April 9, 2015 (El Cajon) – The 17th Annual Morning Glory Brunch will be held on April 11^th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (2199 East Madison Ave.) in El Cajon. The event benefits the center’s programs for adults with developmental disabilities.

By Paul Kruze

Photo by Miriam Raftery: Performers on stage at ECPAC in brighter days

April 10, 2015 (El Cajon)--It has been said that “the opera ain’t over until the fat lady sings.” If all goes as planned, the fat lady could be soon be setting a date to sing on the stage at the shuttered and embattled East County Performing Art Center (ECPAC) sooner than later.

In a move that pleased local community activists who have decried the prolonged shutdown of downtown El Cajon’s entertainment venue, the City of El Cajon released an extensive request for bids to fix the theater’s leaky roof and bring about extensive technical upgrades throughout the facility.

Update April 8, 2015: The victim has been identified as Carly Ramirez, 3, daughter of Carlos Ramirez and Brandy Teague.

April 5, 2015 (El Cajon)—  Brandy Teague, a 31-year-old mother, is under arrest after a crash killed her 3-year-old daughter and injured two other children of hers in the vehicle.

The accident was reported at 9:43 p.m. Saturday night on Broadway in El Cajon. According to witnesses, the silver Hyundai driven by Teague was traveling east when it left the roadway and collided with a telephone pole. 

“The driver may have fallen asleep behind the wheel before the collision occurred,” said Lieutenant R. Soulard. Teague is charged with gross vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence of drugs, possession of a controlled substance and driving on a suspended license.

Officers to offer full service---pumping gas and washing windows

Photo credit: Nita Jatar Kulkarni

March 31, 2015 (El Cajon)--The El Cajon Police Department, along with other law enforcement agencies, is helping to launch a two month “Icon” promotion across Southern Californian on behalf of the Special Olympics.

March 24, 2015 (El Cajon) – Get ready to rev up – Cajon Classic Cruises is rolling out its 2015 season starting Wednesday, April 22^nd with a full street closure for opening night.  The cruises will continue all summer long on Wednesday nights from 5 to 8 p.m.

The second week, April 29^th will celebrate Cinco de Mayo.  Other  highlights include Jimmie Johnson night on July 22^nd , a Military Tribute June 17^th, Thunder on Main on September 30^th, and Trunk or Treat on October 28^th at season’s end.

By Robert Clark

March 23, 2015 (El Cajon)-- The headline in the San Diego Union-Tribune reads "Women's sex-harassment suit accuses El Cajon cop." 

 The story, however, is not about the sexual harassment suit just filed against Sergeant Richard Gonsalves of the El Cajon PD. (That suit is described  in Miriam Raftery's ECM posting of March 10, 2015.)  The U-T story was published on March 6, 2004, about a suit filed against El Cajon Sergeant Gary Ryno for sexual harassment by four current or former women employees of the Department. The suit also claimed that "Ryno conspicuously wore female undergarments to work . . ."  As of today, I have been unable to determine the outcome of the suit, but will keep searching.

 In another incident reported in the Los Angeles Times on May 22, 2007, former El Cajon police officer William Taylor was sentenced to five years in prison "for demanding sexual favors from women he had arrested."

Tribes & Clans Competition also held

By Robert Gehr

March 15, 2015 (El Cajon)--This popular event held on Sunday, March 15^th - was lively and very crowded with participants and spectators alike.

March 12, 2015 (El Cajon) – Photographer Robert Gehr snapped these beautiful early season barrel cactus blooms – no, not in the desert, but in the cactus garden outside the Olaf Wieghorst Museum and Western Heritage Center in downtown El Cajon.

In lively meeting, Council also hears ideas from the public ranging from creating a city-owned utility district to bringing the Chargers to East County

By Miriam Raftery

March 10, 2015 (El Cajon ) – At Tuesday’s El Cajon Council meeting, two women  spoke out to voice outrage that an El Cajon Police sergeant accused of sending naked photos of himself to women officers remains on the force.   The Sergeant. Richard Gonsalves, was demoted to officer and the city now faces a lawsuit filed by a female officer who alleges sexual harassment and discrimination.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Missing pup has been reunited with his owner; photo courtesy 10 News

March 7, 2015 (El Cajon )—A puppy stolen from the backyard of an El Cajon home is back home, thanks to a story aired by ECM news partner 10 News.

By East County Magazine

View a detailed list of pedestrian accidents resulting in serious injuries or deaths in El Cajon

March 5, 2015 (El Cajon)--El Cajon has had 17 fatality pedestrian accidents from 2011 to 2014, including six on Main and East Main Street. The city also had 61 serious injury accidents involving pedestrians during the same period.  During the first few weeks of 2015, fatal pedestrian accidents have claimed more lives, including a 7-year-old boy and an elderly woman in El Cajon.

March 4, 2015 (El Cajon)-College economics professor Anthony “Tony” Zambelli  has won the Roy L. Erickson Civic Education Award from the California Council for the Social Studies, an annual honor given to educators, community leaders or legislators for promoting civic education in California schools. Zambelli will receive the award March 7 in Oakland at the council’s annual conference.

Fiery crash in 2009 claimed life of CHP officer and family in Santee

By Miriam Raftery

March 4, 2015 (El Cajon) - Days before a trial was set to begin in the wrongful death case of CHP officer Mark Saylor and his family, a settlement has been reached with a former El Cajon Lexus dealership in El Cajon.

East County News Service

March 4, 2015 (El Cajon) – A 10 News report cites multiple unnamed sources who claim that an El Cajon sergeant sent sexually explicit text message images of himself to several women working in the department. Sources claimed the sergeant was demoted but not prosecuted.