East County News Service

December 9, 2016 (Alpine) -- Detectives with the Sheriff's Homicide Detail and the Fugitive Task Force have arrested Alpine resident Wiliey Foster in connection with the death of 18 month-old Leah Brown-Meza. Foster is the live-in boyfriend of the baby’s mother.

December 9, 2016 (La Mesa)-- The new Holiday in the Village event will be bringing back some of La Mesa's most cherished holiday traditions--including chestnuts roasting on open fires,  holiday music and carnival rides for kids,  plus creating some new memories for all including booths with over 80 artisans.  Santa Claus will also be at the event slated for this Saturday,  December10th from 10 a.m.to 10 p.m. There's also a holiday card drive to brighten the holidays for U.S. troops overseas.

This is the first year that the new  La MesaVillage Association has been in charge of the event.  East County Magazine interviewed  Katie Halvin,  an organizer of the event,  on our radio show originally aired on KNSJ 89.1  FM. 

You can listen now by clicking the audio link.

By Miriam Raftery

December 7, 2016 (Dulzura) –The Highway 94 Club, in partnership with East County Vintners, will present their 4^th annual Wine Tasting on Thursday, December  15^th at 6:30 p.m. in the Barrett Junction Café on Highway 94.

By Kathy Carpenter

Associate/Youth Reviewer www.sdtheatrereviews.com

December 7, 2016 (El Cajon) - Peace on Earth, good will toward men. This is the time of year for giving. Give yourself a gift by taking time away from the stress of shopping, baking, social events, wrapping, the list goes on ... Add time for yourself helping others. For$7.00 you can't even go to a movie,  but you can enjoy going toyouth theatre. The look on the faces of the cast as they look out and see a full audience is priceless.

Update:   The deceased child has been identified as Leah Brown-Meza. The autopsy result has been sealed as an investigation continues.

East County News Service

December 7, 2016 (Alpine) — Sheriff’s homicide and child abuse detectives are investigating the death of an Alpine toddler under suspicious circumstances.

Sheriff’s deputies and paramedics responded to a 911 call reporting an 18-month-old girl was found not breathing, shortly before noon yesterday.  The child was in a motorhome parked at 302 Hunter Lane in Alpine.

By Jonathan Goetz

Photos:  Ben Kalasho,  Steve Goble and Bob McClellan

December 6, 2016 (El Cajon) -- Challengers Steve Goble and Ben Kalasho have won seats on the El Cajon City Council, and will be joining Bob McClellan, who won reelection. The swearing-in ceremony will be held on December 13^th at Council Chambers.

By Miriam Raftery

December 6, 2016 (Julian) – The Julian Family Fiddle Camp is an acoustic music immersion program for the young and young-at-heart including instruction in guitar, mandolin, ukulele and banjo as well as fiddle playing.  Registration is now open for the April 11-15,2017 fiddle camp in historic Julian.

East County News Service

December 5, 2016 (San Diego's East County) - The Forest Conservation Initiative Lands General Plan Amendment (GPA) is scheduled for the December 14, 2016 San Diego County Board of Supervisors hearing agenda.  The purpose of this hearing is for the Board of Supervisors to receive and consider the County of San Diego Department of Planning & Development Services report on the GPA and certification of the Final Supplemental Impact Report prepared for the GPA. 

East County News Service

December 5, 2016 (Ramona) – A dedication ceremony was held in Ramona last week for a new public trail along San Vicente Road.

A two-mile section of the San Vicente road from Warnock Drive through Wildcat Canyon to the entrance of San Diego Country Estates has been widened and straightened, also adding a 10-foot-wide multi-use trail alongside the roadway.

East County News Service

December 5, 2016 (El Cajon) – California Sen. Joel Anderson (R-Alpine) will host his annual Legislative Open House from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 7, at Toyota of El Cajon, 965 Arnele Ave., El Cajon. The free event is an opportunity for Anderson and his staff to meet with constituents and hear ideas on new legislation for 2017. All attendees will receive a 2016 legislative update and an opportunity to submit ideas to improve state government. Anderson says several of the bills he has introduced in the past originated from suggestions by attendees to this annual event. Donated hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be provided by local businesses and community partners. To RSVP, contact Anderson’s El Cajon district office at (619) 596-3136, or visit www.senate.ca.gov/anderson.

Update: Hear our interviews with Stephen Houlahan and  Preserve Wild Santee leader Van Collinsworth on environmental issues in Santee by clicking the audio link.

Mike Allen

Photo: Councilman Jack Dale moderated meeting on Castlerock project November 29 with elected officials, city workers, and representatives from developer Pardee Homes.

December 3, 2016 (Santee) -- Angry residents near the Castlerock housing project lashed out at Santee city officials and representatives from developer Pardee Homes during a public meeting November 29, saying the way the project is unfolding is nothing like the plans they saw earlier this year.

By Miriam Raftery

December 1, 2016 (El Cajon) — A notice from the city of El Cajon today announces that a Draft Environmental Impact Report on the city’s proposed Housing Element Rezoning Program is available for public review and written comment starting December 5th through January 19^th.

A community open house is set for January 5^th from 6 p.m.to 7 p.m. at the El Cajon Branch Library (201 East Douglas) meeting room to discuss the project, the California Environmental Quality Act public review process and the content and findings of the draft EIR.

Fleeing violence in Syria, some fear homelessness in U.S.

Hear our radio interviews with Syrian refugees and those seeking to help them in El Cajon by clicking the audio link.

By Rachel Williams

December 1, 2016 (El Cajon) -- Within the Villas of Embasadora, a motel in El Cajon, Syrian refugees have converted their rooms into makeshift homes where it’s cheaper for families of eight, or eleven to survive, than in San Diego’s public housing where costs have risen sharply.

East County News Service

November 30, 2016 (La Mesa) - The La Mesa Historical Society invites you to celebrate the end of the year in style at its annual Christmas Open House on December 11 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the McKinney House, 8369 University Avenue in La Mesa.

East County News Service

November 30, 2016 (El Cajon) – A settlement has been reached in the case of an El Cajon couple accused of keeping a housekeeper against her will as an indentured servant.

The victim, who asked to be identified by her initials, W.M., wanted to go home to Indonesia and did not want to go through the ordeal of confronting her alleged captors in court, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.  So prosecutors negotiated a plea deal.