January 26, 2011 (El Cajon)--The Grossmont College Theatre Arts Department will present “Inside the Actor’s Process: Improvisation,” a performance of student actors using improvisational skills, at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 4 and 5, and at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 5.

Through presentations of scenes and monologues, the show will demonstrate how student actors can develop such improvisational skills as timing, team work and listening.

January 24, 2011 (El Cajon) -- East County's newest gallery, Main Street 5 Gallery at 124 East Main Street in El Cajon, will host a grand opening event on Friday, February 4th from 5-10 p.m.  The opening will feature photographic arts by Esther Beish.  

Egyptian proprietor also serves up coffee, snacks, and free classes to help Arabic-speaking residents

By Miriam Raftery
 

January 17, 2011 (El Cajon) --

On Saturday, throngs of well-wishers  stopped by on Saturday to bid welcome (ahlan wa sahaln, أهلا وسهلا) to Zohny Hanna at his new business, Serenity House in downtown El Cajon. The store/coffee shop offers Christian books, art, and music in Arabic. Located on Main Street just east of Magnolia, Serenity House also offers free classes in English and community orientations for East County’s growing population of Arabic-speaking immigrants, asylees, and refugees.

“This is my land now. America is my new home,” says Hanna, who came here on a tourist vista back in 1997 with his wife and children, then received asylum status due to persecution of Coptic Christians in his native Egypt.

New ECCDC report highlights accomplishments, but results are apparent in a stroll down Main Street

By Miriam Raftery
 

January 12, 2011 (Rancho San Diego) -- Friends of the Water Conservation Garden, a new organization of community volunteers, is now governing and operating the Water Conservation Garden.

ECM News Service

January 10, 2011 (El Cajon) – Jodi Lynne Boyd, 35, is in custody after attempting to steal narcotic pain medication from the CVS Pharmacy at 2760 Fletcher Parkway in El Cajon. According to El Cajon Police, the suspect simulated a handgun and demanded oxycontin at the pharmacy counter. But the attempted robbery was foiled by the actions of two store employees.

January 4, 2010 (El Cajon)  At 10:39 last night, El Cajon Police received a 911 call regarding a person down in the roadway at 500 Broadway. Responding officers found that the victim had been struck by a vehicle while crossing the street. He had major injuries to his leg and head.

The driver of the vehicle fled the scene after striking the victim. The suspect vehicle most likely has moderate to major front end damage.

December 30, 2010 (El Cajon)—An El Cajon man turned himself into the El Cajon Police Department around 11:30 a.m. today, stating that he was the driver of a hit and run vehicle. According to El Cajon Police Detective Tim Roberts, the driver is John Senati, 46, of El Cajon.

The collision occurred Monday evening in the 500 block of North Mollison Avenue when a vehicle struck and  injured a pedestrian who was crossing the roadway. The pedestrian remains hospitalized in critical condition.

December 20, 2010 (San Diego's East County)--State Route 67 will close in both directions between Prospect and Woodside Avenues tonight through Wednesday from 9 p.m. each night until 5 a.m. the next morning. In addition, starting at 8 p.m., the southbound Magnolia on-ramp, northbound Bradley Avenue on-ramp and Prospect Avenue off-ramp will also be closed. The closures will allow highway construction crews to install highway signs and remove k-rail.

By Jeremy Los

December 16, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) -- The holiday season is upon us—bringing carols, crowded shopping malls and of course, Christmas lights! Several East County neighborhoods have taken it upon themselves to celebrate the holiday season with extravagant light displays for everyone to enjoy. Scroll down for descriptions, and view our map of holiday light displays in East County.

December 8, 2010 (El Cajon)—A 15-year-old girl was abducted from the Wal-Mart at 13487 Camino Canada in El Cajon on Monday December 6th, San Diego Sheriff’s Department reports. Parolee David Lascelles has been arrested for allegedly using a gun to kidnap the victim, then drive her to Fiesta Island, where he reportedly raped her.

December 7, 2010 (El Cajon) – The landing gear collapsed on a Piper PA18 fixed-wing plane at Gillespie Field in El Cajon today, causing minor damage to the underside shortly after 3 p.m. There was no injury to the pilot and no passengers were on board.

December 7, 2010 (El Cajon) – Two men stole cash and phones from the Cricket Wireless Store at 1110 Broadway, El Cajon Police report. Police responded to a call around 6:10 p.m. from a witness who said she saw two masked men running from the store, according to Lt. Tim Henton.

By Miriam Raftery
 

December 3, 2010 (San Diego) – A new program is proving effective at helping chronically homeless people in San Diego County find permanent homes, get medical care and other support services needed to rebuild their lives.

Facilitated by United Way of San Diego County, the San Diego County Plan to End Chronic Homelessness (PTECH) has found permanent homes for 177 chronically homeless San Diegans in the past 17 months, including people in East County--and actually saved taxpayers money.
 

November 29, 2010 (El Cajon)--Grossmont College Music Department will present “Jazz Night,” an evening of Grossmont College students performing a recital of various styles of jazz music, starting at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 5, in Room 220 on the Grossmont College campus. The public is invited to attend. Also performing at the event will be Grossmont College Music Dept. co-chair Derek Cannon and Kamau Kenyatta of the Cannon/Kenyatta Project.