East County News Service

August 4, 2016 (Santee) - The Pacific Island Beer Company invites you to a Polynesian parking lot luau on Sunday, August 21 from noon to 7:00 p.m.

Source: Caltrans news release

August 4, 2016 (San Diego) - Motorists are advised to expect delays on East County freeways Friday during the funeral procession for fallen San Diego Police Department Officer Jonathan “JD” DeGuzman.

By Miriam Raftery

August 2, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – The deadline to file as a candidate to run for local offices is August 11. But so far, many East County races have no candidates declared or qualified for the ballot, according to the Registrar of Voters candidate list for the November election.  Most community planning groups have nobody running.  The same is true in some school, water and fire districts. Races with no candidates will be filled by appointment. In other districts, people are running unopposed—even incumbents on some of the most controversy-riddled boards.

No candidates are listed yet for the city councils in El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove or Santee, nor for the mayoral seats open in Lemon Grove and Santee, nor the La Mesa City Clerk or Treasurer seats.  Candidates have been actively campaigning in some of those races and some will likely file before deadline, but it’s also common for candidates to drop out before qualifying for the ballot.

In the Grossmont Union High School District, incumbent Jim Stieringer is thus far running unopposed in district two (La Mesa/Mt. Helix/Rancho San Diego); in district one (Lemon Grove/Spring Valley) which is an open seat, only one candidate has filed: Pastor Steve Babbitt from Spring Valley Community Church.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy Transgriot blog

August 4,2016 (Washington D.C.) — The U.S. Supreme Court has voted 5-3 to temporarily prevent a transgender student in Virginia from using the bathroom of his choice, until the high court decides whether to hear the case.

By Miriam Raftery

August 3, 2016 (La Mesa) – With scarcely any public notice, Helix Water Board passed a 10.3% rate hike by a slim one-vote majority. The stated reason was because water use has dropped due to customers conserving water--just as the district asked them to do.

Directors Kathleen Coates-Hedberg and Joel Scalziti voted against jacking up rates, while directors John Linden, Chuck Muse and Deana Verbeke voted for the rate hike over public objections.

By Miriam Raftery

The County of San Diego’s new library in Alpine has been nominated for an Orchid Award in the San Diego Architectural Foundation’s annual Orchids and Onions Awards. The project was created through the design-build team of C.W. Driver, Ferguson Pape Baldwin Architects, and architect Manuel Oncina selected in a competitive design process.

From indoor trees for kids to cozy up and read under to an outdoor patio with park view, 42 million books, many specialized spaces and plenty of high-tech amenities, the spacious new library is not only innovative in design and beautiful, it’s also energy efficient as the County’s first Zero Net Energy building.  Next up, the County is seeking LEED Gold certification.

East County News Service

August 3, 2016 (Allied Gardens) — Two dozen vehicles have been vandalized by BB or pellet gun shootings over the past week and a half in Allied Gardens and SAN CARLOS, 10 News reports. Some occurred during daylight morning hours.

By Liz Alper

Photo courtesy @Padres on Twitter

August 3, 2016 (San Diego) - Last night's loss was hard to swallow, so the Padres looked to split the series with the Brewers today during Way Back Wednesday.  Edwin Jackson started for the Padres against Junior Guerra for Milwaukee.

East County News Service

August 3, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes events coming up in August including star gazing parties, a summer business bash in La Mesa, outdoor movies, concerts, night fishing and the HeART of Mt. Helix celebration.

So scroll down for all of these events and more!

Source: Caltrans news Release

August 3, 2016 (Lakeside) - Construction crews will close northbound State Route 67 (SR-67) from Winter Gardens Boulevard to Lakeside Avenue and southbound SR-67 from Lakeside Avenue to Mapleview Street Friday, August 5, and Saturday, August 6 from 9 at night until 11 the following morning. Mapleview Street at SR-67 will also be closed intermittently during these hours. Motorists are advised to expect delays and to avoid the area if possible.

East County News Service

August 3, 2016 (San Diego) - Visionary Community Theatre and City Ballet Orchestra presents “All That That Jazz!”, a concert tribute to the legendary team of Kander and Ebb, at the San Diego Performing Arts Center (4579 Mission Gorge Place, San Diego, CA, 92120) on August 19^th-20^th @ 7pm.

East County News Service

Photo: Screenshot, ECM news partner 10 News

August 3, 2016 (Spring Valley) — A firefighter was injured by a falling stack of cardboard while battling a blaze at a recycling center Tuesday morning in the 3800 block of Bancroft Drive in Spring Valley.

By Liz Alper

Photo courtesy @Padres on Twitter

August 2, 2016 (San Diego) – After a much-needed win in a long game last night, the Padres wanted to do it again tonight with Luis Perdomo on the mound against Zach Davies for the Brewers.

This is the Aztecs’ second team academic honor in the program’s young history

Source: goaztecs.com press release

Photo: goaztecs.com

August 2, 2016 (San Diego) - The San Diego State women's lacrosse team was honored by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) for outstanding academic achievement, the organization announced. The Aztecs were named an IWLCA Academic Honor Squad for posting a grade point average over 3.0 during the 2015-16 school year.