May 2, 2015 (Spring Valley)--PaintCare, a nonprofit that runs the California Paint Stewardship Program on behalf of paint manufacturers, is holding a special event to collect old and leftover paint to make it easier for households and businesses to recycle their unwanted paint. The event will be Saturday, May 9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Steele Canyon High School, 12440 Campo Rd., Spring Valley.

May 3, 2015 (La Mesa) — Himalayan Cuisine, on the corner of El Cajon Blvd. & Baltimore Dr., 7918 El Cajon Blvd. #P, La Mesa, 91941,  will hold two fundraising events next week to help raise funds to aid victims of the devastating 7.8 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks that struck Nepal on April 25.  The lunch and dinner events will be held Tuesday, May 5 and Thursday, May 7.  

The $10 lunch will be served from 11:00AM - 3:00PM on both days, with $5 of the fee going directly to help survivors in Nepal.  For dinner, a small $2 donation can be added to the bill to assist in relief efforts.  If you can’t make it for the fundraising events, you can still drop by any day to donate and say hello.  

East County News Service

May 2, 2015 (Warner Springs)—Sheriff’s homicide detectives are investigating the shooting deaths of two women and a man last night in Warner Springs.

Event to benefit benefit Boys and Girls Clubs of East County, Fostering Opportunities Scholarships and Include Autism.

East County News Service

May 1, 2015 (La Mesa) -- San Diego Las Hermanas "(The Sisters") invites you to  their "Boots & Bling" fundraiser on Saturday, May 9 at the La Mesa Community Center. Grab your partner, throw on your cowboy boots and hats, and join the festivities including live Country Western music, BBQ dinner, drawings, live auction, card tricks and comedy magic, line dancing instruction, and entertaining antics by  Master of Ceremonies Yosemite Sam.

By Cathy Ozbun, Julian Fire Plugs

May 2, 2015 (Julian) - On Saturday, May 23th, the Julian Fire Plugs will be hosting the Julian Arts & Crafts Fair. The fair will be held in the Rabobank parking lot at 2033 Main Street in Julian, from 10:00 am until  4:00 pm and will showcase work by many local artists, crafters and artisans from Julian and other nearby communities.

East County News Service

May 1, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Across the nation, health officials are warning about a sharp rise in hospitalizations among patients who took “spice”, a synthetic marijuana drug.

East County News Service

May 1, 2015 (El Cajon)  Cajon Valley Union School District announces launch of a multilingual program at the CVUSD Language Academy.  The program will offer students who speak English or Spanish as their first language the opportunity to learn to read, write, and communicate in English and Spanish, learn computer programming, and a fourth language.

East County News Service

May 1, 2015 (Santee) – Ryan Willweber, a track star and junior at West Hills High School in Santee, has died of injuries sustained in a crash yesterday afternoon.  Two other students were injured, including Willweber’s brother, who reportedly suffered broken bones.

"Climate change science has not changed in the way Councilwoman Alessio would like us to believe. Let's stick to credible sources on science, not talking points from the climate change denier's briefing book." -- Kathleen Connell, PhD, sustainabiltiy expert and former NASA astrobiology science founder

By Miriam Raftery

Upated May 1 to add comments from Mike Bullock and data from a climate change paper he authored.

April 30, 2015 (La Mesa) – At La Mesa’s City Council hearing Tuesday, Council heard a report detailing the city’s progress on reducing its carbon footprint in order to reduce climate change.

Councilmember Kristine Alessio then stated, “The science has changed behind climate change in the last ten years. Maybe at some point we need to reconsider being part of the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Change Protection Agreement.” Here audio clip here: http://k003.kiwi6.com/hotlink/blgb31acb1/Alessio-ClimateChange-Kristine.mp3

Volunteers Needed!

April 30, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - Volunteer with Voices for Children and be the voice for a child.  Voices for Children provides more than one-third of local foster children in San Diego County with the caring support of a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA).  But there are many more that still need a CASA to speak on their behalf – in the courtroom, classroom, and community – to ensure their needs are met. Our information session event provides the community with an opportunity to learn more about Voices for Children and the CASA program.

April 27, 2015 (Washington D.C.) – Americans are getting too much fluoride from multiple sources including toothpaste, mouthwash, some juices and sodas, and water.  So the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is recommending cutting in half the amount of fluoride that’s added to drinking water to prevent tooth decay.

East County News Service

April 29, 2015 (Santee) -- GTM Discount General Stores and Meadowbrook Mobile Home Estates of Santee received special recognition from Waste Management of San Diego at this week’s Santee City Council meeting as part of Waste Management’s inaugural “Recycling Champion” program which recognizes businesses and multi-family complexes for their exemplary efforts in implementing recycling on their properties in the City of Santee.

April 29, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD), a public agency that supports various health-related community programs and services in San Diego’s East County region, recently awarded $85,500 in scholarships to 38 high school students who have expressed interest in a career as a healthcare professional.

By Miriam Raftery

April 28, 2015 (Sacramento) – The tobacco industry has succeeded in snuffing out strict limits proposed on tobacco at ballparks.  Legislators on the Assembly Governmental Organization Committe, many of whom took hefty contributions from tobacco interests, voted overwhelmingly to water down a bill that originally would have banned all tobacco products at every ballpark in California—from Little League to Major League ballparks.

April 29, 2015 (La Mesa) -- The City of La Mesa has once again updated its economic development webpage with refreshed Commercial Space Availability Reports. According to the most recent reports, dated April 2015, there is approximately 146,000 square feet of retail space available in the City; 150,000 square feet of office space; and 37,000 square feet of industrial space.  Retail vacancy is down over 20% from April 2014 and office vacancy is down roughly 14%.