Photo: Newly dozed driveway, with Ben Good's home/barn in background
April 17, 2024 (Pine Valley, CA) -- Neighbors have secured nearly 1,800 signatures on a petition opposing plans to build a cemetery on 38 acres of land about 2.5 miles east of La Posta Ranch, just south of Interstate 8 and Old Highway 80. The cemetery proposed by SD Crescentwood Services would provide burial space for Muslims in San Diego County, which currently has no Muslim cemetery.
Residents’ primary concern is over potential groundwater contamination, since the graveyard would be over the EPA-designated sole-source aquifer that residents in several backcountry communities rely upon for well water. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported on cemeteries’ potential impacts on public health, when close to aquifers or other water sources.
April 17, 2024 (La Posta) -- There was a glaring error on the Major Use Permit application filed with the County of San Diego on April 6, 2023 for the proposed Crescentwood Cemetery: the address listed for the project, at 35252 Old Highway 80 in La Posta.
But 35252 is also the location of Ben and Trina Good’s green clapboard home, which sits across Old Highway 80 from the 38 acres where Crescentwood wants to build a new cemetery. The proposed cemetery land has a “parcel number” -- but no assigned street address. So the applicants, SD Crescentwood Services, used the Good’s address on their application.
April 17, 2024 (Spring Valley) – Sheriff’s deputies from the Rancho San Diego Station responded to a call yesterday morning reporting that someone was trying to break into a residence in the 800 block of La Presa in Spring Valley. Deputies entered and found a female victim with head trauma.
“Deputies immediately began life saving measures until relieved by paramedics. Unfortunately, the victim passed away on scene” says Lieutenant Michael Krugh. She has been identified as Ashley Bird, 35.
The suspect,Christopher Bird,39, was later found deceased in a vehicle.His body was found by law enforcement in Orange County.
April 16, 2024 (El Cajon) -- John Paul Campbell, 37, a suspect in the April 9 death of a homeless man in El Cajon was apprehended on April 12 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agents.
The victim, Robert Mansi, 41, was found by El Cajon Police officers responding to an assault near 100 West Main Street at 3 a.m. on April 9. He died at the scene with injuries consistent with blunt force trauma. His death has been classified as a homicide.
April 15, 2024 (Pine Valley) – A Pine Valley woman, 61, was struck and killed Saturday morning while walking on the shoulder along Pine Boulevard south of Rocky Pass. The victim was Mary Lombard Stewart, according to her husband, Brian Stewart.
“The sirens were for my wife Mary, who was struck from behind while walking to our house on Valley View Trail,” he posted on Facebook. “My wife did not survive the impact.”
April 15, 2024 (El Cajon) – An El Cajon man, 38, was struck and killed on April 13 while walking in the #2 lane on westbound Interstate 8, near East Main Street in El Cajon.
Hopefully, this exhibit will be the first of many more to come. This East County Artist's type of art would be perfect for Earth Day!
By Mimi Pollack, San Diego Jewish World, a member of the San Diego Online News Association
April 15, 2024 (San Diego) -- When immigrants first arrive, everything is new for them, and they must work to repurpose their life. Many volunteers, including Roni Breite, guide them in doing that.
In a similar way, Breite gives new life to discarded objects she finds and fashions them into her own unique designs. The display she had at the First Annual Artists’ Showcase at Tifereth Israel Synagogue in San Carlos earlier this month was fascinating.
You’re invited to our next East County Dining Club event! This event benefits East County Magazine and our East County Wildfire & Emergency alerts. Everyone is welcome to attend our event at this popular new eatery founded by chefs with international experience!
Photo: Iranian missiles over Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, courtesy of Mehr News Service under a Creative Commons 4.0 license.
April 14, 2024 (San Diego) -- Iran’s drone and missile attack against Israel that began Saturday evening in the Mideast was quickly condemned by the governor, San Diego lawmakers and Jewish community leaders.
Council supports state bill making distribution of hate flyers on private property a civil rights violation, retains controversial ban on remote public comments
By Michael Howard
Photo: Vice Mayor Laura Lothian discusses State Assembly Bill 3024 during April 9 La Mesa City Council Meeting.
April 14, 2024 (La Mesa, CA) – The La Mesa City Council continues to grapple with a balance between free speech protected by the U.S. Constitution and hate speech that just doesn’t seem to go away.
In its latest action, the Council voted 4-1 on Tuesday to adopt a resolution to support state bill AB 3024, the Stop Hate Littering Act, introduced by Assemblymember Chris Ward.
That bill adds language to section 51.7 of the current California State Civil Code to further define “intimidation by threat of violence” to include “distribution of hateful materials on private property of another without authorization for the purpose of terrorizing the owner or occupant of that private property or in reckless disregard of the risk of terrorizing the owner or occupant of that private property.”
CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters
April 13, 2024 (San Diego) -- A new bill would make it illegal for homeless residents to camp in certain places, such as near schools, throughout California. Its authors say such a ban has had great success in San Diego. But a closer look at that city paints a more nuanced picture.
