No filing fees, ballot statement costs  $315 to $360 in smaller trustee districts

By Miriam Raftery

July 24, 2016 (San Diego’s East County ) – For the first time, the Grossmont Union High School District will hold elections in November for individual trustee districts.   There are no filing fees, though modest fees are charged for candidates to publish ballot statements. With smaller districts, the cost for ballot statements is far less than in the past --just $315 in Trustee Area 1 (Lemon Grove/Spring Valley/La Prensa),which is an open seat, and $360 in Trustee Area 2 (La Mesa/Casa de Oro/Mt. Helix and part of Rancho San Diego) currently represented by Jim Stieringer.

The candidate filing period opened July 18 and closes August 12^th.  August 12 is also the deadline for candidates to submit ballot statements, which for the first time will be accepted electronically.

April 20, 2016 (Lemon Grove) -- The City of Lemon Grove, along with its fire department, Heartland Fire & Rescue, will be taking steps to clear brush from eight and a-half acres near Lawton Drive and Camino De Las Palmas in Lemon Grove. Goats will be used as part of the process in clearing heavy brush to minimize fire danger and help create defensible space for homes in this area.

ELM began delivering 150 adult and 50 juvenile goats (kids) on Monday, April 18, 2016^. The brush clearing event will last approximately 2 weeks. The goats may be visible to those traveling along the 125 freeway in the area of Lemon Grove during this weed abatement process.

By Miriam Raftery

Controversial plan outrages Alpine voters, Chaldeans and other district residents

Photo: Priscilla Schreiber will be forced off the board in November if the county approves the GUHSD's redistricting proposal.

February 25, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Grossmont Union High School District voted 4-1 to ditch district-wide elections and break up the district into five areas that will each elect its own trustee. (View map)  The board also voted to ask the San Diego County Committee on School Board Reorganization to waive a requirement that would ordinarily allow the public to vote on redistricting.

East County News Service

January 28, 2016 (Lemon Grove) – The City of Lemon Grove invites you to bring family, neighbors and colleagues a discussion on updating and improving the city’s General Plan. The meeting will be held Saturday, January 30^th from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Lemon Grove Community Center, 3146 School Lane in Lemon Grove.

“We're talking streets, sidewalks, circulation and general mobility around Lemon Grove.  We need your pertinent suggestions, major concerns and your famous ability to problem-solve,” says Helen Ofield with the Lemon Grove Historical Society.

By Miriam Raftery

December 11, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Two of East County’s most beloved businesses, Grove Pastry Shop and Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse,  have closed down, leaving  behind cherished memories.

I ordered my own wedding cake with raspberry filling and whipped cream frosting from Grove Pastry Shop in Lemon Grove 36 years ago, as have so many other brides since the bakery first opened its doors back in 1947. The wedding cake portion of the business will continue; you can custom order those through www.artisticweddingcakesbythegrove.com .  But gone is the pastry shop, rich with the aromas of freshly baked cookies, cakes, breads and buttery pastries.

November 12, 2015 (Lemon Grove)—“JFK Remembered,” a screening of President John F. Kennedy’s visit to San Diego on June 6, 1963, will be presented on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. by the Lemon Grove Historical Society at the Lemon Grove Library (3001 School Lane).

“If you were there that day, please bring your memories and join with former policemen, students, teachers, crew, military and civilians who were connected to JFK’s visit. We’ll be videotaping your memories for posterity,” says Helen Ofield, president of the Lemon Grove Historical Society.  There will also be a display of memorabilia.

Kennedy visited San Diego State College (now San Diego State University) to deliver the commencement address at graduation and  stopped at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot. He also traveled by open motorcade through San Diego—just 5 months and 16 days before his assassination on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas.

East County News Service

October 22, 2015 (Lemon Grove) The City of Lemon Grove invites Lemon Grove residents to Fall Cleanup this Saturday, October 24 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Civic Center Park, 3200 Main Street.

Bring household items including furniture, appliances, debris form home improvement projects, green waste such as tree trimmings and grass, recyclables (empty bottles/containers, metals, paper), e-waste (comptuers, monitors, TVs, cell phones, etc.)

August 7, 2015 (Lemon Grove)--The Sheriff's Homicide Detail wants your help in solving the murder of William Napoleon Gibbs in Lemon Grove more than 10 years ago.

By Miriam Raftery

August 5, 2015 (Lemon Grove) – Cosimo Ingrande, 49, has been arrested for drunk driving after causing three collisions and damaging five vehicles early this morning in Lemon Grove and San Diego, Sergeant Michelle McPhail with the San Diego Sheriff reports.

July 22, 2015 (Lemon Grove)—Looking for some hot summer nights’ entertainment? Lemon Grove’s Concerts in the Park continue each Thursday night from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in Berry Street Park.  Here’s the line-up of bands for the rest of the summer season, which ends August 13:

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Heartland Fire & Rescue Chief Rick Sitta delivers good news at El Cajon Council meeting

June 9, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – If you live in the cities of El Cajon, La Mesa or Lemon Grove, your fire insurance rates will soon be going down. That’s because Heartland Fire & Rescue, which provides firefighting services for all three cities, has received a class 1 rating from the Insurance Services Office (ISO).   

The  ISO rates 47,000 fire departments across the United States and of those, only 98 have attained a class 1 rating, including only 8 fire districts in the entire state of California.  “Class 1 communities are very rare, and some of these scores are the highest we’ve ever seen,” says Stephanie Ruscansky from the ISO, who notes that only a small fraction of 1% of all agencies rated attain a Class 1 rating.

By Miriam Raftery

May 28, 2015 (Lemon Grove) – If you’re looking for a wedding cake that’s personalized, beautiful and delicious,  you’ll find your heart’s desire at Grove Pastry Shop in Lemon Grove. When San Diego Style Wedding magazine held a competition for wedding cake bakers last year, Grove Pastry Shop won six of eight categories (and didn’t enter the other two). 

In business since 1947, the bakery has evolved with the times, now offering an array of options ranging from specialty cake flavorings from mango to margaritas, as well as decorating options from tiered chandeliers to tattoos.  One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is the bakery’s commitment to quality –with all cakes hand-crafted and baked the old-fashioned way, with the finest ingredients using many personal recipes from owner Teresa Johnson.

May 14, 2015 (Lemon Grove)--At approximately 7:51 p.m., Sunday, May 3, Heartland Fire & Rescue crews in Lemon Grove, responded to reports of a structure fire in the 25-hundred block of Pergl Street. Upon arrival firefighters found heavy smoke coming from a single-story structure at 2523 Pergl Street.

By Kathy Carpenter

SDTheatrereviews. com associate and Youth reviewer

April 27, 2015 (Lemon Grove) - Celebrating 75 years, it's Diamond jubilee as a Parish, 1940 - 2015, St. John of the Cross will present "Fiddler on the Roof", the 20th play as a Parrish.The play opens at St. John of the Cross, in the Hall, at 8086 Broadway.  April 24th, at 7pm, with a wine and cheese hour at 6pm for $10.00, in the courtyard. People who attend this event go in ten minutes before everyone else. The seating is open. The play is also on the 25th at 7pm, 26th at 2pm, May 1st at 7pm, May 2nd at 7pm, and May 3rd at 2pm.

By Miriam Raftery

April 8, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) –April is Women’s History Month.   It’s an appropriate time to share a story about a remarkable woman from East County’s past. Helen Gerrells Stoddard, a former resident of La Mesa , Lemon Grove and Ramona, was a prominent leader in the fight to win women the right to vote,  as well as a leader efforts that led to La Mesa becoming a city. She even earned a place in history at the national political level.