By Gail Sparhawk

Photo:  members and guests enjoying lunch together 

March 8, 2019 (El Cajon) -- “This place brings me peace and comfort,” says Nicholas, speaking about the East Corner Clubhouse operated by Community Research Foundation (CRF) at 1060 Estes Street in El Cajon.

Source:  St. Madeleine Sophie's Center

March 5, 2019 (El Cajon) - St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC), a nonprofit organization that serves individuals with developmental disabilities, will hold its 18^th Morning Glory Brunch on Saturday, April 27, 2019 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The brunch will be hosted at SMSC’s Garden and Aquatics Center, located at 2119 E. Madison Ave, El Cajon, CA 92019.

Photo: Creative commons image via S.A.

March 2, 2019 (El Cajon) -- The City of El Cajon Teen Coalition is now accepting applications for the “Youth of the Year” Award, recognizing outstanding youth who go above and beyond serving their community!  This annual award is given to one middle school and one high school student, honoring them for their leadership abilities and/or their quality or level of community service. Final awards will be based on dedication and commitment beyond what may be required by the school and its effect on the community.

By Miriam Raftery

March 1, 2019 (El Cajon) – El Cajon is considering an amendment to sign standards regulating the height and size of freestanding signs downtown. In addition, the city is considering exempting municipal projects and uses from the zoning code and entitlement process.

The Planning Commission will hold public hearings  on each of these proposals on Tuesday March 19 at 7 p.m.  The City Council will also hold public hearings on Tuesday, March 26 at 3 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at 200 Civic Center Way, El Cajon.

You can provide your input on the Foundation’s survey on El Cajon Recreational Access Plan at www.sandiegoriver.org/survey.html (available in English, Spanish and Arabic)

By Jonathan Goetz

February 27, 2019 (El Cajon) -- The San Diego River Park Foundation held an open house yesterday on proposed parks along Forester Creek and other locations in EL Cajon. The event at the Ronald Reagan Community Center drew nearly 200 people, with multiple stations staffed by the Foundation's volunteers, staff and California Polytechnic State University graduate consultants.

East County News Service

February 25, 2019 (El Cajon) – The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce swore in its 30-member board of directors and presented awards at its recent 107th Annual Dinner, held Feb. 23 at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel in El Cajon. More than 200 people attended the “East County Honors” event.

The San Diego River Park Foundation is seeking feedback about future improvement on Forester Creek

Source: San Diego River Park Foundation

February 20, 2019 (El Cajon) -- Ever heard of Forester Creek?  For many in El Cajon, the answer is no!  But Forester Creek, which feeds into the San Diego River, was once a major natural feature of El Cajon.  Today, much of it is channelized, lined with concrete, and hidden.  Community input is needed to help plan for future improvements and connections to the Creek. The public is invited to a community parks workshop on Tuesday, Feb. 26 from 4 to 7 p.m at the Ronald Reagan Community Center (195 E. Douglas St.) in El Cajon.

Local nonprofit The San Diego River Park Foundation believes the Creek has potential to provide opportunities for recreation, nature, and environmental education in El Cajon.  The organization has partnered with the City of El Cajon and received a $320,000 grant from the State of California to complete planning to develop a Recreation Access Plan for Forester Creek, as part of a larger effort to improve the health of Forester Creek.  They have hired Cal Poly Pomona’s Studio 606 Landscape Architecture program to facilitate the planning.

Source:  Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District

February 18, 2019 (El Cajon) - The 10-year era of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District with Chancellor Cindy L. Miles at the helm will soon draw to a close.

 With what she described as “mixed feelings,” Miles announced today that she will be retiring at the end of the year. Her retirement contract, set to go before the Governing Board Feb. 19, calls for Miles to remain until the end of the year to allow time for a successor to be selected.

Action comes on heels of countywide firearms trafficking investigation

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

Photo: Capt. Marco Garmo,10 News

February 14, 2019 (Rancho San Diego) -- Capt. Marco Garmo, who most recently headed up the Rancho San Diego substation of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department has been placed on an administrative leave until further notice, according to ECM news partner 10News.

On the same day that the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted raids throughout San Diego County, including the large sprawling Jamul estate of San Diego jeweler Leo Hamel due to a firearms trafficking investigation, Garmo was put on leave. The Rancho San Diego substation covers the same area of Hamel’s property.

Sheriff Gore, in a e-mail obtained by 10News yesterday, states that he was made aware of potential criminal conduct by Garmo by a senior member of the Sheriff’s Department, and implies that the removal of Garmo is linked to the broader federal investigation involving Hamel’s properties.

Mayor promises more community forums; mandates City Council members to reach out to constituents with similar community forums

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

Audio: tinyurl.com/ECM-012019BillWellsTownHall

February 12, 2019 (El Cajon) - El Cajon Mayor Bill Well faced a mostly friendly crowd of some 250 people at a community town hall meeting on January 20th in the Sports Plex facility at Cajon Valley High School. While the Mayor touched on various topics during the two-hour meeting, El Cajon’s chronic homeless problem and crimes perpetrated by homeless individuals took center stage.

Source: Cuyamaca College

February 10, 2019 (Rancho San Diego) -- A wide assortment of musicians ranging from a San Diego mariachi band that has played at the Super Bowl to one of the most in-demand French hornists in the country will be performing in this year’s Spring Concert Series at Cuyamaca College beginning Feb. 28.

All performances, except the Coyote Music Festival, will be held at the Samuel M. Ciccati Theatre in the Samuel M. Ciccati Performing Arts Center. The annual Coyote Music Festival will be held at Cuyamaca College’s Grand Lawn.

On tap for the Spring Concert Series: