Communities

RAMONA PLANNERS PUSH STATE FOR SAFETY SOLUTIONS ON STATE ROUTE 67

 

East County News Service

April 24, 2017 (Ramona) – State Route 67 between Ramona and Lakeside is one of the most accident-prone stretches of highway in San Diego County. 

Caltrans is planning to install flexible posts between Willow Road in Lakeside and Shady Oaks in Ramona at a cost of $7.14 million in hopes of preventing head-on collisions.

SANTEE MOVES FORWARD ON CLIMATE ACTION PLAN

 

By Miriam Raftery

Chart courtesy of NASA: Temperature data from four international science institutions all show rapid warming in past few decades-- and the last decade has been the warmest on record.

April 24, 2017 (Santee) – Santee’s City Council took a step toward establishing a “Sustainable Santee” climate action plan, but only under pressure from the state to do so. 

By a 4-1 vote on April 12, with Mayor John Minto opposed, the Council voted to hire LSA Associates to complete the city’s climate action plan and an environmental impact report, as required by California law. Council authorized paying up to $133,000 to the consulting company.

AB 805 ADVANCES IN LEGISLATURE AS EAST COUNTY CITIES FIGHT BACK AGAINST SANDAG POWER GRAB

 

 

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.

GET THE BUZZ ON BEES AND HONEY MAY 13 IN LAKESIDE

 

East County News Service

April 23, 2017 (Lakeside) – Bees are amazing and essential--and they’re vanishing.  On May 13 at 11 a.m., third generation beekeeper Richard Edwords will be speaking at the Lakeside River Park Conservancy, 12108 Industry Road in Lakeside.

MONEY FOR HARRY GRIFFEN PARK ON AGENDA FOR HELIX WATER BOARD APRIL 26

 

By Miriam Raftery

April 23, 2017 (La Mesa) – At the Helix Water Board meeting on Wednesday, the board will discuss funding for Harry Griffen Park in La Mesa, at the request of director Mark Gracyk.  For the past five years, Helix has contributed 35 percent of the park’s operation and maintenance costs. Last year, that amounted to $158,629 donated by Helix.

LA MESA CHAMBER WELCOMES FARMER'S TABLE TO COMMUNITY

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Rebecca Jefferis-Williamson

 

April 22, 2017 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting on Wednesday to celebrate the opening of Farmer's Table,  La Mesa's hot new dining spot. 

The restuarant specializes in farm-to-fork fresh cuisine, serving up hearty breakfasts, lunches and dinners daily.  From a farmer's salad to wood-fired pizzas to a black and white tagliolini brimming with shellfish,  you'll find plenty to satisfy your appetite here.

HELICOPTER TRAFFIC, PARKS AND MORE ON CAMPO LAKE MORENA PLANNING GROUP’S AGENDA APRIL 24

 

East County News Service

April 22, 2017 (Campo-Lake Morena) – The Campo Lake Morena Planning Group meets Monday, April 24th at 7 p.m. at the Mountain Empire Community Center (976 Seridan Rd., Campo).   

The agenda includes a discussion about low-flying military helicopters over communities, a proposed change in state law regarding parks funding, and a review of applicants for a board vacancy.  Applications are still being accepted. 

Scroll down to view full agenda.

29 ARRESTED IN EAST COUNTY WARRANT SWEEPS

 

East County News Service

April 22, 2017 (Lemon Grove) – A warrant sweep conducted this morning in Lemon Grove, La Mesa and Rancho San Diego this morning has resulted in 29 adults arrested, clearing 35 warrants. The sweeps were conducted between 6 a.m. and 12 noon by the San Diego Sheriff Department’s Court Services Bureau Field Unit.

