By Liz Alper

October 2, 2015 (EL CAJON) - An El Cajon man who murdered his girlfriend has been sentenced to 35 years to life in prison, KUSI reports.

By Robert Gehr © 2015

September 28, 2015 (El Cajon)--You’re invited to reserve Friday night, Oct. 23 from 5 to 10 p.m. to attend the 4^th annual HauntFest on Main event that has become very popular with folks in East County celebrating Halloween.

This is a fun-filled family affair with plenty to do including a pumpkin patch for ‘picking’ that perfect orange decoration, two candy trails this year, an expanded carnival ride area, an LED rock climbing wall, face painting, food and drink, the famous TNT dancers, a KIDZ zone, outdoor movies on a 26- foot screen, arts and crafts booths, game booths, costume contests, live music on 2 stages, inflatables and more.

East County News Service

September 27, 2015 (El Cajon) – A man suspected of breaking into a car in the Chase/Avocado area of El Cajon has been arrested, according to a  post left by the vehicle owner on the Mt. Helix Next Door neighborhood forum. 

According to the car owner, it didn’t take too much sleuthing to track down the alleged perpetrator.  “Good thing he had the bad luck of leaving his wallet in our vehicle,” she wrote, adding that the suspect had prior arrests and had just been released from jail two days before his arrest on September 14.

“What if the next touch and go crash takes out a school in session?" – a resident’s letter to Supervisor Dianne Jacob

East County News Service

September 21, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) --After a plane crashed into a Santee home on September 3rd, killing the pilot and a flight student near Gillespie Field, Advocates for Safe Airport Policies or “ASAP” is calling for action to protect community members. ASAP has made many complaints to officials before this crash, which is the latest in a string of crashes and serious mishaps involving planes at Gillespie. But recently residents have warned of frequent and low flights over homes due to an increase in flight school training of students at Gillespie Field.  

Now ASAP is holding a meeting for concerned airport neighbors. The event will be held September 30^th at a private home in Fletcher Hills.  To RSVP and get the addresss contact suestrom1@cox.net.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

September 20, 2015 (El Cajon) – A 7-year-old girl has died after being struck by a Ford Ranger pickup truck in the parking lot of an apartment complex where she lived at 589 North Johnson Street in El Cajon.  A makeshift memorial for the victim, identified as Riley Jackson by neighbors, has been set up, 10 News reports.

El Cajon Police officers and Heartland Fire paramedics responded to the scene at 7:11 p.m. last night. According to the Medical Examiner’s office, the girl and another child were playing in the parking lot when the victim ran out from behind a dumpster into the path of the Ford Ranger.

The driver, Bradley Brown, a 20-year-old from National City, called 911 and remained at the scene. He has been fully cooperative with the investigation, said  Lieutenant Soulard with the El Cajon Police, adding that neither alcohol nor speed were factors.

East County News Service

September 12, 2015 (El Cajon) -- The city of El Cajon is home to more than 40,000 Chaldeans, one of the largest Chaldean enclaves in the United States.  Chaldeans are an integral part of the local business community as well as the community at large, and would like to invite neighbors to sample the culture at the upcoming 5^th Annual Chaldean American Festival on September 19 and 20. The City of El Cajon has proclaimed September Chaldean American Month, and invites the whole community to attend the Chaldean American Festival. The family event will feature authentic homemade Chaldean faire, traditional music and dancing, games for children, as well as local vendors for all to enjoy.

September 12, 2015 (El Cajon) – The Sheriff’s department is investigating the stabbing death of a 26-year-od man at a motorcycle club in the 100 block of Sierra Vista Drive in the Crest area of unincorporated  El Cajon.

San Diego Military Veterans Volunteer at Garden As Part of National Service Project

September 12, 2015 (El Cajon)--The Water Conservation Garden proudly hosted more than a dozen military veterans from The Mission Continues as part of a national veterans service day on September 11. The volunteers planted trees in one of The Garden’s newest exhibits, the Native Habitat Garden.

By Miriam Raftery

September 10, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Grossmont High School’s principal sent a letter to all parents yesterday warning of a apparent attempt to kidnap a female student on Tuesday, September 8th. 

