By Helen Ofield, Lemon Grove Historical Society

November 19, 2017 (Lemon Grove) -- The Lemon Grove Historical Society and the City of Lemon Grove will continue the Business Recognition Series by honoring Lido's Italian Foods on Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. at the city council meeting in the Community Center, 3140 School Lane, when Mayor Raquel Vasquez will present the restaurant's owners with a city proclamation, Miss Lemon Grove will present flowers, and an appreciative audience will take photos and applaud the business beloved in the town for 62 years.

East County News Service

November 18, 2017 (La Mesa) – Looking for holiday cheer?  San Pasqual Winery’s tasting room in La Mesa is offering cork wreath making classes, an evening of wine and cheese, and live music nights featuring musicians specializing in jazz, classical, and guitar ranging from country to classic rock and more.  For a full schedule of holiday season happenings, scroll down.

East County News Service

November 17, 2017 (Jamul) – UCSD’s HP-Wren video camera atop Lyon’s Peak in Jamul captured this stunning sunset last week. 

You can view a dazzling time-lapse video here, taken November 7th:  http://c1.hpwren.ucsd.edu/…/lp-s-…/large/20171107/MP4/Q6.mp4

By Miriam Raftery

East County News Service

November 16, 2017 (Alpine) - The Alpine Woman’s Club will hold its Twelfth Annual “Christmas in Alpine” Home Tour on Saturday, December 16th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. You will have an opportunity to view five stunning country estates and stroll through Kathy and Mario’s quaint and spectacular Alpine Country Garden and Gifts Shop and the beautifully decorated Alpine Community Church. The Historic Town Hall will be open from 1pm till 4pm. Andrew Piondexter will display his incredible Nutcracker collection. He originally started his collection about five years ago for one of his teachers. He added to his collection and now has almost 300 Nutcrackers. They range in size from two inches to five feet tall.

By Miriam Raftery

November 15, 2017 (El Cajon) – An El Cajon judge has sentenced John David Sanchez, a former Uber driver, to over 80 years in prison after Sanchez pled guilty to 34 counts of raping or sexually assaulting nine unconscious women and teenage girls as young as 13.  Superior Court Judge Evan Kirvin called Sanchez a sexual predator.

But according to a law firm specializing in sexual assaults committed by ride-share drivers including Uber and Lyft, such crimes are far from rare. 

East County News Service

November 14, 2017 (Ramona) - Shy, but by no means cowardly, our hills are alive with mountain lions. 

If you’re interested in learning about local wildlife, you’re invited to attend “Living with Lions” this Saturday, November 18^th at 1 p.m. at the Ramona Ranch Winery. 

You’ll hear about local mountain lions roaming San Diego County in this special presentation by the Mountain Lion Foundation. In addition, learn about the Julian Project focused on increasing safety for people, pets, livestock and lions.

After ISIS Genocide, Iraqi Christians are displaced again

By Noori Barka, PhD, President, Chaldean League of California

November 14, 2017 (El Cajon) -- Since ISIS defeat, and by the time the displaced Iraqi Christians have started to return to the towns and villages in the Nineveh Plains, they were forced to flee again as Iraqi and Kurdish forces clash. It's a shame that after our people started rebuilding their homes with the hope to start their life in peace after ISIS horror are now killed and displaced again by their own governments!

Our people have lost their faith in either Kurdistan or Iraqi governments to protect them. They see no future in their homeland and they are fleeing to neighboring countries looking for a safe refuge for their families.

Iraq is the land of the original Christians: the Chaldeans, Assyrians, and Syriacs. Iraqi Christians were the original architects of Mesopotamia, the cradle of civilization, before the Kurds and Arabs. Today, the Christian population of Iraq is down to about 200,000, a stunning 80 percent decline from the 1.5 million in 2003. Christianity is on the verge of being driven eliminated from its ancestral home.

East County News Service

November 13, 2017 (Alpine) - A suspect who fled from Sheriff’s deputies after allegedly trying to steal gas or tampering with county gas pumps on Tavern Road in Alpine this morning has crashed the Toyota Camry he was driving and wound up air lifted to a trauma center.

By Miriam Raftery

November 11, 2017 (Spring Valley) -- Exotic Warehouse, an illegal marijuana clinic in Spring Valley was raided Thursday following multiple complaints by concerned citizens, says Sergeant Matt Cook with the Sheriff’s Department.

By Robert Gehr and Miriam Raftery

November 10, 2017 (El Cajon) – Just in time for Veterans’ Day weekend, Golden Corral Buffet & Grill is open in downtown El Cajon. On Monday, November 13,  the restaurant will host Military Appreciation Day from 5 to 9 p.m. – serving up free meals for all active duty and retired military members as well as veterans.

By Helen Ofield   

November 9, 2017 (Lemon Grove) -- The City of Lemon Grove will hold its 20th annual holiday "Light up the 'Grove" bonfire on Dec. 1 from 12 noon to 8 p.m. The bonfire lighting at 6 p.m. will be preceded by game booths, rock climbing wall, hayrides, arts and crafts, live music and skating on an actual ice rink. Free hot chocolate and outreach from the city's non profit groups, including the Lemon Grove Historical Society's traditional open house, will be part of the fun.  Event hours are extended this year to mark Lemon Grove's 40th anniversary of incorporation.

For information, call 619-825-3800 or visit https://www.lemongrove.ca.gov/home/showdocument?id=3549.

East County News Service

November 8, 2017 (La Mesa) - On Friday, November 10 and Saturday, November 11, Grossmont Center is pulling out all the stops to honor our veterans.  The event kicks off at 6 p.m. Friday evening in the Courtyard with a concert by the Navy's SW 32nd Street Brass Band.  These outstanding musicians will be performing traditional New Orleans jazz, Navy favorites and pop tunes.

East County News Service

November 8, 2017 (Lakeside) - Lakeside’s Chamber of Commerce invites you to celebrate the Spirit of Christmas on Maine Street in downtown Lakeside on December 2^nd from 4 to 9 p.m. This event features Santa Claus, craft booths, vendors, jumps and rides for kids, performances by local school students, and the lighting of a community Christmas tree for plenty of old-fashioned family fun this holiday season.

Admission is free.  Find details at www.LakesideChamber.org and at www.LakesideRodeo.com.