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.

January 13, 2014 (Lemon Grove) – A driver who struck a pole last night at 7:42 p.m. sparked a power outage to 4,000 SDG&E customers in Lemon Grove last night. 

Sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of the accident at 7342 Canton Drive and found that the driver of the vehicle, a Toyota truck, had left the scene.  According to Sgt. James Blanton with the Lemon Grove Sheriff’s substation, “Deputies found that power was out, and wires were hanging down on to the street.”

The Lemon Grove Historical Society, New Pacific Productions and the Lemon Grove Library will present a free, seven-part history film series, "John Adams," on Wednesdays between Jan. 8  and  Feb. 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the Putnam Community Room of the Lemon Grove Library, 3001 School Lane.



The award-winning series stars Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney as John and Abigail Adams and traces their life and times through the American Revolution and Adams' tenure as the nation's second president to their deaths. Produced by Tom Hanks, directed by Tom Hooper and based on David McCullough's Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of Adams, the series is noted for its historical authenticity, stirring characterizations and epic scale.

By Miriam Raftery

January 6, 2014 (San Diego's East County) -- What's on the agenda this week for the County Supervisors, Councils in Lemon Grove and Santee, Lakeside's Community Planing Group and Helix Water Board?  Find out below.

December 28, 2013 (San Diego) – Each holiday season, the County of San Diego and I Love a Clean San Diego work together to remind everyone that holiday recycling goes beyond just wrapping paper and gift boxes, your tree can be recycled too!

Christmas trees can be recycled into mulch and compost which are then used to improve soil health at residences, public parks, and local farms. 

Most trash companies offer curbside-pickup of Christmas trees. For instance, EDCO will pick up trees in front of single family homes from December 26 until January 10.  Trees taller than four feet should be cut in half, and be sure to remove all decorations, lights, tree stands and nails.  EDCO accepts flocked trees covered in artificial snow, but some trash companies do not, so be sure to check with yours.

December 25, 2013 (Spring Valley ) – In the early hours of Christmas morning at 12:32 a.m., Lemon Grove Sheriff Deputies responded to a radio call to help San Miguel Fire Department at a brush fire reported near homes on South Granada Avenue in Spring Valley.  Upon arrival, deputies and firefighters found a residence on fire at the rear of the house.

Fortunately, residents had safely evacuated.  Firefighters doused the blaze and asked Sheriff’’s Bomb-Arson unit to investigate. The fire’s cause was determined to be accidental.

Hot items also on the agendas in Boulevard, Lakeside and Lemon Grove this week

By Miriam Raftery

December 1, 2013 (San Diego's East County)--San Diego Supervisors meet on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 3 and 4 at 9 a.m. The hottest item is a public hearing Tuesday on a county proposal to levy fees to recover the actual cost of services provided by the San Diego County Fire Authority including fire plan reviews, inspections and other technical work.  In the past, such services have been provided to individuals and businesses without full cost recovery. 

The Agenda does not state how much the proposed fees would be or how much revenue the county expects to raise.  But coming on the heels of a statewide fire fee that is going up at year’s end,  the proposal is likely to fuel controversy among taxpayers. The item is first on Tuesday’s agenda.  

View December 3 agenda.  View December 4 agenda.

November 6, 2013 (Lemon Grove) – The Lemon Grove Historical Society will present a special edition of "History Alive" on Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. in the H. Lee House Cultural Center, 3205 Olive Street, Lemon Grove when theater pros Anne Charlotte and Michael Harvey will recall in words, music, and images their production of the four-act melodrama "The Drunkard," presented during the glory days of the Lemon Grove Players.

In Lemon Grove in the late 1970s, along with a brand new city (1977), a revamped school district (1978), and a fledgling historical society (1978), there was a new theatrical troupe with big dreams.  The Lemon Grove Players, spearheaded by such talents as Dorothy Dubois, Dr. Robert Burns, Robert and Donna Adams, Victoria and Michael Dietrich, Estelle Lauer, pianist Anona Bolieu, and a platoon of volunteers, presented everything from melodrama to Molière in local school auditoriums for the next five years.