Rents for low-income seniors to range from about $476 to $978 a month; federal vouchers to cover portion

By Paul Downey, President & CEO, Serving Seniors

February 5, 2019 (Ramona) -- Serving Seniors may be most well-known for its meal program, which provides 2,500 meals a day to seniors across the county. In 2017, the organization served 600,000 meals, which can greatly assist seniors that may be on fixed incomes, yet their housing expenses continue to increase.

In addition to nutritious meals, Serving Seniors helps seniors in poverty live fulfilling and healthy lives by also providing health services and affordable housing. Early this summer, Serving Seniors will open its 62-unit Schmale Family Senior Residence in Ramona. Developed in partnership with Chelsea Investment Corporation, it will be the organization’s Seniors’ first affordable housing complex in east San Diego County.   

East County News Service

February 5, 2019 (Sacramento)  -- State Senator Brian Jones (R-Santee) is the new Senate Republican Caucus Chair, effective March 1st. 

East County News Service

February 4, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges are recognizing Black History month with a series of events including film showings, music, foods, lectures, a book club and more. See below for a full schedule of events at both locations in El Cajon and Rancho San Diego.

Local nonprofit and solar industry experts come together in Ramona to launch a new year of clean energy education

East County News Service

February 4, 2019 (San Diego) -- The third annual San Diego Solar Experience Kickoff returns to sunny San Diego on Saturday, February 9. The event, beginning with a presentation at the Ramona Public Library at 11 a.m., will unite residents with local cleantech businesses and nonprofits to piece together the puzzle of new clean energy policy and share insights into what’s changing in renewable energy in 2019. As policy changes and our communities continue to implement plans that achieve our climate goals, it's both necessary and difficult to remain informed. The San Diego Solar Experience Kickoff event aims to conquer this challenge.

Participants of the San Diego Solar Experience Kickoff event can attend one of the three county-wide seminars in Ramona, Carlsbad and Chula Vista, where they will learn from nationally certified energy practitioners and nonprofit experts on the facts and benefits of gaining energy independence.

East County News Service

February 2, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – Nearly every day is a great day to be outdoors when it comes to San Diego County Parks and Recreation. Are you ready for an adventure? We can help with that. Here are some ideas for the month of February at parks in East County.

East County News Service

February 2, 2019 (Poway) -- The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego elected the Rev. Canon Susan Brown Snook as its fifth diocesan bishop today at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Poway. She was elected on the first ballot during an election that involved 212 voting delegates.  She is the first woman to be elected bishop since the diocese was formed in 1973. Others on the ballot were the Rev. Roy Hoffman, DMin and the Rev. Michael Tinnon, DMin, both priests serving in this diocese.

East County News Service

February 1, 2019 (El Cajon) — Robert Gehr sent in this photo of dramatic clouds over El Cajon, glowing golden at sunset after yesterday’s storm.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Stock image of cloud-to-cloud lighting (not today’s jolt)

January 31, 2019 (La Mesa) – A lightning bolt between Lemon Grove and La Mesa this afternoon produced a prolonged thunderclap loud enough to be heard as far away as Fletcher Hills, Lake Murray, Mission Gorge and Rancho San Diego.  The noise startled residents and terrified pets, but fortunately the bolt did not result in any reported damage.

At my Mt. Helix home, the whole house shook as rumbling continued for approximately 30 seconds after the initial roaring jolt.

By Miriam Raftery

January 17, 2019 (La Mesa)--Join us at our East County Dining Club’s next delicious event: a seafood soiree in the cozy party room at Red Lobster (8703 Murray Dr., La Mesa) across from Grossmont Center on Thursday, February 7 at 6:30 p.m. RSVP and prepay  to reserve space for this popular event.

You don't have to be a member to attend, though members receive special benefits. Proceeds benefit East County Media to support East County Magazine and East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts.

Your options include not only delicious wood-grilled lobster, shrimp and salmon, but also sizzling steak, Cajun chicken pasta, and options for luscious desserts.

We will also have plentiful prizes for our drawing including Red Lobster and other restaurant gift certificates, winery gift certificate, a wine rack, jewelry, novels, cookbooks, spa gift certificates, coffee, hand-woven scarf, and more.

East County News Service

January 30, 2019 (Spring Valley) - The Saps at Sea, the San Diego chapter of the Sons of the Desert, the official Laurel and Hardy fan club, will meet on Saturday, February 23 at 6:30 p.m. at Williams Hall at Trinity Church in Spring Valley.

Story by Liz Alper

Photos by Don De Mars

January 29, 2019 (El Cajon) - We’re back at the home of the Braves this week, but this time for a boys’ game.  The Braves are struggling a little bit at 9-12 overall (2-4 in league) coming into tonight’s game against the school a couple of blocks away from them, Granite Hills.  The Eagles aren’t doing so great either; they sported a .500 record in league play coming into tonight (3-3) but overall, were at 8-13.