Jesse LaMonaca

April 1,2009 (El Cajon) — The Cuyamaca College Music Industry Studies program is proud to announce the Coyote Music Festival on May 1, 2009 on the grand lawn of Cuyamaca College. The event will feature 6 San Diego acts playing original music during the late afternoon concert: Jesse Lamonaca, Regina Leonard, Silent Lune, Goodnight Caulfield, Rhythm and the Method and special emcee, Gill SOTU.

March 12, 2009 (El Cajon)--The City of El Cajon Recreation Department will hold its much anticipated Annual Dance and Tumbling Recital at the East County Performing Arts Center on Sunday, March 22, 2009, from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. This event has been a highlight in the City for over 20 years. This year's recital, "Dance And Tumble--Through The Decades!" will showcase the talents of ages 5 through senior adult in tumbling, tap, jazz, cheer, hip-hop, lyrical and modern jazz. Act 1- "Oldies" begins at 2:30 and Act 2-"Goodies" begins at 4:30p.m.

By Maia Neubig

Maia Neubig is an SDSU senior who traveled to New Orleans on two separate occasions as part of the Art Relief effort.

The best part about the trips are the people down there, they are some of the nicest, most caring people I have ever met in my life. They truly love and appreciate every one of us for coming down there and never let us forget it.

By Dennis Moore

March 1, 2009 (San Diego's East County) — Just like Hip Hop artist "R" Kelly did in my hometown of Chicago, East County Gospel singer Nicolas SK Shivers seems to be taking a similar path to stardom and fame, by initially selling and promoting his music on the streets of San Diego. I ran into Nicolas "SK" Shivers at the Mission Valley Mall while I was shopping for computer and office equipment for a consulting business that I am starting in San Diego.

By Miriam Raftery

Northern lights images from Anza Borrego desert

February 22, 2009 (Anza Borrego) — In celebration of the International Year of Astronomy, we thought it fitting to share with our readers the beauty and grandeur of the night sky as depicted by Dennis Mammana, world-famous night sky photographer and East County resident. His dazzling photos include rare shots of the Aurora Borealis (Northern lights) viewed from the Anza-Borrego desert, where he lives, as well as images of solar and lunar eclipses, comets, and other astronomical events taken around the globe. Also a prolific writer and instructor, Mammana teaches courses and hosts camp-outs locally, also leading astronomy and sky photography expeditions worldwide--such as an upcoming journey to China to view and photograph a total solar eclipse.

By Miriam Raftery

Mike Farrell with officers of Eastlake-Bonita Democratic Club.

February 17, 2009 (Bonita) — Mike Farrell and his co-stars
on the popular M*A*S*H TV show raised public awareness about the human costs
of war. But
what many fans don't realize is that in his private life, Farrell has much
in common with the character he portrayed, Dr. B.J. Hunnicutt. Traveling
to global hot spots from Central American jungles to war-torn African villages,
he has gained fame internationally as a humanitarian, working tireless to draw
attention to a wide range of human rights issues.

The El Cajon Police Department and the City are saddened by the death of retired Animal Control Officer Wayne Stalker. Wayne passed away on Wednesday, February 4 after a long courageous battle against cancer.

Wayne joined the El Cajon Police Department as a Volunteer Police Reserve Officer on September 9, 1981, and then held various positions at the police department, eventually becoming an Animal Control Officer on July 1, 1995. He retired from the City on December 28, 2007. Not only was Wayne a dedicated officer, but he was also a very talented artist.

January 14, 2008 (El Cajon) — To mark the 1st anniversary
of the opening of its new, state-of-the-art Sculpture facility, the Hyde Art
Gallery at Grossmont College will host Forms in Metal , a
group exhibition of contemporary metalwork from January 26-February 26; An
opening event is scheduled for February 10th from 7-9 p.m.

The exhibition will feature the work of seventeen artists engaged in the production
of metal objects of utility, ceremony, and ornament. Forms in Metal will
explore the means by which each artist manipulates metal and makes use of it
as a vehicle to convey a wide range of personal experiences, concerns, interests,
and ideas. The work exhibited underscores the possibilities inherent in metal
as a medium of artistic expression.

By Miriam Raftery

December 11, 2008 (El Cajon) — This year's holiday tea, sponsored by Friends
of East County Arts, Inc. served up something new along with the traditional
tea, scones and finger sandwiches.

"This is the first year that men have been invited," said Howard Bagley, director
of St. Clair Gallery and a strong supporter of the organization.  "In
24 years, they've raised a half million dollars," he said, adding that the
group has no significant overhead and donates all funds raised for worthy local
causes.  "It's all gone to schools and the arts, including the (East County)
Performing Arts Center."

By Tammy Lawhead

December 1, 2008 (El Cajon) —
The Armchair Impressionists, including Jeffrey Graham, Rustin Holec,
David Lawhead, Karen Marsh, and William Marsh, will feature their
paintings December 1 – 31, 2008 at the Rancho San Diego Library, 11555 Via
Rancho San Diego; El Cajon, CA.  Please join them at the Artist’s Reception,
December 7th from 2 – 4 pm in the Community Room.

The
Armchair Impressionists are five artists who came together while students of
artist Jack Jordan when he taught at Grossmont College. The group meets to
offer support and encouragement as they submit their paintings to the various
venues available to artists in and around San Diego County.

Reviewed by Kathy Carpenter

Now showing at the Don Powell Theatre at the San Diego State University campus, through December 7, 2008.

Sundays 2:00 p.m. all other days 8:00 p.m. For ticket information call 619-594-6884 or check online at www.theatre.sdsu.edu.

Charles L Mee's Hotel Cassiopeia follows the American collage artist Joseph Cornell. Cornell's dreamlike abstract art is the theme of the play, which is directed by Peter James Cirino. Characters in the play are reminiscent of people Cornell knew, observed or dreamed about. Mee created the play from diaries, letters, clips of Cornell’s life, and the music and movie he loved.

By Jolene Crowley

October
1, 2008 (SAN DIEGO) - Three local artists, Theresa Vandenberg Donche
of Mt. Helix, Encinitas resident Reed Cardwell, and Igor Kautsenko of Fallbrook,
will be displaying their latest work collectively entitled “Extraordinary
Times, Extraordinary Art!” at 6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 25, at 3911 Harney
Street in Old Town.

By Richard Noel

Notes On Air is a monthly music column highlighting local artists,
events, and other music-related news. 

In this month’s column, we talk with Tracy Lee Nelson, accomplished
blues musician who is also tribal chairman of the La Jolla Indian Reservation
in Pauma Valley.  Nelson’s music places an emphasis on his heritage,
bringing a Native American perspective to the blues.  His most recent
CD, Indian Reservation, was released in November of 2007

Thank you for taking the time to talk to East County Magazine.

Thank
you.

You’ve been playing since you were fairly young.  What
were your earliest musical influences?

I’d have to say my earliest
musical influence was the Beatles.  I
remember when I was young my brother would play their records.  He would
say to me, “You’ve got to listen to this band; you’ve got
to know their names!”  Even more so now; after I understand music
and structure and guitar-playing, I am in awe of some of their formulas and
structure. 

By Jackie Hanson

 “There’s a colorful character,” you might say to yourself
upon seeing Phebe Burnham laughing and chatting at a local art event.  If
you guessed that she was one of the artists (or the artist, as is
often the case) you’d be correct.  Phebe Burnham is not only a source
of local color, she is an acclaimed artist, widely exhibited and collected,
both locally and nationally.