East County News Service

April 19, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - This week’s Destination East County includes a star party in Julian, an eco-folk musical at Mission Trails for Earth Day, Open Farm Days and Animal Shows at the Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona, Jazz Sunday at La Mesa Wineworks, and a Clint Black concert at Sycuan.

Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including Lakeside’s Rodeo and Western Days Parade, a Wine Festival in Jamul, El Cajon’s Dinner and a Concert Series, Vintage Alpine, America on Main Street and much, much more.

So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

East County News Service

April 19, 2017 (Ramona) - The Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona invites you to an open farm and show this Saturday and Sunday, April 22^nd and 23^rd.  The fun starts at 1 p.m. for an afternoon featuring friendly farm animals and curious camels. At 1:30 there’s an animal show featuring performing parrots, racing turkeys, working farm dogs and majestic camels. 

By Miriam Raftery

April 18, 2017 (San Diego) — Hugo Castro, a San Diego-based activist with Border Angels, has been found alive after an apparent abduction near Mexico City, Mexico’s Attorney General announced.  According to Mexico’s Attorney General, an anonymous caller tipped off a special prosecutor for disappeared persons and Castro was found on a street in the city of Tlalnepantla de Baz.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Clip art; the actual "Duncan Thumpin'" costume has not yet been revealed

April 18, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Hopping down the bunny trail—and the campaign trail—Duncan Thumper will soon be popping up at Congressman Duncan Hunter’s events to draw attention to his campaign finance controversies that have sparked a criminal investigation by the Justice Department.

East County News Service

April 18, 2017 (Jamul) – Fantastic local wines, great food and live entertainment will be just a few of the highlights of the second annual Wine Festival benefiting St. Pius X Catholic Church's building fund.  On Saturday, April 29, from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., wine lovers will enter the event grounds in Jamul, Calf. and begin tasting wines from the following participating wineries:

By Miriam Raftery

April 18, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order requiring federal agencies to buy American products and prioritize using American workers. In an effort to jumpstart the U.S. economy, the President aims to tighten up existing waivers to require approval by agency heads for making non-American procurements, GovExec reports.

April 18, 2017 (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.

• Senate votes to require women to register for the draft (New York Times)
• Dozens more U.S. troops deployed to Somalia (Voice of America)
• CEOs  make 300 times more than workers. This city is putting a stop to that. (Moyers)
• Trump threatens to stop insurance payments so Democrats negotiate on healthcare (CNN)
• Trump’s stunning U-turns on NATO, China, Russia and Syria (CNN)
• NATO is “no longer obsolete,” Trump declares (CBS)
• U.S. jury in Vegas begins mulling Bundy Ranch standoff case (USA Today)
• Trump ends hiring freeze, but workplace cuts loom (GovExec)
• White House confirms it will propose 1.9% pay raise for feds next year (GovExec)
• Melania Trump wins damages from Daily Mail over ‘escort’ allegations (BBC)
• Coast Guard Pushes Back Against Rep. Hunter's Pentagon Move (KPBS)
• Trump White House to keep visitor logs private (CNN)

WORLD

• As US Navy aircraft steam toward western Pacific, North Korea warns of nuclear strike if provoked (CS Monitor)
• A ‘Cuban missile crisis in slow motion’ off  North Korea (New York Times)
• How  North Korea could kill 90% of Americans (The Hill)
• Iraq: Islamic State launches chlorine gas attacks in western Mosul (Los Angeles Times)
• How Iran enables Syria’s chemical warfare against civilians (JPost)
• Boko Haram Increasingly Using Children In Suicide Bombings, UNICEF Says (NPR)
• As suspect in Stockholm attack confesses, mourning and resolve from Swedes (CS Monitor)

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

SDSU also hosts NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship in 2018

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

April 18, 2017 (San Diego) - San Diego State has been selected to host the first and second rounds of the 2022 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee announced today. This is the fifth time SDSU and Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl have been picked to serve as a host for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

East County News Service

April 18, 2017 (Santee) - The Santee Craft, Vendor and Food Fair will be held Saturday, April 29 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Summit Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 8778 Cottonwood Avenue in Santee.  Guests can shop for Mother’s Day handcrafted gifts, including hand-made art dolls,  origami owl jewelry, bracelets, Donald Trump pussycat toys,  Avon and MaryKay cosmetics, PartyLite, warming bags, ceramics, hand-made oak crafts and more.  Hand-made tamales and fruit waters will also be available.

Editor’s note:  We first wrote about Kathleen Hayden’s efforts to restore the Coyote Canyon heritage herd of wild horses locally in January 2013. Read article. But in July 2013, she was served with an eviction notice and forced to  give up the last descendants of San Diego’s wild horses. Despite a 2012  support  letter from Congressman Darrell Issa and a 2014 letter from a genetics expert confirming that the horses are rare and of historic significance as descendants of Spanish Colonial horses,  the U.S. Bureau of Land Management has done nothing to protect or return them--and now is not turning over the deed of transfer, Hayden says  Now she has penned an open letter to  the House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop questioning the legality of the transfer.

Dear Chairman Bishop,

Please investigate the transfer of the BLM Federal CA Coyote Canyon Wild Horse Herd area (20,000 acres)  to CA Anza Borrego Desert State Park.  In response to Ca State Senator Joel Anderson's request for the deed, Parks claim it doesn't exist.

East County News Service

April 17, 2017 (Spring Valley) – The Otay Water District today voted 4-1 to formally censure director Hector Gastelum for official misconduct over racist remarks that he made to media, on social media, and in the March 1^st board meeting.  Gastelum opposed the measure.  The resolution called his actions “reprehensible and intolerable.”

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

April 17, 2017 (El Cajon) -- The City of El Cajon Recreation Department will be hosting an afternoon of pool safety and fun - called “April Pools Day” on Friday, April 28 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.  The event features a free lifejacket give-away, sun safety information, CPR mini lessons, crafts, water safety tips, and FREE open swim.

By Miriam Raftery

April 17, 2017 (Santee) – Santee Lakes is an idyllic place to let kids enjoy the simple pleasures of childhood.  On a sunny afternoon over spring break, kids at the lakes gleefully discovered their inner Tom Sawyer or Becky Thatcher. 

I spotted a group of kids piloting a pedal boat around one of several islands in the lake.   A large Canada Goose skidded to a water landing in front of another pedal boat, where a startled dad snapped photos while his kids looked on, pointing with delight.  

East County News Service

April 17, 2017 (El Cajon) — “Every Mother’s Son,” an Investigation Discovery TV show episode about the disappearance of Elija “Bear” Diaz, will air on April 23^rd at 7 p.m.

Diaz vanished in the middle of the night of August 29, 2015 from his El Cajon home and his family suspects he met with foul play. A member of the Barona Band of Mission Indians, he was 20 years old at the time.

“We are encouraged that this national focus on Bear’s case will spark someone to remember any clues that might help us find him,” said LeLanie Thompson, Bear’s mom. “We miss our son and won’t stop looking for him until we have some answers about his disappearance. We appreciate the community’s continued support.”

East County News Service

April 17, 2017 (San Diego) – On April 29^th  at 1 p.m.,  The Sara Spencer Washington Story,  an award winning  short documentary about the life of noted black businesswoman, philanthropist, and political activist Sara Spencer Washington will have its San Diego premiere as part of the San Diego Black Film Festival.