The ECCC board members decided to cancel our March meeting due to the COVID-19 crisis.

We will tentatively plan on having the ECCC board elections at our April 16 meeting, depending on how things are going with the virus. Board member Eva Yakutis will be resigning due to other obligations, so we have an opening on the board for anyone who is interested.

At our next meeting, the board members will be asking for your vote to continue working for the community. A new community member is on the ballot, and we are ready for last-minute changes if anyone wants to add their name at the meeting.

Membership in the ECCC is open to any active member, at least 18 years of age residing or owning property within the El Cerrito community, or any business owner whose place of business is within the El Cerrito community. Membership shall be granted upon receipt of an application verifying qualification. You must have attended at least one meeting in the last year in order to run for the ECCC board.

The board of directors sets up the ECCC meetings, maintains membership rolls and attendance, and any other vote eligibility records. The board organizes community events including the September garage sale, pot luck dinners and the See’s Candy event.

Also rescheduled for the April meeting is presenter Farmer Bill from City Farmers Nursery, who will talk about spring gardening and facilitate a plant exchange – both of which will now occur in April. For more information about City Farmers Nursery, visit website cityfarmersnursery.com.

El Cajon Boulevard

At many of our neighborhood meetings, we have discussed not wanting to have hookah lounges, marijuana shops, massage parlors, and car storage businesses on our El Cerrito section of El Cajon Boulevard. Many have listened, including Jim Schneider with the business district. There have been numerous improvements as restaurants, coffee shops, a flower shops, a dog groomer, and exercise studios moved in and joined our College Boulevard veterinarian, lawn mower shop and other businesses we really like.

But the business owners who have invested a lot of money for permits and to build their new businesses and are working many hours each day are expressing that lack of patronage is making it difficult to succeed in El Cerrito.

Please add one night each week to your schedule to go to one of the restaurants in the area and frequent the services of the businesses. If we do not support these businesses, we will find it increasingly difficult to get other businesses we want and the Boulevard could become home to more of the businesses we do not want.

—Laura Riebau writes on behalf of the El Cerrito Community Council.