October 20, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – On October 17, a shoulder-tap operation was conducted by the Sheriff’s Department and other agencies to see if retail outlets are illegally selling alcohol to minors in Santee, Alpine, Lakeside, Spring Valley, Lemon Grove, and unincorporated El Cajon.

Deputies from the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, Agents from Alcohol Beverage Control, and three minor decoys conducted a "Minor Decoy" and "Shoulder Tap" Operation at various locations in the East County. The operation involved minors who tested "on-sale" and "off-sale" establishments. The minor decoys tested retailers and servers at a number of locations in an attempt to purchase alcoholic beverages inside their establishments. Three employees sold alcohol to the decoys.

October 9, 2013 (Spring Valley ) –Sheriff’s investigators along with federal agents have determined that a fire at Santa Sophia Church last night was intentionally set.  A reward of up to $1,000 is offered for information leading to arrest of the arsonist.

The fire was reported around 7:57 p.m. last night in the church at 9800 San Juan Street in the Casa De Oro neighborhood of Spring Valley.   Cal Fire/San Miguel Fire district crews were on the scene in three minutes with  five engines and 20 firefighters, who extinguished the blaze within 10 minutes.  

Sept. 23, 2013 (Spring Valley) – The Mulvaney family is sponsoring the 3rd Annual Jim Mulvaney’s Concert on the Green to benefit Noah Homes Inc. on October 5, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 12526 Campo Road, Spring Valley.  The concert will feature the Irish music of The Tim Foley Band.

August 29, 2013 (Spring Valley) – According to Sheriff’s detectives, an armed robbery took place at a Subway located at 289 Sweetwater Road on August 22 at about 12:40 a.m.  The suspect, wearing a knit, ski mask and armed with a black handgun, allegedly ordered one of the employees to open the cash register, from which he took the money and left. 

July 23, 2013 (Spring Valley) -- The Young Actors Theater is presenting “Grease” August 15-18 and 22-25 at Encore! Theatre, 9620 Campo Road, Spring Valley.  At Rydell High's senior class of 1959, duck-tailed, hot-rodding "Burger Palace Boys" and their gum-snapping, hip-shaking "Pink Ladies" in bobby sox and pedal pushers, evoke the look and sound of the 1950s in this rollicking musical. Head "greaser" Danny Zuko and new (good) girl Sandy Dumbrowski try to relive the high romance of their "Summer Nights" as the rest of the gang sings and dances its way through such songs as "Greased Lightnin'","Beauty School Dropout" plus many others that became the soundtrack of a generation.

By Nadin Abbott

May 31, 2013 (Spring Valley)—What should be done with the former Evergreen Nursery property in Spring Valley? That was the key question before the Spring Valley Planning Group Wednesday night.

David S. Thomson, Chief Executive Officer for Mastercraft Homes Group, the owner of the property, came to offer his proposal, along with his team.

During earlier meetings there was a palpable hope that the site would be developed into a commercial site, or a mixed use residential and commercial site that would include a community meeting place for Spring Valley residents.

But Mastercraft's plan didn’t include that.  Thomson stated that “due to the economy and oversupply (of commercial property) nobody recommended that,” then noted that it is still a “bad retail environment.”

May 18, 2013 (Spring Valley) – A 69-year-old Spring Valley man has been arrested in connection with the vicious beating of a dog. An officer with the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services (DAS) has arrested 69-year-old Charles Dudley on May 14. A neighbor called DAS saying he witnessed the beating in Dudley’s backyard on the 3500 block of Bentley Drive a day earlier.

The Animal Control Officer who responded to the scene found a two-year-old female Miniature Pinscher barely breathing in the backyard and rushed the eight-pound animal to an emergency veterinary hospital. Despite emergency care, the dog succumbed to its injuries overnight. A necropsy will be performed on the body to determine the exact cause of death.

May 1, 2013  (Spring Valley) – Under the direction and choreography of mother-daughter team Michelle Mullen and Chelsea Mullen, a Steele Canyon High School senior, and Beatriz Corral, musical director, Young Actors’ Theatre is pleased to announce the upcoming The Little Mermaid, a beloved and family-friendly tale. The Little Mermaid will run for eight performances in the intimate setting of the ENCORE! Theater located in Spring Valley.

