Nov. 1, 2025 (East County) -- Santee resident and San Diego East County Economic Development Council leader James Sly could be named the new CEO of the Grossmont Healthcare District this week.
The GHD board meeting agenda for Nov. 4 lists a Chief Executive Officer employment agreement for Sly.
Aaron Byzak has been the interim CEO for the Grossmont Healthcare District since March 2025 following the GHD board's decision to not renew the contract of Christian Wallis. Byzak has also been the communication strategy consultant for the GHD.
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The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank's main warehouse. Photo courtesy San Diego Food Bank
East County News Service
Oct. 30, 2025 (Sacramento) -- In a vital response to increasing economic strain on families across the state, California has officially approved fast tracking an additional $80 million in extra funding for local food banks.
The $80 million in state funds will be distributed to food banks across California to strengthen food distribution and help offset the delays in federal assistance. This is part of a coordinated effort by the state, which also involves California Volunteers.
This significant financial commitment aims to bolster the efforts of community organizations helping families facing food insecurity.
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Oct. 29, 2025 (San Diego County) -- Need international document authentication? Now's your chance.
San Diego County residents needing international document authentication will have an opportunity to have a one-stop-shop for it on Wednesday, Nov. 5, as the California Secretary of State’s Apostille pop-up shop returns for a fifth and final 2025 appearance.
Hosted at the San Diego Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk’s Office inside the County Administration Center, this one-day event brings this vital Sacramento-based service directly to locals.
The envent will go from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 5 at the center at 1600 Pacific Highway, Suite 273, in downtown San Diego.
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Oct. 29, 2025 (La Mesa) -- This past week has marked one of the most challenging stretches of time for the La Mesa Police Department as it mourns the loss of fallen La Mesa Police Officer Lauren Craven.
Candlelight vigil photos by Karen Pearlman
Craven, 25, died the night of Monday, Oct. 20 in San Diego's Grantville area, on Interstate 8 near Fairmount Avenue. She was returning from San Diego's Central Jail and stopped to assist a motorist who had been in an accident on the freeway.
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Goodwill San Diego's Little Black Dress (LBD) event is when stores in the region will showcase a wide selection of LBDs, shoes and accessories at competitive prices.
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The Women in Leadership Luncheon, with more than 450 attendees at Sycuan Casino, honored seven women who excel professionally and as community leaders -- women who demonstrate exemplary character, integrity and leadership.
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La Mesa officials say to expect major traffic delays
East County News Service
Oct. 25, 2025 (La Mesa) -- A funeral procession is planned for fallen La Mesa Police Officer Lauren Craven starting at 7:30 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 28, according to the La Mesa Police Department.
Craven, 25, was killed in the line of duty on October 20, 2025, after being struck by a drunk driver while assisting at another crash scene on Interstate 8. She was returning from the San Diego Central Jail when she came upon a collision involving several vehicles.
Craven stopped to render aid to the drivers involved in the initial crash, but while assisting, a 38-year-old man, who has been arrested on suspicion of DUI, struck Craven with his car. She died at the scene, along with 19-year-old De'Veonte Morris, one of the drivers from the first crash.
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Oct. 23, 2025 (La Mesa) -- At least three events are planned to honor fallen La Mesa Police officer Lauren Craven, one tomorrow night at Pink Rose Cafe in La Mesa and another Wednesday, Nov. 5 at Casa Gabriela in La Mesa.
The La Mesa Police Department is also having a candlelight vigil at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27 at LMPD headquarters at 8085 University Ave., La Mesa. A program is going to be held with brief remarks, a moment of silence and a closing. Candles will be provided.
Craven, 25. died while trying to save motorists involved in a car crash on eastbound Interstate 8 near Grantville. Craven was struck and killed the night of Oct. 20 after stopping to assist motorists involved in the multi-vehicle crash on I-8 East at Fairmount Avenue at 10:24 p.m.
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The SDZWA announced his appointment on Thursday, Oct. 23, which came following an extensive global search.
Dixon served as interim president and CEO of the SDZWA for the past seven months, and previously had nine years of service to the organization as its chief operating officer.
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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.
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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."
