February 10, 2018 (El Cajon) -- The El Cajon Citizen of the Year Committee recently honored real estate broker Joe Garzanelli with its 2017 Citizen of the Year award.
Garzanelli was recognized for his community involvement, including support to nonprofits and charitable volunteer work. He has been a member of the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce member since 1995 and served on the board of directors from 2007 to 2010. He is a 1997 graduate of the Chamber’s San Diego East County Leadership Program and a 2015 graduate of the Leadership East County Masters Program. He also is actively involved with the Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR), a real estate trade group for San Diego-area realtors.
Hear our interview on KNSJ ith Mandy Mattis, No One Left Behind, on the Shurish family, how you can help this local hero and other translators relocated here after risking their lives to help Amreican troops.
By Miriam Raftery
February 1, 2018 (El Cajon) – Targeted by the Taliban for helping the U.S. military as a translator in Afghanistan, Ahmed Shurish fled his homeland with his wife and children, leaving everything else behind. They arrived here just seven months ago, building a new life in El Cajon.
But now his family has once against lost everything, this time in a fire in which Shurish heroically saved his neighbor’s baby from the flames. So the community is pulling together to help this hero and his family rebuild their lives yet again.
Photo, left: Honoree Alan Cabrera, Jane Elliott, Rev. Shane Harris, Honoree BAPC State President Dr. William Blair
January 31, 2018 (Lemon Grove) — “Where are we 50 years later?” That is the question posed by Reverend Shane Harris, president of the National Action Network in San Diego, and by keynote speaker, educator and anti-racism activist Jane Elliott at the Martin Luther King Jr. 88th birthday celebration held on Friday, January 19th at Lemon Grove Community Church. NAN is a social justice organization that advocates on behalf of minorities and the disenfranchised. The celebration paid homage to Dr. King and honored local civil rights activists.
By Chris Jennewein, credit to Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Network
Photo: Ernest and Evelyn Rady at the Salvation Army’s Door of Hope in Linda Vista. Photo by Chris Jennewein
January 29, 2018 (San Diego) - Philanthropists Ernest and Evelyn Rady announced Monday an unprecedented $50 million donation to The Salvation Army to help homeless individuals and families in San Diego.
Photo, left: Matthias Müller (CEO) and Hans Dieter Pötsch (Chairman of the Supervisory Board) of Volkswagen
January 26, 2018 (New York) -- Senior German industry figures, including the CEOs of companies that collaborated with the Nazis during World War II, have lent their support to the World Jewish Congress’ We Remember campaign ahead of International Holocaust Memorial Day on January27th.
Lyft drives impact of San Diego nonprofits through new Community Grant Program
East County News Service
January 24, 2018 (San Diego) -- Lyft, the fastest growing rideshare company in the U.S., today announced a new program to support the important work of San Diego area nonprofit organizations focused on building stronger, healthier, more equitable communities. Every month, starting in February 2018, Lyft will award one nonprofit $1,000 in Lyft ride credits to ease transportation challenges and support its work to create positive change in the San Diego region.
Photo:Jayson Hinkle with his mother, Crystal and brother, Dominick
January 20, 2018 (Ramona) – Crystal Dominguez Hinkle has launched a GoFundMe page to help her son, Jayson, 14. “I am desperately trying to gather funds to move us back to Ramona, where my son can be surrounded by his loving and supportive friends,” she told ECM in an e-mail.
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.
Photo: from left to right: GHD board members Randy Lenac, Gloria Chadwick; Kaye Kelley, Mark Klaus, Edward Hershey, Home of Guiding Hands; GHD board members Michael Emerson, Virginia Hall, Robert “Bob” Ayres.
January 10, 2018 (La Mesa) –The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is continuing its support of Home of Guiding Hands (HGH), an El Cajon-based non-profit organization that provides services, training and advocacy to infants, adolescents and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
January 9, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – The annual “We All Count” Point in Time count of homeless people in our region will be held the morning of January 26th, organized by the San Diego Regional Task Force on the Homeless.
January 9, 2018 (La Mesa) –The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is seeking nominees for its 2018 Healthcare Heroes Awards. Now in its 12th year, the Healthcare Heroes is GHD’s annual awards program recognizing volunteers who advance the delivery of quality health services in the East County region.
January 8, 2018 (El Cajon) – Firefighters from the San Miguel Fire Department have set up a Go Fund Me page to help a family of 20, including many adopted children with disabilities. A fire outside the Hauer family’s home yesterday damaged two vehicles, including a specialized van used to transport youngsters with medical needs.
January 3, 2018 (San Diego) -- St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC) in El Cajon will partner with The Marine Room to host Tea by the Sea on Saturday, January 20, 2018 from 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Tea by the Sea will feature complimentary champagne and a signature cocktail, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, live music and a visit from The Marine Room’s Executive Chef Bernard. The imaginative cuisine is more than matched by the up-close view of the surf.
Photo: from left to right: GHD board members Randy Lenac, Gloria Chadwick, Gabi Charo, Jewish Family Service; GHD board members Michael Emerson, Virginia Hall, Robert “Bob” Ayres.
January 2, 2018 (La Mesa) –The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is continuing its support of Jewish Family Service (JFS) of San Diego’s food assistance program, which alleviates food insecurity in San Diego’s East County region.
Photo: License to Freedom's Executive Director Dilkhwaz Ahmed and Pacific Consulting Group's Pavel Consuegra serve up a meal for the homeless and El Cajon’s Mayor
December 30, 2017 (El Cajon) – Local immigrants and refugees are giving back to the community, serving up dinner to the homeless with License to Freedom at Meridian Baptist Church in El Cajon.
