By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

April 17, 2017 (El Cajon) -- The City of El Cajon Recreation Department will be hosting an afternoon of pool safety and fun - called “April Pools Day” on Friday, April 28 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.  The event features a free lifejacket give-away, sun safety information, CPR mini lessons, crafts, water safety tips, and FREE open swim.

By Miriam Raftery

April 17, 2017 (Santee) – Santee Lakes is an idyllic place to let kids enjoy the simple pleasures of childhood.  On a sunny afternoon over spring break, kids at the lakes gleefully discovered their inner Tom Sawyer or Becky Thatcher. 

I spotted a group of kids piloting a pedal boat around one of several islands in the lake.   A large Canada Goose skidded to a water landing in front of another pedal boat, where a startled dad snapped photos while his kids looked on, pointing with delight.  

East County News Service

April 17, 2017 (El Cajon) — “Every Mother’s Son,” an Investigation Discovery TV show episode about the disappearance of Elija “Bear” Diaz, will air on April 23^rd at 7 p.m.

Diaz vanished in the middle of the night of August 29, 2015 from his El Cajon home and his family suspects he met with foul play. A member of the Barona Band of Mission Indians, he was 20 years old at the time.

“We are encouraged that this national focus on Bear’s case will spark someone to remember any clues that might help us find him,” said LeLanie Thompson, Bear’s mom. “We miss our son and won’t stop looking for him until we have some answers about his disappearance. We appreciate the community’s continued support.”

East County News Service

April 17, 2017 (San Diego) – On April 29^th  at 1 p.m.,  The Sara Spencer Washington Story,  an award winning  short documentary about the life of noted black businesswoman, philanthropist, and political activist Sara Spencer Washington will have its San Diego premiere as part of the San Diego Black Film Festival.

East County News Service

April 16, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Each year, the U.S. Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Agency holds a prescription drug take-back day to encourage residents to turn in unused prescription drugs and avoid having them fall into the wrong hands.  This year, the event will be held on April 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

East County News Service

April 16, 2017 (Ramona) -- As the temperatures continue to rise region-wide, CAL FIRE San Diego is beefing up preparations for fire season by opening the Ramona Air Attack Base in Ramona.

By Miriam Raftery

April 16, 2017 (San Diego) – The U.S. is poised to lose $7.4 billion in lost tourism dollars this year and $10.9 billion next year due to President Donald Trump’s travel ban and other policies making travelers feel unwelcome in the U.S., Tourism Economics estimates, the Washington Post reports.  

SDSU wins for 10th time in last 12 contests

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo:  David Hensley had four hits, including a double along with an RBI and two runs scored, in the win at UNLV on Saturday.  Courtesy goaztecs.com

April 15, 2017 (Las Vegas) - San Diego State took up from where it left off offensively in Friday night’s win as it defeated UNLV, 16-3, Saturday afternoon at Earl E. Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas. The win was the 10th in the last 12 games for the Aztecs, who improved to 25-11 overall and 13-5 in the Mountain West.

Peres homers twice as Aztecs win fifth straight game

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

April 15, 2017 (San Diego) - Jenavee Peres (Garden Grove, Calif.) homered twice and Erica Romero (Corona, Calif.) tossed a five-hit shutout to lift San Diego State to an 8-0, six-inning win over New Mexico Saturday at SDSU Softball Stadium. If was the fifth consecutive victory for the Aztecs (23-14, 7-5 MW), who swept the series with the Lobos (19-18, 5-7 MW) by a combined score of 22-3.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  ahausloher on Twitter

April 15, 2017 (El Cajon) – Efforts of El Cajon teachers to help Middle Eastern immigrant children have been highlighted in a Washington Post article titled, “How President Trump is – and is not—changing what it means to be American.”  Read the full story. 

East County News Service

April 15, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – The U.S. on Thursday dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb ever deployed to destroy caves used by ISIS fighters in the Achin area of Afghanistan, the Pentagon confirms.  Some Afghan officials estimate that as many as 94 ISIS fighters and four commanders may have been killed, with no civilian deaths reported, according to NBC news.

East County News Service

April 14, 2017 (Sacramento) -- In an interview this week with the Wall Street Journal this week, President Trump suggested he would hold hostage the cost-sharing subsidies that make it possible for low-income Americans to afford to seek medical care when they need it.

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office

April 14, 2017 (San Diego) -- It’s spring and it seems everyone is enjoying the sunshine, even snakes. A Rancho Peñasquitos couple found a red diamond rattler in their backyard Monday evening and called County Animal Services for help.

Animal Control Officer Joni Palumbo responded to the call. She’s handled snake calls before but never with a snake this large. View video of the rattlesnake wrangling: https://youtu.be/tN5NfsNBotM

By Miriam Raftery

April 13, 2017 (El Cajon) – A Syrian refugee family in El Cajon who fled war-torn Syria to give their only son a brighter future is now grieving over his loss. On his first trip ever to a beach, 17-year-old Mohammed al-Mustafa was pulled under by a rip current and has not been found.

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Story and photos by Liz Alper

April 13, 2017 (San Diego) - San Diego State water polo closed out Golden Coast Conference play today with a doubleheader.  Their first game was against Azusa Pacific University.