People Power

Inspiring Stories from San Diego's Eastern Region

FUNDRAISERS FOR FAMILY OF SLAIN DENTIST AND YOUNG MOM HURT IN DENTAL CLINIC SHOOTING

Dr. Harouni’s family also announces plans to start charity,  Hearts Over Hate

By Miriam Raftery

March 9, 2024 (El Cajon) – Yareli Carrillo, mother of a 9-month-old baby, was one of two people injured when a gunman opened fire on Feb. 29 at the Smile Plus Dentistry & Orthodontics clinic in El Cajon where she works as an administrative assistant.  The shooter, a former patient, also killed Dr. Benjamin Harouni.

The young mother was shot five times in the legs, and has been hospitalized in stable condition.  Yarelli Carillo’s family has started a fundraiser on GoFundMe.  Organizer Edgar Hernandez says. Your generous contributions will directly support Yareli as she rebuilds her life, covering medical expenses, ongoing treatment, and ensuring the well-being of her baby boy in a stable and nurturing environment. Together, we can make a difference and bring hope and healing to Yareli and her family.”

Jake Harouni has set up a separate fundraiser to assist the family of his brother, Dr.. Benjamin Harouni. “We're organizing a charity - Hearts Over Hate - to support families affected by violent crimes, offering them much-needed counseling and support, particularly for those who lack the resources to access these services,” Jake Harouni writes.

He adds, ”Our enduring vision is to foster peace by educating young people and nurturing environments of love and kindness. This proactive approach aims to prevent such tragedies from recurring.”


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SAN DIEGO FLOOD RESPONSE FUND RAISES AND GRANTS MORE THAN ONE MILLION DOLLARS TO ASSIST FLOOD SURVIVORS

 

More than 1,100 individuals, businesses & organizations contributed to the fund

Hundreds of flood survivors assisted by nonprofit grantees

With FEMA assistance now available, fund will sunset

March 1, 2024 (San Diego)  – San Diego Foundation (SDF) Wednesday announced that $1,353,000 has been raised for the San Diego Flood Response Fund, including a second earned match of more than $215,000 from the San Diego Foundation Board of Governors. In total, San Diego Foundation is the largest contributor to the response fund with more than $300,000.


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FAMILY OF TODDLER CRITICALLY INJURED BY WRONG-WAY DRIVER IN EL CAJON NEEDS HELP TO PAY MEDICAL BILLS

By Miriam Raftery

February 24, 2024 (El Cajon) – The family of Akeel Robinson, a 17-month-old toddler critically injured by flying concrete in a crash caused by a wrong-way driver Jan. 28 in El Cajon have launched a GoFundMe drive to help pay medical expenses. The boy remains hospitalized with serious head and neck injuries.Donate here:  https://www.gofundme.com/f/medical-expenses-for-baby-akeel?utm_campaign=...

Akeel’s father, Anthony Robinson, was stopped at a traffic light in El Cajon with his three children in the family’s SUV, including Akeel, who was asleep in a car seat. Then a woman driving  a pickup truck the wrong-way on I-8 crashed into a concrete guardrail and plunged off the overpass.  It struck a wall below and burst into flames next to Robinson’s SUV. The wrong-way driver, Katy Frausto Aguilar, died at the scene.

Robinson was able to help his two older children out of the vehicle, but Akeel was slumped over, his head bleeding. He was rushed to Rady Children’s Hospital, where he underwent surgery for a fractured skull. To reduce brain swelling, he was put into a medically induced coma with part of his skull temporarily removed.

Ashleigh Jarrell, a cousin of Akeel’s mother, Kayte Blocker, has organized the GoFundMe page as the family’s medical bills mount.


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DONATE TO ILLUMINATE: HOW YOUR EYEGLASSES CAN LIGHT UP LIVES

East County News Service

 

February 23, 2024 (Lemon Grove) -- The Lemon Grove Lions Club is always actively collecting gently used reusable eyeglasses for the Lions Club International Recycle for Sight Program.

 

Refractive errors can be easily corrected with eyeglasses, yet millions of people living in low and middle-income areas lack access to basic eye care services. The Lions Club recognizes the urgent need for corrective lenses and collects usable eyeglasses in their communities. The lack of eyeglasses denies children and adults opportunities for education, employment, and a better quality of life. 

