The Lakeside Sheriff’s Substation hosted a community appreciation event on April 19. Citizens of all ages had a chance to talk with deputies, recruiters (always looking for a few good women and men), Search and Rescue reserves, and crime prevention officers. Also on hand were members of the Santee Kiwanis Club and employees from the Lakeside Community Center. Free lunch and snow cones rounded out the community safety affair.
The Lakeside Sheriff’s Substation hosted a community appreciation event on April 19. Citizens of all ages had a chance to talk with deputies, recruiters (always looking for a few good women and men), Search and Rescue reserves, and crime prevention officers. Also on hand were members of the Santee Kiwanis Club and employees from the Lakeside Community Center. Free lunch and snow cones rounded out the community safety affair.
A highlight was the K-9 demonstration, an up close look at how the canine unit is deployed and why. Deputy Glover told the crowd a little about the 50-year history of the unit and how effective it can be. He then played the “bad guy” for a demonstration, which involved another K-9 handler, Deputy Berhalter, and his dog, Hero. After gearing up in a “bite suit,” Deputy Glover became the object of Hero’s “affection.” As scary as it looks, these K-9’s are not vicious. They are trained to bite and hold, and only as a last resort for suspects who are fleeing and/or a danger to other deputies or citizens.
At the crime prevention desk, Specialist Henry Tirado offered other important information. Henry works out of the Vista Patrol Station, but he was in Lakeside to promote a valuable yet underused program with the potential to save lives. It’s called the “Take Me Home” Program.
Take Me Home is designed to assist law enforcement with contacts of folks who may not be able to communicate readily or verbally. This might include persons with Autism, Dementia, Alzheimer’s, Down syndrome, deafness, or other developmental disabilities. Caregivers can enroll special needs family members, friends or clients either online or over the telephone. The information and a photograph are entered in a database that is immediately available to regional law enforcement. Officers can use this database to find a lost person’s home or help find someone who is missing. In situations where the missing person is at-risk, the information can be used to alert search personnel, the media, and the community. Only law enforcement personnel can access the information.
For more information on Take Me Home, call a crime prevention specialist at your local station or substation, or go online at www.sdsheriff.net/tmh.
Bits & pieces
New restaurant coming soon to downtown Lakeside?
The old Pinnacle Peak place will soon be filled by Homestyle Hawaiian, their fifth such eatery in the county. They have a good track record, with good reviews on YELP.com and a nice segment on the FoodTube Network. And they hope to be up and running by this summer – something different for Lakeside!
Possible Lakeside Hotel renovation
Though plans (and hopes) are still in the very early stages, there may be an improved look for the Lakeside Hotel in the near future. The new owner, Lucinda Terrell, is keen on upgrading the historic building. Lucinda runs the Home of Hope Sober Living. She is working with MARA (Maine Avenue Revitalization Association) and the Lakeside Historical Society to see what can be done with the exterior. Lucinda has already made improvements on the inside, adding a coffee bar and (soon-to-come) a deli for the general public. The Lakeside Hotel opened as a boarding house for railroad workers in 1887, making it arguably the oldest structure left in our historic Downtown Lakeside!
Upcoming events
Lakeside Western Days is this weekend! On Saturday, April 29, the Lakeside Historical Society will kick off the day with their annual Western Days Breakfast. For a $5 donation (per person), you can feast on a full cowboy breakfast! The doors to the historic Olde Community Church open at 7:00 a.m. and meals will continue until 9:30 a.m. Then you can step out onto Maine Avenue and watch the annual Western Days Parade go by.
The Lakeside Historical Society will also host its annual Yard Sale fundraiser on May 5 and 6. Previously held in August, the sale will run from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday. Come on out for a nice selection of lightly used, second-hand items.
Saturday, May 13 could be a busy day for you. From 8:00 a.m. to noon, the Lakeside Garden Club is holding their annual Spring Plant Day at the Olde Community Church, 9906 Maine Avenue in Downtown Lakeside. Then learn about “Bees and Honey” at Lakeside’s River Park Conservancy, 12108 Industry Road. “They’re awesome, they’re essential, they’re … vanishing?” From 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., beekeeper Richard Edwords will share his bee knowledge (and possibly some of his homemade honey). An RSVP is needed! Call (619) 443-4770 or go online at lakesideriverpark.org.
