By Kristin Kjaero

August 31, 2010 (La Mesa) -- The City of La Mesa is holding a free open house and tours of the new Police Station on Saturday, September 4 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Exhibits will be displayed in the Police Station Community Room.  At the same time, there will be a BBQ fundraiser sponsored by both the Police Officers Association and the Peer Support Team.  

County auctioning off surplus personal property August 21



East County News Service

August 17, 2010 (San Diego) – Need a car or a flat-screen TV? How about a collection of beer steins, vintage china, or Hummel figurines? Perhaps a budding musician in your household would love a saxophone or guitar. Or maybe your home could use appliances and furnishings. These items and more will be auctioned off Saturday, August 21 at the COC annex, 5201 Ruffin Road in San Diego starting at 8 a.m.

Watch Perseid Meteor Showers at Stargazer Plateau, Sacred Rocks Reserve: Aug. 12-14

August 4, 2010 (Boulevard) Sacred Rocks Reserve, a 163-acre wilderness park with RV and tent camping sites, will offer “Streakin’ Star Party” packages for guests who want to view the Perseid Meteor Showers streak through the night sky from Thursday, August 12 through Saturday, August 14.
 
The park is located at an elevation of just under 4,000 feet, near Boulevard, California, approximately 65 miles east of San Diego along Interstate 8. Far from city lights, the property offers a clear vantage point from which to view the stars.

July 29, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- The Water Conservation Gardens is going to the dogs. Each Wednesday evening from 4 to 7 p.m., the gardens will be open to pet owners for walks with dogs on leashes. 

July 9, 2010 (Alpine) – For years, the only “Bear” at Lions, Tigers and Bears, a facility in Alpine for rescued and abused big cats, was a miniature horse bearing that name. But now a black bear cub named “Liberty” has been brought to the facility by California Fish & Game Aget Kevin Brennan, who captured the yearling at a campground near Mt. Baldy in Angeles National Forest.

July 9, 2010 (El Cajon) -- Want to help homeless animals and clean up your dirty dog at the same time?  Camp Bow Wow is hosting a charity dog wash at Cat & Doggie Works, 1137 N. Second Street in El Cajon, on Saturday July 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

By Miriam Raftery

July 6, 2010 – It’s not on the scale of Stonehenge. But stacked rocks popping up along an East County freeway are drawing the attention of passersby and sparking a mystery as to their origins. Just who has been balancing stones along Highway 52, and why?

 
July 2, 2010 (La Mesa) – Brew Ha Ha "Sunday Night Comedy" opens July 11 at Gio Bistro and Wine Bar, 8384 La Mesa Boulevard in La Mesa’s downtown village. The weekly performance will be the first of its kind in East County, according to producers.

San Diego – Those wanting to see the fireworks light up the sky on July 4 won’t have to worry about the hassle of traffic and parking. Metropolitan Transit Service (MTS) has extended service for the holiday. All three trolley lines will operate expanded service after the fireworks end--whether you're heading to the beach areas or relishing 4th of July fireworks displays in East County.   There are also special rates and hours throughout this holiday week.

Parks and Recreation to Hold Community Meetings to Hear What Residents Want

June 28, 2010 (San Diego) -- The County of San Diego’s Department of Parks and Recreation plans to hold community meetings starting this week in Lakeside, Fallbrook, Pine Valley, Ramona and San Diego to hear from residents about what kind of county parks they want.

CHIPS CAN HELP LOCATE LOST ANIMALS AFTER A FIRE; MORE CLINICS PLANNED IN OTHER LOCATIONS

June 27, 2010 (Alpine) – San Diego County’s Animal Services Department will offer a clinic from 12 noon to 2 p.m. today at the Alpine Sheriff station, 2751 Alpine Boulevard. Pet owners can have their dogs, cats, rabbits or other small animals microchipped for a $20 fee—just in time for fire season.

The clinic will also provide $6 rabies vaccinations, plus spay/neuter coupons at $25 for male and $50 for female dogs and cats. Amnesty from late fees will be provided for owners who renew lapsed dog licenses.

 
 

By East County News Service
 
June 21, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – In the early morning hours on Saturday, June 26, sky watchers in our region can see a partial eclipse of the moon, which is visible across much of North America, South America and Asia. 
 
You're also invited to join syndicated “Stargazer” columnist Dennis Mammana on a lunar eclipse campout June 25-26 in the Anza-Borrego Desert. Reservations are required—and past stargazing campouts have sold out quickly.

June 19 (Chula Vista, CA) -- Veterans and active duty military will get access to financial planning advice and help with their benefits at a free afternoon seminar on Monday, June 21, 2010. A number of topics will be covered including the availability of tax breaks, eligibility for veterans’ benefits, small business assistance and professional pro bono financial planning advice.

 
 
June 12, 2010 (El Cajon)--The public is invited to participate in a monthly Saturday morning neighborhood clean up day.  The next "Lend a Hand" event is Saturday, June 26 from 9:00 to11:00am at East Camden and Lincoln Avenues in downtown El Cajon. Volunteers and residents will come together to remove trash and identify graffiti to promote a clean and safe community.

Story and photos by Miriam Raftery

June 11, 2010 (Sacramento) - The California State Senate unanimously passed Assembly Concurrent Resolution 131, which grants historic designation to the portion of Highway 94 from Jamacha Road in Rancho San Diego to the junction with Historic Route 80. Authored by Assemblyman Joel Anderson (R-El Cajon), the Resolution previously passed the Assembly and is now law.

