By Susan A Mahalick

Photos of Vintango provided by Jo Ann Martino

November 13, 2015 (Baja California, Mexico)--It was a fine fall day to visit one of my favorite winemakers, Jo Ann Knox Martino who owns Vintango. She has been making wine for six years now and this year she only put up Nebbiolo. In years previous she has done Zinfandel and a blend of  Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. She harvested 16 tons of grapes and put up 15 barrels of this wine. She still has 10 cases left of my favorite, the 2011 Zinfandel, which she poured for my friend, Rocky, and I. She is also experimenting with pomegranate wine since there are trees on the ranch. We were able to sample some of this as well and give feedback she appreciated.

East County News Service

November 14, 2015 (La Mesa)--Winners of La Mesa’s K-8 Our Planet, Our Home Environmental Literacy and Art Contest have been announced. Mayor Arapostathis has kindly agreed to hand out the awards at the Block Party on November 14 at 11:15 a.m. at the Farmer’s Market site on Allison Avenue near La Mesa Blvd, and the winning flat artwork will be exhibited for one month in the foyer of the La Mesa Library.

The contest is a cooperative effort of the City's Environmental Sustainability Commission, the La Mesa Urban Trails grant from the County, the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District and the La Mesa Library branch. Sponsorship and prizes for the contest were contributed by SDGE and the Water Conservation Garden.

East County News Service

Photo by El Cajon Fire Marshal Chris Jensen

November 13, 2015 (El Cajon) –Heartland Fire & Rescue crews in El Cajon responded to reports of a structure fire this morning at 9:45 a.m. Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy smoke coming from the second floor of a single-family home at 1715 Eldon Court in El Cajon.

By Miriam Raftery

November 13, 2015 (San Diego)--On Tuesday, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy and California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced grand jury indictments of medical providers and their associates for accepting bribes and kickbacks for referring and/or treating injured workers in California's workers compensation system.

Detectives from the California Department of Insurance along with agents from the FBI investigated and then arrested the eight individual defendants, who along with six corporate defendants, are charged with criminal violations in the indictments.

East County News Service

November 12, 2015 (El Cajon) -- On Friday, November 13th and Saturday, November 14th, the El Cajon Police Department Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.) Team will be conducting training at the vacant buildings located in the 100 block of Rea Avenue at Magnolia Avenue in El Cajon. This is a unique opportunity for a very specific and specialized type of training.

There may be explosions and other loud noises heard in and around the area throughout the day.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: U.S. Forest Service

November 10, 2015 (Sacramento) - Governor Jerry Brown has declared an emergency in California due to a voracious pest – bark beetles that have killed 22 million trees statewide, including vast tracts of forests in San Diego’s East County.  Tens of millions more are at risk of dying if nothing is done – also raising the risk of wildfires.

The governor is seeking federal help and meanwhile has directed state officials, utilities and local governments to take 19 steps to fight the bark beetle infestation. Brown suspended several state laws to allow his orders to be carried out immediately.

East County News Service

November 10, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Two major insurance companies have been fined $650,000 by California for providing inaccurate information in doctor directories.  In addition, class action lawsuits have been filed on behalf of patients overcharged as a result of those errors.

East County News Service

November 11, 2015 (Washington D.C.) -- As the only former Physician Assistant (PA) now serving in Congress, Representative Karen Bass (D-Calif.) this week introduced two pieces of legislation to make sure that people who want to become Physician Assistants have the ability to successfully attend college as well as making sure that Physician Assistant education programs have the resources they need.

Listen to Destination East County, also aired on KNSJ, by clicking the audio link.

By Miriam Raftery

November 12, 2015 (San Diego's East County)--This week’s Destination East County includes a banjo jam at Grossmont Center, a famed harmonica performer in Ramona, a western dinner theater show in El Cajon, and a storytelling celebration in Santee.

Plus we’ll have previews of coming attractions including the Mother Goose Parade, Pomegranate Days at the Oasis Camel Dairy, and a holiday music festival at Parkway Plaza.

November 12, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – A woman who ran a Border Patrol checkpoint in Pine Valley, after agents found a person hidden in her trunk, led authorities on a chase at speeds up to 120 miles per hour last night. 

The chase began shortly before 5 p.m. and continued for 30 miles, despite tack strips laid down to try and half the driver, who was in a Ford Mustang. Border Patrol and California Highway Patrol officers were involved in the pursuit. The driver exited the freeway in El Cajon, where she crashed into the back of a Jeep s at Madison and Second Street, Customs and Border Patrol reports.  The CHP site and several media outlets reported that the suspect struck more than one vehicle.

Source: KNSJ

Nov. 12, 2015 (San Diego) – KNSJ radio will hold a music summit this Thursday, Nov. 12 at its meeting room at 4246 Wightman Street in City Heights from 7 to  9 p.m. to develop and organize a stronger local music presence.

KNSJ radio is proud to provide a broadcast platform to feature local musicians and music as no other station in San Diego does.  So, musicians and music aficionados, join our summit with your ideas to develop this project.  Join other musicians, techies and music fans to imagine what radio knsj can become for the music scene in San Diego.

“We need local support to support local artist,” a press release from the station states.

By Miriam Raftery

November 11, 2015 (Alpine)—An appeal by neighbors and two additional requests for permission to file appeals to the County’s stipulated administrative enforcement order authorizing Covert Canyon to conduct firearms training for military, government and law enforcement at its Alpine property.  The requests for appeals will be heard as item 5 on the Planning Commission agenda Friday, November 13.

The formal appeal was filed on behalf of Clark F. and Robin Williams, neighbors with property adjacent to Covert Canyon.  View the Williams appeal (parts 1, 2, 3)  The requests for permission to file appeals came from Danielle Belliveau on behalf of 15 Alpine residents and from attorney Marco Gonzalez representing Cleveland National Forest Foundation, Save Our Forests and Ranchlands, and the Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation.

November 11, 2015 (Ramona) – Nicole Bridges, founder of Capability Ranch, sent in this photo of a rainbow arcing over the facility. Capability Ranch provides activities and events for special needs children and adults.

November 10, 2015 (La Mesa)—Kids ages 5 to 12 are invited to participate in Kwai Sun Studio’s 7^th annual Winter Superhero Camp at the La Mesa Community Center’s cottage (4975 Memorial Drive.)   The camp includes martial arts, par kour, yoga, and creative soccer training for an inspiring winter break.

By Kathy Carpenter

Associate and Youth Reviewer www.sdtheaterreviews.com



November 9, 2015 (Santee) - Anne Frank and Me by Cherie Bennet.is a play about keeping history and memories alive so as not to be forgotten. The question asked in today's world and Ms. Edwards, is how do we motivate students in this short span society to learn things like history?

Let me say bravo to Carrin Edwards for finding a way. Ms. Edwards is a teacher at West Hills in Santee, and the director of this profound piece.Kudos also go out to West Hills High administration for encouraging students and rewarding them to support the arts.