ROCKIES SWEEP PADRES IN THREE GAMES
By Liz Alper Photo via @Padres on Twitter September 18, 2016 (Denver) – Here’s a sentence we’ve never heard in a while: the Padres were in danger of getting swept by the Rockies as they entered today’s finale. They’d hope to avoid that with Jarred Cosart on the mound against Chad Bettis. They got off to a good start. Adam Rosales hit a solo homer in the bottom of the second and the Padres led 1-0. But that would mean nothing. Mark Reynolds one-upped Rosales with a two-run homer in the fourth and the Rockies jumped out ahead 2-1. D.J. LeMahieu walked with the bases loaded, scoring Tony Wolters and the Rockies led 3-1. Cosart was taken out in favor of Jose Dominguez, but it did no good; Carlos Gonzalez singled and scored two and the Rockies jumped up 5-1. In the fifth, the Rockies added on. Wolters singled to score Reynolds and it was 6-1 Colorado. Wil Myers chopped the lead in half in the sixth with a double that scored two and the score was down to 6-3 Rockies. But the Rockies hung on to sweep the Padres in three games. The Padres come back to Petco to take on the Diamondbacks. Game one is tomorrow at 7:10 p.m. Jaxon Shipley will face Clayton Richard.
AZTEC FOOTBALL: WIN STREAK REACHES 13 WITH 14-POINT VICTORY AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Source: goaztecs.com Photo courtesy goaztecs.com September 18, 2016 (DeKalb, Ill.) – Donnel Pumphrey rushed for 220 yards and three touchdowns and Christian Chapman threw for a career-high three touchdowns of his own as San Diego State overcame a late rally in a 42-28 win over Northern Illinois Saturday in DeKalb, Ill. The Aztecs improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2011 and just the second time in the last 35 seasons. SDSU also finished September with an unbeaten record for the first time since the 1981 squad went 2-0 through the first month of the year. San Diego State jumped out to a 28-0 lead when Chapman found Mikah Holder for a 33-yard catch and run with 6:19 left in the second quarter. The host Huskies (0-3), however, who came into the game as winners in 35 of its previous 37 home games, came roaring back with three straight touchdowns to close the score to 28-21 with 7:46 left in the third quarter. Pumphrey then took over, scoring from 33 yards out on the first play of the fourth quarter and, after NIU answered with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Graham to Shane Wimann, took his next attempt 79 yards to put the Aztecs up, 42-28. Trey Lomax then picked off Graham and SDSU held on for its 13th consecutive victory. Pumphrey, who ran for a career-high 281 yards with three touchdowns last week in a 45-40 San Diego State win over California, finished with 220 today on 23 carries (9.6 avg.). Highlighting his game was the 112 yards and two scores on just two attempts in the fourth quarter. Pumphrey’s other touchdown came on a 46-yard run to put the Aztecs on the scoreboard. It was the fourth career 200-yard game for Pumphrey and 24th 100-yard game, breaking Marshall Faulk’s SDSU career record. Pumphrey also moved into first on the school’s all-time list in all-purpose yards and rushing attempts in the game. Chapman got San Diego State off to a quick start with touchdown passes to Rashaad Penny (27 yards), Kahale Warring (5 yards) and Holder (33 yards) before Northern Illinois mounted its comeback. Chapman finished the game 11 for 19 for 126 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. Holder had four receptions for 67 yards and his third touchdown of the season for the Aztecs. Malik Smith had a team-high 10 tackles (six solo) and a pass breakup to pace the defense, while Calvin Munson recorded nine tackles and Parker Baldwin added a career-high eight stops (seven solo). Damontae Kazee had five solo tackles and a 28-yard interception return, the 12th pick of his career. The 12 interceptions are the most among active FBS players and the second most in SDSU’s Division I history (since 1969). Alex Barrett added four tackles, including two for a loss and a 10-yard sack. Punter Tanner Blain had arguably the best game of his career, putting four of his five punts inside the 7-yard line, including three inside the 5. Blain, a Lindenhurst, Ill., native, also had a season-long 52-yard punt. The Huskies failed to score on any of Blain’s punts inside the 7 and finished the game with an average field position of its own 23-yard line. San Diego State won its fifth consecutive road game, its longest streak since winning 19 straight from Oct. 30, 1965 through Nov. 7, 1970. It was the Aztecs’ 11th win by at least 14 points over the 13-game winning streak. Post-game notes Box score
SANTEE AND LAKESIDE STORES ABIDE BY LAW, SHERIFF’S “MINOR DECOY” PROGRAM FINDS
East County News Service September 18, 2016 (Santee) — Sheriff’s deputies and agents from the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control recently conducted “minor decoy” tests at 11 retail locations in Santee and Lakeside. All 11 retailers passed the test, refusing to sell alcohol to minors. However, a second test called a “shoulder tap” operation in front of liquor stores had teenagers ask adults to buy liquor for them. Of 31 adults asked, one flunked the test and was arrested for selling alcohol to a minor. These programs are authorized through a countywide grant aimed at reducing underage drinking. The programs have found numerous retailers who failed to comply with the law elsewhere, such as in El Cajon. ABC-related operations such as Minor Decoy and Shoulder Tap help reduce alcohol abuse and youth access to alcohol. Operations like these will continue through June 2017. Anyone with information on licensed liquor establishments providing alcohol to minors can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at (858)580-8477, or call the Sheriff’s Department non-emergency line at (858)565-5200.
