By Miriam Raftery

Photo: CC by NC-ND via Bing

December 12, 2022 (Washington D.C.) -- Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) issued  the following statement after the House Judiciary Committee unanimously voted in favor of Congressman Issa’s American Music Fairness Act on Dec. 8.

East County News Service

December 6, 2022 (San Diego) -- The San Diego Concert Band wishes you "Happy Holidays" and a prosperous New Year at its 33^rd annual Holiday Celebration Concert, “Sparkling Lights.” The Band will perform new pieces, old favorites, and will accompany the audience for the sing-a-long at the concert on Tuesday, December 13 at 7 p.m. at the Joan B. Kroc Theatre for the Performing Arts.

East County News Service

View trailer of “Why the Nativity”   

November 30, 2022 (Ramona) – If you watch the docudrama “Why the Nativity” that opened over Thanksgiving weekend, you’ll see some local talent.  Camels and their handlers from Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona are key players in the film, which depicts the Christmas story in Bethlehem.  

East County News Service

Photo: Shane Harris, President of the People's Association of Justice Advocates, Tayari Howard, and Mayor Racquel Vasquez raise gold shovel to plant tree in Howard’s honor.

View video: https://fb.watch/ggcAWhC1OD/

November 13, 2022 (Lemon Grove) – Community leaders and elected officials gathered at Treganza Heritage Park in Lemon Grove last month to honor Tayari Howard, founder of Legacy Media Publishing, Promotions and Production. The award-winning broadcaster, legendary smooth jazz radio voice and host of the “Music for Lovers” program   and activist was recently diagnosed with brain cancer.

By Miriam Raftery

September 27, 2022 (El Cajon) – El Cajon’s City Council received some upbeat news in a report on the financial performance of The Magnolia (formerly known as the East County Performing Arts Center).  In a presentation during today’s Council hearing, representatives of the city and the Magnolia confirmed that the theater has exceeded projections and attained profitability in its third year – despite mandated shutdowns in 2020 and part of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

East County News Service

September 23, 2022 (La Mesa) -- Visionary Youth Theatre presents Seussical, Jr at the Visionary Performance Space (8674 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa) from November 4-13.   Bring your family and friends to enjoy as the diverse and talented children of Visionary School for the Performing Arts bring to the stage this fun, family musical directed and choreographed by Sharla Mandere.

By Elijah McKee

September 20, 2022 (Poway) — “This is probably going to be one of the biggest years ever,” said John LoPiccolo, the Poway Symphony Orchestra’s Music Director and Conductor, as he addressed the August gala floor below him crowded with musicians, supporters, city councilmembers and fans. 

East County News Service

September 13, 2022 (Spring Valley) - The Saps at Sea, the San Diego chapter of the Sons of the Desert, the official Laurel & Hardy fan organization, present their Halloween program, "Howl-O-Scream," October 15 at Williams Hall at Trinity Presbytarian Church in Spring Valley.

By Shiloh Ireland

August 11, 2022 (Lakeside) -- Jackie Hanson is a gifted artist and local Lakeside resident. I had the pleasure to interview her on August 7th at Trevi Hills Winery in Lakeside, where she has a showing of her paintings running through the month of August.

Review by Kathy Carpenter

August 2, 2022 (Poway) - Not as well-known as perhaps some of Agatha Christie's other novels but often considered one of her best, "A Murder is Announced" is presented by Powpac now through August 21.  Novels  featuring detective Hercule Poirot are generally the Christie stories one thinks of first, such as "Murder on The Orient Express” and "Death on the Nile." I actually love sweet-little-old Miss Marple, the sleuth in "A Murder is Announced," which was written in 1950. The mystery, filled with twists and turns, will keep you guessing until the end.

San Diego’s newest film festival screens nominated features, shorts, documentaries, and music videos

July 5, 2022 (San Diego) -- Celebrating the spirit and achievements of independent filmmakers, the San Diego Movie Awards holds its inaugural festival August 2-5, 2022. The festival highlights films with budgets under $1 million, and seeks to promote the work of independent film makers, not only in San Diego, but across the globe. The three days of screenings will take place in-person at the Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA) in Balboa Park. View trailer.

The festival also includes a benefit for the Alzheimer’s Association/San Diego and Imperial County on August 2, with a showing of “Not to Forget.”

East County News Service

July 21, 2022 (Lakeside) – You’re invited to meet artist Jackie Hanson at an opening reception of her art show at Trevi Hills Winery in Lakeside. The opening will be held Saturday, August 6 at 2 p.m. through 7 p.m. The show will run from Aug. 5-31.

Hanson, an East County artist, likes to enhance the natural landscape with scenes and characters from her imagination. 

“I like to paint not only what is, but what could be, and hope perhaps to inspire the future,” she says.