By Miriam Raftery

December 29, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – Turbulent times continued in 2021, marred by a persistent pandemic, vaccine rollouts, political divisiveness including an insurrection at the nation’s capitol, and local controversies such as growing homelessness, a housing shortage, power outages, protests over mask mandates, and SANDAG’s proposed mileage tax, to name a few.

Some national issues, such as pandemic relief, the infrastructure bill, the end of the Afghanistan war, and court rulings on immigration had strong impacts on our region.

There were bright spots. California reopened its economy mid-year, allowing all businesses and event venues to finally reopen. Hometown hero Joe Musgrove pitched the Padres’ first no-hitter. Residents organized to halt sexually violent predators from being placed in a Mt. Helix community. La Mesa named a new police chief committed to rebuilding community trust. Major land acquisitions by the county preserved riverfront land in Lakeside and the former Starr Ranch in Campo for posterity.

Two new Congressional representatives from East County took office and a special election sent a new Assemblywoman to Sacramento, while redistricting at year’s end will bring even more sweeping changes in 2022. 

Below is a rundown on the top stories that impacted East County in 2021:

By Miriam Raftery

December 28, 2021 (San Diego) – If you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 but don’t have symptoms, you only have to isolate for five days instead of ten – but you should wear a well-fitting mask for an additional five days when around other people if you are unvaccinated or haven’t had a booster shot. 

If you’ve had a booster shot in addition to the vaccine, you don’t have to quarantine at all if you don’t have symptoms, but should wear a mask for 10 days after exposure, when around others. 

If you do have symptoms, isolate until a negative test confirms that you don’t have COVID. Anyone exposed to COVID should get tested five days after exposure.

Those are the new guidelines issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, which the state and county have announced they will follow.  The rules do not apply to healthcare workers, however.

By Karen Pearlman 

Photos courtesy of Shane Harris

View video

December 28, 2021 (San Diego) -- Hundreds of kids who might have spent Christmas day feeling sad, neglected or lonely were instead uplifted with love, food, lots of wrapped presents and tons of snow imported into southeastern San Diego.

More than 500 people, most of them foster kids, homeless youths and struggling families in San Diego County, spent part of the morning on Christmas Day at the National Black Contractors Association on Imperial Avenue feeling connected. 

The event was the annual Shane Harris Community Christmas Day Breakfast and Gift Giveaway, organized by local civil rights champion Shane Harris. Gifts given away included more than 70 free laptops, Chromebooks and tablets.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Screenshot from video posted by 10 News, an ECM news partner

Update December 28, 2021: The FAA reports that four people were on board the plane.

December 27, 2021 (El Cajon) -- A Lear jet owned by Med Jet LLC, an air ambulance company, crashed at 7:15 p.m. tonight at Pepper Drive and North Mollison Avenue in the Bostonia area of El Cajon.  The pilot and any passengers aboard the 10-seat plane are presumed dead following multiple explosions.  There are no reports of fatalities on the ground, ECM news partner Times of San Diego reports.

The crash spewed fiery wreckage across the neighborhood, damaged a vehicle and knocked out power to around 2,500 customers of SDG&E, the utility website indicates. Power is expected to be restored by 6 a.m. tomorrow. Traffic signals are also out in the vicinity.

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

(Photo credit: CC by NC via Bing.)

Dec. 26, 2021 (East County) Ahh, that all holiday gifts were the perfect size, color, wanted, or worked as well as advertised. Thankfully, grace periods are offered by some retailers. 

Below are  posted holiday return policies, excerpts, for select retailers, according to an article published by DealNews, on 12/22/21, by Allison Martin and contributions by Julie Ramhold.

-Amazon – Deadline is 1/31/22 for almost all items purchased from 10/1/-12/31/21.

By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

Image credit:  Shutterstock 

December 23, 2021 (San Diego) - It’s the most — recyclable — time of the year!

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

December 23, 2021 (San Diego) – The National Weather Service warns of flash flooding possible tonight and Friday due to heavy rains, with 3-6 inches forecast for mountains and coastal slopes, 2-3 inches in valleys and coastal cities, and 0.5 to 1.5 inches in desert areas. Snow is forecast as low as 4,500 feet, with high winds also predicted. 

Urban and street flooding are possible, as well as flooding at low water crossings, normally dry washes and flood channels.  In recently burned areas, mud and debris flows are also possible. Some streets in Mission Valley are being closed down late today in anticipation of the San Diego River flooding its banks.

