July 4, 2015 (Borrego Springs) – Stargazing guru Dennis Mammana has been photographing the night sky for nearly a half century and leading night sky tours for nearly thirty years. He also teaches workshops that provide in-depth tips on how you can photograph everything from the Milky Way to constellations – and as we discovered last weekend in Borrego, you don’t have to have a backpack full of professional camera gear to come up with some gorgeous images.
Borrego Springs in 2009 became the first designated International Dark Sky Community in California--thanks in part to the efforts of our helpful host, teacher and guide. That means there are no bright lights at night to interview with your night-sky viewing pleasure.
July 4, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) --Caltrans construction crews will close several connector ramps on State Route 67 (SR-67) to and from Interstate 8 (I-8) and from SR-67 to State Route 52 (SR-52) for night work Sunday to Wednesday. See attached.
Youth from the Juvenile Ranch Facility will be moved to the Camp Barrett facility by early August.
County News Service
July 3, 2015 (Camp Barrett)--Plunging juvenile populations are prompting San Diego County Probation to consolidate operations of its two camps for young people: Juvenile Ranch Facility in Campo and Camp Barrett youth facility in rural Alpine. Both camps house male youths.
July 3, 2015 (Spring Valley) – The San Diego Sheriff invites you to “Coffee with the Community” on Thursday, July 16 from 8-10 a.m. at Cali Comfort Restaurant, 8910 Troy Street in Spring Valley.
Photo: Kayla Douglas of Spring Valley landed this 5 lb. 4 oz Channel Catfish at Hermits Cove
July 1, 2015 (Lakeside) – The Lake Jennings Fish Report for July is out-with plenty of tips and news for fishing enthusiasts. The lake is open every day in July. Here are a few highlights:
July 3, 2015 (La Mesa)--Mama’s Kitchen, www.mamaskitchen.org, prepares and delivers nutritious meals to San Diego men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS. Additionally, they provide pantry services (Mama's Pantry) and nutrition education to its clients.
The people of The Table: United Church of Christ of La Mesa invite you to join them in overfilling a collection barrel for Mama July 8 through July 28. She needs nonperishable food items (no expired food, please): canned tuna, chili, salmon, fruit and soup; peanut butter and jelly, spaghetti sauce, boxed cereal and dry milk (small boxes).
July 3, 2015 (La Mesa) - The FBI and La Mesa Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance to identify the suspect responsible for robbing the U.S. Bank, located inside of the Albertsons grocery store located at 8920 Fletcher Parkway, La Mesa, California, on Thursday, July 2 at 10:07 a.m.
July 3, 2015 (Ramona) – On June 29, we reported that this could be the last year for the Ramona fireworks show, since the Ramona Rotary Club had fallen short of raising the enormous funds needed for the display. Fortunately, the Club has now reached its fundraising goal, the Ramona Home Journal reports in an e-mail sent to its readers.
July 2, 2015 (La Mesa) –June Takekawa Hsu, an 85-year-old La Mesa resident, has died of injuries sustained in a crash on northbound I-5 in Del Mar on June 24th shortly before 5 a.m. , the County Medical Examiner’s office reports.
July 2, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - The Heritage of the Americas Museum, located on the campus of Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego, is having a very special fundraiser that really highlights the history and beauty of San Diego’s East County. “Plein Air paintings of East County,” features the original art of Gloria Chadwick. An open reception, fine art show and sale will be held on the museum’s Tropical Garden Patio on Friday, August 28, 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.View more of Chadwick’s paintings.
July 2, 2015 (Ramona) – The San Diego County Fire Authority and CAL FIRE are making a major upgrade to fire and emergency medical services at the County’s Intermountain fire station. Starting July 1, new, around-the-clock paramedic service will be offered for the first time ever. The station is located east of Ramona along CA-78, a main route to Julian.