LEARN ABOUT NASA, NATIONAL PARKS AND NATIVE AMERICAN FIRE BUILDING APRIL 29 AT HERITAGE OF THE AMERICAS MUSEUM

 

By Miriam Raftery

April 22, 2017 (Rancho San Diego) – During the Spring Garden Festival at Cuyamaca College, Heritage of the Americas Museum is offering entertaining and education presentations including tops on NASA, the National Parks, and Native American fire building:

Journey through the Cosmos with the Art of NASA - 11 a.m.

Adventure & Discoveries in Your Nearby National Parks - 1 p.m.

Kumeyaay Fire-Making & Artifacts - 2 p.m.

Scroll down for details.

FIRST MONARCH BUTTERFLY FESTIVAL AT EL CAJON LIBRARY MAY 13

 

Story and photo by Miriam Raftery

April 21, 2017 (El Cajon) -- The El Cajon Library, located at 201 E. Douglas Avenue in El Cajon, will host its first Monarch Butterfly Festival, in partnership with San Diego Master Gardeners and the Water Conservation Garden organization, on Saturday, May 13, 2017, from 1 – 4 pm.   Beautiful orange and black monarch butterflies are both year-round San Diego residents and winter migration visitors.  Their numbers have greatly declined over the years and festival visitors can learn about them and how to help increase their numbers by planting a monarch butterfly garden.  Having a butterfly garden is a popular and fun family activity.  Even if you don’t have room for a garden, you can plant milkweed in pots.

FIREFIGHTERS GEAR UP FOR FIRE SEASON AT WILDLAND FIRE EXCERISES

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Jeff Holz at Equestrian Center in Santee

April 21, 2017 (Santee) — San Diego County Fire Chiefs, along with fire agencies across the region, held their annual wildland fire preparedness exercises April 19-21 in Santee and Tierrasanta to prepare for the upcoming fire season.

CAL FIRE AND CERT TEAMS TO HOLD DRILL SATURDAY AT CUYAMACA COLLEGE

 

East County News Service

April 21, 2017 (El Cajon) -- As natural disasters continue to grow and become more destructive, emergency responders, such as CAL FIRE San Diego, are becoming increasingly dependent on community volunteer organizations. One such organization that has been called on to assist is San Diego County’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). When activated through their sponsoring agency, CERT members can find themselves working in close cooperation with local first responders; augmenting their numbers and aiding their neighbors that have been affected by a disaster. Skills that CERT members have been trained in can include basic first-aid, volunteer organization and search and rescue. CERT members were activated as recently as last year during the Border Fire in Potrero and quickly became an integral part of the community response by helping families and property owners that were impacted by the fire which ultimately grew to nearly 7700 acres over two weeks.

COMMUNITY WILDFIRE ACTION PLAN WORKSHOP MAY 6 IN DESCANSO

 

East County News Service

April 20, 2017 (Descanso) – Do you have a plan for reducing your wildfire risks and protecting your family and pets? The Descanso Emergency Planning/FireSafe Group is holding a workshop on Saturday May 6 from 1-3 p.m. at the Descanso Library (9545 River Drive in Descanso) to help families prepare for wildfires.

CERT DISASTER TRAINING CLASSES IN JAMUL, PINE VALLEY AND BOULEVARD IN MAY

 

East County News Service

April 20, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- If a disastrous event overwhelms or delays the community’s professional response, CERT members can assist others by applying the basic response and organizational skills that they learn during training.  These skills can help save and sustain lives following a disaster until professional help arrives.

AMERICA ON MAIN STREET MAY 20

 

East County News Service

April 19, 2017 (El Cajon) - America on Main Street, a family fun celebration honoring the American spirit, will be held in downtown El Cajon on May  20th from 12 noon. to 8 p.m. The event includes four stages with live entertainment, a Ferris Wheel, petting zoo, hay ride, pony rides, kids’ games and crafts.

