El Cajon

FINAL COUNTDOWN TO FALL AT GROSSMONT, CUYAMACA COLLEGES: CLASSES START AUG. 22

Source: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District

August 18, 2022 (El Cajon) -- If you haven’t registered for fall classes at Grossmont or Cuyamaca colleges – there’s still time! Both colleges will welcome back students on campus beginning Monday, August 22.For help registering for classes, students are invited to:

Grossmont College: In-person Class Assistance events August 22-23 12 – 6 p.m., August 24-25 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and August 26 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Student Services Building computer lab; A Student Fair in the Main Quad on August 24 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., with a College Hour 12 – 1 p.m.; or the Virtual Help Center (https://www.grossmont.edu/help-center).

Cuyamaca College: Online Find Your Pack events, where students can meet faculty and staff to hear about programs and services, August 16-17 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.; Online Student Help Center (https://www.cuyamaca.edu/help-center) or How to Register for Classes webpage (https://www.cuyamaca.edu/admissions/how-to-register-for-classes);

Financial aid information is also available online through the Grossmont College Financial Aid Office (https://www.grossmont.edu/financial-aid) and the Cuyamaca College Financial Aid Office (https://www.cuyamaca.edu/financial-aid/index.php). If you are a first-time college student planning to attend full time, you may be eligible for free tuition through the Grossmont-Cuyamaca College Promise program (https://www.gcccd.edu/promise/index.php)

Both colleges are offering a variety of compelling courses and programs this fall:


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EL CAJON CITY COUNCIL APPROVES BALLOT INITIATIVE TO RAISE SALES TAX

By Christianne McCormick

August 12, 2022 (El Cajon) -- A new increased sales tax initiative was proposed during Tuesday night’s El Cajon city council meeting. If approved by voters on November 8, this measure would repeal proposition J, the half-cent sales tax enacted in 2008 to fund basic services, and replace it with a new one percent tax, or one cent per dollar.

The proposal passed unanimoulsly. Mayor Bill Wells joined with Councilmembers Gary Kendrick, Steve Goble, Phil Ortiz and Michelle Metschel to vote in favor of putting this initiative on the coming ballot.  


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CANDIDATE FILING PERIOD FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS CLOSES ON AUGUST 12

By Elijah McKee

 

Photo:  former Councilmember Kristine Alessio will challenge La Mesa Mayor Mark Arapostathis.

 

Updated August 15 with additional candidates qualified

 

August 10, 2022 (San Diego's East County) — Each city in East County will have elected seats up for grabs in the approaching November election — but the deadline to file for candidacy ends this week on August 12.

 

Along with each city’s elected positions, filing periods for school, fire and water districts will close too, as well as community planning groups. 

 

Incumbents can be granted a five-day extension for filing their nomination, but time is almost up for challengers and political newcomers. Those interested in running for an office can refer to the appropriate city or board clerk for nomination paperwork.

 

Local councils and staff members have a wide scope of impact on ground-level development and policy changes that matter to residents, as they are tasked with designing priorities and implementing budgets. City council terms are typically four years, while staff positions may be longer.

 

ECM asked East County's four cities for information on who has filed to run so far. Below are the responses.


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SUPERVISOR ANDERSON LAUNCHES COUNTY’S FIRST SAFE PARKING AREA FOR HOMELESS

By Shiloh Ireland

August 10, 2022 (El Cajon) – County officials today launched the county’s first “safe parking” lot at the site of a former homeless encampment as 1297 North Magnolia Avenue in unincorporated El Cajon.


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FIRST SAFE PARKING LOT FOR HOMELESS IN EAST COUNTY IS SET TO OPEN

East County News Service

August 5, 2022 (San Diego) – On August 10, East County’s first safe parking site for people living in their vehicles will be open beneath a freeway overpass on Magnolia in unincorporated El Cajon. The county-run safe parking area will be on the same site where homeless people have camped out for years.


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FORMER GRANITE HILLS HIGH TEACHER, ALSO A COACH, ARRESTED FOR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT

By Miriam Raftery

August 3, 2022 (El Cajon) – Today, the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) announced that El Cajon Police have arrested a former district employee on felony and misdemeanor charges, following an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations.


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SUSPECT ARRESTED AFTER STABBING MAN ON TROLLEY IN EL CAJON

East County News Service

August 3, 2022 (El Cajon) – Joshua Lee Martinez, 32, of El Cajon has been arrested after allegedly stabbing a man in the head aboard a trolley near the Marshall Avenue station in El Cajon.


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EAST COUNTY CHAMBER HOSTS “DINE & DIALOGUE” WITH REP. ISSA AUGUST 11

East County News Service

August 3, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – The San Diego Regional East County Chamber of Commerce will host “Dine & Dialogue” with Congressman Darrell Issa on Thursday, August 11 from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.  The event will be held at the Chamber’s office at 201 S. Magnolia Ave., El Cajon.

Cost is $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers before Aug. 11, $20 at the door.


