Retired paramedic loses RV home; family’s water well, solar panels and dreams up in smoke

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Henri Migala, Miriam Raftery, Ryan and Gemma Sommers

September 10, 2022 (Potrero) – Ryan and Gemma Sommers had a dream—to build an earth-berm home on 80 acres in Potrero that Ryan grew up on and inherited from his father. So when the Border 32 Fire swept through the community last week, Ryan didn’t hesitate – he headed into the wildfire and fought singlehandedly to save what he could. But the family had no insurance, and their losses are overwhelming.

“I have been trying to live out my father’s dream of living self-sustainability on a ranch,” says Ryan, who lost his father to pancreatic cancer in 2020. Now the fire has torched much of their property, including burning his uncle’s RV home to the ground.  “My uncle has lost everything,” Ryan reflects. Ryan and Gemma also suffered major losses, with Ryan risking his life to save what he could.

On a GoFundMe page set up to help the family repair and rebuild their lives, Gemma wrote, “We don’t want to say goodbye to our land that has been in our family these past 21+ years..”

Source:  Padre Dam Municipal Water District

September 10, 2022 (Santee) - Padre Dam Municipal Water District’s Board of Directors has appointed Rocky Qualin to the Board of Directors to fill the vacancy in Division 5 as the result of the recent passing of James Peasley. Qualin took the oath of office at the Board meeting on September 7, 2022 and then participated in his first meeting. Qualin will hold office for the balance of the unexpired term which expires December 2, 2022.  

Board will meet Monday to determine how to fill immediate vacancy

By Susan Taylor

Photo:  Trustee Sarah Rhiley

September 8, 2022 (La Mesa) –Trustee Sarah Rhiley announced her immediate resignation from the La Mesa-Spring Valley School Board, effective September 7. She submitted her resignation letter immediately before the board’s first meeting of the 2022-23 school year on September 6.

Asked how the vacancy  in trustee area 4 will be filled, Superintendent David Feliciano told ECM, “Following board bylaw 9322, the board may either make a provisional appointment or call for an election.” A special board meeting will be held Monday, Sept. 12 at 5 p.m. at which the board will decide how to fill the vacancy. 

Area 4 is not on the November ballot, which has areas 1, 2 and 3 up for election. Two of those, areas 1 and 3, are open seats, since incumbents Charda Bell and Megan Epperson are not seeking reelection. Each area has two candidates. In district 2, Megan McRae seeks reelection, facing off against a challenger.

Trustee Sarah Rhiley, in announcing her resignation, cited frustration with the many restrictions imposed on schools by the Department of Education of the State of California.  She said that she plans to take her children to visit all of the country’s National Parks and later settle on a city and school district for her family.

Height and density changes currently proposed would “not be in best interest of the city,” planning commissioners found

By Elijah McKee

September 8, 2022 (La Mesa) — Since 2018, Reza Paydar, the property owner of the palm-studded San Diego RV Resort in La Mesa, has been attempting to change the City’s zoning of the land so that apartment buildings can replace the RV park. The buildings would be among the largest La Mesa has ever seen. 

Story & Photos by Josh Stotler 

East County News Service

September 7, 2022 (Lakeside) – A Lakeside resident was startled to see the number 45 and a gun image with flag on a sign outside a Boy Scout meeting house on public property at Lindo Lake County Park. 

“It looks like a Trump flag on the back of a pickup truck that’s been tattered,” said the resident, a gun owner who voiced concern that the imagery made a political statement (Trump was the 45^th President) and could be construed as promoting violence.

Story and photo courtesy of Courtesy of Parkway Plaza 

September 7, 2022 (El Cajon) -- Parkway Plaza, El Cajon’s premier shopping destination, is hosting the 2022 nationwide beauty summit series, CosmeCon. Celebrating female entrepreneurs, body positivity, self-confidence and owning your glow at Parkway Plaza, the event takes place on Saturday, September 10 from 12-3 p.m. 

East County News Service

September 5, 2022 (Lakeside) – The Lakeside Historical Society and the Maine Avenue Revitalization Association invite the public to a 9-11 Memorial Walk with storyteller Ted Tomaszewicz, who was at his desk on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2001 when the terrorist attacks on New York’s World Trade Center occurred.

“We walk together. We walk to remember. We walk to never forget,” states a flyer for the event.  Meet at 5:30 p.m. at Mary’s Donuts, 10101 Maine Ave. in Lakeside. The walk begins at 6 p.m., followed by a program at the Lakeside Historical Society at 9906 Maine Ave., Lakeside.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Photo via Cal Fire on Twitter

Update September 6, 2022:  Cause of the fire was an improperly maintained vehicle, Cal Fire confirms.  The #CaesarFire is now 100% ontained at 50 acres; all evacuation orders have been lifted.

Update 7 p.m.:   The  Sheriff’s Department has lifted most evacuation orders and warnings, though residents in and around the fire perimeter are still under an evacuation order. A map of the remaining evacuation order is available at https://emergencymap.sandiegocounty.gov/index.html.

September 5, 2022 (Ramona) -- The #CaesarFire has charred 50 acres in a blaze that started north of Highway 78 at Ramona Trails Drive in the Witch Creek area east of Ramona, Cal Fire reports.  The fire sparked evacuations due to structure threats but forward spread has now been halted. 

A temporary evacuation point is set up at Olive Pierce Middle School, 1521 Hanson Lane, Ramona. An animal evacuation shelter is open at the Ramona Rodeo Grounds, 421 Aqua Lane in Ramona.

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
  

By Shiloh Ireland

September 3, 2022 (Lakeside) – The new 13.88-acre Dianne Jacob Equestrian Center, long a dream for Lakeside residents, is finally becoming a reality after numerous delays. Located on Moreno Avenue at Willow Road, the covered arena and several outbuilding constructions are moving at a steady pace. The steel is prefabricated and as of mid-August when these shots were taken, the roof is in place as well as one wall of the arena.

By Miriam Raftery

September 2, 2022 (El Cajon) – Arnie Levine is a realtor running for the El Cajon mayoral seat.  He wants to  revitalize El Cajon as a "new city."   His priorities include reducing homelessness and lack of housing affordability, protecting public health, supporting the arts, and according to his website, "restoring hope" to all El Cajon residents.

ECM’s editor, Miriam Raftery, interviewed Levine for the East County Magazine Radio Show on KNSJ.   Hear audio, view video, or read highlights from our interview below.  You can also learn more at his website: https://arnielevine4elcajoncamayor.com/.

By Chris Jennewein, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  a dirt bike race. Photo via Pixabay

September 1, 2022 (San Diego) - A bill by Sen. Brian W. Jones that protects off-highway vehicle competitions on public lands in California passed in the Legislature and heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom for final consideration.