January 2025

By East County News Service

November 27, 2024 (San Diego)-- County Public Health officials are asking people to

throw away organic carrots tied to a nationwide E. coli outbreak. One person in San

Diego 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, Simple Truth, President’s Choice, and Grimmway Farms, and in a variety of sizes.

E. coli can cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting, often within three to four days. The STEC found in the carrots can cause hospitalization and even death. Grimmway Farms has issued a nationwide recall. The carrots are likely no longer in stores for sale but may be in your home. 

“If you or a loved one are feeling sick, contact your doctor as soon as possible,” said

Ankita Kadakia, M.D., interim County public health officer. “The Shiga toxin producing E. Coli bacteria can cause serious kidney problems that require hospitalization, so it is important to get care promptly.” 

If you think you purchased affected carrots, do not eat them. Throw them away and

wash any containers or surfaces that touched the carrots with hot soapy water or in the dishwasher.  Make sure to also wash your hands with soap and water after handling the carrots or container.

By Miriam Raftery

December 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 Infection

Illness usually occurs within 12 to 72 hours after eating food that is contaminated with Salmonella, and the symptoms usually last four to seven days. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Children younger than five, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe infections.

See the recall for detailed information.

What you should do

Do not eat any recalled cucumbers.

• Throw them away or return them to where you bought them.
• Look for a sticker that shows "SunFed Mexico" as the place where cucumbers were grown.
• If you bought whole fresh American cucumbers during October 12 and November 26 and can't tell where they are from throw them away.

Wash items and surfaces that may have touched the recalled cucumbers.

• Use hot soapy water or a dishwasher.

Call your healthcare provider if you have any of these severe Salmonella symptoms:

• Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F
• Diarrhea for more than 3 days that is not improving
• Bloody diarrhea
• So much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down
• Signs of dehydration, such as:
• Not peeing much
• Dry mouth and throat
• Feeling dizzy when standing up

What Businesses Should Do

• Do not sell or serve recalled cucumbers grown by Agrotato, S.A. de C.V. in Sonora, Mexico, including recalled cucumbers from SunFed Produce, LLC.
• Wash and sanitize items and surfaces that may have come in contact with recalled cucumbers.
• When possible, notify customers who purchased recalled cucumbers.

Symptoms of Salmonella

• Most people infected with Salmonella experience diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps.
• Symptoms usually start 6 hours to 6 days after swallowing the bacteria.
• Most people recover without treatment after 4 to 7 days.
• Some people—especially children younger than 5 years, adults 65 years and older, and people with weakened immune systems—may experience more severe illnesses that require medical treatment or hospitalization.

See also

• FDA: Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Cucumbers (November 2024)
• https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/outbreaks/cucumbers-11-24/index.html
• FDA: Sunfed Produce, LLC Recalls Whole Fresh American Cucumbers
• About Salmonella Infection

Source: SDSU

NCAA Photos/MW

November 30, 2024 (San Diego) --The fifth-seeded San Diego State volleyball team saw its run at the 2024 Credit Union 1 Mountain West Championship come to a disappointing conclusion Friday after dropping a hard-fought 3-1 decision to top-seeded Colorado State in  a semifinal showdown at Cox Pavilion.

With the loss, the Aztecs drop to 20-10 on the year and will await their postseason fate when NCAA Tournament bids are announced on Sunday, Dec. 1. Conversely, the Rams move to 19-10 overall and will play second-seeded San José State in the championship final on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Friday’s defeat marked the just the sixth time this season the Scarlet and Black lost when leading in kills (20-6). Despite maintaining a slim 55-53 advantage in that category and a slight edge in team blocks (8.0 to 7.0), the Aztecs were plagued by 10 aces and nine service errors en route to the loss.

After posting a .389 efficiency to capture the first set, San Diego State hit just .186 over the final three frames, as CSU employed timely runs to escape on each occasion.

Individually, the Aztecs were led by Jasmine Davis’ team-high 16 kills and 13 digs, which accounted for her ninth double-double of the season. The SDSU graduate transfer hit .424 for the day, committing just two errors on 33 attempts while adding two aces and three blocks, including one solo stop.

In addition, Taylor Underwood finished with 10 put-aways, while Natalie Hughes floored eight shots to go with a trio of block assists. Elsewhere, Shea Rubright posted a .545 efficiency, knocking down six kills without an error in 11 attempts, while Kat Cooper (5 kills) tied for match-high honors with five block assists.

The Aztec cause was also supplemented by the setting duo of Sarena Gonzalez (24 assists, 9 digs) and Andrea Campos (22 assists, 5 digs), while Talea Mitchell knocked down five kills off the bench.

