MULTI-VEHICLE CRASH KILLS FIVE, LED TO BRUSH FIRE THAT CLOSED STATE ROUTE 67 BOTH DIRECTIONS

SANDAG MEETING FRIDAY ON DRAFT 2025 PLAN

DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: MIDSUMMER FUN

MEMORY WEAVERS: AWARD-WINNING NOVEL OF TWO WOMEN BONDED BY TRAUMAS

COUNTY WINS NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS

ANIMAL ADVOCATES CELEBRATE HOUSING COMMISSION DROPPING PROPOSED NEW LIMIT ON PET OWNERSHIP

LA MESA CITY COUNCIL APPROVES RENOVATIONS FOR GROSSMONT CENTER

ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS

SAN DIEGO NAMED CANDIDATE HOST CITY FOR INVICTUS GAMES 2029

STATE PARKS PHOTO CONTEST RUNNING THROUGH SEPT. 30

GROCERY WORKERS AT RALPHS, ALBERTSONS, VONS, AND PAVILIONS VOTE TO RATIFY NEW CONTRACTS

SUNCREST TRUCK TRAIL NOT A VIABLE OPTION FOR FIRE EVACUATION ROUTE IN CREST, ACCORDING TO FIRE OFFICIALS

EL CAJON CITY COUNCIL GETS DOWN TO WORK; ACCEPTS MAJOR DONATION BY PETSMART FOR NEW ANIMAL SHELTER

 

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

April 7, 2018 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon City Council members temporarily set aside their differences and got down to work Tuesday in what some say was one of their most productive sessions in recent months.

TIFERETH ISRAEL ORCHESTRA AND EAST COUNTY SAN DIEGO MORMON CHORALE PREMIERE LANDMARK CHORAL WORK APRIL 10

 

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

April 9, 2018 (San Diego) -- As both the Christian and Jewish communities celebration of their holiest time of the year is coinciding with one another this year, the Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra is joining forces with the voices of the East County San Diego Mormon Chorale in a landmark concert featuring the world premiere of an orchestral cantata written for cantor, choir, and orchestra called “Unetofah Takef” (Day of Reckoning) written by John Michael Luther. The performance features shofar (ram’s horn) virtuoso, Steve Ovitsky.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE KIDS: STONEY’S NEIGHBORHOOD PARK REOPENS

 

By Eric Bartl

April 8, 2018 (El Cajon) -- Smiles are returning to the faces of children in El Cajon when they see Stoney’s Neighborhood Park, which reopened Thursday in front of the El Cajon branch of the County library.

The park had been closed since mid-December for a construction/park improvement project.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: SWIRLING SUNSET AT THE DESERT VIEW TOWER

 

East County News Service

April 8, 2018 (Jacumba Hot Springs) -- Paul Cumming sent in this other-worldly looking image of a sunset with saucer-shaped clouds spiraling around the Desert View Tower in the high desert community of Jacumba Hot Springs, California.
 
We're sure it's just a coincidence that Coyote's Flying Saucer Retrieval and Repair Service is located right next door! (Yes, really.)

SDSU SOFTBALL FALLS AT UNLV 3-2 IN SERIES FINALE

 

Aztecs outhit Rebels 11-7 in the loss

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo:  Kelsey Munoz had four hits in SDSU's 3-2 loss at UNLV.  Courtesy goaztecs.com

April 8, 2018 (Las Vegas) - The San Diego State softball team fell to UNLV, 3-2, in the series finale Sunday afternoon at Eller Media Stadium in Las Vegas. The Aztecs (12-24, 3-6 MW) had won the first two games in the series with the Rebels (22-15, 4-8 MW).

DRIVER AND GOOD SAMARITAN KILLED BY PASSING MOTORIST AFTER CRASH

 

 

Update April 9, 2018: The good Samaritan who died has been identified as Kenneth Riddle, 46, of El Cajon. He leaves behind a wife and young daughter. A GoFundMe page to help the family has been established where donations can be made.

