GET RID OF YOUR UNUSED, EXPIRED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
By Fernanda Lopez Halvorson, County of San Diego Communications Office October 22, 2024 (San Diego) – National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is this Saturday, and the County is encouraging community members to collect their unused and expired medications and take them to a drop off location around the County. Prescription drugs can include pills containing opioids like oxycodone, antibiotics, and other medicines. In 2022, 857 people died from opioid overdoses in San Diego County, showing an about 115% increase from 2016 numbers. Safely getting rid of unused or expired medications helps prevent misuse, accidental poisoning and the risk of medications ending up in illegal markets or in the wrong hands. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has a list of more than 25 locations around the county that are open this Saturday to drop off unwanted prescription medications including the following San Diego County Sheriff’s Office facilities which will open for drop-offs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Alpine Sheriff’s Station – 2751 Alpine Boulevard, Alpine Imperial Beach Sheriff’s Substation – 845 Imperial Beach Boulevard, Imperial Beach San Marcos Sheriff’s Station – 182 Santar Place, San Marcos Poway Sheriff’s Station – 13100 Bowron Road, Poway Getting rid of your unused and unwanted prescription medications isn’t limited to one day of the year. San Diego County offers more than 200 year-round disposal locations open year-round. Check the DEA’s Every Day is Take Back Day website or County interactive map to find a disposal site near you. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day also aligns with the DEA’s annual Red Ribbon Week which runs through Oct. 31 and aims to raise awareness for drug prevention. Substance use treatment resources and support services are available by calling the local San Diego Access and Crisis Line at 888-724-7240 or 988. These resources are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and can provide help in over 150 languages.
GET RID OF YOUR UNUSED, EXPIRED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
By Fernanda Lopez Halvorson, County of San Diego Communications Office October 22, 2024 (San Diego) – National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is this Saturday, and the County is encouraging community members to collect their unused and expired medications and take them to a drop off location around the County. Prescription drugs can include pills containing opioids like oxycodone, antibiotics, and other medicines. In 2022, 857 people died from opioid overdoses in San Diego County, showing an about 115% increase from 2016 numbers. Safely getting rid of unused or expired medications helps prevent misuse, accidental poisoning and the risk of medications ending up in illegal markets or in the wrong hands. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has a list of more than 25 locations around the county that are open this Saturday to drop off unwanted prescription medications including the following San Diego County Sheriff’s Office facilities which will open for drop-offs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Alpine Sheriff’s Station – 2751 Alpine Boulevard, Alpine Imperial Beach Sheriff’s Substation – 845 Imperial Beach Boulevard, Imperial Beach San Marcos Sheriff’s Station – 182 Santar Place, San Marcos Poway Sheriff’s Station – 13100 Bowron Road, Poway Getting rid of your unused and unwanted prescription medications isn’t limited to one day of the year. San Diego County offers more than 200 year-round disposal locations open year-round. Check the DEA’s Every Day is Take Back Day website or County interactive map to find a disposal site near you. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day also aligns with the DEA’s annual Red Ribbon Week which runs through Oct. 31 and aims to raise awareness for drug prevention. Substance use treatment resources and support services are available by calling the local San Diego Access and Crisis Line at 888-724-7240 or 988. These resources are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and can provide help in over 150 languages.
