Source: Spring Valley Community Alliance

February 22, 2024 (Spring Valley, CA) -- Spring Valley residents applaud Tuesday's approval of FEMA aid for those affected by the January 22 rainstorm, but the community is already taking action to support recovery efforts. A coalition of area churches, community organizations, and residents led by the Spring Valley Community Alliance have partnered to open a site at Spring Valley Community Church to collect and distribute donations for those affected. 

A donation site located at 3310 Bancroft Drive, Spring Valley will open Saturday February 24 from 10am to Noon. The site's regular hours will be Mondays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to Noon.

While the waters receded quickly from the thousand-year flood, more than 200 Spring Valley homes were left badly impacted. Cars, furniture, appliances, and other essential belongings were left severely damaged or destroyed.  

"Many Spring Valley residents were left with the clothes on their backs and the items they could grab as they attempted to escape the rising waters," said Chris Pierce, Vice President of the Spring Valley Community Alliance. "There are physical needs that our neighbors have beyond what the County Resource Center set up at the Spring Valley Library could provide."

Updated  February 22, 2024

By Miriam Raftery

February 21, 2024 (El Cajon)— A resignation letter from  Trustee Jo Alegria dated February 15 was read aloud this week at the Cajon Valley Union School District board meeting by board president Jim Miller. 

The County Office of Education has now confirmed that the  Superinendent of Education has received a formal resignation letter from  Alegria, who has represented seat 3, making the effective date February 21.. The office’s chief of staff, Music Watson, says that within 60 days of a vacancy occurring, a district’s governing board must either order an election or make a provisional appointment to fill the vacancy.  View full procedures here.  See map of district seats,below right.

Alegria has served on the CVUSD board for nearly a decade.  Elected in November 2014,  she has also served as board president. Her resignation follows her missing the past two board meetings, and comes after critics posted negative remarks on social media.

In her resignation letter, Alegria said it has been an “honor and a privilege to serve on the board, adding that she believes “passionately in the importance of public education and public service...”

East County News Service

February 19, 2024 (Lakeside) — Here’s an event to squeal about! A tradition since 1947, the Eastern San Diego County Junior Fair will be held on Sunday, March 17 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Lakeside Rodeo Grounds (12584 Mapleview St., Lakeside). 

East County News Service

February 19, 2024 (La Mesa) -- The City of La Mesa is seeking proposals for the La Mesa “Walkway of the Stars” Mural Project in downtown La Mesa. The “Walkway of the Stars” is a pedestrian walkway located between the Allison Avenue municipal parking lot and La Mesa Boulevard that was transformed into an urban park in downtown La Mesa in 2003.

The walkway features decorative stone stars with the names of volunteers who have given 10,000 hours or more of service to the City of La Mesa and eight (8) community murals painted in 2003 depicting volunteerism in the City. This project will create up to eight new murals along the walls of the walkway. 

By Miriam Raftery

February 19, 2024 (El Cajon) – A convicted sex offender, Michael Inman, was convicted Wednesday on four felony sex offenses including sex with a 16-year-old girl at a Motel 6 on Montrose Court in El Cajon. His co-defendant, Larry Cantrell, pleaded guilty last month to several sexual offenses.

Will the Grossmont-Cuymaca Community College District or the Water Conservation Garden Joint Powers Authority step in to operate the Garden?

By Miriam Raftery

February 16, 2024 (Rancho San Diego) – The Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College, a treasured community destination, has closed temporarily amid efforts to reorganize under new leadership.

“As we celebrate our 25^th anniversary this year, we will be undergoing major structural changes,” interim executive director Lauren Magnuson announced in an email sent to media and supporters of the Garden. “A reopening date will be announced in the future...The Garden is committed to reopening and continuing its mission to educate and inspire the community to promote water conservation,” she concluded, adding, “We look forward to welcoming you back soon with a renewed and thriving Water Conservation Garden experience!”

The temporary closure announcement follows months of financial concerns stemming primarily from large loans taken out by the Garden’s former director, Jennifer Pillsbury, during and after COVID.

