East County News Service 

January 4, 2023 (Lemon Grove) – A Lemon Grove man suspected of attempting to steal a vehicle fled from California Highway Patrol officers. He ran into traffic on State Route 94 last night, where he was struck and injured by a vehicle drive by a La Mesa woman, says Officer Jared Grieshaber.

East County News Service

December 26, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – Lemon Grove resident Nancy Annette Lisa Benson, 32, died Dec. 18 in a collision on Interstate 8 East in El Cajon.

View video:  https://vimeo.com/779358017

East County News Service

December 12, 2022 (Lemon Grove) – The Sheriff’s Department seeks public help to identify a man seen on surveillance video setting fire to the Kiva Learning Center for Women and Children in Lemon Grove shortly after noon on Nov. 19. The facility is located at the McAlister Institute in the 2000 block of Skyline Drive in Lemon Grove.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells and La Mesa Mayor Mark Araposthis are winning their reelection bids

November 8, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – Early results after polls closed tonight indicate incumbents heading for reelection in La Mesa, El Cajon and Lemon Grove.

The power of incumbency proved stronger than partisan politics. Though city races are nonpartisan, political parties endorsed candidates and expended resources walking precincts to campaign for their parties' choices. But incumbents in both parties hold solid leads, though Democrats appear likely to pick up a seat in both the La Mesa and Lemon Grove Council races, following the retirement of Republican incumbents.

El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, a Republican, has a solid 71.25% of the votes tallied so far; his opponent, realtor Arnie Levine, a Democrat, has 28.75%. The Mayor ran on a track record of boosting revenues through bringing in new hotels and reopening the performing arts center, while Levine criticized Mayor Wells’ defiance of public health business shutdown mandates duringthe pandemic. El Cajon Councilman Gary Kendrick ran unopposed, drawing 100% of the votes.  But El Cajon’s Measure P which the Mayor supports, to increase the city sales tax to a penny per dollar, is losing 58% to 42%.

Story and video by John Levken

October 27, 2022 (Lemon Grove) --East County Magazine visited the “My Space & Early Learning Time” center in Lemon Grove, where owner Onika Miller gave a tour around her new childcare business. There are a total of seven spaces for ages ranging from newborns to children up to five years old, as well as children ages six to eight years old with developmental delays. The spaces have all the necessary toys for children of each age group. 

Onika Miller answered questions about her new business. It started in July of 2021, and she is still going to add new things to her business to improve on the experience for early learners. She also hosts events such as birthdays, co-operative events involving parents, as well as teachers and tutors offering one-on-one sessions with students. Recently, she hosted her first family game night. where families can have the opportunity to spend time and learn with their children and interact with other families.

Source: Lemon Grove Lions Club

Photo: Ken Burke,  JoAnne Burke, Tobi Gary, Cathy Froelicher, Barbara Sala and Jeannie Lopez

October 23, 2022 (Lemon Grove) -- Lemon Grove Lions proudly presented a $1,000 donation to Fisher House San Diego, on Thursday Oct 14, 2022.  

The Lemon Grove Lions Club serves their community, hosting fundraising events which allow for donations to be given, such as the one just presented to Fisher House San Diego. This donation was from the proceeds from their recent Cornhole Tournament.  

By Elijah McKee

September 20, 2022 (Lemon Grove) — “Five years or 15 years is not enough time to keep the deed on these to stay affordable,” said Alysson Snow as she laid out her vision for housing developments in Lemon Grove. “I’m looking for things that are at least 50 years. That they can’t do anything with it that’s not affordable until the expiration of those 50 years.” 

Snow leads a newly founded legal clinic through the University of San Diego (USD) called the Housing Rights Project — and she is also one of five candidates vying for open seats on the Lemon Grove City Council this election year. 

She officially qualified for the ballot last month, and has been endorsed by the Spring Valley Democratic Club, the San Diego County Democrats, California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, former San Diego Councilwoman Barbara Bry, as well as several current school board members and city councilmembers. 

By Elijah McKee

September 20, 2022 (Lemon Grove) — “The squeakier wheel gets the oil, right? If you come out and say ‘Hey, this is what we need,’ and you’re persistent, things start to change, remarked ” Jessica “Jessyka” Heredia about virtual access to city meetings. She personally live-streams Lemon Grove City Council meetings on Facebook, while calling for an investment in an official video record.

