Photo, left to right: Mayor Racquel Vasquez, Councilman Colin Parent, and County Office of Education Community Engagement Specialist LaShea Sharp-Collins.
January 31, 2024 (East County) --Three Democrats are running for the 79th District State Assembly seat on March 5th . Lemon Grove Mayor Racquel Vasquez, La Mesa City Councilmember Colin Parent and Dr. LaShae Sharp- Collins. There are no Republicans in this race.
All three candidates will be attending a public forum being held Saturday February 3rd, 2024 at the Lemon Grove Library at 2 p.m. The library is located at 3001 School Ln, Lemon Grove, CA 91945.
With three strong names in the same party competing, it may be hard for voters to decipher the differences. ECM breaks down their experience, accomplishments, the goals they have outlined in their campaigned, and key endorsements.
February 19, 2024 (La Mesa) -- World Book Day is an annual event organized by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) to promote reading, publishing, and copyright. The main purpose of World Book Day is to encourage people of all ages to discover the joy of books and reading. It also aims to support authors and publishers by raising awareness of their work and protecting their rights, according to Bing's Copilot. It is celebrated on February 23 in many countries around the world, including the United States.
February 19, 2024 (San Diego) -- Circus Vargas is coming to Westfield's Plaza Bonita from February 23 to March 11 and Mission Valley Mall from March 15 to April 8, 2024.
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).
February 19, 2024 (La Mesa) -- Comedians Gene Levin and Carol Johnson are the dynamic duo behind the 4th Friday Comedy show, held every month at SpaceBar Cafe & Wine Bistro. This delightful event has become one of the longest-running free comedy shows in our region, drawing laughter-loving audiences from near and far.
Event Details:
Venue: SpaceBar Cafe & Wine Bistro
Address: 7454 University Avenue, Suite A, La Mesa, CA 91942
February 19, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media. This week's round-up stories include:
February 19, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:
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.
Photo: New Allied Gardens Off-Leash Dog Park; screen shot, @AGGCcouncil via Facebook
February 19, 2024 (Allied Gardens) – A new dog park opened last weekend in San Diego’s Allied Gardens neighborhood for pet owners to bring their dogs to frolic off-leash. The new park, next to the Allied Gardens Pool at 6707 Glenroy Street in San Diego, is larger than most other local dog parks.
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.
SDSU scores seven runs over final two innings for comeback victory
Source: goaztecs.com
Photo courtesy goaztecs.com
February 18, 2024 (San Diego) - San Diego State scored the final seven runs to rally for an 8-5 victory over LMU in the final game of the 33rd annual Campbell/Cartier Classic Sunday at SDSU Softball Stadium.
February 18, 2024 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.
February 18, 2024 (San Diego) – The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for San Diego County’s mountains, valleys, and coasts, as well as portions of Orange, Riverside, San Bernadino ,Los Angeles and Oxnard counties. The watch is in effect tonight through Wednesday morning due to a Pacific storm moving into our region expected to bring up to 1.5 inches of rain locally.
A low pressure system from the north is forecast to bring widespread showers and isolated thunderstorms, with moderate to heavy rains capable of flooding in urban and low-lying areas.
February 18, 2024 (San Diego) --The San Diego City Council is examining the termination of rodeos in the city limits of San Diego after one horse had a mild injury in a performance in last week's first rodeo at Petco Park. Veterinarian care was immediate and on site. Follow up care determined a full recovery. The incident was a Native American custom. The rider suffered no lasting injuries.
Activists have exacerbated the incident and are applying pressure to the San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and the San Diego City Council. At this time, at least one council member has proposed a ban on rodeos in city limits. The attack is on our Western Tradition with many safeguards in place and with many rodeos in the State of California with few incidents and adequate safeguards.
February 18, 2024 (San Diego)—After a dry weekend, a Pacific storm is forecast to move through Southern California starting with light rain Monday, with the heaviest rainfall Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
Counties to the north of San Diego are slated to get the worst impacts of this storm. However, a flood watch is possible for northern areas of San Diego County Monday through Wednesday. San Diego’s mountains, valleys and coastal areas could get up to 1.5 inches of rain, while deserts will have between a trace and a half inch of rain.
“We are holding him accountable for lying, cheating, and a lack of contrition...because there cannot be different rules for different people in this country, and former presidents are no exception.” – New York Attorney General Letitia James (photo, left)
By Miriam Raftery
February 18, 2024 (New York, NY) – Donald Trump has been ordered to pay a $354.1 million penalty for fraudulently inflating his net worth and the value of his real estate holdings in order to obtain bank loans. In the New York civil trial, Judge Arthur Engoron also barred Trump from running a business in New York for two years and ordered that a monitor oversee Trump Organization’s business dealings. Two of his sons, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., were each fined $4 million and prohibited from running the company for three more years.
This is not the first time that Trump has been found to have committed fraud. His family charity and Trump University both shut down after separate courts found them to have engaged in fraud.
February 18, 2024 (Washington, D.C.) -- Border encounters plunged from record highs of more than 300,000 in December to 176,205 in January, a 42% drop that Customs and Border Protection attributed to enforcement efforts and a traditional seasonal drop.
Photos courtesy of the candidates' campaigns, left to right: Republican Kristie Bruce-Lane and Democrats Darshana Patel and Joseph Rocha
February 17, 2024 (San Diego, CA) – Three candidates in the upcoming March 5 primaries are vying for the open California 76th Assembly seat vacated by Brian Maienschein (D), who announced he was running for the city of San Diego’s City Attorney this election cycle.
