No Kings rallies across San Diego County and nation Oct. 18

Lemon Grove film premiere Oct. 17 and 18 shines light on community spirit and history

Olaf Weighorst Museum announces 1st annual fashion show fundraiser: ”Boots and Belles: Fashion at the Wieggy”

GUHSD Board passes biased nonviolent discourse resolution and scaled-down limits on protestors

Levin concerned over possible I-5 closures amid live-fire reports at Camp Pendleton event

13th annual Ramona Art, Wine & Music Festival set for Nov. 1

Kaiser Permanente strike enters second day

Hear our interview: Santee filmmaker Natalie Camou de Zavaleta talks about #1Bad Dad, her short comedy airing at the San Diego Film Festival

Trump administration rescinds Casa de Oro grant for Campo Road improvements

Senator Jones’ sexually violent predator placement reform bill signed by Governor

Fatal motorcycle crash in Julian kills Jamul man

Cyclist killed in Lemon Grove crash identified

No Kings rallies across San Diego County and nation Oct. 18

East County News Service

October 16, 2025 (San Diego) – Organizers are predicting that this Saturday’s “No Kings” demonstration against the “authoritarianism of the Trump regime” may be the largest yet, including over 2,500 sites in all 50 states as well as territories and other nations. 

Lemon Grove film premiere Oct. 17 and 18 shines light on community spirit and history

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.” 

GUHSD Board passes biased nonviolent discourse resolution and scaled-down limits on protestors

By Alexander J. Schorr

Screenshot: Board President Gary Woods with Superintendent Kirsten Vital Brulte, defending their non-violence resolution in classrooms.  “Trust is earned.” Jay Steiger, 2025

October 16, 2025 (El Cajon) -- The Grossmont Union High School District Board passed an amended policy limiting protests outside board meetings, adopted a resolution providing religious exemptions in classrooms, and adopted a policy on nonviolence in political discourse on school campuses.

Lassos & Lace brings vintage clothing and horseshoe art to Julian

By Heidi Hope

If you are visiting the Julian area or a Julian local in need of affordable clothing, you cannot miss Kimmi Branson’s store where you can access vintage clothing for reasonable pricing that never goes out of style. 

Branson started this business getting inspired by her husband. She recalls, “My husband asked me: “What would you like to do besides waiting tables?” Because I had been doing it for so long and working so hard. I raised five kids on my own.” This question led to her vision for her business venture, which is to provide accessible, affordable and high quality clothing. 

“I wanted to have something in Julian where the locals could come,” she says. “I wish to provide gently used clothing, beautiful jewelry, some purses and some horseshoe artworks that my husband makes for a reasonable price, so they don't have to drive down the mountain. I could help the community and myself.” 

Levin concerned over possible I-5 closures amid live-fire reports at Camp Pendleton event

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. 

13th annual Ramona Art, Wine & Music Festival set for Nov. 1

East County News Service
 
Oct. 15, 2025  (Ramona) -- The 13th annual Ramona Art, Wine & Music Festival is heading to the Begent Ranch in Ramona on Saturday, Nov. 1.  
 
The popular event, set from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the ranch at 18528 Highland Valley Road, will include wines and craft beverage tastings, all-day live local music, a live auction at 2 p.m. featuring comedian Josh Lawson as auctioneer, and the opportunity to view and buy handcrafted art from local fine artists.

Kaiser Permanente strike enters second day

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.

Hear our interview: Santee filmmaker Natalie Camou de Zavaleta talks about #1Bad Dad, her short comedy airing at the San Diego Film Festival

 

By Heidi Hope

October 8, 2025 (Santee) – Natalie Camou de Zavaleta is a Santee resident and award-winning filmmaker whose short comedy, #1 Bad Dad, will be showing at the San Diego Film Festival, which runs October 18 and 19.  ECM interviewed her for our radio show on KNSJ, 89.1 FM on her film, which explores the theme of a father and son separted by detention, then reunited. 

Click hear to listen to the full audio, or scroll down for highlights.

Audio: 

Trump administration rescinds Casa de Oro grant for Campo Road improvements

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

By Karen Pearlman

Oct. 14, 2025 (Casa de Oro) -- Campo Road, one of San Diego County’s historic thoroughfares, was the unfortunate recipient last month of a federal snub and a $1 million-plus grant being taken back.

