East County News Service

February 14, 2017 (San Diego) – The Pacific Southwest Wildlife Arts, Inc. (PSWA) will present its 44th annual California Open Wildlife Art Festival, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 18 and 19, at Liberty Station in San Diego’s Point Loma area. The festival, open to the public, will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both weekend days at Liberty Station’s Corky McMillin Event Center, NTC Promenade, 2875 Dewey Road, San Diego. Admission is $5 per person per day, and children under 12 years of age are free. For more information, visit www.PSWA.net.

Crash raises concerns from flight school neighbors

By Miriam Raftery

February 14, 2017 (Ramona) – A Cessna registered to the American Aviation Academy and flying out of Gillespie Field as an instructor/student flight on Sunday crashed onto a mountainside in Ramona, killing Shaira Noor, 21, of Bangladesh. She had been training at the academy for nine months. Noor was in the backseat of the Cessna and was impaled by a tree on impact, which killed her instantly.

Two other occupants survived, climbing to an elevated area and using cell phones to call for help, the Sheriff’s department reports.

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo:  Steve Gardner and his son with their newly adopted dog.

February 13, 2017 (San Diego) - Love is in the air at County Animal Services. Adopt any dog through Valentine’s Day and get half off the adoption fees. Then pucker up for the Valentine’s Day kissing booth!

Quiet Thoughts, by Jacqueline Carr (Creatspace, 2016, 60 pages)

Book Review by Dennis Moore

“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or

the mirror that reflects it.”

- Edith Wharton -

February 13, 2017 (San Diego) - Jacqueline Carr, who has been a freelance contributor to the East County Magazine in San Diego – having written a review of New York Times Bestselling author Caitlin Rother’s book Naked Addiction, has now written her own book, Quiet Thoughts. This splendid and insightful book of poetry, is reflective of Carr’s background as an Adjunct Instructor at York College (CUNY), and literary enthusiast. She is also the author of another book on poetry, A Selected Few Just For You.

East County News Service

February 13, 2017 (Lakeside) - With Zika and West Nile Virus in the news, now is a perfect time to get educated.  San Diego County Vector Control's Michelle Christina will lend her expertise on these fascinating insects and how to live with them at a free program hosted by the Lakeside River Park Conservancy (12108 Industry Rd., Lakeside) on Saturday, Feb. 25^th at 10 a.m.

East County News Service

February 13, 2017 (San Diego) – The County of San Diego will present “Love Your Heart Day,” a crucial first step towards preventing heart disease, on Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, Feb. 14. 

East County News Service

February 12, 2017 (Borrego Springs) — The Borrego Days Desert Festival faces possible cancellation this year due to a shortage of sponsors, the Borrego Sun reports. The festival has taken place for the past 52 years as a tradition to welcome snowbirds who flock to the desert each winter with a parade and other activities. 

SDSU records 20 hits in weekend finale

Source: goaztecs.com

Photo:  West Hills High graduate Katie Byrd and Zaria Meshack (right) combined for six of SDSU's 20 hits in a 16-7 win over Weber State.  Courtesy goaztecs.com

February 12, 2017 (Los Angeles) - The San Diego State softball team scored the first 10 runs of the game and the final six in a 16-7 victory over Weber State in the final game of UCLA’s Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament Sunday in Los Angeles. The Aztecs (2-3), who came into Sunday with 28 hits through their first four games, had 20 today in the victory.

Story, photos and video by Billy Ortiz (Lakeside)

February 12, 2017 (Lakeside) -- The Lakeside Optimists are a great group helping out our community.  Yesterday they were at Lake Jennings in Lakeside for the annual "Kids Day", where all kids under 10 were allowed to fish for free at Lake Jennings.

Protesters storm town halls, march on Wall Street and call for national strike Feb. 17

By May Strong

February 11, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) - It’s been a rough week for some Republican Congressional members backing the Trump agenda, as well as for a cabinet appointee.  They’ve been dogged by vocal protests at airports, town hall meetings, schools and even their own homes. Meanwhile a national strike is being organized on February 17 for all who seek to resist Trump.

By Miriam Raftery

February 11, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – Information on Animal Welfare Act violations has been taken down off the Department of Agriculture’s website under the Trump administration.  The action has outraged animal rights activists and consumers, who rely on the information to check complaints of animal abuse including puppy mills, horse racing, zoos, circuses, laboratories and other facilities.

East County News Service

Photo:  Iraqi church leaders and families held prayer vigil in 2015 for Christians detained 6 months or more at ICE facility in Otay Mesa

February 11, 2017 (Sacramento) — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, along with the state attorney general from Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, yesterday filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in Jennings v Rodriguez, a case involving the federal government’s authority to detain non-citizens pending completion of their removal proceedings.

Nevada out-scored SDSU 32-20 in the fourth quarter

Source: goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

February 11, 2017 (Reno, Nev.) - San Diego State women’s basketball was able to keep their Mountain West game with Nevada within reach for three quarters, but could not counteract a stupendous fourth quarter by the Wolfpack, dropping its game at Nevada, 88-65.

East County News Service

February 11, 2017 (La Mesa) -- Councilwoman Dianne Jacob honored Katie Stinchcomb, a La Mesa resident, with a proclamation that recognized it to be “Katie Stinchcomb Day” on Feb 10^th.