By José A. Álvarez, County of San Diego Communications Office

Image credit:  PhotoSpin

April 7, 2019 (San Diego) - Like the rest of the nation, influenza activity in the San Diego region remains elevated and widespread, the County Health and Human Services Agency announced today.

Reports of lab-confirmed influenza dropped last week to 564 cases from the season high of 692 cases the week before. A new flu death was reported last week, bringing this season’s total to 55. At the same time last season, 325 people had died from complications from the flu.

End Medical Debt: Curing America’s $1 Trillion Unpayable Healthcare Debt, by Jerry Ashton, Robert Goff, Craig Antico (Hoku House, Kauai, Hawaii, 2018, 181 pages).

Book Review by Dennis Moore

Of all the forms of equality,

Injustice in health is the most

  shocking and inhumane.

• Martin Luther King, Jr.

April 6, 2019 (San Diego) - The authors have written a timely and thought-provoking book about healthcare and debt, coming at a time when the Trump Administration is proposing doing away with the Affordable Care Act (ACA), or better known as Obamacare.

Jerry Ashton, Robert Goff and Craig Antico, founders of the national charity RIP Medical Debt, a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit company based in New York, incorporated in 2014, locates, buys and forgives unpayable medical debt for those burdened by financial hardship. In a phone interview with one of the authors, Craig Antico, he stated to me: “People don’t realize the hardships that medical debt brings.”

Source:  Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians

April 5, 2019 (Valley Center) - The Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians announced today that they presented a $10,000 gift to Escondido’s 2019 Cruisin’ Grand today in downtown Escondido. This $10,000 donation will support the music venue which will highlight local musicians and talent.

East County News Service

April 5, 2019 (Lemon Grove) – A symposium on child trafficking will be held Thurs. April 11, 2019 from 6-8 p.m. at Lemon Grove Senior Center (Blossom Hall), 8325 Mount Vernon St. in Lemon Grove.

Source:  Treasurer-Tax Collector of San Diego County

April 4, 2019 (San Diego) - San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister reminded property owners today that they have just six days left to pay the second installment of their 2018-2019 property taxes before they are charged a late penalty.

April 3, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• U.S. border authorities hold migrant families in a pen under an El Paso bridge (Los Angeles Times)
• Trump plans to cut U.S. aid to 3 Central American countries (Washington Post)
• Dems escalate Mueller demands with subpoena  (The Hill)
• Joe Biden, in Video, Says He Will Be ‘More Mindful’ of Personal Space (New York Times)
• Just How Bad Is the Gender Pay Gap? Brutal, When You Look at a Lifetime of Work  (Time)
• House Democrats seek six years of Trump’s tax returns, setting stage for fight

WORLD

• Brunei introduces death by stoning for gay sex and adultery, despite international outcry (New York Times)
• What we aren’t eating is killing us, global study finds (CNN)
• Here's Who Could Replace Theresa May as U.K. Prime Minister if She's Pushed Out Over Brexit (Time)
• George Clooney calls for hotel boycott over Brunei LGBT death penalty (CNN)
• Radiation concerns halt Brussels 5G development, for now (Brussels Times)
• Facebook to consider live video restrictions after NZ attacks (BBC)

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

U.S.

Source:  Pala Casino

April 3, 2019 (Pala) - Pala Casino Spa & Resort announces the addition of Kenny Loggins to the 2019 summer concert lineup in the Starlight Theater on Friday September 27, 2019 at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets will go on sale, with no service charge, at 10 a.m., Friday, April 5, at the Pala Box Office, www.palacasino.com and 1-877-WIN PALA (1-877-946-7252). Tickets also are available atwww.startickets.com and 1-800-585-3737.

By Miriam Raftery

April 2, 2019 (Ramona) -- The Ramona H.E.A.R.T. Mural Project will hold a dedication ceremony for its 19th mural, “Bandy Blacksmith,” by artist Beata Wojcik at D’Carlos restaurant, 1347 Main St., Ramona on Saturday, April 6th at 10:00 a.m.

East County News Service

April 2, 2019 (San Diego) -- Baker Electric Home Energy, a leading San Diego/Escondido company specializing in advanced solar systems, home batteries as well as heating and air conditioning services and smart home solutions, hosted State Senator Brian Jones (Republican, Santee) on Friday, March 22.  The Senator’s visit was intended to gain a greater understanding of solar and home battery technology as well as renewable energy’s impact on the San Diego job market and economy. 

East County News Service

April 2, 2019 (San Diego)--The National Weather Service has issued a wind warning in effect from noon today to 11 a.m. tomorrow for San Diego’s mountain and desert areas.  Southwest winds of 20-30 miles per hour with gusts up to 60 mph are forecast.

Watch for blowing dust or sand in these areas and use caution if driving a high-profile vehicle.

East County News Service

By Maryanne Jackson, real estate broker

April 1, 2019 (San Diego’s East County)

Dear Maryanne,

My mother is living in another state now, but we need to start to explore the possibility of having her come live with us soon. We have a large lot and would like to find out  how to get a permit to build a smaller unit on our residential property.

Is this an easy process?

--JD. La Mesa

By Miriam Raftery

March 31, 2019 (El Cajon) – Slow-cooked, wood-smoked meats barbecuing on an old wagon base, or buckboard, filled the air with mouth-watering aromas at a ribbon-cutting held March 20^th at Buckboard’s Barbecue & Brew in El Cajon by the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce.

The restaurant specializes in California smokehouse barbecue, which owner Fadi Shihadeh describes as “Santa Mara-style with a twist” that includes smoke flavor in all meats. They also do catering, if you've got a hankering for barbecue at your next outdoor gathering.

Now located at 975 Greenfield Drive, Buckboard’s moved to El Cajon from San Diego, where it was originally owned by Padres pitcher Randy Jones. The Shihadeh family bought it and ran it for many years, before moving recently to El Cajon at 975 Greenfield Drive.

“This really is a homecoming for us. It feels great to be back,” Shihadeh told ECM during the Chamber event.

By David R. Shorey

Photo credit:  CC by SA

East County Program Manager, Institute for Public Strategies

April 1, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) - If you were to open my medicine cabinet today, you would probably find a few bottles of prescription medication that I stopped using or didn’t need to finish. Perhaps I’ve forgotten I have them for pain medication, or I might be saving them for an “emergency.” Unfortunately, the availability of excess medication contributes to the problem with prescription medication abuse in the United States.

April 1, 2019—East County Magazine has the exclusive scoop on astounding major stories breaking today.

Is truth stranger than fiction? You decide. Click any title  to view a description of each story, then click "

read more to view full story.  Click here to view  our full special edition.

• Initiative to build affordable housing and homeless shelter atop Santee’s city hall
• UCSD researchers announce creation of high-grade artificial sand, eliminating need for local sand mines
• Citizens advisory board in El Cajon proposes vetting guidelines for City Council candidates and appointees
• Borrego Springs asks tourists’ help to ease water shortage
• Transparency slate runs for Cajon Valley school board
• La Mesa finds lofty solution to farmer’s market location

Trust us, you won't want to miss this news!