September 10, 2013 (El Cajon) – The 4^th Annual Chaldean Festival well be held at Centennial Plaza in El Cajon on September 14 & 15 from 5 – 10 p.m.  This free event features music, dance, food, games and vendor booths.  There will also be a raffle for a Sports Car. 

All are welcome to this event sponsored by the Chaldean American Institute and St. Michael’s Aid Society.

September 6, 2013 (El Cajon) – The 24^th Annual Sycuan Pow-Wow will be held September 13 – 15 at the Sycuan Reservation, 5459 Sycuan Road, El Cajon. The Pow-Wow will begin on Friday evening with Gourd Dancing at 7 p.m., followed by the Grand Entry at 8 p.m.  Saturday and Sunday the Gourd Dancing will begin at 1 p.m with a Grand Entry at 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.

By Miriam Raftery

August 28, 2013 (El Cajon) – A century ago, one of the first actions of El Cajon’s City Council was to outlaw saloons due to concerns over negative influences of alcohol on the community. Those restrictions were later relaxed.  But yesterday, Council once again voted to restrict sales of alcohol, over the objections of local merchants and the East County Chamber of Commerce.

By a unanimous vote, Council approved the “deemed approved” ordinance aimed at curbing serial inebriates from purchasing single-serve alcoholic beverages at markets.

By Janis Mork

August 26, 2013 (El Cajon) - On August 12, Brian Castner, author of  The Long Walk, delivered a speech to faculty and staff at Grossmont College on how to reach out to military veterans.

His book, The Long Walk, tells the story of Castner’s outward struggle of serving in combat and inward struggle to find himself again after he had been home for a couple years.  

August 18, 2013 (El Cajon) – At 11:51 p.m. Saturday night, Heartland Fire & Rescue crews in El Cajon, with assistance from Cal Fire, responded to reports of a fire in the 3-hundred block of Wisconsin Avenue. As fire crews arrived on scene, smoke was seen coming from apartment #3, at 314 Wisconsin Avenue. 

August 6, 2013 (El Cajon) – Advanced Training Associates, a career training college in El Cajon, has formed a unique relationship with the city’s growing Chaldean community.  Noticing an influx of Chaldean students at its El Cajon campus, the school’s staff contacted Chaldean community leaders to offer friendship and support. This new partnership bore fruit this summer as Advanced Training awarded a scholarship to a young member of the Chaldean community. 

“It’s such a treat for us to welcome these new Americans,” said Advanced Training Education Coordinator Steven Howard. “I’m enjoying the opportunity to watch them learn and grow.  These are some hard working people.  They seem determined to make the most of life in this country.”

August 5, 2013 (El Cajon) – Tyler J. Farmer, 34, of El Cajon has been identified by theMedical Examiner’s office as the driver killed in a motorcycle accident that occurred July 29.   Farmer was traveling westbound on West Main Street when he struck a curb and lost control.

Responding paramedics transported him to a hospital, where despite medical intervention he died. Cause of death was cardiac arrest during an exploratory laparotomy surgical procedure for treatment of lung and liver lacerations due to blunt force injury of his torso.

July 30, 2013 (El Cajon) – A fugitive who rammed a police car in El Cajon is under arrest, along with his companion.  The arrests followed a pursuit that resulted in a police officer opening fire and a K-9 dog biting the fleeing suspect.

At 2 p.m. on July 30, El Cajon Police offers spotted the wanted fugitive, Ali Alkafaji in the 1300 block of North Johnson. Officers in marked patrol units attempted to stop the vehicle, assisted by a California Highway Patrol officer. According to police, the suspect intentionally rammed a police sergeant’s vehicle and then accelerated toward the CHP officer, who was out of his car on foot.

According to Lieutenant Frank La Haye, “The suspect continued in the CHP officer’s direction, attempting to run him over. The CHP officer, fearing for his life, fired several rounds at the suspect’s vehicle.”

July 29, 2013 (El Cajon) – El Cajon City Manager Douglas Williford announced today that he has appointed Majed Al-Ghafry as the new Assistant City Manager.  Al-Ghafry currently serves as the Director of Public Works for the City of San Antonio, Texas, the nation’s 7th largest city.  Prior to that, Al-Ghafry served as the Director of Public Works for the City of North Las Vegas, Nevada.

July 28, 2013 (El Cajon) – Today, El Cajon Police announced the arrest of Israel Soto and Jessica Quezada for the death of their four-month-old baby. The couple’s other three children, ages 3, 2, and 1, have been taken into protective custody by Child Protective Services.

By Janis Mork

July 24, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – Helix Water District is looking to raise rates for its 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 fiscal years. For 2013-2014, proposed water rates for the domestic/ single customer - using 25 units bi-monthly - will increase six percent. Commercial/Multi-family customers will see a rate increase of three to eight percent. 

July 12, 2013 (El Cajon) -- Lynmarie Rodriguez, 29, of Chula Vista has been charged with attempted murder for reportedly stabbing a man at his home at 1696 Buckeye Drive in El Cajon.  According to El Cajon Police Lieutenant Frank Haye, investigators found that the woman had "attempted to rob the victim when the altercation occurred."

July 1, 2013 (El Cajon) – The day before she was to meet the Grossmont College search committee that would interview her for the job as vice president for academic affairs, Dr. Katrina VanderWoude, vice provost at Rochester College in Michigan, decided to do some interviewing of her own.  Visiting the Grossmont College campus incognito, she struck up conversations with students over lunch in Griffin Center, and elsewhere on the campus, to see if she could get a feel for the place at which she later accepted the job.

June 18, 2013 (El Cajon) – On Saturday, June 22nd from 9am-11am, the East County Family YMCA will host the grand opening of a new 4,000 square-foot, YMCA Gymnastics Center, where guests can sign-up for a special introductory 4-week session, tour the new facility, and meet the staff!

The new Gymnastics Center, located at 2471 Jamacha Rd. Ste. 102-104, El Cajon 92019 features a full array of gymnastics equipment and sufficient space and amenities to accommodate preschool and school age gymnastics training and practice. This off-site gymnastics facility replaces and expands the previous program, which was housed at the McGrath Family YMCA on Campo Road due to the strong demand for gymnastics and fitness classes. The gymnastics program held offsite will not only allow for more days and times for gymnastics classes, but will also provide more space for additional group exercise classes at the McGrath Family YMCA.

June 10, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) -- Ismael Perez Chavez, 30,  died at the scene of a solo vehicle traffic accident June 8  reported at 11:49 p.m.on westbound I-8 near Mollison Avenue in El Cajon. Perez, who was single, resided with roommates in Lemon Grove.