October 18, 2025  (San Diego’s East County) – November brings numerous noteworthy events to East County, including the Ramona Art and Wine Festival, an Antique and Craft Fair at Summers Past Farms in Flinn Springs, the Wheel of Fortune live game show at Viejas in Alpine, the award-winning play Copenhagen at Lamplighters Theatre in La Mesa, stargazing at Mission Trails, the Boots and Bells Fashion Show at the Olaf Wieghorst Museum in El Cajon amd a  Chili Cookoff at Circle TLC Ranch in Lakeside.

There's also the La Mesa historic homes tour, Santee’s holiday tree lighting, a concert at the Magnolia in El Cajon by original Beach Boys member Al Jardine, a Spring Valley 5K run, the Mt. Helix Park turkey trot, Bates Nut Farm’s Holiday Craft Fair in Valley Center, Julian’s Country Christmas, and Holiday Lights on Main in El Cajon.

Scroll down for all the fun and festive details.

East County News Service

October 16, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – Lemon Town Films proudly presents the hometown premiere of Welcome Home to Lemon Grove, California, a new documentary by local filmmaker Michael Fanter. The film celebrates the community’s history, landmarks, and the people who have shaped “The Town with the Giant Lemon.” 

East County News Service

October 16, 2025 (El Cajon) - Olaf Wieghorst Museum and Western Heritage Center will host its first annual Fashion Show Fundraiser – “Boots and Belles: Fashion at the Wieggy” on November 8 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.  The event will feature stunning designs of local artist and designer Dawn Hough Sebaugh, whose WALA Collection blends the color, creativity, and western spirit that defines our community.

Located in the heart of the art district in El Cajon, the museum stands as a tribute to the artist whose vivid portrayals of the American West captured the spirit of a bygone era.  Olaf Wieghorst not only painted the West, but he also lived it.  Of all the places he could have called home, he chose El Cajon, where he raised his family, connected deeply with neighbors, and truly began his artistic journey.

By Elizabeth Ireland, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo: Camp Pendleton gate. (File photo courtesy of Camp Pendleton)

October 16, 2025 (Camp Pendleton) - Rep. Mike Levin issued a statement Wednesday expressing concern over potential plans to close portions of Interstate 5 this weekend amid reports Navy ships will fire live ordnance over the freeway during the Marine Corps’ 250th birthday celebration at Camp Pendleton. 

By Paul Levikow

Photo via Alliance of Healthcare Unions 

October 15, 2025 (San Diego) -- A five-day strike by health care workers at  Kaiser Permanente facilities entered its second day Wednesday affecting three hospitals in San Diego County.

The strike is part of a walkout statewide in California and Hawaii involving 31,000 members of the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care professionals. Members include registered nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants, rehab therapists, dietitians, speech-language pathologists, nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners, midwives and other specialty health workers.

East County's Casa de Oro, which was going to benefit from a demonstration project for Campo Road road improvements, saw a grant from the federal government rescinded. ECM photo

Local residents and officials voice disappointment in decision

East County News Service

October 14, 2025 (Ramona) – Ramona resident Ashley Rose Dietze, 35, died after being struck by a pickup truck while she was crossing the 700 block of Main Street  (westbound highway 78) in Ramona on October 11 at 9:20 p.m.  A 42-year-old male pedestrian was also hit and suffered major injuries.

East County News Service

October 14, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – Marco Lorenzo Quintero, 35, died at a hospital after being struck by a pickup truck while riding a bicycle in Lemon Grove.

East County News Service

October 14, 2025 (San Diego) — Anat Tour, a children’s book author, singer, documentary filmmaker, and math teacher based in East County, has been named a finalist in San Diego Magazine’s “Celebrating Women” Awards in the Education category. In addition to her writing and filmmaking, Anat is a passionate singer and host of East County Magazine’s “Bookshelf” on KNSJ Radio where she highlights local authors and literary voices.

Locations are in Spring Valley and San Diego

By Anita Lightfoot, County of San Diego Communications Office

October 14, 2025 (San Diego) - Cooler temperatures have arrived in San Diego, and influenza is already threatening to make this another rough flu season.

East County News Service

October 14, 2025 (San Diego) - The County of San Diego Planning & Development Services (PDS) invites you to attend a virtual meeting to share your thoughts on the draft ordinance for the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Zoning Ordinance Amendment and the proposed Separate Sale of ADUs Program, which is currently available for public review.  

East County News Service

October 13, 2025 (Coachella) — Today, the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe, the Cahuilla Band of Indians, the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe, and the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) announced the formation of a new Chuckwalla National Monument Intertribal Commission. The Commission reflects the connection of numerous Tribes to the landscape and their enduring commitment to protect these lands. The goal of the Commission is to ensure that Tribal values, expertise, cultural heritage, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge are incorporated into the management of the monument.

“The Chuckwalla National Monument is more than a habitat filled with trees, plants, and wildlife; for the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, it embodies life itself, and we are intrinsically linked to it, committed to safeguarding it,” said Joseph Mirelez, Chairman of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians. “It is our inherent role to be the stewards and guardians of these lands, and in this moment of federal government dysfunction, all the more important that we reassume it formally.”

This is first phase of Trump’s ceasefire plan, but it’s uncertain if plan to end the war will be accepted

By G. A. McNeeley 

Photo:  rubble in Gaza; public domain image via Wikipedia

October 12, 2025 (San Diego) – After days of negotiations, President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of his peace deal for Gaza. The Israeli military says a ceasefire in the Palestinian territory took effect on Friday, October 10, and that it has begun to withdraw from parts of the Strip, according to The BBC. 

East County News Service

Oct. 12, 2025 (Lakeside) -- Circle TLC Ranch-Equine Therapy is holding its 14th annual chili cookoff in November.

Dubbing itself "the best chili cook off in East County," leaders of the group say they are currently seeking chili cookers for the event, which costs $25 as a donation to enter a chili to contend.

The cookoff costs $5 (as a donation) that includes tasting and judging chilis as well as a bottle of water to clean the palate and put out any fires from the hot dishes. Children under age 2 will be admitted at no cost.

The event is scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 8 at 11541 Moreno Ave. in Lakeside.