By Miriam Raftery

April 24, 2018 (La Mesa) — Looking for trees, shrubs, bedding plants, veggies, herbs, cacti or succulents? How about tools, accessories, pots and garden books?

 La Mesa Beautiful will host its 38^th annual plant sale on Saturday, May 5^th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, May 6^th from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 4816 Glen Street in La Mesa.

East County News Service

April 24, 2018 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is proud to announce the honorees for its 2018 Healthcare Heroes awards. GHD officials said the recipients are volunteers of all ages and walks of life who serve in health care in San Diego’s East Region community.

This year’s honorees include a family practice physician who helps those not able to afford health insurance, two volunteers who provide one-on-one comfort following crisis events, a 23-year-old who spends part of her weekends in a hospital emergency room, a couple who drives people to their cancer treatments and a non-profit board member who has volunteered for the past 20 years.

“The purpose of the Healthcare Heroes Awards is to recognize volunteers whose unsung work in healthcare might not otherwise be celebrated,” said Michael Emerson, GHD board president. “We are proud to recognize the 2018 winners and their inspiring commitment to caring for others.”

Here are the heartwarming stories of this year’s winners:

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Story and photos by Liz Alper

Cover photo:  Helix sophomore Thomas Caneday posted nine complete innings while giving up just four hits and no runs in the shutout win for the Highlanders.

April 24, 2018 (Lakeside) - El Capitan and Helix baseball have produced some outstanding college and MLB recruits and today, we got to see both programs in action at Hostetler Field on the campus of El Capitan High.  The Vaqueros, however, have had a rocky season, going 6-11, but the positive takeaway is that they are .500 (2-2) in the Grossmont League coming into today’s game.  The Highlanders have a decent overall record (12-7), but are strangely winless in league play, going 0-2.  Sophomore Thomas Caneday got the start today for Helix against senior Blake Peyton for El Cap.

Listen now! Click the audio link .

By Miriam Raftery

April 24, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- Teresa Burrell, local author of the award-winning Advocate Series, The Tuper Mystery Series, as well as three children’s books, sat down for an interview this week on the East County Magazine Radio Show on KNSJ.  Click the audio link above to listen now. 

Our Bookshelf host, Reina Menasche, spoke with Burrell about her passion for protecting children as well as her love of literary endeavors.  A teacher-turned-attorney, she has dedicated her life to helping children in the classroom and the courtroom. 

Many of her novels are inspired by actual legal cases. She is the author of The Advocate Series of legal thrillers which now contains nine novels. The Advocate’s Felony received the San Diego Best Mystery Award, and six of the books have received the International Readers’ Favorite Award.

Like our sports coverage?  Donate to help support ECM’s sports section!  Type in “Sports” as your donation!

Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and stories!

Does your son or daughter play a sport at a level other than varsity?  Comment on this story or tweet @ECMagSports to request coverage!

Check out our sports section for more sports stories!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

April 23, 2018 (El Cajon) - Grossmont boys lacrosse, like most other Grossmont sports, is undefeated in league, sporting a perfect 9-0 while remaining almost flawless overall, going 11-2.  Tonight, they faced a school that ECM Sports doesn’t get to cover as much when league play comes around due to league differences, the Patriots of Patrick Henry, who are just as good, sitting at 3-1 in the Eastern League and 9-6 overall.

By Miriam Raftery

April 24, 2018 (El Cajon) – A motorcyclist who rear-ended a Toyota Tacoma last night on I-8 east, just west of El Cajon Boulevard, succumbed to his injuries later in the evening.

The victim, 55, from Oceanside was riding a 2016 Harley Davidson motorcycle at a reportedly high rate of speed, along with a passenger, when he struck the rear of a Toyota Tacoma around 6:06 p.m. Both the motorcyclist and his passenger, a 30-year-old woman from South Carolina, were ejected onto the freeway lanes with major injuries.

April is National Distracted Driver Awareness Month

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

April 23, 2018 (San Diego) --The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that road rage “involves a criminal act of violence, whereas aggressive driving can range from tailgating to speeding to running red lights.”

By Kathy Carpenter

By Miriam Raftery

April 23, 2018 (San Diego) - The Centers for Disease Control has broadened its health warning regarding e-coli cases linked to romaine lettuce.  

The federal health agency is now advising consumers to avoid all forms of romaine lettuce, including lettuce heads, chopped romaine and salad mixes that may contain romaine, unless you are certain that the lettuce was not grown in Yuma, Arizona. 

Aztecs lose series with the Bulldogs

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo:  West Hills alum Katie Byrd had two hits in SDSU's 4-2 loss at Fresno State.  Courtesy goaztecs.com

April 22, 2018 (Fresno) - The San Diego State softball team dropped the series finale at Fresno State by a 4-2 score Sunday afternoon at Margie Wright Diamond in Fresno, Calif. The Aztecs are now 14-28 on the season (5-10 in Mountain West play), while the Bulldogs are 29-16 overall and remain in first play in the league standings at 12-3.

By Mike Allen

Photo:  Liz Chism, Curtis Chism and daughter Olivia (8 months).

April 21, 2018 (Santee) -- The shifting tides of San Diego’s still-expanding craft brewing industry claimed another victim recently when Santee’s Finest Made Ales closed, but another growing brewery quickly took over the spot.

Source: San Diego State University

April 20, 2018 – The California State University (CSU) will not increase tuition for the 2018-19 academic year at any of its campuses, which include San Diego State University and Cal State San Marcos locally.

Chancellor Timothy P. White says he has determined that it is in California’s best interest for the state to provide sufficient funding for the university’s most pressing needs that support student access, achievement and degree completion across the 23-campus system.

East County News Service

April 19, 2018 (San Diego) – Senate Bill 1487, the African Species Protection Act, is set for hearing in the California State Senate’s Public Safety Committee, where members include Senator Joel Anderson, whose district includes most of East County.  Wildlife conservation groups are urging the public to contact legislators on the committee to urge passage of the measure, which would ban possession in California of body parts from elephants, rhinos, giraffes, lions and other iconic African species.

By Miriam Raftery

April 19, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) - This week’s Destination East County includes a murder mystery theatre in Julian, a meteor watch in Lakeside, a hike for you and your dog in Santa Ysabel, an antiques and crafts fair at Summers Past Farms, girls night out at Cajon Classic Cruises, and a lilac festival.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including the San Diego Concert Band’s American salute, the Lakeside Rodeo, a garden and butterfly festival at the Water Conservation Garden, a medieval music concert at Mission Trails, History Alive and film nights at the Library in Lemon Grove, El Cajon’s dinner and a concert series, Vintage Alpine, the Final Adventures of Sherlock Holmes onstage at Grossmont College, a Salsa Fiesta in Lemon Grove, a Taste of Julian, San Diego Festival Chorus and Orchestra's spring concert, and the Coyote Music Festival at Cuyamaca College.

So scroll down for all of these events and many more!