We deeply appreciate the support of local businesses and nonprofit organizations that have donated to suppport East County Magazine's news reporting in the public interest and/or our East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts!Please support these local businesses and organizations -- and let them know you that value their support of community journalism!Our 1st quarter 2024 business and organizational donors and sponsors are: Platinum Level Sponsors ($5,000 or more)Grossmont Healthcare District Gold Level Sponsors ($1,000 to $4,999)Moon Valley Nurseries San Diego Chimney Sweeps San Diego Regional Fire Foundation Silver Level Sponsors: ($100 to $999)Camp Bow-WowCSA San Diego CountyKaren Floyd PortraitsLemon Grove BistroLemon Grove Lions ClubLocal Umbrella MediaMaxwell’s House of BooksRoots…
City awaits Council’s next motionBy Rachel WilliamsJuly 14.2024 (El Cajon) -- With online sales taking a bite out of retail traffic, shopping malls across the U.S. are struggling and some have closed down. Seeking to avoid that scenario, the City of El Cajon commissioned a market analysis envisioning redevelopment options for Parkway Plaza, East County’s largest regional shopping mall.Council members unanimously favored a motion to move beyond proposed aspirational measures and begin the next step toward transforming Parkway Plaza into a mix of residential, retail, offices, entertainment and community space.These “Eatertainment” facilities would combine compelling, traditional dining options and immersive sport-centered bars with unique, dynamic lifestyle retail shops, all oriented around a linear park.The biggest takeaway from this market analysis is that the community wants…
By Fernanda Lopez Halvorson, County of San Diego Communications OfficePhoto courtesy of the CDCDecember 21, 2024 (San Diego) - County public health officials are warning San Diegans not to eat or drink raw milk products or give them to their pets because of the heightened risk for H5N1, or bird flu. Because raw milk and raw milk products are not pasteurized, they can contain harmful pathogens including H5N1 or bacteria like salmonella, toxin producing E. coli. and listeria. All of these can cause severe illness, hospitalization and even death, especially in people who are immunocompromised, the very young and pregnant women. The health warning extends to pet products containing raw milk. Dogs and cats can get sick if these products contain harmful bacteria or viruses. People also should also be mindful of keeping their pets away from sick or dead birds outside.…
East County News ServiceJanuary 8, 2025 (La Mesa) -- Forty-seven years after Wait Until Dark premiered on Broadway, Jeffrey Hatcher has adapted Frederick Knott's 1966 original, giving it a new setting. In 1944 Greenwich Village, Susan Hendrix, a blind yet capable woman, is imperiled by a trio of men in her own apartment. As the climax builds, Susan discovers that her blindness just might be the key to her escape, but she and her tormentors must wait until dark to play out this classic thriller's chilling conclusion.Lamplighters Theatre in La Mesa will present this updated twist on the classic thriller starting January 10 through February 2. Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., except on Saturday, January 18, there will bea 2 p.m. matinee only.For tickets, visit https://www.lamplighterslamesa.com/
East County News ServiceJanuary 16, 2025 (El Cajon)-- In honor of Valentine's Day, the Saps at Sea Laurel & Hardy club presents: Laurel & Hardy – Romantic Leads?? Films include "Should Married Men Go Home?", "Our Wife", and "Yes, Yes Nannette." The event takes place on Saturday, February 1, from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at First Lutheran Church of El Cajon, 867 S Lincoln Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020. Admission is $10 and includes dessert. Children 12 and under are free. Movie-related books will be available for sale.Doors open at 4:30 p.m.; the program starts at 5 p.m.For more information,visit the Saps At Sea - San Diego Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/111118255744315
