By Caroline James

Image via Pixabay by stevepb

January 2, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- Alzheimer’s is a disease that drastically affects a senior’s ability to live out their golden years in their own homes. Many affected by Alzheimer’s find it necessary to move into an assisted living facility in order to live safely. However, there are a number of ways you can help your aging loved one remain in their home rather than uprooting and moving into a specialized facility.

By Miriam Raftery

January 2, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – You may want to keep your umbrella handy. Light showers are forecast for late Wednesday through Thursday, with heavier rainfall expected starting Saturday and continuing until Monday in a wet start to the New Year.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo 1:  White Abalone, by Geographer, Wikimedia Commons

Photo 2:  Black Abalone, by James St. John, Wikimedia Commons

January 2, 2017 (San Diego) – The National Marine Fisheries Service is asking for public help to save black and white abalone from disappearing forever along the coast of California and Baja Mexico—the only places in the world where they are found.

East County News Service

January 2, 2017 (El Cajon) – A man wielding a knife was shot last night shortly after 9 p.m. by an El Cajon Police officer and is being treated at a local trauma center for the gunshot injury. According to Lieutenant Randy Soulard with ECPD’s special enforcement division, the officer was wearing a body camera and footage has been retained as evidence.

By Liz Alper

Photos by Cris Rangel

January 1, 2017 (San Diego) - In potentially their last game in San Diego, the Chargers squared off against the team they lost to in overtime in week one, the Kansas City Chiefs, on Sunday.

East County News Service

January 1, 2017 (Lakeside) – A man found in a burned home this morning on Woodland Vista in Lakeside has died. Firefighters from the Lakeside Fire Department rescued and revived a Labrador retriever dog, using a special pet oxygen mask.

East County News Service

January 1, 2017 (San Diego) -- Around the world, people celebrated the end of a tumultuous 2016 and the arrival of a New Year. Here are some highlights worldwide, across the U.S., and here in San Diego County.

By  Laura Ball

January 1, 2017 (La Mesa/Mt. Helix) -- I have very active hummingbird feeders and have noticed a few birds with tumors on their beaks (see photo). I have been in contact with a specialist at the University of California-Davis Vet Med Center about this, and she had some suggestions on how to help them. The hummingbirds probably have avian pox, which is contagious - to birds only, not humans - and can spread through the feeders we all have in our yards.

Source: goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

December 31, 2016 (Alberquerque) - San Diego State women’s basketball was unable to get past a hot New Mexico team and fell to the Lobos in the Aztecs’ Mountain West opener, 85-42, Saturday evening at WisePies Arena.

Source: County of San Diego

December 30, 2016 (San Diego) -- The Department of Environmental Health has issued a General Advisory for the coastal waters of San Diego County due to recent rainfall. Swimmers, surfers, and other ocean users are warned that levels of bacteria can rise significantly in ocean and bay waters, especially near storm drains, creeks, rivers, and lagoon outlets that discharge urban runoff. Urban runoff may contain large amounts of bacteria from a variety of sources such as animal waste, soil, and decomposing vegetation. While many coastal storm drains within San Diego County are permanently posted with white metal warning signs, additional temporary warning signs are not posted for General Advisories. Activities such as swimming, surfing and diving should be avoided in all coastal waters for 72 hours following rain. This includes all coastal beaches and all of Mission Bay and San Diego Bay. Elevated bacteria levels can persist after a rainstorm depending upon the intensity of the storm, volume of runoff and ocean and current conditions. 

December 30, 2016 (San Diego's East County) -- Oak boring beetles and other insect pests have decimated vast swaths of oak forests across San Diego's East County.  Recently, we interviewed arborist Bret Hutchinson, an expert on oak tree infestations and owner of Green Tree Forest Service, on the latest efforts to preserve oaks in our region.

Drought leaves trees more vulnerable to infestation.  Learn how to prevent problems, spot infestations, and what to do if your oak trees are stricken by clicking the audio link to hear our interview, originally aired on KNSJ 89.1 FM radio. (sound files may take a few moments to load.)

East County News Service

Photo courtesy Bob Perry

December 29, 2016 (Mount Laguna) – The Laguna Mountain Volunteers (www.LMVA.net) are looking for more volunteers to man the visitor center and do other good works.  There are no minimum obligations, “just opportunities to seize,” says Bob Perry, who sent us these photos of a visit this week to the winter wonderland complete with  six inches of snow:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/rudyperry/albums/72157678384403265

He adds, “Louise and I drive up from El Cajon two Sundays a month to open the visitor center.  It's just the two of us having fun at 6,000 feet.  We've been doing this for six years.” 

East County News Service

December 29, 2016 (Washington D.C.) – The Consumer Product Safety Commission today announced recalls on Polaris Sportsman 570 all-terrain vehicles due to fire hazard.  In addition Joyride children’s three-wheeled scooters have been recalled because of wheels that can detach, causing injury.  Below are full details. 

Source: goztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

December 28, 2016 (San Diego) - San Diego State women’s basketball produced one of its best defensive efforts of the season against Biola, holding the Eagles to a season-low 48 points in a 63-48 non-conference win Wednesday evening.

East County News Service

December 28, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Their lives made a different to countless people across East County.  Though these noted community leaders passed on in 2016, their legacies live on.