East County News Service

October 2, 2018 (Lemon Grove) - During the month of October, the Lemon Grove Library is hosting a free series of bilingual parenting workshops to empower families in the area. The workshops are offered in partnership with the Lemon Grove School District and address a variety of topics of interest to families with school-aged children in the district.

East County News Service

October 1, 2018 (City Heights) – Visionary Dance Theatre of La Mesa will present “Questa," chronicles of an American family, at the City Heights Performance Annex (3795 Fairmount Ave., San Diego) on October 11th-13th at 8 p.m.

The performance is based on the genealogical work of Artistic Director Spencer John Powell’s ancestors from the beautiful little village of Questa, New Mexico. He has traced his family’s roots back to the early 1600s and has developed work representing the family names of Duran, Rael, and Quintana, their indigenous, Spanish, Jewish, French and African lineage.  Powell also explores the beautiful landscape of this village nestled in the mountains.

By Miriam Raftery

October 1, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – The Cinnamon Fire, which burned 13 acres in Ramona on July 20th  and destroyed a home that was a former stage coach stop dating back to 1870, was caused by use of equipment, says Cal Fire public information officer Isaac Sanchez.

East County News Service



Photo: Sunflowers by Linda Lemon



October 2, 2018 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon photographers Linda Lemen, James Lemen and Carol Flanagan-Corsi are 3 of the 17 San Diego County artists who have work in  the 15th annual St. Mark's Photography and Digital Art Show. Linda Lemon won 3rd place, and Carol Flanagan-Corsi received an Honorable Mention Award.

By Miriam Raftery

October 1, 2018 (Lakeside) – Now in its 19^th year, Oma’s Pumpkin Patch at the Van Ommering Dairy in Lakeside is open for the season now through October 31^st .  You can visit Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

East County News Service

September 30, 2018 (Lakeside) — A man suffered serious wounds in a stabbing Saturday on the Barona reservation, though they are not considered life-threatening, says Sgt. John Delocht with the Sheriff’s department.

By Tom Christensen, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo:  Neisseria Meningitidis via Photomic

September 29, 2018 (San Diego) - For the second time this semester, a San Diego State University undergraduate student has been hospitalized with serogroup B meningococcal disease, prompting the San Diego County public health officer to determine an outbreak on campus, the County Health and Human Services Agency announced today.

San Diego’s big cat and exotic animal sanctuary celebrates global animal welfare event with educational visits and blessing of animals

East County News Service 

October 3, 2018 (Alpine) -- San Diego’s world renowned, non-profit big cat and exotic animal sanctuary, Lions Tigers & Bears is celebrating World Animal Day with a unique Blessing of the Animals and special promotion for visitors as part of an international effort to raise awareness and education about animal welfare. 

Father Jason Samuels of Christ the King Episcopal Church in Alpine will deliver a blessing to all the rescued animals at the sanctuary including lions, tigers, bears, bobcats, leopards, a mountain lion and more on Thursday, October 4 at 10:30 a.m.

By Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo:  the alert will look like a text.  Image via FEMA

October 2, 2018 (San Diego) - No reason to become alarmed. Your mobile phone will emit a special tone and vibrate as it receives an emergency test message on Oct. 3.  It is part of a nationwide test by the Federal Emergency Management Agency of Wireless Emergency Alerts systems to assess its effectiveness.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos provided by Jeff Phair

September 28, 2018 (La Mesa) – Last week,  San Diego Union-Tribune writer Karen Pearlman posted a photo of a Tyrannosaurus Rex metal sculpture that mysteriously appeared in La Mesa at the future site of the La Mesa Summit Estates, raising the question of why the giant dinosaur statue had suddenly shown up in the Jewel of the Hills, as La Mesa is known.

Source: County News Service

September 28, 2018 (Ramona) -- The County has opened a stretch of trail in another section of Ramona Grasslands County Preserve. The Old Survey Road 97 Trail has been closed to the public due to many sensitive species including golden eagles that live and forage in the preserve. Now, the trail is available on a trial basis - to a limited number of people who pass a seasonal permit test - from 8 a.m. until sunset on Saturdays and Sundays now through Nov. 15. To visit, you must watch a quick video and take a short survey, confirming you understand the “dos” and “don’ts” of this unique wildlife habitat.  

By Miriam Raftery

Photos: Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh (center), Prof. Christine Blasey Ford (left), and  Julie Swetnick (right), who holds high-level security clearances and accused Kavanaugh of “gang rape” but was not allowed to testify

September 28, 2018 (Washington D.C.) – The Senate Judiciary Committee, on a party line vote with all Republicans in favor, voted today to send controversial Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh to the full Senate for a vote next week.

The action came after an emotional day of testimony in which accuser Christine Blasey Ford, a psychology professor, accused Kavanaugh of attempted rape and Kavanaugh denied the allegations in anger-laced and tearful testimony.  The committee leadership refused to allow testimony by two other accusers, including one accusing Kavanaugh of “gang rape,” or by any witnesses who might have corroborated or disputed the accounts.

Republican Senator Jeff Flake cast a key vote to advance the matter out of committee, but said he will not vote for Kavanaugh on the Senate Floor  unless that vote is delayed a week and an FBI investigation of the sexual assault allegations is conducted. However there is no assurance that Senate Leader Mitch McConnell will delay the vote scheduled for Tuesday, if he has enough votes for passage without the delay.

Source: San Diego Sheriff’s Department

October 2, 2018 (San Diego) - During the month of October, Sheriff’s deputies have the option of wearing a pink version of their uniform patch. The patches are a great way to spark a conversation with the public and bring attention to the fight against breast cancer during the awareness month.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Pastor Harold Brown, ECTLC, during holiday party for homeless children

September 27, 2018 (El Cajon) – The East County Transitional Living Center proposes to expand by adding two new buildings to its facility at 1527 East Main Street. The plan. submitted by Pastor Harold Brown, would add 48 beds to the center, which assists homeless people transition off the streets.

East County News Service 

September 27, 2018 (El Cajon) -- The Haunted Amusement Park is opening its doors to the public Friday, September 28, 2018 with a big fundraising event for the non-profit group Team Parker for Life to help fund Childhood Cancer Research.