March 2, 2010 (El Cajon ) – The Grossmont College Theatre Arts Department presents “I Love You Because,“ a romantic musical comedy. The production will be presented March 11-13 and March 17-20 at 7:30 p.m., as well as 2 p.m. matinees on March 13 and 20 in the Stagehouse Theatre. Critics hail it as “a charming piece of work that will send you home smiling” (The Wall Street Journal) and “terrific, refreshing fun-filled with wit and zest” (New York Times).

February 22, 2010 (El Cajon) --Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s preliminary budget, released in January, will force more deep cuts for local schools. Tomorrow evening, Cajon Valley School Board will weigh how to cope with $3.5 million in new revenue reductions that the Governor’s budget would mean for the District---on top of a $6 million shortfall that the Board was already anticipating.

IRAQI IMMIGRANTS WAITING HOURS FOR SERVICES FORCED TO GO HOME EMPTY-HANDED

February 12, 2010 (El Cajon) –Iraqi immigrants began lining up at 5 a.m. today to recertify documentation and quality for social service benefits at the Chaldean-Middle Eastern Services Office at 343 Main Street in El Cajon. But shortly after 9 a.m., Heartland Fire & Rescue crews responded to a medical aid call. They found a crowd estimated at 500 to 1,000 people congregating in and around the second floor office.

PUBLIC MEETING FRIDAY, FEB. 12

February 9, 2010 (El Cajon ) - The City of El Cajon is applying for a competitive grant that will be used to completely revitalize Wells Park. Funding was made available when California voters passed Proposition 84 in 2006. Many comments have already been received, but the City seeks additional public input on how to improve the facility.

 
 
February 9, 2010 (El Cajon) - The City of El Cajon Teen Coalition presents a “Youth of the Year” Award to recognize youth who go above and beyond in serving their community, either through leadership abilities and/or community service in El Cajon.
 
The City offers these eligibility guidelines:

February 6, 2010 (El Cajon) Updated 11:45 p.m.. - A serious accident involving several vehicles caused CHP to shut down all lanes on I-8 westbound at Murray Drive in El Cajon, diverting traffic onto 125.  CHP's website reports one vehicle flipped over and a person was trapped inside with fluid leaking.

 
February 4, 2010 (El Cajon) – Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine) will host a community job fair in conjunction with the East County Career Center on February 19, 2010, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Ronald Reagan Community Center, 195 E. Douglas Avenue in El Cajon next to the El Cajon Library).  Job applicants are urged to bring your resumes and dress for success.
 
New economic data released earlier this month shows that the national unemployment rate remains at 10 percent, Hunter observed.

February 1, 2010 (El Cajon) – Five women were arrested January 28 in El Cajon on prostitution charges. El Cajon Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit conducted an undercover operation targeting individuals involved in prostitution.

Upon conviction of prostitution related charges, arrestees may be placed on geographic probation and ordered to refrain from certain activities in specified areas of El Cajon. One of the arrestees, Georgina Garcia (photo), was in violation of these conditions and was also charged with violation of a court order.

This is the first in a series of interviews profiling people who are homeless in East County. If you know of a homeless person willing to be interviewed, please contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org
 

By Miriam Raftery

January 28, 2010 (El Cajon) – “I’m trying to get off the street,” says Dawn Marie (last name withheld), who has been homeless for three months and is currently sleeping in an abandoned building in El Cajon. “I’ve been to college, but I can’t get a job because I have no experience, and you can’t get experience if nobody will hire you.”

Complicating matters, Dawn Marie suffers from a genetic medical condition known as neurofibromatosis. “I get fibrous tumors wherever I have a nerve,” she said, rolling up a sleeve to reveal bumps on her arms. She also wears a brace on her knee, which  had previous surgery for a sciatic nerve tumor. She  needs more surgery, but has no insurance.  Waits for medical care through County Medical Services are long and coverage is limited.

