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:

Source: St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center

February 5, 2019 (San Diego) -- St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC) of El Cajon partnered with The Marine Room to host the annual Tea by the Sea celebration on Saturday, January 19, 2019. The event hosted 210 guests and raised more than $19,000 to fund SMSC’s art program, where students can explore their creativity through a variety of artistic mediums at Sophie’s Gallery.

East County News Service

February 1, 2019 (El Cajon) – Cajon Valley Union School District invites parents to attend one or more of six school safety meetings where the district will share results of safety audits and recommendations. Participants will also engage with leaders from the El Cajon Police and Sheriff departments on immediate and long-term steps to maximize security and safety on campuses of students, teachers and staff.  

To attend, please RSVP to email@blackboard.com and complete this survey.  The meeting dates and locations are: 

Story by Liz Alper

Photos by Don De Mars

January 29, 2019 (El Cajon) - We’re back at the home of the Braves this week, but this time for a boys’ game.  The Braves are struggling a little bit at 9-12 overall (2-4 in league) coming into tonight’s game against the school a couple of blocks away from them, Granite Hills.  The Eagles aren’t doing so great either; they sported a .500 record in league play coming into tonight (3-3) but overall, were at 8-13.

Source:  East County Transitional Living Center

January 24, 2019 (El Cajon) - Are you, or someone you know, an essential employee or furloughed federal employee or contractor?

Source: Monica Zech, City of El Cajon

January 16, 2019 (El Cajon) -- Will you know what to do in the case of a wildfire, a home fire, or earthquake?  The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness and the hazards that may impact the area they live. Applications are now being accepted.