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Nonprofit rescue organization Horses of Tir Na Nog cares for more than 100 animals, including Buttermilk the horse. The rescue group is having an Open House at its site in Guatay on Nov. 1. Photo by Karen Pearlman
East County News Service
Oct. 11, 2025 (Guatay) -- Horses of Tir Na Nog, the equine-focused rescue in rural East County, is holding it Dia De Los Muertos Open House in November.
Celebrating ranch residents who have passed, Horses of Tir Na Nog's annual open house will be from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 1 at its site at 26930 Old Highway 80 in Guatay near Descanso.
Horses of Tir Na Nog co-founder Amy Pat Rigney said the event will honor the lives of horses and other ranch residents who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge over the years.
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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.
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Honeycomb is one of hundreds of animals at the San Diego Humane Society looking for a new home. Photo courtesy SDHS
East County News Service
Oct. 9, 2025 (San Diego County) -- The San Diego Humane Society is asking the community to step up for animals in urgent need of homes.
To make adoption easier, SDHS is participating in the Bissell Pet Foundation’s "Empty the Shelters" national adoption event ( https://www.sdhumane.org/adopt/available-pets ) and offering $50 adoption fees for adult dogs and cats through Oct. 15.
SDHS reported earlier this month that it is caring for 770 dogs and nearly 900 cats across its four campuses. With only 405 dog kennels, dogs are having to stay in half kennels, or with multiple dogs in one kennel.
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Sept. 27, 2025 (San Diego County) -- Health insurance can feel confusing and daunting, and typically is expensive.
But Covered California, the state’s Affordable Care Act Marketplace, offers a less stressful way to shop for and compare plans, and works with all the major health insurance companies to negotiate the lowest possible prices for coverage, helping reduce costs and increase options for consumers throughout California.
Covered California is the state’s health insurance marketplace, where Californians can find affordable, high-quality insurance from top insurance companies, and is the only place where individuals who qualify can get financial assistance on a sliding scale to reduce premium costs.
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Sept. 26, 2025 (Lemon Grove) -- A teenager in Lemon Grove reportedly was being followed by a suspicious person in a car earlier this week and the Lemon Grove Sheriff's Substation is now investigating the matter.
Just after 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 23, a 13-year-old student was walking to Lemon Grove Middle School when the student said they noticed an older man driving a gray Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, spotted at a stop sign near the intersection of Cypress Avenue and Lemon Grove Avenue.
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Sept. 16, 2025 (Spring Valley) -- Mount Miguel High School Class of 1965 is getting ready for its 60th class reunion.
Leaders from the Matadors 1965 class have put out the word that they are looking for classmates from thier year to join them in the event set for 6 to 10 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 4 at the Town & Country Resort and Hotel.
Tickets are $110 per person and include dinner and dancing. A limited number of free tickets are available for those who need financial assistance.
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Sept. 15, 2025 (San Diego County) -- September is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Month.
While mental health is a year-round concern and there are specific mental health awareness events that happen in other months (such as May being Mental Health Awareness Month), September is specifically dedicated to raising awareness about suicide prevention.
During this month, various organizations and individuals work to:
Promote awareness of suicide as a public health issue;
Share resources and information to help people who may be struggling;
Encourage open conversations about suicide and mental health;
Remember those who have been lost to suicide;
And highlight the importance of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
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July 24, 2025 (San Diego County) -- The California Public Utilities Commission will hold a public forum August 7 on long-term gas system planning.
As California moves toward a shift away from fossil fuels, gas utilities including San Diego Gas & Electric were to submit maps of their gas distribution systems including foreseeable gas pipeline replacement projects and their recommended priority neighborhood decarbonization zones by July 21.
Links to those maps will be posted by the CPUC here.
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July 17, 2025 (San Diego County) – There won’t be any light rail coming to Alpine to zip people out to downtown San Diego, but the planners at the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) have unfurled some grand ideas in its Draft 2025 Regional Plan to improve transportation in both rural and urban areas in East County as well as countywide.
SANDAG leadership offered some insight into the plan at an hourlong Zoom meeting on Wednesday, July 16. The meeting was geared to those in the unincorporated parts of East County, and while it offered opportunities to ask questions, the SANDAG hosts mostly shared information about its long-term blueprint aimed at shaping the region’s transportation, housing, land use and climate goals over the next two decades.
The proposed Regional Plan shows six “neighborhood shuttles” being proposed for unincorporated areas: Alpine, Casa de Oro/Spring Valley, Borrego Springs, Lakeside, Ramona and Fallbook/Pala.
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Fishing expeditions like this man's at San Vicente Reservoir will continue uninterrupted after fears of budget cuts within the city of San Diego that would have cut hours and days at a group of lakes and reservoirs were quelled. Photo by Karen Pearlman
By Karen Pearlman
June 25, 2025 (San Diego) --Anglers and outdoor enthusiasts are celebrating after the San Diego City Council voted Monday to keep the city's lakes and reservoirs open, overriding some of Mayor Todd Gloria’s budget vetoes.
The council voted 6-3 to adopt a $6 billion budget for fiscal year 2025-26, partially rejecting Gloria’s proposed cuts aimed at closing a $350 million deficit — one of the largest in city history.
Among the restorations: funding for recreation programs at city reservoirs, partial support for wildfire prevention, nearly $1 million in community grant funds for councilmembers and $450,000 for racial equity initiatives.
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June 11, 2025 (El Cajon) – He spent more than 50 years helping close to 10,000 stranded motorists along all stretches of freeways across San Diego County, and now Thomas Weller could use some assistance of his own.
While health issues forced him off the road in 2017, Weller (photo left, Weller in front of his El Cajon home) still goes by the name “San Diego Highwayman” for his decades of service changing tires, replacing batteries, filling up empty gas tanks, standing watch over drivers and passengers in need – all at no charge.
The calling card he always handed out to those whom he helped reads: “Assisting you has been my pleasure. I ask for no payment other than for you to pass on the favor by helping someone in distress that you may encounter.”
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An infill condo project for 52 units is coming to Santee
Photo and story by Mike Allen
June 9, 2025 (Santee) -- The Santee City Council unanimously approved another infill condominium project recently, this one for 52 units on the site that once housed the PureFlo Water dispensary, and had previously been approved for low-income apartments.
The site is adjacent to Laurel Heights, an 80-unit single family housing project that was approved about four years ago.
The latest project had been planned as a 96-unit apartment complex in 2022, but developer Michael Grant apparently pulled out, allowing KB Homes, one of the nation’s largest home builders, to step in and continue its activity in Santee.
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June 9, 2025 (San Diego County) -- California-based August Egg Company in Hilmar is recalling 1.7 million eggs tied to a multi-state outbreak of salmonella, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration.
The FDA said brown cage-free and brown certified organic eggs were distributed by the August Egg Co. in Merced County were distributed from Feb. 3 to May 15 to retailers in nine states, including California, with best-by dates ranging from March 4 to June 19.
The eggs were distributed under more than two dozen brand names and distributed to stores that include Walmart, Safeway, Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Raleys, Food 4 Less and Ralphs.
The recalled products are brown cage-free and brown certified organic eggs from August Egg Co., with plant codes: P-6562 or CA5330.
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Controversial Headline Performer, Safety Concerns Cited as Reasons for Withdrawal
By Karen Pearlman
June 7, 2025 (San Diego) – Many local Jewish organizations from across San Diego County that have traditionally been part of the annual San Diego Pride event will not be joining in this year.
Jewish community leaders say that because the Pride Festival chose musical artist Kehlani to be a headliner at the annual July festival, there will be no official, organized Jewish presence there.
According to a media release shared last week from the Jewish Federation of San Diego, the groups and synagogues that will not be participating in San Diego Pride include the Federation, ADL-San Diego, Lawrence Family JCC, Temple Emanu-El of San Diego, Congregation Dor Hadash, Congregation Beth Israel of San Diego, Congregation Tifereth Israel Synagogue and Temple Adat Shalom of Poway.
It also includes the festival’s current volunteer director of medical operations and assistant director of medical operations, Dr. Jennifer Anger and Eliyahu Cohen-Mizrahi. Both individuals are Jewish and have also stepped away from their roles with Pride.
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June 7, 2025 (La Mesa) — The La Mesa Juneteenth Foundation is inviting families and community members to a Pancake Breakfast Celebration later this month.
The celebration, in partnership with Mission Federal Credit Union, is set for 9 a.m. until noon, Thursday, June 19, at MacArthur Park in La Mesa.
There is a $5 donation suggested for those interested in partaking of the event, which includes not just a pancake breakfast but also kids activities like games and a bounce house, as well as a raffle.
