Photo, left to right:  Heartland & Rescue Firefighter/Paramedic Neil Carter, Captain Tom Brown, and Firefighter/Paramedic Sean Finley. 

By Miriam Raftery

October 16, 2015 (La Mesa) – A woman who recently moved into a rental home at 7000 Colony Drive in La Mesa with her children got a big surprise on Saturday. Walking out of the family’s bedroom, she found a huge snake in the kitchen.

The startled mother called 9-1-1 and barricaded herself in the bedroom with her children while waiting for help to arrive. Heartland Fire & Rescue in La Mesa, along with La Mesa Police and the El Cajon Animal Control soon came to the rescue.

October 16, 2015 (Ramona)--Armed with just flashlights, our fearless hikers hit the trail under a night sky to brave the cobwebs, spiders and … wait! What was that sound?

They made it back out but will you? Hit the Haunted Trail at Dos Picos County Park in Ramona starting this weekend and find out.

County Parks is bringing back the Haunted Trail for some family-friendly Halloween fun on Saturday, Oct. 10 and Saturday, Oct. 17. The hike starts at 6:30 p.m. and lasts until about 8:30.

East County News Service

October 14, 2015 (El Cajon) – A 72-year-old man found with serious head injuries at his home at 1037 Pine Drive in El Cajon last night died early this morning after being transported to a local hospital. 

“Detectives are actively investigating this case as a homicide,” says Lieutenant Frank La Haye with the El Cajon Police.  No suspect information is yet available, however he added, “There is no known or suspected immediate threat to the general public.”

The mortally wounded man was found at 8:35 p.m. after officers responded to a 911 call reporting an assault.

East County News Service

Photo: Two Jacumba CAL FIRE firefighters stand ready to respond in a new paramedic engine at the Jacumba fire station.

October 14, 2015 (San Diego)--San Diego County Fire and CAL FIRE are making a major upgrade to fire and emergency medical services at the County’s Jacumba fire station with the launch this week of round-the-clock paramedic service. It’s the first time ever the service has been offered from the station, located south of Interstate 8 near the Mexican border.

The upgrade is part of an overall effort to increase paramedic capabilities throughout the San Diego County Fire Authority’s service area.  A new paramedic engine at Jacumba is the seventh that County Fire has added over the past few years.  Other new, County Fire-funded paramedic engines now operate out of the Otay, Jamul, Lake Morena, Pine Valley, Descanso and Intermountain stations.

City of La Mesa Food Drive October 17

October 13, 2015 (La Mesa) -- The City of La Mesa Human Relations Advisory Commission is sponsoring a food drive to benefit the San Diego Food Bank. The food drive will be held on Saturday, October 17, from 8:00 am to noon in the municipal parking lot (Farmers Market site) at 8130 Allison Avenue, along Date Avenue. The drive-thru drop off will be fast and convenient – no need to get out of the car.

October 10, 2015 (La Mesa)--Visionary Dance Theatre opens its sixth season with a fall dance concert, “Shades” at the Kwaisun Studio (8380 Center Drive, La Mesa, CA 91942) on October 16th-17th, 2015 at 8pm.

October 10, 2015 (Alpine)--Could you use a bit of inspiration for your upcoming Halloween jack o’ lantern carving projects? There’s no better opportunity than learning from one of the best in the business – Master Carver Gene Granata. Granata will be displaying some of his jack o’ lantern creations, as well as offering carving tips, at the Alpine Education Foundation’s inaugural Night of the Jack o’ Lanterns event to be held at the Alpine Creek Town Center on Thursday, October 15 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. The event is free for all ages.

By Miriam Raftery

October 10, 2015 (El Cajon ) – The family of Elijah “Bear” Diaz, 20,  who vanished on August 29^th, will hold a spaghetti dinner fundraiser and raffle at Barona Clubhouse on October 23, 2015 at 6 p.m. 

“Since we believe Bear is not missing on his own terms, the family has hired a private investigator which these funds will go toward,” Katey Hoffman told East County Magazine. She is working with Lelanie Thompson,  Bear’s mother.

The cost is $10 and includes spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, drinks and desert.  Raffle tickets are $5 and prizes include jewelry, art, cooking wares, and gift cards.  Donations of additional raffle prizes are welcome.

By Mike Allen

Photos by Janis Russell

October 8, 2015 (La Mesa)--Emotions got nearly out of control at a packed Helix Water District meeting Oct. 7 as customers lashed out at the board’s plan to raise rates over the next five years.

After more than three hours of presentations from water district staff and testimony from angry customers, the five-member elected board voted 3-2 to adopt a five-year rate increase plan, beginning Nov. 1 and continuing to 2020.

13 more cases suspsected, including 2 deaths as outbreak widens

County News Service

October 8, 2015 (San Diego) – Five new patients are confirmed to have been infected with West Nile virus, bringing the total number of people who have contracted the mosquito-driven disease this year to 11. These include  the second fatality this year localy---a 73-year-old El Cajon man who died October 4.

One newly confirmed case was detected after a routine blood donation last week by a 56-year-old San Diego woman had symptoms consistent with the virus, and three other cases confirmed by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) in patients who were hospitalized in September: a 77-year-old San Diego woman, a 53-year-old San Diego man, and a 60-year-old Ramona woman.

In addition, there are 13 suspected San Diego County cases pending confirmation by CDPH, including two suspected deaths.

Source: City of La Mesa

October 7, 2015 (La Mesa)--On Thursday, October 8, from 9:30 to 12:00 noon, adult athletes age 50 and older from East County are teaming up with elementary school students for the annual East County Intergenerational Games in La Mesa.

This marks the 10th year the City of La Mesa hosts the Intergenerational Games event.  The games are held at La Mesa Arts Academy, 4200 Parks Avenue. Students from 2nd through 6th grade are paired with active adult’s age 50+ to compete in a circuit of non-competitive, fun activities.

East County News Service

September 9, 2015 - The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce has announced the entertainment lineup of its new “FallFest” event being held October 16th and October 17th at Grossmont Center (5500 Grossmont Center Drive, in the Macy’s parking lot.)

The entertainment lineup will combine the best in music with “a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll.”

October 5, 2015 (El Cajon)--The El Cajon Valley Host Lions Club will hold it's 25th annual Pancake Breakfast on Sunday October 25th between 8 am and 12 noon at the Ronald Regan Community Center 195 E. Douglas El Cajon.