By Miriam Raftery

The Boethin family with State Senator Brian Jones

February 3, 2019 (Mt. Helix) –  When Daniel and Stephanie Boethin learned that the state planned to open a parole office near their Mt. Helix home in La Mesa, they took action  As government contractors, they knew how to get the attention of bureaucrats and public officials. In just a few short weeks, they organized their community to successfully halt the parole office near homes, schools and businesses in their neighborhood.

We interviewed the Boethins on our East County Magazine Radio Show, originally aired on KNSJ 89.1 FM Radio. The Boethins offered advice for people in other communities on how to successfully organize to stand up against projects with negative impacts on neighborhoods.

Assemblywoman Shirley Weber (D-San Diego) carrying legislation

By Laurel Rosenhall | CALmatters

CALmatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.

February 3, 2019 (Sacramento) -- Jamilia Land walked out of a meeting in the state Capitol feeling optimistic that 2019 may be the year California changes the law to try to reduce the number of people killed by police.

Tea Adams hits the game winner with two seconds left

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

February 2, 2019 (San Diego) - The Aztec women’s basketball team (7-12, 2-6) withstood a rally from San José State (2-18, 1-8) to win 69-68 Saturday afternoon inside Viejas Arena.

SDSU led by 17 points in the first quarter, but saw the Spartans take their first lead of the game with 16 seconds left after Analyss Benally banked in a three-pointer. On the other end, Téa Adams knifed through the lane and scooped up the game-winner off the glass with two seconds left to secure the nail-biting victory for the Aztecs.

East County News Service

February 2, 2019 (Santee) – Off Broadway Live in Santee will donate all proceeds from its March 24^th, 3 p.m. showing of “The Bridge” to benefit homeless kids at teens at Father Joe’s Villages.

The musical focuses on six people whose lives were forever changed by what happened one night on a bridge.  The bridge knows their secrets, and at a reunion of their high school football championship season, everyone will be there—and the bridge is waiting.

East County News Service

February 2, 2019 (Oceanside) – An Oceanside father of four who vanished on January 4th may have traveled to East County.  John Sturkie’s cell phone was traced to El Cajon on January 5 and 6 before it died. He is known to frequent Julian, the mud caves in Anza-Borrego desert, Palomar Mountain and Brawley/Calipatria.

East County News Service

February 1, 2019 (El Cajon) — Robert Gehr sent in this photo of dramatic clouds over El Cajon, glowing golden at sunset after yesterday’s storm.

East County News Service

February 1, 2019 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, will host “A Healthy Outlook on Aging, Medicines, Alcohol, Tobacco” from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, February 27.  The program is part of the library’s “Wellness Wednesday” series, normally held on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Admission is free. Light refreshments will be served. Advance RSVP is not necessary. Handouts will be available.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Stock image of cloud-to-cloud lighting (not today’s jolt)

January 31, 2019 (La Mesa) – A lightning bolt between Lemon Grove and La Mesa this afternoon produced a prolonged thunderclap loud enough to be heard as far away as Fletcher Hills, Lake Murray, Mission Gorge and Rancho San Diego.  The noise startled residents and terrified pets, but fortunately the bolt did not result in any reported damage.

At my Mt. Helix home, the whole house shook as rumbling continued for approximately 30 seconds after the initial roaring jolt.

By Miriam Raftery

January 17, 2019 (La Mesa)--Join us at our East County Dining Club’s next delicious event: a seafood soiree in the cozy party room at Red Lobster (8703 Murray Dr., La Mesa) across from Grossmont Center on Thursday, February 7 at 6:30 p.m. RSVP and prepay  to reserve space for this popular event.

You don't have to be a member to attend, though members receive special benefits. Proceeds benefit East County Media to support East County Magazine and East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts.

Your options include not only delicious wood-grilled lobster, shrimp and salmon, but also sizzling steak, Cajun chicken pasta, and options for luscious desserts.

We will also have plentiful prizes for our drawing including Red Lobster and other restaurant gift certificates, winery gift certificate, a wine rack, jewelry, novels, cookbooks, spa gift certificates, coffee, hand-woven scarf, and more.

Source: County of San Diego

January 31, 2019 (Campo) -- The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has issued a Boil Water Order for the Lake Morena County Park water system located at 2550 Lake Morena Drive, Campo, effective immediately. The water system serves drinking water to recreational camping and RV sites, cabins, employee/volunteer housing, and public restrooms and showers.

By Maryanne Jackson

January 31, 2019 (La Mesa) – The Alma Future Foundation held a dinner on January 22nd at Tiramisu Trattoria restaurant in La Mesa to raise funds for an orphanage in Ensenada, Mexico.

Many Thanks to Tiramisu Trattoria owner David Chiodo, who kindly donated the use of his restaurant. Chef and host Giulia Croce (photo) kindly donated her time preparing an amazing five-course meal.

East County News Service

January 31, 2019 (Julian) – Jerome’s Furniture Warehouse surprised Julian's & Cuyamaca's firefighters with five brand new reclining chairs for the lounge at Station #56. Now after fighting fighters and saving lives, firefighters can put up their boots and relax in comfort.

January 30, 2019 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• ​​​We may finally know what causes Alzheimer’s – and how to stop it  (New Scientist)
• More young Californians dying of flu than in years past (Los Angeles Times)
• Harris backs 'Medicare-for-all' and eliminating private insurance as we know it (CNN)
• There's arsenic and lead in many brands of fruit juice. Should you be concerned? (NPR)
• 2018 was second worst year for measles cases in more than two decades (CNN)
• Washington state officials declare state of emergency as measles outbreak continues (NPR)
• Survey finds higher risk of stroke among e-cigarette users (NPR)
• FDA identifies contamination source in blood pressure medications used by millions (Washington Post)

SCIENCE & TECH

• Amazon facial-identification software used by police falls short on tests for accuracy and bias (Washington Post)
• Russia tries to force Facebook and Twitter to relocate servers to Russia (Ars Technica)
• To Keep African Swine Fever Out, Denmark Is Planning A Southern Boar(der) Fence (NPR)

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