Photos:  East County Chamber President Eric Lutz and three fresh faces running for local offices:  Laura Koval for Santee City Council, Teresa Rosiak-Profitt for both Lemon Grove Council and Grossmont-Cuyamaca school board, and Jeff Griffith for State Senate.

By Miriam Raftery

September 1, 2018 (El Cajon)—Some 20 candidates and public officials flocked to “Politics in Paradise” hosted by several local chambers of commerce Thursday night at the Water Conservation Garden.

This year, the format did not include a panel discussion or questions, but rather guests had the opportunity to speak one-on-one with candidates. Each candidate also had 30 seconds to introduce themselves, with moderator Barry Jantz indicating any who ran over would get the “hook.”  Most gave just the basics – name, what they’re running for and how to find them – though a few managed to get some zingers in.

East County News Service

August 29, 2018 (El Cajon) – Alley Cat Art Walk will take place on Friday, September 14^th from 5 to 8 p.m. in downtown El Cajon.  It’s the purr-fect place for lovers of arts and music, plus you can enjoy wine tasting, a beer garden, artisan crafts booths, boutique vendors, live music and children’s activities in addition to fine art.

The event’s activities will be held in Arts Alley between Main and Rea streets, as well as surrounding street.  Alley Cat Art Walk is sponsored by St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center and supported by a San Diego County Community Enhancement grant.

By Sgt. K. Trotter, El Cajon Police

August 28, 2018 (El Cajon) — As we enter the final stretch of summer spending time at the pool or barbequing with friends and family, El Cajon Police Department is driving home the importance of celebrating responsibly by not driving, or riding a motorcycle, impaired. 

By Miriam Raftery

August 22, 2018 (El Cajon) — A hiker on the Sycuan reservation came upon the scene of a fatality accident at 8 a.m. and notified authorities. 

East County News Service

August 20, 2018 (El Cajon) – Shaun Pursglove sent in these photos of a large flag in El Cajon. He writes, “Many people in the East County have noticed this beautiful flag flying in our night sky.  I see it from my backyard (1st picture) and had to go see where it was coming from.  I took my dog for a walk and we tracked it down to Mauzy Heating, Air & Solar on Bond Ave (2^nd picture) in El Cajon.  It fills my heart with pride when I see it and thought you might want to share it and give Mauzy a shout out.  I put a thank you note on their door and posted both pictures on Facebook. 

East County News Service

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

Photo: Bessmon "Ben" Kalasho, August 2015

August 9, 2018 (El Cajon)--An exclusive investigation by East County Magazine has uncovered a criminal case in which El Cajon Councilman Bessmon “Ben” Kalasho pled guilty to two counts of workers’ compensation fraud in October 2015 (court case #MD094871).  View full documents. 

Kalasho was on probation for his crimes, both misdemeanors, when he ran for and won his seat on the City Council in 2016. He remains on probation until October 1, 2018. He was also fined.  

His criminal record did not come to light during the campaign because he ran for office as Ben Kalasho without listing his real name, Bessmon Kalasho, with the San Diego County Registrar of Voters.

Kalasho has pulled papers to run for El Cajon City Council again in November.   

By Alan Ridley

“Try fencing.  Other sports are pointless.”

August 8, 2018 (St. Louis) - Ten athletes from East County’s LionHeart Fencing Academy took part in the United States National Fencing Championship held in St. Louis, Mo. from June 28 – July 7.

More than 4,000 competitors from throughout the nation participated in the largest fencing event in the world where the best fencers in the United States vied for gold.   National Champions were crowned in age groups from ages 8 to 80 with 60 titles in all three fencing disciplines (epee, foil and saber) for both men and women.

By Miriam Raftery and Paul Kruze

August 6, 2018 (El Cajon) – The legal spiderweb entangling El Cajon Councilman Bessmon "Ben" Kalasho and his wife, Jessica, has become even stickier. Superior Court Judge Timothy Taylor has issued an order granting a motion by plaintiff Lina Charry, deeming admitted the contents of requests for admissions to which the Kalashos repeatedly failed to respond. Those admissions include allegedly illegal financial dealings,fraudulent and defamatory actions.

By Miriam Raftery

August 4, 2018 (Rancho San Diego) – An unidentified man riding a Masi Gran Corsa road bike on Avocado Blvd. southbound near Nabal Drive was struck by a Toyota Camry at 8:08 a.m. today, suffering fatal injuries.

According to Officer Travis Garrow with the California Highway Patrol, the cyclist was in the southbound bike lane and turned left into the path of the car, driven by a 63-yar old woman.  The male cyclist was struck and ejected onto the roadway.

By Miriam Raftery

August 1, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – The filing deadline to run for local offices is August 10^th.   We checked with El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove and Santee to find out which seats are on the ballot, and who has taken out papers declaring an intent to run for city council or mayor so far.  Below is the list of prospective candidates to date, though more candidates may file, and prospective candidates are not confirmed until they turn in signatures and meet verification requirements to qualify for the November ballot. 

If you are interested in running, you have until August 10 to pull papers and turn in the required signatures from registered voters in support of your candidacy. Since some city offices are closed on Friday the 10th, be sure to check with your local jurisdiction.

City Council and Mayoral races are officially nonpartisan; however, some officials tout their endorsements or affiliations with political parties. For those candidates, we have listed their affiliations.

By Miriam Raftery

July 29, 2018 (El Cajon) – A man stabbed in front of a 7-11 store in the 700 block of Jamacha yesterday afternoon died after being transported to a local hospital, says Lt. Walt Miller with the El Cajon Police Department. 

Soon after the stabbing, reported at 2:05 p.m. Saturday, officers responded to a burglary at an apartment in the 1200 block of north Mollison.  They took a burglary suspect to a hospital  for medical issues unrelated to his arrest, according to Lt. Miller.

“Investigators are exploring the possibility that this suspect may be related to the stabbing based on a physical description provided by witnesses,” said Miller. That suspect’s identity has not been released. However a second suspect may still be at large.

By Briana Ghaffery

July 18, 2018 (El Cajon)— Sheriff’s Captain Marco Garmo became the victim of a hate crime at a young age, along with his father, who was savagely beaten over a mistaken ethnic identity during a robbery at the Garmo family’s convenience store in El Cajon.

At a hate crimes forum in El Cajon on July 17th, sponsored by the San Diego Regional Hate Crimes Coalition and El Cajon Police Department, Captain Garmo told East County Magazine that he hopes to encourage the public to report hate crimes.

“The reason why we’re having this out here in the city of El Cajon is that it has the largest influx of refugees and immigrants from the Middle East, and we feel like they need to be educated as to hate crimes,” he said, adding that law enforcement believes hate crimes are under-reported by those who are victimized.

By Miriam Raftery

July 15, 2018 (El Cajon) – As the scandals involving Councilman Ben Kalasho mount, with 11 citizens calling for his resignation at the last City Council meeting, some community members are now asking why the City Council has not censured Kalasho, who has announced his intent to run for Mayor.