March 19, 2014 (El Cajon) - Sunday, March 16 was a beautiful day for a race in the City of El Cajon, as RunEC held its second annual “St. Patrick’s Day Half Marathon, Main Street 5K, and Green Mile.”

Sophie’s Vineyard will celebrate a special sneak-peek planting party on April 5

March 11, 2014 (El Cajon)-- St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, the East County vocational day program for more than 400 adults with developmental disabilities, has announced the grand opening of Sophie’s Vineyard. As part of its expanding garden, the Center will install 290 vines in a unique double row design with the purpose of providing students with an education on grape agriculture, selling table grapes at local farmers markets, and the opportunity to partner with local wineries and wine makers.

March 4, 2014 (El Cajon)--At approximately 2:15 p.m. Monday afternoon, Heartland Fire & Rescue crews from El Cajon and La Mesa responded to reports of a structure fire in the one-thousand block of Leslie Road in El Cajon.  As fire crews arrived on scene they found heavy smoke coming from a lower unit of the apartment structure at 1016 Leslie Road. Firefighters were able to stop the fire in approximately twenty minutes.

March 1, 2014 (El Cajon) - Bring your new puppy to Camp Bow Wow in El Cajon on Monday, March 3rd for a puppy socialization hour. Puppies from 10 weeks to 4 months old can romp around with each other in an indoor play yard. The puppy social starts at 7 pm and ends at 8 pm. You will have a chance to meet Behavior Buddies trainer.

By Miriam Raftery

February 24, 2014 (El Cajon ) – El Cajon City Council and its redevelopment agency are negotiating “price and terms for the potential lease” of the East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC).  A lease could allow the church to rentl use of the facility for a specified period of time each month or year as an anchor tenant, but is not a management contract, which is set to be negotiated separately.

“Apparently, El Cajon City is negotiating with The Rock Church behind closed doors to lease ECPAC,” said Ray Lutz, chair of the Save ECPAC committee and founder of Citizens Oversight, a watchdog citizens group.

February 22, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – A multi-agency probation sweep in East County conducted on Friday, February 21 resulted in 17 arrests.

Deputies and officers visited probationers in Santee, Lakeside and El Cajon to see if they were following the conditions of their release, also working with Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Enforcement at San Diego Trolley stations in the area to conduct compliance checks on passengers.

February 14, 2014 (El Cajon)-Rosemary June Owens, who co-owned Howard’s Bakery in El Cajon, was a popular figure in El Cajon for many years, serving sweets and specialties for occasions from weddings to graduations.  She passed away peacefully in her home with her loving husband of 53 years, Howard, by her side.

Rosemary fought a six-year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease, after beating breast cancer twice over a 30-year span.

Update: This hearing has been cancelled. Details pending.

Hearing March 17; public comment Feb. 14-21

February 13, 2014 (Spring Valley)--The California Department of State Hospitals (DSH) has recommended the placement of  Terry Stone, a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) at 2919 Millar Ranch Road in Spring Valley. This address falls within the jurisdiction of the Rancho San Diego Sheriff's Station.



Terry Stone was convicted of molesting several children between the ages of 6 and 11.

Air Group One presents a Friday Fly Days fundraiser with World War II antique aircraft and show carss on Friday, February 7^th from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.at the Gillespie Field Cafe at 2015 North Marshall in El Cajon. There will be free admission and parking.

Besides the planes, visitors can expect live music, food, craft beers, and wine. Specials guests will be the Navy League and a Mystery Warbird.

February 1, 2014 (El Cajon)--The play Annie goes on stage during the weekend of Friday, February 14 and for the following weekend ending February 23. Performed by the Christian Youth Theatre, with such songs as “Tomorrow” and “It’s a Hard-Knock Life,” this production of Annie is appropriate for the whole family.

January 31, 2014 (El Cajon) – Legends of rock and roll and country music will be taking the stage at Sycuan Casino's Live and Up Close theater this weekend.

On February 1, country western singer Ricky Skaggs will perform at Sycuan. Skaggs was named Country Music Hall of Fame’s 2013 Artist in Residence. In his long career, he’s won numerous Country Music Association Awards,a Grammy,and the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Album of the Year. His band, Kentucky Thunder, has been named Instrumental Group of the Year by the IBMA seven times.

January 30, 2014 (San Diego) –The winter series of the San Diego County Library Acoustic Showcase continues in February with seven concerts taking place throughout the month—including East County performances in Rancho San Diego, El Cajon, and Lemon Grove.

The Acoustic Showcase series offers a wonderful variety of some of San Diego's very best singer/songwriters, folk music performers and story tellers. These concerts are free to the community. To date, More than 12,000 people have attended these concerts.  Scroll down for a full details on this month’s artists  performances in East County, or visit the San Diego County Library Acoustic Showcase website for a full list of all performances countywide.

2 teens arrested for skateboard attacks in area

January 28, 2014 (Spring Valley) -- The Sheriff's Homicide Division is asking for the public's help in identifying additional victims or witnesses in connection with an assault in Spring Valley.



On January 14th just before 7 p.m., 61‐year old Daniel Sparks was found lying in the intersection of Gillespie Drive and Frederick Street with his head bleeding. It is believed two young males attacked him with a skateboard—one of three known skateboard attacks in the vicinity.

January 20, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) has released a new report on poverty.  Included in the report are five-year estimates of poverty in our region, based on the American Community Survey in 2011.

El Cajon has by far the highest poverty rate in San Diego County, with 32% of individuals living below the poverty level and 49% living within 200% of the federal poverty level.   National City has the next highest level, a full ten points lower at 22% living in poverty.