By Monica Zech, Public Information Officer for the City of El Cajon

Whether you’re looking for some hot events, a free pet, disaster response training, or tips to stay cool, the City of El Cajon has news you can use.

EVENTS

August 18, 2015 (El Cajon) - A Special Day of Free Concerts On August 29 In Downtown El Cajon.

On Saturday, August 29, it will be a day of music at the Prescott Promenade.  Starting at 12 noon, three groups will take the stage as to “make-up” concerts for those that were rained out in May during the Dinner & a Concert series.

East County News Service

August 16, 2015 (El Cajon)—El Cajon Police Chief Jim Redman  has announced plans to retire on December 4^th, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. Redman has served as chief since 2011 and has been a member of the city’s police force since 2008.

El Cajon City Manager Doug Williford has said that the crime rate dropped 25 percent with Redman at the helm. He also credits Redman with community-based policing that shows sensitivity to El Cajon’s increasingly diverse community.

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

By Miriam Raftery

July 9, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – If you’re looking for a stirring summertime musical experience, the San Diego Concert Band will be performing at the Water Conservation Garden on the campus of Cuyamaca College on July 26^th at 6 p.m.  “An Evening of Music at the Garden” will benefit both of these nonprofit organizations. (Guests are welcome to come early for a stroll through the gardens to learn some tips on how to have beautiful low-water gardens.)

Recently, the East County Magazine Show sat down with Chuck Brown, President of the San Diego Concert Band, and John Bolthouse, Director of the Water Conservation Garden, for an interview on the East County Magazine Show on KNSJ radio.

By Robert Gehr

July 18, 2015 (El Cajon)--Saturday morning July 18^th began with an early morning wake up call by Mother Nature herself . The sound of lightning - THUNDER!

By Miriam Raftery

July 16, 2015 (El Cajon ) – El Cajon’s City Council voted Tuesday to move forward on plans to build a Hampton Inn with upscale restaurants on the site of the former police station on Fletcher Parkway near North Magnolia Avenue.  The action comes after last month’s approval to bring a Marriott Hotel to town.

“Revitalization of El Cajon has a snowball effect,” Councilman Gary Kendrick told East County Magazine. Since approval of the Marriott deal, he says, “our phone has been ringing off the hook from investors because they know  that Marriott does their homework.”

East County News Service

July 10, 2015 (Rancho San Diego)—From “dog days” strolls with your canine companion to classes on turf-tossing and glass-making, a stargazing party, a wine walk and an evening of music with the San Diego Concert Band, the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College has a wealth of enriching activities and events coming up later in July.

Here are highlights:

East County News Service

July 6, 2015 (El Cajon)—East County will soon have its first four-star hotel.  In its last meeting in June, the El Cajon Council approved final plans for a Marriott Courtyard hotel to be built at Magnolia and Rea Avenues.

June 30, 2015 (El Cajon)--Camp Bow Wow and Behavior Buddies of El Cajon will host their 5^th Annual Yappy Hour season at the Downtown Café in El Cajon. The Yappy Hour is held every third Thursday of the month from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. The event includes “puptinis” for pups, a happy hour menu and more.

 In addition to a fun social event, each Yappy Hour is dedicated to raising money for a local charity, with this year’s proceeds benefitting Labs and More Dog Rescue.

Through sales of opportunity drawing tickets, participants will be entered to win many fabulous opportunity-drawing prizes. The pups will enjoy free Puptini’s while owners can order off of the Downtown Café’s delicious Happy Hour Menu.

June 26, 2015 (El Cajon ) – From now through July 4, Coldstone Creamery in Rancho San Diego (2963 Jamacha Road, El Cajon) will donate 20% of all purchase to benefit the ACES Foundation, which supports the El Cajon Animal Shelter. Just mention “El Cajon Animal Shelter” when ordering, or present the flyer in this story.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Glendale Police

June 25, 2015 (El Cajon) – A rap music artist suspected of breaking into a home and exposing himself to a 30-year-old woman, as well as stalking a 17-year-old girl is now in custody. El Cajon Police arrested 32-year-old Von Ryan Manago, said Lt. Frank La Haye.

Manago has been charged with indecent exposure and burglary. He had previously been arrested for burglarizing a woman's home in Glendale while she was sleeping in 2012.  According to a Glendale News-Press article, Manago is a rap musician who goes by the rapper name Nem-Iz. Born in New Jersey, he has also lived in Raleigh, North Carolina and is the CEO of Writer's Blokk Media, an Indie music label.

For crime buffs out there, here are the bare facts of how police tracked down the prowler flasher suspect.

By Robert Clark  

 The El Cajon City Council meeting of June 9 was notable for what  happened--and for what did not happen.

As reported in "East County Magazine" on  June 12  ("Smoking Hot Debate"), the Council voted 3-1 to support Senate Bill 151, which would increase the legal age to buy tobacco in California from 18 to 21.

 What did not happen was a "budget workshop." The City Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. For the last four years (2011 through 2014), I have attended the workshops on the first meeting in June, at which time information would be provided to the public regarding the estimated financial results for the current fiscal year, and numbers were available for the proposed budget for the fiscal year commencing the following July 1. The Council would then vote to adopt the budget at the second June meeting.

By Miriam Raftery

June 15, 2015 (El Cajon)—Dozens of families are close to filing a lawsuit over the increased air traffic at Gillespie Field airport, where more expansion is planned. But with a June 30^th deadline to finalize paperwork with a class action lawyer, another two dozen residents are needed to join the suit by the deadline.

A meeting is set for Tuesday, June 23^rd at 6:30 p.m. with the lead attorney and interested residents. The meeting will be held at a private residence in Fletcher Hills. To RSVP and get the address and directions, contact info@asapgillespiefield.com.

“This is our last chance to get something done,” says Sue Strom with Advocates for Safe Airport Policies ASAP.

Photo: Stephen Harvey/Grossmont College photographer : Grossmont College graduates embrace at their commencement ceremony June 3.

June 11, 2015 (El Cajon)-- man incarcerated in his youth now heading to UC Berkeley. A doctor of education who once thought a high school diploma was the pinnacle of her schooling. An Iraqi immigrant who now sits on the council of East County’s largest city. A retired businessman who is donating his wealth to better his community.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Heartland Fire & Rescue Chief Rick Sitta delivers good news at El Cajon Council meeting

June 9, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – If you live in the cities of El Cajon, La Mesa or Lemon Grove, your fire insurance rates will soon be going down. That’s because Heartland Fire & Rescue, which provides firefighting services for all three cities, has received a class 1 rating from the Insurance Services Office (ISO).   

The  ISO rates 47,000 fire departments across the United States and of those, only 98 have attained a class 1 rating, including only 8 fire districts in the entire state of California.  “Class 1 communities are very rare, and some of these scores are the highest we’ve ever seen,” says Stephanie Ruscansky from the ISO, who notes that only a small fraction of 1% of all agencies rated attain a Class 1 rating.

Source: City of El Cajon

June 4, 2015 (El Cajon )—You’re invited to celebrate Independence Day with numerous games, musical entertainment and fireworks at the City of El Cajon’s Fourth of July Celebration.