STAR PARTY IN JULIAN APRIL 22: CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY WEEK

 

East County News Service

Photo: Jupiter and its moons

April 19, 2017 (Julian) -- You’re invited to a star party at William Heise County Park (4945 Heise Park Rd.) in Julian this Saturday, April 22nd starting at 7 p.m. with the Curiosity Peak Observatory and the Julian Dark Sky Network. The event celebrates International Dark Sky Week.   Organizers state, “Join us to travel through space and time and get to see what our local starry nights have to offer. You will get to see planets, moon, star clusters, nebulae, galaxies and Jupiter with all its moons.”

OPEN FARM AND SHOW AT OASIS CAMEL DAIRY APRIL 22-23 IN RAMONA

 

East County News Service

April 19, 2017 (Ramona) - The Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona invites you to an open farm and show this Saturday and Sunday, April 22nd and 23rd.  The fun starts at 1 p.m. for an afternoon featuring friendly farm animals and curious camels. At 1:30 there’s an animal show featuring performing parrots, racing turkeys, working farm dogs and majestic camels. 

SAVOR THE FLAVORS OF HWY 94: WINE FESTIVAL APRIL 29 IN JAMUL

 

East County News Service

April 18, 2017 (Jamul) – Fantastic local wines, great food and live entertainment will be just a few of the highlights of the second annual Wine Festival benefiting St. Pius X Catholic Church's building fund.  On Saturday, April 29, from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., wine lovers will enter the event grounds in Jamul, Calf. and begin tasting wines from the following participating wineries:

CRAFT FAIR APRIL 29 IN SANTEE

 

East County News Service

April 18, 2017 (Santee) - The Santee Craft, Vendor and Food Fair will be held Saturday, April 29 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Summit Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 8778 Cottonwood Avenue in Santee.  Guests can shop for Mother’s Day handcrafted gifts, including hand-made art dolls,  origami owl jewelry, bracelets, Donald Trump pussycat toys,  Avon and MaryKay cosmetics, PartyLite, warming bags, ceramics, hand-made oak crafts and more.  Hand-made tamales and fruit waters will also be available.

READER'S EDITORIAL: BLM SHOULD TURN OVER DEED FOR TRANSFER OF SAN DIEGO'S LAST WILD HORSES

 

Editor’s note:  We first wrote about Kathleen Hayden’s efforts to restore the Coyote Canyon heritage herd of wild horses locally in January 2013. Read article. But in July 2013, she was served with an eviction notice and forced to  give up the last descendants of San Diego’s wild horses. Despite a 2012  support  letter from Congressman Darrell Issa and a 2014 letter from a genetics expert confirming that the horses are rare and of historic significance as descendants of Spanish Colonial horses,  the U.S. Bureau of Land Management has done nothing to protect or return them--and now is not turning over the deed of transfer, Hayden says  Now she has penned an open letter to  the House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop questioning the legality of the transfer.

Dear Chairman Bishop,

Please investigate the transfer of the BLM Federal CA Coyote Canyon Wild Horse Herd area (20,000 acres)  to CA Anza Borrego Desert State Park.  In response to Ca State Senator Joel Anderson's request for the deed, Parks claim it doesn't exist.

GC ALUM BENSON WORKS BEST @MIDNIGHT

 

By Nick Pellegrino for East County Magazine

Photo courtesy Comedy Central

April 17, 2017 (Los Angeles) - Comedian Doug Benson is nothing close to an overnight success, yet after 20 years in show business, the former Grossmont College student is starting to gain notoriety after recently claiming the Tournament of Champion on the self-admitted, fake game show @midnight.

OTAY WATER BOARD CENSURES HECTOR GASTELUM FOR RACIST REMARKS

 

East County News Service

April 17, 2017 (Spring Valley) – The Otay Water District today voted 4-1 to formally censure director Hector Gastelum for official misconduct over racist remarks that he made to media, on social media, and in the March 1st board meeting.  Gastelum opposed the measure.  The resolution called his actions “reprehensible and intolerable.”

BE PREPARED FOR DISASTER – REGISTER FOR THE CERT ACADEMY

 

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 6th. 

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