 


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SPRING VALLEY RESIDENTS UNITE TO SUPPORT FLOODED NEIGHBORS: DONATION SITE OPENS FEB. 24 THROUGH APRIL 15

Source: Spring Valley Community Alliance

February 22, 2024 (Spring Valley, CA) -- Spring Valley residents applaud Tuesday's approval of FEMA aid for those affected by the January 22 rainstorm, but the community is already taking action to support recovery efforts. A coalition of area churches, community organizations, and residents led by the Spring Valley Community Alliance have partnered to open a site at Spring Valley Community Church to collect and distribute donations for those affected. 

A donation site located at 3310 Bancroft Drive, Spring Valley will open Saturday February 24 from 10am to Noon. The site's regular hours will be Mondays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to Noon.

While the waters receded quickly from the thousand-year flood, more than 200 Spring Valley homes were left badly impacted. Cars, furniture, appliances, and other essential belongings were left severely damaged or destroyed.  

"Many Spring Valley residents were left with the clothes on their backs and the items they could grab as they attempted to escape the rising waters," said Chris Pierce, Vice President of the Spring Valley Community Alliance. "There are physical needs that our neighbors have beyond what the County Resource Center set up at the Spring Valley Library could provide."


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DISABLED GRANDMA SUFFERS DEVASTATING LOSSES IN ROLANDO FLOOD, INCLUDING ELECTRIC SCOOTER CHAIR

Dozens displaced Jan. 22 at Rolando apartment complex that has flooded in the past

By Miriam Raftery

February 16, 2024 (San Diego) – When a flood control channel next to Donna Ferguson’s townhome on Bonillo Drive in San Diego’s Rolando community,  water  surged through the ground floor, sweeping away everything in its path including furniture, appliances and clothes, also destroying the electric scooter chair that she relies on for mobility. 


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FLOOD DONATIONS NEEDED IN SPRING VALLEY

East County News Service
 
February 16, 2024 (Spring Valley) -- On January 22, 2024, Spring Valley, California experienced a 1,000-year Flood Event where 3-inches of rain fell in 1 hour.  Over 200 Spring Valley homes are badly damaged by 2 feet or more of flood water. The waters receded quickly but peoples belongings and property are severely damaged or destroyed.  FEMA still has not been activated for this disaster and it could be months before we find out whether they will be activated at all.
 
So as a Community, let's come together and help those impacted and who are struggling to get through this.

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FAMILY THAT HELPED SAVE NEIGHBORS NEEDS HELP AFTER MAJOR FLOOD DAMAGE

By Miriam Raftery

February 11, 2024 (San Diego) – More than 1,200 San Diegans remain displaced from homes damaged in the Jan. 22 flood, including Beba Zarate, a teacher, and her two sons. The Zarate family helped get neighbors to safety amid rising floodwaters when emergency agencies were overwhelmed. But they had no flood insurance at the time, and lost nearly everything. They have put up a GoFundMe page, but so far only a few hundred dollars has been raised.

“We are hardly getting any help from the county or from the city,” say Zarate, whose home on Osborn Street in San Diego’s Shelltown neighborhood had water four feet deep rush in when a nearby creek flooded. “The only help was cleaning stuff, cleaning the street.  They removed all the trash and furniture.”

Nonprofits provided basic essentials such as clothes, shoes and cleaning supplies. But so far, neither FEMA nor state or local governments have stepped up with the major financial resources needed to help the family rebuild their home and lives.

Their one-story home needs major repairs and nearly all of the family’s belongings need to be replaced, including Zarate’s computer and teaching materials, kitchen appliances, furnishings and more. They also lost items of sentimental value, including family photos damaged by floodwaters that reached four feet deep.


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EL CAJON'S YOUTH OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS SOUGHT

East County News Service

February 9, 2024 (El Cajon) -- The City of El Cajon's Teen Coalition is now accepting nominations for the “Youth of the Year” award. This accolade is aimed at recognizing exceptional middle and high school students who have shown an extraordinary commitment to serving their community within the City of El Cajon. 


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DISTRICT ATTORNEY SUMMER STEPHAN HONORED WITH U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL MERITORIOUS PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD

East County News Service

February 9, 2024 (Washington, D.C.) -- San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan was honored at a ceremony Wednesday with the United States Attorney General's Award for Meritorious Public Service - the top public service award granted by the U.S. Department of Justice. It is designed to recognize the most significant contributions of citizens and organizations in support of justice.


