By Cecilie Shamanow

El Cajon – Imagine going to sleep at night in your home, content, safe and secure, only to wake up to it going up in flames. Melissa Taylor didn’t have to imagine such a tragedy because it was her reality.  The 65-year-old El Cajon resident woke up the night of August 7th to a fire rapidly spreading through her home.

Taylor, who normally falls asleep to the sound of her television, was awoken at 5:30  pm. by the sudden silence caused by the power going out in her trailer. She could hear the sound of her neighbors outside yelling for her to get out.

She narrowly escaped; the trailer was burned beyond repair in a matter of moments. Taylor could do nothing but watch as it burned, and listen to the sounds of her four cats crying inside, unable to escape.

By Miriam Raftery

View our exclusive interview with Robert Neary.

October 13, 2023 (El Cajon) – Musical entertainer Robert Neary, also a TV and Broadway actor, brings his acclaimed “So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience”  show to the Magnolia theatre in El Cajon on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 6:30 p.m.  His uncanny renditions of 22  of Diamond’s classic hits such as Cherry, Cherry,” “I’m a Believer,” “Solitary Man,” “Holly Holy,” “Coming to America,” and “Sweet Caroline” are backed by New York's premier band, The Mystic.  Neary will also share Diamond’s personal stories about some of his songs, and provide a finale that has dazzled critics. View a promo reel.

In an exclusive interview with ECM aired on KNSJ radio,  Neary talks about his inspirations growing up, his path to stardom on TV, stage and the musical world, what motivated him to create a Neil Diamond tribute show, and his favorite Diamond piece.

By Cecilie Shamanow

The city of El Cajon is holding a forum for local business owners and managers on Tuesday October 17^th at 7:30 a.m. at the El Cajon Police Station 100 Civic Center Way, El Cajon, CA 92020.

The aim is to discuss the impact the unhoused population is having on local businesses.

The forum is a collaborative effort between the City of El Cajon and the El Cajon Police Department; the meetings will be led by Police Chief Mouton and City Manager Graham Mitchell.

By Ken Stone,Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  On Sept. 12, Christian High School forfeited a girls volleyball game. Rumors included the presence of a lesbian player for Helix.

September 26, 2023 (La Mesa) - After Christian High School of El Cajon abruptly forfeited a girls varsity volleyball match with Helix Charter High School, the La Mesa school’s athletic director sought in vain to learn why.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Mary Loeza, Mom'sTravel Team

September 10, 2023 (El Cajon) – An engine cut off while an aviation student was piloting a plane yesterday slated to land at Gillespie Field in El Cajon.  The instructor, Steve Mitchell, 67 with Blue Max Aviation, told  Fox 5 that he took over the controls and  made an emergency landing, crashing into a wire fence around the airport as well as a fence on private property, dragging it across Magnolia Avenue.

By Miriam Raftery

September 2, 2023 (El Cajon) – The German-American Societies of San Diego will host two weekends of Oktoberfest at their El Cajon headquarters: Sept. 29-Oct. 1 and Oct. 6-8.

East County News Service

August 31, 2023  (El Cajon) -- Pacific Emblem Company, a 35-year-old custom manufacturer of patches, emblems and wristbands, is stepping up in a big way to help raise money for the fire victims on Maui.  The company’s goal is to raise $50,000  or more through its special site, www.MauiStrong.help and donate to the Hawaii Community Foundation (referred to as the Maui Strong Fund). 

100% of the money raised will be donated (after the cost of goods, employees, and shipping, which is free for the public. 

The company has ties and friends on the Hawaiian Islands and wanted to do something to help as much as possible. 

“My heart hurts for all those on Maui who lost their lives, homes, and businesses and I had to do something to raise desperately needed funds for the residents,” said Rich Soergel (aka Dr. Patch) at the helm of Pacific Emblem Company.

August 20, 2023 (San Diego's East County) --The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning now through 5 p.m. for El Cajon, La Mesa, Poway, Ramona, Alpine, Tierrasanta, Escondido, Santee, Lakeside and San Diego Country Estates. This is due to heavy rainfall capable of producing life-threatening flash floods.

Black woman-owned business won 3 months free rent and  $20,000 business investment in mall’s Taste for the Space Competition

Source: Parkway Plaza

July 20, 2023 (El Cajon)--   Parkway Plaza held its first-ever Taste for the Space competition in June, offering one local food business the opportunity to win three months of free rent at Parkway Plaza’s food court, plus a $20,000 business investment.  Chef Char’s Seafood N Soul is the lucky recipient of the prize package and will be moving into the shopping center’s food court latet this month.

Over 600 people came out to taste food from 12 selected local businesses to vote on whose cuisine was the best. The winner was chosen by a combination of votes from the community and a panel of tastemaker judges that included El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, Chef Phillip Esteban (Open Gym, White Rice and Weapon Ramen), Christina Ng (local culinary personality and Foundation Cultivator for Berry Good Food Food), and Sabrina Medora (freelance writer and novelist). The judges helped decide the winner based on taste as well as overall fit for the center.

Winner Charlene Plummer launched Chef Char Seafood N Soul (formerly known as ChefChar2020) amidst the Covid-19 pandemic when her then 16 year-old was unable to find employment. Creating the business not only helped provide her child with work, but also an opportunity to play a large role in the company which she could help cultivate and design.

East County News Service

July 17, 2023 (Rancho San Diego) – Zohair Azez Potros Sinawi, 84, of El Cajon has been identified by the Medical Examiner’s office as the man who died in a collision that occurred on July 7 in Rancho San Diego.

East County News Service

Photo and video by Robert Gehr

July 8, 2023 (El Cajon) – A two-vehicle crash knocked over a fire hydrant at the corner of Van Houton and Douglas in El Cajon this morning, spewing water across the roadways.  The vehicles involved were a white pickup truck and a dark Nissan car, according to ECM photographer Robert Gehr.

By Miriam Raftery

July 4, 2023 (San Diego’s East County)—The San Diego Blood Bank has five blood drives coming up between July 12 and July 14 in the East County communities of El Cajon, Lakeside, and Santee.

Anyone age 17 and older who weighs at least 114 pounds and is in good health may be eligible to donate bloodand help save a life. A good meal and plenty of fluids are recommended prior to donation. Appointments are honored first and walk‑ins are welcome. Photo identification is required..

Below are details on the upcoming blood drives:

By Miriam Raftery

June 29, 2023 (Santee) – SDG&E has advised the city of Santee that Cuyamaca Street will be closed for six to eight weeks between Prospect Ave. and Weld. Blvd.to repair a gas leak in a transmission line. 

The street will be closed in both directions,  the city of Santee posted on social media.

Story and photos by Christianne McCormick

Photo, left: Director of Finance Clay Schoen presents budget breakdown

June 25, 2023 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon’s City Council on June 13 received a presentation on the Preliminary Annual Budget for fiscal year of 2023-2024.  Council also moved forward on a ban on homeless camping on public property that would be similar to the City of San Diego’s new ordinance.