January 25, 2010 (El Cajon) – Rebecca Ann Phillips, 23, died after being hit by a red Chevrolet Metro on southbound Highway 125 shortly after 9:30 last night. According to witnesses, she was a passenger in a green Ford Taurus sedan that had pulled onto the shoulder just north of Grossmont College Drive. For unknown reasons, she stepped into traffic and was killed.

 
 
January 21, 2009 (El Cajon) - A community meeting on the future of the East County Performing Arts Center has been postponed until Wed. Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. due to tonight's stormy weather.  For details, see our previous story at http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/2603.

January 20, 2010 (San Diego County) 9:10 p.m. – Shortly after we issued an earlier alert about hazardous traffic conditions, CHP posted updates of several new hazards.

EAST COUNTY UPDATE:

Boulders are reported in the roadway at the junction of Sunrise Highway and Interstate 8. There are also large rocks in the roadway on Highway 78 near Sentenac Canyon in El Cajon, where a vehicle has struck the rocks and emergency responders are en route. I-15 northbound is flooded at the SR 75 offramp. The Carmel Mt. Road onramp to I-15 northbound is also flooded and now blocked. In Borrego Springs, boulders are in the road at SR 78 and Borrego Springs Road. In Santee, Gorge Road is flooded in the 9200 block after a flood channel overflowed.
 

OTHER SAN DIEGO COUNTY AREAS:

Update Jan. 21:  Tonight's outdoor rally has been cancelled due to rain, however those who wish to protest closure of the theater will instead gather inside the Ronald Reagan Community Center at 6:30.

January 20, 2010 (El Cajon) The City of El Cajon hosts its second of two community meetings on the future of the East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC) on Thursday, January 21st. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan Community Center, 195 East Douglas St. in El Cajon (1/2 block east of Magnolia).

The City has announced plans to close the theater for up to two years for renovations. Citizen’s Oversight Project, a watchdog group, plans a rally at 5:30 to protest the two-year closure. The rally will be held on Main Street in front of the theater.(This rally has been moved indoors at 6:30 at the Ronald Reagan Community Center due to rain.)

by Walter Hall

January 16, 2010 (El Cajon) - Sunbelt Publications, El Cajon’s award-winning regional press, observes 25 years of hard-won success in the book trade this month. The anniversary is a remarkable achievement by a singular couple – Diana and Lowell Lindsay – who have the mischievous look of people who know they’re onto something special. 

January 16, 2010 (Alpine) – Virgil Frank Garrett of El Cajon has been identified by the County Coroner’s office as the victim who died in a January 9th accident in Alpine. Today would have been his 50th birthday.

January 15, 2010 (El Cajon) -- The City of El Cajon continues to work on a master plan for the Civic Center area that will include renovations which could close the East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC) for up to two years.  As part of the design and review process, the City has sought public input through two forums.  The last of those will be held Thursday evening, January 21, 2010 from 7-8 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan Community Center, 195 East Douglas Avenue in El Cajon.

January 14, 2010 (El Cajon) - The County will have H1N1 flu shots available Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan Community Center, 195 East Douglas Ave. in El Cajon. The event is one in a series of mass vaccination clinics, including an event last weekend at Qualcomm Stadium where 5,000 people received the vaccines.  Vaccines are available to everyone.

 
January 4, 2009 (El Cajon) – Interstate 8 will be closed in both directions between Second and East Main streets in El Cajon, Monday through Thursday early mornings from 12:30 until 4, according to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). The closures will allow crews to demolish the pedestrian overcrossing at Grape Street.

 
January 6, 2010 (El Cajon) - Two moderate earthquakes this week were felt in San Diego, reminding us of the importance of being prepared.  One way to learn how to prepare for a disaster is to enroll in one of two upcoming East County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) academies. The dates for free 2010 (CERT) disaster preparedness classes are listed below, and on the El Cajon Fire Department website at www.elcajonfire.com.

