East County News Service

April 11, 2023 (Mt. Helix) – Atkinson Plumeria Farm in La Mesa will be hosting a plumeria cutting and tropical plant sale this weekend, April 15-16.

Eleven vendors will be selling hundreds of cultivars,  thousands of cuttings and rooted plants from small to large in a many different colors; some as low as $5.These are water-wise plants.

Plus there will be other tropicals such as hibiscus, air plants, hoyas, heliconia, ginger, and more.

East County News Service

April 11, 2023 (El Cajon) – El Cajon’s Dinner and a Concert series opens May 5 and will continue every Friday night from 6 to 8 p.m. from May through September.  Opening night will feature Twisted Gypsy, a Fleetwood Mac Tribute band taking you back to the early days of ‘70s rock and roll.

East County News Service

April 10, 2023 (Santee) – The City of Santee will host its Friday Nights Live entertainment series at the Santee Trolley Square, kicking off summer with free family fun an entertainment.

East County News Service

April 9, 2023 (La Mesa) – The 42 room, 22,410 square foot Days Inn lat 7475 El Cajon Blvd in La Mesa sold for $8,350,000 on March 31, Commercial Asset Advisors (CAA) announced. The new owner plans to convert the property to apartments, according to CAA.

Mike Conger and Brian Jenkins of Commercial Asset Advisors represented the Seller, Lotus Hotel, Inc. The Buyer, La Mesa Multi-Family Partners, LLC was represented by Salvatore DeMaria of Coldwell Banker Realty.

The Days Inn features 42 large rooms, with existing kitchen infrastructure in the heart of the multi-family supply constrained La Mesa. 

East County News Service

April 8, 2023 (Lemon Grove) -- San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced yesterday that defendant Dwayne E. Groves Jr., 41, was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole plus 72 years formurdering 15-year-old twin sisters, Caira and Leah Christopher, in April 2020. Both were students at Helix Charter High School in La Mesa.

By Miriam Raftery

April 7, 2023 (El Cajon) – An El Cajon man, 47, has died of injuries sustained in a two-vehicle crash on April 2 at 8:23 p.m. on Pepper Drive in El Cajon.

According to Officer Matthew Baranowski with the California Highway Patrol, a 64-year-old man from El Cajon was driving a 2015 Ford F-150 pickup truck northbound on a shared driveway near 1601 Pepper Drive, when he pulled into the roadway in the path of an oncoming motorcyclist driving a 2011 Ducati 848 motorcycle.

By Chuck Westerheide, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo:  Ramona grasslands

April 5, 2023 (San Diego's East County) - Disasters and wildfires threaten lives and businesses in San Diego County each year.  Often, people are forced to gather up their most important possessions and evacuate to safety.  But commercial livestock operations may be too large to evacuate all their animals immediately and need to return as quickly as possible to care for animals. Farmers also must abandon their operation, leaving crops and critical infrastructure unattended for extended periods.  Now, operators can apply for an Agricultural and Livestock Pass (Ag Pass) program to return to an evacuated area to help when the threat diminishes.

Source:  City of La Mesa

April 5, 2023 (La Mesa) - The City of La Mesa is developing a Recreation and Parks Master Plan (Plan). The Plan will be a comprehensive effort dedicated to improving parks, recreation programs, and services for La Mesa residents. This year-long effort will help set the framework for future planning, maintenance, development and rehabilitation of City parks and facilities.

By Jessyka Heredia 

April 2, 2023 (La Mesa) -- Clear Channel Outdoor Vice President of Public Affairs Layne Lawson gave the La Mesa City Council a presentation on a proposed digital billboard plan during the March 28 Council meeting. The company is proposing that the City enter a development agreement with Clear Channel for two digital billboards that would display advertisements generating an annual development fee payment of $125,000 per new advertising structure for the City, plus a 3% annual increase, starting in the second year. 

East County News Service

April 1, 2023 (Boulevard) – The Boulevard Community Planning Group will hold a public scoping hearing Wednesday, April 12 at 6 p.m. on the proposed 565-acre Starlight Solar project. County staff will present information and public comments will be accepted at the hearing at the Backcountry Resource Center,39919 Ribbonwood Rd., Boulevard (in the old fire station equipment bay).

It would be located south of I-8 and Old Highway 80 and east of Tierra Del Sol Road.  The project has proposed eight solar array areas with approximately 300,000 PV modules on support structures. It would connect to the Boulevard Substation.

The proposed 100 megawatt industrial-scale solar facility would include a battery energy storage system (BESS), collector substation, transformers, inverters, gen-tie line, and 24’ internal roads, water tanks for fire protection, security fencing, lighting, and signage.

East County News Service

March 31, 2023 (Alpine) – Lions, Tigers & Bears, a nonprofit exotic animal sanctuary in Alpine, invites you to their annual fundraising bash, Wild in the Country on May 20.  This year’s event features emcees Jagger and Kristi from Magic 92.5 radio, as well as Broadway stars Sandra Joseph and Ron Bohmer, lead actors in Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables.  Dinner will be prepared by world renowned chef Jeffrey Strauss, known as “Chef to the Stars” for pleasing the palates of dignitaries, presidents, royalty and entertainment icons.

The main event will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. on May 20. There is also a pre-event reception for platinum and gold level ticket holders at 1 p.m.

East County News Service

March 31, 2023 (El Cajon) -- Homelessness is the most significant issue impacting cities across the nation, includingEl Cajon.. The El Cajon City Council wants to hear your ideas, experiences, and frustrations about homelessness during a series of four Town Hall workshops hosted throughout the City.  In this high participation format of workshops, residents will break into groups and discuss pressing issues around homeless topics. The dates are April 4, 15 and 26 as well as May 4.

Feedback from the workshops will help the City generate additional programs and approaches to address the impacts of homelessness in the community.

By Miriam Raftery

March 30, 2023 (El Cajon) – Two days ago, El Cajon Police relocated homeless people found camped in drainage canals and warned of flood dangers. The National Weather Service reports that El Cajon received more than an inch of water during the past two-day period.

El Cajon Police posted this warning message and photos on Facebook:

By Miriam Raftery

March 30, 2023 (Borrego Springs) – Sexually violent predator Douglas Badger will be housed at a residence on Zuni Trail in Borrego Springs starting in May. The placement was approved by Superior Court Judge Theodore Weathers, over vocal objections from community residents and officials.

Badger has been convicted of kidnapping and raping young male hitchhikers and sexually assaulting a young girl.  He’s been diagnosed as a sexual sadist, served several terms in prison and the past 18 years in a state mental hospital, but he has been approved by the Dept. of State Hospitals for release.

By Miriam Raftery

March 29, 2023 (Santee) – East County Magazine has been honored by the Santee Chamber of Commerce for having the best business resources in the Chamber’s annual “Santee Favorites” competition. Winners are selected by votes as “favorites” by Santee residents, Chamber members, as well as businesses’ clients and friends.