July 2, 2015 (La Mesa) – There have been reports of a young man with dark hair observed going through people’s mailboxes as he goes door to door in La Mesa. He then mentions neighbor’s names, supposedly to sell educational material.
In response, Claudia Ortega of the La Mesa Police Department provided a refresher on solicitors in La Mesa and how to stay safe:
July 1, 2015 (La Mesa) – There is a lot of free summer entertainment in La Mesa this month, including concerts in the park, a movie under the stars, community theater and a walking club, not to mention a host of club activities for all ages and interests at the library.
June 30, 2015 (El Cajon)—A suspected vehicle thief who tried to ram an El Cajon Police officer with a stolen vehicle has been arrested and charged with assault. The suspect, 27-year-old Jose Maldonado of El Cajon, was bitten on the leg by a police dog after a pursuit that covered four miles from El Cajon into Spring Valley.
June 30, 2015 (La Mesa)--Sharp Grossmont was honored with a 2015 Women’s Choice Award® as one of America’s best hospitals for cancer care. Sharp Grossmont is just one of 331 hospitals to have earned the award by meeting the highest cancer care accreditation standards of the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer and other robust criteria that consider female patient satisfaction.
July 1, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - Spring Valley resident Gabriella Martinez, 7, who goes by Ella, recently received a special haircut and found a way to give back to children needing hair replacement.
June 30, 2015 (La Mesa) -- On Friday, July 24, at La Mesita Park, the City of La Mesa presents the movie “Despicable Me 2” (rated PG). The Movie starts at 8:00 pm with pre-show entertainment at 7:30 pm. La Mesita Park is located adjacent to the Junior Seau Sports Complex at 8855 Dallas Street, La Mesa. This is FUN family entertainment at its best -“Movie Night Under the Stars.”
June 30, 2015 (El Cajon)--Camp Bow Wow and Behavior Buddies of El Cajon will host their 5th Annual Yappy Hour season at the Downtown Café in El Cajon. The Yappy Hour is held every third Thursday of the month from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. The event includes “puptinis” for pups, a happy hour menu and more.
In addition to a fun social event, each Yappy Hour is dedicated to raising money for a local charity, with this year’s proceeds benefitting Labs and More Dog Rescue.
Through sales of opportunity drawing tickets, participants will be entered to win many fabulous opportunity-drawing prizes. The pups will enjoy free Puptini’s while owners can order off of the Downtown Café’s delicious Happy Hour Menu.
June 29, 2015 (Ramona) -- The annual Ramona Fireworks display, synchronized to music, will be held on July 4th at 9 p.m. at the Ramona High School football field, after a pre-fireworks picnic and activities at Olive Pierce Middle School. But the Ramona Rotary Club, which organizes the display, has come up short despite substantial community fundraising efforts and warns that unless substantial donations or sponsors are received, this will be the last fireworks show in Ramona.
June 29, 2015 (El Cajon)—Three suspects are in custody after a group of people reportedly forced their way into a garage and tried to assault a homeowner and collect a debt, But the homeowner, who lived in the 8200 block of Limon Lane in unincorporated El Cajon, armed himself with a shotgun and shot one of the suspects in the leg.
June 26, 2015 (Santee)—Francisco “Frankie” Castro, 23, is under arrest for an arson fire at the “House of Hope,” a Santee shelter located at Prospect and Cottonwood avenues. The fire occurred on October 2, 2014.Castro was taken into custody by the Fugitive Task Force Thursday. He had been an "on and off" guest of one of the tenants.
June 26, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) -- Who says you have to hail from New York, London, or Paris to catch the eyes of a designer? Los Angeles based clothing designer Dawn Nguyen hand-picked these lovely East County models to wear her unique and classically elegant styles with luxurious fabrics at her recent Los Angeles show. These beauties, from Rancho San Diego and Jamul, lit up the night in Ms. Nguyen’s designs. Three of the models, Natalia Fulton, Ashley Lynch and Makayla Stevens, proudly represented East County with Ms. Nguyen at New York Fashion Week last Fall.
