By Miriam Raftery

December 19, 2017 (San Diego) – After restoring power to residents impacted by planned outages due to high winds, some lasting a week or more, SDG&E has announced a new round of planned outages—this time, for equipment repairs.

The utility’s site indicates notices were sent to impacted customers. View full, current map of outages here; click on “planned outages” to view those scheduled:  https://www.sdge.com/safety/outages/outage-map

Some are slated to be extensive; for instance, the Descanso and Viejas areas are projected to have a 10 hour outage starting tomorrow morning.  Parts of El Cajon are slated to be without power for eight hours on Thursday. Many other communities are also affected in the coming days.

But some residents are asking why the repairs can’t wait. Shutting off power over the holiday season raises several concerns, including:

Source: Cal Fire

December 18, 2017 (El Cajon) -- CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 6 (IMT 6) has transitioned in partnership with the CAL FIRE San Diego Unit as they make final arrangements for a Celebration of Life to honor Engineer Cory Iverson, who lost his life battling the Thomas Fire in Ventura County. 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Paul Kruze:  Pastor Harold Brown and San Miguel Firefighters helped brighten holiday spirits for homeless children

December 18, 2017 (El Cajon) – Over 150 homeless children living at East County Transitional Living Center received gifts of clothing, athletic shoes, and a good dose of Christmas joy at the fifth annual Christmas Party last Saturday in ECTLC's community hall.

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Story by Liz Alper

Videos courtesy goaztecs.com

For videos of Brian Dutcher's as well as the football and basketball student-athletes' portions of the press conference, click "read more" and scroll down.

December 18, 2017 (San Diego) - Finally, Bowl Week is upon us and so is the Aztecs' Armed Forces Bowl matchup against Army.  Head coach Rocky Long, senior warrior Trey Lomax and senior wide receiver Mikah Holder joined him.  Men's basketball head coach Brian Dutcher and junior guard Jeremy Hemsley also joined in to talk about the Thursday night matchup against Gonzaga.

Our September 2017 radio shows are now online. For links to listen to the shows plus a full list of topics an interviews, click here or click "read more" and scroll down. (Sound files may take a few moments to load).

Our newsmaker interviews included Ray Lutz of Citizens Oversight on the San Onofre nuclear waste settlement and election integrity, judicial candidate Tim Nader, peace activists Nancy Ryan and SueEllen Treadwell. Plus we went on the road to the Ramona grape stomp and covered hot issues across East County, California and the nation.

 The East County Magazine Show airs Mondays and Fridays from 5 to 6 p.m. on KNSJ, 89.1 FM.  Our shows rerun on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.  Read more and listen to our September shows:

East County News Service

December 13, 2017 (La Mesa) — On December 5^th, Helix Charter High School dedicated its new Student Services building, and celebrate the modernizations of its Career Technology Education (CTE) classrooms and labs for Computer Technology and Sports Medicine, weight rooms, team rooms, student leadership classrooms, and activation of its new 2.36 megawatt solar carport. 

Update December 19, 2017:  The plane had taken off from Gillespie Field when the pilot reported engine trouble. He was trying to return to the airport when the crash occurred. Two of the three men aboard were officers with the Huntington Beach Police Department. The two officers have been released from the hospital, according to the Orange County Register, but the third man remains hospitalized.

East County WIldfire & Emergency Service

Photos by John Sulser

December 17, 2017 (El Cajon) -- A single engine plane has crashed near Gillespie Way and Weld in El Cajon, close to Gillespie Field, El Cajon Police report.

Witnesses report a pilot, copilot and passenger escaped before the plane caught fire and have been transported to a hospital.

By Miriam Raftery

December 15, 2017 (Alpine)—With SDG&E turning off power repeatedly during high winds, having an automatic standby generator can keep your lights on and keep critical systems such as well pumps, refrigerators, and computers operating during outages.  On Wednesday, December 20 at 5 p.m. , a presentation on generators will be held at the Alpine Library, 1752 Alpine Blvd. in Alpine.

Learn about the different types of generators such as propane vs. gas operated and features to consider such as a commercial-grade engine, non-corrosive enclosure and extended warranty. 

by Paul Kruze

Hear audio of Mayor Wells’ State of the City address

December 15, 2017 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells painted a positive picture of his city in his annual “State of the City” address at the City Council Chambers on Tuesday.

Wells began his address saying that for the past several years, the City of El Cajon has attempted to create a new atmosphere for its businsses, residents, and visitors. He said that in 2017 the city had made significant progress towards this goal. “New and exciting things are continuing to happen for El Cajon, and more is yet to come,” he stated. “The City of El Cajon is taking enormous strides to improve the quality of life liveability of the city for residents and businesses. The city is engaged in major economic development making our city more effiicient, increasing the safety of the community, and rebranding El Cajon as a family friendly place.”

