East County News Service

April 21, 2016 (San Diego's East County) -- Grossmont Union High School District is seeking applications to fill a vacancy within the eleven-member Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC). The CBOC oversees the implementation of Proposition U, the $417 million general obligation bond measure passed in November 2008, to bring facility improvements and renovations to the district’s schools.

The appointee will serve a two-year term beginning June 2016, in the capacity of “Parent-at-Large” and will be eligible for up to two additional two-year terms, with the condition that the appointee must have a child or children continuously enrolled in a District school for all term periods. Deadline to apply is May 24 and there is a June 9 hearing.

In order to apply, you must….

By Miriam Raftery

April 20, 2016 (Sacramento) – Despite intense opposition from more than 100 Californians at a grueling 3-hour hearing on April 13^th, the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee approved Assembly Bill 2395 by a 10 to 3 vote.  View hearing video on CalChannel.  (Click on AB 2395 to hear testimony).  The measure would allow elimination of land line telephones in many parts of California.

East County News Service

April 20, 2016 (Spring Valley) - The Spring Valley Planning Group will hold a special workshop meeting regard the old Pointe Property at Sweetwater Springs and Jamacha Blvd. known as Sweetwater Vistas, where 243 residential units are proposed.  The meeting will be held on Monday, April 25 at 7 p.m. at the Otay Water District meeting room, lower level, 2553 Sweetwater Springs Blvd.

Update April 23, 2016:  County staff has responded to ECM questions on this issue.  View their response here.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left: Elaine Lyttle, Hatfield Creek Winery & Vineyard, says the county's "priorites are wrong" and faults excessive regulations for stifling her award-winning winery in Ramona.

April 20,2016 (Ramona) –  Leaders in Ramona’s burgeoning wine industry warn in correspondence to Supervisors that Ramona’s wine industry could die on the vine as a result of changes proposed to the County’s Boutique and Small Wineries Regulations.

 The changes are set for hearing by Supervisors on Wednesday, April 27 at 9 a.m. at the County Administration Center (Room310, 1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego).  View agenda and hearing announcement. 

Two versions of the ordinance will be up for consideration, one approved by the Planning Commission, the other a recommendation by staff of Planning & Development Services. One important note: legal challenges may be limited only to issues raised at a public hearing or in written correspondence delivered to the hearing body at or before the hearing, according to the hearing notice.

April 20, 2016 (Lemon Grove) -- The City of Lemon Grove, along with its fire department, Heartland Fire & Rescue, will be taking steps to clear brush from eight and a-half acres near Lawton Drive and Camino De Las Palmas in Lemon Grove. Goats will be used as part of the process in clearing heavy brush to minimize fire danger and help create defensible space for homes in this area.

ELM began delivering 150 adult and 50 juvenile goats (kids) on Monday, April 18, 2016^. The brush clearing event will last approximately 2 weeks. The goats may be visible to those traveling along the 125 freeway in the area of Lemon Grove during this weed abatement process.

April 20, 2016 (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

• What Elections Have San Diego Political Candidates Missed? (KPBS)
• San Diego County Water Authority Files Lawsuit Against MWD (KPBS)
• MTS Compass Card Was Insecure From The Beginning (KPBS)
• DA won’t file charges against Supervisor Dave Roberts (KPBS)
• Political fine from 2012 mayor's race sets record (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• The California Democrat setting the national agenda (Atlantic)
• Hunter repaid funds spent on surf shop, garage door (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• San Diego County Crime Rate Up 6 Percent (KPBS)

STATE

• Harris Questioned For Representing Gov. Brown During San Onofre Probe (KPBS)
• Donald Trump to speak at California Republican convention (Sacramento Bee)
•  Your Speeding Ticket Might Not Be Enforceable (Voice of SD)
• Calif. university spent $175,000 to counter negative Internet posts: newspaper  (Reuters)
• State nabs more than 80 for unlicensed contracting(San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Brickbat: Youthful Offender taken off terrorist watch list (Reason)

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

Listen to Destination East County, also aired on KNSJ, by clicking the audio link.

