Deadline for new members to apply is Feb. 26 to perform in Spring Concert April 29

By Teresa Fistere, San Diego Festival Chorus and Orchestra

February 15, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- The San Diego Festival Chorus, based in East County, is in its 18^th season, and never sounded so good!

We are non-sectarian, performing choral masterworks and popular choral arrangements in the same program.

Our winter concert featured the Christmas portion of Handel’s “Messiah” and a zany “Musicological Tour of the Twelve Days of Christmas”. 1400 people attended our performance at the College Avenue Baptist Church, a marvelous venue.

This spring’s concert starts with John Rutter’s “Requiem”, a modern choral masterpiece. Anyone would be inspired by it. Then we get to perform songs from a new choral version of “West Side Story”. It’s a wonderful American musical. We finish the concert with delightful songs from “The Wizard of Oz”.

East County News Service

February 12, 2018 (Rancho San Diego) – Heritage of the Americas Museum is celebrating its 25^th anniversary with a special event on Saturday. April 14^th from 5 to 7 p.m. featuring guest artist Alfredo Rodriguez. The celebration also features a catered buffet, music, auction, drinks and good times.

By Miriam Raftery

February 7, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes Cupids and Canines at Grossmont Center, open farm day at the Oasis Camel Dairy, hawk watch in Ramona, chamber music in La Mesa, a valentine’s tea and valentines dinners in Julian.

Plus, we’ll have coming attractions including a valentine tour at the Water Conservation Garden, a jazz concert at a La Mesa winery, gospel music in Lemon Grove, a star party, a Celtic harp concert and international performer Gregory Page at Mission Trails, Seussical the Musical in Spring Valley, live bands at the Riviera Supper Club, the Boots Ball benefit for the Anza Borrego Foundation in Borrego Springs, and a St. Patrick’s Day half marathon in El Cajon.

So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

East County News Service

February 7, 2018 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – The Jacumba Hikers and Walkers  will lead a guided hike this Saturday to the Desert View Tower, one of the oldest roadside attractions/historic landmarks in this region, with a spectacular view of Imperial Valley.

East County News Service

February 7, 2018 (Spring Valley) - The Saps at Sea, the official Laurel & Hardy fan organization of San Diego, continue their slam-bang festival of funtastic films on Saturday, March 31st at 7:00 p.m. at Williams Hall at Trinity Church in Spring Valley (3902 Kenwood Drive) with doors opening at 6:30 p.m.

Fundraiser to benefit adults with developmental disabilities

East County News Service

February 2, 2018 (El Cajon) -- St. Madeleine Sophie’s Auxiliary will host its first Mardi Gras Gala on Saturday, February 17, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at the Marina Village’s Seaside Room to benefit St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC) in El Cajon. Ticket prices for the gala cost $55 per person prior to the event or $60 per person at the door.

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

January 31, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes Mean Mary in concert in Santee, a pow-wow at Cuyamaca College, Hawk Watch in Ramona, the Oak Ridge Boys at Sycuan, Inside the Actors’ Process at the Stagehouse Theatre, and a violin and cello concert at Mission Trails Regional Park.

Plus, we’ll have coming attractions including Cupid and Canines at Grossmont Center, a chamber music concert at the La Mesa Library, open farm day at the Oasis Camel Dairy, a Valentine’s Dinner in Julian, gardening tips and tours, live music at local night spots, the Martin Luther King Choir’s ensemble in Lemon Grove, a star party and a Celtic harp concert at Mission Trails, Seussical the Musical in Spring Valley, and a St. Patrick’s Day half marathon run through El Cajon.

So stay tuned for all of these events and many more!

East County News Service

January 30, 2018 (East County) – Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the 12 Chick-fil-A restaurants in San Diego County, including the restaurants at 9418 Mission Gorge Road in Santee and 8200 Fletcher Parkway in La Mesa, will host a “Daddy-Daughter Date Night” for fathers and daughters from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 7.

Source:  Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District

January 26, 2018 (El Cajon) - Cuyamaca College’s Native American Student Alliance is hosting its 4th Annual Powwow on Saturday, Feb. 3, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Communication Arts complex quad in the center of the picturesque Rancho San Diego campus. The free, public event celebrates American Indian culture with a variety of activities including bird singing, gourd dancing and storytelling steeped in spiritual significance.

East County News Service

January 25, 2018 (San Diego) - Amy Lynn Kanner will perform a Celtic harp concert at the Mission Trails Regional Park Visitors Center auditorium on Feb. 18 at 3 p.m. The performance will feature Pachelbel's "Canon" and Debussy's "Clair de Lune," and Praetorious' "Terpsichore." The program also features popular music like "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "A Thousand Years," "Stairway to Heaven," and more.

East County News Service

January 24, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes Pepe Aguilar in concert at San Diego State, the Mousetrap at Lamplighter’s Theatre in La Mesa, Hawk Watch in the Ramona grasslands, Laurel and Hardy movies in Spring Valley, and a Local Authors Expo in El Cajon.

Plus, we’ll have coming attractions including a pow-wow at Cuyamaca College, Cupid and Canines at Grossmont Center, animal shows at the Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona, a star party, garden tours, romantic Valentine’s dinners in Julian, theatrical productions, and live music concerts including Mean Mary, the Oak Ridge Boys, jazz, classical and gospel music.

So stay tuned for all of these events and many more!

East County News Service

January 24, 2018 (San Diego) -- Pepe Aguilar will perform live in concert at the Viejas Arena at San Diego State’s Aztec Bowl on January 28^th at 6:30 p.m.

The American born singer and songwriter raised in Mexico started singing on stage at three years old and he’s never left.  The son of Mexican music and film stars Antonio Aguilar and Flor Silvestre, he attained stardom in his own right with an album of romantic ballads in 1998. Since then, he’s embraced traditional Mexican rancheria and mariachi music as well as pop  music – a style that has won him multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards and sold over 12 million albums.

NAN is also organizing a “100 ministers and the people” march Jan. 15

By Miriam Raftery

January 15, 2017 (Lemon Grove) – National Action Network (NAN) San Diego announces two events in honor of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

“Where are we 50 years later?”  a celebration honoring civil rights leaders will be held on January 19 at the Lemon Grove Community Church “the Lagoon”, 3122 Main Street in Lemon Grove.  Doors open at 6 p.m. with a 7 p.m. start.  The event will feature guest speaker Jane Elliott, an anti-racism activist who will discuss her historic brown eyes-blue eyes exercise. Honorees will include BAPAC State President Dr. William Blair, Dr. Cheryl Morrow of the San Diego Monitor newspaper, Alan Cabrera of Ideas Cabrera, and Raymond Wiley, a 67-year-old African-American man who has contended he was racially profiled by a San Diego police officer in 2017.

For tickets ($15), visit http://www.nansd.net/janeelliottevent.

Guest speaker:  Marcia Van Loy

East County News Service

January 17, 2018 (La Mesa) — Learn tips for attracting pollinators such as bees, hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden at La Mesa Beautiful’s annual meeting on February 18 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Nan Couts Cottage, 5045 Memorial Drive, La Mesa.

“Admirable cohesion...beautiful touch.” – DownBeat Magazine

“Wittily melds jazz, blues, classical, and Brazilian music.” – Boston Globe

East County News Service

January 16, 2018 (San Diego) -- Pianist/composer Danny Green and his trio – featuring bassist Justin Grinnell and drummer Julien Cantelm – perform at the Mission Trails Golf Course (7380 Golfcrest Place, San Diego) on Thursday, January 25^th. Pre-performance dining begins at 4:30 p.m. and the performance will be from 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.