READER’S EDITORIAL: RE-ELECT MAYOR RACQUEL VASQUEZ
By Joyce Moore October 25, 2024 (Lemon Grove) – Progress, cooperation, competence, and compassion. In Mayor Racquel Vasquez, those qualities have served Lemon Grove for decades. Through some tough times, and meaningful achievements, she has worked to bring people together and improve the way of life in our special community. With her more than 25 years of public service, Mayor Vasquez has successfully brought valuable experience, knowledge, and expertise to streamline municipal government. She has successfully prioritized a balanced budget, safe neighborhoods, an expanding and prosperous business environment, improvements in streets and utilities, more affordable housing along regional transportation lines, and opportunities for citizens to be part of a thriving hometown. Mayor Racquel Vasquez is a leader with competence, cooperation, energy, a sense of humor, and far-reaching compassion. Her goals for the next four years are: Making significant progress in solving our housing shortage and the homelessness crisis. Expanding civic resources to improve public safety, support education, expand access to health services, and bringing a diverse and creative community together to keep Lemon Grove a safe, friendly, and a comfortable community. Creating a more business friendly environment that will attract good jobs with living wages, so as to make Lemon Grove a comfortable home for ourselves and the children who will follow us. Continuing to seek every available resource and funding from county, state and federal sources to address community needs to ease the financial burden on local taxpayers. Mayor Racquel Vasquez has proven her ability to lead our city forward. The challenges we face will be better met by someone with proven experience and success. A vote for Mayor Vasquez will mean stability, continuity, and progress that fits our way of life in the city with “The Best Climate on Earth”. That means not only lots of sunshine, but also a way of life that is the envy of the nation. The opinions in this editorial reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine. To submit an editorial for consideration, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org.(link sends e-mail)
READER’S EDITORIAL: RE-ELECT MAYOR RACQUEL VASQUEZ
By Joyce Moore October 25, 2024 (Lemon Grove) – Progress, cooperation, competence, and compassion. In Mayor Racquel Vasquez, those qualities have served Lemon Grove for decades. Through some tough times, and meaningful achievements, she has worked to bring people together and improve the way of life in our special community. With her more than 25 years of public service, Mayor Vasquez has successfully brought valuable experience, knowledge, and expertise to streamline municipal government. She has successfully prioritized a balanced budget, safe neighborhoods, an expanding and prosperous business environment, improvements in streets and utilities, more affordable housing along regional transportation lines, and opportunities for citizens to be part of a thriving hometown. Mayor Racquel Vasquez is a leader with competence, cooperation, energy, a sense of humor, and far-reaching compassion. Her goals for the next four years are: Making significant progress in solving our housing shortage and the homelessness crisis. Expanding civic resources to improve public safety, support education, expand access to health services, and bringing a diverse and creative community together to keep Lemon Grove a safe, friendly, and a comfortable community. Creating a more business friendly environment that will attract good jobs with living wages, so as to make Lemon Grove a comfortable home for ourselves and the children who will follow us. Continuing to seek every available resource and funding from county, state and federal sources to address community needs to ease the financial burden on local taxpayers. Mayor Racquel Vasquez has proven her ability to lead our city forward. The challenges we face will be better met by someone with proven experience and success. A vote for Mayor Vasquez will mean stability, continuity, and progress that fits our way of life in the city with “The Best Climate on Earth”. That means not only lots of sunshine, but also a way of life that is the envy of the nation. The opinions in this editorial reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine. To submit an editorial for consideration, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org.(link sends e-mail)
SWEETWATER RIVERBED OUTREACH PROVIDES HOMELESS FRESH START
By Anita Lightfoot, County of San Diego Communications Office View a video by Andy Tolley October 17, 2024 (San Diego) — People experiencing homelessness and living in the Sweetwater Riverbed area have new hope for permanent housing. A state grant for $5.1 million and the collaborative work between the County, the City of Chula Vista, National City and California Department of Transportation has led to greater homeless outreach, increasing numbers of people transitioning into housing and regular clean-up opportunities. The Sweetwater Riverbed includes an area in South County parallel to Interstate 805 nicknamed, “The Jungle.” Moving people out of the riverbed means safer, cleaner and healthier living conditions and a chance at a fresh start. The grant is part of the state’s $240 million dollar Encampment Resolution Fund (ERF) to help local jurisdictions resolve encampments. It is the second ERF grant awarded to the County’s Department of Homeless Solutions and Equitable Communities to lead this multi-agency work in our riverbed areas. Since January, 91 people have transitioned from the San Diego Riverbed to emergency housing and in July, moves to permanent housing began. 10 people have left emergency housing for permanent housing in the past three months. The results are inspiring. Juan Ramirez has come along way. Before, he lived along the Sweetwater River in a tent and at times, in a treehouse. Then county workers reached out and gave him a tour of an apartment that he now calls home. He says the support he received was beyond his expectations. He says he cried with joy when he first saw the apartment, where his mother has since come to visit him. Having a home has helped him turn his life around. He’s now working in a restaurant cooking burgers. “Now I’m blessed here,” he says of his new home.
