By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Daren Sefcik

June 1, 2017 (Borrego Springs) – The 47^th annual Anza Borrego bighorn sheep count is set for  June 29^th through July 1^st,  with a mandatory orientation on June 17^th for all new counters and recommended for those who participated in the past.   The count will go on despite the death of its long-time leader, Ranger Steve Bier. 

“We were unable to find the master sheep count mailing list,”  states a letter from Anza Borrego Desert State Park Superintendent Kathy Dice and volunteer Sheep County Coordinator Mark Jorgensen, who are organizing a new sheep counting team. If you know of counters,  please forward their contact information to AB.Sheepcount@parks.ca.gov.

East County News Service

June 1, 2017 (Julian) --Sons of the American Legion will present the 11^th annual Julian Dance on June 10^th from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. The backcountry dance and barbecue features music by Three Chord Justice and the California Rangers, a large dance floor, plus dinner slow-cooked Santa Maria style over open oak-wood flames. 

This event is described as a “throwback to a simpler time with twinkly lights and bonfires backdropped by dark mountain skies,” a time for mountain residents and visitors to get together for a great time.

East County News Service

May 31, 2017 (San Diego) – Amie Brenner knew she needed to do more to help animals in need.  After volunteering at the Helen Woodward Animal Center for over a year, and having two rescue animals of her own, she decided to start a company designing and selling rescue themed phone cases.  Her company, PhoneCasesToTheRescue, donates 15% back to the rescues and shelters and has already seen the positive impact the proceeds have made, which is her entire goal. 

East County News Service

May 31, 2017 (Santee) — The Santee Sheriff’s station will host a coffee with the community on Monday, June 12 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Cameron Family YMCA pool deck, 10123 Riverwalk Drive in Santee.

UPDATE:  Date changed to June 3

Source:  Saps at Sea

March 9, 2017 (Spring Valley) - The Saps at Sea, the local Laurel & Hardy fan club, continues its 39th Anniversary Year on May 27 with a gathering of marvelous movie delights and hijinks!

By Jordan Damond

May 31, 2017 (Washington D.C.) -- Ever since President Donald Trump released his budget plan for 2018, it’s caused an uproar among concerned citizens and some members of Congress. Many have deemed the plan illogical or harmful, while others defend and even praise it.

May 31, 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

• San Diego kids plead to get their parents back after immigration raid (10 News)
• Ice raid near National City schools:  parents arrested, children left unattended (San Diego Free Press)
• How Trump’s proposed budget could affect San Diego County (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Sempra VP surprises, say 100 percent renewable grid is possible now (iNewsource)
• Solana Beach Becomes First in County to Opt for Alternative Energy Program (KPBS)
• San Diego DROP pensioners return for more city pay (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• San Diego Among Cities with Largest Population Growth (KPBS)
• San Diegans Pay Some of the Highest Water Rates in the State and Country (Voice of San Diego)
• Religious Liberty Group Suing San Diego Schools Over CAIR-backed 'Islamophobia’ Program (Jewish World Review)

STATE

• The price tag on universal health care is in, and it’s bigger than California’s budget (Sacramento Bee)
• Can I get fired for using legal recreational marijuana?  An FAQ for California workers (Sacramento Bee)
• Amendment proposed to give control of UCOP budget to state legislature (Daily Bruin)
• Edison violated San Onofre testing rules, NRC says (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• More government transparency needed in California (San Jose Mercury News)
• California desert town Adelanto plans its future around pot (Marketplace.org)
• Brown's top aide gets $300 ethics fine, critics say that's low (San Diego Union-Tribune)

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

May 31, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting-edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Study finds 73% of sunscreens don’t even work – how to find one that does (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
• Autism symptoms of five boys increase improve in early trial of century-old drug (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Parents discuss how autistic children improved after receiving experimental drug (SDUT)
• Zika detected in India for first time (Associated Press)
• Fitness trackers poor at measuring calories burned (BBC)
• Thousands of known bugs found in pacemaker codes (BBC)
• Trump's Medicaid 'Cuts' Actually Increase Federal Spending (Reason)
• Zika struck Florida up to 40 times before detection (San Diego Union-Tribune)

SCIENCE & TECH

• Mark Zuckerberg’s great American road trip (New York Times)
• Google plans to track credit card spending (BBC)
• NASA’s Jupiter mission reveals the ‘brand new and unexpected’ (New York Times)

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

By Miriam Raftery

May 30, 2017 (San Diego) – Your Internet provider can now legally sell your browsing history and your email address, without your consent—thanks to legislation signed into law by President Trump.   The measure passed the Senate by just 2 votes and the House by 10 votes. San Diego Republican Congressmen Duncan Hunter and Darrell Issa both voted for the measure – after taking $19,000 and $66,275 from the telecommunications industry respectively. 

