East County News Service

Photos by Dennis Richardson

July 28, 2010 (Lakeside) – A brush fire charred several acres near Rocky Lane and San Vicente Avenue this evening, briefly threatening several homes including one that had previously burned and was rebuild following the 2003 Cedar Fire. Flames came with 50 feet of homes before firefighters contained the blaze.

July 30, 2010 (Descanso) --  A Hawaiian vacation is the grand prize at an annual luau hosted by Chapel of the Hills Community United Methodist Church (www.chapelofthehills.org) on Sunday, August 1st from noon to 4:00 p.m. All are invited to the Hawaiian-style pit-barbequed pork dinner. Music and authentic Pacific Island dance entertainment, carnival games and  door prizes round out the afternoon.

July 28, 2010 (Rancho San Diego) – San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce will host its second annual “Politics in Paradise” event on August 20 from 6-9 p.m. at the Water Conservation Garden. The bipartisan program provides voters in East County with the opportunity to hear from legislators representing them in Washington, in Sacramento, and at the County level. 

Share creative ideas to assist people of all ages with tips to save money and improve their lifestyle!

By Nancy Clement

By Bill Weaver

July 29, 2010 (Alpine) -- This summer season is full of behind the scenes activity surrounding our 12th Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) high school. It will be located on the land adjacent to Viejas Creek, south of Viejas Mountain, immediately south of the I-8 freeway, and ½ mile east of the Albertsons store.

By Rachel Ford

By Miriam Raftery

July 28, 2010 (San Diego) –Four U.S. soldiers including Army Staff Sergeant Conrad Mora, 24, of San Diego were killed Saturday in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb. Mora was leading a group of solders when the attack on their vehicle occurred. He was a graduate of Morse High School, where he played football.

He is survived by his wife, Ann, and their one-year-old son, Christopher. The family had recently moved to Washington state before his deployment.  Mora’s parents, Alejandrino and Carmelita Mora, live in National City. He is also survived by his sister, Carmela.

July 28, 2010 (East San Diego) -- On July 25, 2010, at approximately 11:31 p.m., a young man was found lying in the eastbound lanes of 6800 Imperial Avenue near 69th Street in the Encanto area. Suffering from stab wounds, he died later that evening. His identity is not known.

The victim is white, 18-20 years-old, 5 feet 10 inches tall, 130 lbs., with brown hair and blue eyes. His left upper arm has a tattoo of a religious cross with “est. 1991” above the cross.

By the (North) East County Eater

July 28, 2010 (Pine Valley) – The 40th annual Pine Valley Days takes place on July 30th and 31st in this normally quiet mountain town in East County to benefit charitable causes supported by the Mountain Empire Mens Club. Two full days of activities include a parade, rides, barbecue dinner, live music and dancing.

Longtime instructor and musician will oversee arts, languages and communication department; aims to build performing arts center for campus

East County News Service

July 27, 2010 (El Cajon) – Steve Baker has been named dean of the department of arts, languages and communication at Grossmont College. Baker began his career with the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District as a music instructor in 1985, and has taught at both Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges. At Grossmont, he was music department chair and interim dean before his latest appointment.

Baker has been a professional musician for over 40 years. In his career as a pianist, he has performed with numerous national and international recording artists. The Steve Baker Trio specializes in Brazilian and Afro-Cuban-influenced jazz and performs in varied venues.

July 27, 2010 (El Cajon) -- Grossmont College Adult Reentry Program will host “Your Tomorrow Starts Here,” a free informational meeting for adults interested in returning to school to reenter the workforce, learn a new career, earn a college diploma or upgrade their skills for a job promotion, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 3, in Room 220 on the college campus. Admission and parking are free.

July 25, 2010 (Spring Valley) -- Boots on the ground and helicopters in the air worked together to keep a fast-moving brush fire at nine acres in the Dictionary Hill area. While 25 homes on the north side of Grand Avenue were ordered evacuated, no structures were damaged and no injuries reported. Cause of the fire is under investigation; however San Miguel Fire officials say it is “suspicious” in nature.

July 25, 2010 (Spring Valley) 3:35 p.m. – A fast-moving brush fire is burning on Dictionary Hill, where homes are being evacuated on Grand Avenue. Two helicopters and a type-3 strike team have been requested; Heartland Fire crews are now at the scene.
 

East County News Service
 

July 24, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Mountain Empire School District, which serves rural areas of East County is asking for donations of backpacks and other school supplies for students. Communities in the district, which serves many poor families, include Boulevard, Campo, Clover Flat, Dehesa, Guatay, Jacumba, Pine Valley, Potrero, and Tecate.
 

Donations may be brought to locations in Alpine or Campo prior to Back to School Night on August 31.