June 26, 2015 (El Cajon ) – From now through July 4, Coldstone Creamery in Rancho San Diego (2963 Jamacha Road, El Cajon) will donate 20% of all purchase to benefit the ACES Foundation, which supports the El Cajon Animal Shelter. Just mention “El Cajon Animal Shelter” when ordering, or present the flyer in this story.
June 26, 2015 (Julian) – The Volcan Mountain Foundation is offering a series of events, from hikes to beer-tasting to a summer film festival. Scroll down for highlights, and visit www.VolcanMt.org. for full details.
June 27, 2015 (Ramona) – A 21-year-old Ramona man driving a new 2015 Honda Civic was struck head-on Friday night at 10:34 p.m. on State Route 67. A Kia driven by a 16-year-old San Diego teen with a provisional driver’s license crossed the center line after the driver lost control. The two drivers, along with a 16-year-old passenger in the Kia, all sustained serious injuries.
June 26, 2015 (El Cajon)--For some time now, alcohol retailers in the City of El Cajon have been under pressure to conduct their businesses more responsibly. But despite all their efforts, irresponsible business practices such as selling to minors and already intoxicated homeless people have continued to be a problem.
June 25, 2015 (Ramona) – It’s summertime and the living is easy – especially at Grant James Vineyard in Ramona, where dinners are served al fresco every Friday night from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Something Delicious will serve up pasta, salad and bread on the patio with vineyard views.
The winery also hosts Gourmet Foodie Potluck parties. The next one is on June 27th at 6 p.m. “This is a great way to share your favorite homemade dish and meet new friends,” the invitation sent to winery customers entices.
June 25, 2015 (Borrego Springs) -- You just never know what you might see on a warm desert night out in Borrego Springs!
This shot by our editor, Miriam Raftery, was taken on the summer solstice eve. The figure at left, a photography student on Dennis Mammana's night sky photography tour, is facing off with a sculpture of a giant sloth (a creature that once roamed the Anza-Borrego Desert). The gigantic metal sculpture is one of many created by artist Richard Breceda that appear tto rise from the desert floor, captivating the imaginations of young and old alike.
The moon, Venus, and Jupiter are faintly visible in the sky above.
June 25, 2015 (El Cajon) – A rap music artist suspected of breaking into a home and exposing himself to a 30-year-old woman, as well as stalking a 17-year-old girl is now in custody. El Cajon Police arrested 32-year-old Von Ryan Manago, said Lt. Frank La Haye.
Manago has been charged with indecent exposure and burglary. He had previously been arrested for burglarizing a woman's home in Glendale while she was sleeping in 2012. According to a Glendale News-Press article, Manago is a rap musician who goes by the rapper name Nem-Iz. Born in New Jersey, he has also lived in Raleigh, North Carolina and is the CEO of Writer's Blokk Media, an Indie music label.
For crime buffs out there, here are the bare facts of how police tracked down the prowler flasher suspect.
July 3, 2015 (La Mesa)--Mama’s Kitchen, 
East County News Service
East County News Service
July 2, 2015 (La Mesa) – There have been reports of a young man with dark hair observed going through people’s mailboxes as he goes door to door in La Mesa. He then mentions neighbor’s names, supposedly to sell educational material. 
July 1, 2015 (La Mesa) – There is a lot of free summer entertainment in La Mesa this month, including concerts in the park, a movie under the stars, community theater and a walking club, not to mention a host of club activities for all ages and interests at the library.
June 30, 2015 (La Mesa) -- On Friday, July 24, at La Mesita Park, the City of La Mesa presents the movie “Despicable Me 2” (rated PG). The Movie starts at 8:00 pm with pre-show entertainment at 7:30 pm. La Mesita Park is located adjacent to the Junior Seau Sports Complex at 8855 Dallas Street, La Mesa. This is FUN family entertainment at its best -“Movie Night Under the Stars.” 
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