By Miriam Raftery

Photo: CC-NC-SA via Bing

February 16, 2023 (Washington D.C.) - To help homeowners during this time of rising interest rates, the FHA has announced that its programs to help homeowners impacted by COVID-19 has been extended to help ALL eligible borrowers who are struggling to avoid foreclosure, regardless of the reason for their hardship. These tools will be available for at least the next 18 months.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, over 2 million homeowners were able to stay in their homes thanks to programs that allowed them to obtain loan modications or forbearances.

“Although the pandemic has ended, the economic effects will remain a challenge for the foreseeable future,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “These impactful and effective foreclosure prevention tools will help struggling borrowers find the right option to help them get back on their feet and keep them in their homes. These tools have been so successful already, which is why FHA worked to enhance them further and include more borrowers.”

By Miriam Raftery

Photo and artwork credits: City of La Mesa and La Mesa Chamber of Comemrce.

February 3, 2023 (La Mesa) – The site of La Mesa’s former police station will soon be home to 147 affordable apartment homes. A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the site at 8181 Allison Avenue on January 24.

By Christianne McCormick

Photo: Project approved for 4757 Palm Ave. in La Mesa’s downtown village, courtesy City of La Mesa

January 23, 2023 (La Mesa) -- On January 10, La Mesa’s City Council ratified the Design Review Board’s approval of the Palm Avenue Apartments, which are slated to be built at the same site where the historic Randall Lamb building burned down during the 2020 George Floyd riots. The vote was 4-0, with Councilmember Laura Lothian abstaining because her office is close to the site.  

The development proposed by Palm Street Ventures LLC has brought about much debate among La Mesa residents. The five-story building would house 64 rental units, with only 29 parking spaces – less than one for each unit.  There will also be room for at least one business in the building, where apartment rents are expected to start at around $1,000 for units designated as affordable and run from $2,100 to $2,900 for other units, per the developer, Palm Street Ventures LLC.

By Melinda Myers

Photo: the strong stems of Doubleshot snapdragons produce a plethora of stunning orange flowers all season; photo courtesy of All-American Selections.

January 3, 2023 (San Diego) -- It’s never too early to start planning new additions to this year’s gardens and containers. Start compiling your list now so you are ready to place your seed order or buy plants early when the selection is the greatest.

East County News Service

 December 4, 2022 (San Marcos) – The battle to protect nearly 2,000 acres in San Diego’s North County from development is over. Two years after voters approved ballot Measure B to block construction of the controversial Newland Sierra housing project previously approved by San Diego’s Board of Supervisors, one of the project’s leading opponents, Golden Door spa, has acquired the property to preserve it as open space and wildlife habitat for generations to come. 

 “We are excited to finally secure this remarkable benefit for climate action initiatives,” said Kathy Van Ness, General Manager and Chief Operating Officer of Golden Door.  “Protecting this property reflects our deep commitment to sustainability, which we believe is part of our responsibility to our community and beyond.  Caring for the incredible resources on this site is a way we can truly contribute to our shared climate action goals.”

 Nathan Fletcher, Chair of the County of San Diego Board of Supervisors, applauded this unique win-win opportunity for the region.

By Christianne McCormick

Screenshot: Mayor Mark Arapostathis

November 6, 2022 (La Mesa) -- Disgruntled and outraged residents of La Mesa at the October 11 City Council meeting voiced their concerns about a five-story, 64-unit apartment complex proposed to be built in the heart of the city’s village.  The building would be erected on the same land where the historic Randall Lamb Building burnt down during a riot following the May 30, 2020 protests after the tragic death of George Floyd. 

East County News Service

November 2, 2022 (Rancho San Diego) – The Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego invites you to its Fall Garden Festival and annual plant sale on Saturday, November 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

East County News Service

October 8, 2022 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa History Center is teaming up with Grossmont High School and Museum to present the 16h annual Home Tour on November 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This year’s theme will be “Fabulous Foothillers.”

