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Local leaders voice concerns over Afghans facing threats to safety amid new restrictions in wake of D.C. National Guard shooting

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Photos: Tazheem Nizam, CAIR San Diego executive director, and Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac December 17, 2025 (San Diego) – Local community leaders who have worked to help Afghan refugees are speaking out over new restrictions imposed on Afghan immigrants following the shooting of two National Guard member in Washington D.C. on November 26 by Rahmanullah

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East County Roundup: local and statewide news

Printer-friendly version   December 17, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) — East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media.  This week’s round-up stories include: LOCAL Trump administration signs updated agreement with Mexico over Tijuana sewage (KPBS) Teacher at Christian Unified High School arrested for alleged sexual assault of family

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ECM World Watch: national and global news

Printer-friendly version   December  16,  2025 (San Diego) — As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include: U.S. Trump’s DOJ has sued 18 states to try to access voter data  (NPR) Trump Sued

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GUHSD priorities: trustees give themselves a massive raise, nearly quadrupling salaries

Printer-friendly version   By Alexander J. Schorr December 15, 2025 (El Cajon) — The Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) governing board voted unanimously to raise their own monthly salary of $534.04 to a proposed $2,000.00 each starting  in January 2026. While California law does allow for school boards to increase their trustees’ compensation annually by up to 5% based

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Rabbi killed in Australian Hanukkah shooting was nephew of rabbi injured in Poway synagogue attack

Printer-friendly version   By Miriam Raftery File photo: Rabbi Ysroel Godstein of Poway December 15, 2025 (Poway) – Rabbi Eli Schlanger, the nephew of Chabad Poway’s founding Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, was among 16 people murdered in a mass shooting yesterday during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. Goldstein was injured during the April 2019 shooting at Chabad Poway, when he

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The stress of apartment searching in San Diego: monthly rents and cost of living exceed national average, while scammers target renters

Printer-friendly version By Heidi Hope December 15, 2025 (San Diego) — Hunting for an affordable apartment in San Diego County is a recipe for aggravating stress. Rents and living expenses in the city of San Diego are among the highest in the nation. East County communities are also too expensive for a single person working a low-wage part-time job to

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East County Jews to light Menorah today, stand against deadly shooting at Hanukkah celebration in Australia

Printer-friendly version   By Miriam Raftery December 15, 2025 (San Diego) –  “Let the world see that when darkness tries to intimidate us, we answer with light,”  Rabbi Rafi Andrusier from Chabad of East County said today following a mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, Australia. Rabbi Andrusier urged local community members to join in a local Menorah lighting at

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Deputies respond to report of possible armed man at Sharp Rees-Stealy in Santee

Printer-friendly version   Man detained due to mental health crisis; no weapon found Photo by Patrick Ward December 14, 2025 (Santee) – Sheriff’s deputies evacuated the Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group building on Cuyamaca Street in Santee yesterday afternoon, after receiving multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting a possible armed person.   Deputies did not find a weapon. But during the search, deputies

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CHILD MOLESTER ARRESTED IN LA MESA

Printer-friendly versionApril 15, 2009 (La Mesa)—La Mesa police have arrested Garth Gumienny, 35, a convicted child molester found to be living with a young boy who he repeatedly molested. The child was the son of Gumienny’s roommate, according to La Mesa Police Captain Ed Aceves. “The mother did not know the sexual abuse was occurring,” Aceves told East County Magazine.

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A QUARTER CENTURY STRONG: LA MESA DEMOCRATS CELEBRATED 25th ANNIVERSARY; EMERALD STAFFER ADDRESSED COMMUNITY ISSUES

Printer-friendly versionApril 10, 2009 (La Mesa) – La Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club celebrated its 25th anniversary with a celebration last week that included cake, a potluck dinner, recognition of key members and presentation by Councilwoman Marti Emerald’s chief of staff, Xema Jacobson. Special honorees included the club’s founding members, Claude Cassirer, a Holocaust survivor, and his wife, Beverly (photo).   Songs