December 23, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Why Christmas Gifts Are Arriving on Time This Year (New York Times)
• Deadly tornadoes leave path of destruction across six states: ‘It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen’ (Washington Post)
• Biden backs exception to filibuster for voting rights bill (The Hill)
• Deadly Collapse at Amazon Warehouse Puts Spotlight on Phone Ban (Bloomberg)
• Operation Whistle Pig: Inside the secret CBP unit with no rules that investigates Americans  (Yahoo News)
• Unruly behavior on flights could result in revoked TSA Pre-check, the FAA says  (NPR)
• Biden says ground troops ‘not on the table’ but Putin would face ‘severe’ sanctions for Ukraine invasion (Washington Post)
• Biden resists shutdowns as Omicron threat rises (The Hill)
• Derek Chauvin pleads guilty to violating George Floyd's rights (Reuters)

WORLD

• Biden signs bill punishing China for Uyghur abuses  (The Hill)
• Mexican cartels turning to meth and fentanyl production  (NPR)
• Putin says Russia has 'nowhere to retreat' over Ukraine (Reuters)
• Taliban chief bans forced marriage of women in Afghanistan (10 News)
• Pro-Beijing candidates sweep Hong Kong elections  (NPR)
• 'Biblical' flooding in South Sudan displaces hundreds of thousands (CNN)
• Kidnapped missionaries escaped their captors in Haiti, aid group says  (NPR)
• One of suspected killers of Saudi journalist Khashoggi arrested in France - RTL (Reuters)

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

By Miriam Raftery (a parody based on the poem by Clement Clark Moore)

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through East County

Not a creature was stirring, from Borrego to El Monte.

Hiking boots were hung by chimneys with care

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

From Barona to Ramona, Jacumba to Jamul

East County residents this 2021 Yule

Celebrate the season with favorite dishes

And send Santa Claus these holiday wishes:

December 23, 2021 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• FDA authorizes first antiviral pill for COVID-19 (NPR) 
• Omicron is now the dominant COVID strain in the U.S., making up 73% of new infections : Coronavirus Updates  (NPR)
• Fauci warns some at-home tests may not detect Omicron variant as Covid cases spike across US (UK Independent)
• Vaccine protection vs. omicron infection may drop to 30% but does cut severe disease (NPR)
• Federal appeals court reinstates Biden COVID-19 vaccine-or-testing mandate for large employers (USA Today)
• COVID can lead to lasting harm to the brain, scientists find (NPR) 
• A tantalizing clue to why omicron is spreading so quickly (NPR)  
• Study shows dramatic decline in effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines (Los Angeles Times)
• Supreme Court upholds New York's vaccine mandate for health care workers  (NPR)
• Judge Overturns Purdue Pharma’s Opioids Settlement (NY Times)
• F.D.A. Will Permanently Allow Abortion Pills by Mail (New York Times)
• Dogs get cancer, too. This San Diego biotech is trying to catch canine tumors earlier (San Diego Union-Tribune)

SCIENCE AND TECH

• France orders Clearview AI to delete the selfie data it gathered (DIY Photography)
• ICO issues £17 million fine to facial recognition firm Clearview AI - and orders cessation of processing personal data (Lexology)

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

By Miriam Raftery

December 15, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – Several local venues are planning New Year’s Eve parties on December 31^st including Viejas Casino and Resort with a signature ball drop and fireworks, Jamul Casino with a rocking party atop the new Rooftop venue, Courtyard Marriott in El Cajon with dancing at a benefit to help children with cancer, dance bands and more at Pala Casino, plus fishing at Lake Jennings beneath the light of a full moon on New Year’s night, January 1, 2022.

UPDATE:  Men's basketball game against San Diego Christian CANCELED

Source:  goaztecs.com

Video courtesy goaztecs.com

December 23, 2021 (San Diego) - Four Aztecs scored in double figures led by Nathan Mensah's career-high 19 points as the San Diego State men's basketball team cruised to a 78-57 victory over the UC San Diego Tritons 78-57 on Wednesday night at Viejas Arena.

By Miriam Raftery

December 21, 2021 (San Diego) – If you’re traveling this week, be sure to allow extra time and drive with caution. Heavy rain is forecast for Thursday night and Friday, Christmas Eve, the National Weather Service predicts. Cool weather and lighter showers are expected to continue through the holiday weekend into next week.

By Elijah McKee

December 21, 2021 (El Cajon) — The El Cajon City Council tackled several County-level issues at its recent meeting on December 14.  

First, City Manager Graham Mitchell spoke about a rare opportunity to temporarily over-staff the police department with 10 new officers drawn laterally from other nearby agencies, in an effort to save the city money over the next three years. 

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, as many as 160 San Diego police officers may be facing termination in light of the city’s vaccine mandate. Meanwhile, El Cajon does not currently have such a mandate.