License to Freedom members have been helping the homeless for two years, including an event held on December 27th, two days after Christmas. The events will continue in 2018. Meridian Baptist feeds the homeless every Wednesday night and License to Freedom hosts the 4th Wednesday of each month.
December 23, 2017 (Alpine) – Bobbi Brink and her rescue team from Lions, Tigers and Bears in Alpine have spent much of December traveling to several southern states, rescuing five black bears and a white tiger cub. The white tiger cub will soon have a permanent new home at LTB in Alpine.
Photo by Paul Kruze: Pastor Harold Brown and San Miguel Firefighters helped brighten holiday spirits for homeless children
December 18, 2017 (El Cajon) – Over 150 homeless children living at East County Transitional Living Center received gifts of clothing, athletic shoes, and a good dose of Christmas joy at the fifth annual Christmas Party last Saturday in ECTLC's community hall.
By José A. Álvarez, County of San Diego Communications Office
Photo: Supervisor Greg Cox delivers computers for foster kids.
December 13, 2017 (San Diego) - About 300 foster families and children got an early holiday present: a computer.
The gifts came from the County of San Diego and the San Diego County Futures Foundation, which join forces every year to refurbish used computers and give them to foster families in need. The families and children received the computers over two days at the San Diego State University Foundation Building in City Heights.
Adoption fees are being waived for all animals, courtesy of generous donors’ gift
December 13, 2017 (San Diego) - Hundreds of homeless animals are at San Diego Humane Societyin need of homes, so pet adoption fees are being waived for all animals from Dec. 15 through 24 at all campuses and satellite adoption centers. For the 10 days before Christmas, all animal adoptions are sponsored by Sharon Blanchet of ABC Family Law and Phil and Pam Reed, Reed Team at Willis Allen Real Estate in La Jolla.
December 8, 2017 (San Diego) – Wildfires are currently devastating regions of Southern California, with hundreds of thousands of acres destroyed and people displaced from Ventura to San Diego Counties, including the growing Lilac Fire.United Way of San Diego County is working with United Way of Greater Los Angeles, which has set up the Southern California Wildfire Fundto help victims of these fires rebuild their lives. For this fund, 100 percent of the donations collected through this designated fund will support long-term recovery and re-building efforts for low-income families affected by the fires.
December 8, 2017 (San Diego) -- If you are looking to help those affected by the Lilac Fire, a great way to do so is to send a monetary donation to a nonprofit organization. No donation is too small.
December 4, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – You’re invited to join cyclists spreading holiday cheer at the San Diego County Bike Coalition's 7th Annual Holiday Joy Ride. In honor of the Bike Coalition’s 1987 inception and 30 years as San Diego’s only countywide bike advocacy organization, a parade of two-wheeled travelers will combine fake mullets with tinsel, bells and bikes wrapped like presents.
After the festive spectacle, the organization will present its Golden Gear Awards to local two-wheeled heroes including Lakeside residents David and Nancy Nichols and La Mesan Pauline Callahan, volunteers of the year.
December 2, 2017 (El Cajon) - You've kicked off the season with the Mother Goose Parade. Now it's time for another El Cajon tradition: the Salvation Army Fire Truck Toy Parade. The Salvation Army partners with the Fire Department, KOGO 600 News Radio, Stoney's Kids Legacy and Target on Saturday, December 9. The festivities start at 9 a.m. at the Target parking lot at 250 Broadway, where KOGO will start broadcasting live at 9 a.m. and will be interviewing groups and organizations participating in donations. The parade rolls out at 11 a.m. A few local celebrities will attend - Bonnie, daughter of Stoney Stone, founder of the East County Toy and Food Drive, is planning to be there and it's even rumored that Santa will make an appearance. For more information, contact Cpt. Sean Kelsey at 619-440-4683 ext. 402.
December 2, 2017 (San Diego’s East County -- On Saturday, Dec. 9, 25,000 people are expected to attend the 21st annual Toys for Joy event sponsored by the Rock Church at from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The event has grown over the years and expanded to four locations, including El Cajon Valley High School, Lincoln High School, Southwest High School, and Vista High School.
November 29, 2017 (Alpine) - Lions, Tigers and Bears, an exotic animal sanctuary in Alpine, has completed a new multi-acre habitat with creature comforts including a large pond, a waterfall, climbing platforms, natural terrain and large trees.
By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office
November 29, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - There’s an easy way to feel good this holiday season — just put a smile on the face of a less fortunate kid.
It’s easy to do. Simply drop off a new, unwrapped toy into the Toys for Tots donation box at one of four County airports — Gillespie Field in El Cajon, Ramona Airport in Ramona, McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad or Fallbrook Airpark in Fallbrook. You’ll be helping County airports and the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve make sure a bunch of kids have a happier holiday!
November 20, 2017 (San Diego) -- 2-1-1 San Diego, an independent local nonprofit that serves as a resource and information hub connecting more than 200,000 people annually to more than 6,000 community, health and disaster support services, has announced it will seek donations from the public for its food assistance program as part of the annual “Giving Tuesday,” a global day of giving to be held this year on Nov. 28.
November 13, 2017 (El Cajon) -- The East County Transitional Living Center is in need of fresh or frozen turkeys to feed its more than 400 residents on Thanksgiving Day. The residents are recovering from homelessness or addiction.
By Tom Christensen, County of San Diego Communications Office
November 9, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - It’s that familiar time of the year when families and friends start making plans to gather for holiday dinners and parties teeming with cookies, pies and other treats.
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