Source: El Cajon Police

April 7, 2016 (El Cajon) – Distracted driving is such an important safety issue that April is recognized as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.  In California, Police, Sheriff and CHP officials are joining the Office of Traffic Safety, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), as well as law enforcement throughout the country, working together to focus on education as well as enforcement.

East County News Service

April 2, 2016 (Alpine) – The Alpine-Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce will host a “Hot Topics” breakfast on April 12 at 7:15 a.m. at Mike Place, 1620 Alpine Blvd. Suite 101.

Native Gardens Tour April 2-3 previews

East County News Service

April 1, 2016 (Deerhorn Valley) --Two Deerhorn Valley couples who addressed their need for a fire-safe landscape using native plants discovered that native plants in the garden not only save water and reduce fire risk, but provide year-round beauty that appeals to all the senses.   They will be sharing their gardens and their experience as part of the California Native Plant Society’s (CNPS) Garden Native Tour, April 2^nd and 3^rd, which features a total of twenty gardens in inland San Diego County.  

By Miriam Raftery

March 31, 2016 (Lemon Grove) –The Lemon Grove/Spring Valley area would have its own district to elect a trustee to the Grossmont Union High School District’s board under a plan that the GUHSD approved, but  that must next be approved or rejected by the County Office of Education’s Committee on School District Organization.

The County committee previously announced five hearings on the redistricting plan. Now, the committee announces a sixth hearing to be held on Wednesday, April 6 from 6-8 p.m. at the Lemon Grove Library community room, 3001 School Lane in Lemon Grove. (Map)

Other upcoming hearings will be held in Lakeside, Alpine and Jamul. For a full list of all hearings and rules for public comment, click here.   

To view data on the GUHSD redistricting plan including demographic details and maps, click here.

By Mimi Pollack

March 30, 2016 (El Cajon) - It is not easy leaving your home and moving to a new country as an immigrant or refugee. Many immigrants and refugees’ lives are shattered by political or religious conflict and they have to flee their countries. The ones who arrive in the United States have to learn a new language, and get accustomed to a new culture and different types of food. Not only that, many immigrants and refugees go from living in a rural place where they had land, or perhaps a house in the city with a garden to living in  small, urban apartments. Sometimes, they feel homesick and long for what they had back home. 

By Janis Russell

March 30, 2016 (Ramona) - Capability Ranch: Special Needs Activities and Events Center for Youth and Young Adults located in Ramona has been open for over a year. Nicola Bridges, founder of the ranch, and her husband, Tony Oxley, have been operating this ranch along with volunteers who teach activities. The ranch is geared towards young people who are 16-27 years of age, with the average being 21 years. ECM participated in an exclusive interview with Bridges.

By Leon Thompson

Photo: left to right:  Andrew Keatts, Laura Espinoza, Jim Stone and Rob Schupp

March 30, 2016 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Conversations invited residents to “join the conversation” to discuss The Future of Transportation in La Mesa on March 28^th at the Mason Lodge, where a panel of transportation experts enlightened an audience of about two dozen people.

East County News Service

March 30, 2016 (La Mesa) - The citizens group overseeing the spending of millions of dollars in taxpayer-approved bonds for new and improved patient care facilities at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa has issued its 2015 Annual Report to the Community.

East County News Service

March 29, 2016 (Ramona) - Mark your calendars for the 13th annual Ramona Open Studios Tour on April 9 and 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring 25 artists working in all mediums in 17 private studios located throughout Ramona.

East County News Service

March 27, 2016 (Alpine) --The Alpine Woman’s Club Victorian Tea has been compared to the teas at the Hotel Del Coronado and Westgate Hotel. This is the perfect venue to showcase your finest hat, share good conversation with good friends and introduce your daughter or granddaughter to their first Victorian Tea. What a wonderful experience for any young lady ages 8 years and up. Entertainment will feature piano music by William D. Young, playing songs from yesteryear. There will also be a raffle, door prizes and other surprises. Period attire is recommended but not required.

East County News Service

Photo: Screenshot off Full Gospel church's Facebook page

March 27, 2016 (Spring Valley) – A fire burned down the Full Gospel Church of God in Christ in Spring Valley last weekend.  The Pentacostal church serves a congregation of about 30 people, mainly African Americans.

Just in time for Easter Sunday services, another church previously burned in a fire has offered up space for Full Gospel’s worship services, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

East County News Service

Photo: Screenshot from KNSD

March 26, 2016 (Lakeside) – A pre-dawn fire Saturday morning caused heavy damage at the Eastbound Bar & Grill, a popular eatery on Maine Street in downtown Lakeside.

East County News Service

March 25, 2016 (Ramona) --  A 92-year-old Ramona woman died at the scene of an accident this morning at 11:30 a.m.

East County News Service

March 25, 2016 (Lakeside) – Lakeside’s Western Days Parade will roll out along Maine Street on April 23 starting at 9:35 a.m.  Celebrating its 51^st year, this year’s parade hosted by the Lakeside Chamber of Commerce will feature the theme “America Strong, Lakeside Strong.”