May 25, 2014 (San Diego)--While many legislators spent time with family on Mother’s Day, Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San  Diego) went to Afghanistan. Davis, whose district includes much of East County, led a bipartisan group of women Congressional members to visit with U.S. service members and with groups of Afghan women—as she has done each Mother’s Day since 2009.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Mary Micklin

May 25, 2015 (Lakeside)—The “Lazy Fire” at Highway 67 near Sycamore Canyon has been halted at 3 acres, Cal Fire reports.  The blaze forced closure of Highway 67 in both directions. Most lanes are now reopened but traffic may remain slow, so use caution.

Helicopters scooped water from Lake Vicente to douse the blaze, a reader, Gloria Duncan reports.

May 24, 2014 (San Diego) – East County Magazine Show’s Bookshelf host, Reina Menasche, announced this week that her second novel, Silent Bird, is a finalist in this year’s San Diego Book Awards in the romance category.

For more details, see the links below. Congratulations, Reina!

http://www.sdbookawards.com/2014/05/15/2012-finalists-being-announced/

May 24, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – Community opposition is growing to a bill, AB 2145, that  would make it harder for communities to invest in clean energy through community choice aggregation, i.e., giving consumers alternatives on where to buy their electricity.  Supervisors Dianne Jacob and Dave Roberts are among those who have signed a petition asking the State Legislature to oppose the measure.   You can view those who have signed it here:  http://www.no2145.org/

You can read and sign the petition here:  http://www.credomobilize.com/petitions/stop-the-utility-power-grab-1?sp_ref=43541140.4.7738.e.0.2&source=mailto_sp

Originally published in the ECOreport

By Roy L Hales

May 22, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - California Senate Bill 790 (SB 790) bans utility companies from using ratepayer funds for negative publicity campaigns against local community utilities ( community choice aggregators, or CCA). They are now required to file the details of any anti-CCA marketing with the California Public Utilities Commission. Only PG&E has not filed in the case of AB 2145 (popularly known as the “Monopoly Protection Act” ) because the marketing is being done by associated third parties.

May 23, 2014 (El Cajon) -- A Grossmont College student, two sheriff’s deputies and a public safety dispatcher were honored Thursday morning by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department for actions leading to the arrest of a man who accosted a lone female student as she was getting into her car in the Grossmont College parking structure last October.

By Miriam Raftery

May 23, 2014 (Potrero) – Relive the days of chivalry this weekend at Potrero County Park, where the Society for Creative Anachronism will stage a medieval battle May 24 and 25 from 11 a.m. to sunset.  This visit to the Barony of Calafia is a free event with vendors, staged fighting events, and instruction. Visitors are invited to wear period attire to fit in with the festivities. 

 The Society for Creative Anachronism is an international organization dedicated to researching and re-creating the arts and skills of pre-17th-century Europe. Our “Known World” consists of 19 kingdoms, with over 30,000 members residing in countries around the world. Members, dressed in clothing of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, attend events which feature tournaments, royal courts, feasts, dancing, various classes & workshops, and more.

Listen now:  

Ernest Dronenburg and Susan Guinn interviews:  https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

By Miriam Raftery

May 22, 2014 (San Diego)—San Diego County’s Assessor/Recorder/Clerk is responsible for deciding whether or not you can reassess your property to lower your taxes.   The job also includes marrying couples and providing public records such as marriage, birth and death certificates.  This week, East County Magazine interviewed incumbent Ernest Dronenburg and challenger Susan Guinn , a consumer advocate/attorney, during our show on KNSJ.

Dronenberg, former Chairman of the state Board of Equalization and the Franchise Tax Board, defends his record and says his office has high customer satisfaction ratings.

Guinn contends San Diego County has among the worst rates in the state for unresolved property tax assessment appeals.  She also faults Dronenburg for filing a challenge seeking to avoid conducting gay marriages after Prop 8 was ruled unconstitutional. 

