Can theater be key to downtown revitalization?

April 1, 2010 (El Cajon) – At a community forum Tuesday, dozens of East County residents turned out to hear details of a proposed plan for the East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC).

The conceptual business plan, prepared by consultant Kurt Swanson, calls for the City to takeover management of the theater, invest $4.3 million in renovations, and commit to 48 performances per year including a return to headline entertainers. While some area residents praised the effort, many had questions, suggestions, and criticisms to offer.

March 28, 2010 (El Cajon)--The 44th annual El Cajon 20K race will be held on Saturday, April 3. The 12.4 mile course starts and ends at Granite Hills High School, located at the corner of Madison Avenue and 4th Street.

The event kicks off starting at 6:30 a.m. for walkers and race walkers, and at 7 a.m. for runners.

March 28, 2010 (El Cajon) – The City of El Cajon’s recreation department holds its annual Dance and Tumbling Recital, “Under The Big Top!” at the East County Performing Arts Center this Sunday, March 28, 2010, from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

February 22, 2010 (El Cajon) --Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s preliminary budget, released in January, will force more deep cuts for local schools. Tomorrow evening, Cajon Valley School Board will weigh how to cope with $3.5 million in new revenue reductions that the Governor’s budget would mean for the District---on top of a $6 million shortfall that the Board was already anticipating.

PUBLIC MEETING FRIDAY, FEB. 12

February 9, 2010 (El Cajon ) - The City of El Cajon is applying for a competitive grant that will be used to completely revitalize Wells Park. Funding was made available when California voters passed Proposition 84 in 2006. Many comments have already been received, but the City seeks additional public input on how to improve the facility.

February 6, 2010 (El Cajon) Updated 11:45 p.m.. - A serious accident involving several vehicles caused CHP to shut down all lanes on I-8 westbound at Murray Drive in El Cajon, diverting traffic onto 125.  CHP's website reports one vehicle flipped over and a person was trapped inside with fluid leaking.

February 1, 2010 (El Cajon) – Five women were arrested January 28 in El Cajon on prostitution charges. El Cajon Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit conducted an undercover operation targeting individuals involved in prostitution.

Upon conviction of prostitution related charges, arrestees may be placed on geographic probation and ordered to refrain from certain activities in specified areas of El Cajon. One of the arrestees, Georgina Garcia (photo), was in violation of these conditions and was also charged with violation of a court order.

January 25, 2010 (El Cajon) – Rebecca Ann Phillips, 23, died after being hit by a red Chevrolet Metro on southbound Highway 125 shortly after 9:30 last night. According to witnesses, she was a passenger in a green Ford Taurus sedan that had pulled onto the shoulder just north of Grossmont College Drive. For unknown reasons, she stepped into traffic and was killed.

January 20, 2010 (San Diego County) 9:10 p.m. – Shortly after we issued an earlier alert about hazardous traffic conditions, CHP posted updates of several new hazards.

EAST COUNTY UPDATE:

Boulders are reported in the roadway at the junction of Sunrise Highway and Interstate 8. There are also large rocks in the roadway on Highway 78 near Sentenac Canyon in El Cajon, where a vehicle has struck the rocks and emergency responders are en route. I-15 northbound is flooded at the SR 75 offramp. The Carmel Mt. Road onramp to I-15 northbound is also flooded and now blocked. In Borrego Springs, boulders are in the road at SR 78 and Borrego Springs Road. In Santee, Gorge Road is flooded in the 9200 block after a flood channel overflowed.
 

OTHER SAN DIEGO COUNTY AREAS:

by Walter Hall

January 16, 2010 (El Cajon) - Sunbelt Publications, El Cajon’s award-winning regional press, observes 25 years of hard-won success in the book trade this month. The anniversary is a remarkable achievement by a singular couple – Diana and Lowell Lindsay – who have the mischievous look of people who know they’re onto something special. 

January 15, 2010 (El Cajon) -- The City of El Cajon continues to work on a master plan for the Civic Center area that will include renovations which could close the East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC) for up to two years.  As part of the design and review process, the City has sought public input through two forums.  The last of those will be held Thursday evening, January 21, 2010 from 7-8 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan Community Center, 195 East Douglas Avenue in El Cajon.

January 4, 2009 (El Cajon) – Interstate 8 will be closed in both directions between Second and East Main streets in El Cajon, Monday through Thursday early mornings from 12:30 until 4, according to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). The closures will allow crews to demolish the pedestrian overcrossing at Grape Street.

January 4, 2009 (El Cajon) – Just before 9:00 a.m. this morning, Heartland Deputy Fire Chief Rick Sitta was first on scene of a collision between a Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) bus and a small car at the intersection of Douglas Avenue and Van Houten Avenue in El Cajon.

As Heartland Fire & Rescue crews from El Cajon responded, Chief Sitta broke open a side rear window to gain access to the driver, who was found not breathing, and initiated emergency aid.

December 27, 2009 (El Cajon) – A vehicle struck a pedestrian on Greenfield Drive near Camillo Way in El Cajon around 5:40 this evening, California Highway Patrol reports. The victim, a 21-year-old man, was thrown 100 feet, Incident Protection Network reported at 6 p.m.

Citizens express ire over arts mismanagement

by Gayle Early

“That theater has been referred to as the white elephant sitting in the middle of El Cajon. It ought to be the jewel of that city, the community place to pull people in together.”—Patricia Parlin

 “I don’t have a lot of faith in them. I don’t think they’ll do the right thing.”—John Martes

 December 17, 2009 (El Cajon)—Smack in the heart of El Cajon’s business promenade sits a soon-to-be darkened, empty theater.   On Tuesday, arts lovers and concerned citizens showed up to the first community forum over the summary closure and renovation plans for the East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC).  After millions in local infrastructure improvements, the City is anxiously casting for ways to entice people to its downtown.