January 2025 Articles

By Melinda Myers

Photo:  rain barrels can help manage the water on your property and provide water to use in your gardens.  Photo courtesy melindamyers.com

January 14, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) -- Each gardening season seems to offer new growing challenges. Our gardens are exposed to more drastic and variable weather with changing weather patterns. Floods, droughts, wind, temperature extremes, and unseasonable weather episodes can have immediate and long-term impacts on our plants.

Monitoring and noting these occurrences will help you diagnose immediate and future plant and garden problems.  It also reminds us to adjust plant maintenance when these stressors occur and watch for potential insect, disease, and plant decline that may appear in the future.

Create your own weather station with a rain gauge, snow gauge, and high-low thermometer. These gauges monitor the conditions in your backyard as opposed to those reported for nearby locations. Having information from your yard allows you to make any needed adjustments to watering and care to help your plants thrive.

Record significant weather extremes that can negatively impact plant health and longevity. Check with local nature centers, botanical gardens, and extension services for gardening calendars.  Many include information on significant weather events in your area.  You can then add your observations for future reference. Refer to this information as needed in the future to help diagnose plant problems that may result from these extremes.

Large trees and other established plantings are often overlooked when weather extremes occur. Extended dry periods, temperature extremes and flooding can stress and weaken these plants making them more susceptible to insect pests, diseases, and decline in the coming years. 

Always select plants suited to the growing conditions and start watching for those that appear to be more tolerant of extremes. Visit local public gardens and consult with your University Extension specialists and other plant experts when selecting new plants for your gardens.

Adapt your landscape maintenance and design to reduce the negative impact of flooding, drought, and temperature extremes.  Protect plant roots from temperature extremes with a layer of organic mulch. Incorporate organic matter into the soil to improve drainage and increase the water-holding ability of fast-draining soils. Cover the soil with plants and mulch to help protect the soil from compaction and erosion during heavy downpours.  Healthy soil is the key to growing plants that are better able to tolerate environmental stresses.

Manage water that falls on your property. Check with your local municipality for any restrictions or support for these efforts. Create rain gardens to capture, clean and direct rainfall to groundwater to help manage water where it falls. These also support pollinators and provide added beauty to your landscape. Enlist the help of rain barrels, if permitted, to capture rainwater to use on ornamental plantings and containers when needed.

Take this interest one step further and volunteer to be part of a network of volunteer weather watchers. The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) is a non-profit community-based network of volunteers that provides daily measurements of rain, hail, and snow that fall in their backyards.

The goal of the Network is to provide more localized weather information to scientists, researchers, resource managers, decision makers and more.  The data is used for natural resource, educational and research applications.

Weather watching is a great project for the family or classroom. It helps boost gardening success while increasing our awareness and knowledge of what’s happening around us.

Melinda Myers has written over 20 gardening books, including Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, Revised Edition, and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” instant video and DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Myers’ website is www.MelindaMyers.com.

East County News Service

January 13, 2025 (El Cajon) — Grossmont Union High School District’s governing board has approved a major bond refinancing plan which will save East County taxpayers nearly $19 million by  reducing long-term interest costs on its existing school construction bonds.

Dr. Gary Woods, board president, says,  “These savings are exceptional. East County taxpayers’ investment in our bond program has completely transformed the educational opportunities that we will be able to provide students for years to come.  Our Board is committed to saving taxpayers their hard-earned money whenever possible. We are truly grateful for the community’s trust and proud to offer these savings back to our taxpayers.”

East County voters launched GUHSD's bond construction program with Proposition U, a $417 million bond approved in 2008, followed by Measure BB, a $128 million bond approved in 2016. These bonds have funded remarkable new construction, major upgrades to classrooms and labs, advanced technology, modern athletic and performing arts facilities, and cutting-edge Career Technical Education classrooms and equipment across the district. 

