East County News Service 

October 29, 2021 (La Mesa) - Wine Works in La Mesa invites you to Hall-o-Ween on Saturday, October 30th. Come in costume for a 7 p.m. costume contest and get $2 off a glass of wine or $5 off bottles.  You can also enjoy live music by Blame Betty and food from Birria Madrical.

Wine Works is located at 8167 Center Street, La Mesa, CA 91942.

East County News Service

Oct. 29, 2021 (El Cajon) A Grossmont College campus visitor died on Friday, October 29 due to what appears to have been natural causes. The individual, whose identity has not been released, appears to have collapsed while exercising on the campus’ track, according to a statement issued by the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District.

The individual was found unresponsive by a campus employee about 10:35 a.m. The employee called 911. 

Adult animal adoption fees reduced to $10 with a donation of an unopened pet treat

East County News Service

October 29, 2021 (San Diego) --  To celebrate Halloween, San Diego Humane Society is hosting an adoption promotion titled All Treat, No Trick Oct. 29-31, 2021. During the event, generously sponsored by Purina<https://www.purina.com/>, adoption fees for adult animals (7 months and older) will be reduced to $10 with the donation of an unopened pet treat to San Diego Humane Society.

These large snails can potentially transmit rat lung worm disease

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Channeled apple snail laying a mass of pink eggs  by Katasha Cornwell, Fl. Dept. of Transportation:

October 28, 2021 (San Diego) – What are those pink clusters on rocks at Lake Murray and Lake Miramar?  After an East County Magazine inquiry, an official with the city of San Diego confirmed that they are eggs laid by Channeled Apple Snails. Also known as the “golden snail,” the crustacean is an invasive species from South America with potential to become a serious agricultural pest—and also potential to transmit rat lung disease. 

They are listed as a restricted species prohibited in California – but they are now found in several California counties and a handful of other states including Florida, Alabama, Arizona, and Idaho.

East County News Service

Photo courtesy of Parkway Plaza

October 28, 2021 (El Cajon) – Parkway Plaza regional shopping mall in El Cajon invites you to bring the family to a free Fall Fest on Saturday, October 30 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.  The event features “adventure throughout the plaza to say hi to your favorite live characters such as Wonder Woman and Captain America, and partake in a variety of activities throughout the mall,” according to Parkway Plaza.  Guests can also enjoy carnival games such as ring toss and skee ball, visit a face painting table, or stop at the arts and crafts station to make skeletons, bats and more.

Parkway Plaza is located at 415 Fletcher Parkway in El Cajon. 

By Miriam Raftery

October 27, 2021 (Washington D.C.) – Following a rise in complaints by school board members, teachers and school workers over threats of violence, harassment and intimidation, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced plans to convene a meeting with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement leaders to create strategies for addressing this trend.

In a press release, the Dept. of Justice also encouraged education officials to report threats to the FBI’s National Threat operations Center tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI or via the FBI website at http://fbi.gov/tips. “Threats against public servants are not only illegal, they run counter to our nation’s core values,” Garland states. “Those who dedicate their time and energy to ensuring that our children receive a proper education in a safe environment deserve to be able to do their work without fear for their safety.”

Republicans have criticized Garland for setting up what they term a “snitch line on parents” and seeking to suppress free speech. But in testimony to the House Judiciary Committee, Garland made clear that he has no intention of targeting free speech, which he said is “totally protected by the First Amendment…We are only concerned about violence and threats of violence against school administrators, teachers, staff.” 

In response to the Dept. of Justice announcement, Congressman Darrell Issa, a Republican from the 50^th district which includes San Diego and much of East County, introduced the “Stand With Parents” resolution.

East County News Service

October 27, 2021 (Julian) – You’re invited to an old-fashioned Christmas Market at the Julian Mining Company (4444 Highway 78, Julian) on Saturday, December 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

October 27, 2021 (San Diego) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media.  This week's round-up stories include:

LOCAL

• NTSB Investigated At Least 35 Small Aircraft Crashes in San Diego Neighborhoods Since 2010 (NBC San Diego)
• El Cajon Mayor helps woman fend off bloody dog attack near home (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Far right group wants to be a player in San Diego County politics (KPBS)
• Santee couple finds wedding ring in house fire rubble (CBS 8)
• An area of San Diego County bigger than Balboa Park is available for $18.75M (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• UC San Diego Health sued over data breach that may have exposed records of 500,000 patients (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Police arrest husband of Chula Vista mother who disappeared in January; body still missing (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Oh-so-serious UC San Diego has become a social hot spot? You must be joking (San Diego Union-Tribune)

