By Rachel Williams

February 5, 2017 (El Cajon) -- Falafel softly crackles and pops in the frying pan as the smell of tahini infuses the air at Cajon Terrace Apartments. While the kids practice their ABCs and numbers in their new living room, a Syrian husband and wife cook side by side.

By Miriam Raftery

February 5, 2017 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Assistant City Manager Majed Al-Ghafry has accepted a position as Assistant City Manager for Dallas, Texas.  A Syrian immigrant who came to the U.S. as a child, Al-Ghafry previously worked in Texas and has over 28 years of experience in municipal government.

 “He’s been a real asset to this city,”  El Cajon Councilman Gary Kendrick told ECM, adding that Al-Ghafry speaks Arabic and has been helpful in translating and explaining city ordinances to immigrants from the Middle East. 

Source: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District

Photo: Musical artist and activist Jasiri X is a featured speaker at Grossmont College's Black History Month commemoration.

January 28, 2017 (El Cajon) -- Music, art, a poetry slam, and a discussion on black activism at Grossmont College and a Martin Luther King Jr. tribute, a panel of young African-American professionals, and a presentation on institutional slavery at Cuyamaca College are among February's Black History Month events.

East County News Service

February 5, 2017 (San Diego) – Candace Smith, 69, has taken care of her disabled husband, James, 68, since he suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident a quarter century ago.  But now San Diego Police detectives report that she fatally shot her husband, then killed herself.

By Victor Contreras

February 4, 2017 (San Diego) -- The Descendants of Early San Diego (Formerly known as the Old Town San Diego Descendants Group or Committee), announces that they are soliciting submissions of short monologues for presentation specifically for TwainFest to be held at Old Town San Diego State Park in August annually. 

East County News Service

February 4, 2017 (La Mesa) - Melania Mirzakhanian announces the Grand Opening of Tomea Real Estate at 5575 Baltimore Drive #105 in La Mesa.  The community is invited to the office warming complete with appetizers, raffle prizes, and live music by the acclaimed singer-songwriter and recording artist, Mr. Gregory Page. 

East County News Service

February 4, 2017 (San Diego) — San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer has declared a state of emergency in the City of San Diego due to damage from January’s storms.  The declaration could help the city recover nearly $5 million in estimated costs of disaster response from the state under the  California Disaster Assistance Act.

East County News Service

February 4, 2017 (El Cajon) – The Grossmont Union High School District Board will hold a special budget workshop meeting on Thursday, February 16 at 4 :30 p.m. at the East County Regional Educational Center, 924 East Main Street in El Cajon. 

By Miraim Raftery

Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News :  Among the first to gain entry was an Iranian infant in need of heart surgery.

February 4, 2017 (San Diego) –  Travelers barred from entering the U.S. due to President Donald Trump’s sweeping executive order issued on January 27^th must now be admitted due to a ruling by U.S. District Judge James Robard on Friday.  

The court issued a nationwide halt to the entire executive order, though the Trump administration has said it will appeal the ruling. The ruling applies to refugees previously approved for admission to the U.S., as well as citizens of seven Muslim nations including Syrians.  It also requires admission of green card holders with visas.

By Miriam [Mimi] Pollack

February 3, 2017 (El Cajon) -- Imagine you have had a good life with a stable job and family. Then, imagine that your life turns upside down, be it from war, religious persecution, or social unrest, and you have to start from scratch in a new country with a different language, culture, even alphabet! Welcome to the world of many of my adult ESL [English as a Second Language] students. Despite all that they have gone and continue to go through, they are very grateful to be here

Nothing is Predictable, by Adalina Mae (Adalina Mae, Charleston, SC, 2017, 261 pages.)

Book Review by Dennis Moore

February 3, 2017 (San Diego) - Adalina Mae, born in Los Angeles and with roots in Lebanon, has written an intriguing and insightful book about a complex woman named Zara that seems to center around her troubled and now deceased father. She speaks lovingly of her father, but shares intimate details of her childhood and relationship with her father that seems to reflect her current life. She speaks of therapy sessions brought about by early childhood experiences, some of which were quite troubling.

By Miriam Raftery

February 3, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – Decisions made this week are drawing criticisms over President Donald Trump’s handling of sensitive foreign policy and military decisions—and who is involved in making those decisions.

Top officials for past Republican and Democratic presidents have spoken out against Trump’s executive order giving political advisor Steve Bannon a full seat on the principals committee of the National Security Council, while limiting the Director of National Intelligence and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from attending National Security Council meetings except when it considers issues in their direct areas of responsibilities, the New York Times reports.

Bannon’s last job was publishing Brietbart news, a mouthpiece for alt-right, white supremacist, anti-immigrant and conspiracy theory stories as well as conservative news.  Bannon is also an ex-Navy surface warfare officer who has  worked as an investment banker and Hollywood producer.

East County News Service

February 2, 2017 (Ramona) – An 83-year-old Poway man on a motorcycle was struck head-on by a Ford Crown Victoria that crossed the double yellow line on Highland Valley Road in Ramona this afternoon. The Poway man was ejected from the motorcycle and died at the scene.

Two East County representatives oppose measure; Anderson attacks immigrants as criminals despite actual data on crime rates  

By Miriam Raftery

February 2, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) — Two local legislators have taken stands against SB 54, a measure that would prevent state and local authorities in California from cooperating with federal efforts to deport undocumented immigrants.

East County News Service

February 2, 2017 (Washington D.C.) -- Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego), a senior member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, was named as the Ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training, which plays a key role in shaping higher education policy.