Review and photos by Gerald Stevenson 

September 15, 2019 (El Cajon) -- What can be said about the incomparable Luann de Lesseps? The sky is the limit, her fans would say. Also known as The Countess, she held the audience in the palm of her hand during the opening week of El Cajon’s newly reborn concert hall, The Magnolia.

Friday the 13th was Luann’s night to entertain. Bringing her cabaret show to El Cajon was a nice gift for our city, and the wider region of San Diego. My only wish was for her to remind the audience where we are:  El Cajon, not San Diego. Come on Luann, give our city some recognition! But, that’s a small thing. Maybe future stars will give us a shout out.

The Magnolia was a sell out on Friday. The audience was frisky and full of life, eventually clapping and chanting, "Luann! Luann! Luann!’ as encouragement, hoping their cries reached her dressing room. With phone cameras in everyone’s hands, the fans had time to take "selfies" and photos of the growing crowd.

By Jonathan Goetz 

Signature drive not on track to meet end of September deadline to make it on the ballot without massive last-minute influx of signature gatherers

September 15, 2019 (Lemon Grove) – Firefighters led volunteers who spread out through Lemon Grove yesterday to collect signatures on a ballot measure that would bring Lemon Grove's sales tax on par with La Mesa, raising it by ¾  a cent. The measure, if approved, which would nearly double the amount the City receives as its share of the sales tax.

East County News Service

September 15, 2019 (La Mesa) – Get your Lederhosens ready – the 46th annual La Mesa Oktoberfest is gearing up for over 100,000 revelers celebrating German traditions over three full days of free festivities October 4-6.

East County News Service

September 15, 2019 (San Diego) – The California State Legislature today passed on a 61-9 vote Assembly Bill 589 authored by state Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) to make it illegal for an employer to confiscate a worker’s immigration documents as a way to force them into labor.

East County News Service

September 15, 2019 (San Diego) – County Assessor Ernie Dronenberg invites you to a meeting of the California Board of Equalization on Sept. 19 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. in San Diego. 

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

September 14, 2019 (Las Cruces, N.M.) - Sophomore running back Jordan Byrd rushed for a career high 128 yards and two touchdowns and sophomore defensive end Keshawn Banks recorded five tackles, two for loss, as San Diego State defeated New Mexico State, 31-21.

By Miriam Raftery

September 3, 2019 (El Cajon) -- What could be more heavenly than wine made from wildflower honey, orange zest, cane sugar and vanilla?  How about this news: the creators of honey-wines known as “Saccharo” have moved their Pearson Brothers Winery back to its roots, returning to East County.

They now have a new tasting patio in a wildlife sanctuary open as of Sept. 21, as well as a wine club, and recipes for cocktails featuring their sustainably-produced Saccharo honey wines in several new varieties.

By Liz Alper

Photos by P.J. Panebianco

September 14, 2019 (La Mesa) - Week four of ECM Friday Night Lights promises to be a good one.  We went to Helix High School, where senior running back and all-time Helix career rushing leader Elelyon Noa and the Highlanders hosted the Dons of Cathedral Catholic.  Helix is 1-1 coming off of a bye week. Helix has Noa. The Dons have Catholics and some of the best athletes in San Diego. Let’s dive right in.

Photo, right by Catherine Gorka

September 13, 2019 (Lakeside) -- A vehicle accident has ignited a brush fire in Lakeside, charring seven acres, according to Cal Fire's latest update.

The #MonteFire started at 14750 Willow Road. According to Cal Fire, forward spread has been halted.

By Miriam Raftery

September 12, 2019 (Sacramento) – Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a pair of bills aimed at increasing vaccinations of children in California.  The measures will allow the state to investigate doctors who write more than five medical exemptions from vaccines in a year and also empowers officials to investigate schools with less than 95 percent of students vaccinated.

In San Diego’s East County, some schools have vaccination rates as low as 10 percent, according to data compiled by Shots for Schools, as ECM reported last month.

The actions come after doctors and public health officials voiced growing concern over the rising number of measles cases in California, including recent exposures at Disneyland and other tourist attractions--and amid vocal protests at the Capitol.

By Miriam Raftery

September 12, 2019 (El Cajon) – Ray Lutz, founder of the nonprofit watchdog group Citizens Oversight in El Cajon, announced today that he has formed an exploratory committee for a possible run for the 53^rd Congressional district seat.  Congresswoman Susan Davis announced last week that she will not be seeking reelection.

Lutz, a Democrat, lives in the 53^rd district since redistricting in 2010, though he previously ran against Rep. Duncan Hunter back in 2008.

Lutz and the organization he founded have been instrumental in attaining several landmark actions in our region ranging from a lawsuit that won $775 million for local ratepayers to a succesful fight that helped save East County's peforming arts center,as well as leading efforts to improve safety of  nuclear waste storage and battling to keep Blackwater out of the backcountry.

September 12, 2019 (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

• A divided County Board of Supervisors moves ahead on community choice energy (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Plea deal reached in San Diego County sheriff's deputy sexual misconduct case (10 News)
• More deaths associated with mysterious vaping illness; 11 cases reported in San Diego County (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Getting hooked on vaping (Ramona Sentinel)
• SANDAG Board OKs Formula For New Homebuilding (KPBS)

STATE

• California rewrites the laws of employment (Los Angeles Times)
• Coast guard issues warning after California boat fire: limit cell phone charging (USA Today)
• Trump pushing for major crackdown on homeless camps in California, with aides discussing moving residents to government-backed facilities (Washington Post)
• California would allow college athletes to profit under bill headed to Newsom (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Uber: We’ll fight in court to keep drivers as independent contractors (San Francisco Chronicle)
•  California is first state to ban fur trapping (HuffPost)
• Lions, tigers and bears no more: California lawmakers ban exotic animals at circuses (Los Angeles Times)
• Boat where 34 died was a ‘fire trap’ despite passing inspections, experts say. It’s far from alone (Los Angeles Times)

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