By Miriam Raftery

February 27, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- The National Weather Service forecasts that up to a foot and a half of snow could fall on Mount Laguna by tonight.  As of noon today, over five inches had been recorded at the peak. In Julian, over six inches have fallen.

"This storm is not like anything I’ve seen up here. Sun and snow are going back and forth…and nobody gets anywhere," says Bobbi Zane, who sent us the photos above.  "It’s been snowing all day, then the sun comes out and everything melts, then the snow stars coming down again. I had someone drive on my driveway so I can get my car out. By the time he finished, it had started snowing again. No using the car today!"

Why is library omitted from the plan?

By Dr. Anthony McIvor

February 27, 2018 (La Mesa) -- Tonight the City Council agenda includes a returning item: engagement of an urban planning firm to update feasibility tests for the Civic Center site. Included are the introduction of market-rate housing, as well as office and/or governmental use, park and parking uses in combination with another civic building.

And once again we see a baffling omission.  Surrounding cities – from Alpine to IB – are proudly opening – and winning awards with – new town libraries. Just yesterday, San Diego Mayor Faulconer lauded libraries as “…hubs for inspiration, discovery and opportunity.” But in La Mesa, the long-delayed new library continues to get the crickets treatment at City Hall.

Why?

By Chris Jennewein

Photo: U.S. Supreme Court, by D.B. King via Wikimedia Commons

Reprinted from Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

February 26, 2018 (San Diego) -- San Diego’s estimated 45,000 Dreamers got a reprieve from possible deportation Monday when the Supreme Court refused to hear a Trump administration challenge.

The court declined to overrule a lower court’s action that temporarily blocked ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program on March 5.

The program, which allows immigrants brought to America illegally as children to live and work in the country, was terminated by President Trump last year, leaving it up to Congress to pass permanent protections.

By Miriam Raftery

February 23, 2018 (San Diego) – Few family trees are without some bad apples.  But should the actions of an ancestor you never met haunt you if you decide to seek public office?

Ammar Campa-Najjar was born in America to a Catholic mother of Mexican descent and a Palestinian Muslim father. Now a Democratic candidate for Congress running for Rep. Duncan D. Hunter’s seat, his platform includes calling for a lasting peace in the Middle East that respects both Israelis and Palestinians.  

This week, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz ran a story headlined, Grandson of Munich Massacre Terrorist is Running For Congress – Sounding a Peaceful Tone on Israel. The story claims that Campa-Najjar’s grandfather was in the terrorist organization Black September that was responsible for killing Israeli Olympic competitors in Munich, and was later killed by Israeli security forces.

The newspaper also acknowledges that Campa-Najjar has rejected violence and won endorsements from San Diego rabbis,“winning praise from members of the local Jewish community for his moderate positions on the Israeli-Palestinian issue.”

By Jonathan Goetz

February 22, 2018 (Spring Valley) – Approximately 30 community members turned out at a meeting of the Spring Valley Revitalization Steering Committee Thursday, where Supervisor Dianne Jacob received an update from community and law enforcement.

The agenda covered a wide range of topics, from new parks and a community garden to  helping homeless youths and updates on community festivities.

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

Photo: Sunrise Powerlink high voltage lines in Lakeside, by Billy Ortiz

February 21, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) president Michael Picker has suggested that utilities be allowed to charge residents in high-fire risk areas higher rates for electricity.  The reason would be to cover costs of upgrades to prevent power lines from causing wildfires, including changes to meet tougher new fire safety rules approved by the CPUC in December, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. 

Picker’s proposal, made during a meeting on fire safety for utilities on January 31^st, has sparked outraged responses among East County residents, planners, and County Supervisor Dianne Jacob.

By Miriam Raftery

February 20, 2018 (La Mesa) –  Firefighters from Heartland Fire and Rescue, aided by San Diego Fire Department, saved an elderly and disabled man from a burning apartment building Tuesday night in La Mesa.

Crews responded to the blaze in the 7300 block of La Mesita Place around 6:45 p.m. after receiving reports of black smoke coming from underneath an apartment door, with an elderly couple inside. The fire was in the living room of their downstairs unit.