Jones’s Senate Bill 1421 on homelessness also signed into law

East County News Service

October 6, 2022 (San Francisco) – Governor Gavin Newsom, Senator Brian W. Jones (R-Santee) and several other legislators held a bill signing ceremony in San Francisco at a senior community under construction earlier this week to announce enactment of several housing and homelessness-related measures.

Supervisors Joel Anderson and Vice Chair Nora Vargas brought forward Tuesday’s board action

Photo:  in anticipation of Tuesday’s vote, Supervisor Anderson (left, at podium) and Vice Chair Vargas (right) hosted a press conference along with Deborah Norwood Ruane (center-right), founder of the Middlemarch Fund, Lori Holt Pfeiler (center), CEO of Building Industry Association, and Angeli Calinog Hoyos (center-left), Public Affairs Manager at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. 

October 1, 2022 (San Diego) - At the Tuesday, September 27^th meeting, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a board letter, put forth by County Supervisor Joel Anderson (District 2) and Vice Chair Nora Vargas (District 1), that will direct County staff to develop a pilot workforce housing program.

By Mike Allen

Photo:  view of Fanita Ranch site, looking south from State Route 67

September 15, 2022 (Santee) -- Fanita Ranch, the 3,000-unit residential development that has gone through multiple iterations and designs since the city was founded, was approved once again by the Santee City Council after a four and a half-hour meeting Sept. 14.

This approval, on a 4-0 vote with Councilman Rob McNelis recused due to his property benefiting from the project, comes on the heels of the Council’s 2020 approval of the same project. That was followed by a lawsuit from environmental groups, a referendum that put the issue on this November’s ballot, and a court-order rescinding the 2020 approvals due to wildfire evacuation concerns. The Council used the court’s decision to negate its earlier approval and remove the initiative from the upcoming ballot.

Because Fanita Ranch complied with Santee’s Essential Housing Program, a law the city adopted in August 2021, city officials said last night that approval of the new plan presented last night did not entail amending the city’s General Plan, and hence, there is no requirement to hold a public vote.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos, top left to lower right of antique and vintage butter dishes: EAPG Victorian beaded emerald green, pink Depression glass, Summit Art amethyst carnival glass with embossed holly, Jeanette cobalt blue Depression glass with cherry pattern, vintage ‘60s amber glass, EAPG Delaware glass gold encrusted circa 1899, Fenton hobnail milk glass for weddings, green uranium glass, L.E. Smith aqua Blue Moon and Stars.

August 11, 2022 (San Diego) - Before refrigeration, butter dishes were essentials to keep butter soft and ready to serve.  Many antique and vintage butter dishes from the 1800s and early 1900s are elegant display pieces, some in colored glass or ornately cut crystal.  Older ones are round, from when butter was hand-churned and served in a ball. More recent versions are rectangular, in a variety of colors and styles. 

Source: San Diego Sheriff

July 14, 2022 (San Diego) -- A Fresh Start Farm Stand was held today at San Diego County Sheriff's Department Headquarters in Kearny Mesa. It is part of a landscaping and gardening program at the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility in Santee and the East Mesa Reentry Facility in Otay Mesa. People in custody learn about growing their own food, eating healthy, working in teams and responsibility.

East County News Service

June 14, 2022 (San Diego ) -- Prospective residents age 62 and over interested in affordable housing units at the new Serving Seniors Residence located in City Heights can still register their interest in the housing complex.

Located in City Heights at Fairmount Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard, the complex includes a total of 195 one-bedroom units for seniors and low-income families.

Residents will have access to onsite activities and case management and can receive no-cost senior meals two blocks away at Potiker City Heights Residence, another Serving Seniors' affordable housing community.

Approximately 50% of the available units have been leased. Prospective applicants can still apply for the remaining units.

Individuals can sign up at  www.hyderco.com or by calling the Senior Apartments Hotline at 619-367-6500.

By Miriam Raftery

May 14, 2022 (Jamul) – Many area residents have fond memories of visits to Jamul Haven, a five-star Victorian-era bed and breakfast inn where William and Marianne Roetzheim hosted overnight guests, as well as an adjacent home where they hosted special events and teas. Now the entire property near Steele Canyon Golf Course is up for sale, including both the historic and new homes, pool and more.