East County News Service

February 11, 2017 (El Cajon) - The San Diego Blood Bank will accept blood donations at Granite Hills High School on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 from  8 am ‑  1:30 pm.  The drive will be held at 1719 E Madison Ave., El Cajon in the Wrestling Room.

About 1 in 7 people entering a hospital need blood. One pint of blood, which is the amount volunteers give when they donate blood, can save up to three lives. Approximately, 38% of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood but less than 10% do annually. Since blood is always needed, volunteers are asked to give blood for patients, such as those going through cancer or trauma.

By Miriam Raftery

February 11, 2017 (La Mesa) — On Wednesday, Helix Water District’s Board will be asked to provide staff with direction regarding Director Dan McMillan’s request for an analysis on reducing water rates—and setting a date for a board meeting to discuss those options. 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Dancers performed in front of ECPAC in its heydey.

February 9, 2017 (El Cajon) – The long-shuttered East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC) may finally be reopened under management of Live Nation, which claims to be the global leader in live entertainment. According to the company’s website,  Live Nation operates in 7 nations, has produce shows in nearly 40 countries, and has a concert somewhere in the world every 20 minutes.

The El Cajon City Council will vote Tuesday, February 14^th at its 3 p.m. meeting on authorizing the City manager to negotiate a draft management agreement with Live Nation .  View agenda and attachments. 

Does your son or daughter play a sport at a level other than varsity?  Drop a line on this story or tweet @ECMagSports to request coverage!

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Story and photos by Liz Alper

February 7, 2017 (El Cajon) - The Granite Hills Eagles girls’ basketball team are 1-4 in conference play and 8-11 overall.  Luckily for them, the Steele Canyon Lady Cougars have not won a single game in conference play; they are 0-7 against Grossmont League teams and 9-12 on the season.  The two squads faced off tonight.

By Rachel Williams

February 5, 2017 (El Cajon) -- Falafel softly crackles and pops in the frying pan as the smell of tahini infuses the air at Cajon Terrace Apartments. While the kids practice their ABCs and numbers in their new living room, a Syrian husband and wife cook side by side.

By Mike Allen

February 4, 2017 (El Cajon) -- While many residents near El Cajon’s Gillespie Field decry an increase in activity from flight schools, proponents of a long-planned airport expansion say the project could generate thousands of high-paying, high tech jobs, and be a boon to East County.

East County News Service

January 31, 2017 (El Cajon) -- Ben Kalasho is the newest elected Councilman representing El Cajon residents. He will host a town hall meeting on Thursday, February 9 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. to hear the concerns and questions from his community & neighbors.   The meeting will be held at the El Cajon Police Station community room, 100 Civic Way in El Cajon.

By Miriam Raftery

File photo:  Prayer vigil for Iraqi Christians in El Cajon

January 28, 2017 (El Cajon) – President Donald Trump’s sweeping order restricting refugees from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the U.S. has been greeted with optimism by some in San Diego’s Chaldean Christian community, since Trump has stated on a Christian broadcasting station that he would give priority to persecuted Christians, after a tougher vetting process is implemented.

Mark Arabo, president of the Minority Humanitarian Foundation in San Diego, voices hope that the order could help save lives of Christians facing death at the hands of ISIS in the Middle East.  An estimated 400,000 Iraqi Christians have fled Iraq and another 80,000 have been killed or tortured, some by crucifixion and beheadings 

Some have suggested Trump's order could be unconstitutioal for discriminating against Muslims.

Arabo, while hopeful to get help for persecuted Christians,  also expressed a wish for the order to be expanded to protect other people persecuted by ISIS, regardless of their faiths.

By Monica Zech, Public Information Officer for the City of El Cajon

January 27, 2017 (El Cajon) – Here are the latest civic and community events, announcements, and information from the City of El Cajon.

East County News Service

January 27, 2017 (La Mesa) – The Helix Water Board has some important matters to consider at its next two meetings.  On Monday, January 30^th at 6 p.m., the board will interview applicants and appoint a new director to fill a vacancy on the board.  Then on Wednseday, February 1^st at 6 p.m., ,the agenda includes a discussion of the County Water Authority’s declaration finding the drought is over in San Diego County—and what actions the Helix District should consider taking to ease water use restrictions on ratepayers.

Glover insists comment not meant as racist

By Jonathan Goetz

January 26, 2017 (El Cajon) – In the same week that President Donald Trump announced an executive order to block new immigrants from Iraq, El Cajon Veterans Commissioner George Glover stated, “Why doesn’t Ben Kalasho go back home to where he came from?”

Do you have a son or daughter that plays a sport at a level other than varsity?  Drop a line on this story or tweet @ECMagSports to request coverage!

Like our sports coverage?  Donate to help support ECM’s sports section!

Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and stories!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

January 24, 2017 (El Cajon) - Deep in the heart of conference play, the El Cajon Valley High School Braves varsity boys basketball team looked to improve their 0-2 record in conference play against the Matadors of Mount Miguel.

East County News Service

January 24, 2017 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon will hold public hearings tonight, January 24, and again on February 14th to approve criteria for creating City Council District boundaries and a schedule for establishing district elections. 

By Miriam Raftery

January 19, 2017 (El Cajon) – On February 7^th at 7 p.m. El Cajon’s Planning Commission will consider a proposal to convert an existing building into a crematorium burning human remains.  The site is located at 1150-1168 North Marshall Avenue between Fesler Street and Vernon Way.

Crematoriums in urban areas can cause serious problems.  In 2011, the County shut down a crematorium in unincorporated El Cajon after numerous public complaints and findings of health hazards to the public.  Neighbors’ videos and eyewitness accounts documented smoke and sparks coming out of the facility, with ashes coating nearby cars, patios, and even hamburgers at a fast food restaurant next door, as ECM reported.

Like our sports coverage?  Donate to help support ECM’s sports section!

Do you have a son or daughter that plays a sport at a level other than varsity?  Drop a line on this story or tweet @ECMagSports to request coverage!

Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and stories!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

January 16, 2017 (El Cajon) - Even though it was Martin Luther King Day, the Valhalla Norsemen varsity girls’ soccer team was in action against the Centurions of University City High.  It was the Norsemen’s last non-conference game before conference play.