September 22, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--Do-it-yourselfers in Fallbrook, Lakeside, Ramona and Spring Valley can score a free new oil filter for their car Saturday, Sept. 26 just by turning in a used one, thanks to the County of San Diego’s Department of Public Works and O’Reilly Auto Parts.

September 23, 2015 (La Mesa)--The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce will present “Health Fair Saturday,” the East County region’s largest annual free community-wide health fair, from noon to 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 26, at Grossmont Center, 5500 Grossmont Center Dr., La Mesa, near the movie theaters at the mall.

By Devoreo Bell

September 22, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--Another GOP Republican candidate has dropped out dropped out of the running to become the next president.

Former Wisconsin Governor and Republican presidential candidate Scott Walker has confirmed he has indeed removed his name from the field to become president.

East County News Service

September 23, 2015 (Lakeside)—For thousands of years, the Kumeyaay/Digueño people have lived in harmony with nature and utilized natural resources to create homes, tools, and more.  Their knowledge of earth pigments allowed them to create natural paints for rock art, body painting and decoration.

September 23, 2015 (La Mesa) -- Balls to fetch, toys to chase, oils to bless and anoint for healing, ribbon bows to tie to collars, and photos to cherish. Celebrating the importance of animals in our lives, The Table: United Church of Christ of La Mesa and Animal Blessings, which provides support services for caretakers and animals, invite you to participate in a Community Blessing of Animals on Saturday, October 10, 2015, between 10:00 am and noon.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy of the White House

Pope Francis met with President Barack Obama at the White House on Wednesday, then delivered an address on the White House lawn to a crowd of over 11,000 people, CNN reports.

The Pope called on Christians to be responsible stewards of the earth.  "Climate change is a problem which can no longer be left to a future generation," he said. "When it comes to the care of our common home, we are living at a critical moment of history. We still have time to make the changes needed to bring about a sustainable and integral development, for we know that things can change."

By Dr. Larry Emdur

September 23, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--After a successful career as a board-certified internist and pulmonologist, Dr. Larry Emdur decided to become a hospitalist at Alvarado Hospital. A hospitalist is a fast-growing profession in which a physician’s primary focus is the general medical care of hospitalized patients.

The hospitalist profession has grown rapidly over the last decade because it allows hospital patients to be seen and treated by an in-house physician, rather than waiting for their regular doctor to come by after work or between patients. Not only is this more convenient and cost-effective for the patient, but it can improve patient safety.

By Mike Allen

September 21, 2015 (El Cajon)--Michael Wayne Morse was sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter and elder abuse in connection with the killing of his mother in 2013.

Morse, 51, was charged in 2014 with murdering his mother, Louise.  She was an invalid and living with her son at her home on Arly Court in Santee at the time of her death.

“What if the next touch and go crash takes out a school in session?" – a resident’s letter to Supervisor Dianne Jacob

East County News Service

September 21, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) --After a plane crashed into a Santee home on September 3rd, killing the pilot and a flight student near Gillespie Field, Advocates for Safe Airport Policies or “ASAP” is calling for action to protect community members. ASAP has made many complaints to officials before this crash, which is the latest in a string of crashes and serious mishaps involving planes at Gillespie. But recently residents have warned of frequent and low flights over homes due to an increase in flight school training of students at Gillespie Field.  

Now ASAP is holding a meeting for concerned airport neighbors. The event will be held September 30^th at a private home in Fletcher Hills.  To RSVP and get the addresss contact suestrom1@cox.net.

President of East County realtor trade group is directing realtor talent show

East County  News Service; photo  by Carey Guthrie

View video from the 2014 Un-fashion and Variety Show: http://youtu.be/XtBkvN8ETOw

September 21, 2015 (Alpine)--Who said real estate agents can only sell houses?

Alpine resident Carey Guthrie is directing and producing a talent show that will feature dancing and singing abilities of realtors from throughout San Diego County. Guthrie manages two real estate sales offices in La Mesa Village for Windermere Real Estate SoCal. She also serves as the 2015 president of the Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR).

On Thursday, Sept. 24, PSAR will present a fun-filled evening of fashion, food and entertainment at its fourth annual Un-Fashion and Variety Show at the Scottish Rite Event Center, 1895 Camino del Rio South in Mission Valley. Proceeds will benefit the Military Warriors Support Foundation.

By Miriam Raftery

September 21, 2015 (Alpine)—A proposed Forest Conservation Initiative Lands General Plan Amendment was heard by Supervisors last year, when Supervisors directed staff to work with the Alpine Community Planning Group, U.S. Forest Service and property owners to develop boundaries and scope of work for a special study area. That information will be used to determine land use densities for thousands of acres of private property near or within Cleveland National Forest in the Alpine area, opening the door for major development of lands east and south of Alpine.

On Thursday, September 24, County staff will provide an overview of the draft scope of work for the Special Study at the Alpine Community Planning Group meeting in the Community Center at 1830 Alpine Boulevard.  An agenda will be posted prior to the meeting at: http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/pds/gpupdate/comm/alpine.html

East County News Service

September 20, 2015 (San Diego) – United Against Police Terror-San Diego, a group that documents police-related deaths and advocates for law enforcement reforms, has posted a hate-filled diatribe on its Facebook page along with a claim that the sender’s IP address  has been traced to the Sheriff’s Department.

East County News Service

September 21, 2015 (San Diego) – An estimated 90,000 San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) customers lost power for several hours on Sunday afternoon.  SDG&E tweeted at 2:02 p.m. Sunday that the California Independent Systems Organization known as CAISO ordered it to “drop 150 MW of load in our service territory at around 1:15 p.m.”  CAISO, a nonprofit, is responsible for maintaining the statewide power grid- in other words, keeping the lights on.

Photo: A Planned Parenthood rally in Washington. Courtesy Planned Parenthood

September 20, 2015 (San Diego)—The House of Representatives voted Friday to defund Planned Parenthood.  The measure is not expected to pass the Senate and President Barack Obama has said he will veto it.  The vote was 241 to 187, with Republicans Duncan Hunter and Darrell Issa voting to end funding, while Democrats Susan Davis, Scott Peters and Juan Vargas voting to protect it. Now Republicans are threatening to shut down the government on September 30^th if any Planned Parenthood funding for women’s health is included in the federal budget.

East County News Service

September 20, 2015 (San Diego) – CAL FIRE Captain Kendal Bortisser, on behalf of CAL FIRE and County Fire Chief Tony Mecham, has provided an  update on status of eight major wildfires  plus two new fires burning in California,. Currently 10,500 firefighters are battling the blazes.

CAL FIRE San Diego continues to support the Northern California wildfires with three strike teams (15 engines- 53 firefighters), 12 hand crews (160 inmate firefighters) and  three bulldozers (6 firefighters).