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DOGS RETURNED TO OWNER AFTER FLOOD AND MEDICAL CRISIS

Humane Society’s Foster team enabled temporary care dogs and heartwarming reunion

 

Source: San Diego Humane Society

February 8,2024 (San Diego) -- In a heartwarming tale of resilience, three small dogs have been reunited with their owner following the challenging aftermath of the Jan. 22nd flooding in San Diego.


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HOW CAN WE HELP FLOOD VICTIMS?

By Kirsten  Andelman

Photo via CalFire: Firefighters fill sandbags. Sandbags are available at most fire stations countywide.

February 2, 2024 (Spring Valley) -- The mood was one of somber preparation, mixed with some fear – and a palpable lack of optimism.

Around the corner from the Local Assistance Center set up last week for flood survivors at the Spring Valley library branch, firefighters at the San Miguel Fire District station heaved shovels all day last Thursday.  They packed bags with sand, and then delivered them to the long line of cars idling at the corner of Gillespie and Orville Streets.

People searched for ways to prepare for more line, while others stood by to support the many families already impacted by the floods of January 22.

For the displaced people awaiting a fresh deluge of rain the following day, the question had remained the same: “Where can we go?”


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COUNTY STORM RECOVERY UPDATE

January 27, 2024 (San Diego) -- County officials provided an update today on recovery efforts after the unprecedented storm earlier this week that deluged various communities in the region with more than two inches of rain in just two hours.

“We are bringing together the city, county and state resources to help those that need it the most,” said Chairwoman Nora Vargas, San Diego County Board of Supervisors. “To all those that have been impacted, I want to make sure you know we are doing everything we can to bring you the resources you need and to make sure we help you as you recover from this natural disaster.”

Chairwoman Vargas also announced she was postponing the State of the County address. Instead she will host a “Day of Service” for San Diego flood victims.


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RELIEF FUND FOR UKRAINIAN CHURCH FLOODED IN SPRING VALLEY; HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES FOR UKRAINE ALSO DAMAGED

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy of ECM news partner 10 News

January 26, 2024 (Spring Valley) - St. Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Spring Valley has been a place of worship for Ukrainians across San Diego since 1960. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, the small church has welcomed and helped many Ukrainian refugees—and has also gathered humanitarian relief supplies to send to war-torn Ukraine.


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COUNTY, SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION LAUNCH FLOOD RESPONSE FUND

January 25, 2024 (San Diego) -- San Diegans who want to help local victims recover from this week’s severe storm can now make financial donations to a new Flood Response Fund.

The County worked with the San Diego Foundation to set up the online fund. The San Diego Foundation will match donations up to $100,000.

Money from the fund will only be directed to non-profits helping flood victims. The fund is not accepting any non-monetary donations at this time.

Monday’s storm was the fourth wettest day recorded since 1850. The torrential downpours caused millions of dollars of damage, flooded streets and roadways, damaged hundreds of homes and created mudslides, erosion and more.


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COYOTE WITH HEAD STUCK IN BUCKET IS RESCUED FROM FLOODED FIELD

East County News Service

January 24, 2024 (San Diego) -- A not-so-wily coyote is recovering at San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center after being rescued from a flooded field full of debris with a bucket stuck on his head.


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MEDICAL FUND SET UP TO AID FORMER ALPINE WOMAN WITH BRAIN HEMORRHAGE

By Miriam Raftery

January 21, 2024 (Alpine, CA) – Tamara Newton, a Granite Hills High School alumni and daughter of Alpine resident Carlette Anderson, is hospitalized after suffering a brain hemorrhage from a suspected tumor. She is paralyzed on her left side, cannot walk, and requires full-time care.

“The family has been very generous, but now we need some extra help with her expenses and recovery,” Anderson, founder of CPR PROS,  told  East County Magazine. A GoFundMe account has been setup to help pay for surgery and other medical needs.

The family posted on the site, “There is no doubt that it will be SO much easier for her if you join us in showering her with blessings and support in this time of need. She cannot work at this time, has limited savings and many new expenses. AND all this happened within days of moving from New Jersey to California with her youngest son.”


