Local business owners celebrate refugees’ positive economic contributions: over 64,000 foreign-born residents add $1.4 billion in business income to San Diego County

Source: Business For Good

June 20, 2018 (El Cajon) – On June 20, small business owners will gather at an immigrant-owned restaurant to honor the positive economic impact of immigrants and refugees on the San Diego economy. The event will take place on World Refugee Day, observed annually to honor the courage, strength and determination of people who are forced to flee their homeland under threat of persecution, conflict and violence.

The event will begin at 5 p.m. at Suri Restaurant, 461 El Cajon Blvd, El Cajon, CA 92020. If you’d like to attend, check out the event link.

Business for Good San Diego, a local nonprofit that unites small business owners to drive policy that improves the community, works to support policies that recognize the importance of immigrants to our local economy. Staying true to this perspective, Business for Good partnered with International Rescue Committee San Diego to bring this summer mixer to Suri Restaurant, a Syrian restaurant in El Cajon.

Click here to listen to our interview on Passport Through Time with Eric Lund, president of the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce, recorded in May and originally aired on KNSJ radio.

By Miriam Raftery

June 12, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce invites you to join in the Passport Through Time fun ride on Saturday, June 23 along Historic Highways 67, 78, 79 and 80 in San Diego’s East County.  Cars, motorcycles and other vehicles are welcome to participate.

The ride begins at 8:30 a.m. at Indian Motorcycle in El Cajon.  First stop is the Lakeside Rodeo grounds. Next, you’ll head north into the mountains through Ramona with a stop at the Oasis Camel Dairy, into Julian and a visit to the Julian Mining Company, down to Descanso and the Perkins Market, then on to Dana's Boutique, followed by the beautiful Summers Past Farms in Flinn Springs before ending up at Por Favor for lunch in El Cajon at noon.

Angela Moran recognized among local IT technology leaders

Source:  Cal Coast Credit Union

June 4, 2018 (San Diego) - Angela Moran, Chief Information Officer at California Coast Credit Union, which has several branches in East County, is among 13 leading IT professionals recognized with a 2018 Top Tech Exec Award for “forward-thinking and innovative approaches and programs” involving information technology.

By Miriam Raftery

May 30, 2018 (San Diego) – The FBI has issued a warning of Russian hackers infecting computer routers. The hack is linked to an espionage group loading malware that has already caused major attacks in the Ukraine and has now been found on home and office computer routers in the U.S.

Backcountry hidden pleasures:   Our guide to unique lodging adventures in San Diego’s beautiful backcountry

By Miriam Raftery

May 24, 2018 (Sycuan) – The Sycuan Casino held a topping off ceremony on Tuesday to celebrate placement of the final beam at the 12-story, 300-room hotel and resort slated to open in March 2019.

Sycuan Tribal Chairman Cody Martinez thanked tribal elders and members, the executive team, and Swinerton builders.  “It really is a collaboration,” he said, calling the tribe’s achievement “a family effort--everybody bringing together the vision of what it is going to take to bring Sycuan to the next level.”

The hotel will create 700 new jobs for the community, Chairman Martinez said.

By Miriam Raftery

May 18, 2018 (El Cajon) – Just in time for Cinco de Mayo, Hacienda Casa Blanco opened up its new outdoor patio earlier this month.  The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the occasion, where  Chamber members savored margaritas, festive music and authentic Mexican dishes.

Lawsuit alleges tribal development corporation breached contract in cannabis operation

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

May 16, 2018 (Santa Ysabel) – The Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel has had a troubled history achieving its goal of gaining financial stability and independence for its 300-member tribe near Julian, some 40 miles east of Escondido.  Now, the Santa Ysabel Tribal Development Corporation is in hot water.

East County News Service

May 8, 2018 (Santee) – Champion Gymnastics and Cheer (10580 Prospect Ave., Santee) will host a free open house Saturday, May 19 from 2-5 p.m. to celebrate its anniversary. 

The public is invited for tours of the facility offering lessons in gymnastics, cheer, tumbling, parkour, and dance plus laser tag, birthday parties, summer camp and a CHAMPS meetup group. There will be free use of the gym, a bounce house, foam pit, hotdogs, popcorn and beverages, plus karaoke and prizes.

For more information, call (619) 449-7717 or visit www.cgcchamps.com. If you sign up for a class, you can also get 50% off the first month’s tuition.

Runway Shoes & Accessories features prom season’s hottest fashions

By Reema Makani Boccia

May 4, 2018 (Rancho San Diego) -- With the average cost of prom around $1,000 per attendee, parents and students need ideas for how to have the full milestone experience without digging so deep into their wallets.

Updated April 30, 2018:  The city has rescinded $3,400 in fines and administrative citations on Depot Springs after finding the property in "substantial compliance" April 26, for violations and citations dating from 11/30/17 through 4/11/18.

Also comments from city manager Yvonne Garrett on availability of the existing Farmer's Market site have been added.

By Miriam Raftery

April 29, 2018 (La Mesa) – Numerous merchants in La Mesa’s downtown village are calling for the City Council to reconsider its vote to move the Farmer’s Market to the heart of the village on Friday nights. Some say they were never contacted, while others contend they were deceived  in a survey sent around by the La Mesa Village Association (LMVA) about which night of the week the market would be held, and/or about the inclusion of food trucks. One says that her survey was forged—with even her name misspelled.

 Several long-time merchants are also raising concerns over the financial stability of Aaron Dean, president of the La Mesa Village Merchants Association which is currently set to takeover management of the Farmer’s Market from the City of La Mesa starting the first Friday in May, on a six-month trial basis.

By Mike Allen

Photo:  Liz Chism, Curtis Chism and daughter Olivia (8 months).

April 21, 2018 (Santee) -- The shifting tides of San Diego’s still-expanding craft brewing industry claimed another victim recently when Santee’s Finest Made Ales closed, but another growing brewery quickly took over the spot.

Source: U-Haul

April 6, 2018 (Spring Valley) -- U-Haul Company of California announces that Kenwood Liquor in Spring Valley has signed on as a U-Haul® neighborhood dealer to serve the Spring Valley community. Kenwood Liquor at 9612 Dale Ave. Suite 1 will offer U-Haul trucks, trailers, towing equipment, moving supplies and in-store pick-up for boxes.

East County News Service

April 2, 2018 (La Mesa) – The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce will present Health Fair Saturday, one of the largest annual free health fairs in San Diego’s East County Region, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 7, in the promenade area near the movie theaters at the Grossmont Center mall, 5500 Grossmont Center Drive, La Mesa.

Source: La Mesa Chamber of Commerce

March 25, 2018 (La Mesa) – On Wednesday, May 16th, the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce encourages you to join them and enjoy great food, good conversation and an evening in La Mesa hosted by EDCO.

EDCO is a family-owned and locally operated waste collection and recycling company serving numerous communities in Southern Californian since 1967. EDCO specializes in offering integrated, user-friendly waste removal and recycling programs to serve residential homes, multi-family properties, commercial businesses multi-tenant buildings, industrial centers, construction sites, and community events.

By Miriam Raftery

March 13, 2018 (San Diego) – President Donald Trump has blocked a takeover of Qualcomm by Singapore-based Broadcom, which would have been the biggest technology merger in history.

In a a presidential order, Trump cited “credible evidence” that if Broadcom acquired Qualcomm, the foreign corporation “might take action that threatens to impair the national security of the United States.”