East County News Service

January 21, 2019 (La Mesa) – Get creative!  Nainsook Framing + Art in La Mesa is offering a variety of art classes in February.  Enjoy an evening of wine, art and friendship while learning how to create mosaics, watercolor paintings, pendant jewelry and more.  Special for Valentine’s Day, on Feb. 7 you can also learn how to turn a black and white photo of your sweetheart into a painting.

East County News Service

Update January 17, 2019 11 p.m. Kennedy's vehicle was last seen Monday near Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa and a doctor's office in Lakeside. The search has now been extended beyond San Diego County for the missing woman and her black Chevy Trailblazer SUV, license #6RQP193.

January 17, 2019 (Lakeside) -- The Lakeside Sheriff's Substation wants your help in locating a missing woman. According to the Sheriff, 70-year-old Kathryn Anne Kennedy was last seen at her home on Harritt Road in Lakeside near Lakee Jennings. Her family reported her missing on Wednesday, January 16th.

"She has medical concerns and some memory problems," Jill Barto, a Cajon Valley school board member who has joined in the search, told ECM.

Source: Monica Zech, City of El Cajon

January 16, 2019 (El Cajon) -- Will you know what to do in the case of a wildfire, a home fire, or earthquake?  The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness and the hazards that may impact the area they live. Applications are now being accepted.

East County News Service

January 16, 2019 (El Cajon) -- The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Citizen of the Year luncheon on Tuesday, Feb. 5 from 12-2:30 p.m. at the El LCajon Elks Lodge (1400 E. Washington Ave., El Cajon).

Cost per person is $20.  For more information, please contact the Chamber office at (619) 440-6161.

East County News Service

January 16, 2019 (El Cajon) — The public is invited to join El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells at a town hall meeting on Wednesday, January 30^th at 6 p.m. at El Cajon Valley High School Theater, 1035 East Madison Avenue in El Cajon.

East County News Service

January 16, 2019 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, will host “Keeping Your Brain Fit,” an informational program about how to improve your brain health with brain exercises and lifestyle changes, from 10 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019. The program is part of the library’s “Wellness Wednesday” series, normally held on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Admission is free. Light refreshments will be served. Advance RSVP is not necessary. Handouts will be available.

East County News Service

January 14, 2019  (Jamul) – The highly anticipated 2019 Restaurant Week will feature two Jamul Casino^® restaurants: Prime Cut and Tony Gwynn’s.  Sponsored by the California Restaurant Association’s San Diego Chapter, San Diego Restaurant Week is January 20-27, 2019.  Over 180 restaurants will participate in the event.  As an opportunity to highlight their tastiest fare, many restaurants will offer prix fixe lunch and dinner menus especially for the event.

East County News Service

January 14, 2019 (El Cajon) -- The City of El Cajon announced today  that it now accepts passport applications on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. 

U.S. citizens planning international travel may apply for their passports at the City Clerk’s Office by appointment.

By Miriam Raftery

January 12, 2019 (Rancho San Diego) – Sheriff’s deputies surrounded a Verizon store in Rancho San Diego last night, after a citizen in the parking lot saw two men wearing masks enter the store. The witness called 911 at 6:22 p.m. The tip resulted in arrested of two suspected armed robbers, both teens, as they ran out of the store on Jamacha Rd. east of Campo Rd.  After the teens entered the store, “one of them pointed a firearm at the four employees in the store,” says Sgt. Michael Hettinger. “They demanded the employees give them the cash from the register and forced them at gunpoint into the back storeroom. The suspects then forced the employees to give them the cash from their wallets and open the safe which contained a large stock of phones.”

East County News Service

January 11, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – Heavy rain and snow is forecast to fall starting tonight, with several new storm systems from the Pacific northwest slated to reach our region next week.

According to the National Weather Service, tonight and tomorrow morning should bring a half inch of rain west of the mountains and up to an inch or rain in the mountains, with several inches of snow above 6,000 feet including Palomar Mountain. Be prepared for a brief period of very heavy rain and strong surf.

By Miriam Raftery

January 11, 2019 (Santee) — The Sheriff’s department seeks public help to find a white male in a dirty, newer model white Ford F-150 pickup truck lifted rims. The driver reportedly  tried to trick a 12-year-old boy into accepting a ride. The suspect is described as in his 40s with short blond hair, stubble on his face, wearing a brown Hurley baseball cap and short-sleeved plaid shirt in white and blue.

By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

January 10, 2019 (San Diego) - Weather forecasts are predicting more rain this weekend and next week, which means this may be a good time to pick up some free sandbags from the County and CAL FIRE to protect your home and property if you need them.

Story and photos by Liz Alper

January 9, 2019 (El Cajon) - Grossmont boys soccer is...well...let’s just say they could be doing better this season.  They’re currently sitting at 0-8-2 so far.  Tonight, the Hillers hosted Santana in the first Grossmont League game for both teams.  The Sultans are faring much better at 11-4-1.