By Mike Van Bibber

April 14, 2019 (Julian) -- A message to our family, friends, and neighbors in the Julian-Cuyamaca community, throughout California, and across the United States:

The men and women of the Julian-Cuyamaca Fire Protection District are facing an illegal government takeover of our volunteer fire department — San Diego County’s last volunteer department — and that’s putting the public at risk. 

Throughout our history, JCFPD has been responding to emergency calls in our community: heart attacks, car crashes, wildfires, you name it. More than 60 members strong, we proudly serve everyone in the community — whether local or visitor, young or old, rich or poor, regardless of culture or creed. We are woven into the community’s fabric and remain in the station ready to serve in the event of an emergency. 

Legal documents and bureaucrats call this place a “special district.” We call it “home.”

Normally we’d be waiting here in the station until someone calls in need of help. Our history has always been responding to calls for help. But today is different. 

Today we are asking you for help. Today we are the ones who desperately need your help.

By Renée Owens

Photo: Endangered least Bell’s vireo checking its nest

April 23, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- This year’s spectacular rainfall has finally ended our eight-year drought and the bounty of spring is one for the records: wildflowers are blooming far and wide, butterflies are migrating by the thousands, birds are nesting early, and the sound of SDG&E chopping at trees fills the air. What? The latter should not be a rite of spring and there’s a very good reason why.

East County News Service

April 23, 2019 (Flinn Springs) — The Alpine Kiwanis Club invites the public to attend the 29th Annual Vintage Alpine fundraiser to be held on May 5. This amazing “Wine & Food Experience in the Country” will take place within the lovely gardens of Summers Past Farms at 15602 Olde Highway 80.

By Allan Acevedo

April 23, 2019 (La Mesa) – Helix Water District’s Board of Directors held a sparsely attended meeting last Wednesday that covered major topics including establishing guidelines to develop next year’s budget—including possible rate hikes.  Other issues covered included reconciling current policies with unfunded state mandates and reviewing specific actions on parcels.

The District provides drinking water for over 273,000 people in the communities of La Mesa, Lemon Grove, El Cajon, Spring Valley and portions of Santee, Lakeside and San Diego County.

East County News Service

April 23, 2019 (La Mesa) – Toby the T-Rex donned bunny ears over the Easter weekend.  The statue, owned by Jeff Phair of the Phair Company, has fast become a holiday icon atop its hillside home at the planned site of La Mesa Summit Estates in La Mesa.

East County News Service

April 23, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – A New Path (Parents for Addiction Treatment and Healing) celebrates its 20th anniversary of lifesaving advocacy with a gala evening on Saturday, April 27 from 6-10 p.m. at the Hyatt Mission Bay. Founded in Spring Valley, the organization provides education and advocacy for therapeutic drug policies and will celebrate two decades of community service.

By Donald H. Harrison

Originally published at San Diego Jewish World, a member of the San Diego Online News Network

April 22, 2019 (El Cajon) - Near the northwest corner of Gillespie Field is an annex of the San Diego Aerospace Museum, where visitors can hear lore and legends about aircraft from people who, in some cases, made them originally or who are helping to  estore them to museum quality.

By Ken Stone

Reprinted with permission from Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association.

By Maryanne Jackson, Real Estate Broker, CNE. CPRES.

April 20, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -

Dear Maryanne,

My mother and I purchased a home in Lemon Grove last year and it has been very quiet until recently. There is a lot of construction going on lately and the cars are being diverted past our home. We are now interested in finding solutions to creating a quiet and peaceful environment without moving.

Thelma S. & Joy L.

Lemon Grove, CA

By Sam Bowman, Earth Talk

April 19, 2019 (San Diego's East County) - Sustainability has become a trend in home renovation and design, but which aspects of it are trending in the green building niche right now? As more people become passionate about eco-friendly living, sustainable innovations grow and become more accessible for anyone looking to create a greener house for themselves. When considering sustainability, trending items are not just about what is fashionable; it’s also about which are doing the most for the environment.

Swagit Productions, LLC provides EASE^TM hands-free Webcasting system for optimal meeting video delivery to the citizens of El Cajon

Source:  Swagit

April 18, 2019 (El Cajon) - The City of El Cajon provides their residents with an improved City Council meeting viewing experience via Swagit Productions and their EASE™ streaming solution. 

“The City of El Cajon had an existing video streaming product that was not meeting our needs,” said Sara Diaz, Director of Information Technology for El Cajon.  “The system had a high failure rate and our staff had to spend a lot of time on the phone with their support trying to get the system functional and videos uploaded from our personal copies. 

By Tom Christensen, County of San Diego Communications Office

April 17, 2019 (San Diego) - An undergraduate student at San Diego State University was hospitalized Tuesday with a probable meningococcal infection, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency reported today.

East County News Service

April 17, 2019 (Julian) -- Most people know that Julian is a popular tourist destination located in the high country of San Diego County. It’s not only a beautiful place to escape to, with its picturesque surroundings, apples, pies, and rich history, but it’s also growing into a springtime hotspot because of the wonderfully fragrant lilacs that grow throughout the area.