Click audio links to hear our 4-part series of interview with GHD candidates

By Miriam Raftery

Photos: Art Madrid,  Virginia Hall,  Bob Ayres,  Jimmy Parker, Michael Emerson, Priscilla Schreiber

October 15, 2016 (La Mesa) –In a series of interviews, we caught up with each of the six candidates running for the Grossmont Healthcare District Board, which oversees Grossmont Hospital.   The field is diverse, and each candidate brings their unique perspectives and priorities for the public’s health. 

Topics ranged from easing congestion in the hospital’s busy emergency room to oversight of new construction project,  from protecting patient privacy to preparing for the impacts of ballot measures such as an initiative that could legalize marijuana. 

By Miriam Raftery

Hear full audio of the one-hour candidate forum by clicking the audio link.

September 29,2016 (Lemon Grove)—At a candidate forum hosted by East County Magazine and the Lemon Grove Library on September 21^st ,  three mayoral hopefuls shared their visions for the future of Lemon Grove. 

Council members George Gastil and Racquel Vasquez, along with former Chamber of Commerce President Teresa Rosiak, fielded questions from moderator Miriam Raftery, editor of ECM, ,as well  as audience questions.

East County News Service

September 18, 2016 (San Diego’s East County)—Recently we interviewed Ruth Weiss, San Diego coordinator for the Election Integrity Project. The all-volunteer, nonpartisan California organization’s mission is to restore fair and honest elections in our state. It’s motto is “Every lawfully cast ballot accurately counted.”

The Election Integrity Project seeks volunteers willing to be trained to help monitor elections and vote-counting.  “Whether a person can give 10 minutes or 10 hours on election day, they can make a difference. Our training is also available online at our website,” says Weiss.

Listen to our interview with Weiss by clicking the audio link, and scroll down for more information about the organizations.

You can listen now  to a podcast of our interview by clicking the audio link: https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au..., or click "read more" and scroll down for highlights.

By Miriam Raftery

Mark your calendars for our candidate forum with Helix Water Board candidates and Lemon Grove Mayoral candidates on Wednesday, September 21 at the Lemon Grove Library.Meet candidates at 5 p.m. with the forum starting at 5:30.

September 16, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – John Linden has served on the Helix Water District Board since 2000.  He’s proud of his service and of the Helix district’s long history since its establishment back in the 1880s.  He’s running for reelection in district 1, against three challengers. We sat down for an interview with Linden that originally aired on KNSJ radio.

Our June and July 2016 radio shows are now online!  You can listen online now (sound files may take a minute to load).

For links to listen to the shows plus a full list of topics and interviews in June and July, click here or scroll down.

Our newsmaker interviews included refugees from Nile sisters telling harrowing stories,  an activist discussing the battle to stop a sand mine in Lakeside, local authors and more. Plus we had full coverage of the Border Fire and its controversies,  highlights from the presidential campaign trail, local election highlights, as well as other top national, state and local news stories.

 The East County Magazine Show airs Mondays and Fridays from 5 to 6 p.m. on KNSJ, 89.1 FM.  The shows rerun on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.  Read more and listen to our June and July shows:

East County Magazine

July 4, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Our May 2016 radio shows are now online!  You can listen online now (sound files may take a minute to load).

For links to listen to the shows plus a full list of topics and interviews in May, click here or scroll down.

Our newsmaker interviews included homeless advocates Dolores Diaz and MichaelMcConnell (photos) on homeless count results for East County and San Diego, Boulevard resident Tim Cass who is growing a pine forest by harvesting fog and mist, and Jay Gorden with Green Garden Gold on the hemp growing market. On Bookshelf, we sat down with Kirk Kenney, author of 100 Things Every Padres Fan Should Know and Do Before They Die and with former Daily Californian editor Del Hood, author of History in the Headlines. We had coverage of rallies by Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump in San Diego, plus news about hot East County issues from the Alpine high school lawsuit to efforts by local residents to help Iraqi Chaldean refugees.

 The East County Magazine Show airs Mondays and Fridays from 5 to 6 p.m. on KNSJ, 89.1 FM.  The shows rerun on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.  Read more and listen to our May shows:

East County News Service

Hear our interview with Del Hood:  https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

June 27, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Recently, East County Magazine sat down with Del Hood, long-time news editor of the Daily Californian and author of the new book History in the Headlines: Half a Century of the Most Notable Events in the El Cajon Valley and Surrounding Areas 1950-2000.

He recalled some of the most memorable stories of his career, as well as the fascinating history of our region.  This interview originally aired on the East County Magazine Show on KNSJ 89.1 FM Radio. To listen online now, click the link above. (Note: sound files can take a few moments to load.)

June 11, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- Our March 2016 radio shows are now online!  You can listen online now (sound files may take a minute to load). For links to listen to the shows plus a full list of topics and interviews in March, click here or scroll down.

Our newsmaker interviews included Mark Umphries and Michelle Curtis from the Helix Water District, Chaldean-American Chamber president Ben Kalasho,  gospel choir director Ken Anderson, citizens and a trustee concerned about Grossmont-Union High School District redistricting, author Rebecca Grant, Heartland Coalition’s Mark Hanson, and more.  We also covered other hot issues including the presidential primary, methane gas leak, Zika virus, efforts to help bee populations, an urban agricultural incentive program,and more.

