By Frans Leppanen, San Diego County Library

September 25, 2017 (Rancho San Diego) -- Six San Diego County authors will appear at a two-hour Author Event, Saturday, October 7 at 2 p.m. at the Rancho San Diego Branch of the San Diego County Branch Library, located at 11555 Via Rancho San Diego, El Cajon, CA 92019.  Authors Oyuki Aguilar, Renee Barnes, Sarah Bates, Dr. RH Gutierrez, Suzette Valle, and Wanjiru Warama will discuss their books. A book signing and reception will follow the authors’ presentations, with copies of the books available for purchase.

By Miriam Raftery

September 24, 2017 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa City Council will take up several hot issues at its meeting on Tuesday, September 26^th at 6 p.m. The Council’s decision could make it easier for developers to increase density and decrease parking, create new marijuana regulations, and declare La Mesa a ‘ferret friendly” city.

A proposed change in meeting time and openings on several boards and commissions are also on the agenda.

Concerned raised by Jamul residents who say inequities in fire mitigation grants favor Alpine areas at lesser risk

By Paul Kruze

September 24, 2017 (Alpine) -- Nearly 60 East County residents attended the first open house held by the Sunrise Powerlink Fire Mitigation Group (SPFMG) at the Alpine Community Center on Sept. 19. The purpose of the open house was to educate residents about the fire mitigation grants program and the results of the 2017 grant program.

By Valerie Watts

September 24, 2017 (El Cajon) -- Have you ever wondered what kind of businesses are located in East County, and whether there is anything actually being manufactured here?  You can find out when the East County Economic Development Council is hosts its 2nd annual Manufacturing Expo and Resource Fair on October 3, 2017 from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. at the Allen Airways Flying Museum in El Cajon (located at Gillespie Field). 

By Helen Ofield

September 24, 2017 (Lemon Grove) - The Lemon Grove Historical Society will hold the annual Pam Glover English High Tea on Oct. 8 from 2 - 4 p.m. in the H. Lee House Cultural Center, 3205 Olive, Lemon Grove, in support of the 2018 Treganza History Essay Competition for Third Grade in Lemon Grove Schools. Tickets are $25/person for a lavish, four-course high tea, party favors and door prizes.

Two proposed solar projects have been revived under new owners

By Paul Kruze

Photo: Map shows site of Boulevard Solar, one of the two former Soitec projects back in the planning pipeline.

September 22, 2017 (Boulevard) -- Boulevard, CA is a small rural community located about 50 miles east of downtown San Diego on Interstate 8,  nary half-an-hour to the Anza Borrego Desert State Park.  While residents – a mix of retired people and younger people who work in San Diego but want to experience rural living – are able to experience the best of both worlds, the stark realities of modern life do punctuate the overall quiet and serene quality of this hamlet.

This was apparent at the Sept. 7th meeting of the Boulevard Planning Group, where the dominant topic was the main threat to the area’s rural atmosphere – the development of alternative energy projects, including the revival of two former Soitec Solar projects now moving forward under new ownership.

By Paul Kruze   

September 22, 2017 (El Cajon) -- The El Cajon City Council faced some new concerns at its Tuesday, Sept. 12 meeting when attention was directed to Solterra, an apartment project built by a partnership of both Affirmed Housing and the City of El Cajon some five years ago. The complex, located at 131-155 Chambers Street near W. Main Street, is a 49-unit, senior affordable community offering one-and-two bedroom apartments to seniors ages 55 and up who earn 30-60% of area media income (AMI).

East County News Service

September 21, 2017 (Borrego Springs) - The 52nd Annual Borrego Days Desert Festival returns to showcase qualities that make Borrego Springs so unique as both a weekend getaway and a world all its own with beautiful weather, incredible star gazing, resorts, and the free Borrego Days Festival which kicks off Saturday, October 21 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and continues through Sunday, October 22, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

By Duncan McFetridge, Director, Cleveland National Forest Foundation

September 21, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) - Cleveland National Forest Foundation’s lawsuit against the county’s attempt to subdivide the Hoskings ranch near Julian brings out three extremely important points:   

Source:  City of El Cajon

September 20, 2017 (El Cajon) -- The City of El Cajon has been working closely with the County of San Diego and other partners since the announcement of the recent Hepatitis A outbreak.  The City is taking an aggressive and proactive role in protecting the safety of the City’s residents and visitors. 

Like our sports coverage?  Donate to help support ECM’s sports section!  Type in “Sports” as your donation!

Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and stories!

Does your son or daughter play a sport at a level other than varsity?  Comment on this story or tweet @ECMagSports to request coverage!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

September 20, 2017 (Spring Valley) - It was a showdown between two Spring Valley schools in the pool as 7-2 Steele Canyon boys water polo traveled to the other side of Spring Valley to take on the Monarchs, who are 1-2 to start the young season, but 0-1 in conference play, losing to West Hills in August.

East County News Service

September 20, 2017 (Rancho San Diego)--The 2017 edition of the Fall Concert Series at Cuyamaca College will include a trio of world-class musicians from as far away as New York who will perform the first in an ongoing calendar of classic concerts underwritten by a well-known patron of the arts.