By Ken Stone

Originally published by Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  Rebekah Basson, 25, was appointed to the La Mesa-Spring Valley school board in August. Photo by Ken Stone

November 1, 2017 (La Mesa) - La Mesa’s new school board member voted in Georgia’s November 2016 election despite later swearing that she had been a resident of the East County district for 1 1/2 years — going back to about January 2016.

East County News Service

October 16, 2017 (Sacramento) -- California has a shortage of college-educated workers.  A key obstacle is cost.  So, Governor Jerry Brown has signed into law Assembly Bill 19, to provide community college students one year of tuition-free education.

East County News Service

Photo:  from left to right: GHD board members Randy Lenac, Gloria Chadwick; from GUHSD --  Paul Dautremont, Mary Nishikawa, Heather Peterson, Dr. Tim Glover (superintendent); GHD board members Michael Emerson, Virginia Hall, Robert “Bob” Ayres

October 9, 2017 (La Mesa) -- The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) has awarded a $202,500 grant to the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) in support of the GHD Health Career Pathways Initiative. The grant will provide curriculum materials, support and instruction for approximately 2,500 high school students interested in pursuing healthcare careers during the 2017-2018 school year. 

East County News Service

October 2, 2017 (La Mesa) - Grossmont Union High School District seeks applicants to fill two vacancies on its Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee. The Committee oversees implementation of school bond funding measures Proposition U and Measure BB.

By Jeff Meyer

Sources: County News Service and Career Online High School

September 12, 2017 (San Diego) -- In a significant expansion of the County Library’s online high school program, the County Board of Supervisors approved a contract Tuesday that would offer 160 scholarships to residents interested in finishing high school.

The Career Online High School scholarships allow any resident of San Diego County who is 19 years and older a chance to get their high school diploma. The scholarships would become available starting Sept. 15.

Source: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District

September 4, 2017 (El Cajon) - "Developing a Positive Multicultural Orientation Toward Diversity: Self-reflection about our Diverse Identities and Cultural Orientation" is the title of the first Diversity Dialogues workshop for the fall semester at Cuyamaca College. Presented by marriage and family therapist Mayumi Y. Douglas, this workshop is set for 2-3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, in Room I-207 at the Student Center.

Photo: Gastil, right, with UCSD Chancellor Pradeep Khosla's Community Advisory Board

By Jonathan Goetz

August 31, 2017 (San Diego) – Lemon Grove resident George Gastil, a professor, former school board and city council member, has been appointed to Chancellor Pradeep Khosla’s Community Advisory Board (CCAB) for the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). 

By Vinny Lavalsiti

Originally published in the Grossmont Griffin

August 27, 2017 (El Cajon) -- It was fitting that dark, gloomy and ominous clouds hovered over Grossmont College’s campus on Thursday, Aug. 24. In response to the recent heinous acts and demonstrations committed in Charlottesville, VA, Grossmont College’s President Dr. Nabil Abu-Ghazaleh felt compelled to lead an impromptu vigil in the quad out in front of the Learning Tech Resource Center. He held a moment of silence to console any Griffin hearts that may be distraught after watching white supremacists and people affiliated with Neo-Nazism marching with guns and torches, chanting racist slogans in the streets of Charlottesville, where a woman was killed and 19 injured after a Nazi-sympathizer rammed a vehicle into a crowd of counter-protesters.

East County News Service

August 24, 2017 (El Cajon) -- Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges have long been filling the minds of students with knowledge. Now they are looking to help fill their stomachs as well, and are seeking the public’s help.

By Nancy Hauer

August 21, 2017 (Dehesa) -- On Friday, August 18, 2017, Dehesa School hosted Derek Clark, an inspiring motivational speaker and the author of Never Limit Your Life and the critically acclaimed I Will never Give Up book series.

East County News Service

August 11, 2017 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) recently hosted graduation ceremonies for 15 high school students who spent the month of July interning at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa as part of the Grossmont Union High School District’s (GUHSD) Healthcare Exploration Summer Institute (HESI) 2017 program. The ceremonies featured the students presenting about their experiences at the hospital.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

August 7, 2017 (San Diego) -- When I was younger, I hated all the back-to-school commercials. They were a dreaded reminder that summer was over and pretty soon, I’d be back inside a hot, stuffy classroom, mourning my lost freedom.