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FACING FORECLOSURE? NEED INFO ON HOME LOANS? GET HELP AT FREE HOMEOWNER PRESERVATION SEMINAR APRIL 18 IN SAN DIEGO

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery April 13, 2009 (San Diego)—At a time when many lenders have evicted families and aggressively foreclosed on, one lender has taken a different approach, setting up a series of events to help families find ways to avoid foreclosure. On April 18th, Project Homeowner, a program to advise California homeowners facing foreclosure on how to keep their

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GREEN BULIDING QUESTIONS ANSWERED AT ECO BUILD SAN DIEGO

Printer-friendly versionBy Rachel Hutman (California Center for Sustainable Energy) April 9, 2009 (San Diego) – The Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE) hosted the EcoBuild San Diego on Saturday, April 4. Over 350 people attended the free expo to get straight answers about green building. Lauri Walker, Program Manager of the event, observed, “People will visit exhibitors and get a better

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GET THE JUMP ON GOING GREEN:  FEDERAL INCENTIVES FOR RENEWABLES AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Printer-friendly versionApril 10, 2009 (Washington D.C.) – Looking for your own version of a bail-out?  How about a federal incentive to make your home, business or community more energy efficient and/or powered by renewable energy such as wind, solar or biomass?  Here are some handy links to tax credits and grants available for homeowners, businesses and local governments to apply

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CAREER DAY AT GROSSMONT COLLEGE TEAMS UP KIDS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES

Printer-friendly versionStory by Miriam Raftery, Photos by Andy Phemister SPAWAR Engineer meets with students April 8, 2009 (El Cajon) – Over 1,500 eighth grade students from Cajon Valley Union School District learned about careers first-hand from dozens of local companies during Career Day at Grossmont College last week. Sponsored by the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce, the event

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TRADITION AND CONCEPT BRIDGED:  ART EXHIBITION APRIL 13-30; ARTISTS RECEPTION APRIL 14 AT HYDE ART GALLERY

Printer-friendly versionApril 13, 2009 (El Cajon)–The Grossmont College Art Council presents “Traditon and Concept Bridged”, a ceramic exhibition by two very accomplished artists, Joanne Hayakawa and Kouta Shimazaki. “To term this exhibition a ceramics exhibition is to pare this collection of artwork down to it’s most minimal definition,” the gallery’s announcement states. “Even to use the title “Tradition and Concept

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SDG&E PARTNERS WITH NISSAN TO GET SAN DIEGO ‘PLUG-IN’ READY

Printer-friendly versionNew, Zero-Emission Electric Vehicles to Reach San Diego Next Year April 1, 2009 (San Diego) – San Diego County will become one of the nation’s first “plug-in” ready green regions and start the transformation into a clean transportation community with San Diego Gas & Electric’s landmark partnership announced today with Nissan Motor Co. and the Renault-Nissan Alliance. As President

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RENT YOUR HOME? DRIVE A CAR? OWN A CREDIT CARD? RENTER’S INSURANCE CAN COVER THEFT LOSSES ON MORE THAN JUST YOUR APARTMENT

Printer-friendly versionBy Dennis Volz  Editor’s note:  My daughter found out the hard way why having renter’s insurance would have been a good idea. When thieves stole her car, car insurance only covered damage to the vehicle—not replacing the IPOD, leather jacket, text books and other items that were taken,too. So we’ve asked insurance agent Dennis Volz to provide some tips

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DO YOU OWN THESE DANGEROUS PRODUCTS?  RECALLS ON LOG-SPLITTERS,HOME HEATING VENT PIPES, AND TOY BOXES ANNOUNCED

Printer-friendly versionApril 1, 2009 (Washington D.C.) – The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced recalls on the following items: 1. Brave Products Reannounces Recall of Log Splitters; Additional Incidents Prompt Urgent Warning of Amputation Hazard 2. May 1, 2009 Deadline Approaching for Remedy Change in Recall Program; Consumers Urged to Replace Dangerous Home Heating Vent Pipes 3. Lakeshore Learning Materials

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