A former Republican, Maienschein switched to the Democratic party in 2019 before running against Republican Kristie Bruce-Lane in the 2022 general election for the seat, where he won by a 6% margin, 78,895 votes to Bruce-Lane’s 73,944.
Bruce-Lane will be the sole Republican in the race this year, facing two Democratic candidates, Joseph Rocha and Darshana Patel. All three candidates look to represent a mostly inland North County district with a population of around 471,000.
CalMattersis a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters
Photo: Mario Ramirez Garcia, 10, attends online class in the bedroom he shares with his sister on April 23, 2021. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters
February 17, 2024 (Sacramento) -- At the height of the pandemic, in spring 2020, Maria O. her husband and four children were quarantined in their one-bedroom apartment in South Los Angeles, each vying for privacy, quiet and adequate technology to work and attend school remotely.
February 17, 2024 (San Diego) - The San Diego State women’s basketball team (17-10, 8-6) cruised to a 90-62 win over Utah State (4-21, 1-13) inside Viejas Arena Saturday afternoon. SDSU had five players score in double-digits and their 90 points was a season-high.
February 17, 2024 (Alpine) -- Indulge in the captivating charm of Alpine, CA! Immerse yourself in a sensory journey that explores the exquisite trifecta of Cuisine, Commerce, and Culture.
February 17, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – Hike by the light of the moon, join a stargazing party, enjoy a Nature Day celebration, tour a wolf preserve or a camel dairy, enjoy live comedy, concerts, a livestock fair and barbecue, and a desert art show—all coming up in East County.
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 25th 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.
Dozens displaced Jan. 22 at Rolando apartment complex that has flooded in the past
By Miriam Raftery
February 16, 2024 (San Diego) – When a flood control channel next to Donna Ferguson’s townhome on Bonillo Drive in San Diego’s Rolando community, water surged through the ground floor, sweeping away everything in its path including furniture, appliances and clothes, also destroying the electric scooter chair that she relies on for mobility.
February 16, 2024 (Spring Valley) -- On January 22, 2024, Spring Valley, California experienced a 1,000-year Flood Event where 3-inches of rain fell in 1 hour. Over 200 Spring Valley homes are badly damaged by 2 feet or more of flood water. The waters receded quickly but peoples belongings and property are severely damaged or destroyed. FEMA still has not been activated for this disaster and it could be months before we find out whether they will be activated at all.
So as a Community, let's come together and help those impacted and who are struggling to get through this.
February 16, 2024 (San Diego) – San Diego Police Department is asking for public help to identify a man who watched women shower through a backyard window in a College area neighborhood in December. The same man was also seen looking through a neighbor’s window the previous night.
A Ring doorbell image taken on Dec. 28 at 1:53.a.m in the 5700 block of Dorothy Drive shows the suspect. He is described as 30 to 40 years old, with a shaved head and beard. He has a muscular build, with a tattoo on his left forearm and appeared to be wearing stud earrings. He may have been barefoot and appeared to be holding his shoes.
February 16, 2024 (La Mesa) -- What began as a typical La Mesa City Council meeting this week to weigh local issues morphed into an antisemitic diatribe by largely anonymous white-supremacist callers.
Words turned ugly during the council’s public comment period on Tuesday when a series of callers, each held to a council-mandated three-minute limit per speaker, used their allotted time to debase and degrade Jews with callous accusations and conspiracy theories.
February 15, 2024 (San Diego) -- In 1989-90, Jennifer and Russel Redmond set off from San Diego for Baja California on their 26-foot sloop, Watchfire, shortly after they married. After traveling through the Panama Canal, they sailed all the way to Canada, before turning around to end their honeymoon in New York City. The trip was intended to be an extended honeymoon, a chance to properly get to know each other and settle into married life, but over the months and then years, it became a way of life. However, they did eventually upgrade to the 35-foot Watchfire 2.
Honeymoon at Sea is written as a travel log much of the time, with the author sharing her thoughts and feelings about the sights and people. Redmond also chronicles details of life at sea, ranging from deep sea diving to catch their next meal, to fixing a blocked toilet, to swimming to get away from sharks.
Cub found on roadside in Simi Valley brought to Ramona Wildlife Center for lifesaving care
February 14, 2024 (Ramona) -- A young male mountain lion has a second chance at life after being hit by a vehicle the night before Thanksgiving and found on the side of a road in Simi Valley. Local animal services alerted California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), who quickly transported the cub to Santa Clarita where veterinarians provided initial medical support overnight. The 5-month-old cub was then transported to San Diego Humane Society's Ramona Wildlife Center for care by its Project Wildlife team early the next morning, Thanksgiving Day - Nov. 23, 2023.
By Jonathan Goetz
By Jonathan Goetz
East County News Service
By Jonathan Goetz
February 19, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media. This week's round-up stories include:
February 19, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:
East County News Service
East County News Service
By Miriam Raftery
SDSU scores seven runs over final two innings for comeback victory
February 18, 2024 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.
By 
By 
The Aztecs' 90 points was a season-high
East County News Service
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
Dozens displaced Jan. 22 at Rolando apartment complex that has flooded in the past
East County News Service
East County News Service
By 
Book by Jennifer Silva Redmond
By 
Source: San Diego Humane Society
Recent comments