East County News Service

November 2, 2021 (Santee) -- The City of Santee’s annual Holiday Lighting Celebration returns this year, and will provide the community with the traditional elements they have come to expect when celebrating the holiday season. The event will take place Friday, November 19 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Santee Trolley Square.

By Henri Migala

November 2, 2021 (Escondido) -- I can’t believe that I have lived in San Diego for over 20 years and have only now discovered the magic and fun of the Renaissance Fair in Escondido! I’m really sorry I never took my children there when they were little. I’m sure they would have loved at least as much as I did.

East County News Service

November 2, 2021 (Pala) -- Bipartisan legislation to facilitate the Pala Band of Mission Indians’ work to protect a sacred San Diego County site passed in the House of Representatives today.  H.R. 1975 – The Pala Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer Act of 2021 – was authored by Congressman Darrel Issa (CA-50)  and cosponsored by Congressman Juan Vargas (CA-51). 

The legislation will authorize the Secretary of the Interior to transfer approximately 720 acres of land – which includes a sacred site known locally as Gregory Mountain or Chokla– that was acquired by the Pala into trust for the benefit of the tribe and its members.

The action ends a two-decade battle by the tribe to prevent the Gregory Canyon Landfill.  In 2016, the land was purchased by the Pala Band of Mission Indians to prevent construction of a landfill on the mountain, a site of tremendous cultural significance to Pala tribal members. 

Sophia Ramos finished with 14 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

November 1, 2021 (San Diego) - The Aztec women’s basketball team defeated Biola 79-52 in an exhibition Monday evening inside Viejas Arena. SDSU poured in 56 points in the first half and at one point led by as much as 38 points.

50% of area college students face food insecurity

Source:  Cal Coast Credit Union

November 1, 2021 (San Diego) - Approximately 50% of local community college students grapple with food insecurity. As a result of not having reliable, consistent access to food, students are more likely to miss classes or drop out of school.  The pandemic continues to severely impact students, and has increased the demand at food pantries on local college campuses.

With the 3rd annual Pack the Pantry food drive, California Coast Credit Union is partnering with all of the local community college campuses and the San Diego Food Bank to raise funds and fill local college pantries. During the month of November, you can donate online to help provide much-needed food for local college students at https://www.calcoastcu.org/news-and-events/pack-the-pantry-2021/. Donors can even select which college food pantry they want their donation directed to.

By Miriam Raftery

November 1, 2021 (El Cajon) --East County Magazine interviewed Rick Hall, President of the El Cajon Historical Society, via Zoom last week regarding the Society's efforts to preserve local history, funding challenges due to COVID-19, and encouraged residents including newcomers from around the world to share their stories as part of the city's ever-changing history.  The interview also aired on our radio show on KNSJ 89.1 FM.

Hall also talked about his own heritage as a descendant of one of El Cajon’s pioneering families and shared anecdotes from the city’s colorful past. 

Donations are needed to help sustain the Society’s efforts to keep history alive in our region, due to a loss of funds during the pandemic lockdowns.

By Brian Schrader

Photo: County administration building, from Flickr by Tony Webster

November 1, 2021 (San Diego) -- Everything old is new again, and California seems likely to revive an old idea to solve its modern challenges. Public banking isn’t a well-known or often discussed subject, but proponents believe that it might just be the catalyst of much needed reform in California.

In general, there are two kinds of public banks: investment banks and deposit-taking banks. The latter is the kind that most of us are familiar with—those that offer checking and savings accounts—and while there is an ongoing discussion about public deposit-taking banks, it’s the investment banks that are currently getting the most attention in San Diego and in Sacramento.

By Daniel Steinman

November 1, 2021 (San Diego) – Manzanita Concerts will present concert accordionist Henry Doktorski on Sunday, November 14 at 4 p.m. in the Mission Trails Church, 4880 Zion Avenue, San Diego.

Henry Doktorski is one of the leading concert accordionists in the United States. He has delighted hundreds of thousands with his tasteful and sophisticated musical interpretations, including radio and television appearances and performances on accordion with several major orchestras. Besides classical music, He is equally adept at popular and international music. His extensive repertoire ranges from Bach, Brahms and Piazzolla to George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Henry Mancini, and tunes from hit Broadway musicals and Hollywood movies.

By Henri Migala and Miriam Raftery

October 31, 2021 (Santee) -- With the recent grand opening of "The Plaza," Lantern Crest Senior Living in Santee might have created a national model for how we provide care for our aging population. The senior living facility is complete with a theater, a '50s-style diner with soda fountain, bowling lanes custom-designed for seniors, on-site medical center and doctor, pharmacy, gym, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, dog park, community garden, an award-winning chef serving three restaurants and two bars, an elaborately appointed tea room, live music and entertainment venues and much more.

By Miriam Raftery

October 31, 2021 (Washington D.C.) – By a 6-3 majority, the U.S. Supreme Court declined an emergency request to block a vaccine mandate for healthcare workers in Maine. Unlike mandates in most other states, Maine has no exemptions for religious beliefs. 

Source: U.S. Health and Human Services

Photo:  CC via Bing

October 30, 2021 (Washington D.C.) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is awarding a total of $797.5 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding to support survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and their children.

By Miriam Raftery

October 30, 2021 (San Diego) – On Tuesday, Supervisors approved a measure introduced by Supervisor Joel Anderson to bring help to homeless people in East County.

The new ordinance gives staff 120 days to propose locations for homeless shelters in unincorporated areas, as well as safe parking lots for people living in vehicles. The sites will have wrap-around services, so homeless families and individuals will receive support to get off the streets.

“The goal is to put these individuals on a path towards stability, independence, and employment,” says Anderson.

Source: AAUW

October 29, 2021 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa-El Cajon Branch of the American Association of University Women will hold a panel discussion about women in law enforcement, fire protection and who serve as dispatchers for local agencies. The meeting will take place on November 13, 2021 in King Hall at Foothills United Methodist Church beginning at 9:30 a.m.

By Miriam Raftery

October 29, 2021 (San Diego) – San Diego County’s latest COVID-19 update provided Oct. 27 reveals that 90.2% of all residents countywide are at least partially vaccinated and 81.5% are fully vaccinated.  But 27 of the 28 deaths in the past week from COVID-19 were among people not fully vaccinated, further demonstrating the effectiveness of vaccines at protecting people from severe COVID cases.

East County News Service

October 29, 2021 (Washington D.C.) – Walmart has issued a recall of a lime and eucalyptus aromatherapy spray after a “rare and dangerous bacteria” linked to two deaths, including a child, were reported. Two other non-fatal cases have also been confirmed, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. 

The product, Walmart’s Better Homes and Gardens-branded Essential Oil Infused Aromatherapy Room Spray with Gemstones is being recalled due to discovery of Burkholderia pseudomallei, a bacteria that can cause  melioidosis, a condition that is difficult to diagnose and can be deadly, the recall notice says.