bring a smile to Dads more than savoring grilled tri-tip, wine and sangria on a canopied hilltop terrace?  Ramona Ranch Winery provided this idyllic setting, drawing a crowd for Father’s Day this afternoon despite  a pre-summer heat wave.

Between the Pages: Where trials become TRIUMPH!,  by Thais Sherell J., (N-Spired Productions, Edison, New Jersey, 2017, 116 pages).

Book Review by Dennis Moore

June 18, 2017 (San Diego) - Thais Sherell J., who characterizes herself as an “agent of change”, has written a provocative and soul-searching book about women and their presumed place in society. The author, who has written and produced television productions, stage productions, film productions, and magazine articles promoting healthy living in and after life’s storms, chronicles the trials and tribulations of Joyce A. McDonald in this riveting and insightful book; Between the Pages: Where trials become TRIUMPH! This well-written and thought provoking book provides plenty of food for thought.

Source: Sharp Grossmont Hospital

June 17, 2017 (La Mesa) - The Senior Resource Center at Sharp Grossmont Hospital offers free educational programs and health screenings each month. The Senior Resource Center also provides information and assistance for health information and community resources. For more information, call 619-740-4214. For other programs, call 1-800-827-4277 or visit our web site at www.sharp.com.

East County News Service

June 17, 2017 (Boulevard) – Anthony Saldana, 29, has been arrested after a rampage at a home in the 3400 block of Crestwood Road in Boulevard.  Fox 5 news reports that the 85-year-old homeowner spotted the suspect trying to steal his car around 4 a.m. and ordered him to leave.   

East County News Service

June 17, 2017 (Alpine) - This is an opportunity to be a part of Alpine’s history by purchasing a Commemorative Tile that will be displayed at the Historic Town Hall.

The tiles measure 4 x 4 inches and the cost is $250 per tile. On your tile you can have your name, children’s names, business name, dedicate a memorial tile for a loved one, or just be imaginative. The proceeds from the sale of these tiles go to the maintenance of the Town Hall.

New law goes into effect July 7; summer concerts and movies in parks to begin soon

Source:  East County Community Change Project

June 17, 2017 (Lemon Grove) -- Alcohol and marijuana are about to be prohibited at Lemon Grove’s eight city parks, just in time for summer family fun, according to city officials. The city council voted unanimously in May to take local control and make parks off limits to the use of marijuana in any form and all alcohol. While California’s new law under Prop. 64 makes recreational marijuana use legal for adults over 21, it is not legal to do so in public places. The council thought it was important enough to include it in the law.

By Jonathan Goetz

June 17, 2017 (Lemon Grove) - The Lemon Grove City Council is expected to approve a 1% or $139,990 increase to a general fund of $13,153,490 for the 2017-18 fiscal year this Tuesday, June 20. As last year’s tax revenue was lower than anticipated, the actual increase, if projections are accurate, is $704,000 or 6%.

By Miriam Raftery

June 16, 2017 (La Mesa) – Dr. James Veltmeyer, Chief of the Department of Family Medicine at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa, has proposed a new Medical Association Membership (MAM)  direct-payer health reform plan.   He has previously been named “Top Medical Doctor in San Diego,” for 2012, 2014, and 2016 according to his colleagues in the San Diego Medical Society,

He recently sat down for an interview with East County Magazine on KNSJ, which you can hear by clicking the audio link.

Dr. Veltmeyer has been a vocal critic of  the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare based in part on his wife, Laura, and her battle with breast cancer. 

East County News Service

June 17, 2017 (San Diego) – “I understand how concerned all of you are by the challenges facing our country, and so I look forward to another opportunity to hear from you,” says Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego), who will hold her next town hall meeting on Monday, June 19^th from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at San Diego State University’s Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union (6075 Aztec Circle Drive, San Diego).  Her district encompasses San Diego and parts of East County including La Mesa, Spring Valley and parts of El Cajon.

No RSVP is needed; the event will be first-come, first-served. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. The event will also be live-streamed; you will be able to view it here: https://www.facebook.com/RepSusanDavis/

Winners named in annual Lake Jennings Spring Photo Contest

Source:  Helix Water District

June 16, 2017 (Santee) - Have you ever imagined the beauty of intense light sparkling from a rippled lake surface?  Or the majesty of birds in flight, riding a cool breeze just inches above a glass-smooth body of water?  Twenty-four photographers captured these images and many more and entered them in Helix Water District’s Lake Jennings Spring Photo Contest.     

East County News Service

June 15, 2017 (Lakeside) - The Barona Cultural Center & Museum invites kids in grades K-2 and their parents to listen to the book Way Out in the Desert and take an exciting musical tour of the Sonoran Desert as part of the latest Keyip! Kechuw! (Listen! Make!) Native American themed story time and craft event on Saturday, June 24 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.  Keyip! Kechuw! is a free monthly program designed to inspire young children to read, have fun learning, and get creative. The events are held at the Lakeside Library located at 9839 Vine Street.

East County News Service

June 15, 2017 (Spring Valley) – The Sheriff’s SWAT team and Rancho San Diego Crime Suppression Team, along with Sheriff’s deputies, served a search warrant at the Cookie Club Collective marijuana dispensary at 8783 Troy Street in Spring Valley. The warrant was the result of numerous complaints from concerned citizens about the illegal dispensary, says Sergeant Matt Cook.

Source:  Attorney General Becerra's office

June 15, 2017 (Sacramento) - California Attorney General Xavier Becerra today issued a consumer alert to warn Californians about a tobacco scam circulating on the internet. The scam suggests individuals can sign up to receive payments under the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement. This is false, as individuals are not entitled to receive payments under the Agreement, which is between state governments and tobacco companies. All payments under the Settlement are made to state and local governments.