By Miriam Raftery

Updated with reactions from the President and Vice President

By Angela Kurysh 

April 20, 2021 (Lemon Grove) – The City of Lemon Grove is one step closer to updating its General Plan. To date, it has hosted multiple virtual webinars, presented the Plan to the City Council and surveyed members of the community. 

East County News Service

April 19, 2021 (San Diego) -- The celebration is virtual, but the fun is real — San Diego County’s Virtual Earth Day Fair is back. Visit the County’s Land Use and Environment Group’s Earth Day webpage, which is filled with fun and education for kids and parents alike. You can play games, solve puzzles, take virtual hikes in our County parks, get hiking tips from a County park ranger, watch animated video stories about whales and watersheds, sing the Earth song, learn about beekeeping and invasive bugs, explore and travel around the world — even walk on Mars right in your living room.

By Kristin Rangel, La Mesa

Photo: U.S. Capitol; cc via Bing

April 18, 2021 (La Mesa) -- I am a U.S. citizen struggling to overcome immigration issues for my spouse, the highest priority for legal immigration. Both myself working as an RN on the Covid frontlines and my husband are essential workers as well. 

Aztecs storm back from a 14-5 deficit to stun Bulldogs

Source:  goaztecs.com

Video courtesy goaztecs.com

April 18, 2021 (Fresno) - San Diego State once again displayed some late-inning magic on Sunday, overcoming a nine-run deficit to record a wild 21-14 conquest of Fresno State in the rubber game of a weekend set at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.

Celebration caps Mike Curphy’s journey from moonshining to making award-winning spirits

By Henri Migala

April 16, 2021 (Spring Valley) -- East County is known for many things: beautiful wide-open spaces, nature, horseback riding and hiking, makers of some of the best banjos and guitars in the world, numerous wineries, and more. But many people don’t realize that East County is also home to internationally-recognized, award-winning distilleries.

One such distinguished distillery is Mike Curphy Distillery, located with two other distilleries in the business park off Via Orange Way, near the San Miguel Fire Station, in Spring Valley.

COMMUNITY PARTY SATURDAY, APRIL 17

Mike Curphy and two other East County distilleries (Liberty Call and San Diego Distillery), along with four local eateries and three live bands, will be hosting a community party on Saturday, April 17, from 12:00 noon to 7:00 p.m. at the business park off 2731 Via Orange Way in Spring Valley.

There is no cost to attend the event; tastings, drinks and food will be available for purchase. Bring a chair to relax outdoors and savor tastes from the distillieries and local restaurants. (Also bring a mask, to comply with county health rules when not eating or drinking.)

In an exclusive interview with ECM,Mike Curphy shared secrets of his success and his extraordinary journey from moonshining to making award-winning spirits.

By David R. Shorey, East County Program Manager, Institute for Public Strategies

April 14, 2021 (San Diego) - Now that San Diego County has entered the Orange Tier, East County bars are opening and restaurants are expanding their operations. While this gives the food and beverage industry an opportunity to bounce back from extended pandemic closures, we have to be vigilant about the overservice of alcoholic beverages. It may be tempting to encourage an extra drink sale here and there to recoup some of the lost business revenue, but continuing to pour for customers who are clearly intoxicated or selling to the under-21 crowd isn’t helpful to the customer or the business.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Photo via SDG&E webcam

April 12, 2021 (Cuyamaca) – A controlled burn has reportedly jumped a containment line  near Pasa Picacho Campground in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, scanner traffic and multiple sources indicate. The blaze, now dubbed the #PasoFire, has burned 15-20 acres outside the ontrol line and is fueled by a westerly wind.

Multiple air tankers and helicopters have been requested and at least two aircraft are on scene as of 4:50 p.m.

April 12,  2021 (San Diego) -- 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:

LOCAL

• County may lift barriers to tribes expanding their reservations (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Parents Sue LMSVSD Over Lack Of In-Person Instruction (Patch)
• What Biden's Infrastructure Plan Means For San Diego (KPBS)
• Here’s Where More Than $2 Billion in Aid for Local Schools Is Going (Voice of San Diego)
• Judge orders Champion-Cain to spend 15 years in prison for $400M Ponzi scheme (San Diego Union-Tribune) 
• County surpasses 1 million mark for people receiving at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• San Diego Home Prices Hit New Record, Increases Among Highest In Nation (KPBS)
• Santee refines its business assistance plan for those in need during COVID-19 (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Downtown La Mesa rebounding with Union Bank rebuild (San Diego Union-Tribune)

STATE

• Highway 1 in Big Sur to reopen two months early after massive slide (San Jose Mercury News)
• Newsom’s plan to reopen California may be less risky than it seems (Los Angeles Times)
• California advances bill aimed at massive unemployment fraud (AP) 
• Johnson & Johnson vaccine supply to plummet next week in California as demand surges (Los Angeles Times)
• Testing Requirements Dialed Down for California Schools This Year (Voice of San Diego)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

By Alexa Oslowski

April 11, 2021 (San Diego) - On March 31, President Joe Biden announced the American Jobs Plan, which is focused on rebuilding infrastructure and creating millions of American jobs. 

The infrastructure portion of the $2 trillion plan includes money for repairing roads and highways, as well as improving access to clean drinking water, upgrading electric grids, and providing high-speed broadband for all Americans. Biden’s plan also includes updating millions of homes, school buildings, childcare facilities and federal buildings, with a focus on those that serve veterans.