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ADOPT OR FOSTER A DOG, HELP REDUCE SHELTER OVERCROWDING

All dogs that have been in a County shelter for more than 30 days will have adoption fees waived.

January 18, 2024 (Bonita) -- County animal shelters in Bonita and Carlsbad are looking for adoptive and foster families to address a problem affecting shelters throughout the United States, and that’s overcrowding. County shelters have too many pets, especially dogs.  

A variety of factors led to overcrowding, including a challenging economy and housing shortages for many families. This has forced some people to make the difficult decision to abandon or relinquish their beloved dogs.  The rising cost of food and veterinary care is also a factor for some families. 

“More dogs are coming into the shelter this year than there were last year, and fewer dogs in the shelters are being adopted or reclaimed by their owners,” said San Diego County Animal Services Director Kelly Campbell. “We don’t want to run out of room and need the community’s help.  Adopting or fostering makes a huge difference for the animals in our care and has great benefits for those fostering or adopting.”  

A scientific study by the American Heart Association in 2019 showed that dog owners live longer and healthier lives than people without a dog. This was often due to an increase in physical activity from daily walks. Dogs also help people improve mental health by reducing daily stress or anxiety, according to a 1991 study in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.


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PINE VALLEY POSTMASTER RESCUES RUNAWAY HORSES

By Duke Gonzalez, Strategic Communications Specialist, U.S. Postal Service

 

January 16, 2024 (Pine Valley) – A  ‘Pony Express’ recently rode again in Pine Valley, California. But this time, it delivered heroism and community service rather than the mail. 


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SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY'S EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM ASSISTS SIX HORSES AT ROSE PARADE IN PASADENA

Story and photos by San Diego Humane Society
 
January 1, 2024 (San Diego) -- Six dedicated members of San Diego Humane Society's Emergency Response Team assisted at least six horses and their riders during the Rose Parade in Pasadena today.

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RAISING THE CHALDEAN HOLY CROSS MONUMENT IN JAMUL, THE LARGEST CROSS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY

Story by Henri Migala

Photos by Henri Migala and Vince Kattoula

December 18, 2023 (Jamul) -- The largest cross in San Diego County was raised atop Rancho San Diego Hill, on 80 acres of private land, in Jamul on Friday, December 15.

The 36’ tall Chaldean cross, made possible by Samad (“Sam”) and Evone Attisha and their family, will serve as a symbolic memorial for persecuted Christians throughout Iraq and all of the Middle East.

"Over the last several decades, Christians in Iraq and throughout the Middle East have been persecuted simply because of their faith," said Samad Attisha, who established the project. "The Chaldean Cross serves as a symbolic memorial for those martyrs who were murdered because of their love for our Lord Jesus Christ. My family and I are blessed with the opportunity to have made this possible on behalf of the entire Chaldean Community."


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PINE VALLEY POST OFFICE DELIVERS A HAPPY HOLIDAY MESSAGE TO ITS CUSTOMERS

By Rebecca Person

December 18, 2023 (Pine Valley) -- Postmaster Jessie Hoffman delights in seeing the Pine Valley branch of the U.S. Postal Service office decorated to fit the spirit of the holiday season. This year, volunteers lent a hand.

 “It was such a nice addition to have the community helping this year to have the town decorated.” she exclaims. “I came in on Monday to find the gingerbread men lining the sidewalk. Then, during the week others came to hang the snowflakes.”

She continues, “We love to make the office festive and welcoming to the community… This past year we had a seasonal tree up year-round. It is Pine Valley, after all, and having a pine tree in the lobby gives a special touch.  Each Christmas we try our best to go all out. My Clerk, Annette Ramirez, added a cardboard fireplace to our decorations to help make the office feel more welcoming.”


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LEMON GROVE IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL RECEIVES 100 SLEEPING BAG COATS FROM THE LUCKY DUCK FOUNDATION

By: Jessyka Heredia

 

December 12, 2023 (Lemon Grove)—Back in October, founding member of the Lemon Grove Improvement Council (LGIC) Teresa Rosiak received 100 sleeping bags that convert into warm coats for the unsheltered. Rosiak has already distributed over 75 of them directly to the homeless in Lemon Grove during her group’s weekly volunteer outreach.


