East County News Service

November 16, 2014 (Lemon Grove) – The Sheriff’s Homicide detail is investigating the death of an unidentified man found lying near the railroad tracks at 7:23 a.m. at the intersection of Lemon Grove Avenue and Palm Street.

By Janis Russell

November 11, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)-  Cajon Valley, Lakeside, Lemon Grove, and Ramona’s school districts  all had school bond measures on the ballot. Each bond measure needed 55% of the votes to pass.  Lemon Grove’s school bond passed by a healthy margin.  Lakeside’s school bond narrowly won approval.  Cajon Valley and Ramona’s bonds appear to have failed by slim margins, though the Registrar of voters still has about 28,000 absentee and provisional ballots countywide left to count.  Below are details.

Photo: This house rocks! Boulder in center of Jamul home absorbs heat by day and gives off warmth by night.

East County News Service

November 6, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)—The San Diego Green Building Council will hold its Green Homes Tour this Sunday, November 9^th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tour features innovative, sustainably designed homes throughout San Diego County.  There is a $5 fee for non-members. Several East County homes are on the tour.

East County News Service

November 3, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)— East County Magazine has compiled this handy guide for you with links to all of our coverage of local races, as well as some statewide and federal (Congressional) races on your ballot for the election on Tuesday, November 4. 

We invited all candidates running in local races listed below to be interviewed, and include print and/or  radio interviews with those who responded.   We also have links to our coverage of debates, candidate forums, analysis, editorials submitted by our readers (ECM does not editorialize), and other relevant information on candidates and ballot propositions. Also see below for links to additional nonpartisan resources for info on these and other races.

Our nonpartisan guide is arranged in three sections: local, state, and federal (Congressional) races, with  the races alphabetical under each section. To view, click "read more" below and scroll down.

September 22, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--Saturday, September 27^th is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. 

If you are looking to get rid of unwanted and expired prescription drugs, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department will collect and dispose of these medicines during the Drug Enforcement Agency’s ninth National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.  Old prescription drugs can pose hazards to others if they fall into the wrong hands.

By Miriam Raftery

August 17, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--If you shopped at Food 4 Less in the past week or so, Grove), you likely encountered picketers.  The United Food and Commercial Workers Union, which represents grocery store employees at most of the grocery stores in San Diego, have renewed their contract with major grocery store chain owners – except Food 4 Less.  The chain has about a dozen stores countywide, including East County locations in El Cajon, Lemon Grove and Santee.

July 13, 2014 (Lemon Grove) – A multi-agency enforcement and probation compliance sweep occurred July 11 in Lemon Grove at the trolley station.  Out of 3,330 people checked for trolley fare compliance, 100 probationary searches leading to 53 arrests occurred.

April 13, 2014 (Lemon Grove) - Assemblymember Shirley Weber will host a Community Coffee Chat on Saturday, April 19^th. Attendees will have the opportunity to be updated on what’s happening in Sacramento and to share their concerns on statewide issues. This event is a free and open to the public.

March 5, 2004 (Lemon Grove)--The painters of the Lemon Grove History Mural, Kathleen Strzelecki and Janne LaValle, will receive the esteemed Ben Dixon Award, the highest award bestowed annually by the Congress of History of San Diego & Imperial Counties, on March 8 between 11 a.m. and noon in the Marina Village Conference Center, 1936 Quivira Way, San Diego.  All are welcome to attend the annual two-day conference, Mar. 7 - 8 (www.congressofhistory.org).

The award recognizes those who have made a long term contribution to enriching and enhancing the cultural and historical resources of our region.  Between 2006 - 2013 Strzelecki and LaValle painted the five-panel history mural, an epic 65 feet wide by 18 feet tall, at 3308 Main Street in the heart of Lemon Grove.  The mural adorns a wall of the historic 1912 original general store, better known since 1980 as the famous Grove Pastry Shop.

January 20, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) has released a new report on poverty.  Included in the report are five-year estimates of poverty in our region, based on the American Community Survey in 2011.

El Cajon has by far the highest poverty rate in San Diego County, with 32% of individuals living below the poverty level and 49% living within 200% of the federal poverty level.   National City has the next highest level, a full ten points lower at 22% living in poverty.