December 4, 2019 (San Diego) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media.  This week's round-up stories include:  

LOCAL

• Yadira Altamirano chosen as new Lemon Grove council member (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• State: Poway’s water woes due to out-of-compliance infrastructure  (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Gov. Newsom Appoints Mark Arabo to California’s Workforce Development Board (Times of San Diego)
• Lemon Grove sales tax measure headed for March 2020 ballot faces legal challenge (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Immigrant bond fund helped free migrants from ICE detention this year (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Judge tosses out lawsuit against San Onofre operator, regulator and contractor  San Diego Union-Tribune)
• City manager to be tasked with approving certain special events in La Mesa (San Diego Union-Tribune)

STATE

• California to send millions of dollars to cities to combat homelessness (San Jose Mercury News)
• California could lose housing leverage over cities under court ruling (San Francisco Chronicle)
• ICE Tries To Extend Private Detention Contracts Before State Law Ban  (KPBS)
• California should take over PG&E and possibly other utilities, former top regulator says (Los Angeles Times)
• This theater has attracted movie stars and Catalina Island residents for 90 years. Now, it may call it a night (Los Angeles Times) 

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

December 4, 2019 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Parkinson's Treatment Has Unexpected Side Effect (HealthDay)
• Vaping lung injury cases rise to 2,290, CDC says (CNN)
• Life Expectancy Shrinks for Working-Age Adults (WebMD)

SCIENCE & TECH

• Robocall crackdown sails through the impeachment noise (Politico)
• That smart TV you just bought may be spying on you, FBI warns (CNN)
• Charging Stations Could Be Stealing Your Data (NBC 7)

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

By Miriam Raftery

December 4, 2019 (San Diego) - Kaiser Permanente’s 4,000 psychologists, therapists, social workers and other healthcare professionals are going on strike for five days starting Monday, Dec. 16 at more than 100 medical facilities across California.

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

Dec. 4, 2019 (Jamul) Want your picture with a Santa that is registered with FORBS (fraternal order of the real bearded santas)? And, not only that, but have your picture in a Christmas-themed treehouse built by Treehouse Masters of Animal Planet fame?

Your chance to do that is here.  Kathie Wellington, of Jamul, is offering that opportunity and more this weekend, Dec. 7 -8^th, from 9 a.m. -4 p.m.  The cost is $50 per family but is a fundraiser for families in need. Originally, Santa’s Treehouse opened Christmas 2013.

Waterspouts possible in coastal areas

East County News Service

Photo: Creative Commons via N.A.

December 3, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – Thunderstorms Wednesday is expected to bring moderate to heavy rainfall and lightning strikes to our region. Bursts of moderate to heavy rain will raise the threat for street flooding in areas with poor drainage or low lying areas prone to flooding. Rain falling on snow covered or frozen ground could also lead to enhanced runoff and localized flooding in the mountains.

Waterspouts are possible over coastal waters and the National Weather Service’s Skywarn activation may be requested on Wednesday. Surf could reach nine feet along San Diego’s coastline.

By Ana Nita

December 3, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- Valle de Oro Community Planning Group will have a second public meeting tonight to receive community input about the proposal to turn Cottonwood Golf Course into a sand mine for the next decade. The golf course is located on Willow Glen Drive in a residential area in the Rancho San Diego area of El Cajon and on federally protected land that’s part of the South County Multiple Species Conservation program. 

The public meeting tonight is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Otay Water District Headquarters, 2554 Sweetwater Springs Blvd., Spring Valley.

By Chris Jennewein, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo: Senator Kamala Harris. Courtesy of the campaign

December 3, 2019 (San Diego) -- Sen. Kamala Harris announced Tuesday that she is ending her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.

The junior Senator and former Attorney General of California was one of the first to announce a candidacy, but has been lagging in the polls and fundraising in recent months.

East County News Service

December 2, 2019 (La Mesa) -- Westmont La Mesa is inviting local residents to stop by visit the area's newest Senior Living community on Wednesday, December 4 from 4:30 to 6:30 at 9000 Murray Drive, La Mesa, 92020.

By Ana Nita

December 3, 2019 (Lakeside) -- County representatives met with the East County Equestrian Foundation last month to announce that construction for the park will finally start in March of 2020. The initial plan prognosticated a groundbreaking ceremony for late 2018 or early 2019, but as the locals said, better late than never. 

The next stage is organizing a bid for construction that is estimated to take 18 months. The county predicts the equestrian park would attract as many as 300 attendees for large events that “are anticipated to take place a few times each year,” per the County’s website for this project. 

Mayor Vaus responds to Anderson smear effort over water quality question

By Miriam Raftery

Photo via City of Poway on Twitter: City provides bottled water for residents

December 2, 2019 (Poway) – One day after the city of Poway issued a boil-water advisory for tap water due to stormwater runoff contamination, the city issued a statement late yesterday indicating city tests have found chlorine residulals meet standards, “but that “The city is not able to rescind the precautionary boil-water advisory until the state is satisfied with testing results.”

In an interview this morning with East County Magazine, Poway Mayor Steve Vaus revealed, “We have isolated the source of the rain water. We have repaired it.” Though still awaiting test results from the state expected soon, Mayor Vaus says the water has been safe throughout the incident. 

“I’m drinking it now. I’m giving it to my pets,” he told ECM.

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

Dec. 1,  2019 (San Ysidro) “How is it that some of the poorest nations around the world can take in people in crisis?” questioned Rep. Karen Bass (D-37) at a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee Field Hearing held at the San Ysidro Public Library on Nov. 22. 

“What can we learn from these countries? How do international organizations like the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Organization for Migration and others monitor and advise on the surge in migrants, refugees and asylum seekers? What are the international protocols, norms, standards, and practices that should be followed?” she continued. “Basically, I want to know, what can we learn from other countries around the world. But mostly, I want to understand where the United States is with regard to these practices, norms and standards.”

Benefit concert includes performances by Collin Raye, Craig Campbell, Bryan White, Jamie O’Neal, Anna Vaus & Steve Vaus 

East County News Service

December 1, 2019 (Poway) – Carols by Candlelight, a heartwarming holiday concert headlined by country music stars, will take place Dec. 13 & 14 at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido. Now in its 30th year,  this family-friendly concert's proceeds will bemefot Rady Children’s Hospital.

The concert, beginning at 8:00 p.m. both nights, will feature prominent country music singers performing their hits and favorite holiday songs. Headliners include Collin Raye, who has been nominated for 10 CMA and ACM Awards, 24 Top 10 Records, and 16 #1 Hits. 

Other headliners both nights include Bryan White, Jamie O’Neal, as well as up-and-comer Anna Vaus and concert founder,Poway Mayor Steve Vaus (2010 Grammy winner).

East County News Service

November 30, 2019 (Poway) -- As a precautionary measure, residents in the City of Poway should boil their tap water before drinking or using the water for cooking until further notice, or use bottled water.  Restaurants and other food preparation facilities in Poway have been ordered by the County to temporarily close until the problem is resolved.

Due to the recent storm event, it is believed that the potable drinking water system has possibly been compromised.  Crews are working around the clock to restore normal water service.

By Miriam Raftery 

November 30, 2019 (Lemon Grove) – The Lemon Grove Historical Society invites you to Christmas Open House on Dec. 6 from 5-8 p.m. Santa will be in the H. Lee House. You can tour the museum and also buy books at the Parsonage Museum before enjoying the city’s annual bonfire.