Update: The cause of death for Goffeney and his wife was fentanyl addiciton, Goffeney's daughter posted.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Mark Goffeney, Creative Commons image via Wikipedia

March 14, 2021 (El Cajon) – Mark Goffeney, the internationally acclaimed armless musician known as “Big Toe” who inspired people around the world, was found dead on March 2nd in his El Cajon apartment along with his wife, Annmaree. Both were 51. An autopsy will determine their causes of death.

Born without arms in 1969, Goffeney inspired millions with his can-do attitude. He learned to play the guitar and bass with his feet, strumming with his left foot and forming chords with his right.  He was nominated in an Emmy award in 1999 for his role in a Fox commercial, “Feet”, which later aired during the Superbowl in 2000 and 2001.  He’s performed around the world with many top celebrities, also appearing on an array of TV shows.

Source: Helix Water District

March 4, 2021 (Lakeside) -- Helix Water District has launched its 10th annual Lake Jennings Spring Photo Contest to share the beauty of its reservoir with the local community. The contest is open to photos taken at Lake Jennings between March 1 and May 31, 2021.

East County News Service

February 11, 2021 (Ramona) - Don’t miss this opportunity to have fun doing something healthy for your heart with a self-guided walking tour of the Ramona H.E.A.R.T. Murals on Saturday, Feb. 13 from 9:00 a.m. to noon as part of Live Well San Diego’s “Love Your Heart Week.”

East County News Service

February 11, 2021 (San Diego) --  Write Out Loud, San Diego Public Library, La Jolla Historical Society and San Diego Writers, Ink present the San Diego Decameron Project. Community members countywide were invited to submit unpublished fiction or nonfiction narratives of 1,000 words or less based loosely around the theme of the current pandemic. The top 10 most compelling stories will be read by Write Out Loud actors and presented in a virtual presentation on February 26 along with a panel discussion with the top authors. Sign up to receive free access to the ceremony at https://writeoutloud.ticketspice.com/san-diego-decameron-project-celebration. 

Source: Ramona H.E.A.R.T. Murals

February 11, 2021 (Ramona) -- Artist Simon Melnyk has been chosen by Ramona H.E.A.R.T. murals to create a new mural paying tribute to the Kumeyaay Native Americans who occupied the area as long as 12,000 years ago.

The mural will be placed on the Verizon Building at 1530 Main Street, Ramona to be completed in September 2021 and will fill a portion of the wall on the end closest to Main St.

East County News Service

January 18, 2021 (Rancho San Diego) – The Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College invites you to meet award winning landscape designer, author, and San Diego resident, John Beaudry on January 28 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The author of “Garden Sanctuary,” he creates outdoor living spaces to harmonize the environment. John shares his easy to follow process as featured in his book, along with inspiration to experience your garden as a personal sanctuary.

A gift to the community, spreading hope and joy during the holidays, Starlight Amphitheater’s New Streaming Studios give children a one-on-one personal minute with Santa

East County News Service

December 17, 2020 (San Diego) - This holiday season, Starlight Amphitheaters New Streaming Studios gives children a one-on-one personal minute with Santa unlike any other. The Save Starlight organization, the non-profit working in tandem with the city in the restoration and re-activation of the Historic Starlight Amphitheater in Balboa Park, is hosting Santa’s Zoom Room on 12/20-12/22, this Sunday - Tuesday from 5-8 p.m.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Ron Logan

November 22, 2020 (San Diego) – Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California) is cosponsoring two measures aimed at helping struggling businesses as other benefits run out, as well as a measure specifically aimed at helping arts organizations such as theaters.

Senator Feinstein states, “More assistance is clearly needed.  Artistic and cultural institutions are struggling for their survival.”

By Miriam Raftery

November 12, 2020 (Washington D.C.) -- The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) this week called for Congress and the Trump administration to act now to save local movie theaters devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic by passing relief legislation. According to a press release issued by the organization, 96% of movie theaters have reported over 70% in losses in 2020. 

By Lamplighters Theatre, La Mesa

Local theaters already shut down by COVID-19 may be further negatively  impacted if Prop 15 becomes law.

October 23, 2020 (La Mesa) -- In the upcoming November ballot there is one proposition that will impact our theatre and most community theaters, as well as most non-profits and small businesses.  Proposition 15, if passed, will raise taxes on commercial and industrial properties while exempting properties and residences worth less than $3 million. 

East County News Service

October 11, 2020 (San Diego) – Is it “who” or “whom?” Or, “that” or “which?” Or, “is” or “are?”

Also, where do you stand on terminal prepositions, split infinitives, “hopefully” as a floating adverb and “they” as a third-person singular pronoun?

East County News Service

Photos: Facebook

Film director Santiago Maza Stern to join other shorts directors for panel discussion during San Diego International Film Festival

October 6, 2020 (San Diego) - This year’s film, Todavía Después (English: Still After), directed by Santiago Maza Stern premieres during the San Diego International Film Festival as part of the Docu-Drama shorts. Director Santiago Maza Stern will also speak on the shorts director panel where patrons will get to hear directly from Santiago and other directors in the shorts category. The San Diego International Film Festival runs through October 18th. www.sdfilmfest.com