October 22, 2013 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, will host a free senior discussion group presentation on “Tai Chi for Seniors,” from 10 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23.  The Public is invited to attend, and RSVP is not required.  For more information, phone the library at (619) 825-5010 or visit www.herricklibrary.org.

September 26, 2013 (El Cajon) – The City of El Cajon will be hosting a community meeting for El Cajon’s America on Main Street, a new City special event.  This community meeting will be held on Monday, September 30, at 5:30 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan Community Center, located at 195 East Douglas Avenue

El Cajon’s America On Main Street will be on Saturday, June 14, 2014, which is also recognized as National Flag Day. The event will include American and ethnic foods, live entertainment on two stages, displays and more.  For more information please call (619) 441-1754 or visit us online at www.cityofelcajon.us.

Introductory club training for swimmers ages 6 to 18  

September 12, 2013 (El Cajon) – East County parents who have been looking for an inexpensive and fun way to involve their children in year-round club swimming now have that opportunity. Heartland Swim Association, East County's premier swim club, is offering a Fall Special Program at special introductory pricing.

Registration is $275 for swimmers between the ages of 6 to 18 and covers practices four to five days a week through December 15.   There is also a $60 fee for membership in USA Swimming.

August 29, 2013 (San Diego) – As San Diego heads into the warmest weather of the year, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is encouraging customers to sign up for Reduce Your Use alerts, to help them earn bill credits for saving energy during hot summer days when demand for electricity is high.

August 8, 2013 (Alpine) – The construction of a new library for the community of Alpine is another step closer to reality.

The County Board of Supervisors gave the go-ahead to advertise for a design and build contract during a Board meeting Tuesday.

July 22, 2013 (San Diego) – Summertime is the busiest marriage season. To help with increased demand the County Clerk’s Office has added “Walk in Wednesdays” to their services. For the past three Wednesdays, the County Clerk’s Office has been issuing marriage licenses and performing marriage services at the County Administration Center (CAC) without requiring a prior appointment. 468 marriage licenses and 270 ceremonies were performed at the CAC during that span. The “Walk in Wednesdays” will continue until September 25th.

July 18, 2013 (Mission Valley) – San Diego County Credit Union (SDCCU), San Diego’s largest locally-owned financial institution with three local East County branches in El Cajon, La Mesa and Santee, is inviting the public to its SDCCU Super Shred Event featuring free document shredding services from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday, July 20 at the Qualcomm Stadium northwest parking lot located at 9449 Friars Road, San Diego. SDCCU is hoping to shred the Guinness World Record for most shred paper collected in 24 hours. The current world record of 111,920 pounds of paper is held by Comerica Bank, Iron Mountain and KDFW FOX 4 in Dallas.

June 25, 2013 (City Heights) – Skateboarders in City Heights will soon be able to enjoy recreation at a Mini-Park and Skate Plaza. The site, designed as a safe place for families to enjoy outdoor activities, will also include a tot lot, playground, turf area and plaza with games, landscaping and trees. Construction will begin in October 2014 with completion due in November 2015.

The total site is slightly less than two-thirds of an acre, with the skate plaza 0.145 acre.  A design phase will include community outreach and input.

A short path in the southern part of the County measures only ¼ of a mile long but its destination is huge -- Otay Valley Regional Park and 8,500 acres of open space.

June 21, 2013 (Otay) -- The Palm Avenue trail was formally opened during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday and links the community of Otay Nestor to the regional park, which is expected to one day span 13 miles from the coastal area to the Lower and Upper Otay Lakes.  

“This new trail segment will open up Otay Valley Regional Park to South Bay residents and visitors, providing them with incredible recreational opportunities ranging from playing fields and picnic areas to hiking, biking and horse trails,” said San Diego County Board Chairman Greg Cox.

June 18, 2013 (El Cajon) – On Saturday, June 22nd from 9am-11am, the East County Family YMCA will host the grand opening of a new 4,000 square-foot, YMCA Gymnastics Center, where guests can sign-up for a special introductory 4-week session, tour the new facility, and meet the staff!

The new Gymnastics Center, located at 2471 Jamacha Rd. Ste. 102-104, El Cajon 92019 features a full array of gymnastics equipment and sufficient space and amenities to accommodate preschool and school age gymnastics training and practice. This off-site gymnastics facility replaces and expands the previous program, which was housed at the McGrath Family YMCA on Campo Road due to the strong demand for gymnastics and fitness classes. The gymnastics program held offsite will not only allow for more days and times for gymnastics classes, but will also provide more space for additional group exercise classes at the McGrath Family YMCA.

June 20, 2013 (La Mesa) – Don’t discard – shred your household documents in a quick and easy way.

The City of La Mesa is sponsoring another free paper shredding event for La Mesa residents on Saturday, June 22, from 9:00 am to 1:00 p.m. at La Mesa’s EDCO Station, located at 8184 Commercial Street.

There will be a limit of two boxes per household and the shredding will be done onsite. No appointment necessary.

May 9, 2013 (San Diego's East County) --San Diego County residents know the importance of being prepared for disasters after the firestorms of 2003 and 2007, but are your pets included in those all important plans?  

“It’s not a question of if another disaster will strike, but rather when a disaster will strike San Diego County,” said County Animal Services Director Dawn Danielson.  “As part of National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day, we strongly encourage people to have a plan in place that includes your pets.”

As the lead agency in any disaster, the Department of Animal Services suggests you include all of the following in your pet disaster plan:

April 25, 2013 (El Cajon) – In celebration of El Cajon’s Centennial, the El Cajon Historical Society will sponsor a tour of the Historic JPR Hall Ranch House in El Cajon on Saturday, May 4, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Lemonade and iced tea will be available in the garden. Admission is $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Reserve space by mailing checks to ECHS, P.O. Box 1973, El Cajon, CA 92022.

This home is rarely open to the public. Proceeds benefit the El Cajon Historical Society.

Below is an excerpt from Bus and Auto Tour of Historical El Cajon by the El Cajon Historical Society. The excerpt describes the Historic JPR Hall Ranch House, which was the focal point of a 60-acre ranch with wheat, hay, an orchard and a vineyard planted by the parents and siblings of W.D. Hall.

April 2, 2013 (Alpine) – Natural Instincts Healthy Pet Center is partnering with High On Kennels to offer rattlesnake aversion training right here in Alpine! These poisonous rattlesnakes are often found in our own backyards and while out walking your dog. Training is conducted with four live rattlesnakes that are "muzzled" for your dog's protection. You dog will learn the sight, sound, and scent of our local species.

This 15-30 minute session can be a critical life saver for your dog.

“Avoid the thousands in costly treatment associated with bites; avoidance training can help keep your dog away from rattlesnakes so bites do not happen. Most trainers recommend you repeat rattlesnake avoidance training every single year to keep it fresh in your dog's memory,” a press release from Natural Instincts Healthy Pet Center states.

March 17, 2013 (San Diego) – Thomas Jefferson School of Law will open a Veterans Self-Help Legal Clinic on March 20 to help former military service members with their legal needs. The veterans will be assisted by volunteer lawyers from the community working side-by-side with TJSL law students.

The clinic will be appointment-only and will operate the third Wednesday of every month from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at 495 Eleventh Avenue. The clinic is now taking appointments.