By Robert Gehr

October 3, 2017 (El Cajon) – This beautiful sculpture, with its gracefully flowing curves, sits unassumingly yet boldly in front of the San Diego County courthouse entry area in El Cajon at 250 East Main street.

Created from stainless steel with a highly polished, reflecting surface, one can certainly be mesmerized by looking skyward as it towers 31 feet above the viewer.

Residents in La Mesa, Mount Helix, and other local neighborhoods complain of swarms biting during daylight hours

By Miriam Raftery

October 2, 2017 (Mt. Helix) – After numerous residents on the Mt. Helix Next Door forum complained of swarms of small, aggressive mosquitoes biting during daylight hours and often, indoors, East County Magazine contacted County Vector Control. We learned that the invasive Aedes mosquitoes have been found in 273 traps at 23 different locations between January 1^st and September 21^st this year.  View map.

By Miriam Raftery

September 25, 2017 (El Cajon) – The world’s largest live entertainment producer may soon be managing the East County Performing Arts Center—which could be open for shows starting in late 2018 or early 2019. 

East County News Service

September 26, 2017 (El Cajon) — A senior woman suffered extensive burns on her back and smoke inhalation from a fire Monday morning in a condominium in the 1000 block of Teatro Circle in El Cajon.

The blaze damaged two condo units.  Neighbors and police officers helped the injured woman out of the residence while firefighters were en route, Patch.com reports.

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 Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

September 22, 2017 (El Cajon) - “Yes, we had a boxing glove shaped pool,” said Billy Moore, son of legendary boxer Archie Moore said during a 1M Punches from the Heart event in El Cajon over the weekend.  Archie, who died in in 1998 in San Diego and resided here with his family for parts of his life, was the longest reigning World Light Heavyweight Champion of all time from 1952-1962, He also trained Muhammad Ali, James Tillis, and George Forman.

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. 

By Miriam Raftery

“His behavior is extraordinarily irresponsible. A public official should not be in the business of threatening groundless litigation over acts that are things that reporters do every day.”  -- David Snyder, executive director, First Amendment Coalition

September 19, 2017 (San Diego) – El Cajon Councilman Ben Kalasho sent emails to San Diego Union-Tribune reporter Jeff McDonald repeatedly calling the award-winning journalist a “troll” and threatening legal action after McDonald asked tough questions about Kalasho’s business dealings and apparent conflicts of interests.

By Miriam Raftery

September 18, 2017 (El Cajon) – A Hyundai driver traveling 40 miles an hour rear-ended a Toyota Camry stopped ahead of her as she exited southbound State Route 125 at Grossmont College Drive at 9:10 this morning. The impact pushed the Toyota across SR-125, directly into the path of a Chevy Impala traveling 65 miles an hour.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: San Miguel Fire Department

Update  6 p.m. -- FAA records indicate the plane was registered to Brian T. Fink of Ramona. His Linked In site indicates he is an engineer with Qualcomm. Epoch Times reports the plane was heading from GIllespie Field to Warner Springs when an engine failed, according to FAA spokesman Allen Kenitzer.

September 18, 2017 (El Cajon) – A pilot and his passenger escaped without serious injury after the Piper single-engine plane in which they were traveling crashed onto Second Street at El Rey in front of a church in El Cajon yesterday afternoon.

By Valerie Watts

By Miriam Raftery

September 10, 2017 (El Cajon) – You’re invited to bring the family and stroll through downtown El Cajon’s “art alley” on Rea Street at the 2017 Alley Cat Art Walk on Friday, September 15 from 5 to 10 p.m.

Enjoy over 20 outdoor art and craft vendor booths three live music stages, plus select galleries and businesses serving up complimentary hors d’oeuvres and more. Sophie’s Gallery, for instance, will have beer tasting in addition to foods and art demonstrations.  There will also be food trucks on hand.

By Miriam Raftery

September 5, 2017 (El Cajon) – Following a County declaration of a Hepatitis A emergency last Friday, with 70% of those cases among homeless people and/or illicit drug users, East County Magazine asked for information on El Cajon, which has a substantial homeless population.  Today, Councilman Gary Kendrick confirmed, “The County has identified that some of these cases have been within the city of El Cajon.”

East County News Service

September 4, 2017 (El Cajon) -- Hispanic Heritage Month at the two East County colleges is celebrated from mid-September to Nov. 1 with free events that are open to the public.

Documentary on education apartheid in Iran against Baha’I minority to premiere at Harlem International Film Festival

East County News Service

August 30, 2017 (El Cajon) -- Changing the World, One Wall at a Time, is a documentary feature film on Education Is Not a Crime – the world’s largest street art and human rights campaign, which raises awareness about education apartheid by Iran’s government against tens of thousands of Baha’is in the country.