East County News Service

Photo credit:  Rebecca Jefferis-Williamson

March 8, 2017 (La Mesa) – Rebecca Jefferis Williamson sent in this photo of trails left by airplanes over Mt. Helix, taken from the Fuerte Street bridge this morning. Some have called these chem trails but they are actually simply water vapor that has condensed/frozen due to cold temperatures high in the atmosphere. The scientific name is contrails.

Honey Festival coming up this Saturday, March 11

Source: Alpine Chamber of Commerce

Photos by Kathy Foster Photography for the Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce

March 7, 2017 (Alpine) -- The first Queen Bee Tea was a honey of a show on March 5 in Alpine.  Almost 100 guests attended the Honey Festival kick-off event, turning the Alpine Community Center at 1830 Alpine Blvd. into a hive of chatter, fanciful bee bonnets, fashion show, free photo booth, opportunity drawings, contests and special vendors. 

Source:  City of El Cajon

March 7, 2017 (El Cajon) - The City of El Cajon is very pleased to announce that Mr. Graham Mitchell, current City Manager for the City of Escondido and longtime City Manager for the City of Lemon Grove, has accepted an offer to become the City of El Cajon’s next Assistant City Manager.  He will replace Majed Al-Ghafry, who was recently appointed Assistant City Manager for the City of Dallas, Texas.

By Miriam Raftery

Jonathan Goetz contributed to this report

March 6, 2017 (La Mesa) – Helix Water District’s board will hold a special meeting on March 8 at 6 p.m. to consider a proposal by newly elected board member Dan McMillan to lower water rates. 

But a staff report (see agenda) advises against a rate reduction at this time, citing insufficient reserves. Instead, staff recommends that the district continue to look at opportunities to reduce rates as fiscal year 2016-17 concludes, after results of winter and spring rainfall are measured and the fiscal year 2017-18 budget is developed.

East County News Service

March 5, 2017 (Santee) – The Santee Chick-fil-A restaurant, 9418 Mission Gorge Road, Santee, will celebrate the start of its fifth year of serving customers on Monday evening, March 6. The public is invited to attend the celebration to be held between 5 and 8 p.m. Chick-fil-A officials said the celebration will recreate the experience when the store opened in late February 2013.

East County News Service

March 4, 2017 (Borrego Springs) - The Colorado Desert Archaeology Society (CDAS), in conjunction with the Anza-Borrego Foundation, will be holding its 14th annual Archaeology Weekend event at the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park ’s Visitor Center in Borrego Springs, California on March 25-26, 2017. 

East County News Service

March 4, 2017 (Borrego Springs) – You never know what you’re going to find in the Anza Borrego Desert!  Our editor, Miriam Raftery, headed out in search of wildflowers this weekend.  It’s still 1-2 weeks too early to see fields of flowers in bloom, but she did get some close-ups of early blossoms, scenic shots and an up-close look at some of the many whimsical sculptures dotting the desert terrain.

Source: La Mesa Chamber of Commerce

Photo:  Left to right: RSVP Mike Sparks, Detective Tim Cook, Liz Robinson, Mary England, Fire Captain Billy Doig, Detective Colt Wisler and RSVP Bill Walton.

Photo courtesy of Sandra Small Photographer.

March 4, 2017 (La Mesa) - La Mesa Chamber of Commerce held it's 9th annual Salute to Local Heroes Feb. 22 at the Town & Country Hotel to celebrate La Mesa’s 2017 local heroes.

“This year's six heroes are as important to our community as any "Best Picture" or "Best Actor" award,” says Chamber President Mary England. “They have made a tremendous impact on the lives of others.“ These heroes were recognized for some of the following feats: A baby was delivered under unusual circumstances, a young man's life was saved following a severe traffic accident, 117 stolen vehicles with an estimated value of over $1.3 million were recovered, a cold case homicide from 2014 that occurred in La Mesa was solved, firearms and illegal drugs were seized. 86 suspects were arrested, 70 search and arrest warrants were written and two Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol were honored for assisting the La Mesa Police Department in the daily tasks needed to run the organization, as well as for their thousands of volunteer hours.

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

March 2, 2017 (Alpine) -- If a first responder does not already have Bobbi Brink, co-founder of Lions Tigers & Bears Exotic Animal Rescue Sanctuary in Alpine on speed dial they should consider it.  Why? Brink is accustomed to dealing with exotic animals and if a catastrophic event happens (flooding, wild fires plus).  Brink can show up and help handle the movement of that exotic animal. 

East County News Service

March 2, 2017 (Warner Springs) – Storm damage caused a complete loss of pressure to a portion of Warner Springs Ranch Resort’s drinking water system.  So, the County’s Department of Environmental Health has issued a boil water order for the Warner Springs Ranch Resort’s water system, which provides drinking water to the Warner Springs Ranch Golf Grill, Warner Springs Airport, staff housing, St. Francis of Assisi Chapel, and Warner Springs Ranch Resort, which is currently under renovation and not yet open to the public.

By Jonathan Goetz

Photo:  El Cajon Councilman Ben Kalasho faces resistance on new group to bring holiday cheer to seniors

March 1, 2017 (El Cajon) - Freshman El Cajon Councilman Ben Kalasho was impressed by the Santee Santas, and wants to bring the idea to El Cajon. Kalasho envisions an organization, El Cajon Elves that would bring carols, socks and slippers to elders around the holidays.

But groups that already serve seniors, including the AARP and the Salvation Army, turned up to oppose the City of El Cajon from releasing $5,000 in seed money to the El Cajon Elves, and requested that the funds instead be given to one of the existing organizations already serving senior citizens. No one testifed in support of the city providing seed money to start a new nonprofit.

By Miriam Raftery

March 1, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- Two local school districts in La Mesa and Warner Springs are serving bottled water to students and staff due to water quality concerns.

La Mesa Spring Valley School District announced that it has voluntarily shut down drinking fountains and water used for cooking, while awaiting tests on drinking water quality. Superintendent Brian Marshall says the change is due to an “abundance of caution.”

East County News Service

March 1, 2017 (Borrego Springs) -- Once in a blue moon our deserts get big winter rains and explode into an extraordinary spring bloom. Join the Water Conservation Garden's Director of Horticulture, Clayton Tschudy, for a wildflower tour of the Anza-Borrego State Park on Saturday, March 4.

By Miriam Raftery

February 28, 2017 (Spring Valley) – Otay Water Board member Hector Gastelum is in hot water over offensive comments he made on Twitter about Muslims—and now the Board is proposing a resolution to condemn discrimination.

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

Diva discovered in La Mesa

February 27, 2017 (La Mesa) -- Lenelle Wylie of La Mesa is a diva--in the best sense of the word. This diva can sing, dance, and act. In Wylie’s case, the meaning of diva would also include high school biology teacher, winning coach, wife, and mother to pre-teens.