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RALLY FOR LIGHT COMMEMORATES CHANUKAH AND SOLIDARITY WITH ISRAEL

                              

By Shiloh Ireland

 On Thursday, December 7th; several hundred people participated in an enchanting Rally for Light: event in solidarity with Israel, organized by Chabad House at San Diego State University. At the event, one of the largest menorahs in the United States was unveiled, replacing a menorah that was previously vandalized.

According to a press release from organizers,” This event symbolizes the strength and unity of our community in the face of adversity, as well as a response to the recent act of anti-Semitism experienced at SDSU. The event also comes at a time when global support for unity and resilience is more crucial than ever, particularly considering the current situation in Israel.”


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COUNTY LAUNCHES COMMUNITY-DRIVEN INITIATIVE TO ADDRESS INEQUITY

By County News Center, County of San Diego Communications Office

December 11, 2023 (San Diego) - The County’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice (OERJ) has launched a new initiative that will invest $2 million over two years into community-driven initiatives that address inequity.


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MOM THANKS COMMUNITY AND POLICE AFTER MISSING SON WITH AUTISM FOUND SAFE

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Skye Pinon, via ECM news partner 10 News

December 9, 2023 (La Mesa) – Skye Pinon says it was the “scariest moment of my entire life” when she realized that her 15-year-old son,  Max, who has autism, was missing.  Max went for a walk around 3 p.m. shortly before Thanksgiving wearing only a T-shirt and shorts, with no wallet or cell phone.

Skye Pinon and her husband spent an hour searching on their own, then called La Mesa Police, according to her post on a La Mesa community forum. Within minutes, officers took a report, had a helicopter in the air broadcasting Max’s description, called in a volunteer canine search and rescue team, and launched a social media post that was soon widely shared.  

“It only took minutes for the amazing people of this community to begin responding and I immediately began getting calls, texts, and social media messages from people asking how they could help,” Pinon says.


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RAMONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GRANTS $40K TO LOCAL NONPROFITS TO BUILD COMMUNITY & POST-PANDEMIC RECOVERY

East County News Service

December 8, 2023 (Ramona) - Ramona Community Foundation (RCF), a regional affiliate of San Diego Foundation, has awarded $40,000 to seven local nonprofit programs that demonstrate the power to build a more vibrant community and recover from the pandemic.


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LAKESIDE CAFE & BAKERY: LOCAL LANDMARK PAYS IT FORWARD WITH THANKSGIVING MEALS TO THE NEEDY

By Shiloh Ireland

November 20, 2023 (Lakeside) -- In 2017, husband and wife Jose Ortiz and Claudia Ortiz purchased the Lakeside Cafe in Lakeside, offering home-cooked breakfasts and lunches. Since 2018, they have generously given complete Thanksgiving meals to people in need each year. But this season, they have received more requests than they can accommodate. So, they are asking help from the community for donations.


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SEVERE CANINE RESPIRATORY DISEASE AT SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY: ADOPTERS OR FOSTERS NEEDED FOR 100 DOGS

Dog owner surrender services on hold through Dec. 1 due to highly contagious disease

Source: San Diego Humane Society
 
November 13, 2023 (San Diego) -- San Diego Humane Society (SDHS) is temporarily pausing owner surrenders of dogs, except in emergencies that threaten the health of the pet, due to occurrences of a respiratory disease called Streptococcus Equi subspecies Zooepidemicus (also known as Strep zoo) and a bacterial infection called Mycoplasma. The two in combination have led to more severe disease than what the shelter might see with just one of these pathogens.

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BUY HOLIDAY WREATHS TO HONOR LOCAL VETERANS

 

By Shiloh Ireland

October 29, 2023 (Lakeside) -- Wreaths Across America is offering an opportunity for  San Diego County residents, businesses, schools, fraternal organizations to celebrate the holidays and honor local veterans.There are over 120,000 souls interred at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery and over 16,000 at Miramar National Cemetery. Join me in sharing this link and viewing QR code and contributing.

How does this work? You may purchase one or two wreaths for either Rosecrans or Miramar (either for someone you name, or a gravesite they will choose).  You can add information about the veteran.  If you buy two wreaths, a third wreath will be placed at a deserving veteran’s grave chosen by the cemetery.

The wreaths are genuine wreaths that arrive fresh from Maine. The deadline is November 26th. to place your order. Please consider this special gift and memory honoring our Veterans.


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