April 17, 2015 (Rancho San Diego)--Six homegrown bands playing an eclectic mix of folk, jazz, pop and rock will perform on two stages on the grand lawn of Cuyamaca College at the Coyote Music Festival noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 2. Now in its seventh year, the entirely student-run festival will provide the community a free afternoon of live music by local talent in a family-friendly venue, where picnic blankets and lawn chairs are the best seats in the house.

By Miriam Raftery

April 17, 2015 (El Cajon) --  Recently, Citizens Oversight founder Ray Lutz challenged the city of El Cajon’s allocation of community development block grant funds to the East County Transitional Living Center for programs that benefit homeless people seeking to get off the streets. In a complaint sent to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Lutz argued that the program was illegal due to church-state separation requirements of the U.S. Constitution.

April 17, 2015 (La Mesa) –On the Edge Art Gallery invites the public to Metamorphosis: a time of renewal and regeneration.  This local artists’ gathering and art sale will be held on May 23 from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

April 16, 2015 (La Mesa)--Thirty years ago, a group of surfers from Malibu, California, were concerned about the health risks associated with environmental threats posed by escalating coastal development at their favorite surf spot. They took action. Not even they could have envisioned the history they were making when they succeeded in protecting their beloved surf spot.

April 14, 2015 (El Cajon)—Communities Against Substance Abuse (CASA) and the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce are offering a training program for stores on how to avoid selling alcohol to minors.  A recent sting operation by El Cajon Police found 18 of 66 stores selling alcohol to minors – and three stores did it twice.

East County News Service

April 16, 2015 (El Cajon)--The East County Democratic Club (ECDC) will consider issues related to the U.S.-Mexican Border, at its April 23, 2015, meeting.  Pedro Rios, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) project director, will address members and guests at  Coco’s Restaurant, 1324 East Main Street, El Cajon, 92021.  The featured speaker’s commentary will be first on the agenda at the 7 p.m. meeting, followed by a question and answer session.

Rios leads the AFSC’s U.S./Mexico Border Program.  He has been on the AFSC staff for twelve years. He is also chairperson for the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium, a coalition of over 30 organizations in San Diego working to support the rights of immigrants and refugees. A native San Diegan, Rios has worked on immigrant rights and border issues for over 18 years. He became active on immigration issues in the early 1990s, when California was debating the passage of Proposition 187, the anti-immigrant initiative that was later ruled unconstitutional.

April 16, 2015 (Julian) - On Friday, June 12^th, the Julian Woman’s Club will hold its annual Apple Blossom Tea at the Woman’s Club, 2607 “C” Street. There will be two seatings: 11:00 am and 1:30 pm. Cost is a $25 donation and reservations must be made in advance.

Source: County News Center

April 15, 2014 (Poway)--San Diego County and Poway are teaming up on an ambitious proposal to connect the region’s vast network of hiking and equestrian trails and other popular outdoor attractions.

Source: Cuyamaca College

April 15, 2015 (Rancho San Diego)--Like honey bees to a hive, the public swarms Cuyamaca College each year for its immensely popular Spring Garden Festival.  This year, the 22^nd annual free event takes place 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 25.

By Kristin Kjaero

April 14, 2015 (La Mesa) – A retirement, traffic circle safety on Harbinson after a crash, and permitting  projects after construction (from a chicken coop to a cave) were topics before the La Mesa City Council tonight.

The unmistakable star at the La Mesa City Council meeting today was Max, who is retiring at the ripe age of 7. That’s because Max is a chocolate lab and Police narcotic dog. Together with his handler, Officer Derek Cox, they have recovered over 2,700 grams of narcotics and made more than 156 felony narcotics arrests. To show he was on the job one last time, Max pawed up to inspect the Councilmembers’ desks as Cox made the rounds shaking hands. As handlers and dogs form such a strong bonds, Max is being allowed to stay with the family he loves.

By Kim Hamilton, Editor, Deerhorn Valley Antler

Editor’s note: A similar version of this letter was also sent to Supervisor Dianne Jacob’s office.

April 12, 2015 (Deerhorn Valley) -- In the outer rural areas we are spread out over a very large area. We have only two paved roads (Honey Springs and Deerhorn Valley Rd.), and from that intersection it is 15 miles and 20 minutes to reach the fire station in Jamul. Most of us live off of secondary roads like Mother Grundy Truck Trail, Bratton Valley, and Sierra Cielo. These are dirt roads that are privately maintained (or not).  The additional distance on rutted roads can add another 20-plus minutes of drive.  And that's when you know where you're going. Some roads are almost impassable for a large vehicle.

April 12, 2015 (El Cajon)--The Water Conservation Garden invites the public to its second-annual Butterfly Festival for an exciting program of activities that will engage all ages with butterflies on Saturday, May 9^th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The event highlights the important role that these insects play in our ecosystem and how visitors can attract and support butterflies in their home gardens using drought-tolerant plants.  Activities include:

April 10, 2015 (Rancho San Diego) –The Códice Borbónico is a pictorial story depicting the life of Mayan, Aztec, and other Native Americans. It is now on a special exhibit at the Heritage of the Americas Museum at Cuyamaca College.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Phil Konstanin

April 10, 2015 (El Cajon ) – Rock and roll superstar Chubby Checker will perform a concert with a “Twist” on  April 23^rd at Sycuan’s Live & Up Close Theater.  Checker rocketed to fame in 1960, when his recording of “The Twist” was the number one song in the nation, sparking a new dance craze and countless variations such as the “Peppermint Twist”, “Let’s Twist Again” and “Twist and Shout.”