🌱 Which two El Cajon QBs made San Diego’s preseason top 10?

Hey there, El Cajon! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Which two El Cajon QBs made San Diego's preseason top 10?
• How Grossmont's "Castle" and inn once tied into El Cajon
• Fast-moving East County fire prompts evacuations near Sycuan Casino

Also on today's calendar: Dezarie Live.

Today's riddle: Why do fish live in salt water? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 91 and low of 68 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
• Friday: Warm with periods of sun, temps: high: 93, low: 68.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 91 and low of 67 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• TOP 10 San Diego Section FB Players (calhisports.com) — Two El Cajon quarterbacks, Granite Hills' Zac Benitez and Christian High's Kaleb Runkle, rank among the San Diego Section's top 10 football players heading into the new season. The list spotlights their big junior-year stats, college commitments, and the strong expectations surrounding East County programs this fall.
   

• The opera star, the 'castle' and the hill: 7 stories from Grossmont's early days (timesofsandiego.com) — East County's early history comes alive with stories of Grossmont's artists' colony, the elegant Grossmont Inn welcoming guests from El Cajon's train depot, and the granite "Castle" at Grossmont High School in El Cajon. The piece traces how this hilltop community evolved from rural orchards into a regional hub with a landmark hospital and shopping center that many El Cajon residents still frequent today.
   

• Evacuations ordered in fast-moving fire near Sycuan casino (sandiegouniontribune.com) — A fast-moving wildfire erupted Wednesday afternoon near Sycuan Casino Resort, south of Harbison Canyon, prompting evacuations in parts of rural East County not far from El Cajon. Flames quickly burned 15 to 20 acres along Dehesa Road, forcing residents from Red Gum Road to Tavern Road to leave as crews worked to contain the slope-driven blaze and closed nearby roads.
   

📸 Around El Cajon

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🗓 Upcoming Events in El Cajon

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday August 22
• Dezarie Live →
  WorldBeat Cultural Center, 2100 Park Blvd, San Diego
  8:00 pm
Sunday August 23
• Passport to Wellness →
  WorldBeat Cultural Center, 2100 Park Blvd, San Diego
  11:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Tuesday September 15
• Bear McCreary →
  The Magnolia, 210 E Main St, El Cajon
  7:00 pm

📣 El Cajon Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday August 20
• Picture Day
  Jefferson Middle Oceanside, CA 92058
  8:00 am
• Storytime for Toddlers & Preschoolers
  San Carlos Branch Library 7265 Jackson Drive, San Diego, CA, 92119, US
  10:30 am
• Craft Circle
  San Carlos Branch Library 7265 Jackson Drive, San Diego, CA, 92119, US
  2:00 pm
• Back To School Night
  Helix High La Mesa, CA 91941
  5:30 pm
• Papa Panda Meeting
  Benchley/Weinberger (TK-5) San Diego, CA 92119
  6:30 pm
Friday August 21
• Minimum Day (12:44 PM Dismissal)
  Pershing (6-8) San Diego, CA 92119
• TK/Kinder Meet and Greet
  Mt. Woodson Elementary Ramona, CA 92065
  7:40 am
• MVA Picture Day
  Mountain Valley Academy Ramona, CA 92065
  8:00 am
• MVA Book Check Out & Picture Day
  Mountain Valley Academy Ramona, CA 92065
  8:00 am
• Marine Corps League BBQ
  Veterans Association of North County 1617 Mission Ave, Oceanside, CA 92058
  4:00 pm
• Back to School Night: Seniors 5:30p, Juniors 6:30p
  Grossmont High La Mesa, CA 91944
  5:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• I love keeping a journal to document my life in watercolor.
  So just sharing some recent pages of snapshots from a visit to the Indian Hills camp. (Nextdoor Granite Hills South)
• Looking for a scared lost brown smaller dog with big upright ears.
  FEARFUL!  Do NOT Approach, Call Out or Follow.  Call 24/7 Poppe ran off this morning from fuerte chase lane down chase possibly turning at or near… (Nextdoor Mt. Helix/Fuerte Hills)

• PRIDE Industries, Inc. posted a job opening for Building/Stationary Engineer in El Cajon. Apply here.
• Grossmont Union High School District posted a job opening for Boys Head Volleyball Coach - El Cajon Valley High School - CP27-015189 in El Cajon. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near El Cajon here.

🗞 Nearby News

Santee

• Pedestrian Trapped Between Vehicles, Seriously Injured In Santee Crash (patch.com)

La Mesa

• Two-Gun Law (paperbackwarrior.com)
• Charlotte Sue Jobe - June 24, 1935 - Aug. 16, 2026 (fortworthreport.org)

Ok El Cajon! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Pepper makes them sneeze (Thank you Karla H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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