By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

November 19, 2019 (San Diego) - The first rains in months are bearing down on San Diego County, meaning this could be a good time to stock up on free sandbags.

The County of San Diego and CAL FIRE are providing free sand and bags to residents in unincorporated areas at numerous fire stations around the county.

East County News Service

November 19, 2019 (Lemon Grove) – A woman has been hospitalized after a disturbing outburst in Lemon Grove Sunday shortly before 11 a.m.  Several residents called to report the woman was yelling that she had a gun and that someone had stolen her children. She reportedly banged on the door of a stranger’s home in the 2600 block of Mercury Drive.

According to the Sheriff’s media relations department, “When deputies arrived, a 24-year-old transient matching the description of these calls became assaultive towards them.  Deputies were forced to use a less lethal bean bag round on the woman to take her into custody.  The woman was taken to a local hospital for treatment.”

Source: Friends of the El Cajon Library

November 19, 2019 (El Cajon) -- The small Book Shoppe operated by the Friends of the El Cajon Library is going to get bigger.

President Connie Smith of the Friends said on Nov. 16 that she is thrilled that the County of San Diego has approved the project to expand the Book Shoppe by using an adjoining conference room. The work is expected to start and end in early 2020.  

By Ana Nita

View video including interview with Mark Robak and GUHSD board hearing on the Steele Canyon charter issues: click image at left or visit  https://youtu.be/9cZj0ZmsKzY

November 18, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- Steele Canyon High School encountered a set back last week, when the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) board decided not to accept the charter’s application for reauthorization, following allegations that school’s governing board and charter committee violated the law and acted undemocratically. 

The charter school in Spring Valley landed in hot water with the district and the parents after a newly elected board member discovered significant discrepancies between the old and the new bylaws up for vote two weeks ago in the governing board. Mark Robak, a local businessman, joined the board on October 9 and by the end of the month, he was sending petitions to the school principal and the district objecting to irregularities with the authorization process and the bylaws.

Mallory Adams had 14 points and 12 rebounds

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

November 17, 2019 (San Diego) - The Aztec women’s basketball team (3-2) defeated Cal State Fullerton (2-2) 55-45 inside Viejas Arena Sunday afternoon.

In a defensive battle, the Aztecs outlasted the Titans by holding them to 28 percent shooting from the field and 15 percent from three. SDSU outrebounded Cal State Fullerton 51-41, led by Mallory Adams’ 12 boards.

East County News Service

November 17, 2019 (San Diego's East County) - This week’s Destination East County features pianorama in La Mesa, the Mother Goose Parade in El Cajon, a Thanksgiving feast at a historic lodge in Julian.

Plus, we have a preview of coming events including upcoming concerts at the Magnolia in El Cajon, North Pole Limited holiday train rides in Campo, Pomegranate Days at the Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona, a Julian Country Christmas, Alpine's Parade of Lights and Snow Festival, a Brotherhood of Man dance program in La Mesa, Lakeside’s Spirit of Christmas on Maine, Ramona’s Christmas tree lighting, a European Christmas market and caroling atop Mt. Helix, Santa at Santee Lakes,  La Mesa’s Holiday in the Village, and a Paris Holiday Tea in El Cajon to benefit local arts.

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

By Miriam Raftery

November 17, 2019 (El Cajon) – Art aficionados found plenty to appreciate at the Cultural Art Expo held Nov. 9 at the Marriott in El Cajon.  Proceeds benefited the East County Arts Association, which had members in a broad range of visual arts at the event, which also featured internationally acclaimed sculptor Enrique Avilez, local authors, live music, wine and beer tasting, art workshops and a fitness workout.

“It was the perfect storm,” Avilez (photo, left), a former fisherman, says of the life-altering event that inspired him to take up artwork as a career. Aboard a fishing vessel off his native Mexico battered by stormy seas, Avilez made a promise to pursue his passions if he survived the ordeal. His works reflect the materials of Baja beaches  and communities where he grew up – utilizing native clays, seashells, coral, wood and more.

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.

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.