By Miriam Raftery

Sources: National Weather Service and San Diego County News Center

August 28, 2017 (San Diego) -- A dangerous heat wave will continue the rest of this week across all of San Diego County, with isolated thunderstorms through Labor Day weekend also forecast, the National Weather Service advised today.  The County of San Diego also issued an alert urging residents to take precautions during the extreme heat.

By Jonathan Goetz

Photo, left: Eric Lund, CEO, San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce and Chair of the East County Regional Task Force on the Homeless

August 27, 2017 (El Cajon) - The El Cajon City Council approved four budget items earlier this month regarding homelessness, as well as approving a partnership agreement with the El Cajon Collaborative. Council unanimously approved $2,000 for anti-panhandling signs, $3,550 for a mobile app to help the homeless find service providers, $10,000 for a homeless reunification program to reunite 20 homeless people in El Cajon, and $125 for a brick at the El Cajon collaborative.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: U.S. Centers for Disease Control

August 26, 2017 (San Diego) – Live worms have been found in packages of salmon sold at multiple Costco stores in San Diego County, 10 News reports.  The report does not name the type of worm, however, CNN reports that Japanese tapeworms are now being found in wild Alaskan salmon and could be in salmon caught anywhere along the Pacific Coast.

Other types of fish can also carry tapeworms or different parasites, so health experts advise to eat only frozen or thoroughly cooked fish in order to destroy worms and larvae.   Tapeworms cause infection and sometimes serious problems if consumed by humans in raw fish such as Sushi, smoked or marinated fish such as in Ceviche, the College of Medical Physicians Canada warns.

East County News Service

August 26, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service is warning of a “dangerous heat wave”  forecast to hit San Diego County starting Sunday mid-morning through at least Wednesday.   Excessive heat warnings and advisories have been issued for the region, with Monday and Tuesday expected to be the hottest days. Even the coast won’t be spared from this heat wave.

Premier Event:  August 25 at Fabrison's Country French Restaurant

13881 Campo Rd., Jamul

We still have a few spaces--and the restaurant has graciously allowed to take a few people at the door with checks to East County Magazine but please RSVP to be sure there is still room.   Reserve now for summer's hottest party! 619-698-7617 or 619- 303 8593 after 3 p.m.

August 3, 2017 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Magazine proudly announces launch of our East County Dining Club! 

We've pulled out all the stops for our launch party at the fabulous Fabrison's Country French Restaurant on August 25 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. We have thousands of dollars in prizes, a delicious all you can eat gourmet French feast, winetasting from the Toast of the Coast winning Deerhorn Valley Winery, music by "Diva" star Lenelle Wylie and more!

Try fabulous foods, win amazing prizes, bring your friends and meet new ones, plus help sustain nonprofit news in the public interest and wildfire/emergency alerts for East County.

Sign up for invitations to future East County Dining Club adventures to savor cuisines from around the world (and the best American foods, too!)-- all in East County.  Email editor@eastcountymagazine.org with "Dining Club" in the subject line.

Reservations and payment are required by Aug. 20 for this very special dining club launch party. See the delicious details below!

East County Magazine

August 24, 2017 (Campo-Lake Morena) -- The Campo-Lake Morena Community Planning Group meeting on August 28  will include discussion of a formal planning group response to  the County's proposed climate action plan. Other key items include review of applicants for a vacancy, an update on transfer of lands for Camp Lockett, and more.  Click here to view the full agenda as a full-sized pdf document.

You can also scroll down to view the full agenda in a slightly smaller format.

By Miriam Raftery

August 23, 2017 (La Mesa) – If you’d like to have a say-so about water rates and other issues in the Helix Water District, you may soon have that chance.  The district’s board has voted unanimously to establish an advisory board comprised of its customers.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo of Boston Free Speech counter-protest rally by Ken Breeman (cc)

August 23, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) - Across the U.S., 67 rallies in 23 states organized by hate groups including Nazis and  Ku Klux Klan members have been cancelled, Newsweek reports.  The groups say that they will instead hold a virtual event online on September 9th, but will not be wielding torches and marching through America’s streets  chanting anti-Jewish, anti-black and anti-immigrant messages as they did in Charlottesville, Virginia.

