Source:  Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District

April 29, 2022 (El Cajon) - For the first time, Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges will explore building affordable housing for students. The new initiative is being funded by a pair of $150,000 state grants received by the colleges, enabling college leaders to take a serious look at ways of providing housing security to students in need.

Source:  Senator Joel Anderson

April 27, 2022 (San Diego) - The San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a board letter put forth by Supervisor Joel Anderson and Vice Chair Nora Vargas that will provide economic opportunities for small businesses in the unincorporated County.  Their board action was inspired by a letter written to Supervisor Anderson from an Alpine constituent and was approved unanimously at the April 26, 2022 Board of Supervisors meeting.

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

April 25, 2022 (El Cajon) - Local Umbrella Media, in conjunction with numerous other “do-gooders,” is sponsoring O’Grady’s Holes for Heroes Golf Tournament on Friday, May 6^th at El Cajon’s Cottonwood Golf Course. The proceeds will benefit active-duty military, veterans, and first responders.

The beneficiary of the proceeds, Saddles in Service, based in Alpine, whose mission is to combat the suicide rates of active-duty military, veterans, and first responders using equine assisted learning and activities, is a non-profit 501(c)(3).

Source:  St. Madeleine Sophie's Center

April 24, 2022 (El Cajon) - St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC), a nonprofit organization that serves individuals with developmental disabilities, will hold its 21st Morning Glory Brunch on Saturday, April 30, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The brunch will be hosted at SMSC’s Garden and Aquatics Center, located at 2119 E. Madison Ave, El Cajon, CA 92019.

East County News Service

Photo: Brew Coffee Spot is one of many shops in the Lake Murray Village Shopping Center

April 22, 2022 (La Mesa) -- On Saturday, May 21^st the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce invites you to join them at a new community event, “Shop & Dine La Mesa” located at the Marketplace at Lake Murray Village Shopping Center, at the corner of Lake Murray Blvd. and Baltimore Drive (5550-5680 Lake Murray Blvd.) between 11:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.

Source:  Ramona Community Foundation

April 20, 2022 (Ramona) - Ramona Community Foundation (RCF), an affiliate of The San Diego Foundation, announced the availability of grant funding to enhance the quality of life for those who live, work and play in Ramona. 

Source:  San Diego County Sheriff

April 20, 2022 (Santee) - The Santee Sheriff’s Station wants parents to be aware after a stranger followed and approached a child.  

It happened on Tuesday, April 19 around 3:30 p.m. as the 16-year-old boy was riding his bicycle home from Mast Park in the 9100 block of Carlton Hills Boulevard. The incident was reported to the Sheriff's Department an hour later.

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

April 20, 2022 (Santee) “All of a sudden I hear this loud rumbling,” said Jill Perry, house manager for Home for Guiding Hands in Santee. “We were just sitting down to lunch.” That rumbling was the sound, and aftereffects, when a Cessna small plane, which killed the pilot, Dr. Sugata Das, and a UPS driver, Steve Krueger, crashed in a Santee neighborhood on October 11, 2021, according to a video published by the San Diego Union Tribune.

Source:  San Diego County Sheriff

April 19, 2022 (Spring Valley) - Three people are under arrest in connection with a stabbing in Spring Valley.It happened on Monday, April 18 just before 10:00 p.m. near a fast food restaurant in the 8700 block of Jamacha Boulevard.

Sheriff plans community forum on public safety in Lakeside

Update 5:30 p.m:  The 16-year-old suspect has been arrested. The Lakeside Sheriff’s substation thanks the community and the Fugitive Task Force for its assistance on this case.

East County News Service

April 18, 2022 (Lakeside) -- Sheriff's deputies are searching for a 16-year-old boy suspected of stabbing a teenage girl in Lakeside Saturday night, April 16 shortly after 11 p.m. at an apartment in the 12000 block of Mapleview Street.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Bald Eagle in East County by Scott Lagace

April 16, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – Opponents of wind farms in San Diego’s East County have long voiced concerns over potentially deadly impacts on eagles. Now a major wind energy company, NextEra Energy, a subsidiary of ESI Energy, has pleaded guilty to violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and killing 150 eagles at multiple wind energy facilities.

Photo: La Mesa Townhalls in 2018

By Jonathan Goetz

April 16, 2022 (La Mesa) - Building on a unanimous September 10, 2019 decision by this City's Council in California to join a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) with Chula Vista, Encinitas, Imperial Beach and San Diego, cityoflamesa.us will livecast a forum on April 27 at 6 p.m. 

Representatives from La Mesa, San Diego Gas & Electric and San Diego Community Power will discuss their design to expand cheaper cleaner electricity.

There are two options to participate:

1. Zoom (https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87079769622)

2. La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center (8450 La Mesa Blvd.)

East County News Service

April 15, 2022 (Spring Valley) – The San Diego Sheriff’s Rancho San Diego station invites you to Coffee with the Community. The event will be held on Wednesday, April 27 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the San Diego Youth Services East Campus auditorium 3845 at Spring Drive in Spring Valley.

For more information, contact crime prevention specialize Nancy Ortiz at (619) 660-7009 or nancy.ortiz@sdsheriff.org.

East County News Service 

April 15, 2022 (Spring Valley) -- The Spring Valley Community Alliance is working to make Spring Valley greener, cleaner, healthier and safer. The Alliance is hosting a community forum on Tuesday, April 19 at 5:30 p.m. featuring two experts on community empowerment and revitalization who will share specific examples and resources that residents can use in Spring Valley and other communities. Folks are invited to attend and learn how to become agents of change in Spring Valley and surrounding communities.