Classical menu brings on flavor, nostalgia and a bit of surprise

East County News Service

September 15, 2017 (Lemon Grove) -- With a fast approaching debut next month, the neighborhood eatery, Giardino, has finalized its menu and looks forward to opening its doors to the Lemon Grove community. Featuring Italian inspired cuisine in a welcoming and casual setting, the menu will feature a variety of classic dishes found throughout Italy.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: ECM news partner 10 News

September 6, 2017 (Lemon Grove) – A 77-year-old San Diego woman parking her vehicle in Lemon Grove inexplicably drove through a window at a Nail salon, coming to rest 40 feet inside.

The vehicle struck a reception desk, partially pinning an employee against a wall.  The employee complained of arm pain and said she would seek medical attention. The driver complained of pain and was tended to by paramedics, who transported her to a hospital for evaluation.

Photo: Gastil, right, with UCSD Chancellor Pradeep Khosla's Community Advisory Board

By Jonathan Goetz

August 31, 2017 (San Diego) – Lemon Grove resident George Gastil, a professor, former school board and city council member, has been appointed to Chancellor Pradeep Khosla’s Community Advisory Board (CCAB) for the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). 

By Jonathan Goetz

August 28, 2017 (Lemon Grove) - The Lemon Grove Lions Club is hosting a Salsa y Salsa Fiesta to raise money to buy new bleachers for Lemon Grove Little League.

Lemon Grove Mayor Pro-Tem Jennifer Mendoza cited safety concerns with the current bleachers . “Lemon Grove is one of the poorest communities in San Diego,” she said. “Our Little League has been here for some fifty years and is showing its age, so our Lions Club adopted it as our project.”

By Jennifer Mendoza, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Lemon Grove

August 18, 2017 (Lemon Grove) -- Less than a year ago, the voters of Lemon Grove narrowly approved an ordinance to allow Medical Marijuana Dispensaries (MMD) to operate in our city. This ordinance was written by a coalition of MMD businesses and proponents. This same coalition is now unhappy with some of the language and restrictions they wrote into the ordinance. They wish to force the city to hold a special election in 2017, so that they can change the language.

East County News Service

August 9, 2017 (Lemon Grove) — A Sheriff’s deputy patrolling the Palm Street area in Lemon Grove recognized a face he’d seen on a Crime Stoppers Bulletin. Last night at 11 p.m., he arrested Rainier Raroque, 31, who was wanted for failing to register as a sex offender.

Lemon Grove kicked off its 40^th Birthday Celebration at Tuesday’s City Council meeting

Photo: (left to right) Councilman David Arambula, Councilman Jerry Jones, founding Councilman W. Dale Bailey, Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Mendoza, Mayor Racquel Vasquez, founding Councilman Jack Doherty, Councilman David Arambula, former Mayor Mary Sessom and her grandson, former Councilman Tom Clabby and Helen Ofield with the Lemon Grove Historical Society.

By Jonathan Goetz

August 3, 2017 (Lemon Grove) –  To commemorate the city’s 40^th birthday, Lemon Grove Mayor Racquel Vasquez presented certificates to founding Councilmembers W. Dale Bailey and Jack Doherty; Matt Jennings presented a certificate to the City from Senator Joel Anderson at this week’s Council meeting.

East County News Service

July 27, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - National Night Out Against Crime© is on Tuesday, August 1st. The Sheriff’s Department is inviting the public to a dozen different events all over the county, including East County events in Alpine, Lemon Grove, Ramona, Rancho San Diego, and Santee. 

Night Out Against Crime© is a celebration of community relationships. Meet deputies who patrol your neighborhoods, learn about the many services the Sheriff’s Department provides, get crime prevention tips, giveaways at some locations, and other ways you can stay safe. Activities vary by location. 

Below are details on each location:

By Jonathan Goetz

July 23, 2017 (Lemon Grove) - The Lemon Grove City Council voted 5-0 on Tuesday to deny a zoning clearance appeal for a medical marijuana dispensary in the 7300 block of Broadway because it is within 1,000 feet of two small daycare centers, one on Broadway and the other on Citrus.

East County News Service

July 8, 2017 (Lemon Grove) – A sobriety checkpoint in Lemon Grove found no intoxicated drivers, but did lead to citations for license violations and impounding of several vehicles.  The checkpoint was initiative due to numerous DUI-related accidents and recent tragedies.

Services set for July 2nd and 3rd

July 1, 2017 (Lemon Grove) – Manuel Miguel Moreno, a Lemon Grove resident who was raised in Santee, passed away June 26^th at Grossmont Hospital of injuries from a car crash eight months ago in Ramona. He was surrounded by his family.

By Jonathan Goetz

Photo: City Commissioners Angeles Nelson (with flowers) and Yajaira Preciado

June 21, 2017 (Lemon Grove) – Breweries may soon be opening up their doors in Lemon Grove, based on action taken at yesterday’s city council meeting. In addition, Angeles Nelson, Yajaira Preciado and James Davis were appointed to the Lemon Grove Community Advisory Commission along with alternates Tom Clabby and Walter Oliwa.

East County News Service

File photo: U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency

June 20, 2017 (Lemon Grove) – One of the nation’s largest seizures of fentanyl ever, over 44 kilograms, has been announced by the U.S. Attorney’s office in San Diego.  Fentanyl is more than 50 times stronger than heroin, but has been used to boost potency of heroin or counterfeit opioid painkillers resembling oxycodone.  This has led to an “epidemic” of deaths from fentanyl-laced street drugs, according to prosecutors.

By Jonathan Goetz

June 17, 2017 (Lemon Grove) - The Lemon Grove City Council is expected to approve a 1% or $139,990 increase to a general fund of $13,153,490 for the 2017-18 fiscal year this Tuesday, June 20. As last year’s tax revenue was lower than anticipated, the actual increase, if projections are accurate, is $704,000 or 6%.

By Miriam Raftery

June 12, 2017 (Lemon Grove) – Stacy Littleton, 52, of San Diego has been arrested and charged with murder.  Littleton is accused of stabbing to death Cyrus Jefferson 31 years ago in Lemon Grove, when the victim was 20 years old and the suspect, 21.