March 12, 2015 (La Mesa) – In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day,  the Celtic musical group Highland Way will perform at Hooley’s Irish Pub, located at Grossmont Center in La Mesa on Tuesday, March 17^th from 1 to 4 p.m.

By Grey Feathers

March 12^th, 2015 (Viejas) - A huge throng of people from all over came to say goodbye to Roy Cook in the gym at the heart of the Viejas Reservation on Saturday.  Roy died suddenly and we are overwhelmed with a sense of loss.  It was comforting to hear from so many friends how they were touched by his magic.  The prayers, the songs, the Honor Guard, the Soaring Eagles, the drums building up to heaven and the wailing releasing our anguish.  We cried in each other's arms.

The first day I met Roy Cook was at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Jamul Casino in 2005.  I was proud and happy for the Jamul Indian Village and perplexed by the angry faces marching with signs on the street.  Roy sensed the vicious opposition would eventually delay the project and he was right.  He told me some of the history of the Jamul Band.  He said they were the poorest of the poor.  Their little village had dirt roads, their homes had dirt floors.

That encounter changed my life because Roy spoke with such certainty and compassion I began reading everything he wrote.  The words lifted off the pages like they were written in my heart.  Being indigenous became more than a card I carried in my wallet.

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

March 13, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--This pharmacy is on probation. When this sign is posted on your neighborhood pharmacy’s wall it is easy to miss.  After all, people do not always read the posted signs anywhere. People walk by signs all the time. Especially if you are sick and standing in line waiting to pick up your prescription before you dash home to recover and sleep.

By Miriam Raftery

March 9, 2015 (Lakeside)—If you’re looking for a romantic special setting, East County has beautiful venues where you don’t have to worry about coastal fog or crowds.  One of our favorites is Hazy Meadow Ranch, nestled at the base of El Capitan Mountain in Lakeside’s scenic El Monte Valley. 

This idyllic wedding venue comes complete with a white horse-drawn carriage ride, gazebo, lawn with expansive shade trees and flowering gardens, outdoor dance floor, plus options for Western or Spanish themed weddings including an entire Western town settingg – to name just a few of the unique amenities here.

East County News Service

March 11, 2015 (Jamul)--Approximately 200 protesters held a “flash mob” demonstration in Jamul Saturday, wearing red as they voiced their continuing opposition to a casino under construction at the Jamul Indian Village.

Excavation is completed at the project, site of a planned Hollywood-themed casino in conjunction with Penn National Gaming.

Projected to open in mid-2016, the casino is expected to include a three-story gaming and entertainment facility of approximately 200,000 square feet with gaming, restaurants, bars, and parking.  The tribe estimates the project will create an estimated 2,500 construction and permanent jobs in the area.

By Roy L Hales

March 13, 2015 (San Diego's east County) - Alec Guettel is back in North Carolina. It has been decades since he obtained his bachelor of arts in Political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Guettel and another of Sungevity’s executives are staying at the local Mariott, while they oversee the company’s entrance into the state. They will also be attending the NC Clean Tech Summit, where Geuttel will be one of the key people in a panel discussion on February 20, 2015. He took my call in his hotel room. In the course of our interview, Guettel said, “we have really positioned ourselves as the partner of choice for utilities.”

March 12, 2015 (San Diego)--The San Diego County Vintners Association is celebrating its 20^th anniversary in 2015 with its expanded annual wine festival. The SDCVA Wine & Food Festival will exclusively feature San Diego County wineries along with educational winemaking and food demonstrations, a silent auction and live music.

Grossmont district blocks access to Burn Book app following latest incident

March 11, 2015 (El Cajon ) – An anonymous message sent on the popular phone app “BurnBook” at 12:40 a.m. threatened the safety of students and staff at El Cajon Valley High School, El Cajon Police reports.

March 10, 2015 (Cuyamaca) – Melody Munoz sent in these photos after this week’s snowfall on Cuyamaca peak.

By Cathy Ozbun, Julian Fire Plugs

Vendors can sign up now for May's Arts & Crafts Fair in Julian

March 10, 2015 (Julian) - The Julian Arts & Crafts Fair, a local marketing event for artists, artisans and crafters from the Julian area, will be held on Saturday, May 23rd. This event is being sponsored by the Julian Cuyamaca Fire Protection District (JCFPD), and coordinated by the Julian Fire Plugs, a non-profit organization of community volunteers working to support the JCFPD.

East County Magazine

March 9, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – California Highway Patrol today arrested David Innis, a 47-year-old El Cajon resident after receiving a call reporting a motorist with a gun on Interstate 15 at Carroll Canyon Road.

March 10, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – The San Diego Blood Bank will be accepting donations this month at two locations in East County.

By Miriam Raftery

March 10, 2015 El Cajon)--El Cajon’s City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to start the bidding process for long-awaited repairs needed to reopen the East County Performing Arts Center,, which has been closed for over five years.   Staff estimates the repairs will cost $2.92 million dollars.