February 16, 2015 (El Cajon) – You’re invited to join in St. Patrick’s Day weekend festivities on Sunday, March 15^th.   Choose from a half marathon, a 5K run or a green mile competition to compete for a large cash prize pot, medals, and  free drinks after the races at the St. Patrick’s Beer & Wine Festival in downtown El Cajon (Main Street and Magnolia).

East County News Service

Photo courtesy of Heartland Fire & Rescue

February 14, 2015 (El Cajon ) –, Heartland Fire Dispatch received reports shortly after 8:30 this morning of a structure fire.   Heartland Fire & Rescue crews, returning from an earlier call, saw the smoke and were on scene of the fire in two minutes of the call.  They found the smoke coming from an upstairs bedroom area of a two-story condominium unit at 288 Roanoke Road in El Cajon.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, right: Adam Beardsley and his wife, Megan

Update February 19, 2015 -- Adam Beardsley received a new heart two days ago and is doing very well, a Heartland Fire official announced at last night's La Mesa Chamber of Commerce Salute to Heroes event.

Update February 15, 2015--Rust Accounting has sent us a final tally for the event, which raised over $18,000 from an estimated 1,000 guests who attended.

February 11, 2015 (La Mesa) –Hundreds of community members turned out Sunday at the Bolt Brewery in La Mesa at a fundraiser to help cover expenses for Adam Beardsley, a 33-year-old Heartland Deputy Fire Marshal in need of a heart transplant. 

“He has such as big heart,” Monica Zech, public information officer for the City of El Cajon, said of Beardsley. She added that he remains in good spirits at UCLA Ronald Reagan Hospital, where he has been a patient since January 6^th, awaiting a heart donor.  “But he didn’t want this to be just about him,” she said, adding that Beardsley hopes publicity on the shortage of organ donors will ultimately help others, too.

A single organ donor can save the lives of up to eight people. Currently over 110,000 people in the U.S. are on the waiting list for an organ transplant. Nearly 1,600 people are on the waiting list for a organ transplant in San Diego and Imperial Counties. For information about organ donation, click here.

February 10, 2015 (El Cajon) – The East County Youth Symphony orchestra will perform a concert on Friday, March 13^th at 7:30 p.m. in collaboration with the Cuyamaca College String Orchestra and Choir.

January 3, 2015 (El Cajon) - Circus Vargas wil bring its newest big-top tent circus performance, Arlequin, to the parking lot at Parkway Plaza shopping mall in El Cajon  February 5 through 9.

You're invited to East County Magazine's "Treasures of East County" event to benefit our nonprofit community news and wildfire reporting! 

 Saturday, January 31 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1625 East Main Street, El Cajon

You can help by shopping (just in time for Valentine's Day) and by donating items for our big event, which features 4 sales in one location!

By Miriam Raftery

January 30th 2014 (El Cajon)—The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on January 22^nd to welcome Milholland Solar and Electric to East County and celebrate the premier solar installation and electrical contractor’s 25^th anniversary.  

Representatives for officials including Supervisor Dianne Jacob, State Senator Joel Anderson and Assemblyman Brian Jones were on hand to present awards, along with Chamber leaders, at Milholland’s spacious new headquarters at 1475 North Cuyamaca Street in El Cajon.

By Robert Gehr © 2015

January 21, 2015 (El Cajon)--I’m the pedestrian you nearly hit with your vehicle. - I’m the person you injured with your vehicle. - I’m the one you killed with your vehicle.

Story and photos by Robert Gehr © 2015

January 16, 2015 (El Cajon)--On Monday morning, I was out for my daily morning walk. It was cloudy, cool, and a little gloomy. I was zoned out listening to some music on my iPod Touch, yet as always, keeping an eye out for a photo opportunity. Passing by Prescott Promenade Park (229 East Main Street, El Cajon), this writer noticed four birds in a tree which were definitely ‘non native’ to the area. In fact, the birds include parrots, a cockatoo and a macaw.

East County News Service

January 14, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – The Gillespie Field Development Council has three open seats, including two seats from El Cajon and one from the County,

At the last meeting, the Council voted against expanding the board from the current five seats to seven seats.  But some, including Citizens Against Gillespie Expansion (CAGE) wants to see a council that includes representation from citizens in the community, not just cities and pilots’ interests.

January 10, 2015 (El Cajon)—Robert Gehr snapped this photo of a Mallard Duck and Seagull standing together on a recent cold morning at the water-scape by the waterfall in downtown El Cajon.

“They make for an interesting pair, don't they?” he says.

Ruling protects priests across U.S., overrules patriarch’s decision

East County News Service

Photo:  Father Noel with Congressman Juan Vargas late last year; photo by Miriam Raftery

(January 8, 2015)- In a landmark decision, Pope Francis has ruled in favor of St. Peter's Chaldean Church in El Cajon in its battle to keep Father Noel Gorgis safely here.

East County News Service

January 5, 2015 (El Cajon)--Milholland Solar and Electric, the premier solar installation and electrical contractor in Southern California, celebrates its 25^th anniversary this year.