By Miriam Raftery

March 30, 2017 (La Mesa) – A survey conducted by the city of La Mesa found that 91% of residents rated quality of life in the city as good or excellent, with 87% satisfied with the city’s performance in providing municipal services.

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Story and photos by Liz Alper

March 29, 2017 (El Cajon) - Grossmont High varsity boys lacrosse faced the Saints of St. Augustine High tonight.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Screenshot, NBC 7

March 28, 2017 (Santee) – Several Santee residents have a sinking feeling – due to sinkholes that have undermined their properties, prompting threats of a lawsuit against the city  

East County News Service

March 28, 2017 (Crest) -- Why do more than 3 million Americans practice an ancient healing art of Qigong from China?  Find out on April 4 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Crest Library (105 Juanita Lane, El Cajon).

East County News Service

Photo:  San Andreas Fault courtesy lkluft on Wikipedia

March 26, 2017 (Ocotillo Wells) - A magnitude 3.6 earthquake shook the East County desert and Imperial County early Sunday morning, with the epicenter 69 miles east-northeast of San Diego, CBS 8 reports.

By Miriam Raftery

March 26, 2017 (Spring Valley) -- A pregnant woman walking with her husband and 2-year-old child was  accosted last night at 8:10 p.m. by three men in the 1000 block of Elkerton Boulevard.  When her husband moved to defend her, one of the assailants grabbed a drainage cover and hit the husband over the head, causing a traumatic injury, said Sergeant Jeremy Sheppard with the Sheriff’s Department.

East County News Service

March 25, 2016 (El Cajon) – Civil rights leaders including Rev. Shane Harris from the National Action Network met with California Attorney General Xavier Becerra yesterday in Los Angeles to discuss police reform and accountability. The group asked for a special prosecutor to investigate the officer-involved shooting of Alfred Olango in El Cajon last September.

East County News Service

March 25, 2017 (Borrego Springs) - Every year on the first Saturday of April – the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park attracts story tellers from all over the globe to compete in the annual Peg Leg Smith Liars Contest. This year’s event will be held on April 1st, starting at dusk.

By Rebecca Jefferis-Williamson

Photo, left:  Kenneth Meza, Vice Chairman of the Jamul Indian Village Tribal Council, addresses attendees.

March 24, 2017 (Jamul) -- Fighting fires in the East County just got a little easier thanks to the Jamul Indian Village Tribe, which handed over the keys to two fire trucks to the San Diego Fire Authority at a ceremony that was held March 22 on the premises of the Hollywood Casino in Jamul.

Source:  City of El Cajon

March 23, 2017 (El Cajon) -- With the passage of Measure S, the City of El Cajon is in the implementation phase of establishing City Council districts.  The mapping criteria was approved by the City Council on February 14, 2017, and four community workshops were held in February and March. 

East County News Service

March 23, 2017 (La Mesa) – ECM volunteer broadcaster Kim Cooney took her beagle, Angus, to Harry Griffen Park in La Mesa on St. Patrick’s Day.  Canine Corners, a nonprofit that maintains the dog park there, set up a “St. Pawtrick’s Day” photo booth complete with Irish props for pups of all ages.

East County Magazine Editor Miriam Raftery and her husband, Mark, also posed with their dogs, golden retriever Ginger and Juneau, a husky.

By Miriam Raftery

File photo: sewage line

March 22, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – The County is asking the public to help report suspected sewage spills by calling 619-660-2007.

A recent sewage spill at Los Coches Creek found during a recent inspection resulted in over 900,000 gallons of raw sewage flowing into the waterway, which remains closed pending results of water testing.  It was contained the day it was discovered and is believed to have been flowing for more than two weeks.  But it could have been far worse, since many sewer lines are cleaned and inspected only once a year.

Listen to our interview,  originally aired on KNSJ 89.1 FM, by clicking the audio link.

By Miriam Raftery

March 21, 2017 (La Mesa) – This Thursday, La Mesa Conversations will host an event at Johnny B’s Restaurant in La  Mesa from 5:30 to 7 :30 p.m.  on homelessness in La Mesa.  We sat down with Bonnie Baranoff, a steering committee member from La Mesa Conservations, and with Lois Knowlton from the La Mesa First United Methodist Church on signicant progress helping the homeless—and how you can help. 

The church holds regular events to help the homeless get back on their feet, offering clothes for job interviews, haircuts and meals.  The church has long helped homeless people who showed up on their doorstep.  Now, church leaders aim to take that to a higher level by creating La Mesa’s first temporary shelter for homeless people in the church’s basement.

East County News Service

March 21, 2017 (La Mesa) – Linda McWilliams, winemaker at San Pasqual Winery in La Mesa, has picked up six more awards in the 2017 San Diego County Fair’s Toast of the Coast Wine Competition! Her latest honors include gold, silver and a special award:

East County News Service

March 21, 2017 (Julian) - Julian High School will host a mobile blood drive with the San Diego Blood Bank on Saturday, April 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The school is located at 1656 Highway in Julian; the blood drive will be in the parking lot.

About 1 in 7 people entering a hospital need blood. One pint of blood, which is the amount volunteers give when they donate blood, can save up to three lives. Approximately, 38% of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood but less than 10% do annually. Since blood is always needed, volunteers are asked to give blood for patients, such as those going through cancer or trauma.