June 9, 2009 (San Diego)--Damn Yankees, a baseball-themed musical comedy, will be presented by C. Hook Theater at the Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Performing Arts Center June 24-27. The show provides a musical retellingof the Faust legend set during the 1950s in Washington, D.C., during a time when the New York Yankees dominated Major League Baseball. Joe Boyd is convinced to sell his soul to the Devil to become the young and strong slugger Joe Hardy, the "long ball hitter the Senators need" to beat the Yankees.

ALPINE, Calif. — May 28, 2009 — As the weather begins to heat up and children get out of school, Viejas offers a place to beat the heat with an array family-friendly events. The annual Power of Nightfire show will feature performances at 9 p.m. every Thursday through Sunday, until Labor Day. The unique performance intrigues the audience with water fountains, lasers, pyrotechnics, special effects and intricate choreography. The show tells the story of an ancient Kumeyaay Indian who saved his people from the evil “water spirit” and brings the valuable water back to his village.

The Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library in La Mesa, a public library specializing in health research information, has announced it is hosting a display of 20 charcoal drawings drawn by persons who have developmental disabilities from Sophie's Art Gallery, an art program provided by St. Madeleine Sophie's Center, a non-profit based in El Cajon.

LA MESA, CA (May 8, 2009) – Concerts in the Courtyard will feature free live entertainment produced by Grossmont Center in Macy’s Courtyard every first and third Thursday now through July 2ND from 6p.m. – 8p.m.

By Miriam Raftery

"Morning Light" by Alex Toporovsky

April 27, 2009 (El Cajon)—“In my work, I try to evoke a séance of peace and
happiness,” artist Alex Toporovsky told East County Magazine.  “These
are usually things which are lacking in most people’s lives, including my own.
We are all so busy running around and trying to make a living these days. I
feel that my paintings are sort of a dreamscape where most people would love
to run away, too, to find peace of mind.  I try to take people to that
place, to escape for a while, and get refreshed before doing the daily grind.”

April 23, 2009 (El Cajon, CA) – The bands are ready to play. The stage is set up and the equipment is in place. Thousands of flyers and postcards have been distributed, and hundreds of posters have been put up San Diego City and in East County. For the students in Cuyamaca College's Music Industry Studies program, the efforts of a whole semester will reach their fruition on May 1, when the first Coyote Music Festival unfolds on the college's Grand Lawn at 3pm.

Photographer Dan McGeorge poses with images of Arizona canyons

April 15, 2009 (El Cajon) - A March 27 art show at the St. Clair gallery in
El Cajon proved a success, drawing hundreds of visitors and resulting in sales
for artists displaying their works.

“I’ve always loved horses,” said San Diego artist Melva Riley, who adeptly
captures the spirit and beauty of her subjects in a series of bold equestrian
paintings. Riley studied at the La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art and
later became an interior designer. Her artwork, featuring impressionistic scenes
of nature as well as animals, has been displayed in numerous galleries locally.

April 13, 2009 (El Cajon)--The Grossmont College Art Council presents “Traditon and Concept Bridged”, a ceramic exhibition by two very accomplished artists, Joanne Hayakawa and Kouta Shimazaki.

“To term this exhibition a ceramics exhibition is to pare this collection of artwork down to it’s most minimal definition,” the gallery’s announcement states. “Even to use the title “Tradition and Concept Bridged” constitutes a very broad brush painting a very complex selection of work.  The body of work by these two artists transcends the archaic thinking and production of art (especially in the ceramics world) which divided tradition from concept. 

By Miriam Raftery

April 10, 2009 (El Cajon)—Grossmont Community Concert Association will present a Scholarship Winners Concert featuring performers honored by Music Scholarship Council. The concert will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 19th at the Ronald Reagan Community Center, 195 East Douglas in El Cajon.

“Come to hear gifted young musicians and be inspired and uplifted,” the GCCA announcement states. “The concert is our gift to the community.” Refreshments will be served following the performance.

Jesse LaMonaca

April 1,2009 (El Cajon) — The Cuyamaca College Music Industry Studies program is proud to announce the Coyote Music Festival on May 1, 2009 on the grand lawn of Cuyamaca College. The event will feature 6 San Diego acts playing original music during the late afternoon concert: Jesse Lamonaca, Regina Leonard, Silent Lune, Goodnight Caulfield, Rhythm and the Method and special emcee, Gill SOTU.

March 12, 2009 (El Cajon)--The City of El Cajon Recreation Department will hold its much anticipated Annual Dance and Tumbling Recital at the East County Performing Arts Center on Sunday, March 22, 2009, from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. This event has been a highlight in the City for over 20 years. This year's recital, "Dance And Tumble--Through The Decades!" will showcase the talents of ages 5 through senior adult in tumbling, tap, jazz, cheer, hip-hop, lyrical and modern jazz. Act 1- "Oldies" begins at 2:30 and Act 2-"Goodies" begins at 4:30p.m.

By Maia Neubig

Maia Neubig is an SDSU senior who traveled to New Orleans on two separate occasions as part of the Art Relief effort.

The best part about the trips are the people down there, they are some of the nicest, most caring people I have ever met in my life. They truly love and appreciate every one of us for coming down there and never let us forget it.

By Dennis Moore

March 1, 2009 (San Diego's East County) — Just like Hip Hop artist "R" Kelly did in my hometown of Chicago, East County Gospel singer Nicolas SK Shivers seems to be taking a similar path to stardom and fame, by initially selling and promoting his music on the streets of San Diego. I ran into Nicolas "SK" Shivers at the Mission Valley Mall while I was shopping for computer and office equipment for a consulting business that I am starting in San Diego.

By Miriam Raftery

Northern lights images from Anza Borrego desert

February 22, 2009 (Anza Borrego) — In celebration of the International Year of Astronomy, we thought it fitting to share with our readers the beauty and grandeur of the night sky as depicted by Dennis Mammana, world-famous night sky photographer and East County resident. His dazzling photos include rare shots of the Aurora Borealis (Northern lights) viewed from the Anza-Borrego desert, where he lives, as well as images of solar and lunar eclipses, comets, and other astronomical events taken around the globe. Also a prolific writer and instructor, Mammana teaches courses and hosts camp-outs locally, also leading astronomy and sky photography expeditions worldwide--such as an upcoming journey to China to view and photograph a total solar eclipse.

By Miriam Raftery

Mike Farrell with officers of Eastlake-Bonita Democratic Club.

February 17, 2009 (Bonita) — Mike Farrell and his co-stars
on the popular M*A*S*H TV show raised public awareness about the human costs
of war. But
what many fans don't realize is that in his private life, Farrell has much
in common with the character he portrayed, Dr. B.J. Hunnicutt. Traveling
to global hot spots from Central American jungles to war-torn African villages,
he has gained fame internationally as a humanitarian, working tireless to draw
attention to a wide range of human rights issues.