Hear a podcast of our radio interview on KNSJ with Tad Parzen, City Heights Partnership:

https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

By Janis Russell

May 22, 2014 (City Heights)- The mission of the City Heights Partnership for Children, which has been in existence since 2011, is for young people to emerge as adults with the skills to succeed in college or a career and enter adulthood as productive members of the community. From preparing children to kindergarten to saving youngster's vision and even lives, the Partnership is attracting national attention for its successes.

May 22, 2014 (Dehesa)—Visitors to the Sycuan Casino on Saturday, May 24 will have an opportunity to meet San Diego Padres’ 1984 World Series players-- and have a chance to win the grand prize:  a road trip for two to Chicago to watch the Padres take on the Cubs.

The event takes place Saturday from 12:30 to 2 p.m.  Tickets will be distributed starting at 10 a.m. in the casino’s front lobby. The first 200 people are guaranteed to meet the players.

A free commemorative signed photo plus Padres baseball caps will also be given away, while supplies last.

May 22, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• As outrage over V.A. allegations grow, White House scrambles to respond (Washington Post)
• Obama, business execs look to boost investment (The Hill)
• Bernie Sanders has questions about Clinton (Washington Post)
• Jeb Bush hints at 2016 run, talks up faith in his only commencement address this year (Washington Post)

WORLD

• Drones join fight to protect African wildlife (CBS)
• Russia's Says Rides To The Space Station Will End  (NPR)
• How does a drug cartel become a lime cartel? (Washington Post)
• Record Flooding In Balkans Destroys Communities (NPR)
• U.N. monitors warn on human rights in east Ukraine, Crimea (Reuters)

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

East County News Service

May 22, 2014 (San Diego's East County)--California agencies fighting the spread of invasive quagga and zebra mussels urge boaters to remain vigilant over the three-day Memorial Day weekend. The mussels have been found in numerous lakes in San Diego and East County, among other California locations: http://nas.er.usgs.gov/taxgroup/mollusks/zebramussel/maps/CaliforniaDreissenaMap.jpg

People who launch vessels at any body of water are subject to watercraft inspections and are encouraged to clean, drain and dry their motorized and non-motorized boats, including personal watercraft, and any equipment that comes into contact with the water before and after recreating at a waterway.

May 22, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - Nearly all the animals rescued by the County Department of Animal Services during the recent wildfires are back home with their owners.  Animal Services rescued more than 50 animals when fires broke out across our region last week. In all six cats, four goats, 18 dogs, 21 horses, an emu and a bird were taken in to the department’s care. Only three cats remain. Animal Control officers also helped a couple dozen owners evacuate their horses to locations other than the shelters. Officers evacuated between 40 and 50 head of cattle from just one ranch alone.

May 22, 2014 (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

• At Least 65 Homes Destroyed In San Diego County Wildfires (KPBS)
• Why Firefighters Aren’t Using Drones to View the Blazes — Yet (Voice of San Diego)
• Helix Water District customers get some good news  (UT San Diego)
• San Diego’s undercover drone companies fight the feds (Voice Of San Diego)
• Efforts to boost inmate fire crews lag (UT San Diego)
• Teen ran toward flames to help save homes (UT San Diego)
• Walton lends star power to future Boys and Girl Club (UT San Diego)
• San Diego Water Rates Could Go Up By Almost 4 Percent Next Year (KPBS)
• Body camera policy unveiled (UT San Diego)
• Fire chief: Crews saved Legoland, cash stash (U-T San Diego)
• Carl DeMaio Apologizes for Lifted Pension Report (Voice of San Diego)
• Experienced teachers to leave SD schools (UT San Diego)

STATE

• Federal courts limit mandatory detention of immigrants in California (RawStory)
• Gov. Brown signs law requiring political nonprofits to identify donors (Sacramento Bee)
• Federal court upholds California water transfer (Sacramento Bee)
• NSA data-gathering may run into California roadblock (Reuters)
• Huge fish die-offs in California and Minnesota. What's happening? (CS Monitor)
• Green Party candidate for Governor: Imagine a new California (San Diego Free Press)

For excerpts and links to full stories, scroll down.