By Liz Alper

Photo:  honoring Dr. Cosimo Commisso on Biotech All-Stars Night.  Courtesy @Padres on Twitter

August 1, 2016 (San Diego) - New month, clean slate.  That was the mindset the Padres had as they entered August after a less-than-great July, starting the month with a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers.  New Padre Jarred Cosart got the start against Jimmy Nelson for the Brewers.

By Miriam Raftery

August 1, 2016 (San Diego) — Election observers have contended that they witnessed hundreds of ballots with votes for Bernie Sanders whited out at the San Diego Registrar of Voters office and were prevented from watching further.  Video. Some have contended that Sanders was disenfranchised.

East County News Service

August 1, 2016 (Descanso) - Simon Wesselink, who recently passed away at the age of 70, will be honored with a life celebration at Descanso Town Hall on August 20 at 6:00 p.m.

East County News Service

August 1, 2016 (Lakeside) - The Lakeside Community Planning group meetings Wednesday, August 3 in the Lakeside Community Center at 9841 Vine St., Lakeside.  The formal meeting starts at 6:30, however at 6 p.m., a public viewing of plans for current and upcoming projects will be available for the public.

New chairman hopes to make SDSU a hub for research on non-violent protests.

August 1, 2016 (San Diego) - San Diego State University has named professor Hank Johnston its new Fred J. Hansen Chair in Peace Studies.

By Liz Alper

Photo:  honoring members of the Marine Corps on Marine Corps Appreciation Day.  Courtesy @Padres on Twitter

July 31, 2016 (San Diego) - While you were hopefully at our Roaring 20s party at San Pasqual Winery, the Padres were wrapping up their series against the Reds.  Paul Clemens started for the Padres against Homer Bailey for Cincy.

By Michelle Mowad, County of San Diego Communications Office

Source:  County News Service

July 31, 2016 (San Diego) - County Parks and Recreation will close four parks in August, a precaution taken each year due to the month’s expected extreme heat.

El Capitan Preserve near Lakeside, Mt. Gower Preserve near Ramona, Hellhole Canyon Preserve in Valley Center and Wilderness Gardens in Pala are closed Aug. 1 through Aug. 31. In addition, Agua Caliente Regional Park near Julian is closed all summer; it will reopen Labor Day weekend.

July 29, 2016 (La Mesa) – You’re invited to celebrate the era of Great Gatsby, flappers, gangsters, silent film stars, ragtime and jazz. Join East County Magazine at a benefit to support our nonprofit community reporting on Sunday, July 31 from 4-7 p.m. at the San Pasqual Wine Bar (8364 La Mesa Blvd.) in La Mesa--all to benefit our nonprofit reporting and wildfire alerts through East County Magazine.

Festivities include wine tasting, sparkling drinks  and Italian dinner plus dessert,  “All That Jazz” musical performance highlights,  live period music by the Classics, Douglas Fairbanks and Laurel & Hardy film clips, games, opportunity drawings and silent auction, games, surprises and more!

Space is very limited! RSVP by July 30 for discount rates and your “speakeasy” password!  619-698-7617 or editor@eastcountymagazine.org 

• Live“All That Jazz” preview by singers/dancers from Visionary Dance Theatre plus  Laurel & Hardy and Douglas Fairbanks film clips;
• Live music by the Classics
• Toast the Prohibition Era with sparkling “bubbly” drinks ; relish a ‘20s style feast fit for Gatsby & guests, wine tasting, dinner & desserts by Tiramisu Trattoria, Swami’s & Little Roma that Al Capone would relish!
• ‘Cocktail attire or 20s attire encouraged (flappers, film stars, gangsters, robber barons, etc.)
• Opportunity drawings and silent auction; prizes and surprises!  Win a night on the town including steak dinner & “Chicago” theater tickets, Joe’s Crab Shack dinners, The Hills Pub and Lunchbox Cafe gift certificates, wine baskets, Hawaiian pearls, turquoise and coral jewelry, antiques, collectibles, elegant items, CDs, Julian Old Time Photos, T-shirts and more.
  

By Liz Alper

Photo courtesy @Padres on Twitter

July 30, 2016 (San Diego) - After receiving a rude homecoming by the Reds last night, the Padres looked to rebound tonight.  Christian Friedrich started for San Diego against a guy that the Padres have seen a lot:  Anthony Desclafani for the Reds.

July 30, 2016 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting-edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Zika cases likely transmitted locally in U.S.for first time, officials say (Bloomberg)
• 9 plants that bug bugs—including mosquitoes (USA Today)
• List of possible Zika birth defects grows longer  (NPR)
• Bright, Bluish-White LED Streetlamps Disrupt Sleep Cycles, AMA Says (NPR)
• Unapproved stem cell therapies multiply (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Vaccines Against HPV Really Do Prevent Cancers | (IFLScience)
• Viral hepatitis 'kills as many as Aids or TB '(BBC)
• Give HPV vaccine to boys to protect against cancers, experts say (Guardian)
• New York reports first female-to-male Zika transmission via sex (Reuters)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• One Step Closer to Turning Plastics Into Fuel (Smithsonian)
• A nonprofit group is cloning ancient trees to combat climate change (Business Insider)
• What happens to your online accounts when you die? (Web Trends)
• Microsoft ruling limits government access to data stored overseas (Christian Science Monitor)
• How tidal tugs cause earthquakes on San Andreas fault(CS Monitor)
• 'Friendly' GMO Mosquitoes Knock Back Dengue Fever by 91 Percent (Reason)
• World's Largest Air Purifier Is Trying to Clean Up China's Smoggy Skies (EyeOpener)
• BMW's recycled electric car batteries to power homes (CS Monitor)
• India launches 20 satellites at one go; most to serve U.S. customers (Reuters)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

By Liz Alper

Photo:  the Padres and SDG&E present a check to Armed Services YMCA on Community Heroes Night.  Courtesy @SDGE on Twitter.

July 29, 2016 (San Diego) – After getting an unholy taste of Canada for the first time, the Padres were eager to return home and face a familiar foe, the Cincinnati Reds, over the weekend.  Edwin Jackson started on the hill for the Padres against Brandon Finnegan for Cincy.

Four Aztecs and team as a whole earn academic recognition

Source: goaztecs.com press release

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

July 29, 2016 (San Diego) - The San Diego State women’s tennis team and four individuals were recognized for their efforts in the classroom by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

Bridge work to take place four consecutive weekends

Source: Caltrans news release

July 29, 2016 (San Diego) - Caltrans announced that the connector ramps from westbound Interstate 8 (I-8) to northbound and southbound State Route 125 (SR-125) will be closed for bridge work Saturday from 9 p.m. until Sunday at 9 a.m. on four consecutive weekends beginning July 30.

Aztecs land three individuals on USTFCCCA All-Academic Team; Posts a 3.07 team GPA

Source: goaztecs.com press release

Photo: Kassidy Ellis was one of the Aztecs to receive honors.  Courtesy goaztecs.com

July 28, 2016 (New Orleans) - San Diego State was named a U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team selection on Thursday. Led by Kassidy Ellis, Alexa Evans and Ellison Grove, the Aztecs finished the 2016 campaign with a 3.07 cumulative GPA.