East County News Service

June 2, 2019 (La Mesa) -- A free talk on “5G & Wireless: Keeping Safer in a Wireless World” by a wireless expert and attorney Dafna Tachover, is being held at 4700 Spring St., La Mesa, Suite 201, on Sunday 6/2/19 at 3 p.m.  Tachover previously worked in the Israeli Defense Forces as a telecommunication and computers officer. She is the founder the advocacy group “We are the Evidence” for rights of people impacted by wireless technology radiation and led a Supreme Court case in Israel that led to the strictest limitations in the world on Wi-Fi in schools.

Susan Brinchman with the Center for Electrosmog in La Mesa has been working for three months in an effort to consult with the County on a revision of its recent wireless ordinance approved Feb. 27 for unincorporated areas which she says “fell short in the area of protecting property owners and residents.  The County is now seeking public comments. View the latest draft ordinance: https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/pds/advance/smallcellwirelessfacilities.html

Memorial gathering June 8 at 2 p.m. at Desert View Tower

East County News Service

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  CC by SA

May 30, 2019 (El Cajon) – You might say that El Cajon is going to the dogs – and cats. The City Council has voted unanimously to allow pet owners to have up to four dogs, or four cats.  Owners can also have a combination of cats and dogs, up to a maximum of four.

Formerly, the city allowed no more than two dogs or cats per household, though exceptions were made for puppies and kittens not yet old enough for adoption.

By Miriam Raftery

May 30, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan yesterday announced indictments against 11 individuals in a statewide charter school scheme that stole over $50 million in public funds.  Those indicted include Nancy Hauer, superintendent of the Dehesa Elementary School District in El Cajon, and Steve Van Zant, former superintendent of the Mountain Empire Unified School District that services Descanso, Pine Valley, Potrero and Campo.

The ringleaders, Sean McManus and Jason Schrock, CEO and president of A3 Education, sought out small school district with limited oversight experience and proposed that they authorize online charter schools to earn oversight fees paid for through public funds, according to the 253-page indictment handed down by a grand jury investigation May 17^th after a year-long investigation that involved interviewing over 70 witnesses.

By Miriam Raftery

May 27, 2019 (Warner Springs) - Hawk Watch Winery has lost 25 cases of wine—300 bottles—in a freak accident near their Warner Springs Winery. The owners posted on Facebook that on May 16, while maneuvering a curve in State Route 79, packing material broke and the load slipped off, shattering the fruits of their labors.

By Miriam Raftery

May 26, 2019 (San Diego) – At the 24 reservoirs across San Diego County, recent rain storms have helped to restore water levels depleted by several years of drought.  

Ten reservoirs are now at 80% capacity or more:

By Miriam Raftery

May 24, 2019 (Lemon Grove) – Trevon Harris, 13, dreamed of becoming an NBA player and played basketball with the Young Bulls, a recreational team in Lemon Grove.  But on May 3, he slipped on gravel outside his home in Lemon Grove and fell into the path of a vehicle, suffering a fatal head injury.

On June 1^st, the Lemon Grove Improvement Council and Coach Mark Horton will hold the first annual Trevon Harris 3-on-3 basketball tournament for players ages 10-14 at the Lemon Grove Rec Center, 3131 School Lane.  Teams are encouraged to sign up at Trevon-Harris.eventbrite.com. There will also be music, food, games and more.

“This charity event will memorialize Trevon who was taken too soon from his family and from our community,” says Teresa Rosiak-Proffit with the Lemon Grove Improvement Council. “The funds raised will allow us to award prizes to the players and we are going to set-up a scholarship/endowment fund so that we can help the youth of our community with the sports needs they may have. If a youth cannot afford to join in on a sport or needs sports equipment they can contact us and we will assist."

Update: We've added lots of great prizes! See list below.

You're invited to the East County Dining Club's next dining adventure at Buckboard’s Barbecue & Brew in El Cajon (975 Greenfield Drive) on Wednesday, May 29 at 6 p.m.  Everyone is welcome!

Buckboard’s is brand new to El Cajon, but they’ve been serving up amazing BBQ for 30 years in San Diego before moving to East County. The chef formerly worked as a top chef at Saddle Peak Lodge in Calabasas, a Michelin-caliber restaurant. If you love barbecue, you’ll want to try out Buckboard’s! 

Buckboard’s is famous for their Santa Maria-style slow-cooked barbecue, with meat that is brined and marinated for five days before being cooked over the open flames. 