In Sept. 9 email to the county, a United States Department of Transportation official explained its rescinding of the $1.1653 million grant, calling a Casa de Oro community group-backed plan that dared to add bike lanes to the area “hostile to motor vehicles.”

Senator Jones’ sexually violent predator placement reform bill signed by Governor

Legislation requires in-depth study on state-run transitional housing options

East County News Service
 
October 14, 2025 (Sacramento) -- Today, Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) announced his Senate Bill 380 has been signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom and will take effect immediately. 

Ramona woman killed, man injured when pickup struck pedestrians

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.

Jewish Family Service hosts drive-thru food distribution for government workers on Oct. 15

Photo courtesy Jewish Family Service
 
East County News Services
 
Oct. 14, 2025 (San Diego) -- Jewish Family Service of San Diego has found another way to help those impacted by the United States federal government shutdown.
 
The nonprofit that helps the entire community, along with The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, is hosting a drive-thru food distribution on Oct. 15 at Jewish Family Service of San Diego, Joan & Irwin Jacobs Campus in Kearny Mesa for families impacted by the shutdown.
 
Nearly 200 families of federal workers and those in the military will each receive about 40 pounds of food, including fresh produce, non-perishable and shelf-stable pantry food.

Fatal motorcycle crash in Julian kills Jamul man

East County News Service

October 14, 2025 (Julian) – A Jamul man, 49 died at the scene of a collision in Julian on October 12. He was driving a Yamaha R6 motorcycle that crossed a double yellow line, colliding head-on with a Chevrolet Silverado towing a travel trailer.

Local children’s book author and filmmaker named finalist in San Diego Magazine’s “Celebrating Women” Awards

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.

Lamplighters Theatre in La Mesa presents Copenhagen Oct. 17 - Nov. 9: The moment that changed the world

East County News Service

October 14, 2025 (La Mesa) – The Tony-award-winning play Copenhagen explores explores an explosive confrontation inspired by actual events that have intrigued and baffled historians for more than 50 years: a 1941 meeting between two brilliant physicists, Niels Bohr of Denmark and Germany’s Werner Heisenberg.

The two men were long-time friends whose work together opened the way to the atomic bomb, but who were now on opposite sides of World War II. 

Every San Diego County-born baby has a scholarship in wait via CalKIDS

Photo courtesy CalKIDS
 
East County News Service
 
Oct. 14, 2025 (San Diego County) -- California-born babies can getting an early start on saving and investing.
 
Through the California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program, every baby born in the state of California on or after July 1, 2022, automatically has a scholarship waiting in their name, worth up to $175 -- and that includes more than $8 million set aside for children born in San Diego County alone.
 
CalKIDS is the state-funded college savings program that provides automatic seed deposits and potential financial incentives in the form of scholarships for eligible California children to use for higher education and career training.
 
For newborns and young children, the state invests up to $175 in a CalKIDS Scholarship Account -- $100 for being born in California (for babies born July 1, 2023 or later; amount is $25 for those born between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023); $25 extra when parents claim the account online, and another $50 extra for linking the account to a "ScholarShare 529 College Savings Plan." 

County hosts webinar October 22 on Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) proposed ordinance

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.  

All that and pumpkins, too: 50 years and counting at Christmas Tree Farm in El Cajon

 
Photo courtesy Family Christmas Tree Farm
 
East County News Service
Photo by Scott Lagace
 
October 13, 2025 (El Cajon) -- Don't let the name fool you -- Family Christmas Tree Farm is geared up for Halloween, too.
 
As autumn settles in over San Diego County, El Cajon's Family Christmas Tree Farm has rolled out its pumpkins and fall flavors even as it prepares for the winter holidays. It's been rated the 4th best Christmas tree farm in the nation by Yelp.
 
The 10-acre Christmas Tree Farm at 300 Pepper Drive has been serving the community since 1972, when it started its dedication to cultivating the Christmas spirit in East County.
 
For 50 years, the Stokes family has nurtured the land, the trees and the local tradition that draws families year after year.

Five tribes announce formation of new Chuckwalla National Monument Intertribal Commission

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.”

Governor signs bill letting relatives care for children if parents are deported

By Jeanne Kuang, CalMatters

Photo:  Gov. Gavin Newsom delivers the 2025-26 state budget.  File photo courtesy of the Governor’s office

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.

October 13, 2025 (Sacramento) - Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday signed a bill allowing a broad range of relatives to step in as children’s caregivers if their parents are deported, a measure that had provoked a firestorm of conservative criticism.

Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza and release of all hostages

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

Senator Weber Pierson holding Town Hall on Oct. 16

East County News Service
 
Oct. 12, 2025 (San Diego County) -- California State Senator Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson is holding a Community Town Hall this week at Crawford High School in San Diego.
 
Weber Pierson's event will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 16, at the high school at 4191 Colts Way. You can RSVP here.
 
In an email shared with constituents of her District 39, Weber Pierson said she is holding the Town Hall to discuss how the newly passed California state budget "aligns with our shared values and fiscal realities."
 

Chili Cookoff Nov. 8 to benefit Circle TLC Ranch

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.

La Mesa aims to have new city hall by 2029, but library expansion remains stalled

By Alexander J. Schorr

October 11, 2025 (La Mesa) — Following a September City Council meeting, La Mesa is moving forward with a redevelopment plan for a new civic center which has spanned decades. The current timeline calls for a new city hall to be completed as early as 2029, with expansion plans for the library to follow.  View the Civic Center Master Plan.

City manager Greg Humora said that he is  optimistic about the new timeline that has been laid out by the recent City Council meeting, and emphasized the importance for constructing a new city hall by as soon as 2029. “That would be amazing if we could pull that off,” Humora said. “I think it’s doable.”

Governor Newsom signs Senator Weber Pierson’s first-in-the-nation reparative justice bill

By Miriam Raftery

October 11, 2025 (San Diego) --  Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill 518, authored by Senator Akilah Weber Pierson, M.D. (D-San Diego), the first law in the to move beyond study to create a commitment toward advancing reparative justice for descendants of slaves and building lasting systems of equity for Black Californians. The measure was coauthored by local Assemblymember LaShae Sharp Collins.

Gov. Newsom signs bills to stop the 'Puppy Mill Pipeline' in California

 
At a recent companion animal adoption event at Grossmont Center, a dog waits for a chance to find a new home. California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed hree bills in the “Stop The Puppy Mill Pipeline” legislative package. Photo by Karen Pearlman
 
East County News Service
 
Oct. 11, 2025 (Sacramento) -- Unscrupulous, exploitative and abusive "puppy mill" dog breeders are not going to have it easy in California anymore.
 
Just a few days ago, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed all three bills in the “Stop The Puppy Mill Pipeline” legislative package -- looking to reduce consumer fraud and halt animal abuse stemming from sales of companion animals.
 
Senate Bill 312 (Sen. Thomas J. Umberg, D-Santa Ana), Assembly Bill 506 (Assemblymember Steve Bennett, D-Oxnard) and Assembly Bill 519 (Assemblymember Marc Berman, D-Menlo Park) will protect consumers and animals from deceptive practices in the pet industry, close loopholes undermining California law and further protect consumers from fraudulent breeders.
 
All three bills received overwhelming bi-partisan support in both the Assembly and the Senate, and the new laws will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

ICE Out of San Diego rally addresses federal government shutdown

By Paul Levikow

October 10, 2025 (San Diego) – The weekly ICE Out of San Diego rally at the San Diego Federal Building downtown yesterday focused on the government shutdown, while also including messages about ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents’ detention efforts.

Dave Lagstein of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 221 was one of the event organizers. He told the crowd of about 50-60 protesters that having the event every week gets a little confusing because, “There are so many things we need to stand up for.”

He added, “The top thing that’s in the news right now is the government shutdown and it is really important that we continue to get out the word. Trump and the Republicans have shut down the government because they want to cut off healthcare, double healthcare costs so they can fund ICE.”

Violet, an El Cajon resident who attended the rally, did not want to give her last name. She said it was important for her to attend the rally “because I see a lot of sadness, a lot of heartbreak a lot of division, a lot of hate, a lot of racism, and trauma in families.” The community leader, organizer and advocate said there might be plans to hold events in East County.

Indigenous Peoples’ Celebration at San Diego Zoo Safari Park Oct. 13

East County News Service

October 10, 2025 (San Diego) - The annual Indigenous Peoples’ Celebration, organized by the San Pasqual Band of the Kumeyaay Nation and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, will take place at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on October 13, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event celebrates Indigenous communities, their cultures, and their commitments to wildlife. The event is open to the public, and all are welcome. Members of Indigenous communities will receive free admission to the Safari Park all day. More details about the event schedule are below and at sdzsafaripark.org/indigenouspeoplescelebration.

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