El Cajon

COUNCIL READIES TO SEEK TENANTS FOR EAST COUNTY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

 

By Miriam Raftery

 

Updated April 11, 2014 (El Cajon) – By a unanimous vote, the El Cajon City Council on Tuesday asked the City Manager to prepare a request for proposal for groups seeking to rent or lease space at the East County Performing Arts Center. 

The theater has been closed for several years, in need of major repairs. Recently Council voted to allocate funds for renovations and is now moving forward to attract additional tenants in hopes of reopening the theater  next year.

But some community members testified that they believe the city should first make good on its promise to hire a professional theater management company, before making commitment to lock in time blocks for groups such as the Rock Church, which wants to use the theater for church services on Sundays.


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CITY OF EL CAJON RECREATION SPECIALIST KATY CHAPMAN RECEIVES AWARD

 

April 9, 2014 (El Cajon)-At a special ceremony held last month, Katy Chapman received the California Park and Recreation Society (CPRS) District 12 (San Diego and Imperial Counties) Part-Time Recognition Award.  Chapman, a Recreation Specialist with the City of El Cajon’s Recreation Department, was recognized for her years of dedication, enthusiasm, professionalism, and willingness to go above and beyond in her service to the organization and the community.  At the April 8 City Council meeting, the Mayor and Council congratulated her on this prestigious award.


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CAJON CLASSIC CRUISES REVS UP STARTING APRIL 23

 

April 6, 2014 (El Cajon)—Cajon Classic Cruises returns, showcasing classic vehicles each Wednesday night starting April 23 and continuing through October 29.


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LICENSE TO STEAL: FBI CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION INTO EL CAJON DMV CONTINUES

 

Photo: Surveillance video shows DMV employee accepting cash from license applicant.

Source: FBI http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2014/february/corruption-in-a-san-diego-motor-vehicle-office

February 25, 2014 (El Cajon) --You could call this scam a license to steal, and it certainly was—until it all came crashing down on the corrupt state employees and their accomplices who were selling California driver’s licenses for cash.


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EL CAJON COMMUNITY TO DESIGN NEW PLAYGROUND AT WELLS PARK

 

April 2, 2014 (El Cajon )--The City of El Cajon, Stoney’s Kids, Boys & Girls Club of East County and Foresters will join organizers from KaBOOM! (a national non-profit dedicated to ensuring all kids get the balance of active play they need to thrive) at the Wells Park on Thursday, April 3 to kick off design plans for a one-of-a-kind playground.


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READER’S EDITORIAL: PROSECUTION’S CASE SHAKY IN ALHIMIDI MURDER TRIAL

 

By Robert Clark

April 6, 2014 (El Cajon)--The recent spate of earthquakes in our area may have been triggered by an explosion at El Cajon Superior Court on March 25, when the prosecution's case against Kassim Alhimidi blew up during a hearing concerning pre-trial motions. The trial began April 1, and testimony has strongly confirmed an opinion I formed some time ago that the evidence against Alhimidi is so shaky  an immediate acquittal would be in order.


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DMV IN EL CAJON CLOSING FOR REMODELING

 

By Miriam Raftery

If you’re planning to get a driver’s license, or take care of other business at the Department of Motor Vehicles, you’d better plan ahead.


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LIVE MUSIC UNDER THE OAKS IN CREST: ACOUSTIC CRESTRIDGE MARCH 29

 

By Miriam Raftery

March 28, 2014 (Crest) – From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m . Saturday, March 29 you can savor live music under the oaks at the Acoustic Crestridge concert.  The event is held at the Crestridge Ecological Reserve, 1171 Horsemill Road in the La Cresta area of Crest in unincorporated El Cajon.  The event benefits the Earth Discovery Institute, which supports youth science learning and environmental stewardship.

Enjoy music by San Diego’s Jeffrey Joe, Sierra West, Chris Avetta, Chad Taggart and the Harpers, as well a children’s drum circle, neighbors’ song circle and surprises.  Tickets cost $10 (kids under 12 are free) and can be purchased at http://www.earthdiscovery.org.


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SHERIFF SEEKS HELP TO SOLVE "COLD CASE" MURDER IN EL CAJON

 

March 26, 2014 (El Cajon) – Back on the morning of September 1, 2007, Sheriff’s deputies responded to a  call at a home in the 1800 block of Hillsdale Drive in unincorporated El Cajon.  There they found Jerrad Fletcher lying face down in the living room with a gunshot wound in his back. He died at the scene.


