April 30, 2018 (El Cajon) -- Bill Wells, El Cajon Mayor and a Republican challenger to Rep. Duncan Hunter in the 50th  Congressional district,  has appeared on the FOX Business program "Risk and Reward" and FOX News Channel's "FOX and Friends" openly endorsing a growing revolt by Southern California cities against Senate Bill 54.  The mmeasure signed by Gov. Jerry Brown (D) last October declared the State of California as a "sanctuary state" for undocumented immigrants. It was passed in response to the Trump administration’s broad crackdown on undocumented immigrants including increased deportations.

East County News Service

April 30, 2018 (Lemon Grove) - San Diego County Library’s Lemon Grove branch is partnering with the City of Lemon Grove for the second  annual Art Days: Family Art Festival. The event takes place in front of the Lemon Grove Library (3001 School Lane) on May 19 from 1-3 p.m.  The highlight will be an engaging community art project, led by local artist Ben DeHart. Art Days allows the community to get creative and participate in a variety of explorative art options, including button making and painting.

Updated April 30, 2018:  The city has rescinded $3,400 in fines and administrative citations on Depot Springs after finding the property in "substantial compliance" April 26, for violations and citations dating from 11/30/17 through 4/11/18.

Also comments from city manager Yvonne Garrett on availability of the existing Farmer's Market site have been added.

By Miriam Raftery

April 29, 2018 (La Mesa) – Numerous merchants in La Mesa’s downtown village are calling for the City Council to reconsider its vote to move the Farmer’s Market to the heart of the village on Friday nights. Some say they were never contacted, while others contend they were deceived  in a survey sent around by the La Mesa Village Association (LMVA) about which night of the week the market would be held, and/or about the inclusion of food trucks. One says that her survey was forged—with even her name misspelled.

 Several long-time merchants are also raising concerns over the financial stability of Aaron Dean, president of the La Mesa Village Merchants Association which is currently set to takeover management of the Farmer’s Market from the City of La Mesa starting the first Friday in May, on a six-month trial basis.

By Kathy Carpenter

Memorial services in San Diego April 27 and May 1

East County News Service

April 27, 2018 (La Mesa) --- Gladys Palast (1921-2018), a beloved mother, former La Mesa resident, progressive activist and military veteran, passed away Friday at age 96 in Kaiser Permanente Hospital.  A life-long activist for union, education and civil rights, she is survived by her son, journalist, author and film producer Greg Palast and her daughter, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor Geri Palast. 

Gladys Palast was a union activist with SEIU and the San Diego Teachers Union.  Until the age of 80, she was also a school teacher in Los Angeles then San Diego.  She and her late husband, Gil Palast, were cofounders of the La Mesa Democratic Club and Activist San Diego, owner of KNSJ radio.

The first woman to enlist in the Coast Guard during World War II, she will be interred with full military honors at Miramar National Military Cemetery, 5795 Nobel Drive, San Diego, CA 92122 today at 11 a.m. along with the ashes of her late husband, Gil Palast. A celebration of her life will follow at 1 p.m. in the rec room at 6780 Mission Gorge Road in San Diego, where friends are invited to bring memories, stories and songs to share.

By Miriam Raftery

April 26, 2018 (El Cajon) – Flyers posted and distributed anonymously at a career expo at Cuyamaca College this week took aim at Cajon Valley Union School District trustee Jim Miller.  

The expo was co-sponsored by America's Job Center of Cailfornia and the East County Career Center. Over 50 employees were there to recruit employees for a wide variety of jobs including in healthcare, childcare, education, municipalities, county agencies, public utilities, nursing homes, nonprofits, law enforcement, gaming, landscaping, local legislators, San Diego's radio stations and more.

“As you know, the school district that you choose to work in will have an enormous impact on your classroom, your income, your career, your future, and the pride that comes with being associated with a good school district,” the flyer advises attendees, adding, “Due to the recent antics of one of the members of the Cajon Valley Union School Board, I feel obligated to give you a little background on the actions of this particular ‘loose cannon,’ named Jim Miller. We are also including a listing of other, nearby school districts, that you may consider while you make important decision.

By Kendra Sitton

April 26, 2018 (Jamul) — ECM has new details on an attempted kidnapping of an 11-year-old girl walking between Oak Grove Middle School and Jamul Primary School on Tuesday.

The 6th grade student was using a dirt trail in the rural area frequented by other kids and even Oak Grove’s cross-country team. Near the bottom of the trail behind a baseball dugout, a man suddenly grabbed her backpack from behind, possibly in an attempt to knock her off her feet. She stood firm and then the suspect grabbed her arm tightly, so much so she described it as feeling like her arm was going to explode. She was able to escape and run towards the school.

By Miriam Raftery

April 25, 2018 (Santee) – In the latest round of claims that Assemblyman Randy Voepel has inflated his military record, audiotapes and transcripts from two California legislative hearings last year reveal Voepel speaking of being in “heavy combat” in Vietnam and serving with the “Tiger Battalion.”

Source: Sheriff’s Department

April 24, 2018 (Rancho San Diego) -- Investigators from the Rancho San Diego Sheriff’s Station want your help locating a man wanted in connection with theft, burglary, and fraud in the East County.

On April 1st between 12:00 p.m. and 1:45 p.m., someone stole a checkbook from the glove box of a vehicle that was parked in the 2100 block of Merlyn Place in unincorporated El Cajon.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

April 24, 2018 (Descanso) – Three men in the trunk of an orange Mazda have sustained moderate to serious injuries after the driver failed to follow an order to pull over for a secondary inspection at the Border Patrol checkpoint in Pine Valley.   The driver fled through the checkpoint onto I-8 west at speeds over 100 miles per hour with Border Patrol officers in pursuit.

Backcountry hidden pleasures:   Our guide to unique adventures in San Diego’s beautiful backcountry

By Miriam Raftery

April 24, 2018 (Borrego Springs) – Located in the heart of the Anza-Borrego Desert in the furthest east reach of San Diego County, Borrego Springs is a place where visitors are surrounded by nature, can stargaze in an internationally designated “dark skies” region, enjoy spring wildflowers, visit the largest state park in California, gaze at whimsical statues across the desert and also find cultural attractions from art shows to musical programs in a performing arts center.

East County Dining Club invites you to join us at:

SWAMI’S CAFÉ

8284 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa

Friday, April 27 at 6 p.m.

Benefits East County Magazine

Swami’s Cafe has high ratings from Zagat, Trip Advisor and Yelp. Their dinner menu has an amazingly diverse menu of delicious dishes with f healthy options plus heartier fare and exotic choices. There’s something for all, and dinners are affordable! (Most entrees are under $20 including seafood, chicken, steak, burgers, pasta, salads, vegetarian options and more.)

Prizes include Midway Museum passes, wine baskets, gift certificates to local restaurants, boutiques and shops, jewelry, books, coffee, dance concert tickets, pilates class & much more.

For this event, you can order anything off the menu, but please RSVP to reserve space and check in before ordering.

Come meet your neighors and the media, and enjoy some great food!

 RSVP TO RESERVE SPACE: 619-698-7617 or editor@eastcountymagazine.org

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Story and photos by Liz Alper

April 23, 2018 (El Cajon) - Grossmont boys lacrosse, like most other Grossmont sports, is undefeated in league, sporting a perfect 9-0 while remaining almost flawless overall, going 11-2.  Tonight, they faced a school that ECM Sports doesn’t get to cover as much when league play comes around due to league differences, the Patriots of Patrick Henry, who are just as good, sitting at 3-1 in the Eastern League and 9-6 overall.

By Miriam Raftery

April 24, 2018 (El Cajon) – A motorcyclist who rear-ended a Toyota Tacoma last night on I-8 east, just west of El Cajon Boulevard, succumbed to his injuries later in the evening.

The victim, 55, from Oceanside was riding a 2016 Harley Davidson motorcycle at a reportedly high rate of speed, along with a passenger, when he struck the rear of a Toyota Tacoma around 6:06 p.m. Both the motorcyclist and his passenger, a 30-year-old woman from South Carolina, were ejected onto the freeway lanes with major injuries.