POLITICS IN PARADISE, PART 2: CANDIDATES FROM ACROSS OUR REGION SEPT. 29 AT BNS BREWING & DISTILLING IN SANTEE
East County News Service September 16, 2016 (Santee) — The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce, along with the East County Development Council, Santee, Lakeside and Alpine Mountain Empire Chambers invite you to Politics in Paradise part 2. Candidates for races across East County have been invited—including city council and mayoral contests as well as races ranging from school boards to the Grossmont Healthcare district. Here’s your chance to meet candidates up close and personal, hear their ideas, ask questions and network with movers and shakers from across our region. If politics drives you to drink, you’re in luck! This event will take place at BNS Brewing and Distilling in Santee, located at 10960 Wheatlands Ave., #101, Santee. You must be age 21 or older to attend. The event is free but an RSVP is required. RSVP to melissal@eastcountychamber.org or call (619) 440-6161.
FIRE IN CUYAMACA
Update 3 p.m.: Forward spread is stopped at six acres; fire is 25% contained, per Cal Fire. Update 2:45 p.m.: Cal Fire reports the fire is now six acres and that crews are making good progress. By Miriam Raftery September 18, 2016 (Cuyamaca Rancho State Park)–1:30 p.m.–A brush fire is burning in the Cuyamaca Area, multiple sources confirm. A post at WildlandFire.com, a firefighters’ discussion forum, indicates the fire started at Harrison Park Road and State Route 79, burning at least three to five acres so far and moving into timber. An air tanker is dropping retardant and two structures are threatened,the post indicates, though there is no official confirmation yet of structure threat. A caller to ECM reported smoke in the area. In addition,Trevor Rathfon tweeted a photo ofsmoke behind Lake Cuyamaca indicated,”Fire season has officialy begun.” If you have details on this fire please contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org. Sign up to receive free East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts at the top right side of our homepage, and you can also receive our free weekly newsletter.In addition you can follow EastCountyAlert on Twitter to receive short text messages on your mobile phone when an emergency occurs. We recommend allof the above,since you don’t know which form of communication will work best in a major regoinal emergency.
THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE MONDAY AND TUESDAY
East County News Service September 18, 2016 (San Diego) — The National Weather Service reports that thunderstorms are possible Monday and Tuesday, from the desert to the coast, due to an upper level low pressure system bringing up subtropical moisture. The storms could bring rainfall along with cooler temperatures. Dry lightning strikes, away from rainfall, are also possible so remember: when thunder roars, stay indoors.
BLUEBIRDS EXPAND RANGE INTO URBAN/SUBURBAN AREAS
By Miriam Raftery September 18, 2016 (Mt Helix) – I grew up in La Mesa, where my mother had a bird feeder. It attracted many species, but never bluebirds. Until recently, I’d seen bluebirds only rarely, in the mountain areas. So I was delighted to spot one in our yard on Mt. Helix this week—and soon learned that bluebirds are expanding their range locally. There’s even a website called Bluebirds of San Diego County devoted to this colorful songbird: http://cbrp.org/SDBluebirds/webl.htm. According to the site, Western Bluebird range from Canada to Mexico and from the West Coast to the Rocky Mountains. Here in San Diego County, the Western Bluebird is extending its breeding range beyond mountain areas into urban areas with mature trees and lawns. Interestingly, the expansion was led in part by Nuttall’s Woodpeckers that moved into urban trees such as liquid-amber and eucalyptus, creating cavities that enabled Western Bluebirds to later move in. People putting up birdhouses are also helping the bluebirds find handy housing in suburban communities. (Get tips for adding a bluebird box to your yard here.) For most of the year (except breeding season), bluebirds often travel in small flocks, feeding on insects and berries—such as ficus tree berries that the bluebird I spotted was gobbling up. Western bluebirds are not threatened or endangered, though in the past, bluebirds have lost habitat to wildfires and development. Several neighbors on a Mt. Helix community forum online have also reported seeing bluebirds recently. The ability of these beautiful birds to thrive in more places comes as welcome news to birdwatchers across our region, who are delighted to see “bluebirds of happiness” as their newest neighbors.
DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: SEPT. 16 – OCT. 21
Hear our KNSJ radio broadcast of this week’s Destination East County by clicking the orange button above. East County News Service September 15, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) — This week’s Destination East County includes the Julian Music Festival, concerts by Siren’s Crush and the Grossmont Symphony and Master Chorale and a hike to the Valley of the Moon. Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including Julian Apple Days, Oktoberfests in La Mesa and El Cajon, an OktOVERfest and over-the-line tournament in Santee, a Marty Stuart concert in downtown El Cajon, Stockzilla at Santee Lakes, the Laguna Mountain Rendezvous, open house with firefighters, a tailgate barbecue contest in Spring Valley, and Haunt Fest on Main. So scroll down for all of these events and many more! SIREN’S CRUSH CONCERT IN DOWNTOWN EL CAJON SEPT.16 Siren’s Crush, a high-energy dance band that’s one of the hottest entertainment acts in town, will be performing live at El Cajon’s Dinner and a Concert night this Friday, September16th. The modern pop and dance music concert will get you movin’ and groovin’ from 6 to 8 p.m. at Prescott Park in downtown El Cajon. For details you can visit www.DowntownElCajon.com. MONARCHS AND MILKWEED SEPT. 16 IN ALPINE Children of all ages are welcome to come to the Alpine Library for Funtastic Friday on September 16th at 3:30 p.m. for a hands-on demonstration on how to grow milkweed to attract monarch butterflies. Kids will also learn about the life cycle of the monarch butterfly and why it is so important to grow milkweed. As an added bonus every participant will go home with a free kit which includes milkweed seeds, Ranger Rick’s Wildlife notebook and many other items. For more information, you can e-mail WildlifeHabitats@aol.com. HIKE TO THE VALLEY OF THE MOON SEPT. 17 Jacumba Hikers and Walkers invite you to a full moon hike to the Valley of the Moon. This five-mile, four-hour evening hike to an otherworldly location in the desert just past the San Diego/Imperial County line near the Mexican border is rated hard. Meet at 5 p.m. at the Jacumba Spa (44461 Old Highway 80 in Jacumba Hot Springs). Bring a flashlight, plenty ot water, and wear sturdy shoes. For questions you can contact hike leader Bill Pape at (619) 766-4927. JULIAN MUSIC FESTIVAL SEPT. 17 Here’s something to howl about! The Julian Music Festival on September 17th will benefit the California Wolf Center, which is working to preserve a rare and endangered wolf species. The music festival will be held on September 17th from 1 to 7 p.m. at Menghini Winery in Julian. The 47th annual music festival will feature a diverse lineup of entertainment. For tickets and details you can go to https://julianmusicfestival.com/. GROSSMONT SYMPHONY AND MASTER CHORALE CONCERT SEPT. 16 AND 18 The Grossmont Symphony Orchestra and Grossmont Master Chorale opens its fall season with a 7:30 p.m. performance on Friday, Sept. 16 at St. John of the Cross Catholic Church (8175 Lemon Grove Way in Lemon Grove, and a 2 p.m. performance Sunday, Sept. 18 at All Saints Episcopal Church (625 Pennsylvania Ave.) in San Diego. They will perform music by Beethoven, Wolf, Spohr, Fauré, Bach, Tchaikovsky and others. For tickets and details visit the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra website at www.Grossmont.edu/GSO . NOW FOR A PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS… JULIAN APPLE DAYS SEPT. 24-25 The annual Julian Apple Days Festival offers weekend full of fun for the whole family on September 24th and 25th. It’s part of the longer Apple Days celebration. The two-day festival will be held at Menghini Winery featuring apple displays, music and dancing, an antique tractor display, children’s games and activities, gold panning demonstrations, a beer and wine garden, food and merchandise vendors, contests, and, of course, apple pie. For more information, visit www.JulianCa.com (or http://visitjulian.com/to-see-do/special-events/apple-days/) LA MESA OKTOBERFEST SEPT. 30-OCT.2 Wilkommen! You’re invited to the largest Oktoberfest celebration west of the Mississippi: La Mesa Oktoberfest from September 30th to October 2nd. This community event is spread out over nearly six blocks in La Mesa Village and features hundreds of exhibitors, family friendly activities, German food, music, dancing, outfits, games and of course, beer. (Hours: Friday, September 30: 4 p.m.