Source: Ramona H.E.A.R.T. Murals

Photo:  artist, Bob Teague (left) with Kenneth Tinsley, a member of the committee who helped with the installation.

May 30, 2017 (Ramona) – A dedication ceremony for the “Country Lifestyle Mural,” sponsored by the San Diego Country Estates Association, will be held on Saturday, June 3, 2017, beginning at 10 a.m. at the site of the mural at 325 10^th Street, Ramona CA 92065.  The public is invited to attend. In addition to refreshments, attendees will receive a picture of the mural, autographed by the artist.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

May 30, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – An Uber driver and passenger had an unexpectedly rough ride when a broken water main shortly before dawn caused a sinkhole to open up on Pecan  Park Lane at Olde Highway 80 in unincorporated El Cajon, just east of Lake Jennings Park Road. 

According to 10 News, crews responding to a report of the broken water main found  the vehicle in a huge sink hole that had formed.

 “This campaign is about solving economic injustice, regardless of your views or hues. Regardless of whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat, pain is pain.”—Ammar Campa-Najjar

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

May  29, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Earlier this month, we sat down for an in-depth interview with Ammar Campa-Najjar, a Democrat running for the 50^th Congressional  district seat held by Republican Duncan Hunter.  (Hear the full interview, which aired on KNSJ radio, by clicking the audio link and scroll down for highlights.)

 He has a rare combination of qualifications, with  background in helping promote job creation both as public affairs officer for the Labor Department under President Obama and as director of communications for the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. 

A native San Diegan of Hispanic and Arab descent, he’s also  the son of immigrants and a Christian who’s worked with his church to help working people and  deported veterans.   Now he says he’s running to listen to the problems faced by all people in the district,  use his experience in Washington to bring good-paying jobs to East County including rural areas, and bring “national pride, not national shame” as our region’s representative in Congress.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos:  Norm Case examines Civil War drum played at the Battle of Shiloh  (photo, left) by his ancestor, Philo L. Case (photo, right)

May 28, 2017 (Ramona)--Philo Case, a drummer in the Union Army, played the long roll that called troops to arms during the battle of Shiloh, one of the bloodiest conflicts in the Civil War.  This Memorial Day weekend, his drum is on display at Hatfield Creek Winery in Ramona at 2 p.m. each day. 

Norm Case, Philo's descendent, shared the amazing history handed down through his family -- a tale that includes not only Civil War stories, but also a mystery involving another branch of his family tree that includes the niece of John Wilkes Booth.  Case says she's told him her family has kept a secret for generations--claiming her uncle came to Yakima, Washington and asked that his presence be kept secret -- after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Jacques Sapier serves up a glass of peach and cherry sangria

May 28, 2017 (Ramona) – What better way to start off summertime than sipping sangrias on a stone patio in the noontime sun?  At Vineyard Grant James, a sangria contest  began Friday and continues through Monday for Memorial Day reason. 

Savor three tasty options – peach cherry, lemonade or a red wine and jalapeño based sangria—and then vote for your favorite.  Glimpsing the jarful of ballots, the votes appeared split between all three of these creative choices, which went well with a delightful  locally made cheese that we savored as well.

East County News Service

May 27, 2017 (Sycuan) – Superstars On Stage will be performing at Sycuan’s Live & Up Close theatre on July 7 and 8.”Incredible costumes, choreography and the best  tribute artists in the world recreate the magical, on-stage performances of some of the biggest stars to ever grace the stage,” a press release from Sycuan states.  Tribute artists appearing as Tina Turner, Rod Stewart, Whitney Houston and Elvis perform their greatest hits in this high-energy Las Vegas style production show.