SNL Star Brings Comedy Brilliance to East San Diego County’s Top Destination for Entertainment and Fun

March10, 2023 (Jamul)  – On Saturday, April 1, at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., Jamul Casino will welcome Darrell Hammond to The Rooftop for a one-of-a-kind dinner and comedy show.  Widely recognized for his sharp humor and masterful impressions of politicians, celebrities and newsmakers on Saturday Night Live (SNL), Hammond has been keeping audiences laughing for nearly three decades. 

He comes to Jamul Casino as part of its Supper Club at The Rooftop series, which pairs “outstanding entertainment with exceptional cuisine at Jamul Casino's spacious outdoor event venue.  The show demonstrates Jamul Casino’s commitment to offering its guests world-class entertainment, food, and fun,” according to a press release from Jamul Casino.

By Assemblymember Marie Waldron

February 19, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) -- San Diego County has more tribal governments than any other county in the nation. Since these communities are all located within the 75^th Assembly District, tribal issues are very important to me, especially regarding their safety and prosperity.

January 26, 2023 (Pala) -- Pala Casino Spa Resort is excited to present legendary group Spyro Gyra and world-renowned prolific acoustic guitarist Peter White on Friday, February 17, performing live indoor at the Events Center. The show will start at 8:00 p.m. General admission tickets are $45.

This show is just one of the impressive lineup of headliner and tribute concerts that will be held at the Events Center and Starlight Theater.

By Miriam Raftery

December 5, 2022 (Jamul) – The Jamul Dulzura Community Planning Group (JDCPG) held two public hearings on the Jamul Casino Hotel and Event Center project planned by Jamul Indian Village (JIV). On November 19, the planning group chair Preston Brown sent a letter to JIV Chairwoman Erica Pinto stating that the tribal environmental impact report (TEIR) was “extraordinarily incomplete and premature for a project of this magnitude.” The planning group recommended the No Project Alternative.

The hotel would be 16 stories with floor-to-ceiling glass; the project would also include an indoor-outdoor event center and additional parking, but no new gaming.

ECM reached out to Chairwoman Pinto to request an interview. She initially agreed, but cancelled due to a trip to Washington D.C. to meet with Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland on other matters.  ECM sent written questions and requested a new interview date, but no response has yet been received. The Jamul Casino employees approximately 1,000 people and has provided economic security for the Jamul Indian Village of California's tribal members, many of whom lived in poverty in the past. The new project, if built, would significantly expand employment opportunities in the area as well as economic growth for the tribe.

County planner Scott Christman has said the project does not need approval of county Supervisors or the Governor, and the tribe has previously indicated it hoped to begin construction this month. However the the JDCPG contends that since the casino was built based on certain conditions and legal requirements being met, some of which have not been completed, the project thus does need approval/cooperation/participation of both Supervisors and the Governor.

By Miriam Raftery

November 14, 2022 (Jamul) – The Jamul-Dulzura Community Planning Group will hold a special virtual meeting tonight at 7:30 p.m. The group will her a presentation by a subcommittee and vote on the proposed Jamul Casino Hotel and Event Center expansion project, which includes a 16-story hotel, new event center, multi-purpose/bingo hall and 6-story parking structure, and related infrastructure.

The vote is advisory in regards to the tribe’s environmental impact report; the project is on tribal land so the County has only limited jurisdiction.  The Jamul Indian VIllage tribe plans to begin construction in December.

To join the Virtual Meeting via the web, use the following link:

East County News Service 

By Miriam Raftery

September 3, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – This weekend, the Barona Band of Mission Indians hosts its 50^th annual powwow September 2-4.  Next weekend, the Sycuan Powwow will be held September 9-11. Each powwow commences on Friday night, continuing through the weekend.

By Michael Odegaard

Reprinted with permission from Indian Voices

Photo: Rotary Club of San Luis Rey President Michael Odegaard awards 2022 Peacebuilder Nominee Mel Vernon.

