EAST COUNTY HAPPENINGS

La Santee, ects, such as Lemon Grove Food Distribution, Lions Speech Foundation, The San Diego Center for the Blind, and more. Reserve tickets by calling Joanne Burke at (619) 316-3225 or emailing joannelglion@gmail.com, or buy tickets at the door.

Meeting Wednesday on power program

The La Mesa Community Relations and Veterans Commission and the La Mesa Environmental Sustainability Commission invite the community to a workshop at 6 p.m. Wednesday about San Diego Community Power. San Diego Community Power is a Community Choice Aggregation program that is partnering with San Diego Gas & Electric to provide service for San Diego, Chula Vista, Encinitas, La Mesa, Imperial Beach, the County of San Diego, and National City. Representatives from La Mesa, San Diego Community Power and San Diego Gas & Electric will explain the program and

answer questions. The event will be held at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center, 8450 La Mesa Blvd., as well as on Zoom and live on the La Mesa City Hall Facebook page. No registration required for the Zoom meeting. The link is at https://us06web.zoom.us/ j/87079769622. Visit https:// cityoflamesa.us/1508/community-choice-energy, call (619) 667-1191, or email news@cityoflamesa.us.

Randy Jones Run/walk is set for Saturday

Join San Diego Padres Hall of Famer Randy Jones for the 12th annual Randy Jones Run/walk for Independence on Saturday at Crown Point Park on Mission Bay in San Diego. The event supports Home of Guiding Hands, an El Cajon nonprofit supporting nearly 4,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities. Registration opens at 8 a.m. Run/walk starts at 9 a.m. Jones, who won the 1976 National League Cy Young Award, will meet and greet participants. Registration is $40 for adults and $35 for

children/youth, military and seniors. Children under age 3 are free. Participants will receive T-shirts and medals, plus breakfast snacks. Those who can’t attend can create their own 5K (3.1 miles) walk and complete it anytime on Saturday. Register at www.guidinghands.org/runwalk. Pick up runner/walker packets from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at Home of Guiding Hands, 1908 Friendship Drive, El Cajon. Jones and Padres mascot Friar will be there for a photo and autograph session. The Randy Jones Run/walk has raised more than $333,000 for Home of Guiding Hands. To donate, call Kaye Kelley at (619) 933-0339.

Libraries offer Día de los Niños fun

Local cities are partnering with the San Diego County Library to host the Story Trail program in parks. Story Trails are offered at 15 parks throughout the county to help celebrate Dia de los Niños/dia de los Libros (Day of the Child/day of the Book). Visit La Mesa’s Northmont Park and Macarthur

The San Diego Sheriff ’s Department will continue to oversee law enforcement in Lemon Grove, after a council vote made the city the last to sign off on a new five-year agreement.

Officials unanimously approved the larger budget during Tuesday’s public meeting, and leaders said the contract did not increase as much as previous agreements.

“I’m grateful that you guys have given us something that’s more sustainable,” Mayor Pro Tem Jerry Jones told sheriff’s representatives.

Council members said they hoped more money could be spent on traffic enforcement. While the department has been able to pay a deputy part-time hours to focus on roads, there have not been funds for more.

The new contract will begin in July and last through June 2027.

During the first two fiscal years the price will increase 1 percent, before rising 3.5 percent each year after.

That means the city will pay more than $6.5 million initially and more than $7.3 million by the end.

The agreement includes access to a helicopter, the East County Gang Task Force and a Psychiatric Emergency Response Team, known as PERT, among other services, according to

Park, Lemon Grove’s Treganza Heritage Park and Santee’s Mast Park, among others, throughout April to read original stories designed by library staff in English and Spanish. While supplies last, you can also get free activity kits and books at some local county library branches, including Ramona and Casa de Oro. For more about the program and how to get your activity kit, along with a recommended reading list, visit https://www.sdcl.org/dia/.

Chamber hosts ribbon-cutting

The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce hosts an open house and ribbon-cutting at 5 p.m. Wednesday with Haley Kremensky and her team at Oakwood Escrow, 8697 La Mesa Blvd., Ste. D, La Mesa. Ribbon-cutting at 6 p.m. Bites and beverages will be available. Open to all, but reservations a must at https:// bit.ly/3mctfv0 or rsvp@lamesachamber.com.

Blood drives The San Diego Blood Bank

City Manager Lydia Romero.

If a local deputy is sued, the county will pay for their defense, Romero said.

A full-time traffic deputy would cost the city $233,000, which would include salary, benefits, equipment and other expenses, the manager said.

Other council members praised Lemon Grove’s station.

Liana Lebaron said she was impressed with the professionalism she observed during a ride along last week. Mayor Racquel Vasquez said deputies “truly reflect the diversity of our city.”

Jones, who’s been in office nearly two decades, said previous contracts had increased between 4 percent and 6 percent, and one even rose in the double digits.

Public safety accounts for a large part of the city’s total budget, which is less than $17 million.

The department has overseen the city since 1977, when Lemon Grove was incorporated. The station is led by Lt. Pat Mcevoy.

Crime rose overall last year, although violent crime was historically low, Mcevoy previously reported.

Santee extended its own agreement with the department this month. Del Mar, Encinitas, Imperial Beach, Poway, San Marcos, Solana Beach and Vista have also approved new contracts, sheriff ’s officials said.

blake.nelson@sduniontribune.com

hosts these blood donation opportunities. Donors will receive a limited-edition T-shirt while supplies last: • 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday,

East Region Live Well Center,

367 N. Magnolia Ave., El Cajon • Noon-5 p.m. Tuesday, 1347 Tavern Road, Alpine • 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Tuesday,

Barons Market,

Mountain Empire High School, 3305 Buckman Spring Road, Pine Valley • 1-7 p.m. Tuesday, Grossmont Center, 5500 Grossmont Center Drive, La Mesa Those 17 and older, weighing at least 114 pounds and in good health may be eligible to donate blood. A good meal and plenty of fluids are recommended before donating. Appointments strongly encouraged. Photo ID required. Call (800) 469-7322 or visit Sandiegobloodbank.org.

Send items to fyi.east@sduniontribune.com at least two weeks before events are to take place.