- 10 p.m.; Saturday, October 1: 10 a.m. 10 p.m.; Sunday, October 2: 10 a.m. 6 p.m. Admission is free.) For more information, visit http://www.thelamesaoktoberfest.com/. GERMAN-AMERICAN CLUB OKTOBERFEST IN EL CAJON FIRST 2 WEEKENDS IN OCTOBER The German American Club in El Cajon will host its annual Oktoberfest over two weekends: September 30th through October 2nd and again October 7th through 9th. This Oktoberfest features a band from Germany, authentic German food from Bavarian pastries to an ox on a spit, plus German beers, and folk dancer. Plus, you can dance to oom-pah music, polkas and waltzes and let the children enjoy a kids’ zone. The German American Club is located at 1017 South Mollison in El Cajon. Learn more at http://www.GermanClubSanDiego.org. LAGUNA MOUNTAIN RENDEZVOUS SEPT. 30-OCT. 2 You’re invited to step back in time and enjoy an authentic 1800 to 1840s Rocky Mountain fur traders’ encampment at the Laguna Mountain Rendezvous from Sept.30 to Oct. 9. Day visitors and period campers are welcome. The rendezvous of mountain men includes demonstrations of primitive survival skills including cooking, tool making, tomahawk throwing, archery and black powder shooting. The event will be held at the Mataguay Scout Reservation (27955 Highway 79) in Santa Ysabel. For details, you can visit http://www.lagunamountainrendezvous.com/. OKTOVERFEST IN SANTEE OCT. 1 Santee’s Chamber of Commerce invites you to OktOVERfest—along with a Party in the Park October 1 at Town Center Community Park West (9409 Cuyamaca St) in Santee. OktOVERfest will kick off at 9 a.m. with East County’s first-ever Over the Line tournament. Teams of three can sign up to participate in the double-elimination style tournament, which will include both a men’s and women’s division. Attendees can head over to party in the park from noon to 4 p.m. to cool down with some refreshments in the beer garden, get lunch from food trucks and
HEAR OUR INTERVIEW: LA MESA COUNCILWOMAN KRISTINE ALESSIO
By Miriam Raftery East County Magazine sat down with Councilwoman Kristine Alessio, who is seeking reelection to the La Mesa City Council. Alessio, an attorney specializing in land use issues, was born and raised in La Mesa and previously served on the Planning Commission. “I have a very good understanding of the city,” she says. You can hear her interview, originally aired on KNSJ radio, by clicking the audio link: https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/audio/2016/September/Newsmaker-AlessioKristine-2016candidacy.mp3, or click “read more” and scroll down to read highlights. There are two seats up this election; other candidates are Councilwoman Ruth Sterling and challenger Colin Parent , an environmental attorney and affordable housing advocate. Alessio believes her most important actions on the Council include streamlining the code, making information more accessible and marketing the city using social media.”When I got there,they didn’t know what Facebook was,” she says. She says her priorities include fiscal health, public safety, transparency and “assuring sure that La Mesa maintains the family-friendly character that we all love with safe neighborhoods and maintenance of our programs for our seniors.” Challenges for the future include civic center redevelopment, use of the old police changes and the lease coming up for Grossmont Center. She feels her knowledge of the city will be assets to address those challenges. Asked about a new library, she said it’s doable but “it takes money.” She feels the SANDAG half-cent sales hike for transit would be a negative for La Mesa, putting La Mesa within a quarter cent of the maximum taxation allowed for the city for the next 40 years if the transit tax is approved by voters countywide. While she does not favor tax hikes, she also does not want to tie the hands of future councils. She also says the transit tax doesn’t have adequate benefits for East County, with more than 50% earmarked to build a trolley line to the South Bay. “That’s a mistake. You can’t ignore freeways and roads either,” she said, noting that even electric cars need a place to drive. On downtown redevelopment, she says Council has done a good job promoting downtown. Council is working on a Downtown Village Specific Plan in which she hopes to incentivize mixed use. She views the City of Orange as a good example.”It is the symbolic heart,” she says of La Mesa’s downtown village. Alessio voted for the city to sponsor Oktoberfest this year, after the La Mesa Village Merchants Association defaulted on repayment of nearly $48,000 from last year’s event to cover security costs provided by the city. Council drew criticisms from some for extending credit to the merchants and for now stepping in to run this year’s event. Alessio defends those actions. “ I think that it’s a good idea for the city to sponsor the Oktoberfest because for once, the city can actually stand to gain financially from this, so it benefits the city and instead of a private entity reaping the profits if there are some, the city itself does, and it involves us managing it so that it remains safe.” She said Council recently gave police officers a raise and said “firefighters are next” to make pay comparable to Heartland and prevent turnover. She added that the city is addressing needs of each employee group’s needs