Source:  Lemon Grove Lions Club 

April 7, 2022 (Lemon Grove) - Lemon Grove Lions Club will host Quartermania, a cross between an auction, a raffle and bingo. The event will feature preview shopping at 10:30 a.m., quarter auction from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and a light lunch at 12: 00pm. Bring plenty of quarters as you will need them to bid on auction items.  

Source:  County of San Diego

April 6, 2022 (Potrero) - The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) has issued a Boil Water Order for the Potrero County Park water system located at 25800 Potrero Park Drive, Potrero, CA 91963, effective immediately. The water system supplies water to 37 service connections including the office, ranger residence, 32 recreational vehicle spaces and 3 public restrooms with an average daily population of 100 persons. 

By Elijah McKee

April 6, 2022 (Lemon Grove) — It’s an election year, and there’s a slew of seats up for grabs that impact East County — including a spot in the United States Senate, a race that has 23 current candidates. 

One of the Californians vying for this slot in Congress is Dr. Myron Hall, a respected podiatric surgeon, former Naval Officer and combat veteran with ties to the San Diego region. On April 2, he addressed a room of old friends and colleagues at a Town Hall Meet and Greet in Lemon Grove, held at the North Park Apostolic Church.

Source: Children’s Nature Retreat

April 6, 2021 (Alpine) -- You’re invited to hop on over to the Children’s Nature Retreat, a 20-acre animal sanctuary in Alpine, to celebrate Easter with the animals and participate in an Easter Egg Hunt. The annual Egg Hunts are a tradition at the Retreat and this year there will be one hunt per day all week, from Monday, April 11 through Sunday, April 17.  

By Pennell Paugh and Miriam Raftery

April 5, 2022 (San Diego) – SDG&E rolled out rate hikes starting January 1 that raised prices around 11% on electricity (7.6% for residential customers), a hike approved by the California Public Utilities Commission. But some consumers have been shocked to find far larger spikes in their bills early this year, a problem compounded by a spike in natural gas prices fueled by cold weather and global supply issues, Voice of San Diego reports.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Jake Rose: Chase Bank in flames during May 30, 2020 riot in downtown La Mesa

April 5, 2022 (La Mesa) – One of several people alleged to have set fires which burned down the Chase Bank in La Mesa following a May 30, 2020 riot has been sentenced to 16 months in prison.  Alexander King, 20, pleaded guilty in February to a felony count of recklessly causing fire of a structure.

East County News Service

April 5, 2022 (San Diego) - A tentative agreement was reached by the bargaining committee representing seven UFCW Locals across southern California and Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions, and Ralphs. 

Photos and story by Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

April 4, 2022 (Inglewood, CA) -- Imagine having to “flip the merchandise” in SoFi Stadium’s shops in one day to accommodate a Los Angeles Rams’ game one day, and then the next day --- a Los Angeles Chargers’ game. Hello ram horns; goodbye lightning bolts!

According to a SoFi Stadium tour guide, that is exactly what they do when the football games are back-to-back. Sofi is only one of two facilities that share a pair of NFL teams. The other is MetLife Stadium home to the New York Jets and the New York Giants.

If you are curious to see the sports and entertainment complex where the former San Diego Chargers now play, which opened September 8, 2020, you can buy a ticket to tour SoFi off the stadium’s website. Or the next time El Cajon’s Daytripper Tours offer a trip, you can utilize their company.

Warning: Graphic and disturbing content

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Bucha civilians reportedly massacred by Russians, Ukraine Ministry of Digital Development Mikhail Fedorov post on Twitter

April 4, 2022 (Ukraine) – After Russian troops withdrew from several besieged Ukrainian cities, horrifying evidence of war crimes have emerged. International media, human rights groups, and Ukrainian officials have all provided documentation of atrocities including mass graves, executions of civilians – some with hands bound behind their backs, rapes, murders including children, bodies boobytrapped with bombs, and efforts to cover up war crimes by burning bodies. 

Source:  Treasurer-Tax Collector of San Diego County

April 4, 2022 (San Diego) - San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister reminded property owners today that they have seven days left to pay the second installment of their 2021-2022 property taxes before they are charged a late penalty.  

 Note from East County Magazine’s editor:  Although the 80^th District does not currently include East County, with redistricting it soon will include portions of the inland region.  The winner of this special election is expected to run for reelection in November.

By Ben Christopher, CalMatters

CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters

CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters

April 4, 2022 (Sacramento) - If you want a vision of California’s political future in 2022, consider San Diego a crystal ball.

Tuesday, the polls close in one of the more contentious of an unusual flurry of special electionsprompted by the “Great Resignation” of state legislators. A south San Diego Assembly seat opened up when progressive Lorena Gonzalez, a one-person factory of state-shaping, headline-grabbing legislation, stepped down in January to take the top job at the California Labor Federation, the state branch of the AFL-CIO.

Aztecs improve to 9-0 in Mountain West play in their 11th straight win

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

April 3, 2022 (San Diego) - San Diego State completed another Mountain West series sweep with a 3-1 victory over Nevada Sunday afternoon at SDSU Softball Stadium. The Aztecs (25-10) have won 11 consecutive games and are now 9-0 in league play.

East County News Service

April 3, 2022 (Mt. Helix) – Live music returns to Mt. Helix Park on Saturday, May 28 at 8 p.m. with a candlelight open air pop concert on strings.  A talented string quartet will take you on a musical journey through the ages, performing pop songs on classical instruments while you savor the stunning outdoor backdrop in a memorable experience.

By Ken Stone, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  outside a federal courthouse in 2019, Rep. Duncan Hunter discusses another case. Photo by Ken Stone

April 2, 2022 (San Diego) - Nearly six years after it received a complaint about then-Rep. Duncan D. Hunter’s suspicious spending, the Federal Election Commission this week took the wraps off its investigation.

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By Miriam Raftery

April 1, 2022 (San Diego) – In his State of the County address, Nathan Fletcher, Chairman of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors cited homelessness as the top challenge to be addressed as the region moves forward out of the pandemic, unveiling a new plan to help local cities help homeless people. 

He also unveiled a plan to help families afford activities in county parks, as well as addressing pandemic, the economy, housing needs, childcare, the opioid crisis, wildfire safety and more.