May 30, 2013 (El Cajon ) – Round up the art lovers and music lovers in your family for the third annual Western Music Jubilee on Saturday, June 1 starting at 7 p.m. at the Cuyamaca Performing Arts Center.   The show stars Sourdough Slim, Dave Bourne, Mary Kaye, and the Red Hot Rhythm Rustlers.

It’s all to benefit educational programs at the Olaf Wieghorst  Museum in downtown El Cajon.Wieghorst was one of America’s premier western artists.  A cowboy and cavalryman who once pursued Pancho Villa,  his paintings hung in the White House and were owned by three presidents: Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, and Dwight D. Eisenhower. 

By Miriam Raftery

April 28, 2013 (Rancho San Diego)—Cuyamaca College hosts its 5^th annual Coyote Music Festival from 12-5 p.m. on May 4, featuring nine bands/solo artists on two stages showcasing their original music compositions.

Performers will take stage on the grand lawn on campus at 900 Rancho San Diegio Parkway in El Cajon. Genres at this event, which has free admission, include acoustic, rock, and folk by these talented home-grown songwriters.

The music festival is produced by students in the Music Industry Seminar class.  You’ll find plenty of shade and free parking.  For details and directions, see:  www.coyotemusicfest.com .  Scroll down to see the complete line-up.

March 26, 2013 (Rancho San Diego)--An impressive array of artists will display works and be honored at a reception on Friday, April 26 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Heritage of the Americas Museum at Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego.  A percentage of all art pieces sold at the art sale, as well as 100% of proceeds from a live fine arts auction, will benefit the museum which celebrates its 20^th anniversary this year. 

The Chris Klich Jazz trio and flautist Jim Hannibal will perform.  Wine, beer, hors d’heuvres and desserts will also be served as the event.   A $10 suggested donation is requested for the reception. RSVP to (619)670-5194 or hofam@sbcglobal.net  to reserve space. 

To read about the exceptional array of talented artists featured, scroll down.

February 16, 2013 (Rancho San Diego) – At 1:33 a.m.,  deputies from the Lemon Grove Sheriff's Station responded to an armed robbery at the 7-11 store  at 1498 Jamacha Road in unincorporated El Cajon.

“The suspect in the robbery was a male, wearing a black jacket and jeans. The race of the suspect is unknown because he was wearing a mask,” said Sergeant V.J. Rivera.

January 24, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – Take a good look at these surveillance photos. This man is wanted in connection with three ATM robberies in Santee.

The first incident happened January 16th just before 11:00 p.m. Armed with a gun, he approached a man at a Mission Federal Credit Union ATM on Town Center Parkway and demanded money. The second incident happened on January 21st at the same location. He approached a woman and placed a hand into his waistband simulating he had a weapon. The woman ran to her car and the suspect drove away. The third incident happened on the same day at a Wells Fargo ATM on Jamacha Road in unincorporated El Cajon. He had a gun and approached a man demanding money. He then grabbed the money and drove away.

By Paul Kruze

View a video of the fire

October 26, 2012 (Rancho San Diego)--A brush fire brought out the full firefighting strength of several fire districts on Friday afternoon. The blaze broke out at 3:15 p.m. on a mountain near Avenida Anacapa and Avenida Antiqua in Rancho San Diego. 

According to Leonard Villareal, public information officer for the San Miguel Fire District, the fire was confined to a 2.5 mile area and by 4:30 p.m., the firefighting operation was reduced to mop up situation. Although the location of the fire was near Rancho San Diego Elementary School and Hillsdale Middle School, students were let out of class on a normal schedule. 

Oct 11, 2012 (Rancho San Diego) – Halloween just got more frightening in the East County and it's happening at Cottonwood Golf Club with a "Scary Maze.” "Scary Maze" will frighten and entertain people of all ages beginning Friday, October 19 and continuing on Fridays and weekends through October 28.

The 10,000 square foot maze will be built on Cottonwood Golf Club's driving range. Stacked bales of hay and the design will provide a frightening challenge to find the exit. "We are taking the term "dead end" literally," said Henry Gamboa, Cottonwood Golf Club's Principal Owner.  He added, "There's a reason we are using the word "scary" to describe the maze and visitors will discover why as they try to make their way out."

August 30, 2012 (Rancho San Diego)—The Water Conservation Garden invites the public to enjoy its 2012 Fall/Winter calendar of classes and events. Gardening classes help residents save water and money by focusing on water-smart landscaping techniques and plants. Classes are taught by professionals, with offerings for both adults and children.

June 23, 2012 (La Mesa)—Manual Morales Rodriguez, 28, is under arrest after turning himself into the Chula Police headquarters Friday night. Rodriguez told officers that he was wanted for the murder of Jesse Nader, 26.  Nader, a resident of Spring Valley, was stabbed to death in the 4200 block of Mars Way in Rancho San Diego on June 17.

 April 16, 2012 (Rancho San Diego) – Firefighters with San Miguel Fire District dispatched units to a fully engulfed house fire in  the 1800 Block of Vista Grande at 4:40 p.m. today. On arrival, crews witnessed large flames shooting out of all of the home’s front windows, said Leonard Villareal, public information officer for San Miguel Fire. 

 
February 4, 2012  (Rancho San Diego, Jamul) -- Local Cub Scouts and their fathers volunteered on Saturday, January 28th to help maintain a nesting site for endangered California Least Terns at Mariner's Point in Mission Bay. They spent three hours clearing the nesting site of invasive plants so the terns can use the site for nesting and rearing their young during the next breeding season (from mid-April to August). 

UPDATE:  THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO A LABOR DISPUTE.

San Miguel Fire seeks sponsors and door prize donors for event

October 8, 2011 (Rancho San Diego) – Bring the family for fun and free activities at the 5th annual Fire Expo at the Rancho San Diego Towne Center on Saturday, October 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event features a children’s zone, rescue demonstrations, fire and rescue vehicles, fire safety and health information, law enforcement demonstrations, music, free food and free prize drawings.