The tale tells the story of a magical kingdom fathoms below, where the beautiful young mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. But first, she'll have to defy her father King Triton, make a deal with the evil sea witch Ursula, and convince Prince Eric that she’s the girl with the enchanting voice. The Little Mermaid is based on the Hans Christian Andersen Story and the Disney Film produced by Howard Ashman & John Musker and written & directed by John Musker and Ron Clements.

April 23, 2013 (Spring Valley)—A 5-year-old girl was bitten on the foot by a snake yesterday while playing in a grassy common area of a condo complex at 8700 Spring Canyon Road in the La Presa area of Spring Valley.  CAL FIRE/San Miguel Fire District firefighters responded to the call shortly before noon.  With help from residents, firefighters from Station 16 located and confirmed it to be a rattlesnake.

The child was transported to Sharp Grossmont where she is receiving anti-venom.  "She is doing well, according to the mother," Leonard Villareal with San Miguel Fire told ECM today.

San Diego County Animal Services indicated there was a huge jump in snake calls yesterday. As the weather warms up, the snakes become more active.

Animal Poison Control Center offers several tips to avoid chance encounters with snakes:

April 11, 2013 (Spring Valley)-- The County of San Diego invites you to "go play, get fit, be healthy!"  The 8th annual "It's How We Live" community festival will be held this Saturday, April 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Spring Valley County Park, 8735 Jamacha Boulevard in Spring Valley.

The event is free to the public and includes games, activiites, healthy food samples, free health and dental screenings, a bounce house, live entertainment, information booths, prizes and giveaways.

April 5, 2013 (Spring Valley)--The Lemon Grove Sheriff's Station wants your help in finding two men who tried to kidnap a 17-year-old girl in Spring Valley just before 11 a.m. yesterday. According to the Sheriff, the teen girl was walking near the intersection of Kenwood Drive and Campo Road when she was approached by two African-American men. The suspects drove up in an older burgundy four-door car and offered her a ride saying: "Hey beautiful, need a ride?"

The girl declined. The passenger then got out of the car and grabbed the victim from her arm and shoulders in an attempt to get her into the car. The girl fought him off and ran away. The suspects were last seen driving westbound on Campo Road, toward the Wendy's. The girl suffered minor injuries.No weapon was used during the attempted kidnapping.

March 12, 2013 (Spring Valley)--San Miguel Fire District Firefighters responded to a fully engulfed mobile home fire tonight at Avalon Estates in the 1200 block of Grand Avenue, Spring Valley.

Two of the family’s four residents were home when the fire broke out. One resident, a female broke a bedroom window and escaped the flames, said Leonard Villareal, public information officer at San Miguel Fire Department. The other person home, a young man suffered severe to moderate burns over an estimated 25-percent of his body as he ran through the flames to escape from the front door. He was given stabilizing care on the scene and then rushed to the UCSD Burn Center.

March 6, 2013 (Spring Valley) – Reynald Celendro was arrested yesterday in Spring Valley under suspicion of firing  in the direction of a motorist on Highway 52 in Tierrasanta near Santo Road earlier in the day.

CHP officers made the arrest in the 8900 block of Ildica Street in Spring Valley.  A pellet gun may have been involved.

March 2, 2013 (Spring Valley) – Spring Into Healthy Living, a health and wellness fair featuring free health screenings and healthy living information from seniors and community service providers in the East County, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, March 20 at the McGrath Family YMCA, 12006 Campo Road, Spring Valley. Admission is free, and continental breakfast will be served.



Health screenings will check blood glucose, blood pressure, body mass index, hearing and stroke risk. Information will be available on nutrition, volunteer opportunities, disaster preparedness and various diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and diabetes. Demonstrations of tai chi and zumba, along with tours of the YMCA, will be held. Health officials will accept unused prescription medications.

January 10, 2013 (Casa de Oro) – A  destroyed half of a resident in the 4100 block of Avoyer Place in Casa de Oro this morning.  At first, residents thought smoke in the kitchen area was due to cooking, until one went outside and saw smoke coming from under the garage.  Opening the door, he saw fire erupt into massive flames which quickly spread from the garage into the attic and home. 

“With the screams of ‘fire’, family members began to evacuate,” said Leonard Villareal with San Miguel Fire District.  “Residents inside the home had to carry the elderly female homeowner to safety. Another neighbor entered the home and carried a young woman who was asleep a back bedroom to safety. Another neighbor entered the home and carried a young woman who was asleep in a back bedroom to safety.”