Update April 11, 2018: The driver who was killed has been identified as Lamont Taylor, 35, of El Cajon.

By Miriam Raftery

April 8, 2018 (El Cajon) – Two good Samaritans stopped to help a driver involved in a solo vehicle collision at 1:20 a.m.  on eastbound I-8 just west of El Cajon Boulevard in El Cajon.  The vehicle had come to rest in the number 2 lane of traffic.

GROSSMONT HOSPITAL’S CITIZENS’ BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ISSUES ITS 2017 ANNUAL REPORT ON TAXPAYER BOND EXPENDITURES FOR HOSPITAL CONSTRUCTION

 

East County News Service

April 11, 2018 (La Mesa) – The citizens group overseeing the spending of millions of dollars in taxpayer-approved bonds for new and improved patient care facilities at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa has issued its 2017 Annual Report to the Community.

SAN DIEGO CONCERT BAND ANNOUNCES SPRING AND SUMMER CONCERTS

 

By Miriam Raftery

April 8, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – The San Diego Concert Band has announced its 29th annual Spring Celebration concert and summer concert series at venues that include East County locations of Kroc Center, Old Poway Park, La Mesa’s Harry Griffen Park, and St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church in San Carlos, as well as San Diego locations at Civitas Park and the Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park.

Below is the full schedule:

HEAVENLY MUSIC: SAN DIEGO HARP SOCIETY TO PERFORM APRIL 15 AT MISSION TRAILS

 

East County News Service

April 8, 2018 (San Diego) – The San Diego Harp Society will present a free recital on Sunday, April 15th from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Mission Trails Regional Park Visitors Center Auditorium (1 Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego, 92119).

Local exceptional harp students Katie Chan, Gigi Accomazzo, Julia Yang, and Betania Rodriguez will perform.

For more information on this and other upcoming concerts, visit the Mission Trails Regional Park webpage at www.MTRP.org.

SAVOR TASTES FROM 40 WINERIES AT VINTAGE ALPINE MAY 6

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

April 7, 2018 (Alpine)  You’re invited to savor fine wines from over 40 wineries and taste specialty foods from local restaurants at Vintage Alpine, a wine experience in the country.  The event takes place on Sunday, May 6 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Summers Past Farms (15602 Olde Highway 80 in Flinn Springs)—all to benefit the children of Sna Diego County.

OVERTURNED HORSE TRAILER CAUSES MASS INJURIES

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

April 7, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) –  A horse trailer being towed by an F-250 truck overturned on the right side of westbound Interstate 8 shortly before noon today, about three miles west of Crestwood, according to Officer Travis Garrow with the California Highway Patrol.

A witness told authorities she was following behind the trailer and saw it start to fishtail. The driver was unable to control the vehicle, which went off the roadway and overturned. The trailer separated from the truck and its top was sheered off. The witness reported numerous people exiting the overturned horse trailer.

LA MESA CHAMBER HOSTS SPRING FLING BUSINESS EXPO APRIL 26

 

 

East County News Service 

 

April 7, 2018 (La Mesa) – On Thursday, April 26, La Mesa Chamber of Commerce invites you to join them for a unique evening and opportunity to meet some of the local businesses within our community. The 4th Annual “Spring Fling - Business Expo” has been requested by local businesses to provide them an opportunity to showcase their goods and services.

WOMAN WHO SURVIVED DOUBLE HIT AND RUN ON I-8 IN LAKESIDE NEEDS HELP WITH MEDICAL BILLS—AND HOPES TO THANK TRUCKER WHO SAVED HER LIFE

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

April 7, 2018 (Lakeside) – “My life changed forever during the early morning hours on Memorial Day, May 30, 2017,” says Korren Knapp Grada.  That’s when she suffered horrific injuries after being struck by two hit-and-run vehicles in I-8 near the Lake Jennings exit in Lakeside. 