Politicians pushing to make homeless encampments illegal across wide swaths of California point to one city as proof it will work.
This coverage was made possible in part by a grant from the A-Mark Foundation.
By Anita Lightfoot, County of San Diego Communications Office
April 13, 2024 (San Diego) -- The Health and Human Services Agency’s 2024 Live Well San Diego Public Health Champion Awards Ceremony was held on Friday, April 5, 2024. This event honored 12 local people and organizations for their outstanding contributions in the prevention of disease or injury and the promotion of public health for all San Diegans.
The annual awards ceremony is held during National Public Health Week, a time to recognize the importance of public health and improving the nation’s health overall.
April 12, 2024 (Julian) -- Fort Cross Old Timey Adventures, invites you to their 9th annual Lilac Festival event on Saturdays and Sundays starting April 20 and will go on through Mother’s Day Weekend, May 12, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The outdoor educational farm that specializes in living history field trips, is also home to five acres of beautifully fragrant lilacs near the town of Julian.
Fort Cross is the largest lilac farm in Southern California that sells fresh-cut bouquets directly to the public, and will have different lilac varieties available for purchase 7 days a week as soon as the flowers are in bloom.
April 12, 2024 (City Heights) – Vibrant new public murals now adorn the exterior of City Heights Plaza del Sol, an affordable housing complex in the heart of San Diego’s City Heights community. The murals are the latest addition to a series of ArtReach Murals created under lead artist Josué Baltézar.
April 12, 2024 (Rancho San Diego, CA) — Cuyamaca College invites you to celebrate the season at its Spring Festival on Saturday, May 4 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year’s event is hosted by the Ornamental Horticultural Dept. and Heritage of the Americas Museum.
April 12, 2024 (San Diego) -- Refresh your closet for spring, sustainably! Bring clothing in good condition, and swap with other community members for new-to-you outfits.
Join Sydney Williams for a hike, a book signing + discussion of her new book, Hiking Your Feeling: Blazing a Trail to Self-Love
April 12, 2024 (San Diego) -- Turn your pain into power. Part inspirational memoir, part practical guide, Hiking Your Feelings offers a toolkit to unpack your “trauma pack” and step into the best version of yourself.
Join wellness advocate and wilderness guide Sydney Williams for a book signing and discussion of her new book, Hiking Your Feeling: Blazing a Trail to Self-Love, as well as a guided walk through the park. The book will be available for purchase at the MTRP gift shop.
April 11, 2024 (El Cajon) – Recent rains have brought spring flowers. Robert Gehr sent in these photos of beautiful blooms in his El Cajon neighborhood.
By Shauni Lyles, County of San Diego Communications Office
April 11, 2024 (Lakeside) -- The County took steps Wednesday to add more space and species protection to land at El Monte Road in Lakeside. The Board of Supervisors approved the donation of 75 acres of land next to El Capitan County Preserve.
County Parks Department officials said the land fits into the County’s Multiple Species Conservation Plan (MSCP) area. The additional acreage expands the County’s MSCP preserve to nearly 46,300 acres.
RBCF, an affiliate of San Diego Foundation, will also support music programs for RB Symphony on the Green.
April 11, 2024 (Rancho Bernardo) -- Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation (RBCF), an affiliate of San Diego Foundation, announced the availability of grant funding to enhance the quality of life for those who live, work and play in Rancho Bernardo.
“In our 36th year, RBCF looks forward to supporting projects demonstrating the power to build a more vibrant community,” shared Daniel Wilson, RBCF Grants Chair. “Organizations that serve the Rancho Bernardo community can submit applications for programs involving music for awards between $1,500 and $5,000 from the RB Symphony on the Green Fund. Awards up to $10,000 will also be granted to programs that inspire community pride, revitalization and increase the quality of life of the broader community.”
Photo: (L to R) Denise Ricci, Misty Skeen and Beatriz Chapman, who have all been with the Sharp Grossmont Care Clinic since it opened in 2018
April 11, 2024 (La Mesa) -- Misty Skeen was so sure she wanted a career in health care that she started volunteering in her local hospital’s emergency department when she was just 14 years old. Now, as a longtime Sharp employee and a lead nurse of the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Care Clinic, she says she wouldn’t change a thing.
“I was very passionate about nursing as a profession and health care in general,” says Skeen, who continued volunteering throughout her time in nursing school. “I thought nursing would really suit me because I like interacting with patients and families and having the time to help educate them while we form that personal connection.”
The Care Clinic, which serves patients with urgent, non-life-threatening medical needs, opened its doors at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in April 2018. Skeen, who has been with the clinic from the beginning, says her favorite thing about their work is that they make a positive impact on the community every day.
Experience inclusive fun with amazing activity stations, resources and a starlit movie screening—celebrate community for all. Free event!
East County News Service
April 11, 2024 (San Diego) -- Picture this! As the afternoon is in full swing, families gather at The Salvation Army Kroc Center Field for an unforgettable inclusive experience.