East County News Service

February 12, 2024 (Ramona) – Jorge Aguilar, 21, has been arrested for felony vandalism after reportedly ramming his pickup truck into the back gate of the San Diego County Sheriff’s substation in Ramona on Saturday, says Detective Thomas Sutton.

East County News Service

February 9, 2024 (El Cajon) -- The City of El Cajon aims to break the world record for the “Most Dogs to Attend a Film Screening.” A family-friendly screening of the movie “Beethoven” will take place at Wells Park, located at 1153 East Madison Avenue, on Saturday, February 24. Dog owners and their furry friends are invited to be part of this historic attempt .

To participate in this record-setting endeavor, dog owners are required to arrive for check-in at 1:00 PM, with the movie screening to commence shortly after. The current record stands at 219 dogs, and El Cajon is eager to surpass this number. This event is not only a chance to make history but also an opportunity for the community and their dogs to enjoy an afternoon full of entertainment and fun.

East County News Service

February 8, 2024 (El Cajon) -- California's landscape will always be characterized by wildfires, making homes and properties vulnerable to their impacts. A key component of wildfire preparedness involves proper placement and maintenance of the vegetation surrounding the home. Understanding how fires approach a house and potential vulnerabilities is critical for designing fire-resilient landscapes.

In this presentation, Tuesday, February 13 at 10 a.m., there will be discussion on the key concepts of defensible space and home hardening strategies necessary to create a fire-resilient but aesthetically pleasing landscape. 

Updated Feb. 24 with information on fundraising effort to help toddler critically injured in crash

By Miriam Raftery

February 8, 2024 (El Cajon) – A woman who died January 28 in a fiery El Cajon crash has been identified as Katalina “Katy” Frausto Aguilar, 43, of El Cajon. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help her widow and their children.

A separate GoFundMe fundraiser has been launched to pay medical bills of Akeel, a 17-monthh-old toddler who suffered serious head and neck injuries in the crash. Akeel was asleep in his father's SUV parked at a stoplight when Aguilar lost control of her vehicle while driving the wrong direction on I-8. View article with latest updates on Akeel's condition.

East County News Service

February 7, 2024 (El Cajon) -- Guess Who is at The Magnolia this Friday? The Guess Who! A few tickets to the 6:30 p.m. show are still available and start at $55.

The Guess Who is a legendary Canadian band that enjoyed chart-topping hits in the late '60s and early '70s with an impressive catalog of songs including “American Woman,” “These Eyes,” and “No Time.” During the course of its career, the band has released 11 studio albums and charted 14 Top 40 hit singles, 2 of which went to number one in the United States. The Guess Who is best known internationally for its 1970 album, American Woman, which hit number one in Canada and number nine in the United States, with five other albums also hitting the top ten in Canada.

Their fan base spans multiple generations. Very few bands have survived numerous member changes — let alone having smash hits with each lineup — but The Guess Who’s motto is “the music is the message.”

East County News Service

February 7, 2024 (El Cajon) – Yesterday afternoon, a man entered Big 5 Sporting Goods on Fletcher Parkway, selected merchandise, and then exited the store without paying. A store employee attempted to stop the man from stealing. 

According to El Cajon Police, the man swung a plastic bag containing a small metal propane bottle at the employee and struck her in the forehead, causing pain and minor injury. The employee was able to use her cell phone to photograph the man as he fled the area toward the trolley.  

By Miriam Raftery

February 7, 2024 (Pine Valley) – Crews from multiple agencies are searching for the crew of a military helicopter that went missing southeast of Pine Valley and north of Interstate 8 near Kitchen Creek Road. The helicopter has been located this morning as of 10:50 a.m., but the crew has not yet been found.

Heavy snow is making it difficult for searchers to access the area. Cal Fire San Diego is currently in unified command with the U.S. Forest Service, according to Cal Fire. Agencies helping in the search include the U.S. Border Patrol, San Diego County Sheriff’s Dept., and California Civil Air Patrol.