November 3, 2016 (Lakeside)--The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD), a public agency that supports health-related community programs and services in San Diego’s East County, will present the 2016 Kids Care Fest, a free, family-oriented health event open to the public. Featuring free health care screenings, Kids Care Fest will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Lakeside Rodeo Grounds,12584 Mapleview St., Lakeside.

Now in its 15th year, Kids Care Fest is an opportunity for children to receive free, potentially life-saving health care screenings, including vision and dental screenings and children’s wellness checkups. The event will also feature information from dermatologists, pharmacists and other medical professionals, along with free kids fingerprinting and free flu shots (while supplies last).

By Jonathan Goetz

November 3, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Deceptive mailers have been sent to voters in El Cajon and Lemon Grove, readers tell ECM.

The San Diego County Democratic Party has endorsed Vickie Butcher, Stephanie Harper and Ben Kalasho in the El Cajon City Council Race. But a reader has alerted ECM that a mailer claims El Cajon Democrats endorsed Butcher as well as Humbert Cabrera and Steve Goble.  Cabrera and Goble have not been endorsed by any political party.

Source: El Cajon Police

November 3, 2016 (Lemon Grove) -- A suspect has been arrested at a Lemon Grove residence for a shooting that occurred in El Cajon on October 28^th at 12:40 p.m.

During the incident, witnesses described an argument occurring between two males and the suspect, near a kiosk in the 1000 Block of Decker Street. The suspect walked away from the argument to a vehicle parked a short distance away and retrieved a handgun. He then walked back to where the kiosk was at and fired numerous shots at the victims striking one of them in the leg. The suspect fled the scene in the vehicle.

East County News Service

November 3, 2016 (San Diego) - California Coast Credit Union is partnering with the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) and the San Diego Unaccompanied Youth Task Force this holiday season to launch a sock drive to collect thousands of new, unused socks for youth experiencing homelessness in San Diego County.

East County News Service

November 3, 2016 (El Cajon) - On Saturday, December 3, the ACES Foundation will be hosting the sixth annual Jingle Paws 1K and 5K Fun Walk from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College.  Registration is from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

East County News Service

November 3, 2016 (Santee) - Come meet members of Santee's Fire Department and San Diego Sheriff Bill Gore at Fire Station #5 (9130 Carlton Oaks Dr.) in Santee on November 12 from 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

By Priscilla Schreiber, Trustee, Grossmont Union High School District

November 3, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- After reviewing statements made in the San Diego County Taxpayers Association's (SDCTA) campaign literature, "Yes on BB", I thought it would be helpful to the voters if I shared my perspective, as the Board member who did not vote to put this bond measure on the ballot.

My comments (not in bold) follow their statements (in boldface):

By Van K. Collinsworth, Executive Director/Resource Analyst

savefanita@gmail.com

October 31, 2016 (Santee)--Analysis shows 98% of Santee City Council candidate Mason Herron's donors are from outside of Santee; much of these contributors are easily identified as being traffic gridlock producing development interests. (CA Form 460’s are required disclosures.)

In contrast,  Stephen Houlahan has not taken any developer dollars and 76% of his contributors are Santee residents.

By Liz Alper

Photo: David "Grandpa Rossy" Ross gets a hug from teammates as he retires a champion.   Cover photo:  Cubs fans celebrate the win outside Wrigley Field in Chicago. Both photos courtesy @Cubs on Twitter

November 3, 2016 (Cleveland) - Well, actually, that's not entirely true.  The goat was apparently at Progressive Field in Cleveland throughout the entire game.

But tonight, he had no effect.  The Cubs fought their way through the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers.

But none of that mattered anymore.  It all came down to fighting through the team who led the AL Central for most of the season, the Cleveland Indians.  The Indians fought through the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays.  Both teams had been through probably a bloodier battle than every battle in the Civil War combined in their leagues.

