Hear our  radio special report on the Save Iraq Christians rally, plus our interview with East County Chaldean-American Chamber of Commerce president Ben Kalasho on the worsening crisis in Iraq:  https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

By Miriam Raftery

July 21, 2014 (El Cajon) –They carried an American flag, proud to be in a country where they are free. But their hearts ache for loved one endangered in their homeland: Iraq.  They are Iraqi-American Christians who rallied Friday in El Cajon's Promenade Park, pleading for political leaders to save Iraqi Christians from massacre by terrorists invaders who have declared an Islamic state, or caliph.

Farouk Georges shared the latest chilling news. Just one day earlier, he revealed, sources inside Iraq told him that the terrorist group ISIS “issued a decree against the Christians of Nineva…They are asking them to leave, or to convert to Islam, or be killed.”   

A million and a half Christians in Iraq have been displaced, said Ben Kalasho, president of the Chaldean-American Chamber of Commerce and organizer of the rally. “We’ve counted 120 churches that have been bombarded and destroyed.” Thousands of Iraqi Christians have been killed, hundreds have been kidnapped and as of a few days ago, he revealed, “ISIS has spray-painted the letter N on Christian homes, letting everyone know where the Christians live.”  The N is for Nasrani, an Arabic word meaning Christian.

(caution: graphic photos)

By Donn Rutkoff

"Man About Wine"

July 19, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) -- Hello to all wine lovers in the East County and all wine lovers anywhere who are reading East County Magazine.  This is my first column and we hope there will be many more.  I will be bringing you news of what is happening here in the county, news of interest to the local growers and fermenters, and some educational "fluff" to help you enjoy wines.

Here is a preview of this week's wine-worthy topics.  (Hit "read more" and scroll down for the full stories.) 

• Sparkling wines in an hour?
• Warm-weather red grapes
• New tasting rooms - thanks to rezoning underway
• Wine columnist shares his roots

July 21, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Where There's Dyslexia, There Could Be Child Abuse JWR)
• Vitamin Overload: Kids Are Eating Too Much Fortified Food (JWR)
• Can MRIs Diagnose ADHD?  (Jewish World Review)
• Combining vaccines may help eradicate polio (Reuters)

SCIENCE

• 
  
  Note to bees: do not stop and smell the roses (Marketplace.org)
• Floating nuclear plants: Is the future of nuclear offshore? (CS Monitor)
•  

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

July 20, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – The next musical performance at Mission Trails Regional Park will feature vocalist and recording artist Lillian Palmer on August 3 from 3 to 4 p.m.  Palmer performed in nightclubs and cabarets in Italy before returning home to Southern California.

July 20, 2014 (Ramona) -- This year's Ramona Country Fair will be held on Thursday, July 31st through Sunday, August 3rd. The Ramona Chamber of Commerce's 44th Annual Ramona Country Fair features the Ramona Junior Fair & Livestock Auction, two stages of music and entertainment, amusement rides,  craft and business vendors,  and food court. Entertainment includes a battle of the bands, music by headlining musical groups, the annual Ramona Idol competition, a singer/songwriter showcase, and much more.

2 arrests made in string of vehicle break-ins at golf courses

East County News Service

July 20, 2014 (Santee)--If you’ve been a victim of a car burglary at a local golf course, Santee Sheriff’s Station may have some good news for you.

By Miriam Raftery

July 20, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – Santee resident Simonetta Carr’s book, Anselm of Canterbury, was named Best Biography in the San Diego Book Awards.  East County Magazine recently interview Carr on the Bookshelf segment of our East County Magazine Radio show on KNSJ.

You can now hear our interview here:  https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

For more information on the author and her works, scroll down.

East County News Service

July 20, 2014 (San Diego)—Campus police at San Diego State University are seeking public help to locate three suspects who fled a party in the 5000 block of College Place where an SDSU student was stabbed by an unknown person during an altercation.  The attack occurred  at 12:30 a.m. The victim was transported to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

East County News Service

Photo: Latima “Latty” Dover

July 19, 2014 (El Cajon)—Two Jamaican men are sought as “persons of interest” by the Sheriff in a homicide investigation. The victim, Kevin McCalla, was found dead of gunshot wounds on a pathway in an apartment complex at 1475 Graves Avenue in the unincorporated portions of El Cajon back on June 25^th  at 8:44 p.m.

July 19, 2014 (Ramona) -- The Ramona Pioneer Historical Society invites you to a free event:

By Miriam Raftery

File photo: Thunderclouds over Lakeside, by Billy Ortiz

July 18, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) –  An upper level trough over the Gulf of California tonight will move northward across Northern Baja,  then sweep into Southern California tonight and Saturday.  Thunderstorms with dry lightning are possible on Saturday morning, mainly over the mountains. Heavy rain producing thunderstorms are more likely to occur during the afternoon and early evening hours.

 Lightning may ignite fires and heavy rain could produce localized flooding.  Downdraft wind gusts of 35 mph or more are possible during the storms.

Forecasters also warn of high heat next week, when a large area of high pressure will build over the West, bringing warming each day Tuesday through Thursday. By Wednesday and Thursday, maximum temps will be 5-10 degrees above average, soaring into triple digits in desert areas.

July 17, 2014 (La Mesa)-- Applications are being accepted for several openings on the City’s Youth Advisory Commission. Applicants must live within the city limits of La Mesa and be at least 13 years old, but not more than 20 years old, at the time of appointment.

Employees Rally to Donate System for Southern California Wounded Warrior

 July 17, 2014 (El Cajon) – American Solar Direct Inc. (ASD) today donated a complete solar energy system at the home of Sgt. Odin Ayala, a wounded veteran in Southern California who touched the hearts of ASD employees.

By Ariele Johannson

Christian Community Theater has been entertaining San Diegans and providing quality theatrical productions for over 30 years.

This summer’s performance of Les Misérables is exceptional for its casting, talent, music and singing, costumes, child actors, and technology in a fine outdoor performance of this epic work. Also, it is a return to Mt. Helix for CCT after being away for seven years.  Christian Youth Theater also participated in this production.

By Nadin Abbott

July 17, 2012 (San Diego)-- if you are planning to attend Comicon International and you’re coming from East County, the Trolley is the least expensive to avoid steep parking costs downtown—if you can find a parking space at all.  Commemorative day passes are already on sale at the Transit Store downtown at $20.00 for all five days.