The Governing Board also secured nearly half a billion dollars in additional state school construction funds. “These resources have transformed the Grossmont Union High School District into one of the most state-of-the-art districts in the state, especially in career pathways,”  Dr. Woods says.  I want to extend my gratitude to Governing Board Trustees Robert Shield and Jim Kelly for their thoughtful leadership from the outset of the bond program. I also commend Superintendent Mike Fowler and the District’s fiscal services and bond team for their careful and diligent work, ensuring we honor our commitment to maximizing East County taxpayers' investment,” he added.

The Governing Board approved refinancing $104 million in Proposition U bonds, resulting in a net present value savings of $18,900,017. Mark Young of KNN Public Finance, who advised the district throughout the refinancing, noted that the savings rate – approximately 18% in long-term interest costs – is “very, very rare” for such transactions. Young praised the board for avoiding excessive spending with COVID funds and setting money aside to address anticipated future challenges.

East County taxpayers will see these savings reflected in reduced property tax rates starting in the 2025-26 billing cycle. This successful savings initiative follows three consecutive “A+” scores awarded to the GUHSD Bond Construction Program on the School Bond Transparency Report Card from the San Diego County Taxpayers Association.

This bond refinancing involved replacing $65 million in Capital Appreciation Bonds with the Series 2024A Capital Interest Bonds, which carry a lower interest rate. The proceeds from the sale of the new bonds are being held in an interest-bearing escrow account, which will be used to retire the prior bonds at their maturity or redemption dates. The sale was strategically timed to leverage favorable market conditions in October 2024, maximizing taxpayer savings.

About the Grossmont Union High School District:

The Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) provides education to over 16,000 students in grades 9-12 and is located in the eastern portion of San Diego County, an area of approximately 465 square miles, including all of the cities of El Cajon, Santee, and Lemon Grove, most of the city of La Mesa, a small portion of the city of San Diego, and the unincorporated areas of Alpine, Dulzura, Jamul, Lakeside, and Spring Valley. GUHSD’s family of schools and programs consists of nine comprehensive high schools, a middle college high school, one project-based learning school-of-choice, one continuation high school, three special education academies, four independent charter high schools, and an adult education program.

• 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.

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.

Suicidal suspect had doused self in gasoline before intentionally ramming officer,  ECPD reports

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left: Two officers train guns on driver after Sergeant Maxwell was struck.

January 11, 2025 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police Department has released surveillance and body cam video from the officer-involved shooting outside ECPD headquarters on December 11 during preparations for a retirement ceremony. (Warning: graphic content.)

The video shows a Toyota Tundra SUV driven by Benjamin Grube, 24, a nonbinary person earlier identified as Andrea Grube, park and later drive onto a sidewalk and ram Sergeant Kevin Maxwell as he tried to run from the oncoming vehicle. He was thrown into the air before the vehicle struck a bush. The injured sergeant managed to grab his service revolver while still on his knees, ordering Grube to exit the vehicle.

A lieutenant nearby called for backup. Officer Evan Drescher arrived on the scene, shouting “Don’t move!”   But Grube instead pulled forward, trying to run over Maxwell a second time even as both officers had guns trained on her.

Photo, right: Vehicle driven by Benjamin Grube strikes Sergeant Kevin Maxwell, who was thrown into the air before rising to his knees, gun drawn, ordering suspect to exit the vehicle.

Both Maxwell and Drescher fired their weapons, Maxwell through the windshield and Drescher through the driver’s side window. Maxwell jumps out of the path of the oncoming vehicle. Several shots can be heard on the audio from body cam footage (the earlier surveillance footage has no audio).

Officers pulled Grube from the vehicle and rendered medical aid, as did paramedics. Grube was transported  to a hospital, where the suspect was pronounced dead.

“Grube was found to be soaked in gasoline and three gas cans were found in the truck,” captions on the video state. “During the follow-up investigation, Grube was found to have suicidal ideations and was anti-law enforcement.”

Sergeant Maxwell was transported to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries including a concussion, and was later released. No other officers or civilians were injured.

San Diego Police is conducting an investigation, as is customary for officer-involved shootings involving other local police agencies. The District Attorney’s office will review results of that investigation. El Cajon Police is also conducting an administrative review into the officers’ use of force involving discharge of their service guns.

