East County News Service

May 5, 2016 (Alpine) - The Alpine-Mountain Empire Chamber’s “Hot Topics” breakfast will be at Mike Place, 1602 Alpine Blvd. on May 10^th at 7:15 a.m.  This month’s breakfast features two speakers: Christine Connell with the Alpine Library Friends Association and Jefferson Baker, the Acting Branch Manager of the Alpine Library. 

East County News Service

Photo: Pixabay, Creative Commons

April 26, 2016 (Washington D.C.) – If you’re a public employee, you can’t be fired or demoted for supporting a political candidate that your boss doesn’t like.  By a 6-2 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision strengthening free speech protections for 22 million public employees nationwide. 

Reprinted with permission from Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

By Chris Jennewein

Photo: The owner of a flower shop. Courtesy UC Riverside

April 24, 2016 (San Diego) - If Republican front-runner Donald Trump succeeds in building his border wall, it may choke off the fastest growing source of new businesses in California.

AB 1978 would establish janitorial workforce protections against sexual harassment

April 23, 2016 (Sacramento) -- A bill by California State Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) to establish janitorial workforce protections against sexual harassment and create a janitorial contractor registration system was approved on a 5-2 vote by the Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment last week.

By Liz Alper

Photo by Miriam Raftery

April  22, 2016 (San Diego) – La Mesa Chamber of Commerce members and guests came bright and early to Marie Callender’s for a breakfast with new La Mesa police chief Walt Vasquez on April 13th.

New “Bridges to Career Opportunities" addresses crippling education gaps

April 12, 2016 – Two local nonprofits have been awarded $300,000 to implement workforce readiness projects to help close the skills gap that traps millions of people in poverty, even in a growing economy.

East County News Service

April 10, 2016 (La Mesa) – On Thursday, April 28, the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce is ready and set to entertain you on a special La Mesa evening. You will meet 46 businesses who have display tables that showcase their goods and services and are offering lots of free door prizes to lucky winners. Other local businesses will also be in attendance to mix and mingle with guests and attendees.

Story and photos by Robert Gehr

April 7, 2016 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon has something new on the horizon. It’s a Courtyard by Marriott luxury style hotel, which is scheduled to be opening soon and will accommodate visitors choosing East County for  our region’s many attractions. The location is 141 N. Magnolia Ave. on the corner of Rea Ave. near the El Cajon Police station.

East County News Service

April 2, 2016 (Alpine) – The Alpine-Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce will host a “Hot Topics” breakfast on April 12 at 7:15 a.m. at Mike Place, 1620 Alpine Blvd. Suite 101.

By Liz Alper

March 24, 2016 (San Diego) - Assemblywoman Shirley Weber is inviting all youths of San Diego County to a job fair on Tuesday, March 29^th from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Club at 6785 Imperial Ave. downtown.

East County News Service

March 21, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – A new billboard campaign rolled out by the Viejas Casino and Resort is drawing objections from some in the community.

Source: La Mesa Chamber of Commerce

Photo: Sliders at The Hills by Leon Thompson

March 18, 2016 (La Mesa) - On Tuesday, April 5, the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce will celebrate the 2-year anniversary of The Hills Local Pub in La Mesa. This celebration and business mixer will be held between the hours of 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. The owners of The Hills Local Pub, located at 8758 La Mesa Boulevard in La Mesa, have created various fund raisers and activities that make this a special and fun-filled location in La Mesa.

The fun begins at 5:30 p.m. and will end at 7:00 p.m. Enjoy great hors d’ oeuvres, including one of their house specialties and (1) complimentary glass of house wine, handcrafted beer and soft drinks.

Hear our interview: https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

March 16, 2016 (San Diego's East County) -- Ben Kalasho, president of the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce, sat down with the East County Magazine Radio Show on KNSJ 89.1 FM to discuss concerns of the Chaldean community in the presidential primary election. In our interview, which originally aired on KNSJ last week, Kalasho speaks about the issues that matter most to the Iraqi Chaldean and Middle Eastern communities from an international and domestic standpoint.

He also discussed the new Mega TV news network that he helped launch, which debuted earlier this month. In addition, he shared his thoughts on the Grossmot Union High School District's redistricting proposal that divides the Chaldean voting block--and what steps he thinks should be done at the state level to assure fairness in elections for Chaldean Americans.

East County News Service

March 9,2016 (Alpine) — The Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce has announced the following upcoming events for the remainder of 2016.  These include monthly Hot Topics breakfasts, mixers, and special events including an “I Love a Clean Alpine” Earth Day celebration April 23, leadership awards, the annual Snow Festival, and more.

Scroll down for the full schedule, or visit www.AlpineChamber.com.  You can also stop by the Chamber office at 1620 Alpine Blvd. Suite 208, in Alpine or call 619-445-2722, or email AlpineChamber@att.net.

By Miriam Raftery

March 7, 2016 (Jamul)—60 guests hoisted glasses last month to toast the grand opening of East County’s newest wine tasting room: Casi Cielo Winery, located at their historical adobe ranch house at Maness Vineyards atop a sunny hilltop in Jamul just off highway 94.  It’s a dream that has been a long-time coming to fruition –a dream that began with two Italian immigrants back in the last century. As the afternoon sun bathes the adobe bricks and vineyards beyond in golden rays, it's not hard to see how Casi Cielo (Almost Heaven) got its name.

The winery offers a selection of  hand-crafted wines made with 25% grapes grown at the estate and 75% grapes grown in San Diego County.  With a motto “from juice to jelly,” Casi Cielo Farm & Vineyard also has a charming gift shop licensed under GregoArt.com featuring  a new line of delicious vineyard jellies (served up over chocolate cheesecake—pure bliss) as well as colorful hand-crafted quilts by Kathy, vineyard lifestyle attire and more.