East County News Service

April 24, 2017 (El Cajon) – In a month when most Americans just paid their income taxes, the owner of Cunningham’s Tax Service in El Cajon has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for preparing phony tax returns. 

Story and photos by Chris Stone

Reprinted from Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association.

April 23, 2017 (San Diego) - Ralph Keeling and Lynn Talley of Scripps Institution of Oceanography aren’t household names. But they lent their scientific weight Saturday to an event that attracted a reported 15,000 people downtown.

SDSU leads the country with a .359 average this season

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

April 23, 2017 (Boise) - The San Diego State softball team scored 10 runs over the first four innings and never looked back in a 10-6 win Sunday afternoon at Boise State. The victory gave the Aztecs (25-15, 9-6 MW) the series over the Broncos (25-17, 7-11 MW).

By Miriam Raftery

“I will argue that my minority and low income citizens have just as much right to be fairly represented as San Diego and Chula Vista.”—Lemon Grove Councilman Jerry Jones

April 23, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Assembly Bill 805  passed the Assembly Local Government Committee on Wednesday by a 5-4 vote.  The measure claims to  reform SANDAG,  but in fact gives virtually all power to the cities of San Diego and Chula Vista, leaving East County cities and other communities in our county powerless to add agenda items to benefit other cities or block objectionable measures at SANDAG, the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and North County Transit District.

Now East County cities are fighting back.   On Tuesday, La Mesa’s City Council will consider a proposal from Council members Bill Baber and Kristine Alessio to hire a legislative lobbyist to advocate on La Mesa’s behalf against AB 805, which was authored by Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), according to the agenda.

El Cajon’s City Council has voted to oppose AB 805, as did Lemon Grove and La Mesa.  East County Assemblyman Randy Voepel, former Mayor of Santee, voted against the measure in committee.

By Miriam Raftery

April 23, 2017 (La Mesa) – At the Helix Water Board meeting on Wednesday, the board will discuss funding for Harry Griffen Park in La Mesa, at the request of director Mark Gracyk.  For the past five years, Helix has contributed 35 percent of the park’s operation and maintenance costs. Last year, that amounted to $158,629 donated by Helix.

East County News Service

April 22, 2017 (Campo-Lake Morena) – The Campo Lake Morena Planning Group meets Monday, April 24^th at 7 p.m. at the Mountain Empire Community Center (976 Seridan Rd., Campo).   

The agenda includes a discussion about low-flying military helicopters over communities, a proposed change in state law regarding parks funding, and a review of applicants for a board vacancy.  Applications are still being accepted. 

Scroll down to view full agenda.

By Miriam Raftery

Hear our complete interview by clicking the audio link,  and scroll down for highlights

April 22, 2017 (Ramona) – In an exclusive interview with East County Magazine aired on KNSJ Radio April 3^rd,  Pierre “Pete” Beauregard talked about his candidacy challenging Republican Duncan Hunter in the 50th Congressional district.

“My motto is `country over politics,’” says Beauregard, a Ramona rancher,  and formerMarine Corp medic who later helped start a medical clinic to help low-income people.  He’s worked as a cowboy, enjoys hunting and fishing,  and  is  ex-rodeo bull rider who believes  he’s tough enough to take on Hunter and stand up against Washington lobbyists if elected.  ““Once you ride a 2,000 pound bull,” he reflects, “Why in the hell should I be afraid of you?”

Story and photo by Miriam Raftery

April 21, 2017 (El Cajon) -- The El Cajon Library, located at 201 E. Douglas Avenue in El Cajon, will host its first Monarch Butterfly Festival, in partnership with San Diego Master Gardeners and the Water Conservation Garden organization, on Saturday, May 13, 2017, from 1 – 4 pm.   Beautiful orange and black monarch butterflies are both year-round San Diego residents and winter migration visitors.  Their numbers have greatly declined over the years and festival visitors can learn about them and how to help increase their numbers by planting a monarch butterfly garden.  Having a butterfly garden is a popular and fun family activity.  Even if you don’t have room for a garden, you can plant milkweed in pots.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Jeff Holz at Equestrian Center in Santee

April 21, 2017 (Santee) — San Diego County Fire Chiefs, along with fire agencies across the region, held their annual wildland fire preparedness exercises April 19-21 in Santee and Tierrasanta to prepare for the upcoming fire season.

East County News Service

April 21, 2017 (San Diego) – District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis yesterday announced she will retire on July 7^th.   She is considering running to replace Supervisor Ron Roberts, who is serving his last term due to term limits, according to a letter from Dumanis published by 10 News.

April 21, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting-edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Report Shows Spike in San Diego County Babies Born with Drugs in Their Systems (KPBS)
• Lead Impacted Hundreds of San Diego Kids Even Before the Latest Scare (Voice of San Diego)
• About half of physicians support single-payer healthcare system, LinkedIn survey says (Healthcare Finance)
• What Doesn't Kill You Can Maim: Unexpected Injuries from Opioids (NPR)
• What Happens to a Congressman's Health Insurance if Obamacare Goes Down? (NPR)

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

• How a melting Arctic changes everything (Bloomberg)
• The fingerprint sensor on your smartphone might not be foolproof (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• ‘Star Wars’-style desert moisture farming: New tech brings it a step closer (CS Monitor)
• Electric Concrete at Airports Could Save Us All from Winter Flight Delays (Travel and Leisure)

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

East County News Service

April 21, 2017 (El Cajon) -- As natural disasters continue to grow and become more destructive, emergency responders, such as CAL FIRE San Diego, are becoming increasingly dependent on community volunteer organizations. One such organization that has been called on to assist is San Diego County’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). When activated through their sponsoring agency, CERT members can find themselves working in close cooperation with local first responders; augmenting their numbers and aiding their neighbors that have been affected by a disaster. Skills that CERT members have been trained in can include basic first-aid, volunteer organization and search and rescue. CERT members were activated as recently as last year during the Border Fire in Potrero and quickly became an integral part of the community response by helping families and property owners that were impacted by the fire which ultimately grew to nearly 7700 acres over two weeks.

April 20, 2017 (San Diego) -- The Invest in San Diego Families Coalition invites you to join a series of Town Hall meetings throughout the county to discuss the San Diego County’s $5.4 billion budget and how it can better serve communities. The ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties and other members of the Invest in San Diego Families encourage you to demand smart, impactful investment in San Diego and programs that will ensure more of its residents thrive.  A meeting in East County’s 2^nd Supervisorial district will be held on May 22^nd at La Mesa Methodist Church.

East County News Service

April 20, 2017 (Lakeside) — You can learn the ins and outs of backyard chicken care from chicken expert Richard Edwords on Saturday, May 13^th at 1 p.m.  This educational program will be held at the Lakeside River Park Foundation at 12108 Industry Road in Lakeside.

East County News Service

April 19, 2017 (Ramona) – Hatfield Creek Vineyards in Ramona invites you to savor a sunset dinner on May 14^th at 4 p.m. The menu will include: