East County News Service

February 7, 2019 (La Mesa) – The Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, a consumer health library at 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, is now presenting its Winter Art Exhibit featuring 15 paintings by 10-year-old Mia Bruso of  Alpine. The exhibit runs through the end of March. Kathy Quinn, Herrick Library director, said it is the first time since the library opened in 2002 that the featured artist for the quarterly art exhibit is a child.

East County News Service

February 4, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges are recognizing Black History month with a series of events including film showings, music, foods, lectures, a book club and more. See below for a full schedule of events at both locations in El Cajon and Rancho San Diego.

East County News Service

February 1, 2019 (San Diego) – Aspiring young opera and concert singers are one step closer to Carnegie Hall, thanks to the Virginia and Susan Hawk Scholarship which helps fund their studies. Applications are now being accepted at http://msc-gcca.org/vocal-scholarships/ and auditions will be held March 23rd at the La Mesa First United Methodist Church.

By Kathy Carpenter

East County News Service

East County News Service

January 14, 2019 (San Diego) - Yuko Maruyama, pianist-composer-arranger, will perform jazz compositions from her CD albums as well as her uniquely modern interpretations of favorite American classics from the 1940’s Big Band era with the Mercantile Alley Band – piano, bass drums, accordion, percussion, vocals. This free concert will be held on February 10 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Mission Trails Church, 4880 Zion Avenue.

East County News Service

January 6, 2019 (La Mesa) -- Lamplighters Theatre in La Mesa presents “And Then There Were None,” based on Agatha Christie’s classic murder mystery novel.  The play will be presented Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from January 11^th through February 10^th.

Click here for  free circus pass for children age 10 and under

East County News Service

December 19, 2018 (Oray Ranch, Chula Vista) -- American Crown Circus is bringing its Circo Osorio to the Otay Ranch Town Center January 10^th through 14^th.  A family tradition for over 90 years, the show includes aerial acrobats, trapeze flyers, illusions, a wheel of death, daredevils, creative costumes and theatrical showmanship. 

You're invited to "runaway to the circus."  The Las Vegas-based show promises spellbinding performances as aerial artists swing, acrobats tumble and artists defy the laws of gravity just inches from the audience.

Action comes after Union-Tribune reports seven children missing from Southwest Key facility

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

Photo: Ana Babudar, Southwest Key Programs Inc., addresses City Council

Watch video testimony here

December 14, 2018 (El Cajon) -- The El Cajon City Council on Tuesday unanimously voted to approve a proposal asking staff to prepare letters to the California Department of Social Services and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services asking for a review of Southwest Key Programs, Inc, The Texas-based company provides extended care for undocumented immigrant children. Its El Cajon facility, known locally as “Casa San Diego,” contracts with the federal government to provide care to children who show up at the U.S.-Mexico border without any parents, as well as some children who were separated from their legal guardians by U.S. immigration officials.

Co-sponsored by Council members Steve Goble and Gary Kendrick, the proposal stems from a November 18, 2018 San Diego Union-Tribune article that revealed discrepancies with Southwest Key reports to the El Cajon Police Department and California Department of Social Services.

East County News Service

December 13, 2018 (El Cajon) – The Olaf Wieghorst Museum at the Wieghorst Western Heritage Center, 131 Rea Ave., El Cajon, is presenting an exhibit of 25 quilts created by East County residents, including Cheryl Minshew, Daniela Stout and Sylvia Thomas. “Visitors to the Wieghorst will be impressed by the variety and creativity of patterns designed by East County residents,” said Minshew, the show’s curator. The exhibit runs through Saturday, Dec. 29.  Admission to the museum is free. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. For more information, phone (619) 590-3431, or visit www.wieghorstmuseum.org.

East County News Service

Video: Luke Price at 2016 Julian Fiddle and Picking Contest

December 9, 2018 (Julian) — National fiddle champion Luke Price will be program coordinator at the Julian Family Fiddle Camp April 10-14, 2019.  Registration is now open for the 8^th annual camp, one of the most respected immersion acoustic/roots music camps in North America where campers young and young at heart come from near and far.

The camp includes lodging and meals in the historic mining town of Julian in San Diego’s East County mountains. Early-bird discounts and scholarships are available.

Source:  Saps at Sea

December 3, 2018 (Spring Valley) - Saps at Sea, the San Diego chapter of the Sons of the Desert, the official Laurel & Hardy fan organization, invites you to their last meeting of the year on December 29 at 7:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) at Williams Hall at Trinity Presbytarian Church in Spring Valley.

By Miriam Raftery

November 22, 2018 (Spring Valley) – The creator of the Magical Forest in Las Vegas has brought her talents to Noah Homes at 12526 Campo Road in in Spring Valley, where the Enchanted Village Festival of Trees & Lights will be open to the public December 14-16 and 21-23.  View video: https://vimeo.com/301286492/bf29b3c559

Tickets cost $14.99 for adults and $9.99 for children  ages 3-12; three’s a limit of 500 tickets per night so advance purchase is advised.  You can reserve tickets online at www.EnchantedVillage.org. All proceeds from this delightful holiday display will benefit programs to help Noah Homes residents with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

By Mike Allen

November 16, 2018 (Santee)--Santee is finally getting an indoor movie theater, and another restaurant to go with it.

The long-awaited project that was a top priority of elected officials and most of the city’s candidates is slated to become a reality following unanimous approval of a contract by the Santee City Council Nov. 14.

The council voted 5-0 to enter into a development agreement with Eneract LLC to build a multi-screen movie theater and restaurant that will be operated by Studio Movie Grill, a Dallas-based private company that pioneered the dine-in cinema concept starting in the 1990s.

East County News Service

November 12, 2018 (La Mesa) – The Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, a consumer health library at 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, is now presenting its Fall Art Exhibit titled “Personal Impressions.” The collaborative exhibit showcases 20 paintings, including eight paintings by La Mesa resident Maureen Parker and 12 paintings by Parker’s art teacher, Kay Norris Carlin of San Diego. The exhibit runs through the end of December.