Reviewed by Pennell Paugh

October 19, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) -- The Spirit of Shy Moon Lake is a spooky, sometimes creepy, often mysterious tale, filled with tension and foreshadowing. Award-winning local author Reina Lisa Menasche is also the long-time host of the “Bookshelf” segment on East County Magazine’s radio show.

October 17, 2022 (La Mesa) -- Tony Orlando is a La Mesa City Commissioner on the Personnel Appeals Board and pastor of Lifepoint Church in La Mesa.

Asked what motivated him to run, he says he’s lived in La Mesa for 21 years, raised his children here along with his wife, and says he’s dedicated himself to serving the community to “help adopt and embrace those who need help.”

Click the video link above to view the full interview, or scroll down for highlights.

East County News Service

October 17, 2022 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District will host a special “Wellness Wednesday” event on Nov. 2 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., celebrating both the 20^th anniversary of the Herrick Library and the district’s 70 years of dedication to health and wellness in East County. The open house event will be at the library at 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa.

By Mike Allen

October 17, 2022 (Lakeside) -- Voters in the unincorporated town of Lakeside will get to vote on four seats of the five-member Lakeside Union School District this November.

The Lakeside district, which covers nearly 75 square miles and has about 5,000 students, consists of six elementary schools, two middle schools, a preschool program, a DREAM Academy, and world language programs.

Seven candidates are running for three seats with a full four-year term, and two candidates are running for a shortened term. 

For the three full term seats the candidates are Jim Bennet, Maureen Cruise, Holly Ferrante, Aaron Gordon, Andrew Hayes, Ron Kasper, and Bonnie LaChappa.  For the short-term seat, the two candidates are incumbent Don Whisman, and Autumn Ellenson.

East County Magazine sent questionnaires out to all nine candidates and received four responses, which are published in full below.

East County News Service

October 16, 2022 (Julian) - Julian Farm and Orchard has just rescued 17 Pot Belly Pigs from the local Santa Ysabel area. The pigs were rescued in partnership with the Mesa Grande Indian Reservation and the USDA after more than 100 pigs were dumped on the Reservation land. Julian Farm and Orchard coordinated with Mesa Grande Tribe to pick up 17 pigs and bring them to their new permanent home on the farm.

“We learned about the plight of the pigs on the Mesa Grande Reservation through Facebook and immediately wanted to help. Working with the Mesa Grande Tribe, we were able to rescue 17 of the pot belly pigs” said Robin Madaffer, owner of Julian Farm and Orchard.

Staff will be working diligently to bring the pigs to good health and ensure they have a wonderful life in their new home. Visitors to Julian Farm and Orchard will now be able to visit the pigs along with the other furry friends that reside on the farm.

“We are excited to have them as part of our petting zoo family where they will be well-cared for and loved” Madaffer said.

October 15, 2022 (San Diego) – In an interview with East County Magazine also aired on KNSJ Radio, State Senator Brian Jones talked about his accomplishments in the Legislature and his priorities if reelected.

Senator Jones has served in the California Legislature for the past 12 years, first in the Assembly , and now in the State Senate, where he’s also the Senate Republican Caucus Chair. He has a degree in business administration from San Diego State, and has worked as a government relations consultant and church broker. He’s also a former Santee City Councilman and resident of Santee, along with his wife and their three children.

Click the video link to view the full interview, and scroll down to read highlights.

October 14, 2022 (El Cajon) – Vivian "Viv" Yubeta-Jackson passed away on September 24, 2022.  The East County native was bset known as a professor of forensic sciences at National University and as a Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS) crime scene investigator, as well as a beloved wife, mother and grandmother.

Born in El Cajon, CA, on January 2, 1956, Vivian Yubeta graduated in 1974, married her El Cajon Valley High School sweetheart, Kerry Jackson (1956-2007) and attended college while raising two sons.

East County News Service

October 14, 2022 (El Cajon) – Supervisor Joel Anderson will host a forum open to the public on El Cajon homelessness on Saturday, October 22 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Grossmont College.  This forum will inform you of the impacts of homelessness in El Cajon and existing, collaborative efforts to address it. In addition, El Cajon’s leadership, including the Mayor, City Councilmembers, City Manager, and Police Chief, have been invited to discuss how the County can help address homelessness in El Cajon.

By Miriam Raftery

October 12, 2022 (Alpine) – Voters are often frustrated in trying to get information on judicial candidates since they are prohibited from answering questions on any issues that may come before them in court. But during the Candidates to Constituents forum in Alpine recently, Superior Court judicial candidates Pete Singer and Rebeca Kanter provided details on their backgrounds and experience that provided clear insights into their core values and qualifications.

Roush returned in 2017 to lead the university as interim president after more than 30 years as a senior administrator.

By Jeff Ristine, SDSU News Center

October 12, 2022 (San Diego) - Sally Roush, who helped to fashion a sweeping expansion of San Diego State University now underway in Mission Valley during a year as interim president, has died.

By Henri Migala

View the full interview by clicking the image below, and scroll down to read highlights.

October 7, 2022 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Councilwoman Laura Lothian spoke with ECM via zoom about her run for re-election. Council. The interview also aired on KNSJ radio, 89.1 FM.

Lothian is one of four candidates running (a fifth, Kathleen Brand, has dropped out); ECM will be publishing and airing interviews with all the candidates over the next several days. She aims to "class up" La Mesa, bucking the trend toward high-density housing downtown, while also working to reduce homeless and crime, as well as cut regulations for businesses and homeowners with permit applications for new construction or remodeling.

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office

Video by Alex Aguirre

October 11, 2022 (San Diego) - Registered voters who received their ballot for the Nov. 8 Statewide General Election can begin returning them Monday at one of the Registrar’s new official stand-alone drop boxes.

East County News Service

October 10, 2022 (Spring Valley) – Alena “Gracie” Mitchem, a 15-year-old Spring Valley teen missing since September 22, was found yesterday by the San Diego County Sheriff department and is safe. Her family has been notified, according to a media release issued today by the Sheriff.

“Due to the sensitive nature of the investigation, as well as the fact that this incident involves a minor, this is all the information that can be released at this time,” says Lieutenant Kevin Ralph at the Sheriff’s Major Crimes division.

The Sheriff’s media statement adds, “The Sheriff's Department would like to thank the public and the media for their assistance. We also want to thank our partner law enforcement agencies for their help in this case.”