By Miriam Raftery

May 20, 2024 (Santa Ysabel) – The world has lost a creative giant.  Visionary artist and internationally acclaimed architect James Hubbell passed away on May 17 in Chula Vista at age 92, surrounded by family members including his wife, Anne.  

“We’ve lost a great friend, a generous, creative talent, and an extraordinary man,”  reads a statement issued by the Ilan-Lael Foundation, founded by Hubbell to inspire future generations of budding artists, architects and builders. 

Hubbell designed hundreds of public and private artworks. Locally, his creations include the Pacific Portal gazebo and Pacific Rim Park’s Pearl of the Pacific on Shelter Island, the Triton Restaurants in San Diego and Carlsbad, Kuchumaa Passage, a public artwork at Rancho La Puerta Fitness Resort and Spa in Tecate, Mexico, and a mosaic foundation at Coronado Ferry Landing.

Internationally,  he headed up efforts to create a series of international peace parks at locations rimming the Pacific Ocean.  He also began a 30-year volunteer project to build Colegio La Esperanza, an elementary school embedded with mosaics to bring hope, education and beauty to students east of Tijuana, Mexico.

East County News Service

May 18, 2024 (Jacumba Hot Springs)—The Jacumba Hot Springs Hotel will host an evening of soulful tunes by Lady Dottie & The Diamonds with Rey.Wolf, DJs Roger Mars and Rick Barzell  on May 26 at the hotel’s ritual pool.  These award-winning musicians have their roots in blues, gospel and jazz.

Come for the day: The Ritual Pool is open from 9 a.m. – 12 a.m. Day Passes are $45. Entrance to the event is included for Hotel and Guest House accommodations and/or Day Passes. Purchase a Day Pass here

The event starts at 5 p.m. $15 advance tickets or $20 at the door. Tickets include access to the Ritual Pool starting at 5 p.m. Purchase a Ticket here

*Entrance to the pool and event is included with hotel and guest house accommodations and/or day passes.

Update May 28, 2024 -- All evacuation orders have been lifted, though firefighters remain on scene.

Update 9:30 p.m. --The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department has issued an Evacuation Order. An Evacuation Order requires immediate movement out of the affected area due to an imminent threat to life. All persons in the impacted area should prepare to evacuate. Evacuation Order means there is extreme danger in your area.  You must leave now; do not wait. Contact your neighbors and share information.

By Miriam Raftery

May 17, 2024 (Otay Mesa) – The #CaminoFire at Gateway Energy Storage, a lithium battery storage facility  in Otay Mesa, flared up overnight and prompted county officials to issue an evacuation warning for businesses in the surrounding area due to the potential for release of toxic gasses.

The fire has also resulted in a shelter-in-place order for nearby Donovan State Prison. A road closure is in effect at Camino de la Fuente and Paseo de la Fuente.

According to Cal Fire’s incident update this morning, firefighters continue to battle the  thermal runaway fire involving lithium ion batteries.

The harmful gasses are “making access an issue for firefighters,” Cal Fire advises.”The building’s sprinkler system is currently being supplemented with the use of the existing standpipe system and the fire is still contained to the building of origin."

By Miriam Raftery

Photo via Shutterstock:  Measles vaccine

May 14,2024 (San Diego) -- County public health officials have confirmed the third case of measles in the region this year in a 13-month-old resident who recently traveled overseas. 

The unimmunized infant may have exposed others at the following times and locations: 

• Children’s Primary Care Medical Group El Cajon located at 844 Jackman St., on May 12, from 9:10 a.m. to 12 p.m. 
• Rady Children’s Emergency Department located at 3020 Children’s Way, 1st Floor in San Diego, on May 13, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. 

The County previously confirmed two other cases in the region this year. None of the three cases are linked, but all are associated with international travel. Before 2024, the last confirmed measles case in the County was in 2019. 

County epidemiologists are working with Children’s Primary Care Medical Group El Cajon and Rady Children’s Hospital to identify and follow up with patients and staff to determine if those possibly exposed at these locations have been vaccinated. They will also evaluate their potential for developing measles.

East County News Service

Photo, left: Chiquis

May 14, 2024 (El Cajon) – The Magnolia performing arts center in El Cajon has some hot entertainers coming up in late May and June, including Latin Grammy Award winning singer Chiquis, Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Tanya Tucker, singer/songwriters Todd Rundgren and Iron & Wine, a rock opera, several tribute artists, and more. 

During El Cajon’s America on Main Street celebration on May 18, a free concert by Pettybreakers, a Tom Petty tribute band, will be held. (Reservations required.)

Below is the full lineup announced to date for late May and June:

Update May 14, 2024:  This fire has been extinguished after charring 18 acres and destroying the home where it started.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

May 13, 2024 (Alpine)-- Cal Fire is responding to a brush fire, #Love21C, south of Loveland Reservoir in Alpine. The fire has burned 15 acres and is spreading at a moderate rate of speed, with potential for 100 acres, according to Cal Fire.  

The fire  started at  1900 Sloane Canyon Rd. and Loveland Reservoir and is zero percent contained, per the Watch Duty Ap.