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

February 20, 2018 (Washington D.C.) – Last October, a shooter at a Las Vegas concert massacred 58 people and injured 851 more.  He used a bump stock to alter a legal weapon to mimic an automatic weapon.

By Miriam Raftery

February 18, 2018 (San Diego) – Sergeant Don Parker, who saved many lives as head of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue operations for many years, died on Valentine’s Day after battling glioblastoma brain cancer, with which he was diagnosed last May.

February 17, 2018 (La Mesa) – You’re invited to our Mardi Gras dinner party benefit for East County Magazine!

Join us Wednesday, February 28 at 6 p.m. at the award-winning San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room (8364 La Mesa Blvd.) in La Mesa for a catered New Orleans Cajun/Creole dinner and festivities -- all for just $28 (leap year pricing on leap day!).  

$28 price includes tax, tip, Mardi Gras mask, beads, New Orelans dinner and a glass of wine

RSVP required by Feb. 21 as we must guarantee a number and prepay the caterer.

There will also be opportunity drawings, a silent auction, games and prizes galore! Scroll down or click “read more” for the delicious details.

By Miriam Raftery

February 15, 2018 (Warner Springs) --  The Ranchita/Warner Springs Sheriff's Substation asks public help to locate a man in a pickup truck who tried to kidnap a woman yesterday shortly before 7:30 a.m. at her mailbox in the 29000 block of State Route 79 in Warner Springs.

The victim, 29, told deputies she was getting off her car to get her mail when a man attacked her and tried to get her into his truck. She was able to fight off the attacker and drive away from the area. She says the man followed her from the scene for some distance and then he continued driving westbound on State Route 76 toward Valley Center.

The woman suffered minor injuries and was treated at a hospital and released, says Sergeant Brian Jenkins with the San Diego Sheriff’s department.

Source: County News Service

February 15, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – Jason and Darinka Viau of East County are among 93 couples married on Valentine’s Day at County facilities. 

They are planning a bigger wedding and reception in Mexico later in the year. Jason Viau said a few weeks ago, he decided he didn’t want to wait any longer to make Darinka his bride and suggested a Valentine’s Day wedding at Waterfront Park. She said yes.

East County News Service

February 14, 2018 (La Mesa) – Dr. Michael T. Long, a prominent neurologist and past president of the Grossmont Healthcare District’s Board of Directors, passed away on January 31^st I Grossmont Hospital.

Dr. Long, who started his practice in La Mesa in 1967, was the founder and first president of the San Diego Neurological Society.  He served for 12 years as a medical staff executive at Grossmont Hospital and was elected to the Grossmont Healthcare Board of directors for four years, serving as president for one year. He also served as Chief of Staff in 1987, and as Medical Staff Executive in support of the Chiefs of Staff from 1988 until his retirement in 2006.

By Miriam Raftery

February 13, 2018 (Borrego Springs) – Last year, visitors flocked to Anza-Borrego Desert for a superbloom – the most spectacular wildflower season in memory.  But expectations are wilting for this year’s wildflowers due to lack of rainfall.

Update February 11, 2018:  Mrs. Scinto has been found near her vehicle , reunited with her family and taken to a local hospital for evaluation. See details below:

"We thank the public for looking out for Mrs. Scinto, as well as our Search and Rescue volunteers," says Sergeant Kristin Brayman.

The Sheriff's Search and Rescue (SAR) is an all-volunteer unit. Together, they perform wilderness and urban rescues, as well as search for missing and at-risk persons. Teams are available 24 hours per day to respond to local, state and federal agency requests. If you would like to volunteer, visit www.sdsheriff.net/volunteers.

If you have a loved one who has Alzheimer's or suffers from a physical or mental disability, you can sign them up for the Sheriff's Take Me Home Program. It's a FREE and confidential service that can help law enforcement find a loved one in the event they get lost or wander away. For more information or to enroll online, visit: www.sdsheriff.net/tmh.