East County News Service

November 29, 2017 (El Cajon) – The Gaslamp Quarter Jazz Orchestra will present a free concert on Sunday, December 17 at 4 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 500 Farragut Circle in El Cajon. The program includes a medley of Christmas music.  Doors open at 3:30 p.m.

By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

November 29, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - There’s an easy way to feel good this holiday season — just put a smile on the face of a less fortunate kid.

It’s easy to do. Simply drop off a new, unwrapped toy into the Toys for Tots donation box at one of four County airports — Gillespie Field in El Cajon, Ramona Airport in Ramona, McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad or Fallbrook Airpark in Fallbrook. You’ll be helping County airports and the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve make sure a bunch of kids have a happier holiday!

ECM's editor goes undercover to compare illicit pot shop to legally licensed dispensary

By Miriam Raftery

November 27, 2017 (El Cajon) – As cities grapple with how to regulate marijuana-based businesses, Outliers Collective, the county’s only legally licensed medical cannabis dispensary, provides evidence of advantages to licensing and regulating facilities, including product safety testing for consumers, security for employees, and avoiding problems caused by illegal pot shops such as crime, fire hazards, and products contaminated with pesticides.

By Greg Dunne                       

November 26, 2017 (Lakeside) -- The eagle has landed! Bald eagles in the East County? Yes, and if you want to see one of nature’s grand majesties, get out to Lake Jennings in December or January and you might get a glimpse of our National Emblem, the American bald eagle!

By Jim Lundquist

November 28, 2017 (Alpine) - There is a new campaign underway in Alpine to make our community safer and quieter for all residents.  It’s called the “25 Seconds” campaign. 

By Miriam Raftery

November 24, 2017 (Santee) – Off Broadway Live Theatre in Santee will present “A Big Band Christmas with The Gaslamp Quarter Jazz Orchestra & Leonard Patton" on Friday, December 22^nd at 7 p.m.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy of ECM news partner 10 News

November 23, 2017 (La Mesa) – A fire on Thanksgiving morning caused $250,000 in damage to a home and its contents in the 3800 of Carbo Court in La Mesa.

According to ECM news partner 10 News, Karla Fierro and her boyfriend helped her three children escape the fire, along with their dog. With help from a neighbor, they also evacuated a paralyzed man whom her boyfriend is caretaker for. The disabled man and his caretaker were treated at a hospital for smoke inhalation.

Image: “Signs of Survival” courtesy of SDWS

Source: San Diego Watercolor Society

November 28, 2017 (El Cajon) -- Ski Torzeski, an artist and resident of El Cajon, won the Second Place award in the highly competitive Member’s show, “Polar Extractions," currently at The San Diego Watercolor Society. His painting titled “Signs of Survival“ was given the honor by award-winning artist and juror, Mary Sievers.  According to Sievers, “I love how this artist captured the light. The colors and design are remarkable.”

East County News Service

November 21, 2017 (Julian) – Julian Theatre will present Charles Dickens’ holiday classic, “A Christmas Carol.”  This timeless tale focuses on the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge as he is visited by the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Future.  Scrooge’s clerk, Bob Cratchit and his impoverished family including the frail Tiny Tim face a grim future, unless Scrooge can find redemption and discover the true spirit of Christmas.

By Steve Goble, Councilmember in the City of El Cajon



November 21, 2017(El Cajon) -- Some voices, especially from outside the City of El Cajon, have mischaracterized the City’s temporary prohibition on feeding the public in public spaces.  I thought I’d address here why I voted for the temporary ordinance and attempt to clear up any misunderstandings which have been distributed on social media and spoken in public forums.

  By Paul Kruze

November 20, 2017 (El Cajon) – Since the East County Perform Arts Center shut down  in 2010, many East County residents have been frustrated with the slow pace of completing repairs and finding new management.

Finally, at last Tuesday’s El Cajon City Council hearing, residents heard the news they’ve long been waiting for. Mayor Bill Wells and City Manager Doug Williford announced that a preliminary five year management agreement for the theater has been reached with Live Nation, a Beverly Hills-based live-events company focused on producing worldwide concert and entertainment-show promotions.

Details of the final agreement are expected to be shared at the next meeting and approved by the City Council. The vote will mark the culmination of some one-and-a-half years of negotiation by Williford.

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office

November 20, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - Escape the shopping madness of Black Friday on Nov. 24 and discover the upside of outside during County Parks’ Green Friday. You can relax, breathe in the fresh air and maybe work off some of those Thanksgiving dinner calories. You’ll save some green, too. Parking fees will be waived at all County parks.

County Parks is offering several special Green Friday events across the region. They range from coffee with a ranger and a “Work Off the Turkey” boot camp class to exploring a butterfly garden and a sunset hike.

They all take place on Friday, Nov. 24.  Here is a roundup of events:

“We can create at least 6,000 jobs here.” – Pete Beauregard

By Miriam Raftery

November 17, 2017 (Ramona) – Out of the ashes of the 2007 firestorm in Ramona, Casa Aguilar arose.  The home of Pete  Beauregard and his wife, Amy McQuillan, just won the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2017 Innovation Award for zero net energy use. It’s also built to withstand wildfires. 

On October 24, Beauregard, a rancher, veteran, ex-rodeo bullrider and candidate for Congress in the 50^th Congressional district took the bull by the horns and convened a think tank meeting at his visionary home. The event brought together top green industry leaders to brainstorm ideas for bringing green manufacturing and building jobs to East County.

Update: Hear our interview with Dash McTavish from Food Not Bombs, a group planning to feed the homeless Nov. 25 in defiance of  El Cajon's ban.  Click the audio link to hear the interviewed originally aired on KNSJ.

By Miriam Raftery

November 12, 2017 (El Cajon) – Protest rallies on November 19^th and 25^th are being organized to oppose the El Cajon City Council’s unanimous decision to outlaw feeding the homeless and other city-owned properties, after previously banning camping in parks, sleeping on sidewalks and panhandling.  An online petition also calls on Mayor Bill Wells and the City Council to overturn the ban.  

By Miriam Raftery

November 18, 2017 (La Mesa) – A Go Fund Me page has been set up to restore funds stolen during the PTA Halloween fundraising carnival at Lemon Avenue Elementary School in La Mesa.