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EL CAJON POLICE FAKED PHOTO TO OBTAIN CONFESSION PLACING MAN AT MURDER SCENE

 

By Miriam Raftery

March 26, 2014 (El Cajon )—In a pretrial motion hearing yesterday, El Cajon police Detective Darren Forster testified that he doctored a photograph to convince Kassim Alhimidi to admit that he was near his home when his wife, Shaima Alawadi, was brutally murdered.  Police admitted that they drove the suspect’s red van to the scene and staged a photo, altering the date stamp.

Alhimidi initially denied being near the scene but later said he was in the area when shown the “evidence,” ECM news partner 10 News reports.  He continues to deny killing his wife and reportedly wept in court after learning he had been arrested based on falsified evidence.


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16TH ANNUAL MORNING GLORY BRUNCH AND FROG RACE

 

March 24, 2014 (El Cajon) – St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center is holding its 16th annual Morning Glory Brunch on April 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2119 E. Madison Ave., El Cajon.  The brunch will feature complimentary food and beverage tastings from over 20 local restaurants, art work from SMSC students and local artists, silent and Chinese auctions and the famous great frog race.


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ROARING ON THE RUNWAY: LOCAL LIONS STRUT THEIR STUFF AT BENEFIT FASHION SHOW

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

March 22, 2014 (El Cajon )—Volunteers from the Heartlands Lions Club took to the runway today in the Ronald Reagan Community Center in El Cajon to model limited edition fashions from Eccoci Collections  in the Viejas Outlet Center.  It was all part of the 26th annual Champagne Luncheon and Fashion Show, which supports projects including helping the blind and supporting local youth activities.

Two $500 scholarships were also presented at the event, which drew a full house. 


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COTTONWOOD GOLF ANNOUNCES UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS

 

March 19, 2014 (El Cajon) – If you’re ready to get in the swing of things this spring, Cottonwood Golf has announced a series of golf tournaments in April, May and June. Many of these events will benefit local charitable causes, from children’s programs to wounded veterans to the Mother Goose Parade.  In addition, Cottonwood will host brunch in its garden area each Sunday through June 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with mimosas or champagne for adults and a menu with child pricing.  Cottonwood is located at 3121 Willow Glen Drive in EL Cajon. For reservations call:

619-442-9891 x 22.


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CUYAMACA COLLEGE SEMINAR FOCUSED ON NEEDS, CHALLENGES OF STUDENT VETERANS

 

March 19, 2014 (El Cajon) –  A half-day seminar at Cuyamaca College Friday opened many eyes to the experiences facing today’s military veterans as they pack away their service uniforms to join the civilian world, often coming to community colleges to begin a new chapter in their lives.


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EAST COUNTY ARTISTS NAMED WINNERS

 

March 19, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - East County artists won five of the eight prizes in the 51st annual art showof St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 3502 Clairemont Drive, San Diego.


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ST. PATRICK'S DAY HALF MARATHON A GREAT SUCCESS

 

March 19, 2014 (El Cajon) - Sunday, March 16 was a beautiful day for a race in the City of El Cajon, as RunEC held its second annual “St. Patrick’s Day Half Marathon, Main Street 5K, and Green Mile.”


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EL CAJON COUNCIL ASKS STAFF TO REGULATE E-CIGARETTES AND HOOKAH

 

By Miriam Raftery

March 15, 2014 (El Cajon) – By a 4-1 vote, El Cajon’s City Council voted to add electronic cigarettes to the city’s tobacco ordinance.  The measure will also regulate hookahs.  Only Mayor Bill Wells voted against the measure, calling it “government overreach.”

The proposed regulations will next go before the city’s planning commission, after which the Council will hold a public hearing.


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ST. MADELEINE SOPHIE'S CENTER UNVEILS NEW VINEYARD

 

Sophie’s Vineyard will celebrate a special sneak-peek planting party on April 5

March 11, 2014 (El Cajon)-- St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, the East County vocational day program for more than 400 adults with developmental disabilities, has announced the grand opening of Sophie’s Vineyard. As part of its expanding garden, the Center will install 290 vines in a unique double row design with the purpose of providing students with an education on grape agriculture, selling table grapes at local farmers markets, and the opportunity to partner with local wineries and wine makers.


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PASSAGES: TREE TRIMMER KILLED IN EL CAJON

 

March 11, 2014 (El Cajon )- - Bernardo Teran, 49, owner of a tree trimming company, was killed February 26 while he and his sons, along with two employees, were removing a date palm tree from the yard of a home  at 1586 Falda Del Cerro in El Cajon.