We thank the County of San Diego for a Community Enhancement Grant supporting Destination East County.

East County News Service

April 20, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes a Wings of Freedom Vintage Air Show, Earth Day activities,  Lakeside’s Western Days Parade, a Beethoven to Broadway concert, a Spring Garden Festival and an Artist’s reception.

Plus we’ll have previews of coming attractions including an Arbor Day celebration, the launch of El Cajon’s Dinner and a Concert series, a hike on the El Monte Flume Trail, the Coyote Music Festival and more.

So stay tuned for all of these events and more.

Source: Monica Zech, Public Information Officer for the City of El Cajon

April 20, 2016 (El Cajon) – From the launch of Cajon Classic Cruises to Earth Day cleanup and the El Cajon Relay for Life and much more, here are highlights of activities coming up in El Cajon over the next month.

By Miriam Raftery

April 20, 2016 (Washington D.C.) – A woman’s place is on the money. That was the slogan of “Women on 20s,” a group that launched a national effort to put a woman’s face on our twenty dollar bills.  The group held a national vote, with abolitionist leader Harriet Tubman named their number one choice.

By Miriam Raftery

April 20, 2016 (San Diego) – Frontrunners widened their leads in yesterday’s New York presidential primary, where three of the five contenders had strong New York ties.

New York’s former Senator Hillary Clinton won with 58% percent of the vote, picking up 139 delegates.  But Senator Bernie Sanders, who was raised in Brooklyn, got 42% and picked up 106 of the delegates.

On the Republican side, New York businessman Donald Trump scored a resounding victory with 60, winning 89 delegates. In second place, Ohio Governor John Kasich got 25% and earned 3 delegates.  Texas Senator Ted Cruz, with just 14.5%, was shut out of receiving any delegates.

La Mesa-Spring Valley Schools Vice-President Emma Turner appointed to leadership positions for the National School Boards Association during annual conference in Boston, MA.

Source:  La Mesa-Spring Valley Schools press release

April 19, 2016 (La Mesa) - Emma Turner, Vice-President of the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District Board of Education, was elected to the position of Chair of the National Black Council (NBC) of National School Boards Association (NSBA) and also installed as a member of the Board of Directors of the NSBA at their annual conference on April 11, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts.  During the two-year term of office, Dr. Turner will be the leading educational advocate for providing a quality education for all African American students across the nation, as well as all students.  Dr. Turner will also serve as a spokesperson for issues that impact the education of African American youth.

Records also shattered worldwide for third consecutive month

East County News Service

April 19, 2016 (San Diego) – As citizens around the world prepare to commemorate the 36^th anniversary of Earth Day this week, signs of climate change are increasingly evident on a local and national scale.

East County News Service

April 19, 2016 (Pine Valley) -- CALFIRE, in cooperation with Corte Madera Ranch, will be conducting a prescribed burn approximately 5 miles south of Pine Valley today.

California Coast Credit Union launches social media video contest to benefit local schools

East County News Service

April 19, 2016 (San Diego) – California Coast Credit Union, the oldest financial institution based in San Diego, with over $2 billion in assets, has launched a superhero-themed video contest to help raise money

for local schools. The Superhero Video Contest runs from April 1 to July 31 and contestants can win up to $1,500 for a school of their choice located in San Diego or Riverside County, plus $1,500 for themselves.

East County News Service

February 19, 2016 (San Diego)--The East County based Chorus of 80 with 48 piece symphony orchestra is celebrating its 15th season performing choral masterworks and popular music in a beautiful venue to audiences of up to 1200 people. This spring concert includes Beethoven's  "Choral Fantasy" from the Ninth Symphony. Rarely performed, this magnificent  piece includes  6 soloists from the San Diego Opera and well-known San Diego concert pianist Sylvia Hartman. Dvorak's powerful "Psalm 49" is next. 

This was the composer of the "New World Symphony" with its famous "Going Home" theme.  Then we perform "100 Years of Broadway" from Irving Berlin and Richard Rodgers to Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber.