Lemon Grove

DRIVER HITS ROAD DEBRIS DURING STORM THEN STRIKES POLE; DIES AT SCENE

By Jessyka Heredia

 

January 27, 2024 (Lemon Grove) -- Monday’s storm claimed the life of a motorist, Harold James Hooker, 67, in Lemon Grove.

He was driving a Honda CRV sport utility vehicle (SUV) southbound on Lemon Grove Avenue around 5:30 p.m. when he struck a large piece of concrete debris on the roadway during the storm. His vehicle traveled up an embankment and struck a utility pole.


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EAST COUNTY EATER FINDS HIDDEN GEM AT LEMON GROVE BISTRO

By Jessyka Heredia

 

January 23, 2024 (Lemon Grove) – The age-old question always comes up: what do you want for dinner? Look no further than Lemon Grove Bistro located at 3308 Main Street in what used to be the cherished Sonka’s General Store in 1944 and the Lemon Grove Pastry Shop of years past.


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LEMON GROVE GARDEN AND NATURE CLUB HOSTS PLANT SWAP

By: Jessyka Heredia

January 22, 2024 (Lemon Grove) – The Lemon Grove Garden and Nature Clubs monthly plant swap is taking place at Treganza Park in Lemon Grove on Saturday January 27, 2024.This free event goes from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.


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GROOVIN IN THE GROVE BAND OPEN MIC EVENT

By: Jessyka Heredia

 

January 22, 2024 (Lemon Grove) — Lemon Grove Happenings in collaboration with Elevated Coffee, and the Musicians Club of San Diego are hosting ‘Groovin’ in the Grove’, a band open mic event at Elevated Coffee Sunday January 28, 2024, from 2:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.


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CITY OF LEMON GROVE LOOKING FOR COMMUNITY INPUT ON REVITALIZING DOWNTOWN

 

By: Jessyka Heredia

 

January 22, 2024 (Lemon Grove) -- The City of Lemon Grove announced last week that it received a planning grant for the Lemon Grove Rezoning & Downtown Specific Plan Expansion (DSPE) Project. under SANDAG’s Housing Acceleration Program for Projects. The amount awarded was $300,000 in grant funds with a $33,500 (10%) in-kind match for a total project cost of $333,500.


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STORM WREAKS HAVOC ACROSS REGION

By Miriam Raftery

Updated January 23, 2024 to include city and county of San Diego declaring an emergency

January 22, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – Heavy rains during today’s storm caused widespread flooding, road closures, power outages, and inundation of vehicles and structures including an East County school. Flooding also prompted numerous rescues including motorists trapped in vehicles in Spring Valley and Lemon Grove, as well as homeless people stranded by rising waters along the San Diego River in Santee.

Richard Attaway took dramatic  photos  (left) of Mission Gorge Road in Santee just east of  Carlton Hills Boulevard, where he said “there are homeless clinging on trees for their lives in the river bed.” One video showed a woman stranded on an island surrounded by swift-flowing currents. Numerous emergency crews were on hand and at least one person was rescued from the floodwaters.


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MENDOZA ORDERED TO PAY $32,000 IN LEGAL FEES AFTER LOSING ANTI-SLAPP SUIT AWARDED TO LEBARON

By Jessyka Heredia

 

January 5, 2023 (Lemon Grove) – Tuesday during a hearing over Zoom, Superior Court Judge Peter A. Lynch ruled that Lemon Grove Councilmember Jennifer Mendoza must pay fellow Councilmember Liana LeBaron’s $32,000 in legal fees from an anti SLAPP suit filed by LeBaron.


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BLOOD DRIVES IN SANTEE AND LEMON GROVE

 

December 27,2023 (East County) -- The San Diego Blood Bank will hold blood drives in January in Lemon Grove and Santee:


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LEMON GROVE CITY EMPLOYEES RECEIVE A 3% RAISE; CITY MANAGER RECEIVES 5.5%

 

By: Jessyka Heredia

Watch video here

 

December 22, 2023 (Lemon Grove) – Lemon Grove’s City Council on Tuesday voted 3-0 (with Councilmembers Liana LeBaron and George Gastil both absent) for a 3% raise for all non-contracted employees. The Council also approved an amendment for a 3% increase to the City Managers pay, a half percent increase above what her contract states as well as an additional 2.5 making a total of 5.5% increase.


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LEMON GROVE TOY DRIVE STILL ACCEPTING DONATIONS

By: Jessyka Heredia

 

December 15, 2023 (Lemon Grove) – The Lemon Grove Toy Drive is on its fourth year of providing free toys to Lemon Grove kids. Kids Fashion Week Network’s (KFWN) annual Toy Drive and Giveaway has become a staple in the community of Lemon Grove. Last year over 700 toys were collected at local businesses throughout Lemon Grove and were later distributed to residents at a festive holiday giveaway. 


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LEMON GROVE IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL RECEIVES 100 SLEEPING BAG COATS FROM THE LUCKY DUCK FOUNDATION

By: Jessyka Heredia

 

December 12, 2023 (Lemon Grove)—Back in October, founding member of the Lemon Grove Improvement Council (LGIC) Teresa Rosiak received 100 sleeping bags that convert into warm coats for the unsheltered. Rosiak has already distributed over 75 of them directly to the homeless in Lemon Grove during her group’s weekly volunteer outreach.


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LEMON GROVE VOTES TO ADOPT NEW MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENT REGULATIONS

By Jessyka Heredia

WATCH FULL VIDEO HERE

Article updated to clartify the views of applicant Pick Axe Holdings and not the opinion of ECM. 

December 6, 2023 (LEMON GROVE)— Lemon Grove is home to 12 massage facilities and is making new policies to cut the number of massage establishments down to eight, require background checks for all owners and managers and display of their therapist certificate issued by the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC). The ordinance will also regulate what hours they can operate and set other rules.


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LEMON GROVE APPROVES MAJOR PARK UPGRADES ALMOST ENTIRELY FROM PROP 68 GRANT FUNDS

WATCH FULL VIDEO HERE

By Jessyka Heredia

An earlier version of this artile mistakenly reported the Council voted 5-0. The vote was 4-1with LeBaron voting no.

December 6, 2023 (Lemon Grove) —Yesterday the Lemon Grove City Council unanimously voted to move forward with installing all new playground structures at Lemon Grove Park, thanks to the Proposition 68 Per Capita Grant Program. This non-competitive grant program provides funding to local government agencies to support the rehabilitation, creation and improvement of local parks and to address deficiencies in neighborhoods lacking access to outdoor recreation facilities. Lemon Grove currently only has two parks with playground equipment and a recreation center that lost all funding over 12 years ago.


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LEMON GROVE HOSTS HOLIDAY BONFIRE DECEMBER 3

East County News Service

November 17, 2023 (Lemon Grove ) -- The City of Lemon Grove will host its 24th annual holiday bonfire on December 3 from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Treganza Park (3200 Main St., Lemon Grove.)

The event includes live music, food booths, arts and crafts, a rock climbing wall, game truck, cookies and hot chocolate, and a giant bonfire to light the night.


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LEMON GROVE COUNCIL APPROVES A 3% RAISE FOR PUBLIC WORKS DESPITE NOT HAVING A SIGNED UNION CONTRACT

 

By Jessyka Heredia

Watch full video here.

 

October 9, 2023 (Lemon Grove)—On Tuesday, Lemon Grove councilmembers Allysson Snow and Jennifer Mendoza teamed up to have a 3% wage increase on the agenda for the public works department and bypass waiting on the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 127 union’s negotiations that have been going on for several months. Mayor Raquel Vasquez was very adamant that this could set a dangerous precedent in the future.


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INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL CELEBRATION HONORS VETERANS NOV. 11 IN LEMON GROVE

East County News Service

November 9, 2023 (Lemon Grove) – Thrive Lemon Grove invites community members to an International Cultural Celebration honoring veterans on Saturday,  November 11 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Treganza Heritage Park (3200 Main St., Lemon Grove).

Enjoy cultural performances, mouthwatering international cuisine, a vibrant kid zone, arts and crafts vendors, and much more.


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LEMON GROVE APPROVES ADDITIONAL $139,000 TO REDESIGN SEWER REHABILITATION PROJECT

By Jessyka Heredia

WATCH FULL VIDEO HERE

October 16, 2023 (Lemon Grove)—Earlier this month the Lemon Grove City Council voted to approve adding additional revenue to an already existing contract with Rick Engineering Company for a sewer rehabilitation project that was previously approved with a winning bid from Rick Engineering not to exceed $508,694 even after a buffer of $25,306 in contingency funds was included.


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LEMON GROVE FORWARD CLUB’S 2ND ANNUAL SOCKTOBER EVENT TO HELP EAST COUNTY’S UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS IS UNDERWAY

 

October 13, 2023 (Lemon Grove) -- The Lemon Grove Forward Club is aiming to get warm new, unused socks directly into the hands of the unhoused in Lemon Grove and the rest of East County. The Forward Club was able to collect over 1100 pairs of socks last year and they are hoping this year to reach over 1600 pairs.


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GLOBE FOR ALL IS BACK IN LEMON GROVE OCT. 25

By Helen Ofield, Lemon Grove Historical Society

 

October 11, 2023 (Lemon Grove) -- Globe For All, the innovative traveling troupe that brings the Bard to Lemon Grove, will stage a free, fun performance of The Comedy of Errors.


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LEMON GROVE LIONS CLUB DONATES $500 TO TRANSCENDANCE

East County News Service
 
September 30, 2023 (Lemon Grove) -- On Wednesday, during their regular monthly business meeting, the Lemon Grove Lions Club generously donated $500 to transcenDANCE Youth Arts Project. The latter organization is renowned nationwide for its dedication to creative youth development, specifically focusing on empowering young individuals in underprivileged communities across San Diego.
 
The President of the Lemon Grove Lions, Ken Burke, had the honor of presenting the check to Steph Walch, the Managing Director of transcenDANCE, who gratefully accepted the donation on behalf of the organization.

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"HISTORY ALIVE" OCT. 5 IN LEMON GROVE FEATURES FAMOUS BUFFALO SOLDIERS

East County News Service

September 23, 2023 (Lemon Grove) -- The Lemon Grove Historical Society’s 45th annual free "History Alive" lecture series will present the story of the Buffalo Soldiers, led by Trooper Rachel Hilliard (photo,left), founder and president of the San Diego Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers, and several troop members. This special presentation will take place on Thursday, October 5 at 5 p.m. at the H. Lee House Cultural Center,3205 Olive Street in Lemon Grove.

“This extraordinary organization played a major role in America's westward expansion as they helped and saved many wagon trains of migrants, seeking farmland, pasturage and places to establish towns,”says Helen Ofield, historian to the board of the LGHS. “On every level, the Buffalo Soldiers are at the heart of American history. Don't miss this uniformed presentation.”


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PASSAGES: JOHN MENDOZA, (1944-2023) RETIRED GROCERY WORKER AND HUSBAND OF COUNCILMEMBER JENNIFER MENDOZA

East County News Service
 
September 12, 2023 (Lemon Grove) – John Mendoza, a retired grocery worker, active community volunteer and husband of Lemon Grove Councilmember Jennifer Mendoza, died of a heart attack on September 3.
 
Councilmember Mendoza made the announcement “with a heavy heart” on Facebook, recalling him as “an amazing husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, Lion, Christian.”

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ADVANCING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES: MAKING LEMON GROVE CLEANER, SAFER AND MORE FAMILY FRIENDLY

By David R. Shorey, East County Program Manager, Institute for Public Strategies

September 3, 2023 (Lemon Grove) -- Lemon Grove’s main business corridor on Broadway is the center of commerce, but the physical environment of the area is suffering. Community leaders recently took to the streets to conduct a comprehensive assessment of their neighborhood along Broadway. It was an inspiring display of community engagement and commitment to positive change to shed light on issues like drug and alcohol harm, blight, walkability, and other areas needing of improvement. This June walk on a Saturday morning reflects the strong sense of community among Lemon Grove's residents and underscores the urgency to address pressing concerns through collaborative efforts.


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LEMON GROVE PICKLEBALL CLUB GAINS SUPPORT OF CITY COUNCIL AND SCHOOL BOARD

By Jessyka Heredia

Watch full video here: https://youtu.be/9eVR6E2iT-Q?si=ruAipWxlOeyjnYcX

August 31, 2023 (Lemon Grove) – Yesterday the Lemon Grove Pickleball and Social Club attended the annual joint meeting between the city council and school board. The group of pickleballers came in energetic and excited to promote a healthy lifestyle and neighborhood unity through America’s fastest growing sport.


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MAYOR OF LEMON GROVE GIVES STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS

By Jessyka Heredia

 

August 18, 2023 (Lemon Grove) – Approximately 50 people were in attendance earlier this month at the Lemon Grove Library to hear what Mayor Raquel Vasquez, the city council and staff has accomplished this past year and what is planned moving forward for Lemon Grove.


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JUDGE DENIES MENDOZA’S REQUEST TO EXTEND RESTRAINING ORDER , MAY ORDER HER TO PAY LEGAL FEES IN LEBARON’S ANTI-SLAPP SUIT

 

By Jessyka Heredia

Watch Full Video Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wkN9EZZbEw

 

August 15, 2023 (Lemon Grove) -- Lemon Grove Councilmember Liana LeBaron came out as the lone victor in the restraining order filed back in February by Councilmember Jennifer Mendoza Monday at the El Cajon Superior court. Mendoza may also have to pay LeBaron’s legal fees in an anti-SLAPP suit (Strategic Lawsuit against A Public Participation) counter suit filed by LeBaron.


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MURAL DEPICTING LEMON GROVE HISTORY REINSTALLED AFTER BEING REMOVED TO PROTECT THEM

By: Jessyka Heredia

August 14, 2023 (Lemon Grove) -- There is a new bistro coming to Lemon Grove in what was formerly the Lemon Grove Bakery. Located at 3308 Main Street, the building has a long history that has  been the center of town ever since and Lemon Grove Bistro will be the next business to keep this historical building alive.


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LEMON GROVE ADOPTS EMERGENCY SHELTER ORDINANCE TO COMBAT HOMELESSNESS IN THE EAST COUNTY

By Jessyka Heredia

Photos provided by Shane O'Garro

 

August 1, 2023 (Lemon Grove) – On July 18, Lemon Grove was the fourth city in East County to pass an emergency ordinance that will pave the way to hopefully having more shelter beds in East County and sharing the burden with other East County cities by applying for grant money as a region instead of individual cities The Council voted 4-0 with Liana LeBaron  absent.


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DANIEL ETHRIDGE WANTED FOR MARCH MURDER IN LEMON GROVE

 

$1,000 reward for info leading to arrest of suspect, who is considered armed and dangerous

Source: San Diego Sheriff's Department

July 26, 2023 (Lemon Grove) -- Do you recognize this man? He is Daniel Ethridge, 34, and he is wanted in connection with a homicide in Lemon Grove earlier this year.

On March 18 around 10:00 p.m., deputies from the Lemon Grove Sheriff's Substation responded to a report of a shooting in the 2800 block of Lemon Grove Avenue. While searching the area, deputies found Gregory Moore, 39, unconscious in a car at the intersection of Lemon Grove Avenue and San Miguel Avenue. He was later pronounced dead.

Sheriff's Homicide Investigators have identified Ethridge as a suspect. He has an active arrest warrant for homicide and is believed to be associated with a local street gang. Ethridge has prior convictions for assault with a deadly weapon and shooting into an inhabited dwelling.

He should be considered armed and dangerous, according to Lt. Joseph Janjura with the Sheriff’s homicide unit.


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