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COMIC-CON FEATURED GUEST ARTIST – KEITHAN JONES

Story by Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

(Photo at left of Keithan Jones by Rebecca Jefferis Williamson) 

August 2, 2022 (San Diego) -- Keithan Jones, a resident of El Cajon, was celebrated at San Diego International Comic-Con as a featured special guest artist.

He displayed his work, a comic book series titled “Power Knights,” at a booth in Artist Alley in the San Diego Convention Center. Additionally, he appeared on several panels, did multiple interviews, and greeted fans, attendees, and friends during the run of Comic-Con 2022.

How did he get to that celebrated spot? Talent and recognition by an elementary school teacher.


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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: STORM CLOUDS OVER EAST COUNTY

East County News Service

July 31, 2022 (El Cajon) – Robert Gehr snapped this dramatic sky image on July 31 from El Cajon, as thunderstorms swept into East County’s mountain areas.


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DRIVER ARRESTED FOR FATAL HIT-AND-RUN IN EL CAJON

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: CC via Bing

July 28, 2022 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police have arrested a 22-year-old man who reportedly fled the scene after his vehicle struck and fatally injured a 20-year-old woman. Found with a signal light still hanging off his vehicle, the driver was found to be on a narcotic and faces multiple charges.


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EL CAJON POLICE SEEKS HELP TO FIND OWNERS OF JEWELRY STOLEN BY CAREGIVER

East County News Service 

July 26, 2022 (El Cajon) -- Do you recognize any of these jewelry pieces? El Cajon Police

detectives are working a burglary series associated with elder abuse. Victims who were being cared for by a caregiver had personal items stolen, ECPD reports on its Facebook page


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SUSPECT TRIES TO DISCARD FENTANYL, EXPOSES EL CAJON POLICE OFFICERS

East County News Service 

July 26, 2022 (El Cajon) – Two El Cajon Police officers suffered fentanyl exposure and had to undergo a decontamination procedure today.


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SDG&E AND CAJON VALLEY UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT FLIP THE SWITCH ON REGION’S FIRST VEHICLE-TO-GRID PROJECT FEATURING LOCAL ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSES CAPABLE OF SENDING POWER TO THE GRID

First live demonstration of bi-directional charging since launch of the federal cross-sector collaboration initiative to rapidly commercialize technology

Source: SDG&E

July 26, 2022 (San Diego) - Today, San Diego Gas & Electric announced that it has successfully deployed an innovative technology that enables eight electric school buses to put electricity back on the grid when needed such as on hot summer days. A collaborative effort between SDG&E, the Cajon Valley Union School District and locally based technology company Nuvve, this is the first vehicle-to-grid (V2G) project to become operational in Southern California, helping to advance clean air and climate goals while also bolstering grid reliability. 


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MAN DIES AFTER COLLISION IN EL CAJON

East County News Service

July 23, 2022 (El Cajon) – The driver of a black 2012 Toyota Prius has died after the vehicle struck a parked SUV.  The man, 38, was transported by paramedics to Scripps Mercy Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.


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CHRISTMAS IN JULY VENDOR MARKET JULY 23-24 AT PARKWAY PLAZA

East County News Service

July 17, 2022 (El Cajon) -- Parkway Plaza regional shopping mall in El Cajon will be hosting a Christmas in July Vendor Market on July 23 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on July 24 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. You’re invited to come show your support for local businesses and spread some early Christmas cheer.


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MAYOR BILL WELLS AND FRIENDS CONCERT AUGUST 6 TO HELP HOMELESS PEOPLE

By Miriam Raftery

July 16, 2022 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells and his 7-piece band will perform a concert at the Magnolia performing arts center on Saturday, August 6 to benefit the East County Transitional Living Center. The Center provides shelter and services to help homeless families and individuals transition off the streets.


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EL CAJON IS FIRST CALIFORNIA CITY TO PILOT NURSE NAVIGATOR PROGRAM FOR 911 CALLS WITH ACCESS2CARE CALL CENTER

By Elijah McKee

Photo: CC via Bing

July 15, 2022 (El Cajon) — It is no secret that 9-1-1 medical calls are sometimes not placed for life-threatening emergencies — yet for lack of any other system, those moments are often forced to be treated with urgent responses, such as ambulance rides to emergency rooms. 


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WOMAN KILLED, CHILDREN INJURED IN ALPINE CRASH

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by:  Adriana Martinez 

July 15, 2022 (Alpine) – A Lakeside woman, 35, died at the scene of a collision this morning on Interstate 8-west in Alpine. Two children, ages 3 and 9, in her vehicle sustained moderate injuries, says Officer Travis Garrow with the California Highway Patrol.


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GROSSMONT COLLEGE SAFE AFTER BOMB THREAT

Source:  Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District

July 14, 2022 (El Cajon) - The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and campus security officials have determined that Grossmont Campus is safe, following a bomb threat phoned into the Sheriff’s Department at about 11:30 a.m. today. 