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office

Image Credit: Pixel and Paper Photography

August 22, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - Lots of purring, happy barks and maybe even a cock-a-doodle-do Monday as shelter pets from County Animal Services settle into their new forever homes. They were among 306 animals adopted from the County’s three shelters on Clear the Shelters Day Saturday. That total beat last year’s total of 304 by just a (doggie) hair and a whisker.

Update August 22:  The fire is 80% contained and holding at 200 acres, per Cal Fire. 175 federal, state and local firefighters have been battling the blaze.  Cause has not been determined.

Update 6:00 p.m.: Forward spread of fire has been stopped and threat to Campo Indian reservation mitigated, Cal Fire reports.

Update 4:12 p.m.:  Campo Sheriff Substation reports  EclipseFire is at 200 acres. Safe zone is at Mountain Empire High School, 3305 Buckman Springs Rd. in Campo. Fire is advancing at moderate spread, 10-15 mph winds, 0% contained.

Update 3:50 p.m.:  Campo Indian reservation is also now threatened, Cal Fire tweeted moments ago. Evacuations are in progress.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Donna Tisdale

August 21, 2017 (Campo) -- The #EclipseFire has burned 25 acres at La Posta Road and Royal Willie Road in the Campo area.  Structures are now threatened and evacuations are occurring at a Navy training site on La Posta Road, Isaac Sancheez, Cal Fire public information officer, has advised ECM.

The fire is burning at moderate rate of spread and no structures are threatened, according to Cal Fire.  The California Highway has ordered closure of La Posta Road. 

SDG&E has dispatched its air crane to help battle the blaze.

By Miriam Raftery

August 20, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Last month,  rural residents voiced frustration when the County announced meetings on outsourcing animal services with only 24 hours notice before the only meeting in East County, as ECM reported.  This week,  rural community leaders are voicing frustration that public meetings on how to improve ambulance services were again announced on short notice.  All the meetings are slated mid-day on weekdays this week, when working people can’t attend.  Moreover, rural planning group chairs say there were left in the dark and were never notified by the county of these meetings.

By Paul Kruze

August 19, 2017 (El Cajon) -- Yet more eyes are going to be fixed on embattled El Cajon Councilman Ben Kalasho with news that he has filed a discrimination complaint with the State of California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. The action follows last Tuesday’s 4-1 vote affirming that the only electronic device permitted to be used by Council members at the dais during City Council meetings are city-provided Apple iPad tablets.

The iPads provided to members of the City Council will be configured to only allow access to City of El Cajon official websites and access to the city’s financial budget documents and municipal codes, but other Internet sites will be blocked.  Note-taking software will be downloaded onto the iPads and an attached keyboard will be provided.

By Miriam Raftery

August 17, 2017 (La Mesa, California)—La Mesa Councilmember and Vice Mayor Kristine C. Alessio has quit the Republican Party over the party’s failure to take a stand against racism.

“I’m out of the Republican Party,” Alessio announced on her Facebook page yesterday. “I’ll never be pro choice, never be against the second amendment, but I cannot stand with anyone who will not say no to racism and prejudice. Count me as decline to state and in favor of liberty.”

By Kendra Sitton

August 16, 2017 (Spring Valley) -- Finding a new home for Bostonia’s Station 19 dominated the San Miguel Consolidated Fire Protection District Board meeting on Aug. 9.

Upon a motion by Director McKenna, seconded by Director Kim Raddatz, the board voted unanimously to direct the Fire Chief to hire a consultant to plan, direct and oversee the due diligence processes and respective timelines, and make recommendations back to the Board on options for placement of a short-term and/or permanent fire station at 657 E. Bradley, El Cajon.

By Miriam Raftery

August 15, 2017 (La Mesa) -- Choosing a citizens’ advisory committee will be on the agenda (item 9) this Wednesday for the Helix Water Board. The board is considering creating the advisory group to allow ratepayers to provide feedback on assigned topics that could include water rates, budgets, conservation, strategic planning and more.