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KITCHEN FIRE DAMAGES APARTMENT UNIT IN EL CAJON

March 4, 2014 (El Cajon)--At approximately 2:15 p.m. Monday afternoon, Heartland Fire & Rescue crews from El Cajon and La Mesa responded to reports of a structure fire in the one-thousand block of Leslie Road in El Cajon.  As fire crews arrived on scene they found heavy smoke coming from a lower unit of the apartment structure at 1016 Leslie Road. Firefighters were able to stop the fire in approximately twenty minutes.


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FERAL CAT COALITION ANNOUNCES MATCHING DONORS CAMPAIGN

 

March 1, 2014 (El Cajon) –Feral Cat Coalition (FCC), who has a permanent spay/neuter facility located in El Cajon, announces the start of its 2014 Feral & Friends Price-Matching Campaign.  Starting today through March 25th, a generous donor will match all donations to FCC dollar-for-dollar. To make a donation, go to www.feralcat.com/pricematch or mail your contribution to Feral Cat Coalition, 9225 Miramar Rd., PMB 160, San Diego, CA 92126.  All donations are tax deductible.


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PUPPY SOCIAL HOUR MARCH 3 AT CAMP BOW WOW

 

March 1, 2014 (El Cajon) - Bring your new puppy to Camp Bow Wow in El Cajon on Monday, March 3rd for a puppy socialization hour. Puppies from 10 weeks to 4 months old can romp around with each other in an indoor play yard. The puppy social starts at 7 pm and ends at 8 pm. You will have a chance to meet Behavior Buddies trainer.


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GRANITE HILLS HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER UNDER INVESTIGATION

 

February 28, 2014 (El Cajon) - El Cajon Police Department has confirmed that it is investigating allegations of potentially inappropriate behavior by a Granite Hills High School teacher involving students. The behavior is alleged to have occurred the previous school year.


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EL CAJON WEIGHS LEASING ECPAC TO ROCK CHURCH; COUNCIL TO CONSIDER FEB. 25

 

By Miriam Raftery

February 24, 2014 (El Cajon ) – El Cajon City Council and its redevelopment agency are negotiating “price and terms for the potential lease” of the East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC).  A lease could allow the church to rentl use of the facility for a specified period of time each month or year as an anchor tenant, but is not a management contract, which is set to be negotiated separately.

“Apparently, El Cajon City is negotiating with The Rock Church behind closed doors to lease ECPAC,” said Ray Lutz, chair of the Save ECPAC committee and founder of Citizens Oversight, a watchdog citizens group.


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FASHION SHOW MARCH 22 TO BENEFIT HEARTLAND LIONS

 

February 24, 2014 (El Cajon ) – Heartland Lions Club invites the public to its 26h annual fashion show, champagne luncheon and silent auction on Saturday, March 22.  The show will feature limited edition ECCOCI collections.


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PROBATION SWEEP IN EAST COUNTY

 

February 22, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – A multi-agency probation sweep in East County conducted on Friday, February 21 resulted in 17 arrests.

Deputies and officers visited probationers in Santee, Lakeside and El Cajon to see if they were following the conditions of their release, also working with Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Enforcement at San Diego Trolley stations in the area to conduct compliance checks on passengers.


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CUYAMACA COLLEGE DEAN RECOUNTS CHALLENGES OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN IN HIGHER EDUCATION LEADERSHIP

 

February 20, 2014 (El Cajon)– As an African-American college dean, Marsha Gable knew she was taking a risk focusing on the touchy topic of race in her doctoral dissertation in 2011.


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READER'S EDITORIAL: DEEMED APPROVED ORDINANCE FEE IN EL CAJON

 

By Mary Wang

February 17, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - Last fall, the City of El Cajon passed a Deemed Approved Ordinance (DAO) in an attempt to resolve some of the alcohol-related issues many business owners and residents have been experiencing over the years in our community.


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DEM PARTY CHAIR TO SPEAK IN EL CAJON FEB. 20

 

February 18, 2014 (El Cajon)- - Francine Busby, Chair of the San Diego Democratic Party and Executive Director of Run Women Run, an organization that recruits progressive women to run for political office, will be speaking at the East County Democratic Club meeting on February 20 at 7 p.m.  


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PASSAGES: BAKERY CO-OWNER ROSEMARY JUNE OWENS, 1926-2014

 

February 14, 2014 (El Cajon)-Rosemary June Owens, who co-owned Howard’s Bakery in El Cajon, was a popular figure in El Cajon for many years, serving sweets and specialties for occasions from weddings to graduations.  She passed away peacefully in her home with her loving husband of 53 years, Howard, by her side.

Rosemary fought a six-year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease, after beating breast cancer twice over a 30-year span.


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