By Susan A Mahalick

Article and photos by the author

August 4, 2015 (Baja California, Mexico)--The day dawned as it usually does this time of year, with a marine layer clinging to the hills to the west of the beach. It is supposed to be 80 degrees later in the day, but for the game which is supposed to start at 11 a.m. this is perfect, especially in the shade. Thirty two people signed up for the fun event and played in teams of two or up to five. This is a usual amount I am told by Jesse, the cantina manager who has been here for many years.

August 5, 2015 (El Cajon) – Leon Thompson snapped these photos at the El Cajon Classic Cruises held each Wednesday night in downtown El Cajon – or what he refers to as “hotrod heaven,” showcasing everything from a little deuce coup to low-riders.  For details on upcoming Classic Cruise night themes, you can visit www. DowntownElCajon.com .

The Wright Brothers, by David McCullough (Simon & Schuster, New York, NY, 2015, 320 pages).

Book Review by Dennis Moore

If I were giving a young man advice as to how he might

succeed in life, I would say to him, pick out a good father

and mother, and begin life in Ohio.

• Wilbur Wright

August 5, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - David McCullough, 2-time Pulitzer Prize winner, for Truman and John Adams, and 2-time National Book Award winner, for The Path Between the Seas and Mornings on Horseback, as well as the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award, demonstrates in his #1 New York Times Bestseller; The Wright Brothers, why he is deserving of those honors and accolades.

Answering your questions about writing, publishing, and marketing books

By Sarka-Jonae Miller

August 5, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – How does a writer know what's right for their work with so many different opinions from agents, publishers, and articles? What is your suggestion for handling backstory? – Linda Crawford

August 5, 2015 (La Mesa) -- The City of La Mesa was recently approved for $992,500 from the SANDAG Smart Growth Incentive Grant Program (SGIP). The grant programs are funded by the TransNet regional half-cent sales tax for transportation approved by San Diego County voters. The grant will fund pedestrian and bicyclist safety enhancements along North Spring Street between University Avenue and the I-8 interchange.

East County News Service

August 4, 2015 (San Diego) – The San Diego City Planning Department has published a 300 page  public notice  of a Draft Environmental Impact report on the city’s ambitious climate action plan, which expands on Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s   climate action plan  released last year. The public has 60 days to comment.

August 5, 2015 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

• Sempra earnings edge up on power plant sale (San Diego Union Tribune)
• Edison didn't provide blackout emails to regulator (SD Reader)
• Saving water adds up to rate hikes (San Diego Union Tribune)
• Helix water board discussing new rates (San Diego Union Tribune)
• Counting Customer Costs For San Onofre Closure: $10.4 Billion (KPBS)
• Some San Diegans Wonder, Can You Stop Phone Book Deliveries? (KPBS)
• City Ethics Commission picks get political (San Diego Union Tribune)
• Supes To Consider Backing Penalties For Drone Operators Interfering With Firefighting (KPBS)
• San Diego County Supervisors Approve Additional Funding For Stadium Consultants (KPBS)

STATE

• CPUC invites public to reform confab
• California Rocky Fire: why it fits a global trend (CS Monitor)
• California fires lead Gov. Brown to declare state of emergency (Sacramento Bee)
• California officials float state-run bank for marijuana industry (Sacramento Bee)
• Obamacare checkup: millions of previously uninsured Californians now have health coverage, but cost and access worries persist (Orange County Register)
• Mike Huckabee to address California Republican Convention (Sacramento Bee)

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

East County News Service

August 4, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - The 4^th District Court of Appeal  ruled in late July that Proposition 47’s sentencing reclassification provisions apply equally to children and adults. San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis had argued that juveniles are not eligible to have their past offenses reduced to misdemeanors, even though adults convicted of the same felonies may petition for such relief.

East County News Service

August 4, 2015 (Washington D.C.) – A Republican-backed bill to stop all funding for Planned Parenthood nationwide has been blocked by Senate Democrats, falling seven votes short of the 50 needed or passage. Next up, the Republican leadership is threatening to shut down the government if funding the budget includes funding for Planned Parenthood, which provides birth control, mammograms, Pap smears and other women’s health services in addition to abortions.

East County News Service

August 4, 2015 (La Mesa) -- La Mesa Foothills Democratic Club will host the Speaker of the California State Assembly Toni Atkins at a special August 5 meeting. The Speaker will cover a wide range of topics including a legislative update and how San Diegans can and will be affected by the new state budget. Speaker Atkins will also discuss a new state law that she sponsored,  mandating that Residential Care Facilities carry liability insurance. 

 The Wednesday night meeting will start with social time at 6:30 p.m.and program at 7 p.m. at the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Drive (just north of University Avenue).

Congresswoman Davis wants to speak with family members of detained Chaldeans

By Miriam Raftery

August 3, 2015 (Otay) –After our story  yesterday on efforts by local Chaldeans to free more than 20 Iraqi Chaldean Christians detained for months at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)/Homeland Security facility in Otay Mesa, we received a response from Lauren Mack, public affairs officer for ICE in San Diego. 

Mack advised us via e-mail, “There are currently 28 Iraqi nationals in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody at the Otay Detention Facility in San Diego. One of those individuals was criminally charged this week in federal court with providing false information on an immigration application. Five others in the group have now been ordered removed (i.e., deported) by an immigration judge.”

Asked if these six individuals are Chaldean Christians or not, Mack declined to reveal the religion of these detainees. However she did provide a copy of the criminal complaint filed against Reta Morrogi (a.k.a. Zina Hormes Oraha Delli. It states that Morrogo communicated through an interpreter in the Chaldean dialect. She is charged with failing to disclose time spent in Germany on her flight from Iraq to the U.S.

August 3, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - Saturday August 8 marks the first annual "Sip of Julian."  Eight participants are included in this event, highlighting Julian-area wineries and other tasting rooms.  Joining the traditional wine producers are a craft brewery, hard cider, and a mead producer.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

August 3, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - Wildfires are burning throughout the State and things will only get worse before they get better says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna. If by chance you are near a wildfire, you may be asked to evacuate. Here are some things you should know if you find yourself in that situation: