April 12, 2012 (San Diego County) -- The Department of Environmental Health has issued a General Advisory for the coastal waters of San Diego County due to recent rainfall.  Swimmers, surfers, and other ocean users are warned that the levels of bacteria can rise significantly in ocean and bay waters, especially near storm drains, creeks, rivers, and lagoon outlets that discharge urban runoff.

April 12, 2012 (Ocotillo) – “My wife, Mary, and I had the pleasure of seeing a large group of bighorn sheep while we were on one of our desert wildflower trips,” Robert Baran says.

They photographed a group of 15 or more Peninsular Bighorn Sheep on Saturday, April 7 between Meyer Creek and Ocotillo.  

April 12, 2012 (El Cajon) –What role can the arts play in bettering El Cajon and its diverse population? 

San Diego Arts leaders including artists, journalists, writers, university professors, critics, and business people will discuss this question in a  panel mediated by Justin Hudnall, creator and leading operative of The Far East Movement. The event will take place Friday, April 13 from 5:30 to 8:30 at Studio C Contemporary, 140 East Main Street in El Cajon.

RSVP on Facebook.

 Update 8 p.m. - La Mesa Police advise they have cleared the area, but did not locate the suspects.

April 11, 2012 (La Mesa) 7 p.m. – The City of La Mesa warns of police activity near Dallas and Fletcher Parkway, where a police helicopter is searching for two men suspected of robbing a nearby Shell Station. 

April 11, 2012 (El Cajon) – Dan Hughes, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, will be the guest speaker at the April 17 meeting of The Cajon Valley Republican Women Federated.  The meeting will be held at the Pancake House, 1000 North 2nd Street, El Cajon at 7:00 a.m.

April 11, 2012 (Spring Valley) – CDA Preschool Programs is celebrating “The Week of the Young Child” with an open house April 16 through April 20 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at 3845 Spring Drive in Spring Valley.  Stop by for a classroom tour, food, music, a special gift and learn about CDA’s nationally accredited preschool program.

By Derek Roach

An Open House at the El Cajon Transit Center will be held April 14 with others around the county throughout the month.

April 10, 2012 (San Diego) -- For the first time since the economic downturn began in 2008, the Metropolitan Transit System is planning to add Bus and Trolley services. MTS will hold several open houses at transit centers to get rider input on planned service improvements and the opportunity to learn about proposed changes and ask questions in an informal setting.

April 9, 2012 (La Mesa) – The San Miguel Fire Protection District will host a community meeting from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on April 17 at Foothills United Methodist Church, 4031 Avocado Blvd., La Mesa.  The meeting will provide residents a State of the District presentation and discuss the Request for Proposal submission from CAL FIRE for the outsourcing of the district’s fire protection. 

April 9, 2012 (El Cajon) -- The East County Democratic Club will have two speakers focused on El Cajon at its meeting at 7 p.m. on April 19 at Coco’s Restaurant, 1025 Fletcher Parkway, El Cajon. 

Simon Mayeski, board member of Common Cause, a citizen's watchdog organization committed to holding government officials accountable, will discuss his perspective on El Cajon's city government and its lack of representation of the many resident ethnic groups and women.  Ray Lutz, National Director and founder of Citizens Oversight Project Committee (COPS), which acts as a governmental watchdog and helps empower local citizens to make changes in their community, will report his observations of significant events at recent City Council meetings.