November 8, 2009 (La Mesa) --“If Bryce Taylor can do it, I can do it.”

That’s been the attitude among many area youngsters as they prepared to compete in two days of Soap Box Derby Rally Races, with the final rounds today. The event is sponsored by Drew Ford and the Kiwanis Club of La Mesa. The race course is down Junior High Drive adjacent to La Mesa Middle School. Highwood Park is the staging area.

Local Civil Rights Leaders to be Honored Sat. Nov. 7, Waymon Shares Memories, Dreams with ECM

By John P. Falchi

San Diego’s most prominent living civil rights leader, Carrol Waymon, PhD and others who championed civil rights in the 1960s locally will be honored on Saturday, November 7th at a 40th reunion program of the Citizens Interracial Committee (CIC) titled "What you should know before we go: San Diego’s unfinished revolution." In an exclusive interview this week with ECM, Waymon shared triumphs of the past, along with his hopes for the future.

El Cajon Citizen of the year nominations are due by close of business December 18,2009. Nominees need not be El Cajon residents, but their civic and community activities must be closely identified with the El Cajon Community.

Need for emergency food boxes has more than doubled in the past year at Salvation Army Kroc Center 

October 28, 2009 (San Diego)—"So far, thanks to the generosity of San Diegans, The Salvation Army Kroc Center has been able to meet the increasing need for emergency food assistance in the surrounding community. But as the need continues to rise, our pantry is in desperate need of restocking," a press release issued today warns.

In October of 2008, 40 families came to The Salvation Army Kroc Center’s Family Services Department needing emergency food boxes to help feed 136 people. In October of this year, that number more than doubled, with 94 families requesting emergency food to feed 416 people. Right now, the Salvation Army Kroc Center has barely enough food to get through this next month.

October 21, 2009 (San Diego) - Members of the Westboro Baptist Church picketed outside local schools during the past week, bearing messages of hate directed towards Jews, gays, and the military. Designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, Westboro has gained notoriety for indoctrinating children into a cult-like web of hate (photo, left, child displays hate messages).

In San Diego, however, a handful of Westboro protesters were vastly outnumbered by hundreds of counter-protesters bearing messages of tolerance and peace; no local residents joined the protesters, according to news reports. A gay rights group, meanwhile, invited supporters to pledge donations for every minute of the Westboro protest.

September 30, 2009 (El Cajon)--Rescue Task Force (RTF) of El Cajon is prepared to respond to the tsunami and earthquake as part of its ongoing relief efforts in Southeast Asia. In the Philippines, RTF and WER (World Emergency Relief) are wiring cash aid to a partner of many years, which has been devastated by the typhoon that claimed hundreds of lives and left hundreds of thousands homeless.  Over 50 children and workers at the orphanage that WER supports had to be evacuated by rubber raft through polluted waters, RTF reports (photo).

September 22, 2009 - > Brittany Garrett of Blossom Valley is asking the pubilc's help to save Mulisha, her one-year-old Australian cattle dog/shepherd mix. Last night, the dog was bitten by a baby rattlesnake, Garrett informed neighbors on a Blossom Valley online forum.  The dog was taken to Animal Medical Center of East County in El Cajon, but the family cannot afford the $1,533.80 needed for treatment.  

"My mother is the only person in the house who works at a part-time job," Garrett wrote.  "My father is disabled and so is my grandfather. I am currently in school and three months pregnate.  It would really help if you could donate or help raise money for my puppy."  Donations may be made to:

Event Raises Funds for Special Programs and Projects for Local Youth and Families

September 9, 2009 (El Cajon)--One of El Cajon’s original disaster search dogs “Sherman”, has died due to health issues related to his age. Sherman became a part of the El Cajon Fire Department in 1997 through a partnership with the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation. Sherman was partnered with his handler, El Cajon Fire Captain Steve Swaney.

OPENING SPEAKER TO HONOR MEMORY OF SLAIN SANTANA STUDENT

By Marisa Kezirian

August 17, 2009 (El Cajon) – Whether your fashion tastes are classic, sophisticated, or trendy, you'll find plenty to savor at St. Madeleine Sophie Center's Haute with Heart fashion extravangaza this Saturday, August 22, at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, starting at 10:30 a.m.

Story and photos by Joel Ryerson

July 31, 2009 (Alpine)--"Look how close you are!" exclaimed Lynn Hopewell, a guest of the overnight event at Lions, Tigers, and Bears in Alpine. "When I was up in Las Vegas I saw the cats at the MGM Grand, but this is a totally different experience," added Hopewell, who was amazed at how close you could get to the big cats.

July 26, 2009 (El Cajon) – A vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed crashed in the 600 block of South Mollison Avenue in El Cajon Friday shortly before 3 p.m., trapping an elderly driver inside. According to El Cajon Police, the 84-year-old male driver lost control and knocked over a fire a hydrant, damaged a high-energy electrical utility box, then flipped the vehicle upside down.

By Miriam Raftery

June 17, 2009 (San Diego's East County)-- Trauma Intervention Programs (TIP) of San Diego County, Inc., is a non-profit organization that partners with emergency responders to assist citizens in crisis following a personal tragedy, such as the sudden death of a loved one. Volunteers are called to the scene by police, fire, and sheriff and are trained to help fellow citizens who are in distress as a result of a traumatic event, such as an unexpected family death, victims of fire, crime, flood, suicide, homicide, or other traumatic incidents. Volunteers respond within their community.