Review by Kathy Carpenter

Associate Reviewer sdtheatrereviews.com

Freelance writer Splash Magazine

August 3, 2017 (El Cajon) - Adventure is where you make it. In this rendition of Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson's beloved tale adapted for the conservatory by Jeanette Thomas, Jim is now Jamie, a girl, and she finds life is the adventure. Escape your every day life for a couple of hours and live the adventure of Treasure Island, directed by Brian Rickel & Mitzi Smith and with scores by musical director John Reynolds, complete with pirates, surprises and fun.

By Miriam Raftery

August 2, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes the Dog Days of Summer at Ramona wineries, a Sip of Julian, Cajon Classic Cruises, plus outdoor concerts in Lemon Grove, Santee and El Cajon.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including the HeART of Mt. Helix, a Star Party in Lakeside, a dive-in movie and ice skating at Kroc Center, the Chippendales at Sycuan, the Ramona Country Fair, Laurel and Hardy comedy films with Thelma Todd n Spring Valley, a Fall Art Show in Julian, the Ramona Grape Stomp, and Lakeside River Park Conservancy’s Once in a Blue Moon.

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

East County News Service

July 28, 2017 (San Diego) — The Pomerado Brass Quintet will perform a free concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 30 in the visitor center at Mission Trails Regional Park.

Based in San Diego, California, the Pomerado Brass Quintet was formed in the summer of 2005 as a spin-off from the Pomerado Community Band.  The Pomerado Brass Quintet performs a wide variety of music from classical, marches, jazz, ragtime, Dixieland, and selections from Broadway musicals.

East County News Service

July 24, 2017 (San Diego's East County) – The 10 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., Tuesday, Aug. 1.

East County News Service

July 22, 2017 (Lakeside) – Lakeside’s River Park Conservancy will present its 11^th annual Once in a Blue Moon Gala and Auction at the River Valley Equestrian Center on September 16.

You’re invited to help honor partners in conservation and raise funds for science programs for kids. This year’s event includes an exhibition polo match starting at 5 p.m., with the night concluding at 8 p.m.

East County News Service

July 19, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes the Jungle Book Movie at La Mesita Park,  a Museum Roadshow at Cuyamaca College,  a family hike and falconry presentation at Santa Ysabel Preserve, plus community concerts in La Mesa, Lemon Grove, El Cajon and Santee.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including Mariah Carey and Lionel Ritchie in concert at San Diego State, a murder mystery dinner theatre in Julian, Pine Valley Days, the Pomerado Jazz Quintet at Mission Trails, a Sip of Julian, the HeART of Mt. Helix, the Ramona Country Fair,  and a Laurel and Hardy film presentation in Spring Valley.

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

By Miriam Raftery

July 19, 2017 (La Mesa) — The Wheelchair Dancers Organization is getting ready to rhumba in preparation for the showcase-portion of its 5^th annual fundraiser and dance-ability showcase, “Everyone Can Dance” on Sept. 30 at the Balboa Park Club.   Participants must attend specified classes and a dress rehearsal.  Rollers and walkers are needed.

Free wheelchair dance classes are offered at several locations, including Sharp Grossmont Auditorium (5555 Grossmont Center Drive, La Mesa) from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Monday evenings, July 24 and 31 as well as August 7, 14, 21 and 28.

East County News Service

July 13, 2017 (Julian) -- Learn about the world’s oldest hunting style and sport of kings from Master Falconer Cisco Cibourne on Sunday, July 23 from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Santa Ysabel East County Preserve (500 Farmer Road) in Julian.

East County News Service

July 12, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes Cal Fire family day at Lake Morena, astronomy night on Mt. Helix, the author of “Nature Adventures” in La Mesa, and a showing of The Jungle Book in La Mesita park.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including a family hike plus falcons and hawks at Santa Ysabel Preserve, superstars Lionel Ritchie and Mariah Carey at San Diego State, a murder mystery theatre in Julian, a Pacific Coast Trail presentation, Laurel & Hardy night in Spring Valley, Pine Valley Days, Julian’s Apple Pie Grand Prix, the Heart of Mt. Helix, and Ramona’s Country Fair.

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

East County News Service

July 10, 2017 (La Mesa) — La Mesa invites you to come celebrate July as Park and Recreation Month at a free outdoor movie in the park on Friday, July 21. Bring a picnic, lawn chair, spread out a blanket, and enjoy The Jungle Book (2016), rated PG.

East County News Service

July 10, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - The Associated General Contractors hosting a construction industry-wide blood drive throughout the county this week, including several East County locations.  Over the last 6 years, AGC has collected over 1,700 units of blood products for local area hospitals.  Appointments are available at www.sandiegobloodbank.org .  Below are the East County locations:

Copyright 2017 by Sam Warren

July 8, 2017 (San Diego) -- If you are like me, you like to scan and feel a book before putting out hard cash for a copy. With online bookstores like Amazon and their ilk causing many brick and mortar bookstores to go out of business, other than the local library, it is getting more difficult to do this. Being a minor author myself, I feel guilty in telling you this as it deprives authors of their well-earned royalties. However, I enjoy browsing through thrift and second hand shops. I know that it is impractical, but I believe that no book should be sold commercially unless the author gets some kind of remuneration.

Scroll down for a full list of local readers’ and writers’ events.

A Salute to Jimmie Johnson at the next Cajon Classic Cruise Car Show!

East County News Service

July 7, 2017 (El Cajon) – A soul music concert, outdoor movies and a salute to NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson are just some of the many events coming up in El Cajon.  See below for full details on these events and more.

East County News Service

July 5, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes the Descanso Days parade and festival, a star party and family campout in Lakeside, a hike up Volcan Mountain in Julian, radical reptiles in Rancho San Diego, a falconry demonstration in Julian, a concert by Sara Petite at the Ramona Library, blues and barbecue night in Santee.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including Cal Fire family day at Lake Morena, astronomy night on Mt. Helix, a family hike plus falcons and hawks in the Santa Ysabel preserve, superstars Lionel Ritchie and Mariah Carey in concert at SDSU, a murder mystery dinner theatre in Julian, the Pine Valley Days parade and festivities, the Julian Apple Pie Grand Prix, and the Pomerado Brass Quintet in concert at Mission Trails.

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