April 15, 2022 (Spring Valley) -- The Spring Valley Community Alliance is working to make Spring Valley greener, cleaner, healthier and safer. The Alliance is hosting a community forum on Tuesday, April 19 at 5:30 p.m. featuring two experts on community empowerment and revitalization who will share specific examples and resources that residents can use in Spring Valley and other communities. Folks are invited to attend and learn how to become agents of change in Spring Valley and surrounding communities.
April 14, 2022 (San Diego) -- A 4.7 earthquake has struck in Baja, Mexico at 9:33 this evening, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The site is 62 miles south of San Diego and about 40 miles south of Tijuana.
Over 47,000 supermarket employees impacted; deal includes significant wage increases, more hours, improved healthcare benefits and safety
East County News Service
April 14, 2022 (San Diego) -- Grocery store employees represented by seven UFCW Locals in Southern and Central California overwhelmingly voted to ratify a new three-year contract with Ralphs and Albertsons/Vons/Pavilions, averting a strike.
Veteran Public Works czar Michael Throne brings vast experience to the position
Source: City of La Mesa
April 14, 2022 (La Mesa) - With a commitment to tackling aging infrastructure, the City of La Mesa has tapped Michael Throne to be the new Director of Public Works. Throne, who started on April 11, has more than three decades of experience in reimagining engineering in the public sector.
April 14, 2022 (El Cajon) - The City of El Cajon is hosting a FREE April Pools Day event to help kick off May as National Drowning Prevention Month on Friday, April 22, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Fletcher Hills Pool, located at 2345 Center Place in El Cajon.
April 14, 2022 (San Diego) – The House of Ukraine invites the public to join in a “Freedom for Ukraine” rally on Saturday, April 16 at 1 p.m. at 1600 North Harbor Drive in San Diego (corner of W. Ash St. and North Harbor Drive). The Russian invasion of Ukraine has resulted in massive loss of civilians’ life and evidence of war crimes by Russia.
April 14, 2022 (Spring Valley) – Six-year-old Jolyn Gutierez has been found unharmed. Her mother, Wendy Gutierez, who does not have custody, has been arrested for kidnapping Jolyn on February 22 from Kempton Elementary School in Spring Valley
April 14, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – A suspect accused of carjacking an El Cajon Police vehicle containing SWAT gear and weapons last night led officers on a high-speed chase across East County before being apprehended in Chula Vista.
An off-duty ECPD officer was leaving a 7-Eleven store in Santee when "a man opened the passenger door of the unmarked pickup truck, got into the vehicle and began yelling incoherently at the driver. At some point, both parties got out of the truck and the carjacker was able to get behind the wheel and drive away," says Sergeant Michael Gonzalez with the Sheriff's department.
The vehicle had SWAT gear, an assault rifle and a pistol locked in a storage locker, according to 10 News.
April 14, 2022 (El Cajon) – Photos with the Easter Bunny are being offered at Parkway Plaza shopping mall in El Cajon, where you can hop on by for a photo opportunity until April 16, as this image by Rebecca Jefferis Williamson illustrates.
April 13, 2022 (San Diego) – Recognizing the need for transparent and independent investigations of officer and deputy-involved shootings, members of the San Diego County Chief's and Sheriff's Association have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (which establishes a new countywide protocol for the investigation of officer and deputy-involved shootings.
April 13, 2022 (La Mesa) — City of La Mesa employees are now eligible for $500 bonus checks — and if they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, they can receive an additional $500.
April 13, 2022 (San Diego) - San Diego County is one of seven California counties participating in CalScope, a study that will help public health professionals better understand how many people in California have antibodies against COVID-19.
96 children locally have been stricken by Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome caused by COVID
East County News Service
April 13, 2022 (San Diego) - A 15-year-old girl died from COVID-19 and is the second death of someone under the age of 18 in the region during the pandemic, the County Health and Human Services Agency announced today.
April 13, 2022 (La Mesa) – The city of La Mesa’s decision to fire La Mesa Police Officer Matt Dages in 2020 was “supported by the weight of the evidence”, according to a tentative ruling issued by Superior Court Judge Katherine Bacal. According to the Judge, the evidence showed that Dages provided “false and misleading” information in his report on his arrest of Amaurie Johnson.
Photo: a CBP agriculture specialist examines a commercial importation of cascarones
April 13, 2022 (Laredo, Texas) - With the Easter festivities right around the corner, CBP is reminding the traveling public that cascarones (confetti-filled eggshells) are restricted to quantities of 12 per passenger and the shells may be decorated, etched, or painted but they must be clean, dry, and free of any egg residue. They may contain confetti or other unregulated items.
Update April 14: Nicole Pare has been found safe, according to SDPD, which did not release details.
April 13, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego Police seek help to locate Nicole Marie Paré, 32, a Pacific Beach woman who vanished without picking up a family member at the airport on Monday, April 11. Her white Audi A5 (CA license plate 7VAZ668) was seen Monday in La Mesa and Lemon Grove, and her purse was found in La Mesa.
She is considered at risk due to the circumstances; her family told police she has never gone missing before.
She has blond hair, brown eyes, is 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs about 130 pounds.