It also will include a financial literacy angle, celebrating the launch of “Start From Zero,” a brand-new program designed for youth and families in La Mesa, Spring Valley and Lemon Grove.
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Bills tackle public safety, insurance crisis, and more
East County News Service
June 5, 2025 (Sacramento) -- This week, Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) announced that five of his "common sense" bills passed the Senate with unanimous, bipartisan support, and that they are now under consideration in the State Assembly.
Each proposal aims to address urgent issues facing Californians -- from public safety and insurance coverage to updating outdated state laws.
“These bills are focused on real problems and offer real solutions,” Jones said in a statement to the public. “From protecting communities from sexually violent predators to fixing gaps in insurance coverage for mobile homes, I’m proud to have unanimous support in the Senate and look forward to working with my colleagues in the Assembly to get them across the finish line.”
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Settlement agreement aims to bring region greater fiscal stability, water supply efficiency
and reliability
East County News Service
June 2, 2025 (San Diego County) – Signaling a new era of collaboration, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the San Diego County Water Authority today announced the settlement of a 15-year legal dispute over rates and the price term of an exchange agreement between the agencies.
At a news conference in San Diego, leaders from two of the state’s largest water agencies hailed the conclusion of all pending litigation, highlighting their commitment to fostering greater teamwork on a range of issues that affect nearly 19 million Southern California residents.
The settlement dismisses all pending appeals, maintaining earlier judicial decisions on various matters. It includes provisions to reduce the potential for future litigation, improve certainty in budgeting, and increase flexibility in efficiently managing water supplies.
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Get ready for a whirlwind of mistaken identity, tangled romance, and laugh-out-loud confusion in this timeless Shakespeare comedy.
By G. A. McNeeley
Photography By Kristin Campbell
May 22, 2025 (El Cajon) — Twelfth Night is a romantic comedy that was created by William Shakespeare, and directed by Linda Libby. This is one show at the Grossmont College Stagehouse Theatre that you’ll definitely want to check out.
If you’re not familiar with the story, it follows shipwrecked twins, Viola and Sebastian, as they find themselves lost in the strange land of Illyria. Violet, disguised as the young Cesario, falls in love with the noble Orsino, who is in love with the beautiful Olivia. But, Olivia falls in love with Cesario, who’s idolized by the pompous Malvolio. Meanwhile, Sebastian’s unexpected arrival only adds to the confusion, as he embarks on a quest to find his sister.
If you enjoy period pieces or comedies, then this show is definitely for you. This bold and stylish reimagining of the beloved comedy will transport you into a 1920s speakeasy, where mistaken identities, unrequited love, and mischievous revelry take center stage.
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Photo: Naturalization citizenship ceremony, cc via Bing
May 16, 2025 (El Cajon) – This year, El Cajon’s America on Main Street celebration won’t include a mass swearing-in ceremony for new citizens.
“The City reached out to the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services to make our annual request for their participation,” city manager Graham Mitchell told ECM. “Our contact person informed us that due to operational needs they are unable to participate this year, but asked that we keep them in mind for next year. “
The federal government’s denial of the city’s request to swear in new immigrations comes amid the Trump administration’s expanded operational crackdowns and mass deportations of undocumented immigrants and some green card holders. Withholding swearing in of new immigrants dashes hopes of many who went through the long and costly process to become U.S. citizens.
America on Main Street began in 2017 as a “patriotic celebration of our diversity,” according to Councilmember Gary Kendrick, a cofounder of the event.
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By Karen Pearlman
The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank's main warehouse. Photo courtesy San Diego Food Bank
East County News Service
Candlelight vigil photos by Karen Pearlman
East County News Service
East County News Service
La Mesa officials say to expect major traffic delays
East County News Service
East County News Service
Photo courtesy Jewish Family Service
East County News Service
Honeycomb is one of hundreds of animals at the San Diego Humane Society looking for a new home. Photo courtesy SDHS
East County News Service
East County News Service
East County News Service
East County News Service
Photos and story By Karen Pearlman
By Karen Pearlman
East County News Sevice
Bills tackle public safety, insurance crisis, and more
Settlement agreement aims to bring region greater fiscal stability, water supply efficiency
By G. A. McNeeley 
By Miriam Raftery
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