East County News Service

April 9, 2018 (Santee) -- A Notice of Intent to Circulate a Petition for the Santee General Plan Protection Initiative was filed late Friday by Van Collinsworth, Preserve Wild Santee’s Geographer/Director, and by Santee City Councilman Stephen Houlahan. 

By Eric Bartl

April 8, 2018 (El Cajon) -- Smiles are returning to the faces of children in El Cajon when they see Stoney’s Neighborhood Park, which reopened Thursday in front of the El Cajon branch of the County library.

The park had been closed since mid-December for a construction/park improvement project.

Update April 9, 2018: The good Samaritan who died has been identified as Kenneth Riddle, 46, of El Cajon. He leaves behind a wife and young daughter. A GoFundMe page to help the family has been established where donations can be made.

Update April 11, 2018: The driver who was killed has been identified as Lamont Taylor, 35, of El Cajon.

By Miriam Raftery

April 8, 2018 (El Cajon) – Two good Samaritans stopped to help a driver involved in a solo vehicle collision at 1:20 a.m.  on eastbound I-8 just west of El Cajon Boulevard in El Cajon.  The vehicle had come to rest in the number 2 lane of traffic.

East County News Service 

April 7, 2018 (La Mesa) – On Thursday, April 26, La Mesa Chamber of Commerce invites you to join them for a unique evening and opportunity to meet some of the local businesses within our community. The 4th Annual “Spring Fling - Business Expo” has been requested by local businesses to provide them an opportunity to showcase their goods and services.

Source: Cuyamaca College

Photo: The Ornamental Horticulture nursery at the 2017 Spring Garden and Butterfly Festival.

April 6, 2018 (Rancho San Diego) -- Up to 5,000 visitors will converge on the Cuyamaca College campus when the annual Spring Garden and Butterfly Festival returns for its 25^th year on Saturday, April 28, as the college, The Water Conservation Garden and the Heritage of the Americas Museum present an array of family-friendly events featuring plant sales, craft vendors, wine tasting and more.

East County News Service

April 6, 2018 (La Mesa) - Lamplighters Community Theatre ends its historic 80^th season with fun for the whole family in a presentation of Peter and the Starcatcher. Tony-winning Peter and the Starcatcher upends the century-old story of how a miserable orphan comes to be The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up (a.k.a. Peter Pan).

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Google Earth

April 4, 2018 (La Mesa) – Yesterday, La Mesa Police sent a community alert out warning motorists to avoid the area of Center Drive and Grossmont Boulevard near Grossmont Center shopping mall and Grossmont Medical Center, due to police “actively searching the area” for a man reportedly sighted openly carrying a gun.

East County News Service

April 4, 2018 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, will host “It’s All About The Conversation,” a free program on advance care planning (ACP), from 10 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, April 25. The program is part of the library’s “Wellness Wednesday” series, normally held on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Admission is free. Light refreshments will be served. Advance RSVP is not necessary. Handouts will be available.

By Jonathan Goetz

Photo: Angeles Nelson (left) opposed the dispensary in Lemon Grove, while Kathleen Harmon (right) supported it

April 4, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- La Mesa will have its first legal medical marijuana dispensary, after a unanimous vote of approval by the City Council on March 27. An appeal challenging the approval was rejected.

By contrast, the Lemon Grove City Council voted to deny an application for a dispensary due to proximity to a daycare center.  No dispensaries have yet opened in Lemon Grove though at least two have met zoning requirements and are now advancing through the conditional use permit process.

 

Both Councils took the actions recommended by staff in implementing laws established by voter-approved initiatives. At issue in each is the date of completion.

By Miriam Raftery

April 2, 2018 (El Cajon) – A 16-year-old football player from Granite Hills High School was struck by a vehicle and suffered life-threatening injuries tonight.

According to Lieutenant Steve Kirk with the El Cajon Police Department, after a preliminary investigation and interviewing witnesses, “It appears the pedestrian was with three other male juveniles running south across East Washington outside of a controlled intersection” when the teen was struck by a white 2016 Toyota Rav4 traveling eastbound.

East County News Service

April 2, 2018 (Julian) – The public is invited to “Meet the Candidates” on Thursday, April 5^th from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Julian Town Hall.  The forum is hosted by Julian Indivisible, a progressive political organization.  Candidates confirmed to appear include Dave Myers for Sheriff, James Elia for State Assembly, Genevieve Jones Wright for District Attorney, and Matt Brower for Judge.

You’re encouraged to bring questions to ask the candidates. Voter registration will also be available at this event.  For more information, contact julianindivisible@gmail.com.

East County News Service

April 2, 2018 (La Mesa) – The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce will present Health Fair Saturday, one of the largest annual free health fairs in San Diego’s East County Region, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 7, in the promenade area near the movie theaters at the Grossmont Center mall, 5500 Grossmont Center Drive, La Mesa.

East County News Service

April 1, 2018 (El Cajon) - Be a part of the reunion! The Olaf Wieghorst Museum Foundation is holding its annual “Bringing ‘em Home” benefit dinner & auction on Saturday, May 5 at 5 p.m. at the Wieghorst Museum, 131 Rea Avenue in El Cajon.

East County News Service

April 1, 2018 (El Cajon) – At the Warbird Expo hosted by the Commemorative Air Force at Gillespie Field in El Cajon (north ramp of Marshall Ave.) on Saturday, April 14^th, warbirds, classic aircraft, classic cars and WWII memorabilia will all be part of a fun-filled day for the whole family.  Gates open at 9 a.m. and the event runs until 4 p.m.

By Miriam Raftery

March 31, 2018 (Spring Valley) – Two young men robbed a Valero gas station at 2835 Sweetwater Road in Spring Valley shortly after noon today.  One of the suspects, described as a black male juvenile, pointed a silver .357 magnum at the store clerk and demanded cash. The other suspect was described as a Hispanic juvenile.