East County News Service

March 21, 2023 (San Diego) – “We have magnifique news for you - we are taking part in San Diego Restaurant Week,” announces Bleu Bohème, a  French eatery in San Diego’s Kensington community. A culinary tour of France includes a three-course menu, priced at $65 per person and available exclusively Tuesday, March 28 through Saturday, April 1.

The prix fixe dinner includes petit plats such as gnocchi à la Parisienne, crab croquettes, French onion soup and more. For the main course, a choice of boeuf bourguignon, cassoulet of Hudson Valley Muscovy duck leg confit, Shiitake and oyster mushroom raviolis and more. To finish, a choice between rich dark Callebaut chocolate mousse, crème brûlée, gingerbread or brioche bread pudding. The full San Diego Restaurant Week menu is available here.

Story and photos by Shiloh Ireland

March 21, 2023 (Lakeside) -- Lakeside has a new state of the art library. ECM took a preview tour of the 16,000 square foot facility on March 1 during a soft opening, also interviewing librarian Mary Elder. The grand opening is scheduled for March 25^th.

ECM has conducted a photographic and drone history since ground-breaking of this new addition to Lakeside. As part of the San Diego County public library system, it is open to all residents of the county to utilize its services and check out materials.

The library offers a spacious environment with a teen room, children's section with a cave and large screen computer screens, large print section, DVD area, outdoor patio, state of the art computer check-out machine, attractive artwork, Lakeside Friends of the Library’s room that offers books for sale and much more.

East County News Service

March 21, 2023 (Alpine) – Hop on over to the San Diego Animal Sanctuary & Farm (formerly called the Children’s Nature Retreat), a 20-acre farm in Alpine, to celebrate Easter with the animals and participate in one of four Easter Egg Hunts. The annual egg hunts are a tradition at the Farm and this year, there will be one hunt per day from Thursday, April 6 through Sunday, April 9.  

By Miriam Raftery

March 21, 2023 (El Cajon) – El Cajon’s City Council will convene a special session on Tuesday, March 21 at 2:15 p.m. to weigh proposed regulations aimed at reducing crimes associated with individuals placed in local motels under the county’s homeless voucher program. An open session will be followed by a closed door session, for the Council to weigh legal options.

The action follows El Cajon Police Department’s announcement earlier today that two registered sex offenders staying at Motel 6 in El Cajon under the voucher program have been arrested and admitted sexually assaulting, molesting and videotaping their actions with an underaged girl; police have also indicated they believe at least two more young girls may also have been sexually assaulted by the men, who were both wearing ankle monitors as convicted sex offenders.

East County News Service

Updated March 21 with additional details.

March 20, 2023 (El Cajon) – Two registered sex offenders have been arrested after admitting to sexual acts with underage girls at the Motel 6 in El Cajon, where one of the offenders had been placed by an organization that assists homeless people.

El Cajon Police Department has identified one victim, a 16-year-old girl.  ECPD is asking for public help to identify multiple young girls whom the men have reportedly admitted to sexually assaulting during the past week at the same motel.

These crimes validate concerns repeatedly raised by the city of El Cajon over County placement of homeless individuals in motels without vetting for criminal backgrounds, as ECM has reported.

By Jacob Pamus

On March 14,  a United States drone flying over the Black Sea was downed by a Russian jet, according to the Pentagon. Remains of the drone, which was  built  Poway by General Atomics, have not yet been recovered.

Russia denied causing the crash, however video released by the Pentagon shows that the Russian jet was flying close to the drone and dumping fuel onto it. The Pentagon believes that the fuel was being dumped in order to damage surveillance technology on the drone, and that  the jet accidentally clipped the propeller of the drone, causing it to crash. The video shows that the Russian jet clearly damaged the propeller of the drone.

Huskies power past Aztecs with four homers

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

March 19, 2023 (San Diego) - San Diego State fell victim to the long ball on Sunday as visiting UConn pulled away for a 10-3 triumph in the finale of a four-game series at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

SDSU loses first MW series since 2021

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

March 19, 2023 (Fort Collins, Colo.) - The San Diego State softball team was edged, 3-2, at Colorado State in the series finale Sunday afternoon at Ram Field in Fort Collins, Colorado. The Aztecs fell to 16-9 overall and 1-2 in Mountain West play, while the Rams improved to 16-8 and 2-1.

East County News Service

March 19, 2023 (Ramona) – The Ramona Senior Center will host a car show on Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Grace Community Church, 1234 Barger Place in Ramona (corner of San Vicente Road and Barger Place).

East County News Service

March 19, 2023 (Lakeside) – Reflections Day Spa invites you to its 7^th annual Haircuts for the Homeless event on Sunday, April 2 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Donations of items to help the homeless are sought, including sleeping bags, blankets, tents, socks, jackets, beanies and toiletries.

Reflections Day Spa is located at 9909 Maine Ave., Lakeside, CA 92040.  Questions? Call (619) 334-2240.

East County News Service

Photo: migrants at border in Arizona, via Congressional representative Ann Kirkpatrick

March 17, 2023 (San Diego) – On Wednesday, March 15, a federal court largely denied the Biden administration’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit, Immigrant Defenders Law Center et al. v. Mayorkas, brought on behalf of people seeking asylum who were stranded outside the United States as a result of the Trump administration’s  “Remain in Mexico” policy.

Photo: Anti-Semitic graffiti at San Diego State University in 2021

March 14,2023 (San Diego) --The San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution introduced by Supervisor Nathan Fletcher and Vice Chair Terra Lawson-Remer to denounce antisemitic rhetoric and hate crimes targeting Jewish people in San Diego County.

In 2021, the Jewish community in San Diego experienced 38 recorded incidents of antisemitism, including 14 cases of vandalism, 23 incidents of harassment, and one assault. In 2020 the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported a 6 percent increase in hate crimes from the previous year, representing the highest total in 12 years, and found that attacks against Jews or Jewish institutions made up nearly 60 percent of all religious-based hate crimes.  

By Miriam Raftery

March 16, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – Joshua Spirz, 18, of Campo died Monday night after a solo vehicle crash on Old Highway 80 at Sunrise Highway. He was driving home from his job at Descanso Junction, which has started a fundraiser to help his family.

East County News Service

March 16, 2023 (El Cajon) – If you’re planning on drinking to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, be sure to bring a designated  sober driver, take public transit, or call a rideshare service such as Uber or Lyft.  The El Cajon Police Department will hold a DUI Checkpoint tomorrow evening, March 17, from 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. in the 300 block of West Chase. 

 Checkpoint locations are chosen based on a history of DUI crashes and arrests. The primary purpose of checkpoints is not to make arrests, but to promote public safety by deterring drivers from driving impaired, according to ECPD.

 During the checkpoint, officers will look for signs that drivers are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

East County News Service

March 15, 2023 (San Diego) -- The latest atmospheric river to drench our region dumped several inches of rainfall in many San Diego County areas over the two days ending Wednesday at 5:45 p.m.

Palomar had 5.78 inches of precipitation. In East County, the Mesa Grande reservation had 3.82 inches and Lake Cuyamaca got 3.56 inches.Julian received 2.44 inches and nearby Pine Hills had 3.09 inches.  Descanso had 2.43 inches. Many other communities received between 1.6 and 2 inches including La Mesa, Santee, Ramona, and Pine Valley. 

Though this is heavy precipitation for San Diego County, some areas elsewhere in California have set all-time records for deep snow levels. Cal Trans warns motorists to avoid some areas due to avalanche dangers, and some avalanches have already occurred.