By Miriam Raftery

November 17, 2019 (El Cajon) – Friends of East County Arts, Inc. cordially invites you to “PARIS HOLIDAY,” the theme of this year’s annual holiday tea on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 11 a.m. at Holy Trinity Parish Hall (405 Ballard St. in  El Cajon).  

Don your fancy hat to enjoy champagne, tea, scones and desserts on fine holiday tableware. There will also be door prizes and opportunity drawings plus entertainment including a performance by the Valhalla High School Dance Program, one of the recipients of this year’s grants.  

Through the years, the 501c3 nonprofit Friends of East County Arts, Inc. has raised over $875,000 in funds for growth and development of the live performing arts and to support fine arts and artists in San Diego’s East County.

East County News Service

November 16, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- The San Diego National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for Sunday, Nov. 17 from 1 a.m. to 6 p.m.  for inland valleys and foothills.  Winds of 20-30 mph are forecast, with gusts up to 50 mph and humidity around 10%. 

Rain is possibly by Tuesday, however, with an increasing likelihood of rain Wednesday through Friday.

Anderson has long history of campaign finance issues, special interest ties

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Major donors Gregg and Debby Hamann with Anderson at his 2008 holiday party

November 16, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – The County has asked the District Attorney’s office to investigate allegations of criminal campaign finance violations by Joel Anderson's supervisorial campaign, in response to an inquiry made by the San Diego Union-Tribune, the newspaper reported.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Roger Stone, CC by NA

November 15, 2019 (Washington D.C.) – “You are a rat.  A stoolie. Prepare to die,” long-time Trump ally Roger Stone texted to a witness slated to appear before the House Intelligence Committee regarding Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller’s probe into Trump-Russia ties. The  trial revealed damning evidence not only against Stone, but also evidence discrediting statements made by Donald Trump in which Trump denied discussing hacked emails during his presidential campaign.

The witness, radio host Randy Credico, was Stone’s intermediary to Wikileaks and Julian Assange to obtain details on e-mails stolen from the Democratic National Committee that were damaging to Hillary Clinton, Trump’s 2016 political rival.  Stone also urged the witness via e-mail to follow the actions of “Godfather II” character Frank Pentangeli, who lied to Congress to avoid incriminating Mafia boss Michael Corleone.

By José A. Álvarez, County of San Diego Communications Office

Image Credit: CDC.gov

November 15, 2019 (San Diego) - Three unrelated cases of tuberculosis have been reported in the region, the County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) announced today.

Two cases were reported at San Diego County Sheriff’s detention facilities and the third was a person who arrived from out of town after being diagnosed and spent time at the City of San Diego bridge shelter, which serves single adults who are homeless.

November 14, 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.

Impeaching Hearings

• Diplomats detail Ukraine pressure campaign at first open impeachment hearing  (CBS)
• New testimony ties Trump more directly to Ukraine pressure (Washington  Post)
• Pelosi calls Trump’s actions ‘bribery’ as Democrats sharpen impeachment case (Washington Post)
• How Republican defenses of Trump impeachment have shifted over time (Time Magazine)

Other national news

• Turkish forces launch attacks on Syrian Christian communities as Trump welcomes Erdogan to the White House (RawStory)
• Judge orders Trump to pay $2 million for misusing his foundation (NBC 7)
• Michael Bloomberg Actively Prepares to Enter 2020 Presidential Race (New York Times)
• Uber fined $649 million for saying drivers aren’t employees (New York Times)
• Stone Trial Links Trump More Closely to 2016 Effort to Obtain Stolen Emails (New York Times)
• Supreme Court refuses to block lawsuit against gun manufacturer brought by Sandy Hook families (USA Today)

WORLD

• Indonesia plans to relocate 10 million people from the sinking city of Jakarta (Yahoo News)
• Australia bushfires: Three dead and thousands forced from homes (BBC)
• After a quiet night, a barrage of rockets strikes Israel (Jerusalem Post)
• Venice Expects More Flooding from High Tides; Prime Minister to Declare Emergency (Weather.com)
• All new rooftops must be covered in plants or solar panels in France( Return to Now)
• The Berlin Wall fell 30 years ago. But an invisible barrier still divides Germany (CNN)
• Bolivian President Evo Morales Resigns Amid Widespread Protests  (NPR)

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

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

November 14, 2019 (San Diego) - The Aztec women's basketball team (2-2) lost their first home game of the season Thursday morning, falling to Alabama A&M (1-1) 61-53 on Field Trip Day inside Viejas Arena.

By Miriam Raftery

November 14, 2019 (Lemon Grove) – Teresa Rosiak has run for Lemon Grove’s city council and mayoral positions in the past, but did not win election. She’s also been a vocal critic at council meetings and is a potential candidate in 2020.  The city has filed a complaint in Superior Court accusing Rosiak of misdemeanors in her 2018 campaign over campaign contributions and disclosure requirements, but Rosiak accuses the city of improperly targeting her for political retribution.