They also have a full range of craft beers as well as some good wines. 

RSVPs are required so the restaurant can be prepared with a feast for our hungry members and guests!

RSVP: editor@eastcountymagazine.org or call 619 698 7617.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Chris Stone, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Network

May 21, 2019 (San Diego)--With detention facilities in Texas overflowing with some 8,000 migrants seeking asylum in the U.S., the Trump administration has begun shipping migrants to San Diego.  Three flights a week, each carrying 120 to 135 migrants, will be arriving in San Diego, where they will be processed by U.S. Customs and Immigration officials. The first plane load has arrived, with flights slated to continue indefinitely.  

Yet another storm to follow next weekend

By Miriam Raftery

May 20, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – Another late-season Pacific storm set to hit our region Tuesday night through Wednesday, bringing rain and strong westerly winds over local mountains, deserts and coastal areas. Gusts up to 81 miles an hour are forecast for Mount Laguna, with gusts over 60 mph forecast in Julian and Borrego Springs.

By Miriam Raftery

May 19, 2019 (La Mesa) – Frustrated by a lack of compromise between local businesses for and against the Friday night farmers market in downtown La Mesa, the city council has voted unanimously to end its contract with the La Mesa Village Association to run the market.  Council will put out a request for proposals from other operators to potentially move the market to another location or a different day,or keep the same location and days, but with improvements to resolve the rift.

If no entity comes forward, East County’s longest running farmer’s market could end after July 31, when the LMVA contract runs out.

By Miriam Raftery

May 17, 2019 (El Cajon) – Last night’s major fire at 920 El Cajon Blvd. in El Cajon was caused by an explosion at an illegal hash oil extraction lab which caused burn injuries to one victim. The explosion occurred less than two weeks after a hash oil lab exploded in Mira Mesa, seriously injuring three people.

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

May 17, 2919 (El Cajon) --In a unanimous vote, the El Cajon City Council on Tuesday approved planning commissioner and businessman David “Phil” Ortiz to fill the seat formerly held by Ben Kalasho. Ortiz edged out three other finalists for the position: Richard Agundez, Anthony Sottile, and Humbert Cabrera.

Other applicants were Gladys “Jo” Alegria, Juan Barajas, Richard Campbell, Margaret Carlson, Estela De Los Rio, James Elia, Mark Jamil, former El Cajon Mayor Mark Lewis, Amanda McGimpsey, Juan Carlos, Mercado, Michelle Metschel, Abraham Muheize, Nancy Wilson, and Steven Woods. Community activist Stephanie Harper dropped out of the race at Tuesday’s meeting. See our prior coverage for highlights on all 22 candidates.

Owner and CEO of New Earth Energy Specialists Inc. and a pastor of Foothills Church, Ortiz is also an active community volunteer. He serves on the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce board of directors and is founding member of the El Cajon Community Clean Up Group.  He has a B.A. degree in criminal justice administration from SDSU and a master’s in organizational management with emphasis in public administration.

According to his application with the city, his top priorities are public safety, including making retention of officers a priority, homelessness, including partnering with local organizations and having metrics to determine programs effectiveness, and having a balanced budget plus revitalization and incentivization to build on vacant lots.

Watch a streaming video of Tuesday’s evening's council session here and scroll down for details.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Retired Pvt. First Class Joseph Reilly, courtesy of the White House website

May 17, 2019 (San Diego) – Joseph Reilly, a D-Day veteran who parachuted behind enemy lines in Britain and fought other battles to help liberate Eastern Europe during World War II, has made his first political endorsement at age 97.  Reilly, whose courageous actions were honored by Donald Trump at the President’s State of the Union Address, has endorsed Ammar Campa-Najjar, the Democrat running against indicted Republican Congressman Duncan D. Hunter in the 50th Congressional district.

Hunter has been a strong supporter of Trump on the  campaign and during Trump’s presidency. But Reilly, a former Army private, said in a statement that he is “proud” to support Campa-Najjar because Hunter “has now crossed the line twice. First when he betrayed the public in order to enrich himself, and now again when he  makes such shameful and false attacks in order to hold onto his power.”

Hunter, a combat veteran in Iraq and Afghanistan, is awaiting trial on federal corruption charges. He and his wife are accusing of taking over $250,000 from his campaign and spending it on lavish personal expenditures including family vacations to Italy and Hawaii, jewelry, oral surgery bills, tuition at his children’s private school, and airfare for his son’s pet rabbit.