By James Kecskes, County of San Diego Communications Office

November 2, 2016 (El Cajon)--County officials and community members broke ground on Gillespie Field Airport’s new Cajon Air Center on October 31st.

The groundbreaking kicked off the first phase of a multi-phase redevelopment project in unincorporated El Cajon.

On Wednesday, November 2, 2016, Caltrans requested an emergency road closure for bridge repairs to be done on the transition road from southbound I-805 to eastbound SR-52.

Beginning immediately, the transition from southbound I-805 to eastbound SR-52 is closed to allow Caltrans to conduct their work.  The transition road is expected to be re-opened tonight around 2000 hours.

November 4, 2016 - This week’s Destination East County include live music at La Mesa’s newest wine tasting room, a fall Planstravaganza, the Ramona Art and Wine Festival, and the opening of trout fishing season in Santee.

Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including a holiday open house at Summers Past Farms, a  Paint-a-Holic program in La Mesa,  a Veterans Day commemoration in El Cajon, the Casa de Oro Fall Festival,  the Mother Goose Parade, holiday concerts at Parkway Plaza and more.

So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  McCain Valley, site of the Tule Wind project slated to break ground soon

November 2, 2016 (Boulevard) – The State Lands Commission has approved a second phase of the controversial Tule Wind Project in McCain Valley.  Tule II will allow up to 24 wind turbines to be built after completion of Tule I, which will have 52 turbines, each hundreds of feet high.  Phase I is slated to break ground soon, with expected completion in September 2017.

November 2, 2016 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

• Businessman donates $100,000 to El Cajon Valley High (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Father of man fatally shot by police establishes foundation for police reform (Los Angeles Times)
• Grossmont schools chief organizing campaign work for students, staff (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• In failing the homeless,  San Diego stands apart (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Toxic Plume Leads To Testing Of El Cajon Mobile Homes(KPBS)
• Raided by never charged, cannabis distributor seeks return of seized assets (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Resident says his tree-trimming case shows CPUC favors utilities (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• $47B Deal Could Help Qualcomm Move From Phones To Cars(KPBS)
• Educators getting trained to 'run, hide or fight'(San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Refinancing La Mesa to save $9 million(San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Ramona Unified School District Board:  Choose 2 (Ramon Sentinel)

STATE

• ‘Pot Prop’ 64: Clearing the haze on a complex measure (Orange County Register)
• Sexually transmitted diseases reach record high (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• SeaWorld Marine Rescues Remain Higher Than Usual (KPBS)
• DMV uncovers fake ID ring on Craigslist(San Diego Union-Tribune)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

Source: County News Service

November 1, 2016 (Lakeside) - A job training program at the East Mesa Detention and Re‐entry Facility is taking root at county parks. Trees and plants that were cultivated and grown at the jail's greenhouse will be planted at five parks all over the county this month—including Lakeside’s El Monte Park here in East County.

East County News Service

Jonathan Goetz and Miriam Raftery contributed to this report

November 1, 2016 (San Diego) – San Diego Superior Court Judge Janis Sammartino heard evidence October 26 in a case filed by the National Association of Colored Persons (NAAC) and seven protesters against the city of El Cajon, the Sheriff’s Department, and El Cajon Police.

East County News Service

November 1, 2016 (La Mesa) - Kidz Danz Kompany presents “1968” at the San Diego Performing Arts Center (4579 Mission Gorge Place, San Diego, CA, 92120) on November 11^th-12^th, 2016 at 7pm.

Featuring the diverse and multi-cultural Kidz Danz Kompany, this concert reflects on the year 1968 and how it in many ways parallels 2016. Presented will be new works titled “Mama Said”, an homage to the dedication of single motherhood and its struggles, and “KDK/1968/2016”, the definitive work of the evening. Both works are choreographed by Artistic Director Spencer John Powell. These works incorporate music from 1968 and 2016 with some song selections from years in between that complement each work. With costuming by Debbie Sloan of Fusionglass Company, her unique and Avant-garde designs provide a modern visual to the works.

For more sports stories, visit ECM's sports section

Story and photos by Liz Alper

Full quotes courtesy Jen Heisel

November 1, 2016 (San Diego) - With San Diego State men's basketball's first game on Thursday against UC San Diego, basketball head coach Steve Fisher joined football head coach Rocky Long, redshirt sophomore quarterback Christian Chapman and defensive end Dakota Turner for their weekly press conference.

East County News Service

November 1, 2016 (Cuyamaca) — Craig Maxwell snapped these dramatic images of spectacular skies and fall foliage in Cuyamaca, a gem in our backcountry region.

East County News Service

November 1, 2016 (La Mesa) - La Mesa Park & Recreation Foundation is excited to host its first Cornhole Tournament & Family Festival Saturday, Nov. 5 from 11 am to 5 pm. at La Mesita Park. The tournament, “Let’s Play!” features a cornhole tournament with two divisions offering cash prizes, craft booths, astro jump, delicious BBQ, beer garden, kids activities and more. Sign up at www.lamesaparks.org

East County News Service

November 1, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) –  The Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR), a 2,500-member trade group for San Diego-area realtors, has released its list of endorsed candidates vying for seats in East County city and special district election races in November. PSAR operates an office and conference center in El Cajon at 1150 Broadway.

Source: City of La Mesa

November 1, 2016 (La Mesa) – The City of La Mesa will host a Babysitter Training Class on Saturday,  November 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at La Mesa Community Services, 4975  Memorial Drive,  La Mesa. The fun, hands-on class for ages 11-16 helps babysitters become better prepared.  Participants practice infant skills on dolls, learn and practice CPR for infants and children. Topics include babysitter responsibilities, sitter safety,  diapering procedures, recognizing an emergency,  infant and child CPR, and basic first aid.

East County News Service

November 1, 2016 (Ocotillo Wells) -- Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue (BORSTAR) agents rescued a man who was lost in the Ocotillo Wells Desert early Monday morning.

On Sunday, around 6:30 p.m., a ranger with California Department of Parks and Recreation contacted Border Patrol agents assigned to the Highway 86 checkpoint and asked for help to locate a missing man last seen in the Ocotillo Wells Desert. He was reported missing by his family after he failed to return from an ATV ride in the desert.

By Miriam Raftery

November 1, 2016 (Julian) -- "Chris Gardner has been the Jess Martin Park volunteer park host for 6 years, for the community of Julian, he is simply irreplaceable!" So reads a petition launched by Julian residents hoping to keep Gardner on site.