By Miriam Raftery

January 10, 2025 (La Mesa) – When a luggage wheel split open just three weeks after I purchased the large suitcase for $68, I tried to return it to Burlington in La Mesa. After waiting nearly an hour in line (since they have no customer service desk for returns),  Burlington’s employee refused to refund my money for the suitcase. She stated that this was because “you traveled with it.”

The whole point of a suitcase, obviously, is to travel! So apparently if you use their product for itrs intended product, you're out of luck if it breaks. I bought the the luggage specifically for a holiday trip, because it has wheels that rotate in all directions. I have a permanent shoulder injury, and it’s easier to pull a suitcase alongside instead of dragging a bag behind me, as I'd done with my older luggage. Even worse, I wound up having to carry this heavy bag filled with winter clothes, boots and a coat. 

The bag seemed fine after taking it off the luggage return at the airport, but as soon as we got outside and wheeled it into the parking lot, the wheel suddenly split in two, forcing me to carry the extra-large suitcase. This cost me a trip to my chiropractor upon returning home, to relieve the shoulder pain caused by Burlington’s shoddy product.

Burlington looked for any excuse to refuse to refund the money.  They claimed the bag was ”dirty” because of a few hairs where my cat sat on it, which easily brushed off. They claimed it was scarred up because of a small scuff mark, typical of any checked baggage. It’s not like they could resell the merchandise with a broken wheel.

I asked for a manager, prompting another long wait.  The manager also refused to issue a refund. I then asked her to provide me with contact info for the manufacturer.  The only name on the bag is “On-Tour.”  Burlington’s manager refused to provide any manufacturer’s information, and I could not find the manufacturer on the website. So no chance of getting a refund or even a replacement wheel, apparently.

The Burlington manager in La Mesa gave me a bogus national number for their customer service, but when I dialed it, the number was disconnected.

I then called my credit card company, which issued a temporary credit while I file a format dispute over the $68 that I paid for a suitcase that is now absolutely useless.

I did a Google Search and found a site for pissed-off customers that claims Burlington has only a 2.0 rating out of 5 possible, with a majority of customers voicing dissatisfaction. On Yelp, Burlington rates  a dismal 2.5.

I will not be shopping at Burlington for anything in the future and suggest that anyone who values quality or customer service take their business elsewhere.

East County News Service

January 10, 2025 (San Diego County) – In December, a judge ordered a transient release to a temporary location in San Diego County for Alvin Quarles, a sexually violent predator (SVP). Now Supervisor Joel Anderson has written a letter to Superior Court Judge Marian Gaston urging her to block the release. Anderson has also launched a petition and is seeking signatures from constituents opposed to Quarles’ release.

Quarles has been dubbed the “bolder than most” rapist for a series of sexual assaults in the 1980s committed at knife point, sometimes with the victim’s husband or boyfriend forced to watch

An audit last year found that four percent of SVPs in the state’s conditional release program reoffended,  while 19% of SVPs not in the program reoffended.

“In light of the numerous heinous offenses committed by SVPs, transient releases that would prevent an effective oversight process to track and monitor SVPs should be rejected by the courts,” says Anderson, who has also objected to the high number of SVPs released into East County compared to urban and coastal areas in the county.

Several prior attempts to place Quarles into housing supervised by Liberty Healthcare failed, leading to the transient release plan.  Quarles served time in state prison and later, a state hospital, before being deemed suited for release under the conditional release program.

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office

January 10, 2025 (San Diego) - The County’s Citizens Law Enforcement Review Board is taking applications to fill an opening on its board.

• Must be a registered voter in San Diego County.
• Cannot be a County employee.
• Cannot be affiliated with the County.
• Cannot currently hold a position as a sworn law enforcement officer.
• Serve a three-year term for no more than two consecutive full terms.
• Attend a regular CLERB meeting or watch a past meeting prior to applying for the vacant seat.
• Must complete a training course within three months of the appointment.