By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

January 3, 2017 (San Diego) -- As the holidays come to a close, fire safety is just as important as at any other time of year. And the risks with dry Christmas trees are greater than ever.

Christmas trees dried out early due to low humidity and winds prior to Christmas. That’s why it’s important to safely remove that dried out Christmas Tree - now!.

By Miriam Raftery

January 2, 2018 (San Diego) – A report just released by the San Diego Vintners Association on the economic value of wineries in San Diego County shows that the burgeoning wine making industry is having a potent effect. In 2016, the county’s 116 wineries generated a $30.4 million regional impact and supported 697 jobs here.

By Miriam Raftery

January 2, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes hawk watch in Ramona, falconry demonstrations in Wynola, a star party and ancient Tibetan music at Mission Trails, Sinatra and friends in Borrego Springs and Carnaval Fantastique at Sycuan.

Plus, we’ll have coming attractions including a pianist John Nilsen in Descanso, llore of the Kumeyaay at the Water Conservation Garden, full moon fishing at Lake Jennings, the Mousetrap at Lamplighters Theatre in La Mesa,  Martin Luther King Day events in Lemon Grove, live music at the San Pasqual Winery and Riviera Supper Club in La Mesa, a local authors expo in El Cajon, the Oak Ridge Boys in concert at Sycuan, San Diego Chamber Music Society performers at the La Mesa Library, a star party at Mission Trails, and Seussical the Musical in Spring Valley.

So stay tuned for all of these events and many more!

By Tom Christensen, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo:  County nurse Paulina Bobenrieth vaccinates a patient in downtown San Diego.

January 2, 2018 (San Diego) - The County Board of Supervisors extended the local public health emergency for hepatitis A again on Tuesday, but efforts are now underway to transition out of the emergency amid declining case numbers.

By Miriam Raftery

Video by Wayne Zarling taking from Shadow Hill Drive

Photo by Jake Christie

January 2, 2018 (La Mesa) – A female seen running from the scene of a small brush fire on a hill in the Eastridge area of La Mesa today has been detained for questioning by the Sheriff’s department.

Heartland Fire and Rescue, along with San Miguel Fire and San Diego Fire Departments responded to the blaze that began around 1:25 p.m.  Crews arrived within four minutes to find a 20 by 40 foot spot fire on a slope along High Street near State Routes 125 and 94 that grew to approximately an acre before crews halted the forward spread a half hour later.

By Miriam Raftery

January 2, 2018 (Ramona) -- Recently, our editor's husband took a hike to Potato Chip Rock in the Mt. Woodson area near Poway with our Siberian husky, Juneau, who obligingly posed for photo ops.

The trail is about 7.5 miles and rated challenging; sturdy shoes are recommended for hikers. Dogs must be on leash and be sure to bring plenty of extra water if you bring your dog along. Start early, as the trail has very little shade.  Only dogs in good physical shape should be brought on this trail. 

Copyright 2018 by Sam Warren

January 1, 2018 (San Diego) -- Please, take care of yourself out on the roads this holiday season. A recent study indicates that 23% of traffic accidents are alcohol related. This means that the remaining 77% are caused by those who drink bottled water, Starbucks, soda, juice, energy drinks, and crap like that.

Therefore, beware of those who do not drink alcohol. They cause three times as many accidents.

CLICK TO SCROLL DOWN FOR A LIST OF BOOK EVENTS

East County News Service

December 30, 2017 (Spring Valley) -- Keeping the brain sharp is vital to enjoying a full and rewarding lifestyle at any age. Dr. Linda Sasser will present simple strategies to maintain and even improve brain function during “Keep Your Brain Fit and Your Memory Sharp,” a free program scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018 at 2:00 p.m., at Mount Miguel Covenant Village, 325 Kempton St., Spring Valley.

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

January 1, 2018 (Spring Valley) – After 15 years of efforts by Spring Valley residents to protect Dictionary Hill from development and blasting the top off the 1,059 feet tall peak, County Supervisors in November voted to acquire and preserve 175 acres of coastal sage scrub and habitat including Dictionary Hill (also known as Lookout Mountain) as well as adjacent canyons and ridgelines. 

Local residents and activists celebrated with a New Year's Day hike up the peak, savoring panormaic views from the mountains to the sea.

By Miriam Raftery

December 30, 2017 (Ramona) – La Dolce Vita Alpacas invites you to spend New Year’s Day at their 10-acre ranch in Ramona, which will host an open house on Monday, January 1^st from 12 noon to 3 p.m.

Learn about alpacas and their history, pet or feed cuddly alpacas, watch a wool spinning demonstration, and have an opportunity to purchase alpaca yarn and products made from alpaca wool. 

East County News Service

December 30, 2017 (Borrego Springs) – Rams Hill Golf Resort in Borrego Springs is hosting a New Year’s Eve dinner/dance on December 31^st starting at 5:30 p.m.   Before the ball drops, you can enjoy live Sinatra-esque music from the Golden Era.

The evening begins with tray pass hors d’oeuvres, followed by a three-course meal at $99 a person.

East County News Service

December 30, 2017 (La Mesa) — La Mesa Police are investigating a suspicious death of a 58-year-old man who was a patient at Grossmont Hospital, Patch.com reports.

Lt. Vince Brown indicated hospital staff reported the incident to police shortly before 2 p.m. on Thursday, December 27^th.  Detectives were sent to the scene, but no hospitals are considered subjects of the investigation, he told Patch.

By Paul Kruze

December 29, 2017 (Santee) – Santee’s City Council would like nothing more than to follow in the footsteps of El Cajon and lure a large hotel chain to build a business-class hotel in the growing city. But at Council’s December 13th meeting, it became evident that the biggest question these days is not whether the sprawling community could support such an investment, but rather where to put it. So says a San Francisco-consultant firm that was hired by Santee last Spring to develop a feasibility study on what it would take for it to happen in short order.

By Miriam Raftery

December 29, 2017 (Spring Valley) – A gunshot victim found in a vehicle at the intersection of Concepcion Avenue and San Francisco Street in Spring Valley Wednesday night has died of his injuries, says Lieuteuant Rich Williams with the Sheriff’s homicide unit. 

A 17-year-old juvenile suspect has been arrested and charged with murder.  His name has not been released because he is a minor.

By Paul Kruze

Miriam Raftery also contributed to this report

Read Judge Taylor’s full decision dismissing Kalasho’s cross complaint.

December 27, 2017 (San Diego)--San Diego Superior Court Judge Timothy Taylor gave his early Christmas gift Friday to embattled El Cajon City Councilman Ben Kalasho: a proverbial piece of coal.

The judge dismissed a counter suit filed by Kalasho against two beauty pageant contestants and a taco shop owner who are suing Kalasho on serious allegations of abusive behavior including sexual misconduct, fraud, defamation, and cyberharassment.

With Kalasho stoically standing next to his attorney, Judge Taylor found that the countersuit filed by Kalasho, a public figure, met the definition of a SLAPP suit meant to intimidate individuals’ constitutional rights of freedom of speech and petition for the redress of grievances. SLAPP suits are illegal under California law. The judge affirmed that the plaintiffs have a right to redress their grievances against Kalasho in a court of law and to speak about their grievances in the media.

“Lawsuits are public proceedings,” Taylor admonished Kalasho’s attorney, Stephen J. Liosi.