Update May 28, 2012 with a video news report by Paul Kruz, exclusive to East County Magazine, including interviews with the developer and Councilman Wells:

By Janis Mork and Miriam Raftery

May 23, 2012 (El Cajon)--El Cajon Council drew applause yesterday when by a unanimous decision, Council members rejected a proposal to tear down the East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC) and build a hotel on the site.

Instead, Council agreed to work with community members and a newly formed ECPAC Foundation to reopen the theater long heralded as a centerpiece of El Cajon's downtown revitalization. 

ECPAC Foundation, SAVE ECPAC groups  plan rally to save theater at 1 pm;  workshop at 2 p.m.; Council meeting at 3 p.m.

May 22, 2012 (El Cajon ) – Today at 1:30 p.m., the El Cajon Council will hold a special workshop on the future of the East County Performing Arts Center.   Council has given an exclusive 180-day agreement to a developer to propose plans for tearing down the theater and building a hotel.  Today, developer E. Neal Arthur will present his plans at the workshop.

May 17, 2012 (Flinn Springs) – The Strings of Spring Music Festival is being held at Summers Past Farms, 15602 Olde Hwy 80, Flinn Springs on May 19 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.  Bring lawn chairs and blankets. The event benefits the Challenge Center which provides physical therapy and assisted fitness services for the disabled.

May 8, 2012 (El Cajon)--The Grossmont College Symphony Orchestra and Master Chorale will present two performances of “Resonantes Musica,” featuring the works of choral music composer Morten Lauridsen, at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 11, at All Saints Episcopal Church, 625 Pennsylvania Ave., San Diego, and at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 12, at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, 7710 El Cajon Blvd., La Mesa.

May 3, 2012 (El Cajon) – It's been two years since the East County Performing Arts Center went dark.  But on Monday, a group of concerned citizens seeking to "Save ECPAC" took a behind-the-scenes tour last week to determine the extent of repairs needed to reopen the cherished community landmark. 

Although challenges are steep, the good news is that the cost for critical repairs appears to be significantly less than the estimates  provided by the city for a more ambitious renovation.

May 2, 2012 (San Diego) -- The Allied Gardens SpringFest is May 11-12 at the Allied Gardens Recreation Center, 5155 Greenbrier Ave., San Diego.  The kick-off party begins at 5:00 p.m. on May 11 with a concert featuring Fusion Beat at 7:45 p.m.  Saturday’s events begin at 9:00 a.m. with a Pancake Breakfast, followed by the SpringFest Parade.

Festivities include a car show, vendor booths, including food and a beer garden.  Saturday’s performances will be by Pullman Standard and Rockola. Children’s activities include a carnival, pony rides, inflatables, a rock climbing wall and a dunk tank.

April 27, 2012 (El Cajon) – Chuck McPherson, of the San Diego Watercolor Society (SDWS), will be doing a live watercolor demonstration at the Cuyamaca College Spring Garden Festival on April 28.  Attendees can create their own watercolor painting and join SDWS Paint-out at 12:30 p.m. for a critique of the day’s paintings.

April 24, 2012 (La Mesa) – O’Dunn Fine Art is hosting an opening of Still Crazy: Flowers, Found Objects and Favorite Things on April 27 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the gallery located at 8325 La Mesa Boulevard, La Mesa.  The featured art work is a collection of still life paintings from 20th century to contemporary, European and American.

The still life tableau allows the painter to select objects of particular esthetic appeal or personal significance, and to control composition and lighting.The best still life paintings bring visual respite and shared human experience. Featured artists include Ray Vinella, Gregg Kreutz and Brenda Morrison, among others.

This is a hosted event.  For more information contact the gallery at 619-337-8342.

“Save KLSD” film showings April 28 and May 19

By Miriam Raftery

April 21, 2012 (San Diego) – How does media consolidation impact American democracy?   The producers of the new documentary film Save KLSD: Media Consolidation and Local Radio present a case study suggesting that politics, not ratings, forced the San Diego region’s only progressive talk radio station off the air.

Two screenings of the film will be followed by question and answer sessions with producers John Monday and Jennifer C. Douglas, as well as radio host/narrator Jon Elliott and Shaun Spaulding of New Media Rights.