East County News Service

June 20, 2017 (Lemon Grove) – A vehicle crash in front of San Miguel Elementary School on San Miguel Avenue in Lemon Grove on Sunday afternoon, June 18^th.  The crash toppled over several poles.

New law goes into effect July 7; summer concerts and movies in parks to begin soon

Source:  East County Community Change Project

June 17, 2017 (Lemon Grove) -- Alcohol and marijuana are about to be prohibited at Lemon Grove’s eight city parks, just in time for summer family fun, according to city officials. The city council voted unanimously in May to take local control and make parks off limits to the use of marijuana in any form and all alcohol. While California’s new law under Prop. 64 makes recreational marijuana use legal for adults over 21, it is not legal to do so in public places. The council thought it was important enough to include it in the law.

Source:  Helix Water District

Photo:  from right: Helix Boardmember Mark Gracyk, who represents Lemon Grove, Boardmember DeAna Verbeke, Board President Joel Scalzitti and Lemon Grove assistant city manager and public works director Mike James.  Via Helix Water District

June 13, 2017 (Lemon Grove) - Helix Water District Board President Joel Scalzitti operated the excavator this morning, lowering a segment of PVC pipe into the trench at the corner of Mt. Vernon Avenue and Golden Avenue in Lemon Grove.  The pipe was signed by the Lemon Grove City Council and Helix board members, and its installation marks the removal of the last large segment of cast iron pipe in the water distribution system serving the city of Lemon Grove.

By Miriam Raftery

June 10, 2017 (Lemon Grove) – Luscious lemon cakes, cream cakes, doughnuts, muffins, bagels, and more are available once again in Lemon Grove, now that the Lemon Grove Bakery has opened its doors at 3308 Main Street. 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Lemon Grove Bakery

June 6, 2017 (Lemon Grove) – Here’s some sweet news for Lemon Grove residents and baked goods aficionados:  the Lemon Grove Bakery will be opening on Friday, June 9^th from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the site of the former Grove Pastry Shop at 3308 Main Street, Lemon Grove.

Update May 23, 2017 -- The deceased has been identified as Lemon Grove resident Mark Roshawn Adkins, 54.

Update: CBS 8 has obtained video of the altercation,  taken by a neighbor. View video here 

By Miriam Raftery

May 20, 2017 (Lemon Grove) — Sheriff’s homicide detectives are investigating the death of an African American man, 54, who died after an altercation with deputies from the Lemon Grove substation in which multiple tasers were fired.

East County News Service

May 20, 2017 (Lemon Grove and Rancho San Diego) -- Community outreach is a priority of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.  “Members of the community should feel comfortable bringing problems related to safety and security to our staff,” a press release states.

By Miriam Raftery

May 17, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Pursuit of Marvin Peeples, a suspect reportedly violating a restraining order in Lemon Grove yesterday, led to a deputy’s vehicle became involved in a collision in San Diego before the suspect was ultimately arrested.

East County News Service

May 6, 2017 (La Mesa/Lemon Grove/Rancho San Diego) - The Sheriff's Court Services Bureau Field Unit arrested nine people with outstanding arrest warrants in a sweep on Saturday morning, Sheriff's officials said.  The sweep is part of a law enforcement spread across San Diego's East County.

By Miriam Raftery

“I will argue that my minority and low income citizens have just as much right to be fairly represented as San Diego and Chula Vista.”—Lemon Grove Councilman Jerry Jones

April 23, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Assembly Bill 805  passed the Assembly Local Government Committee on Wednesday by a 5-4 vote.  The measure claims to  reform SANDAG,  but in fact gives virtually all power to the cities of San Diego and Chula Vista, leaving East County cities and other communities in our county powerless to add agenda items to benefit other cities or block objectionable measures at SANDAG, the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and North County Transit District.

Now East County cities are fighting back.   On Tuesday, La Mesa’s City Council will consider a proposal from Council members Bill Baber and Kristine Alessio to hire a legislative lobbyist to advocate on La Mesa’s behalf against AB 805, which was authored by Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), according to the agenda.

El Cajon’s City Council has voted to oppose AB 805, as did Lemon Grove and La Mesa.  East County Assemblyman Randy Voepel, former Mayor of Santee, voted against the measure in committee.

Source: Heartland Fire & Rescue

April 17, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- Are you prepared for a disaster? An earthquake or firestorm? Consider attending a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) academy. Free disaster training will be taught by members of Heartland Fire & Rescue and Santee Fire Department in classes that begin May 6^th. 

Panel of experts and neighborhood organizing to follow showing of “Indoctrinated, the Grooming of Child Prostitutes” by Lemon Grove filmmaker Jim Ellis

By Helen Ofield, Lemon Grove Historical Society

April 8, 2017 (Lemon Grove) -- Right here, right now, in our town...tough though it is to think of Lemon Grove as a haven for human sex traffickers, it is. This heinous crime is alive in our town. Predators are after our girls and boys. This, in a town where every neighborhood is anchored by a public school and volunteerism has been a tradition since 1890.

East County News Service

April 7, 2017 (Lemon Grove) — Three separate accidents on Palm Street in Lemon Grove on April 4^th and 5^th caused serious damages and injuries, Sergeant Jorge Dueno with the Sheriff’s Department reports.  No charges are expected to be filed, as drugs, alcohol and distracted driving did not appear to be factors.