August 4, 2022 (San Diego) -- Rotary clubs are well known for leaders among the ranks of doctors and lawyers, but one San Diego County Rotary club may have just made history (again) in the recent installation of its first Indian chief: “Captain” of the San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians, Melvin J. Vernon assumed the office of President of the Rotary Club of San Luis Rey (Oceanside) last July 1, accepting the gavel from Native Hawaiian Michael Odegaard who in 2019 qualified the Club as Rotary District 5340’s (San Diego & Imperial County) first “Peacebuilder Club” for teaching the principles of Positive Peacebuilding.

Whereas “negative peace” is simply the absence of violence, “positive peace” represents the cultivation of the values and institutions that create peaceful societies according to the Eight Pillars of Positive Peace proposed by Rotary International’s partner, the often quoted think-tank Institute for Economics & Peace (www.economicsandpeace.org) who annually publishes their peacefulness rankings both of nations and American states.

As the Entertainment Capital of Southern California, Pala Casino offers the best in live events.

East County News Service

June 27, 2022 (Pala) -- Pala Casino Spa Resort in San Diego’s North County  will present award-winning musician, singer, and songwriter, Kenny Loggins, on Friday, November 11, performing live indoors at the Events Center. Kenny Loggins’ remarkable four-decade-plus career has brought him from the top of the charts to the toast of the Grammys. He’s had smash hits on Hollywood’s favorite soundtracks, rocked worldwide stages, and brought his soulful, beautiful voice to platinum albums of a variety of genres. His gift for crafting deeply emotional music is unparalleled, and it’s been a part of his life as long as he can remember.

East County News Service

June 12, 2022 (Alpine) – Viejas Casino & Resort invites you to “dust off your pride gear and get ready to drag the house down this Pride Month.” The venue kicks off pride week with a “Stars & Queens Pride” event on June 17 at 8 p.m. in the Oak Ballroom.

By Professor Harvey Wasserman

Originally published in Reader Supported News

Photo: San Diego Women’s March 2022, by Miriam Raftery

May 24, 2022 (San Diego) -- The real Founders of American society were not the 55 rich white male interlopers who staged a coup d’etat in 1787-9 … and whose misogynist progeny have always wanted to ban abortion.

Our true original founders were the Indigenous matriarchs who ran most of America for thousands of years before the first whites set foot here.

For tens of centuries they controlled their pregnancies by herbal means. The idea that any government (tribal or otherwise) could rule a woman’s uterus would evoke disbelief and contempt from men and women alike.

East County News Service

Photo:  CC by NC

April 21, 2022 (Santa Ysabel) - April is National Kite Flying Month and the Iipay Nation presents the Soaring Spirits Kite Festival this Saturday, April 23.

Tribe to benefit from low interest rate

Source:  Jamul Indian Village

Photo:  the Jamul Indian Village Development Corporation (JIVDC), owner and operator of Jamul Casino, recently closed on a refinance with a syndicate of commercial banks.  JIVDC was able to retire all of its high-interest pre-development debt and consolidate its financing in a single low-interest loan.

March 4, 2022 (Jamul) - On February 10, 2022, the Jamul Indian Village Development Corporation (JIVDC), owner and operator of Jamul Casino^®, closed on a refinance with a syndicate of commercial banks led by Western Alliance Bank.  The other lenders were U.S. Bank, Nevada State Bank, KeyBank, First-Citizens Bank & Trust Co. and Columbia State Bank.  JIVDC was able to retire all of its high interest pre-development debt and consolidate its financing in a single low interest loan.  With this refinance, the JIVDC was able to pay off the entirety of its high interest rate loan with funds from the refinance and significantly reduce the interest rate on its debt, dramatically improving the financial future of the Jamul Indian Village.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Oak Ridge Boys in 2013, CC by Gage Skidmore

February 2, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – The Oak Ridge Boys, country music stars with gospel music roots, will perform two concerts at Sycuan Casino’s Live & Up Front Casino on February 20 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.