The East County Magazine Show airs Mondays and Fridays from 5 to 6 p.m. on KNSJ, 89.1 FM.  The shows rerun on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.

East County News Service

June 4,2016 (San Diego) – At bat in our lineup of radio interviewees recently was Kirk Kenney, author of 100 Things Padres Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die.

Kenney, a sportswriter with the San Diego Union-Tribune, shared some colorful insights and fascinating facts with our Bookshelf editor Reina Menasche on the East County Magazine Show,  aired originally on KNSJ  89.1 FM Radio.  

You can listen online now to our interview by clicking the audio link below (sound files may take a few moments to load).

May 20, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- Our February 2016 radio shows are now online!  You can listen online now (sound files may take a minute to load). For links to listen to the shows plus a full list of topics and interviews in February, click here or scroll down.

Our newsmaker interviews included representatives from the ACLU,  Twainfest, Mountain Hempire, San Diego Comic Fest, and Valley View Urban Farms.  Hot show topics included police shootings of the mentally ill,  Borrego springs’ water shortage, Alpine EMFs, the San Aliso gas leak, Grossmont redistricting, the presidential primary and more.

The East County Magazine Show airs Mondays and Fridays from 5 to 6 p.m. on KNSJ, 89.1 FM.  The shows rerun on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.

Our January 2016 radio shows are now online!  You can listen online now (sound files may take a minute to load). For links to listen to the shows plus a full list of topics and interviews in January, click here or scroll down.

Our newsmaker interviews included Congresswoman Susan Davis, Windwalker and the MCW (Grammy nominees), the founders of Camp Onward, and Steve Lauria from California Health Network.  Hot topics included  new laws in 2016, the presidential primary, a lawsuit over Covert Canyon, a felony charge against a local Superintendent, a police shooting in El Cajon, wild winter weather, and much more.  

The East County Magazine Show airs Mondays and Fridays from 5 to 6 p.m. on KNSJ, 89.1 FM.  The shows rerun on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.

Hear our interview with Rebecca Grant, originally aired on KNSJ 89.1 FM:  https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

(Note: Audio files can take a few moments to load)

March 18, 2016 (San Diego) -- Rebecca Grant, author of A Sticky Web of Vengeance: The Coach's Wife sat down for an exclusive interview with East County Magazine Radio Show's Bookshelf host Reina Menasche.

Grant endured shocking revelations about her well-known husband's past, forgave him and stood by him in his final challenge: a battle with brain cancer.  She survived these hardships only to endure betrayal by his family members. Yet she weathered the storms in her life, finding inner strength.

She has since dedicated her life to activism, hoping to help others. 

Hear our interviews with Craig Beswick, Nick Marinovich and Priscilla Schreiber:  https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

East County News Service

March 16, 2016 (San Diego's East County) --  The Grossmont Union High School District Board majority's proposed redistricting plan is among the most controversial actions taken by a board long mired in contention over a variety of issues -- many of which stand to be influenced by the outcome of redistricting.  East County Magazine's radio show on KNSJ sat down with several individuals who have voiced strong opposition to the plan approved by the board and now awaiting action by the County Department of Education's Committee on School District Organization.

Click the link above this story to listen online now to a podcast of  our interviews and comments from trustee Priscilla Schreiber, Diego Valley Charter Net principal Craig Beswick, former Citizens Bond Oversight Committee member Nick Marinovich, and Chaldean Chamber President Ben Kalasho on this important issue (originally aired on KNSJ 89.1 FM radio).

The County's committee plans five upcoming hearings to get public comment on the proposed redistricting plan, as well as the GUHSD's request to waive a public vote. The five hearings are set for March 17 in La Mesa, March 28 in El Cajon,  April 4 in Alpine,  April 5 in Jamul, and April 11 in Lakeside.  The public can testify at the meetings and also submit written comments up until April 7. 

Hear our interview, which originally aired on the East County Magazine Radio Show on KNSJ  89.1 FM on December 14, 2015: https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Ice core sample, Creative Commons image from AntarcticGlaciers.org

February 27, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Jeffrey Severinghaus, PhD, is one of the world’s top climate scientists.   A professor of geosciences at Scripps Institute of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, he was recently appointed to the prestigious National Academy of Sciences.   Dr. Severinghaus has pioneered research efforts measuring trapped gas bubbles in ice cores in Antarctica and Greenland to detect past ocean temperature changes – with astonishing results.

Asked about climate skeptics who claim climate change is merely cyclical, he quickly dispels the theory that recent warming is part of an age-old trend.  That’s because molecules from burning fossil fuels are chemically different from carbon naturally seeping from the ocean floor.  The differences are obvious, measurable, and provide clear evidence that man’s actions are rapidly accelerating climate change.

Our December 2015 radio shows are now online!  You can listen online now (sound files may take a minute to load). For links to listen to the shows plus a full list of topics and interviews in December, click here and scroll down.

Our newsmaker interviews included climate scientist Jeffrey Severinghaus of Scripps Institute, Assembly candidate Mike Harrison, authors Caitlin Rother (Then No One Can Have Her) and Bill Swank (Christmas in San Diego), geologist Norrie Robbins on her efforts to bring science to kids on Native American reservations, and Jawdat Al Obeidi on a Chaldean youth conference, plus some “best of East County” reruns including some holiday favorites.