In an interview with East County Magazine, Heredia reflected, “I get lots of views so I know it’s something that should be done and could be done. And I believe it will be done as a result of me coming and doing that. I’m going to continue to advocate for that regardless of whether I’m elected or not.” 

Heredia officially qualified for the ballot last month, and is now one of five candidates vying for seats on the Lemon Grove City Council this election year. She runs a business in El Cajon that has been in East County for 24 years, sat on the City's Community Advisory Committee (CAC) and the Business Improvement District, and runs the Lemon Grove Support Local social media pages. 

Given the four-year term lengths for councilmembers in Lemon Grove, Jennifer Mendoza is the only current official whose seat could be challenged this year. However, Councilmember Jerry Jones decided to retire after nearly 20 years as a councilmember, creating an open seat and the possibility for two new faces to join the dais. 

For elections within San Diego County this year, every active registered voter will automatically be granted a mail ballot. They will begin being sent out on October 8, and early voting via ballot drop boxes will begin October 10. All in-person poll centers will be open from November 5 through Election Day on November 8. 

In the Lemon Grove field, Councilmember Mendoza has announced her bid for reelection and is the only incumbent in the race. The other four candidates include Heredia, as well as Blanca Brown, Stephanie Klein, and Alysson Snow.  East County Magazine sat down with all five women for in-depth interviews in order to learn more about them and their campaigns. Watch for profiles of all five candidates to be posted in our Communities section for Lemon Grove.

East County News Service

September 17, 2022 (Lemon Grove) -- Ernest Kelly, 32, has been arrested and charged with a murder that occurred during a deadly fight on September 12 in Lemon Grove.

East County News Service

September 11, 2022 (Lemon Grove) – The Lemon Grove Improvement Council invites you to stand up comedy open mic night at the Hamlett coffee house.  The fun begins at 7 p.m. 

Want to perform?  Sign up by emailing Teresa Rosiak at teresa.rosial2019@gmail.com or call 619-991-1004. 

 

The Hamlett is located at 7801 Broadway in Lemon Grove, on the corner of Broadway and Lemon Grove Avenue.

By Miriam Raftery

September 3, 2022 (Lemon Grove, CA)  -- You’re invited to celebrate International Literacy Week at  the new My Space Learning Time childcare center in Lemon Grove. Bring your children to enjoy different themed events each day from September 5-10.

Come early for a meet and greet starting at 2:30, following by an afternoon and evening of free, fun events from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. each day including:

• Mon. Sept. 5:   Alphabet crafts
• Tues. Sept. 6:  Alphabet puzzle
• Wed. Sept. 7:  Matching and rhyming words
• Thurs. Sept. 8: Building your family story
• Fri. Sept. 9:      Sensory bits
• Sat. Sept. 10:   Grand celebratory day of literacy in our community
  

East County News Service

August 27, 2022 (Lemon Grove) – The City of Lemon Grove sent a tweet out on Aug. 25 which states, “Looking for a few talented professionals to join our team. Click here to find your fit.”

Source:  Dr. Akilah Weber

August 20, 2022 (San Diego) -  Assemblymember Akilah Weber, M.D. (D-79) hosted District 79’s 10th annual Backpack Giveaway on Saturday, August 13, 2022 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Lemon Grove Recreation Center located at 3131 School Lane, Lemon Grove, CA 91945.

By Elijah McKee

July 29, 2022 (Lemon Grove) — Starting on Saturday, July 30, Lemon Grove residents — many who called for restored public access to the Recreation Center — will see a new step taken in that direction, as the City looks for a fresh start with its recreation offerings. 

For the next six months, the City will run a Recreation Center Open Saturdays pilot program at the facility, during which they will collect data on its usage and either continue, modify, or discontinue the program in January based on what is learned. 

This effort was added to the agenda on the heels of the City Council’s April priority-setting session. According to a staff report, the pilot program will cost $11,328.

By Elijah McKee

Photo of Taylor Farson with damaged pipeline on her property, via GoFundMe by Shawn Farson

July 19, 2022 (Lemon Grove) — After a two year campaign, a group of neighbors have won a lawsuit that rules the City of Lemon Grove take responsibility for repairing a treacherous backyard drainage pipe.