How she got there remains a mystery, though she believes she was drugged by a man and was seeking to escape harm when she scaled a fence onto the freeway.

She’s shared her story with East County Magazine in hopes that someone can shed light on what happened, perhaps recognizing strangers in photos taken on her cell phone the night before. She also hopes to thank a good Samaritan who stopped and saved her life. 

Most of all, she needs help with staggering medical bills for multiple surgeries needed to save her life and help her on her long road to healing; you can donate at https://www.gofundme.com/helpkorren.

HEALTH CLINIC SERVING CHILDREN FILES APPEAL ASKING LA MESA TO BLOCK MARIJUANA CLINIC

 

By Miriam Raftery

April 6, 2018 (La Mesa) – Last week, La Mesa’s City Council approved the city’s first medical marijuana dispensary, New Origins, set to open in the La Mesa Medical Plaza on Center Street near El Cajon Boulevard.  But now the chief executive officer of Family Wellness Center in the same complex, is asking the city to rescind the permit.

ECM PADRES REPORT: PADRES STUN DEFENDING WORLD SERIES CHAMPS

 

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

By Liz Alper

Photo via @Padres on Twitter

April 6, 2018 (Houston) - This weekend will probably be the most predictable weekend in Padres history.  ECM’s Sports department has been told that readers can probably get their Padres news from the Union-Tribune, but ECM also loves being first to report anything, so we’d rather you experience the slaughter first-hand as the Padres traveled to Houston to face the defending World Series champion Astros.  Luis Perdomo started tonight’s game one against Lance McCullers Jr. for the Astros.

JACOB CALLS FOR SUPERVISORS TO JOIN TRUMP SUIT AGAINST STATE OVER SANCTUARY LAW, BUT SHERIFF WARNS FORCING OFFICERS TO ACT AS IMMIGRATION AGENTS COULD “MAKE US ALL LESS SAFE”

 

By Miriam Raftery

San Diego Supervisors are considering joining the Trump administration’s lawsuit against California’s sanctuary state law, or Senate Bill 54, which protects certain undocumented immigrations by setting limits on cooperation between local law enforcement departments and federal immigration authorities.

San Diego Supervisors are expected to discuss the matter on April 17th in a closed-door meeting with County Counsel.  But while Supervisor Jacob agues that the Trump administration's push to force local law enforcement officers to stringently enforce federal immigration mandates would increase public safety, Sheriff Bill Gore suggests it would have the opposite effect, making communities less safe by making immigrants afraid to report crimes.

Audio: 

San Diego Sheriff Bill Gore on sanctuary state law vs. federal immigration crackdown

SPRING GARDEN AND BUTTERFLY FESTIVAL APRIL 28 CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY

 

Source: Cuyamaca College

Photo: The Ornamental Horticulture nursery at the 2017 Spring Garden and Butterfly Festival.

April 6, 2018 (Rancho San Diego) -- Up to 5,000 visitors will converge on the Cuyamaca College campus when the annual Spring Garden and Butterfly Festival returns for its 25th year on Saturday, April 28, as the college, The Water Conservation Garden and the Heritage of the Americas Museum present an array of family-friendly events featuring plant sales, craft vendors, wine tasting and more.

KENWOOD LIQUOR ADDS U-HAUL SERVICE

 

Source: U-Haul

April 6, 2018 (Spring Valley) -- U-Haul Company of California announces that Kenwood Liquor in Spring Valley has signed on as a U-Haul® neighborhood dealer to serve the Spring Valley community. Kenwood Liquor at 9612 Dale Ave. Suite 1 will offer U-Haul trucks, trailers, towing equipment, moving supplies and in-store pick-up for boxes.

LAMPLIGHTERS PRESENTS “PETER AND THE STARCATCHER” APRIL 20-MAY 13

 

East County News Service

April 6, 2018 (La Mesa) - Lamplighters Community Theatre ends its historic 80th season with fun for the whole family in a presentation of Peter and the Starcatcher. Tony-winning Peter and the Starcatcher upends the century-old story of how a miserable orphan comes to be The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up (a.k.a. Peter Pan).