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com and Ernie Anderson

December 14, 2017 (San Diego) - Five days after scoring a season-high 92 points, the San Diego State women’s basketball team was unable to find its offensive rhythm in a 48-34 setback to visiting Santa Clara on Thursday at Steve Fisher Court.

Residents angered at loss of water pumps, alarm systems, refrigeration, comunication and heat during outages up to a week in some areas that have suffered repeated outages

By Miriam Raftery

December 12, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – SDG&E announced last night that it has fully restored power to all customers who were de-energized due to “public safety concerns” following a week-long red flag warning with strong gusty winds, low humidity and dangerous fire conditions.  An SDG&E media release states, “After crews inspected power lines all day in coordination with contract firefighters who were on hand to ensure a safe restoration process, power was turned on for all remaining customers. Field crews patrolled on the ground and in the air. Aerial inspections were completed by five helicopters in rural, mountainous areas."

Power remains out to 56 customers in the Lilac Fire zone in North County, where full restoration is expected early Tuesday evening. All 43 poles damaged in the fire will be replaced with fire-resistant steel poles and thicker, stronger wires, SDG&E indicates, adding, ““We understand that being without power, for any reason, is an inconvenience and we appreciate the patience we have received from our customers.”  For current information on outages and restoration times, visit sdge.com/outage.

Across East County,  many residents in rural, mountain and high desert towns have taken to social media to voice concerns over the prolonged outages.  Although SDG&E says it did provide advance notice to 170,000 customers of possible planned outages due to high winds and fire danger, before shutting off power to many thousands of homes, many rural residents say that’s not enough – and they want changes made. Below are highlights of residents' concerns and proposals.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Santee middle school age youth and high school students learn about the health risks associated to secondhand smoke and how tobacco waste like cigarette butts hurt their environment.

December 13, 2017 (Santee) – Santee is the last city in San Diego County to still allow smoking in public parks. But that could soon change.  On Thursday, December 14^th at 6:30 p.m., the Santee Parks and Recreation Committee will consider a smoke-free ordinance and recommendation to the City Council to make parks and open spaces smoke-free.  The meeting will be held at Santee City Hall’s Community Services building #7, 10601 North Magnolia Avenue in Santee.

December 13, 2017 (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 news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views.  Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Democrats pull off an upset in Alabama: Doug Jones defeats Roy Moore to trim G.O.P. majority (NY Times)
• Macron to award U.S. climate scientists “make our planet great again” grants (The Hill)
• President falsely claims that he doesn’t know his accusers (CNN)
• NYC terror attack suspect claims he did it for ISIS (CBS)
• Why are America’s farmers killing themselves in record numbers? (Guardian)
• Special Report: Unfettered construction raises U.S. hurricane costs (Reuters)
• Houston man arrested for trying to aid Islamic State: U.S. government (Reuters)
• Minnesota Lt. Governor to replace Franken, run for seat in 2018 (The Hill)
• Justice Dept. Opposes Mandatory Union Dues for Public Employees, Reversing an Old Position (Reason)

WORLD

• Protests in Lebanon Near U.S. Embassy After Trump’s Jerusalem Decision  (New York Times)
• Tense scene in West Bank after Trump decision (CNN)
• Saudi Arabia Announces Opening of Cinemas for First Time In 35 Years (NPR)
• Deadly Blast at an Austrian Gas Hub Prompts a State of Emergency in Italy (NPR_
• Names Written in Blood and Rust: Documenting Syria's Disappeared (NPR)
• German City Bans Refugees from Settling There, Other Cities May Follow (NPR)
• Firebombs hurled at Swedish synagogue after Jerusalem protest march (Jerusalem Post)

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

December 13, 2017 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Babies' brains damaged by pollution, UNICEF says (BBC)
• Huntington’s breakthrough may stop disease (BBC)
• Health officials sound the alarm on Trump-led reversal of ban om risky pesticides (RawStory)
• Even Low-Dose Contraceptives Slightly Increase Breast Cancer Risk (NPR)
• Why A Pill That's 4 Cents in Tanzania Costs Up to $400 in the U.S. (NPR)
• Safer DNA editing method may fix human diseases, Salk scientists report (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Here's What It Looks Like When You Fry Your Eye in an Eclipse (NPR)
• Warning over eating raw dough due to E. coli risk in flour (BBC)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• 12 must-have products going viral in 2017 (Household Saving Tips)
• This Year, Consider Giving Presence Instead of Presents (NPR)
• Video of starving polar bear ‘rips your heart out of your chest’ (New York Times)
• In Your Face: China’s all-seeing state (BBC)
• Massive Black Hole Reveals When the First Stars Blinked On (NPR)
• Fusion breakthrough explained: What are quarks again? (CS Monitor)

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