separately now instead of treating all the same in one big group. Asked her views on variances to height limits or other items in the General Plan, Alessio said she believes the proper use is for minor variances only. “As much as people say they want to do eight stories downtown it just does not seem to be what residents want or what should be done to maintain the downtown character…massive height variances or regarding square foot, usages, are addressed in your planning documents and we have a very recent planning document.” She declined to voice an opinion on the climate action plan that is still in process. She says it should be enforceable “but there’s a difference between enforceable and mandatory.” She thinks the city already meets state requirements.”All the climate action planning in the world won’t make a difference if the city won’t change it’s behavior.” Her opponent, Parent, by contrast has called for a strong climate action plan that’s enforceable. Alessio says “I believe that the climate is changing; the amount that’s attributable to man is debatable however action needs to be taken no matter what China or Russia are doing. She notes that she drives a “green” car, runs and walks where possible. “I partnered with HERO and PACE” for rooftop solar. “What can we do without unacceptably burdening the lives of our residents?” Asked her approach to homelessness, she says the responsibility is primarily the County’s, “not something that can be solved at a city level.” She mentioned her half-sister is homeless. “She works a job and…she likes an itinerant lifestyle” but chooses to live in her car.”It’s very frustrating to me because everything offered is rejected.” She wants the County to spend more to help those with mental illnesses and substance abuse. She calls homelessness “heartbreaking” and the way the nation treats the mentally ill “disgusting.” She defends the council’s choice to fill the City Manager position from within, without public hearings and discussions only in closed session, a departure from past procedures. She notes hiring key city personnel is an exception to the Brown Act. “I cannot see a person you are trusting to manage the city…being talked about in open session by the Council members.” She voiced concerns over an initiative on La Mesa’s ballot that would legalize medical marijuana clinics but said the city is prepared to appropriately zone such clinics if the local measure, or a statewide legalization measure, passes. She says her uncle found pain relief from medical marijuana while battling cancer but believes it should be dispensed through pharmacies. (Federal law prevents that.) Shutting down illegal pot shops has been difficult because that’s low priority for the District Attorney, she added.
SDSU MEN’S SOCCER TIES CAL POLY ON THE ROAD 0-0 IN DOUBLE OVERTIME
Aztecs remain unbeaten on the year at 4-0-2 Source: goaztecs.com press release Photo: A.J. Vergara courtesy goaztecs.com September 17, 2016 (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) – The visiting No. 11/7 San Diego State men’s soccer team maintained its unbeaten start to the 2016 campaign after battling Cal Poly to a 0-0 draw on the road in double overtime Saturday night at Spanos Stadium. With the result, Aztecs moved to 4-0-2 on the year, while Mustangs move to 1-4-1 overall. Despite getting outshot 12-3, SDSU posted its fifth consecutive shutout thanks to another stellar defensive effort anchored by redshirt junior goalkeeper Adam Allmaras, who kept Cal Poly off the scoreboard with seven saves, including two huge stops in the final seven minutes of regulation on shots by Justin Dhillon. With 13 seconds remaining in regulation, the Mustang forward had an opportunity to put the host school in front, but Allmaras got his left hand on a blast from the left wing 15 yards out, redirecting the ball safely away from the net to send the contest into overtime. Neither side was able to get a shot off in the first extra period. However, Cal Poly launched two attempts with time winding down in the second overtime frame, with Allmaras collecting his final save on the evening after corralling Kody Wakasa’s try in the 110 minute. With his effort, Allmaras notched his fifth straight clean sheet and 15th of his career as the Aztecs extended their opposition’s scoreless streak to 567 minutes and 41 seconds of game action this year. SDSU directed just one shot on goal for the game as redshirt senior Travis Nicklaw’s attempt in the 78th minute was collected by Mustang goalkeeper Eric Kam. Senior Michael Sauers and sophomore Kyle Adams recorded the other two shots for the Aztecs, who finished with a 5-4 deficit in corner kicks. San Diego State will return to the friendly confines of Montezuma Road next weekend when it opens a five-match homestand on Friday, Sept. 23, against Pacific at SDSU Sports Deck. Match time is set for 4 p.m. PT and admission is free. Box