Photo credit:  Dave Nunes

October 24, 2016 (El Cajon) -- A SIG Alert has been issued for I-8 east due to a two-acre brush fire burning alongside the freeway just east of Greenfield in unincorporated El Cajon. The fire is burning uphill toward the Wal-Mart store, according to the CHP incident page.

ECM has a reporter en route to the scene; check back for details.

By Miriam Raftery

October 24, 2016 (San Diego) -- Federal Judge Gonzalo Curiel in San Diego has turned down a request by Donald Trump’s lawyers who sought to dismiss a case alleging that Trump University defrauded students in its real estate seminars.  So the case is headed to trial—but not until after the election.

Trump’s attorneys have also asked the judge to bar statements from the presidential campaign about his personal conduct to be considered as evidence in the trial.   Judge Curiel will hear that request on November 10^th.

From the Editors of E - The Environmental Magazine

Caption: Green Halloween encourages parents to organize costume swaps & give out healthy snacks or treasures instead of candy this year at Halloween. Credit: Cascadian Farms, FlickrCC.

Dear EarthTalk: Any tips for how to green up my Halloween this year? -- Jason Falcone, Bern,NC

October 22, 2016 (San Diego's East County) - Halloween may be fun, but...this most ghoulish of holidays is also cause for lots of waste, given the preponderance of one-time use costumes that end up in a box or in the trash come November 1. And sustainability proponents also decry Halloween for promoting unhealthy eating habits, as obesity and diabetes rates among American kids continue to skyrocket. So what’s a green Halloween reveler to do?

By Tom Christensen, County of San Diego Communications Office

October 22, 2016 (San Diego) -- If you want to vote in the Nov. 8 presidential general election, you must register by Monday, Oct. 24. Voters may register online until midnight.

If you’re not sure about your registration, check your status online at sdvote.com.

You will need to register if you:

(L-R) Lady Molly (Christine Robbins), Councilman (Gary Kendrick), Boo (Crystal Clark), Assassins Creed (Gary Wachtler)

By Jonathan Goetz

October 22, 2016 (El Cajon) -- Hauntfest was a big success again this year with carnival rides, costume contests, games, live music and dancing along Main Street in El Cajon on Friday. Police concerned about marauding bands of Vikings were out in force.

Cooperative initiative builds on progress to advance tribal self-determination and self-government

East County News Service

October 22, 2016 (San Diego's East County) - U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced Friday a Secretarial Order encouraging cooperative management opportunities between the Department’s land and water managers and federally-recognized tribes. The Secretarial Order sets out a framework to ensure that Native communities have the opportunity to assume meaningful and substantive roles in managing public lands that have special geographical, historical and cultural connections to the tribes.

East County News Service

October 26, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Recently we interviewed  Mark Umphres director of water quality and systems operations, and Mike Uhrhammer, senior public affairs representative from the Helix Water District.  We talked about water rates, water quality issues including a recent state report on mercury levels in fish,   and some exciting new additions at Lake Jennings—including tipis!

You can listen now to our interview, which originally aired on our East County Magazine Radio Show on  KNSJ 89.1 FM, by clicking the audio link. (Note: audio file may take a few moments to load.)

October 20, 2016 (San Diego's East County)-- Our August 2016 radio shows are now online! (sound files may take a minute to load).  For links to listen to the shows plus a full list of topics an interviews,  click here.

Our newsmaker interviews included bighorn sheep expert and author Mark Jorgensen, La Mesa City Council candidate Colin Parent, Helix Water District candidates Mark Gracyk and Dan McMillan, author and wordsmith Charles Harrington Elster, plus Mark Umphries andMike Urhammer from Helix Water District on water quality issues and more. We talked about hot issues, from the County’s controversial Border Fire report to local council actions to the presidential race.

 The East County Magazine Show airs Mondays and Fridays from 5 to 6 p.m. on KNSJ, 89.1 FM.  The shows rerun on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.  Read more and listen to our August shows:

East County News Service

Photo: Left to Right: Volunteers of America Southwest President & CEO Gerald McFadden, LPGA Professional Katherine Kirk, Volunteers of America National President & CEO Mike King

October 20, 2016 (San Diego) - Volunteers of America Southwest held its 17^th Annual Celebrity Golf Classic on Monday, September 12, 2016. The all-day event was held at the Country Club of Rancho Bernardo located at 12280 Greens East Road, San Diego.

Jonathan Goetz

October 20, 2016 (Lemon Grove) -- Housing,  homelessness,  business issues and marijuana were among the topics ata candidates’ forum Wednesday in Lemon Grove moderated by the League of Women Voters. Candidates present included Theresa Rosiak, George Gastil and Racquel Vasquez running for Mayor, along with City Council candidates Jerry Selby, David Arambula, Glenn Thornton Jr., Steve Browne and Charlene McAdory.

A Foreign Affair: A True Story of Love and War, by Amanda Matti (Available at Amazon.com, 2016, 354 pages).

Preview by Dennis Moore

October 19, 2016 (San Diego) - I can’t wait to get my hands on this book, as the author, an El Cajon resident has indicated to me just today that she will be mailing it out to me for my review in the East County Magazine. She will also appear on our “East County Magazine Live!” radio show to be interviewed with all the salacious details of this book. A Foreign Affair has all the ingredients of true love and intrigue in a foreign country, which the author describes as “love at first sight” between herself, as a U.S. Navy Analyst, and her Iraqi translator Fahdi, in war-torn Iraq.

East County News Service

October 19, 2016 (Jamul) – The Jamul Action Committee, which opposes the new Hollywood Casino in Jamul, has announced a community meeting on Thursday, October 27 at 7 p.m.in the Jamul Primary multi-use room at 14567 Lyons Valley Road.

Listen to an audio version, originally aired on KNSJ: https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

East County News Service

October 19,2016 (San Diego's East County)--This week’s Destination East County includes Borrego Days, a Toast to East County,  a production of Annie Jr.,Lakeside Heritage Day, Haunt Fest on Main, haunted trails and more.

Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including Trunk or Treat, Stoney’s Boo Bash,  the Boo Parade, Halloscream, the La Mesa Historical Homes Tour,  the Art and Wine Fest in Ramona, a  Fall Plantstravaganza, and the Trout Opener at Santee Lakes.

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

East County News Service

October 19, 2016 (El Cajon) -- Time to clear out those medicine cabinets!  On Saturday, October 22, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. the El Cajon Police Department, working in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration, will be hosting a prescription drug drop off site in the parking lot of their police station, located at 100 Civic Center Way. Bring your outdated, unused or unwanted prescription pills, ointments, or liquids; no questions asked.

By Jonathan Goetz

October 19, 2016 (Lemon Grove) -- At prior meetings citizens have voiced concerns over marijuana. But at last night’s Lemon Grove City Council meeting, instead of pot they were talking about potholes.  Council also heard arguments that the city lacked priorities when it passed a Welcoming Cities Resolution.  The resolution was modeled after a White House initiative to help newcomers by assisting refugees and immigrants integrate into communities.