.STATE

• Got your stimulus check yet? California to send out more state money this week (Sacramento Bee)
• Experts predict the legal fallout from the Alec Baldwin prop gun shooting (Los Angeles Times)
• California Christmas trees could be harder to find, more expensive this year. Here’s why (Sacramento Bee)
• Heavy rain unleashes mud, debris flows in Northern California (Los Angeles Times)
• Fire season still a threat to Southern California despite rains (Los Angeles Times0
• Radioactive Waste Fell On Some LA-Area Neighborhoods During 2018 Woolsey Fire, New Study Shows (NBC-LA)
• (10 News)
• New California law expands visitation, testimony protections for children in family court (Sacramento Bee)

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

October 27, 2021 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• There’s Now CDC Data on How Much More Likely Unvaxxed Adults Are to Die of Covid (Yahoo)
• ‘Oh my gosh. I’m myself again.’ Growing evidence vaccines prevent, treat long COVID (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• CNN Investigation: Tens of millions of filthy, used medical gloves imported into the US (CNN)
• J&J vaccine recipients should get their second dose as soon as it's available, experts say (CNN)
• Merck will ask regulators to authorize the first antiviral pill designed to treat COVID-19, after a trial found it halved the risk of hospitalization or death (Business Insider)
• U.S. COVID-19 vaccine rates up thanks to mandates; cases and deaths down -officials (Reuters)
• Chronic pain is surprisingly treatable — when patients focus on the brain (Washington Post)
• With Mandates Approaching, Demand for Fake COVID-19 Vaccination Cards Explodes (NBC San Diego)
• U.S. judge upholds COVID-19 vaccine requirement for those with 'natural immunity'  (Reuters)
• Global TB deaths are rising — and COVID gets the blame (NPR)

SCIENCE AND TECH

• Ancient Footprints Show Humans Lived In The Americas Earlier Than Once Thought  (NPR)
• Hacks and data breaches are all too common. Here’s what to do if you’re affected. (Washington Post)
• The Facebook Papers: What you need to know about the trove of insider documents  (NPR)
• William Shatner, Star Trek’s Capt. Kirk, flies to space and back, adding to this year’s number of civilian astronauts (Washington Post)
• EPA Moves To Sharply Limit Potent Gases Used In Refrigerators And Air Conditioners  (NPR)
• Elephants have evolved to be tuskless because of ivory poaching, a study finds (NPR)
• Microsoft Shuts LinkedIn China, Citing ‘Challenging’ Climate (Bloomberg)

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

By Henri Migala, East County Eater

October 26, 2021 (El Cajon) -- East County is quickly becoming the new mecca in San Diego for sumptuous culinary adventures with an array of international cuisine, thanks to our region’s many immigrants and refugees. Adding to East County’s already rich diversity of restaurants is Kabul Kabob House in El Cajon, specializing in delicious and authentic food from Afghanistan.

Owned and operated by Ajrudin Nabizada, an Afghan immigrant, Kabul Kabob House offers probably the tastiest and most genuine Afghan food in San Diego County. The portions are generous and the prices affordable.

Nabizada came to the U.S. with his wife and two children in December 2014 on a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) after serving as a translator for US Special Forces in Afghanistan. He came to San Diego because his wife’s cousin was living here. Since arriving, his family has enjoyed the birth of their third child.

By José A. Álvarez, County of San Diego Communications Office

October 26, 2021 (San Diego) - COVID-19 vaccination boosters are now recommended and available for everyone who qualifies.

View games live on Channel 4 and streamed live at YurView.com

East County News Service

October 21, 2021 (San Diego) --  Cox Communications’ YurView network has partnered with the California Interscholastic Federation this year to bring exceptional local high school sports, including football, basketball and volleyball, on Channel 4 in San Diego and Channel 118 in Orange County, as well as streaming on YurView.com.

East County News Service

October 26, 2021 (Pala) -- Pala Casino Spa Resort will host its next “Meet, Eat, and Greet” Culinary Career Fair  on November 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to promote employment opportunities with the Food & Beverage team. The culinary career fair will feature a unique mixer-style atmosphere with music, food, and more.

The event will include the opportunity to get to know the Food & Beverage management team and on-the-spot interviews.

Job opportunities include:

By Mimi Pollack

October 26, 2021 (Alpine) -- Giving back to others is always good, but when you can give back to both animals and humans, that is even better! Local humanitarian, Agnes Barrelet, is doing just that up in Alpine, heading up the non-profit, Children’s Nature Retreat Foundation.  Now the retreat needs our help.