January 3, 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

• Class action lawsuit alleges immigrants are forced to labor in detention (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Alpine, County not giving up on community park (San Diego-Union Tribune)
• The Year San Diego Unified Established Itself as the Agency Most Hostile to Transparency (Voice of San Diego)
• Kasparian Under Criminal Investigation, Says Opposing Lawyer at Gag Order Hearing (Times of San Diego)

STATE

• Californians line up to legally buy recreational pot (CNN)
• Border Patrol will go after pot at California checkpoints (NBC 7)
• Some states put a THC limit on pot-smoking drivers. Here’s why California doesn’t (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Fear of fire penalties belts Edison, PG&E stocks (San Diego Reader)

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

January 3, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Marijuana users risk schizophrenia, but the drug helps pain (NBC)
• FDA Takes Too Long to Recall Tainted Food, Federal Investigators Say (NPR)
• Why spending time outdoors could help your child's eyesight (BBC)
• World first for dog's broken leg (BBC)
• Is Pollution Causing Obesity and Asthma in Children? (Apple News)
• Flu Cases On The Rise In San Diego, Patients Pack Into Sharp Grossmont (KPBS)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

•  Apple apologizes after outcry over slowed iPhones (Reuters)
• Researchers Discover Two Major Flaws in the World’s Computers (New York Times)
• This should freak everyone out: the Arctic will never be frozen again (Mother Jones)
• 9 Ways You Can Use Your Devices for Advanced Scientific Research (Singularity Hub)
• Police arrest alleged 'Nigerian prince' email scammer in Louisiana (USA Today)

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

East County News Service

January 3, 2018 (San Diego) -- St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC) in El Cajon will partner with The Marine Room to host Tea by the Sea on Saturday, January 20, 2018 from 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Tea by the Sea will feature complimentary champagne and a signature cocktail, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, live music and a visit from The Marine Room’s Executive Chef Bernard. The imaginative cuisine is more than matched by the up-close view of the surf.

East County News Service

January 3, 2018 (San Diego's East County) - The weather is getting colder. Each year, more people die in home fires during the winter months than any other time of the year.

To help you to spread the word about fire safety, the U.S. Fire Administration offers these safety tips:  https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/media/social.html

East County News Service

January 3, 2018 (Santee) – San Diego homebuilder New Pointe Communities is bringing much-needed, reasonably-priced homes to market in an urban area already well serviced by essential infrastructure. The company’s 18-townhome project, Montivo, located at 8850 Olive Lane in Santee, is now open for sales.

East County News Service

January 3, 2018 (San Diego) – President Donald Trump on Tuesday approved a request by California Governor Jerry Brown for a federal disaster declaration due to wildfires in southern California that began December 4th, including the Lilac Fire in San Diego as well as devastating fires in Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

By Miraim Raftery

January 3, 2018 (Washington D.C.) – President Donald Trump starting the New Year off with a Tweet mocking North Korean President Kim Jong Un’s power and the sizes of his nuclear button. The action came in response to Kim’s New Year’s announcement in which the North Korean strongman stated that “The whole territory of the U.S. is within the range of our nuclear strike,” though adding that he would not attack first unless threatened, and he voiced support for talks.

East County News Service

January 2, 2017 (Spring Valley) - Happy New Year! And what a better way to kick off (or on) 2018 than with San Diego's official Laurel & Hardy fan organization! The Saps at Sea present their 40th Anniversary SAPS Funtastical gathering of film and food.  Doors open at 6:30 p.m. at Williams Hall at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Spring Valley with the show starting at 7 on January 27.

By Andy Tolley, County of San Diego Communications Office

Video courtesy County of San Diego

January 2, 2018 (Julian) - William Heise County Park in Julian offers more than 10 miles of picturesque hiking trails.

We’ve highlighted a one-mile stretch, the Cedar Trail, that will get your heart pumping, given you go try it out after watching the virtual version of it!

William Heise County Park offers up camping, cabins, playgrounds and more. Find it and all of our parks at sdparks.org.

East County News Service

Photo: from left to right: GHD board members Randy Lenac, Gloria Chadwick, Gabi Charo, Jewish Family Service; GHD board members Michael Emerson, Virginia Hall, Robert “Bob” Ayres.

January 2, 2018 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is continuing its support of Jewish Family Service (JFS) of San Diego’s food assistance program, which alleviates food insecurity in San Diego’s East County region.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Rebecca Jefferis-Williamson

January 2, 2018 (San Diego)—Customers lined up before dawn at several of San Diego’s eight legal recreational marijuana shops that opened their doors January 1^st.  The city was among the first places in California to permit recreational cannabis sales under Prop 64, which voters approved in 2016 and which is now in effect.

ECM reporter Rebecca Jefferis-Williamson visited the Apothekare in Mission Valley on New Year’s Day.  “No, I do not smoke, but I am a writer and always curious,” she posted on Facebook. 

She found a line wrapped around the building outside and snaking through the dispensary’s interior as well.  To gain access, customers had to be “buzzed” in through two areas with security guards.

East County News Service

January 1, 2018 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) recently reelected its 2017 board officers to serve in the same roles for 2018. Michael Emerson was reelected as board president, Gloria Chadwick as vice president, and Virginia Hall as secretary. In addition, board member Robert “Bob” Ayres was selected again by Emerson to serve as board treasurer. Also serving on the five-member board is Randy Lenac.

Aztecs to host Colorado State next Wednesday night

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo:  McKynzie Fort finished with 19 points to lead all scorers on Saturday at Utah State.  Courtesy goaztecs.com

December 30, 2017 (Logan, Utah) - The San Diego State women’s basketball team nearly pulled off its second straight comeback victory on Saturday, but a 17-point first-half deficit proved too much to overcome in a 62-58 loss to Utah State in a Mountain West clash at Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

By Jonathan Goetz

Photo: License to Freedom's Executive Director Dilkhwaz Ahmed and Pacific Consulting Group's Pavel Consuegra serve up a meal for the homeless and El Cajon’s Mayor

December 30, 2017 (El Cajon) – Local immigrants and refugees are giving back to the community, serving up dinner to the homeless with License to Freedom at Meridian Baptist Church in El Cajon.

License to Freedom members have been helping the homeless for two years, including an event held on December 27^th, two days after Christmas. The events will continue in 2018.  Meridian Baptist feeds the homeless every Wednesday night and License to Freedom hosts the 4th Wednesday of each month.

By Miriam Raftery

Updated 12 p.m. to include comments from Pat Landis.

December 30, 2017 (Julian/Cuyamaca)—On January1st,  the full-time staffed San Diego County Paramedic Fire Engine serving the Julian and Cuyamaca areas will be permanently closed. The action leaves the communities to rely solely on volunteer firefighters and one ambulance for fire and life safety services, which could lead to long delays in medical services if that unit is transportation a patient to a hospital, critics contend.

The paramedic engine had been providing fire and emergency medical response services 24 hours a day, seven days a week under a temporary agreement between the County of San Diego and the Julian-Cuyamaca Fire Protection District. The CAL FIRE Firefighters that were assigned to the engine have been reassigned to other facilities within San Diego County.

The action comes after the Julian Cuyamaca Fire Protection District voted to reject consolidation with the County Fire Department and remain independent—the last remaining volunteer fire department in the County.  Cal Fire firefighters blame the board for the current problems, but a former board member faults the district's fire chief.