THREE ARRESTED, DRUGS AND WEAPONS SEIZED IN LAKESIDE RAID

 

By Miriam Raftery

April 5, 2018 (Lakeside) — This morning, deputies from the Lakeside Sheriff’s substation and Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Detail executed a search warrant as part of a narcotics investigation at 11715 Morena Avenue in Lakeside.  They found a butane honey oil lab used to make concentrated cannabis products, as well as five guns, suspected methamphetamine and cocaine, drug paraphernalia and cash.

CALIFORNIA SEEKS TO HALT ONLINE LISTINGS OF UNLICENSED DISPENSARIES

 

East County News Service

April 5, 2018 (San Diego) -- Recently, California’s Bureau of Cannabis Control has requested that online services cease listing unlicensed dispensaries operating in violation of state cannabis regulations. Several prominent online dispensary finder services have chosen to ignore this guidance from state regulators and continue to list unlicensed dispensaries.  But others are pledging to fully comply with state regulations by steering customers only to licensed dispensaries.

ON THE SILVER SCREEN: VOLLEYBALL CINDERELLA STORY HAS YOU CHEERING TO THE END (THE MIRACLE SEASON)

 

By Liz Alper

Photo via Apple Trailers

April 4, 2018 (San Diego) - I’m a sportswriter who doesn’t know anything about volleyball.  Kind of pathetic, I know.  Of course I know how it’s played, but I don’t know the logistics of scoring, etc.  That’s why you won’t see any college or prep volleyball recaps on here.  But as a sports reporter and fan, of course I love a Cinderella sports story.  The Miracle Season was all of that and more.

UNCONFIRMED REPORT OF MAN WITH GUN NEAR GROSSMONT CENTER PROMPTED SEARCH

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Google Earth

April 4, 2018 (La Mesa) – Yesterday, La Mesa Police sent a community alert out warning motorists to avoid the area of Center Drive and Grossmont Boulevard near Grossmont Center shopping mall and Grossmont Medical Center, due to police “actively searching the area” for a man reportedly sighted openly carrying a gun.

10TH ANNUAL SANTEE STREET FAIR AND CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL MAY 26

 

East County News Service

April 4, 2018 (Santee) -- The Santee Chamber of Commerce invites you to join over 30,000 visitors at the 10th Annual Santee Street Fair and Craft Beer Festival on Saturday, May 26th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Riverview Parkway and Town Center Parkway in Santee.  This event features live music and entertainment, more than 300 food and craft vendor booths, carnival rides, and breweries from all around San Diego County.

BIRD TALK: PIGEONS AND DOVES

 

By Greg Dunne                

April 4, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- Pigeons are the ultimate urban birds. At our parks, on top of our downtown skyscrapers, even at the beach we see them.

Pigeons and Doves seem to be everywhere in the County—but even though it’s ordinary to see them on a daily basis, there are some extraordinary facts about these birds that may surprise you.

AS MOSQUITO SEASON NEARS, COUNTY URGES RESIDENTS TO TAKE THESE STEPS

 

By Miriam Raftery

April 4, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) - With mosquito season near, County officials want your help to keep everyone safe from illnesses such as West Nile virus and Zika.

At a press conference on Tuesday, County Supervisor Greg Cox urged the public to follow the “prevent, protect, and report” mantra.

ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL & GLOBAL NEWS

 

April 4, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

WORLD

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

MEDIA WATCH: SINCLAIR STEPS UP PROPAGANDA BROADCASTS

 

By Miriam Raftery

April 4, 2018 (San Diego) – Free press advocates and some anchors at Sinclair Broadcast Group are raising objections to Orwellian scripts that Sinclair is forcing its news anchors nationwide to read, including scripts denouncing “false news” that “national media outlets are publishing.”

EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS

 

April 4, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

STATE

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

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