SWEETWATER RIVERBED OUTREACH PROVIDES HOMELESS FRESH START
By Anita Lightfoot, County of San Diego Communications Office View a video by Andy Tolley October 17, 2024 (San Diego) — People experiencing homelessness and living in the Sweetwater Riverbed area have new hope for permanent housing. A state grant for $5.1 million and the collaborative work between the County, the City of Chula Vista, National City and California Department of Transportation has led to greater homeless outreach, increasing numbers of people transitioning into housing and regular clean-up opportunities. The Sweetwater Riverbed includes an area in South County parallel to Interstate 805 nicknamed, “The Jungle.” Moving people out of the riverbed means safer, cleaner and healthier living conditions and a chance at a fresh start. The grant is part of the state’s $240 million dollar Encampment Resolution Fund (ERF) to help local jurisdictions resolve encampments. It is the second ERF grant awarded to the County’s Department of Homeless Solutions and Equitable Communities to lead this multi-agency work in our riverbed areas. Since January, 91 people have transitioned from the San Diego Riverbed to emergency housing and in July, moves to permanent housing began. 10 people have left emergency housing for permanent housing in the past three months. The results are inspiring. Juan Ramirez has come along way. Before, he lived along the Sweetwater River in a tent and at times, in a treehouse. Then county workers reached out and gave him a tour of an apartment that he now calls home. He says the support he received was beyond his expectations. He says he cried with joy when he first saw the apartment, where his mother has since come to visit him. Having a home has helped him turn his life around. He’s now working in a restaurant cooking burgers. “Now I’m blessed here,” he says of his new home.
RAMONA WOMAN ARRESTED ON WEAPONS CHARGES
By East County News Service October 17, 2024 (Ramona) — A Ramona woman is behind bars on numerous weapons charges, says Sergeant Kristy Trampus with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. On Monday, October 14, at around 7:00 a.m., deputies from the Ramona Sheriff’s Substation conducted a Fourth Amendment waiver search of a home located in the 100 block of Cowboy Court. A resident at the address had prior arrests for numerous charges, including assault with a deadly weapon, firearm, burglary and attempted murder. During the search, deputies found a usable amount of methamphetamine in a common area, which was claimed by an unrelated resident, Dena Leo, 37. She was placed under arrest for possession of narcotics. Deputies then observed a gun safe in Leo’s bedroom. After obtaining a search warrant, deputies were able to open the safe. They found and seized over a thousand rounds of ammunition, five high-capacity magazines, a home-made suppressor and eleven firearms. Two of the firearms were privately manufactured and are commonly referred to as ghost guns. Unlike weapons made by a licensed manufacturer, ghost guns do not have a serial number or other identifiable markings. The lack of a serial number makes it extremely challenging for law enforcement agencies to track these firearms to their owner or maker, hindering or delaying investigations and crime-solving efforts. Leo was booked into the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility for possession of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, illegally manufactured firearms, large capacity magazines and delaying/obstructing a peace officer.
RAMONA WOMAN ARRESTED ON WEAPONS CHARGES
By East County News Service October 17, 2024 (Ramona) — A Ramona woman is behind bars on numerous weapons charges, says Sergeant Kristy Trampus with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. On Monday, October 14, at around 7:00 a.m., deputies from the Ramona Sheriff’s Substation conducted a Fourth Amendment waiver search of a home located in the 100 block of Cowboy Court. A resident at the address had prior arrests for numerous charges, including assault with a deadly weapon, firearm, burglary and attempted murder. During the search, deputies found a usable amount of methamphetamine in a common area, which was claimed by an unrelated resident, Dena Leo, 37. She was placed under arrest for possession of narcotics. Deputies then observed a gun safe in Leo’s bedroom. After obtaining a search warrant, deputies were able to open the safe. They found and seized over a thousand rounds of ammunition, five high-capacity magazines, a home-made suppressor and eleven firearms. Two of the firearms were privately manufactured and are commonly referred to as ghost guns. Unlike weapons made by a licensed manufacturer, ghost guns do not have a serial number or other identifiable markings. The lack of a serial number makes it extremely challenging for law enforcement agencies to track these firearms to their owner or maker, hindering or delaying investigations and crime-solving efforts. Leo was booked into the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility for possession of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, illegally manufactured firearms, large capacity magazines and delaying/obstructing a peace officer.