Source:  Ramona Valley Vineyard Association

Photo:  winemaker Micole Moore and co-owner Teri Kerns in the vineyard with ponies Thelma and Louise.

September 14, 2017 (Ramona) — Ramona Ranch Vineyard and Winery is the first in San Diego County to be designated Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing (CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE) as a result of meeting a comprehensive set of standards for “environmental stewardship, conservation of natural resources and socially equitable business practices” set by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA).

By Chris Jennewein

Originally posted at Times of San Diego, a San Diego Online News Association member

September 10, 2017 (San Diego) -- The union representing 10,000 San Diego County employees announced Saturday it has reached agreement on a new contract that will avert a potential strike.

“We now have an agreement that helps to close the wage gap for critical public servants like nurses and social workers which is an essential step in alleviating chronic staff turnover and significant short staffing of services to vulnerable residents of San Diego,” said David Garcias, president of the Service Employees International Union local 221.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: SEIU via Facebook

August 30, 2017 (San Diego) – Last night, Service Employees International Union Local 221 workers voted to hold a strike on September 12 and 13 over what the union contends are unfair labor practices. The union represents over 10,000 county employees in San Diego and Imperial Counties including public workers in county and city governments as well as school districts. Those workers include public health nurses, social services employees, librarians, clerical staff and more. 

By Kendra Sitton

Photo, left and inside photo:  Henderson and Voepel speak after the breakfast

August 9, 2017 (Alpine) -- “Frank asked me to not get political and keep it positive. I'm going to fail him miserably,” said state Assembly member Randy Voepel. He addressed the Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce at their monthly Hot Topics Breakfast at the request of Frank Sturnold, the interim executive of the Chamber while a restructuring is underway.

By Terri Steele

July 17, 2017 (San Diego) -- There’s a ray of hope on the horizon for 16 to 24-year-olds looking for jobs, an education and a better future.  It springs from a $1.3 million U.S. Department of Labor grant recently awarded to the not-for-profit Heartland Coalition. 

The hope is with a program called YouthBuild.  And it’s working with East County community partners like Rock Church, Foothills, the County of San Diego and City of El Cajon to help them identify disaffected youth who are eager to get back to work and need an education.

East County News Service

June 29, 2017 (El Cajon) – John “Mac” McLaughlin, president and CEO of the USS Midway Museum and a retired Navy Rear Admiral, will be the keynote speaker at the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Luncheon. The event takes place on August 17 from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan Community Center in El Cajon.

By Jo Moreland

June 28, 2017 (Alpine) -- Browsing and buying cheap goods, great services and delicious food made the Alpine Flea Market the spot to shop on June 24.

Shoppers and vendors at 45 booths ignored the warm weather in order to make hot sales.at the flea market, located in the parking lot at Joan MacQueen Middle School.

Source:  Ramona Valley Vineyard Association

June 22, 2017 (Ramona) --Travel + Leisure, a leading travel publication, recently named Vineyard Grant James, located in San Diego County’s Ramona Valley wine region, the number two winery in the United States in its list of “a few select vineyards around the country that go above and beyond to astound visitors.”

East County News Service

June 13, 2017 (San Diego) - At the May 24, 2017 V.I.P. (Very Important Planet) Reception held at the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department, San Diego EarthWorks recognized EDCO with the E.A.R.T.H. (Environmental Action and Restoration That Helps) Award for EarthFair efforts. There to accept the award on EDCO’s behalf was John Snyder, EDCO’s Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, and Elmer Heap, EDCO’s Division Manager.

Kalasho provides documents to bolster his defense, though this isn't first time he has faced claims of fraud or ethics questions

By Miriam Raftery

Updated with comments from Tawfiq's attorney

June 7, 2017 (El Cajon) – A lawsuit has been filed against the Miss Middle East Beauty pageant  USA Inc. and Ben (Bessmon) Kalasho, organizer of the pageant and an El Cajon City Councilman.

The suit, filed by pageant winner Zhala Tawfiq and first reported by the Reader, claims the pageant is fraudulent, that prize money was not paid, and that after she objected to giving up passwords to her social media accounts, photos of her face photoshopped onto someone else’s nude body were posted on  an Instagram page named “Zhala_Tawfiq_Fanpage” with a  post reading, “Leaked images of Miss Middle East Beauty Queen.”  Soon after she was removed as pageant winner and the title was given to the runner-up.

Asked if he posted the photos, Kalasho told East County Magazine, “Absolutely not." He indicated Tawfiz was replaced due to not fulfilling terms of her contract.

East County News Service

June 1, 2017 (San Diego’s East County)  You’re invited to join in a fun drive to discover the unveiling of Historic Highway 67 in San Diego’s East County on June 17^th from 8:30 to 1 p.m.  Travel through the wild and scenic countryside, stopping at pit stops in El Cajon, Santee, Lakeside and Ramona to get your passport stamped and win drawing tickets for prizes.

This event is  presented by the Historic Highway 80 Corporation along with the Santee, Lakeside, Ramona, and San Diego East County Chambers of Commerce.

Source:  Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District

May 18, 2017 (El Cajon) - The East County Economic Development Council’s annual manufacturing tour for adult and veteran job-seekers, co-hosted by Cuyamaca College, is set for 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Thursday, May 25.

By Miriam Raftery

May 13, 2017 (San Diego) – The national AFL-CIO, California Labor Federation, and a majority of local unions will continue their affiliation with the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, according to a press release issued by the AFL-CIO. The reaffirmation of support for the Labor Council and its backing of working families comes after eight unions announced last week that they would leave to join a new San Diego Counties Working Council being formed by ousted Labor Council President Mickey Kasparian, as ECM reported.

East County News Service

May 10, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) - Senator Dianne Feinstein has coauthored legislation introduced last week to shield farmworkers from deportation and put them on a path to earn legal status and eventual citizenship.

Study finds undocumented immigrants contribute $3 billion in California

Source: Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy

May 8, 2017 (San Diego) -- Undocumented immigrants contribute roughly $3 billion in taxes to California each year, over $1.5 billion of which goes to county coffers.

According to a new study from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), undocumented immigrants paid $109.8 million in taxes to San Diego County (in the form of property taxes and local sales taxes) and nearly $108.8 million in taxes to the state of California (in the form of personal income taxes and sales and excise taxes).