By Michelle Mowad, County of San Diego Communications Office

November 2, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- Give thanks all month through several fall and Thanksgiving-themed happenings at San Diego County Parks. Take a pilgrimage to one or all three of the community gatherings in the East County.

The trio of events is free and open to all ages. There is a $3 parking fee at Louis A. Stelzer and El Monte parks.

By Miriam Raftery

November 2, 2016 (San Diego)—Countywide, 324,415 voters have already cast ballots through early voting or mail-in ballots received at the San Diego County Registrar of Voters office,  as of 5 p.m. yesterday.  So far, 36.73% are from Republicans,  who are voting at 5.27% above their registration percentage. 

The highest number of ballots were cast by Democrats, 39.85%, but they are voting at only 2.91% above the party’s registration rate.  Independents account for 23.42% of votes, which is 8.18% below registration.

By Miriam Raftery

November 2, 2016 (El Cajon) — The father of Alfred Olango, a Ugandan immigrant who was fatally shot last month by an El Cajon Police Officer Richard Gonsalves, has announced plans to establish the Alfred Olango Justice and Unity Foundation for police reform. In addition, Olango’s sister has filed a claim against the City of El Cajon alleging negligence in her brother’s death.

November  2, 2016 (San Diego's East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

Presidential election

• Fearing violence, some officials close schools on Election Day (CS Monitor)
• Reports detail Trump campaign’s alleged ties to Russia (Yahoo! News)
• National poll shows  Trump, Clinton tied after Comey letter(Politico)
• Winning without the White House? Why Gary Johnson is aiming for 5 percent (+video) (CS Monitor)

General News

• As Standing Rock protesters face down armored trucks, the world watches on Facebook (Wired)
• Amnesty and United Nations send human rights observers to monitor treatment of Dakota  Access Pipeline protesters at Standing Rock (Inquisitr)
• Big Media Companies And Their Many Brands — In One Chart(NPR)
• Bundy brothers found not guilty of conspiracy in Oregon militia stand-off (Guardian)
• From Pot To Guns To School Funding: Here's What's On The Ballot In Your State(NPR)
• Federal Overreach in Search of More Prison Time Cost Them a Conviction, Says Juror in Oregon's Malheur Wildlife Center Occupation Acquittal (Reason)
• Respect for police at all-time high in US, says new survey (CS Monitor)

WORLD

• Italy earthquake: More than 15,000 people in shelters (CNN)
• Iran Hardliners Target Dual Nationals(NPR)
• Yazidi women win EU Parliament's Sakharov Prize (Reuters)
• In Germany, Syrians find mosques too conservative (Reuters)
• After NATO Objections, Russian Warships Won't Refuel At Spanish Port (NPR)
• Swirling Scandal Involving Shamanistic Cult Threatens S. Korean President (NPR)
• Turkey sacks 10,000 more civil servants, shuts media in latest crackdown (Reuters)
• Jewish and Palestinian-Israeli teens learn how to better collaborate(CSMonitor)
• U.S. State orders family of employees in Istanbul to leave country (Reuters)
• U.S. charges 61 over India-based IRS impersonation scam(Reuters)
• For first time, US abstains from UN vote condemning Cuba blockade (+video) (CS Monitor)
• Britain, U.S. to build up forces on Russian border (Reuters)

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

East County News Service

November 1, 2016 (Alpine) - Local teens are determined to help their best friend as she fights bone cancer by organizing a major fundraising event.

Samantha Bodger, 16 years old, who lives in Alpine and is a top student at Granite Hills High School, was diagnosed with High Grade Osteosarcoma in August 2016.  She requires 10 months of intensive chemotherapy and a major surgery to amputate her leg mid-November.

By Tom Christensen, County of San Diego Communications Office

November 1, 2016 (San Diego) -- Guidelines released recently include a new recommendation aimed at decreasing the risks associated with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, the leading cause of death in infants 1 to 12 months old in the United States.