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NIGHT CLOSURES ON EASTBOUND I-8 AT SR-67 MONDAY AND TUESDAY

Motorists advised to allow additional travel time for lane closures and detours

East County News Service

July 9, 2022 (San Diego’s East County)  — Construction crews will reduce lanes on Interstate 8 (I-8) at State Route 67 (SR-67)/Magnolia Avenue Monday and Tuesday from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. for ongoing electrical work, according to Caltrans. At least one lane will remain open for traffic. The work is part of the I-8/SR-67 Bridge Repair Project.


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AWP PROCEEDS WITH EFFORT TO TAKE SAN DIEGO’S PUMP STATION

By Mike Allen

July 9, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) -- The agency managing the East County Advanced Water Purification (AWP) program took another step toward legally confiscating a sewage pumping station that now belongs to the city of San Diego.


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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: HALF MOON

East County News Service

July 3, 2022 (El Cajon) - Robert Gehr took this photo of the half moon in the early morning eastern sky over El Cajon this week, exposing the many craters from interstellar objects impacting its surface over eons of time.


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POWER OUTAGES LEAVE EAST COUNTY RESIDENTS IN THE DARK

East County News Service

June 29, 2022 (San Diego's East County) -- SDG&E estimates that power will be out until midnight for 190 customers who lost power at 9:21 p.m. The areas without power are in Casa De Oro/ Rancho San Diego/ Jamacha/ W Jamul/ Indian Springs/ La Presa/ Spring Valley/ Rancho San Diego/ El Cajon/ Granite Hills/ Singing Hills/Mt. Helix.


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EL CAJON SEEKS INPUT ON WEST MAIN STREET ENTRANCE DESIGN

East County News Service

June 26, 2022 (El Cajon) - The City of El Cajon is preparing a Caltrans application to beautify West Main Street at the entrance to downtown El Cajon and welcomes your input.


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WIN A WIEGHORST! BID ONLNE NOW FOR SIGNED, LIMITED-EDITION PRINTS TO BENEFIT EAST COUNTY MAGAZINE AND EAST COUNTY ART ASSOCIATION

By Miriam Raftery

June 18, 2022 (El Cajon) – Bidding is now open online for a special auction of two signed, limited edition, framed and matted prints by Olaf Wieghorst, an internationally recognized artist considered one of the top painters of Western art.  Some of his works sold for over a million dollars during his lifetime.  Proceeds will benefit both the East County Art Association and East County Magazine. Now you can own one of Wieghorst’s  exceptional works, Spring Rain and Beef Herd. View video for a close-up look at these impressive artworks:  https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7V496dpqHSw.

About the auction:

The auction opens online (see below to bid),  and will close on Saturday, June 25  at 3 p.m. during the ECAA’s upcoming event, “Ocean Love” at the Courtyard Marriott in El Cajon. View event flyer. If you wish to view the works in person, you can visit the ECAA gallery at 124 East Main St. in downtown El Cajon, Wed.-Sat. from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  60 percent of proceeds will benefit the East County Arts Association and 40% will benefit East County Media, the nonprofit that supports East County Magazine.

How to bid:

Send your name, mailing address, phone number, and email along with your bid amount to editor@eastcountymagazine.org and the words "AUCTION BID" in the subject line, along with which art piece you wish to bid on, and the amount of your bid.  You will receive a bid number and confirmation your bid was received. Bid numbers and amounts will be posted online at the bottom of this page and updated regularly. (No personal information will be posted.) The online auction bids will be accepted until June 25 at 11 a.m., after which the auction will continue at the event from1-3 p.m.


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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: COLORFUL CLOUDS

East County News Service

June 22, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – They may look like impressionist paintings, but they’re clouds over East County taken by Robert Gehr in El Cajon today.  The colorful palette and orange glow enhance formations from a tropical storm, says Gehr.

 


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GRANITE HILLS TEACHER ACCUSED OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT

By Miriam Raftery

June 15, 2022 (El Cajon) - The Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) and El Cajon Police have launched investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct by a Granite Hills High School teacher.


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FLETCHER ADDRESSES HOMELESSNESS, HELPING TRAUMATIZED YOUTHS, AND MORE IN Q&A SESSION WITH EAST COUNTY CHAMBER MEMBERS

By Miriam Raftery

June 8, 2022 (El Cajon) -- Nathan Fletcher, Chairman of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, fielded questions from East County Chamber of Commerce members during a “Dine and Dialogue” event June 2 at the Chamber’s El Cajon conference room.  Due to redistricting, Fletcher now represents parts of East County including La Mesa, Rancho San Diego and Spring Valley, so for many of his new constituents, this was their first opportunity to meet their new Supervisor.


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EASTBOUND I-8 CLOSURES AT SR-67 JUNE 6 TO 8

Motorists advised to allow additional travel time for lane closures and detours

Source:  Caltrans

June 3, 2022 (El Cajon) - Construction crews will reduce lanes on Interstate 8 (I-8) at State Route 67 (SR-67)/Magnolia Avenue Monday through Wednesday from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. for ongoing electrical work, according to Caltrans. At least one lane will remain open for traffic. The work is part of the I-8/SR-67 Bridge Repair Project.


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