October 25, 2013 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Mayor Mark Lewis has resigned, effective immediately.  In his resignation letter, the Mayor  cited health reasons, including cancer, a dislocated shoulder and a minor stroke in 2010. “Unfortunately at times, this has caused me some difficulties in clearly communication my thoughts, including during the recent interviews  that have caused understandable concern,” he wrote, adding that he is stepping down to avoid further concerns by citizens and to “allow our City Council and community o move forward in their work to make this City the finest place it can be.”

He added, “I deeply love our town and have given a major portion of my adult life to its wellbeing and, so, this is a bittersweet moment for me."

By Janis Mork

October 23, 2013 (El Cajon)- Rocking Horse Ranch has been in business since 2006, and  now its operators are asking for help to help save the property. The ranch pairs up troubled horses with abused and neglected children, and in time, both child and horse learn to heal.

ECM recently sat down with founder and executive director, Kathy Plaisted to learn more.

She told us that the ranch is special because “it is such a unique environment.. .We bring horses that come from troubled backgrounds and pair them up with people who have suffered as well.. We’re volunteer driven and serve over 500 people each month. We rehabilitate [the horses], work with kids, adopt the horses to forever homes, and bring in another one.”

October 22, 2013 (El Cajon) – A passerby who witnessed a woman being abducted at knifepoint in the Grossmont College parking lot today scared off the assailant by honking his horn. Sheriff’s deputies located and arrested the suspect, Anthony Washington.

“Washington later confessed he was going to rape the student and do whatever he had to in order to get his way,” said Sergeant Vic Perry.

Highlights of El Cajon, La Mesa, Santee and San Diego agenda items for this week

Update October 24, 2013:  Supervisors unanimously approved the feasibility study on bringing veterans' services to libraries countywide.

By Miriam Raftery

County Supervisors and local city councils have several significant measures on their agendad impacting East County this week.

On Tuesday at 10 a.m., Supervisors will hear a proposal by Supervisor Dianne Jacob to extend the county’s outreach to veterans. This proposal is being introduced in response to an East County Magazine investigation that found a lack of County veterans’ services in rural East County. 

Supervisor Jacob’s proposal asks the County’s Chief Executive Office to report back in 120 days on the feasibility of using county libraries for veterans services, which would add 34 additional locations for  County Veterans Services representatives to meet with veterans.

October 17, 2013 (El Cajon) -- A Box Full of Rocks: The El Cajon Years of Lester Bangs is a new documentary film about legendary music journalist and former San Diegan Lester Bangs. Grossmont College's Creative Writing Program will sponsor a special screening of the film at its annual Lester Bangs Memorial Reading, on Tuesday October 22, 2013 in Room 220 (Building 26).  This event will be free and open to the public.

story courtesy Grossmont College

October 17, 2013 (El Cajon) -- With a statewide earthquake drill known as the "Great California Shakeout" planned for 10:17 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17, panelists in Grossmont College's Griffin Center told students last week, where to expect earthquakes to repeatedly happen, how to best be prepared for them, and what it is like to experience their devastation.  Many of these tips are included in the story below.

The panel was a precursor to the Oct. 17 drill in which students, faculty and staff will be advised that in the event that they are inside a building during a real earthquake, they should drop to the floor, get under and hold onto a desk or a table, and cover their heads to prevent materials shaken loose from falling on them.  The Oct. 17 drill will last approximately two minutes after which normal classroom activities will resume.

Kaboom! and New City Seal/Logo/Motto in works

By Janis Mork

October 11, 2013 (El Cajon)- At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Mayor Mark Lewis made a request to rename East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC) to El Cajon Performing Arts Center. Lewis insisted, “Now is the time to name it, because we’re in El Cajon..”

At the suggestion of Mayor Pro Tem Bill Wells, however, Council opted to delay a decision until mid-2014, when a manager for ECPAC is expected to be in place.

El Cajon's Fire Safety Expo Is October 12        

October 6, 2013 (El Cajon) -- It’s all about safety at the annual El Cajon Fire Safety Expo on Saturday, October 12, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 100 E. Lexington Avenue. This event celebrates Fire Prevention Week and brings to the community a wide variety of safety and health information.

Meet firefighters and police officers from the City of El Cajon and see Police & Fire K-9 demonstrations.   Kiwanis Club of East San Diego County will be giving away free kids safety helmets (while supplies last), and Home Depot is back with their children’s safety workshop. See over 40 exhibits addressing important issues such as fire safety, disaster preparedness from the Office of Emergency Services and Heartland Fire & Rescue.

September 26, 2013 (El Cajon) – The City of El Cajon will be hosting a community meeting for El Cajon’s America on Main Street, a new City special event.  This community meeting will be held on Monday, September 30, at 5:30 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan Community Center, located at 195 East Douglas Avenue

El Cajon’s America On Main Street will be on Saturday, June 14, 2014, which is also recognized as National Flag Day. The event will include American and ethnic foods, live entertainment on two stages, displays and more.  For more information please call (619) 441-1754 or visit us online at www.cityofelcajon.us.

By Miriam Raftery

September 25, 2013 (El Cajon) --  El Cajon's City Council has given a green light to getting rid of red light cameras, voting on Tuesday to shut them down permanently.

Back in February, El Cajon’s Council voted to temporarily halt using the city’s 10 Redflex red light cameras while a six month study was conducted to see if there was any impact on safety. The cameras have been covered up since February 27.

September 19, 2013 (El Cajon ) – Four children and two adults are staying with family members temporarily after an attic fire damaged their two-story home at 930 Prescott Avenue in El Cajon this afternoon. 

Quick action by fire crews from Heartland Fire & Rescue in El Cajon and La Mesa, along with firefighters from Cal Fire, kept the fire from reaching neighboring homes.  Heartland Fire reports the fire was knocked down in less than 20 minutes.   The damage was mostly to the attic and roof area.

Introductory club training for swimmers ages 6 to 18  

September 12, 2013 (El Cajon) – East County parents who have been looking for an inexpensive and fun way to involve their children in year-round club swimming now have that opportunity. Heartland Swim Association, East County's premier swim club, is offering a Fall Special Program at special introductory pricing.

Registration is $275 for swimmers between the ages of 6 to 18 and covers practices four to five days a week through December 15.   There is also a $60 fee for membership in USA Swimming.

September 10, 2013 (El Cajon) – The 15th Annual All Fore R.E.C Golf Tournament, Dinner & Auction is September 20 at the Sycuan Golf Resort, 3007 Dehesa Rd., El Cajon.  The Shotgun Start is at 12 p.m.  This event is presented by the City of El Cajon Recreation Department and Crest Kiwanis Club to support recreational activities for East County youth.

September 10, 2013 (El Cajon) – On September 8 at 3:13 p.m., Lemon Grove Sheriff’s deputies received a call of a residential burglary in progress at a home in the 1800 block of Granite Hills Dr., in unincorporated El Cajon. The homeowner reported that an unknown male suspect jumped out of a window to his home and fled in a black Ford Taurus northbound on Granite Hills Drive.

September 4, 2013 (El Cajon) – Friends of East County Arts, Inc. presents “Fashion Artistry” on Thursday September 12, 2013, at the Ronald Reagan Community Center, located at 195 East Douglas Avenue in El Cajon. 

Festivities begin with an 11:00 a.m. check-in, followed by a silent auction, and an opportunity drawing at 12:00 p.m.  The annual luncheon and fashion show will be featuring fashions by Draper’s & Damon’s and Chico’s. The cost is $65 per person.  For reservations, please contact Margie Hartman at (619) 440-2449. Proceeds will go to support fine arts and artists in the East San Diego County area.