Click here to view  ECM’s video interview with Racquel Vasquez,Lemon Grove City Council candidate

Story by Miriam Raftery, video by Jack Winemiller

November 29, 2011 (Lemon Grove) Monday morning at 10:36 a.m., Lemon Grove Deputies responded to an armed robbery at Mobile.Com in the 7900 block of Broadway.

 
The first suspect was described as a black male juvenile 5’10”‐ 6'0'', thin build, wearing a dark colored hoodie, mask and dark shorts. This suspect was carrying a silver handgun. The second suspect was described as a black male juvenile, wearing a dark colored hoodie, and dark pants.

October 30, 2011 (Lemon Grove) – The San Diego Sheriff’s Homicide Unit is investigating the death of a taxi driver found with a gunshot wound following a rollover collision at 3:48 a.m. The crash occurred at 3445 Main Street in Lemon Grove.

By Miriam Raftery

September 20, 2011 (Lemon Grove) – Most visitors drive their vehicles onto a car dealership’s lot. But an out-of-control motorist dropped into Bob Baker’s dealership in Lemon Grove—literally--from above.

A white Toyota Scion has rolled off Highway 94 and landed on top of two new cars at the Bob Baker car dealership.

Melodrama takes stage Sept. 17-25

photograph by Pete Smith

August 1, 2011 (Lemon Grove)--The Lemon Grove Historical Society will prevent “a hilarious 19th century melodrama adopted to Lemon Grove, California,” says Helen Ofield, president of the organization. “He Ain’t Done Right By Nell” is set in 1906 in the heydey of the town's citrus packing industry.  Seven showings will be held from September 16 to September 25.

Update: The victim has been identified as Wesley Stewart Grove, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner. No other information has yet been released.

Update: View a video of the goat-run.

July 29, 2011 (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 one-half acres of land near Lawton Drive and Camino De Las Palmas. Goats will be used as part of the process in clearing heavy brush and creating defensible space for homes in this area.

ELM will begin work Saturday morning, creating a staging area and paddock at the end of Lawton Drive. The public is welcome to come by between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m. There will be a small nursery of baby goats for children to see, and ELM Operations Manager Johnny Gonzales will prepare his goats for the traditional “running of the goats” starting at 9:00 a.m.

July 3, 2011 (Lemon Grove) – Lon Scully, 74, was struck and killed around 2 a.m. Friday morning while attempting to cross the southbound lanes of State Route 125 north of Spring Street in La Mesa when he was struck by a silver Hyundai sedan, the San Diego Medical Examiner’s office reports.

The accident severed the victim’s legs and hurled his torso through the windshield, where it became lodged in the front seat, CHP spokesman Brian Pennings said, La Mesa’s Patch.com reported.

May 30, 2011 (Lemon Grove) -- The Avoid the 14 – San Diego County DUI Task Force conducted a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint Sunday evening on Broadway in Lemon Grove in conjunction with the Memorial Day holiday period.  A total of 1165 vehicle drivers were contacted during the checkpoint. The operation resulted in two DUI arrests, one warrant arrest, one arrest for public intoxication and 10 for drivers operating vehicles while their driving privileges were suspended or revoked. In addition, 14 vehicles were impounded.

A community leader and historian contends that the City's proposal to eliminate its recreation department is a lemon--and that residents will be squeezed.

By Helen Ofield, president, Lemon Grove Historical Society

April 26, 2011 (Lemon Grove) – [Councilman] Tom Clabby has given permission to release to you his response to Howard Cook's bizarre email. Please see below. Cook, who ran as a budget wizard, is evidently unable to fathom the same budget figures you and I have been reading.

Poison pen letters like the one to Tom, wild statements to media (Channel 10 a couple of days ago, Union-Trib, etc.) to spread inaccurate statements, skewering long-time, skilled, city employees, attempting to divide the council on trumped-up fiscal issues -- all of this is a throwback to the bad old days when we suffered with a rogue councilman, who also touted himself as a financial wizard. The said rogue has long since been discredited, but not before nearly destroying the Senior Center with his budget mismanagement. In other words, history is repeating itself.

April 8, 2011 (Lemon Grove) – By a 4-1 vote, the Lemon Grove City Council ordered staff to come up with a plan to shut down its Parks & Recreation Department, outsource programs for children and adults to the YMCA, but find a means to keep other functions of the department.

Those functions include leasing recreation buildings to community groups and operating city events, such as the holiday bonfire and concerts in the park. Staff will present its report to Council on May 3rd.

By Miriam Raftery

April 4, 2011 (Lemon Grove) – Faced with a budget gap, Lemon Grove City Council will consider four proposals at Tuesday's meeting for slashing costs in recreational services:

1) outsource youth programs to the Boys and Girls Club of East County;

2) Outsource both youth and adult services to the East County Family YMCA;

3) Combine contracting with one of those organizations to run some programs, while having a new Recreation Services Department handle others;

4) Completely eliminate the City’s Recreation Services Department—a move that could also end City-sponsored community events such as Concerts in the Park, Movie Night, and the annual holiday Bonfire.