By Miriam Raftery

July 10, 2017 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – Adventurer Dana Law will present a travelogue about the West Coast’s national scenic trail on Tuesday, July 18 at the Jacumba Library (44605 Old Hwy 80, Jacumba Hot Springs, CA 91934 at 6 p.m. On 31 separate journeys over 13 years, Law completed all 2,650 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, which begins in California at the Mexican border and ends at the Canadian border in Washington.

East County News Service

July 9, 2017 (Spring Valley) -- San Miguel Fire & Rescue will hold a graduation and badge pinning ceremony for all 85 members of its Fire District on July 11th at 4 p.m. at Cuyamaca College, Bldg B.

East County News Service

July 9, 2017 (Jamul) – Debbie Ekhaml  sent in this great photo of a coyote that’s captured its prey, a plump squirrel, at the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge  in Jamul, where she also shot award-winning images honored in our recent photo contest. 

East County News Service

July 8, 2017 (Lemon Grove) – A sobriety checkpoint in Lemon Grove found no intoxicated drivers, but did lead to citations for license violations and impounding of several vehicles.  The checkpoint was initiative due to numerous DUI-related accidents and recent tragedies.

By Miriam Raftery

July 8, 2017 (Alpine) – A $1,000 reward is offered for information leading to the arrest of a man who violently assaulted a 63-year-old woman. The victim was walking along Harbison Canyon Road near Hunter Pass in Alpine on June 20^th between 7:15 and 8:50 p.m. when the suspect attacked her from behind, pushing her into a fence and possibly striking her in the face with his hands or an unknown object.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Diego Valley Charter School students protesting to save their school at November 2015 GUHSD board meeting

July 8, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Several recent court rulings impact the future of many charter schools in California, including several in East County.

Last October, a California appellate court ruled that charter schools can’t expand within their home county by opening campuses outside their own authorizing district.  That ruling affected a suit filed back in 2015 by the Grossmont Union High School District seeking to shut down the Julian Charter School, Alpine Academy and Diego Valley Charter School, all operating within the GUHSD boundaries.

East County News Service

July 7, 2017 (La Mesa) – The Boys and Girls Clubs of East County (BGCEC) has scheduled a groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of construction for its new Brady Family Clubhouse that will house the Gagon Academy and Bill Walton Gymnasium. The groundbreaking ceremony will begin at 9 a.m., Wednesday, July 12, on the west end of La Mesa Arts Academy, previously known as La Mesa Middle School, 4200 Parks Ave., La Mesa.

A Salute to Jimmie Johnson at the next Cajon Classic Cruise Car Show!

East County News Service

July 7, 2017 (El Cajon) – A soul music concert, outdoor movies and a salute to NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson are just some of the many events coming up in El Cajon.  See below for full details on these events and more.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Little Flower Haven circa 1954, via Postcards.com on City of La Mesa's website.

July 6, 2017 (La Mesa) – Two public meetings are set for Silvergate Development’s proposal to redevelop the former Little Flower Haven convent and nonprofit home for the elderly at 8585 La Mesa Blvd.  The Planning Commission will hold an informational-only meeting and environmental assessment on Wednesday, July 19 at 7 p.m.  The City Council will hold a hearing on the project on August 8^th at 6 p.m.  Both meetings will be in Council Chambers at 8130 Alison Ave., La Mesa.

Plans submitted called for keeping the historic 1939 Spanish Mission style front structure and bell tower, which is eligible for listing in the California Register of Historical Resources. The property, recently sold, was formerly home to the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus.   The sisters have relocated to Texas, the Reader reported in March. 

East County News Service

July 4, 2017 (La Mesa) – William (Bill) Bodry, founder of the Challenge Center in La Mesa and long-time champion of the disabled, died at his home of heart failure on his 72^nd birthday, June 15^th 2017.  A celebrate of life to honor his memory will be held on July 15 at 12 noon at the Challenge Center in La Mesa.

Bodry founded the Challenge Center in 1987 after suffering a spinal cord injury from botched surgery that left him paralyzed at age 27, with no adequate facility for long-term rehabilitation.  The center has had amazing results helping patients with severe brain and spinal cord injuries, as ECM reported back in 2008, enabling many severely disabled patients to walk, talk and achieve independence.  In his interview, Bodry shared his dream:  for the program he founded at Challenge Center to someday become a national model replicated nationwide.

East County News Service

July 3, 2017 (Spring Valley) — James Comeau resigned June 27^th, from the Spring Valley Community Planning Group, creating a vacancy in seat 14, creating an immediate vacancy.  To apply¸ refer to the SD County Roster of Boards, Commissions and Committees on their web site at http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/cob/.  The County Board of Supervisors will make an appointment to fill the vacancy after review, at a future meeting.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos courtesy of Lakeside Fire

July 2, 2017 (Lakeside) – A mother and sons are homeless after a fire that began with a vehicle striking a commercial building next door spread into their residence yesterday.  A GoFundMe page has been started to assist the victims, For: LaVonne Kraus, Tory Rodriguez, Richard Rodriguez, Jesse Rodriguez.  The Solis Hair Salon has also been heavily damaged.

Updated with corrections based on CHP data just received:  accidents spiked in 2015, before the casino opened. But DUI-related crashes are up.

By Miriam Raftery; Jonathan Goetz also contributed to this report

Photo by Jonathan Goetz

July 2, 2017 (Jamul) – Supervisor Dianne Jacob joined Jamul residents Friday in a press conference to share concerns over accidents along an 11-mile stretch of State Route 94.  The group also called for completion of promised roadway improvements that have not yet begun. 

The Jamul Indian Village has issued a response contending that the casino is being unfairly blamed for an uptick in accidents that may be related to other factors, and points a finger at CalTrans and Supervisor Jacob for delays in roadway improvements that the tribe says is due to Caltrans lacking land use authority.

Services set for July 2nd and 3rd

July 1, 2017 (Lemon Grove) – Manuel Miguel Moreno, a Lemon Grove resident who was raised in Santee, passed away June 26^th at Grossmont Hospital of injuries from a car crash eight months ago in Ramona. He was surrounded by his family.