By Helen M. Ofield, Treasurer/Historian to the Board, Lemon Grove Historical Society 

East County News Service

August 24, 2022 (Lemon Grove) – The Lemon Grove Lions Club, the nonprofit organization devoted to service and volunteering, is hosting a Cornhole Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 9 a.m. at the Lemon Grove VFW, 2885 Lemon Grove Ave, Lemon Grove.

By Elijah McKee

Photo:  former Councilmember Kristine Alessio will challenge La Mesa Mayor Mark Arapostathis.

Updated August 15 with additional candidates qualified

August 10, 2022 (San Diego's East County) — Each city in East County will have elected seats up for grabs in the approaching November election — but the deadline to file for candidacy ends this week on August 12.

Along with each city’s elected positions, filing periods for school, fire and water districts will close too, as well as community planning groups. 

Incumbents can be granted a five-day extension for filing their nomination, but time is almost up for challengers and political newcomers. Those interested in running for an office can refer to the appropriate city or board clerk for nomination paperwork.

Local councils and staff members have a wide scope of impact on ground-level development and policy changes that matter to residents, as they are tasked with designing priorities and implementing budgets. City council terms are typically four years, while staff positions may be longer.

ECM asked East County's four cities for information on who has filed to run so far. Below are the responses.

 By Miriam Raftery

Hear audio of interview

Update: After this interview aired, the City Council voted to reopen the Lemon Grove Recreation Center one day a month, on Saturdays, in a win for citizen activists.  Watch for an in-depth story on the Council action soon.

July 19, 2022 (Lemon Grove) – The Lemon Grove Improvement Council , a nonpartisan organization, was founded by citizens eager to help to fulfill needs of the community, a city with limited revenues. A key goal of organizers is to see reopening of the city’s recreation center, which has been closed for more than a decade.

Jessyka Heredia and Chris Williams from the Lemon Grove Improvement Council sat down for an in-depth interview with East County Magazine editor Miriam Raftery, originally aired on our radio show on KNSJ. 

Heredia hopes to partner with the city.  “If we collaborate together as a team, we can get it done….We’re here to help.”

The group held a Lemon Grove Citrus Festival on July 9 with family-friendly activities such as sack races, tug-of war, ball pitching, bounce house and slides as well as vendors, food and lemon-themed items galore.

By Miriam Raftery

July 11, 2022 (Lemon Grove) – If you’re a Lemon Grove resident, you can pickup free food at a drive-through food distribution this Saturday, July 16 starting at 9 a.m. until supplies last. The event will be held at the Lemon Grove Recreation Center, 3131 School Lane in Lemon Grove.

East County News Service

June 22, 2022 (Lemon Grove) – A judge has lifted a restraining order which had barred Lemon Grove Councilmember Liana LeBaron from her home due to her husband accusing her of assault. The order was ended after LeBaron’s husband, Timothy Howell, told the judge that the couple had sorted matters out civilly.

By Mike Lavach

East County News Service

June 14, 2022 (Lemon Grove) – A 15-year-old boy has been arrested for the murder of a teenager and classmate who was found dead with gunshot wounds on June 11.

By Matthew Manosh and Miriam Raftery

Photo: Outreach team members  speak with homeless person in local park

Hear audio of full forum

May 22, 2022 (Lemon Grove) – The 2022 Point in Time Count of homeless people reveals some shocking statistics. While countywide the rate rose 10% from January 2020 to January 2022, in San Diego’s unincorporated areas the number was up 540.7% to a total of 173 individuals.  The numbers also soared in several East County communities including Lemon Grove (up 72.2% to 31 individuals), El Cajon (up 68.8% to 1,308 people, though most are in shelters), and Santee (up 488% to 147), Lakeside (up 162.5% to 63 people).  Some communities fared better; Spring Valley had 38.1% fewer homeless people (60) and La Mesa held relatively steady, up just 1.9%, and Alpine had just one person homeless person identified.

County ramps up efforts

“Your county is committed…like it has never been before,” Nathan Fletcher, Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors, said at a recent forum on homelessness at the Lemon Grove Library on hosted by the East County Homeless Task Force and Thrive Lemon Grove. “There is not a zip code or a community anywhere in San Diego that is not impacted by homelessness.”  

Fletcher outlined plans to help both the homeless and communities, asking support from residents, which are detailed below. Other panelists also addressed new efforts to reduce homelessness in East County.

By Helen M. Ofield, Treasurer/Historian to the Board

Lemon Grove Historical Society

May 9, 2022 (Lemon Grove) -- Belated Mother’s Day greetings.  We hearken back to 1909 and the 1920s and 1930s when our ancestral mothers led the charge in Lemon Grove as members of the Forward Club (because they were forward-thinking), a name later changed to the Women's Club when they joined the national Federation of Women's Clubs.  By 1922 the women had built and paid for their own clubhouse. You've done the math. That clubhouse is now 100.

By Elijah McKee

Rebecca Jefferis Williamson contributed to this report.

April 29, 2022 (Lemon Grove) — Lemon Grove Councilmember Liana LeBaron was arrested and charged with domestic violence on April 18 by the San Diego County Sheriff’s department, following an altercation with her husband over his life insurance policy.

A restraining order was filed the next day under the name Timothy C. Howell, which required that LeBaron leave her home upon its court approval. The protective order will last until May 10, when LeBaron will appear in court to address the issue. 

East County News Service

Update April 14:  Nicole Pare has been found safe, according to SDPD, which did not release details.

April 13, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego Police seek help to locate Nicole Marie Paré, 32, a Pacific Beach woman who vanished without picking up a family member at the airport on Monday, April 11. Her white Audi A5 (CA license plate 7VAZ668) was seen Monday in La Mesa and Lemon Grove, and her purse was found in La Mesa.

She is considered at risk due to the circumstances; her family told police she has never gone missing before.

She has blond hair, brown eyes, is 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs about 130 pounds.

Source:  Lemon Grove Lions Club 

April 7, 2022 (Lemon Grove) - Lemon Grove Lions Club will host Quartermania, a cross between an auction, a raffle and bingo. The event will feature preview shopping at 10:30 a.m., quarter auction from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and a light lunch at 12: 00pm. Bring plenty of quarters as you will need them to bid on auction items.