Photo: Viejas will host a party at The Park on New Year's Eve. Photo courtesy Viejas Resort December 29, 2024 (San Diego) - San Diego County residents have myriad opportunities to ring in 2025 with New Year's Eve celebrations across the region.First Nation casinos across the county will be part of the variety of New Year's Eve events welcoming 2025: Jamul Casino guests can immerse themselves in shimmering lights and disco beats with "Shimmer & Shake." Festivities include a "Noon Year's Eve," with $20 free play for active players at noon, a Champagne Toast Mystery Game from 6 a.m. until midnight, Surf & Turf endless dining from noon to midnight at Tony Gwynn’s Sports Pub, a VIP dinner from 7 to 9 p.m. for invited guests at Prime Cut, a VIP Countdown featuring B.I.G. from 8 p.m. until 1 a.m. New Year's Day and live entertainment across multiple venues. For more…
California Department of Public Health, E. Coli, avoid food poisoning, San Diego Thanksgiving, Trader Joe's, Sprouts
By East County News Service November 27, 2024 (San Diego)-- County Public Health officials are asking people tothrow away organic carrots tied to a nationwide E. coli outbreak. One person in SanDiego who consumed the carrots became ill from the same strain of Shiga Toxin producing E. Coli (STEC) that is part of a multi-state outbreak. Thirty-nine people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli have been reported from 18 states, 15 people have been hospitalized, and one person has died. The implicated carrots are organic, whole bagged carrots and baby carrots sold under multiple brands by Grimmway Farm at many major retailers. Brand labels include Trader Joe’s, Sprouts, O Organics, Cal-organic, Bunny Luv, Good & Gather, Full Circkle, Compliments, GreenWise, Marketside, Nature’s Promise, Wegmans, Wholesome Pantry, Raley’s, …
By Miriam RafteryDecember 5, 2024 (Washington D.C.) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports that 68 cases of salmonella have been linked to cucumbers, including 18 people who were hospitalized. SunFed Produce, Baloian Farms of Arizona Co. and Russ Davis Wholesale have issued voluntary recalls of all sizes of fresh American/slicer cucumbers grown by Agrotato and sold in 19 states, including California.Russ Davis also recalled multiple products containing recalled cucumbers: Crazy Fresh Garden Salad W/ Ranch Dressing, Quick & Easy Garden Salad with Ranch Dressing, Crazy Fresh Turkey Havarti Wrap, Quick & Easy Bacon Avocado Wrap, Crazy Fresh Bacon Avocado Wrap, and Kowalski’s Market Garden Salad. Symptoms of Salmonella InfectionIllness usually occurs within 12 to 72 hours after eating food that is contaminated with Salmonella, and the symptoms usually last four to…
Nursing home coverage could be on chopping blockBy Chrystal Blair, California News ServiceJanuary 5, 2025 (Sacramento) -- As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, federal health programs affecting 85 million low-income Americans, including more than 12 million in California, may face cuts to reduce inflation and debt.As of 2024, California has the largest state Medicaid program in the U.S. Programs such as Medicaid, CHIP, and SNAP could be affected by fiscal tightening in the upcoming year.Mayra Alvarez, president of the Children's Partnership, told an Ethnic Media panel Medicaid cuts would deeply affect families."It's these public programs that are core to helping families meet the day-to-day needs of raising healthy kids," Alvarez contended. "These have been bipartisan programs that have helped our families thrive."Political experts said Congress is expected to act…
By Shauni Lyles, County of San Diego Communications Office Image Credit: Shutterstock January 13, 2025 (Julian) - A deer mouse collected on Jan. 3, 2025, in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, has tested positive for the potentially deadly hantavirus.Finding hantavirus in wild rodents is not uncommon in San Diego County, there were a total of 25 cases in 2024. However, people rarely come into direct contact with infected animals because wild rodents naturally avoid humans.While exposure to hantavirus is rare, people should be careful around wild rodents as there is no cure or vaccine for hantavirus. Symptoms of hantavirus usually develop between 1 to 8 weeks after exposure and include: Severe muscle achesChills, fever or fatigueHeadache or dizzinessNausea, vomiting or stomach painDifficulty breathing If you think that you may have been exposed to hantavirus, seek…