Update June 4: Santee's lottery winnery has come forward to claim winnings, but asked not to be publicly identified.

June 3, 2010 (Sacramento)—If you bought a California Lottery ticket in Santee recently, you might be the lucky winner of a $23 million jackpot. A ticket sold at Vons Grocery at 9643 Mission Gorge Road matched all six numbers in last night’s SuperLotto Plus. The winning numbers are 8, 7, 15, 11, 31 and the Mega number is 27.

 
 
Due to a seasonal influx of kittens in the County's three animal shelters, the County Department of Animal Services will waive all adoption fees, beginning today, June 1 through September 4, for cats six months and older. Only two cats per person can be adopted.
 
"Our three County shelters are really packed right now and we don't want to compromise the health of the cats and kittens by holding more animals then we can properly care for," said Dawn Danielson, Director of the Department of Animal Services.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (May 29, 2010) – Visitors to Viejas Casino in June will have a chance to spin a giant “Wheel of Winners” and take home a share of up to $640,000 in cash. Drawings will be held at 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m., and 9 p.m. every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Winners from each drawing will have a chance to spin the giant “Wheel of Winners” and win cash prizes ranging from $250 to $10,000.

May 24 through June 6, more than 150 local law enforcement agencies statewide will be looking for unbelted drivers and passengers as part of the 2010 Click It or Ticket campaign.

This year fines have increased to $142 for first time adult violations, and $445 for first time children under sixteen. Citations, not warnings will be given.

 
Get an inside look at how the election process works by becoming a poll worker on Election Day. Workers are still needed for the Gubernatorial Primary Election on June 8, especially those who are bilingual in Spanish, Filipino and Vietnamese. They will serve on standby to fill in for those poll workers who drop out at the last minute. Standby poll workers will receive their assignments a few days before the election.

May 21, 2010 - It's a dog's life!  Andiamo-Ristorante invites you to bring your canine companion for cocktails and patio dining on the last Wednesday in each month, starting at 5 p.m.  Enjoy drink specials all night at the Italian restaurant, loaced at 5950 Santo Road in San Diego's Tierrasanta neighborhood.

May 19, 2010 (San Diego) -- David Butler, San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk, has announced that property owners have until June 1 to submit their requests for an informal review of their properties’ assessed value.  By extending the filing period from May 14 to June 1, property owners who believe their properties’ market value on January 1, 2010 is less than the value shown on their property tax bill will have an additional two weeks to submit their requests for review.

 

May 10, 2010 (Chicago) --This May 9–15, the American Library Association (ALA) will launch its first-ever Preservation Week @ your library, a time when thousands will turn to libraries across the U.S. for information and expertise on how to preserve collectables, photos, family records and other valuable materials.

 
The El Cajon Police Department is holding a total of five Community Neighborhood Forums called “Sector Watch”. Well over 100 people attended the first Sector Watch Forum at Fletcher Hills Elementary School on May 4th. Additional forums are set for May 11, 18 and 26, as well as June 2.

May 7, 2010 (Mt. Helix) –This Sunday, docents at Mt. Helix Park will give free carnations to the first 36 mothers who visit the park starting at 10:30 a.m.

“Mt. Helix Park is actually a memorial to Mary Yawkey. Mrs. Yawkey had loved the peace and natural beauty of Mt. Helix so her children, Mary Yawkey White and Cyrus Yawkey, created a memorial park and amphitheater with the support of land owner Ed Fletcher,” said Tracey Stotz, executive director of the Mt. Helix Park Foundation. “The memorial park opened in the 1920s and here we are in 2010 still enjoying this lovely facility."

 
May 3, 2010 (Mt. Helix) Claudia Taormina, who resides at 10151 Grandview Drive near Vista de la Cruz on Mt. Helix, was surprised to receive notice from the County Department of Planning and Land Use informing her that Next G Networks of California wants to erect a cell phone tower on her property. The meeting is set for 7 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday) at the Otay Water District headquarters, 2554 Sweetwater Springs Blvd., Spring Valley 91978.

Rattlesnake season is approaching, and Singing Hills Animal Hospital will be hosting an afternoon of training provided by Natural Solutions on rattlesnake avoidance.

The techniques used in this particular training method, have been proven highly effective in protecting your dog from being bitten by a rattlesnake, according to the Animal Hospital.

April 20, 2010 (La Mesa) – Dean Calbreath, a business columnist/reporter for the San Diego Union-Tribune, was part of the Pulitzer Prize-winning team that exposed bribery by former Congressman Duke Cunningham. Calbreath will speak on Wednesday, May 5th at the La Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club meeting.

By Miriam Raftery

April 15, 2010 - Yes, you can still see wildflowers in bloom in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Thanks to readers Jerry and Marlene Fisher for sending us shots taken this week of the desert floor in bloom--and a flowering ocotillo.

We also spotted a profusion of spring blooms at Summers Past Farm, which hosted its annual Sweet Pea Festival last weekend. Local residents Cindy and Juliana Houser, Laura Butcher, and Bonnie Henselmeier snipped fragrant sweat peas shown in the photo at right.  The crowd quickly grew so large that cutting was stopped for the day, but not to worry--more sweat peas will be available to the public this weekend.