SDSU led throughout the first set, grabbing a 9-2 lead it would not relinquish. Rubright smashed two kills and served up an ace in that opening run, while Hughes and Cooper joined forces on a block after Davis provided a solo rejection.

CSU trimmed the deficit to three on two occasions, including a 15-12 spread following a Malaya Jones kill. However, Underwood sparked a key 5-2 surge with a pair of put-aways to give the Aztecs a commanding 20-14 advantage. Moments later, Hughes combined with Rubright on a block and subsequently launched a late kill to help close out the frame.

A highly competitive second stanza witnessed 13 ties and five lead changes, as the Scarlet and Black rallied from a 20-17 deficit to inch in front 23-22 thanks to a Gonzalez service ace and an attack error sandwich around a kill by the Rams’ Kennedy Stanford. However, the Aztecs self-destructed down the stretch with consecutive errant swings on two open looks, while Jones followed with a service ace to abruptly clinch the set for CSU.

The teams traded punches in the third frame, where neither side led by more than three points. Clinging precariously to an 18-17 advantage following back-to-back kills by Cooper and Mitchell, SDSU was unable to cushion its lead, as the Rams scored four straight points to vault in front for good. Once again, the Aztecs committed a pair of untimely attack errors, interspersed with a Jones kill and service ace.

Suddenly trailing 21-18, SDSU attempted a late rally, as Underwood supplied a pair of kills, while Rubright followed with a put-away of her own. However, two additional errant attacks spelled doom for the Scarlet and Black.

Looking to extend the match, the Aztecs built a series of four-point leads in the fourth set, including a 16-12 spread following a CSU attack error. However, a quick 8-4 run put the Rams on top 20-19 shortly thereafter. Karina Leber stole the spotlight in that span with a kill and a pair of assisted blocks, joining forces with Stanford and Maria Brun on those rejections.

The two sides exchanged points on the next four serves before a Brun kill and an ill-timed SDSU attack error nudged CSU in front to stay at 23-21. Two late put-aways by Davis and Cara Braun proved futile for the Scarlet and Black, as Jones and Naeemah Weathers provided the two clinching kills for the Rams.

Colorado State was paced by Jones’ match-high 17 kills, while Leber launched 11 non-returnables to go with five block assists. Additionally, setter Emery Herman completed a double-double with 44 assists and 15 digs to lead all players.

By Mike Allen

Photo:  Winners of 10K race: 1) Celina Lepe-Corvera 2) Mina Shull 3) Johanna Flipsen.  All photos by Mike Allen

January 13, 2025 (Santee) -- Under sun drenched skies, some of the best race walkers in the world shattered several records as they traversed the Santee Trolley Square course on Jan. 12.

The USA Track & Field National event featured competition in 35 kilometers, 20K, 10K, 5K, and 3K for both men and women.

The overall 35K winner, Perseus Karlstrom of Torshalla, Sweden crossed the finish line in 2:27:19, nearly 17 minutes faster than the previous course record. Karlstrom, 34, is the winner of multiple medals in both the World Track & Field Championships and other major races. A three-time Olympic athlete, he is gearing up for the 2026 Los Angeles Olympic Games. He took $8,000 for his first-place finish.

He was followed by Mexico’s Ever Jair Palma Oliveres, 32, and Nick Christie, 33 from El Cajon, who finished at 2:45:31. Christie holds the U.S. record for the event and took $4,000 for his third-place finish.

Photo, right:  women’s Winner of 35K race: Valeria Ortuna Martinez of Mexico City, MEXICO. Her time of 2:51:33 was nearly 6 minutes faster than previous record.  

The women’s 35K winner was Valeria Ortuna Martinez, 26, of Mexico City, who finished in 2:51:33, breaking the course record by nearly six minutes.  She was followed by Nadia Gonzalez, 27, of Toluca, Mexico, and Olivia Lundman, 22, of Vancouver, Canada.

The USA Championship women’s winner was Katie Burnett,36, of Bellevue, WA.

Santee City Manager Marlene Best said the city was honored to host both the US Championships and International Race Walk Invitationals 15 of the past 17 years. “We love being the race walk capital of the United States!”

Photo, left:  the winner of the men's 35K championship Perseus Karlstrom of Sweden shattered the previous record for this event by nearly 17 mins at 2:27:19. Seen here after collapsing at the finish line. Karlstom is a professional athlete who has competed at three Olympic Games, three World Championships, and is gearing up for the 2026 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Photo, right:  El Cajon’s Nick Christie, the best American race walker, finished third in the 35K race. First was Perseus Karlstom of Sweden and second was Ever Jair Palma Olivares of Mexico.

