By Miriam Raftery

November 1, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – Three East County Magazine writers received honors in San Diego Press Club’s 2018 Awards of Excellence presented this week.  All were entered in the online and daily newspapers category, bringing our total to 112 journalism awards as we celebrate our 10th anniversary.

East County News Service

Photos: Pittsburgh memorial to slain synagogue victims, White House flag at half mast, Eifel Tower in Paris dark in commemoration, Pittsburgh Steelers logo with star of David.

November 1, 2018 (San Diego) – Around the world and locally, the world grieves the slaughter of 11 Jewish people during a worship service and baby-naming ceremony at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania this week.   

In San Diego, people of all faiths came together to show solidarity in the face of the attack by an avowed anti-Semitic mass shooter.  Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego), who is Jewish,  posted on social media, “An overflowing and diverse crowd of thousands brought love and resolve to Temple Beth Israel - demonstrating how strongly San Diegans reject hate and division. So proud of everyone who stood up and said: Not Here! Not Anywhere!”

Congressman Duncan D. Hunter (R-Alpine) has been silent on the issue on his social media. 

His opponent, Ammar Campa-Najjar, issued this statement: “I am horrified by the heinous attack,” adding, “There are no words to fully convey our sadness and horror at the murder of Jewish people who were worshipping with their community on Shabbat."

By Donald H. Harrison

Reprinted with permission from Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  Members of different faiths and communities united in solidarity against hate. Photo by Chris Stone

November 1, 2018 (San Diego) - San Diego is 2,450 miles from Pittsburgh, but the psychological distance Monday was zero as representatives of many faiths filled Congregation Beth Israel’s sanctuary and social hall to overflowing.

By Miriam Raftery

November 1, 2018 (Alpine) — A grand reopening of  Viejas Casino & Resort in October celebration completion of a seven-year expansion project. The property now includes three hotel towers, a gleaming new center bar and high limit gaming area.

November 1, 2018 (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

• Republican Duncan Hunter facing new fraud charges as election looms (RawStory)
• What happens if Duncan Hunter wins reelection and is convicted? It could depend on who's in charge (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Your Biggest Questions About San Diego’s Decision to Start a CCA, Answered (Voice of San Diego)
• Rent control could be coming to California. Do old arguments apply? (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Trapped In Tijuana: US Asks Asylum-Seekers To Wait Amid Record Homicides (KPBS)
• Most Major Donors to San Diego Unified Bond Campaigns Win Big Contracts  (Voice of San Diego)

STATE

• What you need to know before the midterm election (Los Angeles Times)
• How California has become a national battleground for rent control as money flows in from landlords Los Angeles Times)
• Democratic state Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra and Republican challenger Steven Bailey discuss the issues facing California  (Los Angeles Times)

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

East County News Service

November 1, 2018 (La Mesa) - The La Mesa Village Association will present Holiday in the Village December 7^th   from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and 8^th from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.  You’re invited to stroll through the streets of La Mesa’s historic downtown to enjoy live music and dance, cozy fires, craft vendors, food, and a kids' area with holiday movies and activities.

There will also be fire pits, caroling and more in the spirit of the season.

Find more information at www.LaMesaVillageAssociation.org.

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

October 31, 2018 (San Diego) - At an hours-long conference on caring for people in psychiatric crisis, the County Board of Supervisors got an assessment of the current behavioral health system and actions underway to address current and potential future gaps in emergency and inpatient psychiatric resources in the region.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Update November 1, 2018, 8 a.m. -- Cal Fire reports that there were six spot fires and forward spread is stopped on all of them.

Update 9:55 p.m.:  Two fires near El Capitan reservoir are burning; one south of the boat dock is "problematic" and incident commander has requested additional resources, per scanner traffic.

October 31, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- Cal Fire is at the scene of the #PeutzFire that started near Peutz Valley Road in the Alpine area shortly before 9 p.m. reportedly about half an acre. 

Scanner traffic indicates crews have been battling multilpe small spot fires.

Crews had difficulty reaching flames near El Capitan reservoir due to a locked gate, Fox 5 reports.  Scanner traffic indicates the fire may be two acres.

Be vigilant and please report any suspicious activity to authorities.

East County News Service

October 31, 2018 (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.

• Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting Follows Nationwide Spike In Anti-Semitism (Huffington Post)
• Shrugging off blame, Trump reverts to divisive rhetoric after shooting (Los Angeles Times)
• Trump shut down programs to counter violent rhetoric (GovExec)
• A Holocaust survivor was booked to speak in Pittsburgh. A massacre wouldn’t stop her. (Washington Post)
• Trump says he's eyeing an executive order to end citizenship for children born to noncitizens in U.S. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• A Personal Testimony Of The Migrant Caravan (Washington Post)
• Trump says he may send 15,000 troops to U.S.-Mexico border (Washington Post)

WORLD

• Iranian spy service suspected of assassination plot in Denmark: security chief (Reuters)
•  U.S. charges Chinese intelligence officers for jet engine data hack  (Reuters)
• Hamas fires 30 rockets at Israel's south, IDF strikes 80 targets in Gaza (JPos)
• IDF: Islamic Jihad Rockets were directed from Iran, Syria (JPost)

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

October 31, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Malaria: Sniffer dogs to help in effort to eradicate the disease (BBC)
• Air pollution may lead to dementia in older women (USC)
• When Adolescents Give Up Pot, Their Cognition Quickly Improves (NPR)

SCIENCE AND TECH

• ‘Right-to-repair’ advocates claim major victory in new smartphone copyright exemption (Washington Post)
• More than a dozen cities are challenging the FCC over how to deploy 5G cell sites
• Trump is rolling back two Obama-era memos on wireless technology and replacing them with his own ‘national spectrum strategy’
• Amazon met with ICE officials over facial-recognition system that could identify immigrants
• Ready to Get Off Facebook? Reason Reviews 5 Alternative Social Networks (Reason)
• 60% of world's wildlife has been wiped out since 1970 (CBC)
• Coastal Pacific Oxygen Levels Now Plummet Once A Year (NPR)

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

East County News Service

November 1, 2018 (El Cajon) — The Grossmont Symphony Orchestra and Master Chorale kick off a busy month of concerts at both colleges.The orchestra and master chorale join choirs from the San Diego School of Creative & Performing Arts in the multimedia performance of Tolga Kashif's monumental choral orchestral work, "Queen Symphony - An Anthology of the Works of Freddie Mercury and Queen" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, at Foothills United Methodist Church, 4031 Avocado Blvd., La Mesa.  

The "Queen Symphony" is a six-movement symphonic work that features many of Queen's iconic melodies, including "Bohemian Rhapsody" to "We Are the Champions." Admission: $15 general, $10 seniors, $5 students. For more information, call (619) 644-7254. 

East County News Service

October 31, 2018 (Santee) - The city of Santee will host its holiday lighting celebration on November 16^thfrom 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Santee Trolley Square (9884 Mission Gorge Rd., Santee).

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

October 27, 2018 (El Cajon) -- An extensive background check on Joel Anthony Scalzitti, the challenger running against El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, shows that the local politician and businessman has been awash in legal problems and tax liens.

By Helen Ofield