January 4, 2009 (El Cajon) – Just before 9:00 a.m. this morning, Heartland Deputy Fire Chief Rick Sitta was first on scene of a collision between a Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) bus and a small car at the intersection of Douglas Avenue and Van Houten Avenue in El Cajon.

As Heartland Fire & Rescue crews from El Cajon responded, Chief Sitta broke open a side rear window to gain access to the driver, who was found not breathing, and initiated emergency aid.

December 29, 2009 (El Cajon) -- If you are a current homeowner, or have questions on becoming a first time homebuyer, plan to attend the 5th Annual East County Homeownership Fair on Saturday, January 16, 2010 in El Cajon. The free event will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan Community Center located at 195 East Douglas Avenue, in Downtown El Cajon.

December 27, 2009 (El Cajon) – A vehicle struck a pedestrian on Greenfield Drive near Camillo Way in El Cajon around 5:40 this evening, California Highway Patrol reports. The victim, a 21-year-old man, was thrown 100 feet, Incident Protection Network reported at 6 p.m.

December 20, 2009 (El Cajon) – A naked man shot and killed himself while driving in El Cajon shortly after 6 p.m. last night, El Cajon public affairs officer Monica Zech confirmed. After committing suicide, the driver struck a telephone pole and sheared it off.

Citizens express ire over arts’ mismanagement

by Gayle Early

“That theater has been referred to as the white elephant sitting in the middle of El Cajon. It ought to be the jewel of that city, the community place to pull people in together.”—Patricia Parlin

“I don’t have a lot of faith in them. I don’t think they’ll do the right thing.”—John Martes

December 17, 2009 (El Cajon)—Smack in the heart of El Cajon’s business promenade sits a soon-to-be darkened, empty theater.   On Tuesday, arts lovers and concerned citizens showed up to the first community forum over the summary closure and renovation plans for the East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC).  After millions in local infrastructure improvements, the City is anxiously casting for ways to entice people to its downtown.

December 15, 2009, 12 noon (El Cajon) - El Cajon Police have just issued a traffic advisory of a major road closure. Washington Avenue is closed, east and westbound, between Emerald and Magnolia Avenue's to clear and repair a downed power pole from the roadway that followed an earlier collision.

December 15, 2009 (San Diego's East County)-- In  East County's mountains, Santa got some help to airlift in toys just in time for Christmas.
 
The U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program has been collecting toys for needy children in the community. Members of The Ninety-Nines, a women's flying organization (1st President Amelia Earhart), packed their airplanes full of toys at Montgomery Field & Gillespie Field on December 5th, then flew into the Ramona airport to deliver the Toys for Tots.

Yes, there's still time to RSVP and join East County Magazine for feasting, fun & merry-making at our HOLIDAY HOOPLA PARTY on Sunday, December 13th 2-6 p.m. in La Mesa.  Festiivities will include great food (turkey, ham and all the trimmings!), wine-tasting, prizes, games, and a rib-tickling presentation by Emmy Award-winning comedian Russ T. Nailz.

By Penny Raftery

Photos by Miriam Raftery and Leon Thompson

December 5, 2009 (El Cajon) – It was a frisky romp through Wells Park this morning, where I joined a pack of other dogs and their owners in the first-ever “Jingle Paws!” walk to benefit El Cajon’s Animal Shelter. Much to my delight, I discovered even more entertaining activities—such as a canine agility course, bobbing for hotdogs, vendors selling every imaginable gift item any dog could want, and even a visit from Santa Paws…er, Claus.

December 5, 2009 (El Cajon) -- The City of El Cajon Recreation Department is offering a safe and fun camp to engage the kids during the winter break. Hillside Center will be hosting “Winter Wonderland” Day Camp for ages 6-12 on December 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30 from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm.

December 4, 2009 (El Cajon) -- The City of El Cajon has been working on a master plan for the Civic Center area that will include major renovations to the East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC) including closure of the theater for up to two years. The City iwill be hosting two community forums to share goals of the renovation and to receive community input on desired renovations to the theater.