By Miriam Raftery

April 16, 2015 (El Cajon) – The City of El Cajon is cracking down on liquor stores and markets that sell alcohol to minors and serial inebriates. Following sting operations that found many stores selling to minors, some repeatedly, on Tuesday the City Council voted unanimously to ask staff to work on preparing a ballot initiative to make alcohol sale restrictions part of the city’s charter so that the limits will be “very difficult to take it out,” Mayor Wells said.

No one spoke publicly against the ballot initiative effort. But Mayor Bill Wells (photo, left)  said he and the council members have been threatened by the liquor industry with punishment if the measure is put on the ballot. The industry and its lobbyists “have said that they will spend tremendous amounts of money to make sure we are never elected again,” said the Mayor, who told citizens present, “We don’t want you to be in a position where your city council changes or your mayor changes and all of that hard work can just be wiped away with a single vote.”

East County News Service

April 15, 2015 (Spring Valley) – Three young people trapped in a burning car that flipped over after a crash in front of Monte Vista High School on Monday owe their lives to courageous bystanders.

East County News Service

April 16, 2015 (La Mesa) -- Two Army National Guard soldiers from East County were arrested Wednesday and charged with selling weaponry including assault rifles, ammunition and body armor to undercover agents who posed as Mexican drug cartel members.

April 15, 2015 (Lakeside)--The 50^th annual Lakeside Western Days Parade will roll out on Saturday, April 18^th starting at 9:30 a.m. down Lakeside’s Maine Street.   This year’s theme is “There’s no place like home” and the grand marshal is Gita Morena, granddaughter of L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos:  East County residents celebrated Blackwater halting plans to build a training camp in Potrero in 2008.

April 15, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Many in East County recall the successful battle wagered by rural residents here to halt a Blackwater paramilitary training camp from being built in Potrero.   Just months before Blackwater announced plans to cancel the Potrero project in 2008, news broke that Blackwater guards had been accused of massacring innocent civilians in Iraq’s Nisour Square on September 16, 2007.

By Miriam Raftery

April 12, 2015 (Alpine)—Teddy and Baloo, two “moon” bears (also known as Himalayan black bears) were released this week into a new multi-acre habitat at the Lions, Tigers and Bears sanctuary in Alpine.

April 12, 2015 (San Diego's East County) The Sage and Songbirds 18^th annual graden tour will be held May 1-3, 2015. This year’s self-guided tour includes five private homes plus a hummingbird haven and raptor rehabilitation facility.

By Bonnie Baranoff

April 12, 2015 (La Mesa) -- On Tuesday, April 14 at 2 p.m., 30-year La Mesa Police Department veteran and outgoing Police Chief Ed Aceves will “walk out” in what has become a traditional retirement ceremony at the La Mesa Police Department. Though officially retired in December 2014, he stayed on until his replacement, Chief Walter Vasquez, had a week to transition into the job.

In an ECM exclusive, Aceves shares how he got into law enforcement, how technology and communications have changed the field, his most memorable moments, and his plans for the future.

East County News Service

April 11, 2015 (La Mesa)--You wouldn’t think of going on vacation, taking a new job or even retiring without some advance planning. But most people don’t plan ahead for what could be life’s most important decision.

April 9, 2015 (Lakeside) – A two-hour guided hike at the Lakeside River Park will be held on Saturday, April 11 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. to learn about birds of the San Diego River. Gail Sabbadini will lead the hike, identifying both year-round and migratory species.

Story and photos by Robert Gehr © 2015

April 10, 2015 (El Cajon)--Baby Mallard ducks  are swimming and exploring their new world, under the ever-watchful eyes of the adults, at the waterscape in downtown El Cajon at Main Street and Sulzfeld Way.

Photo courtesy of Heartland Fire & Rescue

April 8, 2015 (Santee) - A fire that began at a towing yard on Pioneer Way in Santee Monday evening spread to a nearby deli, NBC news reports.  The two-alarm blaze destroyed a motorhome and several other vehicles.

By Miriam Raftery

April 10, 2015 (El Cajon )—At Tuesday's El Cajon City Council meeting, the City Council will discuss a proposal for a ballot initiative to crack down on alcohol sales to minors and chronic drunks, as well as potentially ban sales of powdered alcohol.

“My goal is to make this the strongest law in the United States to stop sales of alcohol to children and serial inebriates,” Vice Mayor Pro Tem Gary Kendrick told East County Magazine.

April 10, 2015 (Alpine) – The 25^th annual Vintage Alpine on Sunday May 3^rd from 1 to 4 p.m. at Summers Past Farms in Flinn Springs will feature tastings of 40 wines plus foods from fine restaurants across our region.  This event attracts over 500 people annually, with all proceeds used to benefit services and programs for the children of San Diego.

By Paul Kruze

Photo by Miriam Raftery: Performers on stage at ECPAC in brighter days

April 10, 2015 (El Cajon)--It has been said that “the opera ain’t over until the fat lady sings.” If all goes as planned, the fat lady could be soon be setting a date to sing on the stage at the shuttered and embattled East County Performing Art Center (ECPAC) sooner than later.

In a move that pleased local community activists who have decried the prolonged shutdown of downtown El Cajon’s entertainment venue, the City of El Cajon released an extensive request for bids to fix the theater’s leaky roof and bring about extensive technical upgrades throughout the facility.