January 20, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County has events ranging from a Sock Monkeys concert at a winetasting room in La Mesa to an art show and family nature walk at Mission Trails Regional Park. Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including Cupids and Canines pet adoption event at Grossmont Center to Circus Vargas bringing its big-top show to El Cajon. Stay tuned for all of these events and much more, from East County Magazine.

East County News Service

Photo: St. Peter’s Cathedral in El Cajon; photo by Khari Johnson

January 18, 2015 (El Cajon)—Chaldean Church Patriarch Louis Sako has issued a statement published in an Arabic language publication indicating that he refuses to recognize the authority of Pope Francis.

Source: County of San Diego

Photo, left: Chance reunited with Lila Tatar

Photo, right: Chance with Lila and Zack Tater before he went missing

January 10, 2015 (El Cajon)--When the Tatar family came home in 2006 to find their dog had been apparently stolen from his outdoor kennel, they posted fliers around their El Cajon neighborhood and checked the local shelters. But there was no trace of their then 4-year-old boxer, Chance.

January 9, 2015 (El Cajon) – A man wearing dark clothing was struck by two vehicles after trying to jaywalk between signals in the 800 block of Avocado Avenue in El Cajon.

Disneyland visitors also exposed in December

January 7, 2015 (El Cajon)--Two San Diego siblings may have exposed others to measles at Parkway Plaza Mall in El Cajon on Dec. 29, 2014 the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) announced today.

By Ariele Johannson

Photos Credit: Vittoria Allen

January 4, 2015 (San Diego)--Christian Community Theater of El Cajon delivered a charming and amazingly comprehensive Christmas experience to theatre enthusiasts performed this year at the Don Powell Theatre on the campus of San Diego State University from December 19^th through 23^rd, 2014, with the 21^st Annual Traditions of Christmas, A Musical Spectacular. San Diego theater enthusiasts enjoyed an evening of holiday cheer in the form of musical theater, performed to a live band conducted by Ryan Beard. The entire show from beginning to end was an absolute delight for all ages.

Hear our interview with El Cajon Police Officers Association representatives Travis Howard and Samson Pak: http://kiwi6.com/file/rr5i0levth

January 1, 2015 (El Cajon)—On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, El Cajon Police officers stopped 10 people—but instead of giving them tickets, they handed them  cash—thanks to two anonymous donors who gave the police money to help people in the community—and improve the way the community views law enforcement.

December 25, 2014 (El Cajon )—Robert Gehr sent in this colorful photo of poinsettias growing in a planter on Main St. in downtown El Cajon.

December 22, 2014 (El Cajon) – Community members teamed up to bring joy to homeless children in a special Christmas party at the East County Transitional Living Center on Saturday. Santa made a special visit to pass out gifts, aided by CAL FIRE firefighters.

December 19, 2014 (El Cajon) – The city of El Cajon announces vacancies on five civic boards.  They are:

·         Gillespie Field Development Council - one vacancy for a four-year term expiring January 31,        2019, and one vacancy for a four-year term expiring March 18, 2019

·         Personnel Commission - one vacancy for a four-year term expiring January 31, 2019.

·         Planning Commission - two vacancies for four-year terms expiring January 31, 2019.

·         Public Safety Facility Financing Oversight Committee - four vacancies for four-year terms expiring January 31, 2019.

·         Veterans’ Commission - one vacancy for a four-year term expiring January 31, 2019.

By Paul Kruze

Photo by Randy Jordan

December 16, 2014 (El Cajon)--It has been the worst of times and it has been the best of times for the city of El Cajon.

Mayor Bill Wells painted a generally optimistic picture in his State of the City address delivered on Tuesday, December 9^th shortly after he was sworn in before a full City Council chamber. The mayor’s upbeat message came despite having to deal with some formidable headwinds during the past year—a year that saw the fifth largest city in San Diego County deal with political appointments surrounded by controversy, a crackdown on the city’s liquor stores, the city’s improving financial stability and ongoing renovation plans for the embattled East County Performing Arts Center.

By Miriam Raftery

December 16, 2014 (El Cajon)--The Neighborhood Market Association held its sixth Annual NMA Toy Drive for disadvantaged  youth around San Diego on Sunday at the Crystal Ballroom in El Cajon, raising  over 7,000 toys that were given out to thousands of children throughout the community.

December 14, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) - On Saturday, the San Diego Sheriff's Department, San Diego Probation Department, and the Metropolitan Transit System conducted a probation compliance operation which resulted in twenty-eight arrests.

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December 12, 2014 (El Cajon)--The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Governing Board has unanimously selected Bill Garrett to serve an eighth straight year as president, while Mary Kay Rosinski was picked as vice president and Greg Barr as board clerk for 2015. Garrett has served since 2008 as board president for the East County district, which enrolls about 30,0000 students at Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges, in addition to the district’s Continuing Education and Workforce Training program.. The Governing Board meeting got under way Tuesday with Garrett giving the oath of office to trustees Barr, Debbie Justeson and Edwin Hiel, who ran unopposed in the November election.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Beanbag round and projectiles similar to those used to subdue kidnap suspect

December 11, 2014 (El Cajon )—“There’s a good chance that our police officers saved the lives of four kids today,” Councilman Gary Kendrick told East County Magazine, reflecting on the dramatic rescue of the  children for whom an Amber Alert had been issued. The body of their mother had been found in another vehicle and their abductor was their father, who was believed to be armed and dangerous.