Nursing home coverage could be on chopping block

By Chrystal Blair, California News Service

January 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 swiftly on its agenda next year, with key actions likely starting in January, before the presidential inauguration.
Medicaid is funded by the federal government and individual states but each state runs its own program.
Joan Alker, executive director of the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families, who also participated on the panel, said cuts to the program will have widespread effects.
"Medicaid accounts for about 56% of all federal money that is flowing to states, is coming in through Medicaid," Alker pointed out. "If we do see big cuts to Medicaid, that will affect all areas of states' budget."
Key proposals include setting federal funding caps, reducing federal match rates, and eliminating mandatory benefits such as nursing home care. Medicaid advocates are also concerned plans to replace benefits with private insurance vouchers could offer less coverage.

• Severe muscle aches
• Chills, fever or fatigue
• Headache or dizziness
• Nausea, vomiting or stomach pain
• Difficulty breathing

• Seal up all external holes in homes, garages, and sheds larger than a dime to keep rodents from getting in.
• Eliminate rodent infestations immediately.
• Avoid rodent-infested areas and do not stir up dust or materials that may be contaminated with rodent poop and urine.
• Clean up rodent poop and urine using the “wet cleaning” methods described below.

• Do not sweep or vacuum infested areas.
• Ventilate the affected area by opening doors and windows for at least 30 minutes before starting to clean.
• Use rubber gloves. Spray a 10 percent bleach solution or other disinfectants onto dead rodents, rodent poop, nests, contaminated traps and surrounding areas, then let the disinfectant stand for at least 15 minutes before cleaning.
• Clean with a sponge or a mop that has been soaked in disinfectant.
• Place disinfected rodents and debris into two plastic bags, seal them and discard them in the trash.
• Wash gloves in a bleach solution, then soap and water, and dispose of them using the same double-bag method.
• Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water.

Drop-off locations and curbside pickup info for all San Diego County residents

Source: I Love a Clean San Diego

Image: CC via Bing

December 14, 2024 (San Diego) -- Did you know a Christmas tree can take hundreds of years to decompose in a landfill due to lack of oxygen? San Diego residents can help prevent waste and save landfill space by transforming their old Christmas trees into nutrient-rich compost or mulch.

The County of San Diego and I Love a Clean San Diego make it easy for residents to recycle their real Christmas trees by compiling a list of drop-off locations and instructions for curbside pick-up. The countywide recycling resource, WasteFreeSD.org, hosts the 2024/2025 Christmas Tree Recycling Guide with listings for curbside and drop-off locations.

When Christmas trees are recycled, they embark on a new journey that benefits the environment and the community. Through processes like mulching or composting, these trees are broken down into valuable organic material that enriches soil with essential nutrients. This process not only reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills but also plays a crucial role in lowering greenhouse gas emissions, as decomposing organic waste in landfills produces methane, a potent contributor to climate change.

According to the EPA, organic materials like Christmas trees, food, and yard waste are the number one material sent to landfills, composing two-thirds of the solid waste stream. By giving Christmas trees a second life through recycling, San Diego residents can contribute to a sustainable celebration of the holidays.

Christmas Tree Recycling Tips

• Do not flock or purchase flocked trees. Fake snow (flock) contains chemicals that interfere with the composting process
• If you choose to use tinsel, it must be completely removed (and placed in the trash) from your tree before it can be recycled.
• Make sure to remove all ornaments, garland, lights, nails, tree bags, and tree stands (metal or plastic) before recycling.
• For areas where curbside tree recycling is available, trees taller than four feet should be cut in half.
• Reuse or donate artificial trees that are in good condition.
• Do not let real trees sit around too long after the holidays. They can dry out and become fire hazards.
• Natural wreaths and similar decorations can be recycled with trees.

How to Compost Your Christmas Tree

Many local waste haulers offer curbside pick-up of Christmas trees and wreaths, in addition to dozens of community drop-off sites. Collected Christmas trees are mulched or composted, which is then used to improve soil health at public parks, local farms, and home landscapes and gardens. Visit WasteFreeSD.org for a list of drop-off locations and communities with curbside pickup.

About I Love a Clean San Diego

Founded in 1954, I Love a Clean San Diego is an environmental nonprofit supporting residents and businesses of San Diego County through youth and adult education, and local action through impactful volunteer events and workshops. For more information, to volunteer or donate, visit CleanSD.org. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram , and LinkedIn.

East County News Service

Photo:  Cowles Mountain by Gerry Tietje

Source:  Santee School District

December 26, 2024 (Santee) - At the Organizational Meeting on December 17, 2024, Tracie Thill was sworn in to Seat No. 4 on the Santee School District Board of Education, with her term expiring in December 2028.