East County News Service

October 21, 2021 (Jamul) – A retail shopping center in Jamul has been sold for $6 million. The property, which had not been listed for sale, sold on Sept. 17, Commercial Asset Advisors announced.  The 18,926-square-foot center has multiple tenants and is anchored by a 7-Eleven gas station. It is located at 12918-12930 Campo Road, Jamul, CA 91935.

CAA’s Gino Kalasho and Mike Conger represented the buyer, Fuel Team Inc., on this transaction. The seller was Dan Floit.The property includes approximately one acre of unused land that could be developed in the future.

By Miriam Raftery

October 9, 2021 (El Cajon) – Courage is the theme of the 19^th annual Women in Leadership Lunch (WILL) presented by the East County Chamber of Commerce on October 22 at Viejas Casino & Resort.  

East County News Service

October 9, 2021 (El Cajon) – La Mesa Chamber of Commerce will host its 13^th annual Salute to Local Heroes and installation of officers dinner on Wednesday, October 13 at Sycuan Casino Resort in El Cajon.

National survey by ResumeBuilder finds 63% of hiring managers prefer candidates who list vaccine status—and many reject unvaccinated applicants

Source:  ResumeBuilder.com

September 22, 2021 (Seattle, Wash.) – If you’re looking for a job, you may want to roll up your sleeve and get the “jab” first.  A nationwide survey of 1,250 conducted by  ResumeBuilder.com, a resource for professional resume templates, found that one-third of hiring manages will ignore resumes without a COVID-19 vaccine status – and 63% say they prefer candidates who list vaccine status on their resumes.  A growing number of companies are now requiring vaccines and/or giving first preference in hiring to those job-seekers who are fully vaccinated.

Source:  Congressman Darrell Issa

August 20, 2021 (San Marcos) - The Office of Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) will host a free online cybersecurity webinar for small business owners and organization leaders August 25, 2021 from 11:00 – 12:00pm PT. The Chief of Cybersecurity for the Western United States from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) will conduct a detailed briefing and answer attendee questions.

By County News Center, County of San Diego Communications Office

East County Magazine file photo

August 13, 2021 (San Diego) - The County will begin notifying restaurants today of $4.5 million in permit fee refunds for the period of March 16, 2020 through June 15, 2021. The amount, which is the result of a recent settlement in a lawsuit brought by a local restaurant group, is in addition to $118.9 million already provided to restaurants by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors to help offset the impact of California’s stay-at-home and local public health orders.

More information on the 640 Tenth LP v. County of San Diego, et al. case and settlement can be found here.

By Ken and Chris Stone, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association 

Photo:  taking part were (left to right) Talon Dobesh, Aviana Dobesh, Union Bank president Greg Seibly, Union Bank head of community banking Lisa Roberts, CEO of MUFG Americas Kevin Cronin, branch manager Carlton Hill and Omar Salah, head of small business banking at Union Bank. Photo by Chris Stone

July 30, 2021 (La Mesa) - The night of May 30, 2020, two banks burned to the ground amid La Mesa rioting. The next day, officials of one, Union Bank, were making plans to rebuild at the same location.

Match has already taken steps to ensure its web disclosures and processes comply with California’s Automatic Renewal and Dating Service Contract laws.

Source: DA News Center

July 12, 2021 (San Diego) -- County District Attorney Summer Stephan (photo, left) announced Wednesday that Match Group, Inc., the owner of numerous popular online dating sites including Match.com, PlentyofFish, OkCupid and Tinder, agreed to pay $2 million in civil penalties and costs, in addition to victim restitution, as part of the settlement of a consumer protection lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed in Santa Cruz county in November 2020 by the California Auto Renewal Task Force (CART), which includes the District Attorney’s Offices in San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties and the Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office, and alleged that Match’s online dating service subscriptions violated provisions of California’s automatic-renewal and dating service contract laws.

By Briana Gomez

July 3, 2021 (La Mesa) -- Studio Cutz, a new barbershop in La Mesa located at 7520 El Cajon Blvd.,  had its ribbon cutting ceremony today.

The shop is offering $20 haircuts all week until July 4 with a valid I.D.

La Mesa Mayor Mark Arapostathis and Reverend Shane Harris of the People’s Association of Justice Advocates participated in the grand opening and praised owner Aydarus Sakawe.

“He’s mindful of the youth. He wants to encourage everyone to not only come and get a haircut, but he’s a member of the community and wants to serve the community, and so we’re so happy to have Studio Cutz coming to La Mesa,” Mayor Arapostathis said.

East County News Service

June 23, 2021 (La Mesa) – Location Matters, Inc. has announced sale of a retail building at 8371 in the heart of La  Mesa’s downtown village for $1,850,000.  The buyer is Whissel Realty Group, a family-owned real estate company that plans to move its corporate office to this location. 

By Ben Christopher, CalMatters

CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters

Photo:  Carlos Hernandez holds his mask while getting a haircut by Sarah Cordiey at Spiros Barber Shop in Long Beach on June 9, 2021. "During the pandemic, I got depression and anxiety," said Hernandez, who saw his family for the first time last week in more than one year. "But then when I got [fully] vaccinated I felt a lot better." Photo by Pablo Unzueta for CalMatters

June 14, 2021 (San Diego) - California’s grand reopening day is almost here, but it comes with a few asterisks. 

By Miriam Raftery

June 6, 2021 (Lemon Grove) – Lemon Grove Historical Society President Laura Hook was surprised when she was invited to a customer service event at Union Bank’s new location at 3285 Lemon Grove Avenue – and left with a $2,500 check.

Three San Diego Entrepreneurs Win Business Grants

Photo: The first place winner of the fourth Union Bank Start-Up Pitch Competition and audience choice awardee, in partnership with CONNECT ALL @ the Jacobs Center, First Gen Scholars Founder and Executive Director Jonathan Burgos (center) and children.

Courtesy of CONNECT ALL @ the Jacobs Center

May 28, 2021 (San Diego) — Yesterday, CONNECT ALL @ the Jacobs Center and Union Bank announced the winners of the fourth Union Bank Start-Up Pitch Competition. In partnership with the City of San Diego, the virtual pitch competition serves as the program culmination for the fourth group of startups who received four months of free business development and mentorship. CONNECT ALL @ the Jacobs Center is the region’s only business accelerator focused on serving low-to-moderate income and diverse founders.

By Angela Kurysh

May 11, 2021 (La Mesa) – “You can never have too much pink,” said Nadia Zamora, who finally opens up her coffee shop, Pink Rose Cafe on La Mesa Boulevard this week.

After working on this project for over 14 months amid pandemic lockdowns and a riot, Zamora and her husband were ready to peacefully give up, but with the constant support of the community and the mission behind their business, Pink Rose Cafe will be launching its new spot with a ribbon cutting ceremony this Wednesday, May 12, at 10:30am; the official grand opening will be Saturday, May 15, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

East County News Service

May 4, 2021 (San Diego) – Applications can now be submitted for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund to offset losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. To apply, visit the U.S. Small Business Administration’s application portal.  The fund is part of the American Rescue Plan and is open not only to restaurants, but also caters, bars, bakeries, wineries, breweries, food carts, inns and certain other businesses where food sales provided a major source of revenues.