Kids of all abilities explore captivating activity stations, including the out-of-this-world Light Saber Creation Station, underwater Nemo Sensory Tent, enchanting Olaf Snowball Toss, a magical Wizarding World and more. Parents are able to connect with helpful resource services and providers, gaining valuable insights and family support.
April 10, 2024 (Spring Valley) – The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department is seeking Sean Arkward, 54, for suspicion of setting fire to an occupied home in Spring Valley.
After receiving a call on April 9 around 7:35 p.m. from a resident reporting that their house was on fire in the 900 block of Sacramento Avenue in Spring Valley, Deputies from the Rancho San Diego Sheriff's Station along with the San Miguel Fire Department responded to the location. Units arrived within minutes and found several small fires throughout several rooms in the home.
April 10, 2024 (La Mesa) -- The critically-acclaimed and award-winning Kidz Danz Kompany, San Diego’s premier children’s dance company, presents “Colors”, KDK’s 30th Anniversary show, at the MP Dance Performance Space (8674 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91942) on April 19-27, 2024 @ 7pm.
April 10, 2024 (San Diego) – I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) is set to host the 22nd annual Creek to Bay Cleanup on Saturday, April 20, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The event is the region’s largest one-day environmental volunteer effort in celebration of Earth Month, with nearly 100 cleanup sites around the county, including many East County locations. I Love A Clean San Diego expects thousands of volunteers of all ages to participate. Residents can register to volunteer now at cleansd.org/creektobay.
April 10, 2024 (Julian) – For Julian residents, preserving the dark sky is a way of life. Designated as an International Dark Sky Community in 2021, Julian is part of the mere 1% of the U.S. where the Milky Way remains visible.
The mountain town’s mission recently faced a challenge when the brightness of fourteen newly installed streetlights exceeded dark sky community standards — prompting the Julian Dark Sky Network to seek assistance from my office.
April 10, 2024 (Santee) -- Tuesday, the Senate Public Safety Committee unanimously approved Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones’s (R-San Diego) bipartisan Senate Bill 1074, called the “Sexually Violent Predator Accountability, Fairness, and Enforcement Act” (SAFE Act). Click here for SB 1074 the factsheet and here for more information about the bill and SVP issue.
By David R. Shorey, East County Program Director, Institute for Public Strategies
April 9, 2024 (San Diego) -- On January 22, 2024, floods displaced more than a thousand San Diego County residents and severely damaged thousands of homes. Many affected were East County residents, with parts of Spring Valley and Lemon Grove hit hardest. In the wake of a disaster like this, it's not uncommon for individuals to turn to alcohol, prescription medications, or other substances as a means of coping. The upheaval, stress, and trauma triggered by such events can lead some to seek solace in these substances, believing they provide an escape from the turmoil. What may seem like a reprieve can quickly spiral into a long-term struggle, exacerbating existing problems and creating new ones.
The aftermath of a traumatic event often brings about heightened anxiety, depression, muscle tension, and sleep disturbances, driving some to self-medicate with alcohol or drugs. While these substances may seem to offer temporary relief, they ultimately disrupt natural sleep cycles, jeopardize physical health, strain relationships, and pave the way for dependence and addiction.
April 9, 2024 (Crest, CA) – A 53-year-old El Cajon man has died of injuries sustained in a collision yesterday on Crest.
The victim was driving a 2014 Yamaha YZF R1 motorcycle at around 50 miles per hour eastbound on La Cresta Road, west of Coyote Ridge, around 5:10 p.m. when a Kia Forte pulled out of a driveway to make a left turn, causing the motorcycle to hit her vehicle.
April 9, 2024 (La Mesa) – The City of La Mesa installed its first High-Intensity Activated CrossWalk (HAWK) signal at the intersection of Jessie Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard in an effort to enhance pedestrian safety.
By Kirsten Andelman
By Kirsten Andelman
East County News Service
East County News Service
East County News Service
Hopefully, this exhibit will be the first of many more to come. This East County Artist's type of art would be perfect for Earth Day!
By 
Council supports state bill making distribution of hate flyers on private property a civil rights violation, retains controversial ban on remote public comments
By 
By 
East County News Service
East County News Service
East County News Service
East County News Service
East County News Service
April 11, 2024 (El Cajon) – Recent rains have brought spring flowers. Robert Gehr sent in these photos of beautiful blooms in his El Cajon neighborhood.
By 
RBCF, an affiliate of San Diego Foundation, will also support music programs for RB Symphony on the Green.
By Sharp HealthCare
Experience inclusive fun with amazing activity stations, resources and a starlit movie screening—celebrate community for all. Free event!
East County News Service
East County News Service
Source: I Love a Clean San Diego
By Supervisor Joel Anderson
Source: Senator Brian W. Jones’ office
By David R. Shorey, East County Program Director, Institute for Public Strategies
East County News Service
Source: City of La Mesa
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