“The city again is not using the taxpayer’s dollars properly,” says Rosiak (also known as Rosiak-Proffit) in an e-mail to ECM, adding, “They want me to be discredited since I am outspoken and they will do this regardless of the cost to the taxpayers.”

Rosiak, a former Lemon Grove Chamber of Commerce president, is a fiscal conservative. The Council majority is Democratic.  She has criticized the Council on spending priorities, dipping into budget reserves, litigation in which the city has been embroiled over assault allegations against Councilman David Arambula, and has called for resignations of Arambula,  Mayor Racquel Vasquez and City Manager Lydia Romero.

November 14, 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

• Federal agents raid four San Diego homes in money laundering investigation (10 News)
• Detectives Smash Alleged International Cell Phone Theft Ring in El Cajon, Bay Area (NBC 7)
• Prosecutors: Hunter couldn’t afford daughter’s dance lessons, spent campaign funds on trip to competition (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• San Diego officials say they won’t sell private data from smart street lights (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Joint Powers Authority formed to oversee East County water purification project (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Morning Report: Hundreds of California Police Officers Have Been Convicted of Crimes (Voice of San Diego)

STATE

• Generators are a hot commodity: Here’s what you need to know about buying one for the next outage (San Jose Mercury News)
• California’s new gig economy law challenged in court by truck drivers (Sacramento Bee)
• Can the long-lost abalone make a comeback in California? (Los Angeles Times)
• ICE may circumvent California’s ban on private immigrant detention centers (Los Angeles Times)
• Fed up with Forest Service cuts, Mammoth Lakes and other towns are plotting a recreation takeover (Los Angeles Times)
• My Neighborhood Was on Fire. My Neighbors Came Together to Save It. (New York Times)

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

November 13, 2019 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Trump proposes big cuts to health programs for poor, elderly and disabled (Washington Post)
• Potential culprit found in vaping-related lung injuries and deaths (Washington Post)
• Economist: Warren is right. Her Medicare for All plan won't raise taxes on the middle class (CNN)
• Trump Administration Files Patent Lawsuit Against HIV-Prevention Drugmaker (SBUR Here and Now)
• Chronic Pain Eased With Meditation And Lower Doses Of Opioids : Shots - Health News (NPR)
• People in 33 States Can Use Medical Marijuana. Why Can’t Veterans Get It for PTSD? (Healthline)
• The Hidden Cost of Gold: Birth Defects and Brain Damage (New York Times)

SCIENCE AND TECH

• How Did a Virus From the Atlantic Infect Mammals in the Pacific? (New York Times)
• Facebook and YouTube block spread of supposed whistleblower’s name and photo. Twitter allows both (Washington Post)
• Facebook reports it took action against tens of millions of posts for breaking rules on hate speech, harassment and child exploitation (Washington Post)

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

East County News Service

November 13, 2019 (El Cajon) -- Student veterans at Cuyamaca College will receive a belated Veterans Day gift in the form of a new veterans center inside Cuyamaca College’s Student Center, Building I.  A ribbon-cutting to officially open the center, in addition to marking the grand reopening of the Student Center after nearly a year’s remodeling, is set for 9-10 a.m. Thursday, Nov 14.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Surveillance video of suspect vehicle

November 6, 2019 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police Department is seeking a small silver four-door sedan that may have damage to the bumper, hood and windshield. The vehicle struck a man at the intersection of East Chase and Lincoln Avenue on November 6 around 6:24 p.m.

A passerby started CPR on the victim, who was unresponsive. Medics transported him to Sharp Memorial Hospital via ambulance, where he was pronounced dead.

GUHSD to hold hearing tonight at 6 p.m. on Steele Canyon's charter renewal

By Ana Nita

View video of Nov. 6 Steele Canyon governing board meeting:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByIxjGKYLUI 

November 13, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- Steele Canyon High School is yet another charter that landed in hot water recently, following allegations of violating the law and acting undemocratically to undermine parents’ rights. The accusations are signed by two of its governing board members – Vice-Chair Timothy Abbott and newly installed board member Mark Robak. Both are both accusing the charter committee of excluding parents from decisional power during the process of renewing the charter’s authorization with Grossmont Union School District, the school’s sponsor. 

Abbott and Robak are also battling with the school’s governing board about new changes in the bylaws that were allegedly included without proper notification and which are  “undemocratic,” according to Robak. “Similar examples may be found in Venezuela and Cuba,” wrote Robak in a letter of protest sent on October 30 to Scott Parr, CEO of the governing board and Principal at Steele Canyon High School (SCHS).

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

November 12, 2019 (El Cajon) - The Aztec women’s basketball team (2-1) knocked off Westcliff 77-56 Tuesday evening in a game that was played at nearby Grossmont College due to a power outage at SDSU.