By Miriam Raftery

April 14, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State, Senator and First Lady, announced Sunday that she is officially running for President.  Thus far, she is the only Democrat and the only woman to declare candidacy.

Three Republicans have thus far announced and others are expected to join the field. On Monday, Florida Senator Marco Rubio officially tossed his hat in the ring.  Other Republicans running candidates are Kentucky Senator Rand Paul and Texas Senator Ted Cruz.

April 14, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) --This week’s Destination East County includes Lakeside’s Western Days parade and rodeo, a harp concert at  Mission Trails and Fun with Physics in La Mesa.   We’ll also have a preview of coming attractions including a spring garden festival, garden tours, a concert at the Desert View Tower, and Vintage Alpine, a wine tasting experience in the country. So stay tuned for all of these events and more!

April 12, 2015 (San Diego's East County) The Sage and Songbirds 18^th annual graden tour will be held May 1-3, 2015. This year’s self-guided tour includes five private homes plus a hummingbird haven and raptor rehabilitation facility.

April 12, 2015 (El Cajon)--The Water Conservation Garden invites the public to its second-annual Butterfly Festival for an exciting program of activities that will engage all ages with butterflies on Saturday, May 9^th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The event highlights the important role that these insects play in our ecosystem and how visitors can attract and support butterflies in their home gardens using drought-tolerant plants.  Activities include:

Originally Published in the ECOreport

By Roy L Hales

April 12, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - Nine states report record low snowpacks. A report from the US Department of Agriculture states, “the largest snowpack deficits are in record territory for many basins,especially in the Cascades and Sierra Nevada where single – digit percent of normal conditions prevail. Very low snowpacks are reported in most of Washington, all of Oregon, Nevada, California, parts of Arizona, much of Idaho, parts of New Mexico, three basins in Wyoming, one basin in Montana, and most of Utah.” This region is undergoing the warmest winter temperatures since record keeping began in 1895.

By Bonnie Baranoff

April 12, 2015 (La Mesa) -- On Tuesday, April 14 at 2 p.m., 30-year La Mesa Police Department veteran and outgoing Police Chief Ed Aceves will “walk out” in what has become a traditional retirement ceremony at the La Mesa Police Department. Though officially retired in December 2014, he stayed on until his replacement, Chief Walter Vasquez, had a week to transition into the job.

In an ECM exclusive, Aceves shares how he got into law enforcement, how technology and communications have changed the field, his most memorable moments, and his plans for the future.

East County News Service

April 11, 2015 (La Mesa)--You wouldn’t think of going on vacation, taking a new job or even retiring without some advance planning. But most people don’t plan ahead for what could be life’s most important decision.

By Miriam Raftery

April 11, 2015 San Diego's East County) - A bill in the California state legislature, Senate Bill 277, would make vaccinations mandatory for all children, except those with medical conditions that would make it dangerous to have the vaccine.  California is currently one of only a handful of states that allows parents to exempt children from vaccines based on personal beliefs.  On Wednesday, the measure passed the Senate Health Committee.

By Ed Barrena

April 11, 2015 (San Diego)--On April 5^th the San Diego Padres traded Outfielders Carlos Quentin and Cameron Maybin away to the Atlanta Braves along with another outfielder and pitcher, in exchange for The National Leagues leading closer Craig Kimbrel, and Outfielder, Melvin Upton Jr, who is also the brother of another offseason trade from Atlanta, Justin Upton.

By Miriam Raftery

April 10, 2015 (San Diego)—It wasn’t your usual suspect chase for Sheriff’s deputies. 

On Wednesday, a baby seal wandered away from the shoreline and up five blocks to Mar Vista High School in Imperial Beach. School staff called the Sheriff's Department and the seal pup was 'detained' without incident in the back of the patrol car.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Phil Konstanin

April 10, 2015 (El Cajon ) – Rock and roll superstar Chubby Checker will perform a concert with a “Twist” on  April 23^rd at Sycuan’s Live & Up Close Theater.  Checker rocketed to fame in 1960, when his recording of “The Twist” was the number one song in the nation, sparking a new dance craze and countless variations such as the “Peppermint Twist”, “Let’s Twist Again” and “Twist and Shout.”

Story and photos by Robert Gehr © 2015

April 10, 2015 (El Cajon)--Baby Mallard ducks  are swimming and exploring their new world, under the ever-watchful eyes of the adults, at the waterscape in downtown El Cajon at Main Street and Sulzfeld Way.

Last-Minute Filers--Lookup Table Simplifies Paying Use Tax on Your California Return

April 11, 2015 (Sacramento)—Many Californians are not aware that they owe a use tax. Last year, an estimated $1 billion went uncollected in California use taxes – enough money to pay salaries of 6,000 firefighters, 7,000 police officers, or 11,000 teachers.

April 9, 2015 (El Cajon) – The 17th Annual Morning Glory Brunch will be held on April 11^th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (2199 East Madison Ave.) in El Cajon. The event benefits the center’s programs for adults with developmental disabilities.

April 10, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has issued a Boil Water Order and Public Notification for the Rancho Santa Teresa Mutual Water Company located at 25056 Rancho Santa Teresa Drive, Ramona, CA 92065 effective immediately.  The water system serves 37 residential connections.