November 9, 2015 (ElCajon)—The sign-up is now open for Jingle Paws, an annual holiday walk to benefit the El Cajon Animal Shelter through ACES, an organization that funds surgeries for shelter pets and helps meet other needs.  You can sign up online to walk with your pet at https://www.crowdrise.com/JINGLEPAWSWALKFORPETS2015 or arrive early and register at the event.

This year, Jingle Paws will be held at the beautiful Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College on December 5th.

Source: Cuyamaca College

November 5, 2015 (El Cajon)--About 30 military veterans, now students at Cuyamaca College, enjoyed a barbecue and received school supplies at a Veterans Week commemoration hosted on campus Wednesday by the El Cajon Elks Lodge. The event, which also included a raffle for prizes including T-shirts, gift certificates from merchants and a pair of tickets to a Chargers’ football game, marked the second year that Elks Lodge 1812 joined the college in honoring student veterans.

View pedestrian safety video from El Cajon Police: http://vimeo.com/116996655

By Miriam Raftery

November 3, 2015 (El Cajon) – El Cajon has had 13 pedestrian fatalities in the past 20 months. In the prior 36 months, there were 10 fatalities. So in half the time, there have been double the number of pedestrian deaths. 

“That concerns us a great deal,” Police Chief Jim Redman told community members at a public safety forum held last month at the Ronald Reagan Community Center, where the department reached out to share safety tips, hear community suggestions, and advise about a new enforcement campaign aimed at saving lives.  A “Check before you step” campaign aims to educate the public on how to prevent pedestrian injuries and deaths.

Story and photos by Robert Gehr© 2015

October 22, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--Classic vehicles, hot rods, motorcycles and more are all part of Trunk or Treat at the Cajon Classic Cruise night on Wednesday, October 28 from 5 to 8 p .m. This family event in downtown El Cajon (Main Street at Magnolia Avenue and Prescott Promenade Park)  draws thousands of revelers celebrating Halloween - don’t forget to dress up for the occasion.

By Miriam Raftery

October 21, 2015 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police have arrested Michael Patrick McDonnell, 46.  He is charged with the murder of his roommate, Richard Winslow Hobbs, 72.

East County News Service

October 19, 2015 (El Cajon) – The El Cajon Police Department will host a community forum on traffic and pedestrian safety on Wednesday, October 21 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Ronald Reagan Community Center, 195 East Douglas Avenue in El Cajon.

From 2011 through 2014, 17 people died in pedestrian traffic accidents in El Cajon and 61 were seriously injured, according to results of a public records request by East County Magazine.  View data.

Photo, left: One of several new buildings funded at Cuyamaca and Grossmont College by recent bond revenues

East County News Service

October 15, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) -The San Diego County Taxpayers Association is calling on the board of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District to honor its pledge of fair and open competition for contracts to build taxpayer-funded projects,” according to a press release issued by the taxpayers’ group.

SDCTA says it will revoke its support for the GCCCD’s Proposition V bond measure if trustees vote on Oct. 20 to put in place a blanket project labor agreement for construction projects funded with proceeds from the 2012 measure. A project labor agreement requires that only contractors using union workers may bid on these publicly funded projects, a tactic that aims to assure good wages for local jobs.

East County News Service

October 14, 2015 (El Cajon) – A 72-year-old man found with serious head injuries at his home at 1037 Pine Drive in El Cajon last night died early this morning after being transported to a local hospital. 

“Detectives are actively investigating this case as a homicide,” says Lieutenant Frank La Haye with the El Cajon Police.  No suspect information is yet available, however he added, “There is no known or suspected immediate threat to the general public.”

The mortally wounded man was found at 8:35 p.m. after officers responded to a 911 call reporting an assault.

13 more cases suspsected, including 2 deaths as outbreak widens

County News Service

October 8, 2015 (San Diego) – Five new patients are confirmed to have been infected with West Nile virus, bringing the total number of people who have contracted the mosquito-driven disease this year to 11. These include  the second fatality this year localy---a 73-year-old El Cajon man who died October 4.

One newly confirmed case was detected after a routine blood donation last week by a 56-year-old San Diego woman had symptoms consistent with the virus, and three other cases confirmed by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) in patients who were hospitalized in September: a 77-year-old San Diego woman, a 53-year-old San Diego man, and a 60-year-old Ramona woman.

In addition, there are 13 suspected San Diego County cases pending confirmation by CDPH, including two suspected deaths.

October 5, 2015 (El Cajon)--The El Cajon Valley Host Lions Club will hold it's 25th annual Pancake Breakfast on Sunday October 25th between 8 am and 12 noon at the Ronald Regan Community Center 195 E. Douglas El Cajon.

Source: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District          

October 5, 2015 (El Cajon)--Omali Yeshitela, founder of the African People’s Socialist Party and the African Socialist International, is the featured speaker at Cuyamaca College’s Diversity Dialogues workshop, “Day in Solidarity with African People: Reparations for Stolen Black Lives,” set for 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, in the Performing Arts Center. The workshop is free and open to the public.

El Cajon cancer survivor is organizer of “Dance for Life” event

September 30, 2015 (San Diego)--Jazzercise instructors will bring San Diegans together to fight breast cancer and dance for a cure aboard the USS Midway on Saturday, Oct. 3 from 8:30-10 a.m. More than 1,000 Jazzercise instructors, customers, family and friends, including many who have been affected by breast cancer, are expected to participate in a huge group fitness class on the deck of the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier located at 910 N. Harbor Drive, San Diego. Proceeds will benefit the Susan G. Komen 3-Day®. At last year’s Jazzercise Dance for Life event, more than 1,100 people danced together and raised more than $93,000 to fight the disease.