April 13, 2022 (Lemon Grove) -- If you are in the mood for an eccentric display of outdoor art, then look no further that what Grover’s and tourists have coined as “The Hidden Murals.”
April 12, 2022 (Lemon Grove) - Joshua David Klein, a U.S. Naval veteran, and his wife Stephanie became inspired this past year to help their small city, Lemon Grove. According to Klein, the couple has now picked up 1,200 50-gallon bags of trash along Broadway Avenue, as well as freeway entrances and exits. “We have also covered more than 500 pieces of graffiti in our public spaces,” he says.
April 12, 2022 (La Mesa) – Community Action, Service & Advocacy, a substance abuse prevention organization based in East County, is accepting applications for the 2022 ME2WE Scholarship fund. The agency will be awarding multiple scholarships in awards totaling $3,000 to local high school seniors and college students.
April 12th, 2022 (Alpine) -- What are the best veggies For Easter dinner? Well, that of course is a personal preference, but here are some of the more traditional vegetables for the Easter menu. Asparagus tops the list and a few more are green beans, yams, potatoes, carrots, and Brussel sprouts. Here are some great vegetable recipes for your Easter dinner, see below.
April 12, 2022 (Alpine) -- One of the greatest benefits of living in East County is to be able to enjoy our wide open and natural spaces. The best thing to come out of the pandemic is the move of restaurants to open outdoor eating and drinking areas.
By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office
April 12, 2022 (San Diego) - All of the County of San Diego’s 33 community branch libraries are expanding their hours starting Monday, April 11.
The six largest County libraries will now be open seven days a week. That includes the branch libraries in El Cajon, Encinitas, La Mesa, Poway, San Marcos and Vista. All 33 branches will include evening hours.
The new hours are posted on signs at each of the libraries and can be found online on sdcl.org.
Here’s a list of the new expanded hours at each branch:
April 12, 2022 (Casa de Oro) – A dramatic transformation of the Campo Road Corridor through Casa de Oro in Spring Valley is planned to create a Main Street ambience in the heart of the community. On April 22, the County Planning Commission will hold a hearing on the proposed Campo Road Revitalization specific plan.
A central plaza for outdoor community activites, roundabouts, bike and pedestrian friendly changes, trees, outdoor seating, a center median, new street parking, and housing up to four-stories high are all in the revitalization plan. It covers 60 acres centered on Campo Road from Rodgers Rd. to Granada Ave. to be completed in three phases aimed at attracting private investors and enhancing the community. The plan would also seek grants and governmental funding, as well as potentially a planned business improvement district (PBID).
April 12, 2022 (Santee) -- Fanita Ranch, the 3,000 unit housing project that was approved by the city of Santee two years ago, received another setback last week when a San Diego judge ruled the City must rescind all the legal permits for the construction.
The judgement by Superior Court Judge Katherine Bacal made last month and filed April 6, calls on the city to vacate a series of resolutions that gave Fanita Ranch the green light in September 2020. Bacal faulted the city and its contracted experts for creating an inadequate environmental report about all the impacts from the project, particularly the lack of safe evacuation routes in the wake of an emergency such as a major wildfire.
April 11, 2022 (San Diego) – Many Californians are unaware that the state is offering help for those struggling to pay their mortgages due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 26 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., a free online webinar will be held on the California Mortgage Relief program, jointly hosted by the California Mortgage Relief Program, Urban League of San Diego County, and Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber.
April 12, 2022 (La Mesa) - Lamplighters' "Rumors" is a classic farce. A farce is defined as a comedy that seeks to entertain an audience through situations that are highly exaggerated, extravagant, ridiculous, absurd and improbable. With lots of doors, comings and goings and people impersonating other people. An evening of fun and laughter.
Values in Arms Export Act would create more oversight for arms sales, bar arms sales to nations that repeatedly commit violations
East County News Service
CC photo by Felton Davis: New York protest in 2017 over U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia, which has been accused of war crimes in Yemen
April 11, 2022 (Washington, D.C.) -- San Diego Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53) has introduced legislation that aims to prevent U.S. weapons from being used to commit human rights abuses.
April 11, 2022 (Lemon Grove) – Elijah McKee took this image of the proud winners of Lemon Grove’s annual third grade essay writing contest and Councilmembers, during an awards presentation April 5 by the Lemon Grove City Council.
East County News Service
East County News Service
East County News Service
Over 47,000 supermarket employees impacted; deal includes significant wage increases, more hours, improved healthcare benefits and safety
Veteran Public Works czar Michael Throne brings vast experience to the position
Source: City of El Cajon
Source: House of Ukraine
East County News Service
April 14, 2022 (El Cajon) – Photos with the Easter Bunny are being offered at Parkway Plaza shopping mall in El Cajon, where you can hop on by for a photo opportunity until April 16, as this image by Rebecca Jefferis Williamson illustrates.
East County News Service
By Elijah McKee
Source: San Diego County News Service
96 children locally have been stricken by Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome caused by COVID
By Miriam Raftery
Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Source: The City of Lemon Grove’s Zest newsletter
East County News Service
East County News Service
By Greg Dunne 
By Henri Migala
By 
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
By Kathy Carpenter
Values in Arms Export Act would create more oversight for arms sales, bar arms sales to nations that repeatedly commit violations
East County News Service
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