Source:  Ramona Valley Vineyard Association

June 22, 2017 (Ramona) -- The Ramona Valley Vineyard Association (RVVA) announced that a total of thirteen wines from six of its winery members received top awards from the sixth annual The Toast of the Coast Wine Competition. The competition is produced by the 22^nd District Agricultural Association in conjunction with the San Diego County Fair. 

By Mike Allen

June 22, 2017 (Santee) -- Despite cutting their water use by nearly 30 percent over the past nine years, Padre Dam Water District customers were hit with another five years of higher rates by its board, which voted unanimously June 21 to trigger the new charges starting Nov. 1.

By Miriam Raftery

June 20, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Tuesday’s blistering heat wave set a new county record. In Ocotillo Wells, the temperature reached 124 degrees—the hottest temperature ever recorded in San Diego County, according to Noel Isla with the National Weather Service.

By Jonathan Goetz

Photo: City Commissioners Angeles Nelson (with flowers) and Yajaira Preciado

June 21, 2017 (Lemon Grove) – Breweries may soon be opening up their doors in Lemon Grove, based on action taken at yesterday’s city council meeting. In addition, Angeles Nelson, Yajaira Preciado and James Davis were appointed to the Lemon Grove Community Advisory Commission along with alternates Tom Clabby and Walter Oliwa.

By Pat Landis

June 21, 2017 (Julian) -- Julian-Cuyamaca Fire Protection District is at risk. Choices appear to be (1) Do nothing and persevere until finances force it to dissolve; (2) Voluntarily dissolve and allow the Fire Authority to take over; (3) Increase the Benefit Fee to cover the rising costs and remain viable as an independent/volunteer fire department.

East County News Service

June 21, 2017 (La Mesa) - It’s Charley Brown Preschool’s 45^th anniversary and you’re invited to join the celebration honoring its long history of service to East County families.  Former students, parents, friends and neighbors are invited to the event on Saturday, July 15 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 5921 Jackson Drive in La Mesa.

East County News Service

June 21, 2017 (El Cajon) - Elvis tribute artist Scott Bruce will shake, rattle and roll with your favorite Elvis Presley songs on Friday night, June 30^th from 6 to 8 p.m. in downtown El Cajon. It’s all part of the Dinner and Concert series all summer long in Prescott Promenade Park. 

East County News Service

June 20, 2017 (Lemon Grove) – A vehicle crash in front of San Miguel Elementary School on San Miguel Avenue in Lemon Grove on Sunday afternoon, June 18^th.  The crash toppled over several poles.

Three additional members named to nonprofit’s Board of Directors

East County News Service

June 20, 2017 San Diego) -- Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) has named businesswoman and renowned philanthropist Marie Raftery, a La Mesa resident, as chair of the 99-year-old nonprofit’s board of directors. The appointment was officially announced at JFS’s Annual Meeting Luncheon on June 13. Raftery previously served as chair elect.

By Patty Mooney

Photo:  Patty Mooney and Mark Schulze married on their mountain bikes in San Diego’s Cleveland National Forest in 1987; creative commons photo by Rolf Schulze via Wikipedia

June 20, 2017 (Santee) - There’s a new kid on the block (8774 Cuyamaca Street) in Santee. Heads up to bicyclists in the neighborhood, because the “new kid” happens to be the illustrious Zumwalt’s Bicycle Center.  The shop has served avid bicyclists in San Diego for over 85 years now and is the oldest family-run bicycle shop in our region.  The cyclery had its roots in North Park when Robert Zumwalt, weary of repairing lawnmowers, began repairing bicycles and opened Zumwalt’s Bicycle Hospital along with his father on University Avenue in 1931.  Father and son added bicycle sales, starting with Schwinn.  The small shop weathered WW2 during which steel was unavailable for consumer goods like bicycles.  So Zumwalt’s fell back on bicycle repairs and reconditioning used bicycles.  When the war ended, the popularity of bicycles skyrocketed and Zumwalt’s cyclery flourished.

East County News Service

June 20, 2017 (El Cajon) -- Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) is hosting a Veterans Town Hall to establish a greater understanding between local veterans and the friends and neighbors they fought for.  The town hall will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 24 at the Ronald Reagan Community Center in El Cajon.

By Miriam Raftery, East County News Service

June 16, 2017 (Lakeside)-- Helix Water District (HWD) received a long-anticipated $8 million check on June 16th, officially marking the end of a six-year legal dispute over a 460-acre parcel of land the water agency owned in Lakeside’s El Monte Valley. The land sale is the result of a 2014 court settlement between Helix Water District and the El Capitan Golf Club (now known as El Monte Nature Preserve LLC). 

The payment is good news for customers of the Helix Water District, where hefty rate hikes to balance budgets led to a ratepayer revolt and ouster of two incumbent board members last election.  But the final payment dashes hopes of El Monte Valley residents and Lakeside community planners opposed to El Monte Nature Preserve’s proposed   sand mining operation to extract 18 million tons of sand over 15 years from the El Monte Valley on the site.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left:  Michael Johnson volunteered to lead cleanup efforts to keep shooting range open on public land.

June 16, 2017 (Jamul) -- A fire alarm going off at the Oak Grove Middle School, where the Jamul Dulzura Community Planning Group held its June 13th meeting, provided a jarring start to the session at which fire danger was top of mind for many present. 

By Tom Christensen, County of San Diego Communications Office

June 19, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - With high temperatures expected to hover around 120 degrees in eastern San Diego County desert areas through the middle of next week, County health officials are reminding the public to take precautions to avoid heat-related illnesses and pay extra attention to children, elderly and pets.