November 24, 2014 (El Cajon) – The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce will hold its next First Friday Breakfast  at the Ronald Reagan Community Center in El Cajon on December 5 at 7:15 a.m. Hosted and Sponsored by Viejas Casino & Resort, this special Holiday First Friday includes collecting toys for the East County Toy Drive established by Stoney’s Kids and the Salvation Army.  Bring an unwrapped toy like a soccer ball, curling iron, a bicycle, or a gift card for teens or tots and for each gift valued over $10, Viejas will give you a drawing ticket to win great prizes including an overnight stay package at the Viejas Hotel.  Go Here to reserve your seat for breakfast.

By Miriam Raftery

November 20, 2014 (El Cajon)--Once again, six-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson has proven himself to be a hero for education in his hometown, El Cajon.

The Jimmie Johnson Foundation/Lowe’s Toolbox for Education has awarded $556,623 in grants for 2014—including grants to three schools in the Grossmont Union High School District.  The local grants include

• Chaparral High School - $29,482 to create a computer lab that will augment the program at Chaparral through the use of online learning and digital arts instruction.
• El Capitan High School - $23,000 to purchase new laptops for teachers so they can be better equipped to use digital/paperless resources and to teach students how to use the online resources and apps available to them.
• Grossmont High School - $80,458 to integrate technology and foster collaboration and making connections between the arts and core academic classes.

Other grants went to schools in North Carolina, Okalahoma, and to Loma Portal Elementary School in San Diego.

By Miriam Raftery

November 19, 2014 (El Cajon)—Hector Miranda, 34, is under arrest after a police pursuit across El Cajon in which the suspect’s car side-swiped two other vehicles. Undercover El Cajon Police investigators and Fugitive Task Force members were searching for Miranda, the prime suspect in a stabbing who was also wanted on a felony violation of parole warrant.

Crimestoppers described Miranda as “a violent felon with a history of robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, domestic violence, burglary, and numerous narcotics offenses.”

November 17, 2014 (El Cajon) – An SDG&E employee who struck a homeless man with an SDG&E pickup truck in early January, then fled the scene, has been sentenced to 180 days of house arrest and 20 days of public service by Judge Laura Halgren. Hector Hoyt also received three years probation after pleading guilty to felony hit and run.

November 15,2014 (El Cajon)--The El Cajon Valley Host Lions Club will deliver 100 Christmas food baskets with turkeys and all the trimmings on December 20^th starting at 7 a.m.

November 15, 2014 (El Cajon) - The City of El Cajon is providing financial assistance to help San Diego Habitat for Humanity build six new homes in El Cajon.

East County News Service

November 14, 2014 (El Cajon)—An 87-year-old man died at a local hospital after being struck by a vehicle in the 600 block of El Cajon last night shortly before 5:30 p.m.  Witnesses told police that the man walked into the roadway from the center media, following two family members. He was wearing dark clothing and appeared unaware of the vehicle traffic.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos, (ltop left to lower right):  Noori Barka and Supervisor Dianne Jacob, Wadi Deddeh and Congressman Susan Davis, Father Noel and Congressman Juan Vargas, Lion of Babylon/Citizen of the Year presentation to Pastor Harold Brown (third from right)

November 13, 2014 (El Cajon ) – With a theme of “together, we can build a better community,” the Chaldean American Association convened at the Crystal Ballroom in El Cajon on October 30^th for the organization’s annual awards banquet. 

November 11, 2014 (El Cajon)--The East County Democratic Club (ECDC) will focus on the Middle Eastern crisis brought on by actions of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) (also known as the Islamic State of Iraq in the Levant (ISIL)) on November 20, 2014.  Dr. Todd Myers will address the issues involved at 7 p.m., at Coco’s Restaurant, 1026 Fletcher Parkway, El Cajon.   The public is invited to the meeting, without regard to membership in the club or party.

Photo, above: Dana Quittner, holding flowers, accepts Lifetime Achievement Award

Photo, right: Assemblyman Jones honors ECEDC; with Jo Marie Diamond and John Minto

By Miriam Raftery

November 8, 2014 (El Cajon)—An airplane hangar glitzed out in a Back-to-the-Future theme set the backdrop for the East County Economic Development Council (ECEDC) 30^th anniversary celebration.  The event drew leaders from across the region including Assemblyman Brian Jones, who presented a legislative proclamation honoring the ECEDC.

The ECEDC, a nonprofit business growth organization, presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to Dana Quittner, a founding ECEDC board member. Presenting the award to Quittner was Jo Marie Diamond, ECEDC president/CEO, along with John Minto, ECEDC board chair and Santee City Council member, and Deanna Weeks, the first ECEDC CEO, now retired.

November 7, 2014 (El Cajon)--The Sheriff's Homicide Detail wants your help solving two murders that happened in El Cajon more than a decade ago.

East County News Service

November 7, 2014 (El Cajon)—A doctor who volunteered at Volunteers in Medicine in El Cajon and other facilities has been arrested and charged with 24 felony counts, ECM news partner 10 News reports.   The charges include 15 felony counts of sexually penetrating an unconscious victim, 8 counts of sexual battery and one count of child pornography.

Photo: Mayor Bill Wells celebrates victory with suporters; photo by Randy Jordan, R. Jordan Photgraphy

By Miriam Raftery and Janis Russell

November 5, 2014 (El Cajon) -- Mayor Bill Wells thumped two opponents to win 81.6% of the vote, winning reelection handily over Allen Theweny and Jonathan Wright.  Councilman Gary Kendrick took over two-thirds of the vote (64.14%) over his opponent, Elwood Alexander.

The incumbents had the benefit of an improving economy and new policies such as the city's outreach to car dealers to bring more revenues to El Cajon, a city with the county's highest poverty rate.  El Cajon's leaders have also had success in healing relations with the city's large Iraqi Chaldean population, with Mayor Wells speaking out publicly in support of bringing persecuted Christian Chaldean refugees to El Cajon.

East County News Service

November 3, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)— East County Magazine has compiled this handy guide for you with links to all of our coverage of local races, as well as some statewide and federal (Congressional) races on your ballot for the election on Tuesday, November 4. 

We invited all candidates running in local races listed below to be interviewed, and include print and/or  radio interviews with those who responded.   We also have links to our coverage of debates, candidate forums, analysis, editorials submitted by our readers (ECM does not editorialize), and other relevant information on candidates and ballot propositions. Also see below for links to additional nonpartisan resources for info on these and other races.

Our nonpartisan guide is arranged in three sections: local, state, and federal (Congressional) races, with  the races alphabetical under each section. To view, click "read more" below and scroll down.

By Robert Gehr

October 30, 2014 (El Cajon)--As the sun dropped low into the horizon and darkness began to envelop the land last night, evening twilight brought out hordes of costumed people - young and old alike - competing for candy  at Trunk or Treat, El Cajon’s fun-filled trick or treat Halloween festivity.