According to Principal Daniel Barnes, the teen girl was waiting for a ride at 3:30 p.m. near the baseball field on Milden Avenue when she was approached by a man, who beckoned to her with a cigarette and told her to “get in” his vehicle. She refused and the man drove off on Water Street.

The victim described the suspect as a Hispanic man about 30 to 40 years old with brown hair, brown eyes, dark complexion, round face and large mole on his right cheek.  He was driving  a maroon single cab pickup truck, possibly a Ford F-150, older model with chipped paint.

From Dancing in the Park to Oktoberfest and Hauntfest, there’s a lot of hot happenings in El Cajon in September and October.

By Monica Zech, Public Information Officer for the City of El Cajon

EVENTS

September 7 – Labor Day - All City offices will be closed in observance.  

Nominations Now Being Accepted To Honor Women In Leadership

September 5, 2015 (El Cajon) - The East County Chamber of Commerce Annual Women in Leadership Luncheon will observe its 13^th anniversary at Mission Valley’s Town and Country Resort Hotel on Friday, October 16, 2014, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  The luncheon honors San Diego County women, recognized by their peers as exemplary leaders. Women will be honored in seven fields: Arts/Media/Culture; Business; Education/Academia; Hospitality; Government/Defense; Healthcare, and the Non-profit Sector. Nominees must be San Diego County residents and have demonstrated exemplary character, integrity and outstanding leadership, not only in their field, but in their community. This year, the keynote speaker is Mo Anderson, Co-Owner/Vice Chairman, Keller Williams Realty and author of A Joy-Filled Life – Lessons from a Tenant Farmer’s Daughter…WHO BECAME A CEO.  The cost is $70 per person.  The Town & Country Hotel is located at 500 Hotel Circle North.

August 31, 2015 (El Cajon)--Don your Hawaiian shirt, sarong or other festive attire and join us this Saturday, September 5 from 4 to 7 p.m. at East County Magazine's Tropical Party as we celebrate summer's end and watch the sunset atop the roof of our studio building in El Cajon (1625 East Main St., just off the Greenfield exit from I-8)   Savor the flavors of the tropics:

 Tropical feast  including coconut curry &  tropical chicken from Pick Up Stix, Pina Berry Colada & Champagne Mango Cakes from Grove Pastry Shop, island-fresh pineapple from Baron’s Market.

Pacific Islanders Beer and Wine-tasting with San Pasqual Winery (award-winning wines including passionfruit!)

Live entertainment:  Reggae music by Ed Barrena & musical theater by Visionary Dance Theatre. 

Prize drawings & silent auction: Padres tickets, Italian dinner lover's basket, wine lover's basket with premium vintages, "Hairspray" musical theater tickets, pottery by Get Centered Clay, Kwai Sun studio passes (yoga, pilates, karate, fitness and more), dance lessons, beach-goers basket, Water Conservation Garden memberships, Santee Lakes fishing and pedal boat passes, Urban Jungle passes, Hawaiian wear, hand-crafted treasure chest, & more!   SPACE LIMITED: EARLY RSVP STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.

East County News Service

August 31, 2015 (El Cajon)—The East County Rose Society invites rose aficionados to a meeting on Sunday, September 6 at 2 p.m. at Kniffings Nursery (14940 Oak Creek Road in El Cajon).

Hear our radio interview, originally aired on the East County Magazine Show on KNSJ:

https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

Story by Miriam Raftery, photo by Leon Thompson

August 28, 2015 (El Cajon) – Miguel Angel Soria and Peter Alkatib at Diego Valley Charter School in El Cajon are working wonders, helping 80% of their students—all at risk and drop-out youth—graduate with a high school diploma and go on to college or a career pathway. They are also co-producers of the Chaldean Voices documentary film debuting soon on KPBS and in El Cajon to celebrate Chaldean-American month.

About 30%  to 40% of the student body are Iraqi Chaldeans and most of the rest belong to other minority populations.  The school offers flexible scheduling to accommodate students who must work or raise children, also providing tutoring and other help to assure their students achieve their dreams.

East County News Service

Photo: El Cajon Police

August 25, 2015 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police officers have collared an unusual “suspect” spotting rambling through backyards along Helix View Drive. Though a caller reporting a “possible alligator,” the roving reptile turned out to be a large iguana native to the tropics but commonly kept as pets.