Source: Monica Zech, City of El Cajon Public Information Officer

Photos by Michele Miller, City of El Cajon Public Works Dept.

March 26, 2018 (El Cajon) -- The City of El Cajon celebrated the 29^th annual Arbor Day at Kennedy Park on Saturday, March 24^th at 8 a.m.  During the ceremony, the City received its 21^st Tree City USA award presented by CAL FIRE.  There was a large turnout by members of the community, including the Lions Club from Granite Hills High School and Key Club from Grossmont High to plant trees at Kennedy Park.

Source:  Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District

Photo:  Cuyamaca College Ornamental Horticulture students and their instructor, Donald Schultz, (top right) celebrate their wins in the National Collegiate Landscape Competition.

March 26, 2018 (Rancho San Diego) - The Cuyamaca College Ornamental Horticulture program is turning heads after yet another standout performance at the National Collegiate Landscape Competition.

Nine students took part in the 42nd annual event, and their average score topped the average scores for students at any of the 62 colleges and universities taking part in the competition at Alamance Community College in North Carolina. Competing against major institutions such as Brigham Young University, Virginia Tech and the University of Georgia, Cuyamaca College was the only school with three students finishing among the top 25 in total points.

East County News Service

March 26, 2018 (Alpine) -- Viejas Casino and Resort in partnership with Goldenvoice today unveiled its 2018  Viejas Concerts in the Park lineup. This summer’s performers will include Wynonna Judd, Loverboy, Three Dog Night, Little River Band, Los Tigres Del Norte, Jeff Foxworthy, Eddie Money, Jeff Dunham, Peter Cetera, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, and King of the Cage, with more performers to be announced soon.

Source: Cuyamaca College; photo by Laurent Kramer

March 26, 2018 (Rancho San Diego) -- Here’s music to the ears of jazz fans: legendary jazz saxophonist Charles McPherson will give a free talk and music demonstration April 5 at Cuyamaca College.

“Conversations with a Legend: Charles McPherson,” organized by communication instructor Lindy Brazil as part of her class, “Arts and Culture in San Diego,” is set for 11:30 a.m.- 12:50 p.m. Thursday, April 5 in Cuyamaca College’s Digital Theater, Room B-101. The event is open to the public.

By Mary England, Councilmember 2000-2012 retired

March 25, 2018 (Lemon Grove) -- It seems that several of the current Lemon Grove Council members and the City Manager do not believe in “leading by example.”  The recent lawsuits, one that was settled for thousands and thousands of dollars, as well as the recent one just filed against a Councilmember and the City, with the Mayor being a person of interest, will undoubtedly cost more money.

By Miriam Raftery

March 25, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – East County Magazine has reached out to officials in Santee and the County of San Diego after an investigative report by Voice of San Diego revealed that San Diego County is deleting emails after just 60 days, while the city of Santee retains e-mail records for just 180 days.  State law requires that email public records be retained for at least two years, according to Californians Aware, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving open government and access to public records.

Source: La Mesa Chamber of Commerce

March 25, 2018 (La Mesa) – On Wednesday, May 16th, the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce encourages you to join them and enjoy great food, good conversation and an evening in La Mesa hosted by EDCO.

EDCO is a family-owned and locally operated waste collection and recycling company serving numerous communities in Southern Californian since 1967. EDCO specializes in offering integrated, user-friendly waste removal and recycling programs to serve residential homes, multi-family properties, commercial businesses multi-tenant buildings, industrial centers, construction sites, and community events.

East County News Service

March 23, 2018 (San Diego) -- On Sunday, April 29^th, Bags & Baubles will bring pet lovers and trendsetters together to shop the season’s hottest looks while giving back to the community. From 1:00 - 4:30 pm, the Foundation for Animal Care and Education (FACE) will host its annual silent auction event at an exclusive Rancho Santa Fe estate to raise funds and awareness for local San Diego pets in need of life-saving care.

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Story and photos by Liz Alper

March 23, 2018 (San Diego) - San Diego State lacrosse has won two straight and tonight faced Liberty.  The Flames have been burning their way through SDSU sports lately, facing men’s tennis earlier this week.  Lacrosse was their next stop.

Copyright 2018 by Sam Warren

Writing is a way of talking without being overheard. — Jules Renard

March 23, 2018 (San Diego) – From events at local libraries to appearances at bookstores by best-selling libraries, here are the literary happenings coming up across our region.

CLICK TO SCROLL DOWN FOR A LIST OF BOOK EVENTS

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Farmer's Market at its former location on Allison Avenue may soon come back to its roots in the La Mesa downtown village

March 22, 2018 (La Mesa) – On Tuesday, La Mesa’s City Council will consider a proposal by the La Mesa Village Association to move and expand the farmer’s market back to the downtown village, with street closures for the event each Friday.  Staff has recommended approval in its report.  

Council will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, March 27 at its 6 p.m. meeting in City Council Chambers, 8130 Allison Ave.

The issue has fostered a lively discussion on social media, with some residents and local merchants welcoming the proposed change to invigorate downtown and boost traffic for local businesses. But others vigorously oppose the change, citing concerns over not enough parking, having to carry groceries too far, and dissuading patrons from coming into downtown on Friday night, when restaurants are typically busiest.

March 14, 2018 (Lemon Grove) -- You're invited to join East County Magazine and members of our East County DIning Club at Giardino Neighborhood Cucino (8131 Broadway in Lemon Grove) on Thursday, March 29.  This is a deliciously authentic Italian restaurant with a chef from Sicily who formerly worked in the Gaslamp! 

When:  Thursday, March 29. Dinner starts at 6:30, or arrive early at 5:30 for a no-host cocktail mixer to mingle and meet new friends.

Cost: $42 includes appetizers (eggplant rolls, calamaria ftirri with pomodoro sauce/chipiotle aioli),entree  (see choices below), dessert (limconcello cheesecake or tiramisu), tax and tip

RSVP: March 25 deadline: (619)698-7617 or editor@eastcountymagazine.org   Include your entrée choice: Cod Picatta  in lemon/capers/butter sauce, Chicken Parmesan with spaghetti, Cheese Ravioli with Pesto Sauce, Lasagna, or Penne Primavera with seasonal vegetables.

Future community forums planned March 23 in Valley Center, March 30 in Ramona and April 6 in Warner Springs. View schedule here.

By Miriam Raftery

March 22, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – At the Descanso Town Hall on March 16^th,  SDG&E representatives met with residents to discuss efforts to improve fire safety and hear community concerns, including ideas for reducing impacts of power shut-offs during high fire-risk weather conditions. Representatives from 211 San Diego , the local Red Cross, the Descanso Fire Safe Council and the area’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) were also on hand.

Portions of Descanso had a dozen or more outages late last year, much to the frustration of many residents.  But the outskirts of Descanso have also had among the most extreme conditions. 

March 21, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views.  Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

General News

• Fed raises interest rate and signals faster path in future years (Wall St. Journal)
• With police near, suspected Austin bombing suspect blows self up (ABC News)
• YouTube bans firearm sales and how-to videos, prompting backlash (Portland Press Herald)
• Supreme Court to decide whether immigrants jailed for past crimes can be detained pending deportation (Los Angeles Times)
• Report: Russian Hackers Had Ability to Shut Down U.S. Power Plants (NPR)
• Jared Kushner’s company routinely filed false NY city paperwork (Guardian)
• Former Bush official says John Bolton was ‘by far the most dangerous man we had in the entire eight years’ (Business Insider)

Trump-Russia investigations

• Revealed: Trump’s election consultants filmed saying they use bribes and sex workers to entrap politicians (Channel 4)
• Retired four-star general says Trump is ‘serious threat to national security’ (CBS)
• As he prepares to face Mueller, Trump boasts of his ability to lie (Wash. Post)
• Andrew McCabe, a target of Trump’s FBI scorn, is fired  (NY Times)

WORLD

• Blackout threat to Britain from Russian cyber-attack (Times of London)
• Putin wins another six years at Russia’s helm in landslide victory (Reuters)
• Russia's Presidential Election Observers Were Pressured and Intimidated (NPR)
• West calls on Russia to explain nerve toxin attack on former double agent  (Reuters)
• Exclusive: European powers propose new Iran sanctions to meet Trump ultimatum (Reuters)  
• Syria war: Turkish-led forces oust Kurdish fighters from city of Afrin (BBC)
• Venezuelan City Launches Its Own Currency Amid Cash Crunch (NPR)
• Slovakia Government's Collapse Not Enough to End Protests Over Journalist's Murder (NPR)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

March 21, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

• These cities can hardly wait to delete their records (Voice of San Diego)
• 7 San Diego juveniles charged for school threats (Patch.com)
• San Onofre nuclear waste may go to New Mexico, instead of 100 feet from beach (KQED)
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrest 115 immigrants in Southern California (10 News)
• New ICE program tracks undocumented immigrants with ankle monitors (NBC 7)
• San Diego’s Water Authority Has Reignited a Century-Old Water Dispute with Local Tribes (Voice of San Diego)
• Newland Sierra housing project nearing decision time in North County (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Environmentalists See Power in City’s Upcoming Utilities Deal (Voice of SD)
• Immigrant held in San Diego reunited with child months after separation by feds (San Diego Union-Tribune)

STATE

• More than 60 deaths in fires, floods expose weaknesses in California's emergency planning (Los Angeles Times)
• University of California To Raise Tuition for Non-Residents (KPBS)
• Tahoe bears are breaking into homes with people inside. Should they be killed? (Sacramento Bee)
• Evacuation orders in effect for parts of Santa Barbara, Ventura counties as heavy rains fall (10 News)
• Does California abortion law protect women or force clinics to deliver message they abhor? Supreme Court to decide. (Washington Post)
• White supremacists hang banners at visible locations to promote ideology and recruit, new ADL report says (Orange County Register)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.