By Mike Allen

August 30, 2019 (Santee) -- The Santee City Council agreed to adopt a community choice model for purchasing its future electricity but isn’t sure yet what the model will look like.

East County News Service

Update September 18, 2019:   Cal Fire has issued corrections on inacccurate information provided in a County press release and video. This plane and others are set to be given to Cal Fire by the federal government, not sold.  The planes are not yet equipped with fire retardant and are not slated to arrive in Califiornia likely for a couple of years, according to Cal Fire Captain and Public Information Officer Issac Sanchez. See our full update:  https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/cal-fire-issues-corrections-c-130-pla....

August 30, 2019 (Ramona) -- A C-130 air tanker on loan in Ramona has been used to train additional pilots this past week. Ultimately, Cal Fire’s goal is to purchase a C-130 to permanently base in our region, says Cal Fire spokesman Isaac Sanchez.

By Miriam Raftery

August 19, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County features Miner’s Day at the Julian Mining Company, berry picking at Julian Farm and Orchard, the Barona Pow-wow, Julian Fall Art Show, Sky Hunters in Julian, and a Laurel and Hardy comedy night in Spring Valley.

Plus, we have a preview of coming events including the Sycuan Powwow, Julian Grape Stomp Festa, a “Holy Smoke” BBQ, Campo Grape Picking and Stomping Party, the Ramona Grape Stomp, fall at the Farm, a bluegrass festival in Santee, plus concerts and car shows in El Cajon.

So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

By Miriam Raftery

August 28, 2019 (Santee) - International touring musician Mean Mary (James) will be performing in Santee on September 21 at 7 p.m. in the Summit UU Fellowship (8778 Cottonwood Ave.). Known internationally for her lightning-fast fingers and raw, unmistakable vocal sound (The Amplifier calls it “sexy, vulnerable and yet as powerful as any man’s.”), Mean Mary’s songs travel the genres of roots, bluegrass, blues, and folk rock—story songs, fast songs, sad songs, songs to make your feet tap.

San Diego’s largest manufacturing expo is a unique opportunity to inspire students 

August 28, 2019 (El Cajon) – The East County Economic Development Council’s (EDC) Manufacturing Expo is right around the corner, and more manufacturers are registering by the day to exhibit their companies and products. On October 1, the fourth annual event will bring manufacturing to Main Street. The Expo will be held in downtown El Cajon at Prescott Promenade from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. and expects to bring in over 500 attendees. 

August 28, 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.

• Dorian intensifies to a hurricane over U.S. Virgin Islands and is a growing threat to Southeast U.S (Washington Post)
• Costs to mail ballots may skyrocket for civilians, military living overseas (Fulcrum) 
• ICE removes hotline for detained immigrants (NBC 7)
• A Jewish movement against ICE takes off by deploying its most famous mantra (Religion News)
• SpaceX's Mars rocket prototype rattles nearby residents in Texas flight test (Reuters) 

WORLD

•  Why the Amazon rain forest could be at risk of collapsing (CBS News)
• G7: Trump skips talks on climate crisis and Amazon fires (Reuters)
• Parliament suspension: Queen approves prime minister’s plan (BBC)
• 23 killed in attack on bar in southern Mexico (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Hong Kong protesters form 28-mile human chain demanding democracy (NBC)

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

August 28, 2019 (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

• Schools Tied to A3 Charter School Scandal Will All Close (Voice of San Diego)
• County collects ideas for boosting agri-tourism (Ramona Sentinel)
• Ramona Man Mutters 'I Didn't Do It' as Judge Sentences Him for Killing Pregnant Woman on Mother's Day 2017 (NBC 7)
• Congolese Asylum-Seeker Reunited With Family After Almost Two Years Apart (KPBS)

STATE

• Jews praise Calif. education board's decision to rewrite curriculum (Jerusalem Post)
• Developments in disaster-prone areas means big bucks for builders, but can leave communities at risk (News 21)
• California Supreme Court backs greater access to police misconduct cases (Los Angeles Times) 
• Black Market Hash-Oil Labs Growing, Exploding In California: DEA (Patch.com)

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

County asks public’s help to report and eradicate invasive mosquitos that can transmit dangerous diseases including Yellow Fever and Zika

By Miriam Raftery

August 28, 2019 (San Diego) – Lakeside resident Dennis Richardson was appalled to discover that “thousands” of Yellow Fever mosquitos were breeding in water dishes under potted plants at his home.  His grandfather was a sanitation engineer who worked to eradicate Yellow Fever so that Americans could build the Panama canal and later battled a Yellow Fever epidemic in Peru. Richardson says, “This work was deadly for most who did the work, as most got yellow fever.”

East County News Service

August 29, 2019 (La Mesa) – Thrive Real Estate, an independent real estate brokerage in the East County, has announced it is now affiliated with Compass, Inc., one of the fastest growing real estate brokerages in the U.S.

By Miriam Raftery

August 27, 2019 (San Diego) -- The National Weather Service in San Diego has released a new video with the fall and winter outlook.  The prediction is for warmer than average fall and winter weather, with near average to below average precipitation, though atmospheric rivers are still possible, says meteorologist Alex Tardy.

How much more damage will be done before the fix is in?

By Joshua Mansour, M.D.

Photo via Creative Commons

August 27, 2019 (San Diego) - Despite the recent vaping death, the FDA is still allowing e-cigarette makers until 2022 to submit their plans for preventing underage access to their products.  But is that too late?  While e-cigarettes and vaping were initially intended to help adults quit smoking traditional cigarettes, they have managed to entice younger individuals to pick up this dangerous habit.  The colorful packaging, different flavors, and seemingly harmless. 

By Miriam Raftery

August 27, 2019 (Washington D.C.) – Increasingly erratic and irrational statements by President Donald Trump in recent weeks have raised questions in mainstream media outlets and even among former Trump allies over whether he is showing signs of dementia (which his father had) or mental illness, such as that believed to have plagued "Mad King George" III.).

CNN business writer Brian Stelter wrote on Monday, “I spent the week talking with major media figures at networks and newspapers. And that was the consensus: President Trump's behavior is getting worse in type and in frequency. It seems he's acting more erratic more often.”  He accused media of “tiptoeing” around the President’s “complete rejection of reality.”

 Here are some examples:

East County News Service

August 27, 2019 (San Diego) – The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum Association (PSRM), an East County-based historical and educational nonprofit, is partnering with the Spreckels Organ Society for the final concert of its summer-long 2019 San Diego International Organ Festival on Saturday, Aug. 31 at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. Admission to the concert is free.