April 29, 2015 (La Mesa) -- The City of La Mesa has once again updated its economic development webpage with refreshed Commercial Space Availability Reports. According to the most recent reports, dated April 2015, there is approximately 146,000 square feet of retail space available in the City; 150,000 square feet of office space; and 37,000 square feet of industrial space.  Retail vacancy is down over 20% from April 2014 and office vacancy is down roughly 14%. 

April 29, 2015 (La Mesa) -- The Independent Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee (ICBOC), a group of volunteers monitoring how the public agency Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is spending millions of dollars in taxpayer-approved bonds for new and improved patient care facilities at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa, has issued its 2014 Annual Report to the Community.

By Miriam Raftery

April 25, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) has released a $200 billion, 35-year regional growth plan for the county titled "San Diego Forward: The Regional Plan."   The plan lays out visions for transportation, sustainability and growth through 2050 including higher density land use along transportation corridors.

Several public hearings will be held including a May 13^th hearing at 6 p.m. in La Mesa’s community center.  But thus far, no hearings have been schedule in East County’s mountain, desert or rural areas.

East County Magazine asked the County why no hearings are scheduled in those areas. We pointed out that rural, mountain and desert areas lack public transit, making it difficult for residents to travel long distances to attend hearings in San Diego or even La Mesa.  In response, the County indicated it could hold additional workshops potentially if a community group to partner with could be found.

April 28, 2015 (El Cajon)--Need help finding a job – or a new career?

April 20, 2015 (La Mesa)-- On Wednesday, April 29, 2015 the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce invites you to join a unique evening and opportunity to meet some of the local businesses within the community. The “Spring Fling - Business Expo” is a new event that has been requested by local businesses to provide them an opportunity to showcase their goods and services.

April 6, 2015 (In-Ko-Pah)—The second annual In-Ko-Pah classic desert concert will be held  on May 2^nd .   This outdoor high-desert concert will be held at the Desert View Tower, a state historical monument perched on a rocky hillside overlooking the Anza-Borrego Desert. The In-Ko-Pah offers music lovers and naturalists alike a chance to experience an overnight event within our Southwest region.

East County News Service

Photo: George Hodan, PublicDomainPictures.net

April 27, 2015 (La Mesa) -- Do you have a budding artist or a child that loves to learn Chess?  What about your sports enthusiast or do they love to work with wood and tools?  La Mesa Community Services is offering twenty-one (21) “Summer to Remember!” camps that will put a smile on any child’s face ages four years and up:  Archery, Art Smarts, Baseball, Basketball, Chess, Code to the Future, Dance, Day Camp, Engineering, Fencing, Flag Football, Golf, Gymnastic, Jump Rope, Kids in the Kitchen Cooking, Mad Science, Martial Arts, Multi-Sport, Tennis,  Woodworking, and Yoga Rascals.

By Robert Gehr©

April 26, 2015 (El Cajon)--The grand opening  of Cajon Classic Cruises last Wednesday night appeared to be a rousing success. Everywhere I looked there were crowds of people checking out old cars. Most were fully restored in various manners, yet a few were ‘as is’ and still needing much work. Perhaps the owners had not gotten around to that yet, or maybe the ‘rat’ look was by design.

By Ed Barrena



April 24, 2015 (Santee)--Some breweries are huge, some are small. Butcher's Brewing in Santee is a small microbrewery, however they serve nothing but big beers.

April 19, 2015 (Ramona) – You’re invited to East County Magazine’s Spanish Fiesta celebration on Sunday, April 26^th from 12-2 p.m. at the beautiful Hacienda de las Rosas Winery in Ramona!

Your ticket includes wonderful wine-tasting, live flamenco guitar music by Myles Moynier, Peruvian Paso equestrian demonstration by Jorge Valenzuela, fabulous lunch by Jeremy’s on the Hill, delightful desserts from Grove Pastry Shop,  plus a silent auction and fabulous opportunity drawing prizes!

This event is limited to our subscribers--subscribe free at http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/wild-fire-alerts for our weekly newsletter, wildfire alerts or both.  Proceeds benefit our wildfire reporting for fire season. 

RSVP by Wednesday to enter a drawing for a Spanish guitar CD by the famous Romeros family. 

SDG&E will also be on hand with free gifts and energy saving tips.

For detail on the event, our fabulous line-up of prizes and more, click "read more" and scroll down.

Fabulous prizes! Olaf Wieghorst signed Western print, barbecue grill and accessories, Hacienda de las Rosas wine basket, happy hour at Hatfield Creek Vineyard, Ramona Ranch Vineyard wine, vintage jewelry from Antiques in the Village, arrowhead jewelry from Mountain Gypsy, earrings from Warm Hearth, Hand-wove scarves from Weaving Works in Santa Ysabel, gift certificate from Kathy’s Dress Shop, Array Mbira music lessons, guitar or vocal lessons from Ed Barrena, craft items, gift baskets, tickets to Julian Wild & Scenic Film Festival, tickets to Sage & Songbirds garden tour and festival, Circle Players "Cafe Murder" theater tickets, wine and tastings from Woof 'n' Rose Winery, and more!

Photo courtesy of ECM news partner 10 News

East County News Service

April 24, 2015 (El Cajon )  --An El Cajon mother is heartbroken after thieves stole her baby daughter’s cremated ashes.

April 23, 2015 (Lakeside) – Lakeside’s River Park Conservancy invites you to honor your Mom by helping Mother Nature.  Come help clean up the riverbed on Sunday, May 10^th and all Moms present will receive a Mother’s Day Card and packet of seeds to start her own butterfly garden.

April 22, 2015 (El Cajon)—El Cajon has rolled back its sales tax from 9% to 8.5% due to the sunsetting of Proposition O, a temporary sales tax that helped build public safety facilities and more.

Source: La Mesa Chamber of Commerce

April 23, 2015 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Chamber members and local business owners joined together on Tuesday, April 14th to learn of upcoming Chamber activities and hear from the guest speaker, Supervisor Dianne Jacob. 

Supervisor Jacob shared her accomplishments from the past several years, discussed new ordinances for agricultural activities within the county and shared her new passion, The Alzheimer's Project: A Call To Arms.

The Supervisor shared the startling statistics of the negative and detrimental impact of this disease. Supervisor Jacob also informed the audience that not only does Alzheimer's impact the deterioration in the health of the patient, but it has a huge negative impact on the family members that are care givers. She is encouraging partners on this project and challenged groups to come on board and be a part of this project.

By Miriam Raftery

April 20, 2015 (Ramona)--Move over, Babe Ruth.  There’s a new pitcher-slugger on the mound.