Drive to support AJ’s Kids Crane and Rady Children’s Hospital 

October 2, 2015 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa Police Department will begin its 3rd Annual Toy Drive on October 5, 2015 which will continue through November 17, 2015. The police department is hoping to collect enough toys to fill their Bearcat Rescue Vehicle, which will deliver the toys to AJ’s Kids Crane in the Mission Valley Ikea parking lot on November 17th. 

October 2, 2015 (Spring Valley)—A San Diego Laurel and Hardy Group, Saps at Sea, will present a Howl-o-Ween Spooky Spectacular event on October 31 starting at 7 p.m. at Williams Hall at Trinity Church, 3902 Kenwood Drive in Spring Valley.

By Liz Alper

October 2, 2015 (EL CAJON) - An El Cajon man who murdered his girlfriend has been sentenced to 35 years to life in prison, KUSI reports.

October 2, 2015 (La Mesa)--Lamplighters Community Theatre in La Mesa continues its current season with a mystery. Stage Fright by Charles Marowitz will run Oct. 9-Nov. 8.

A leading metropolitan drama critic is led by an attractive production assistant into a recently discovered 19th century theatre. There, the critic will film a television interview for a documentary on the actor John Wilkes Booth, who once acted on those very boards. The critic, F.F. Charnick, notorious for his venomous reviews, visibly warms to the classy elegance of the British P.A. But no sooner has he downed a glass of wine than he falls drugged and unconscious.

By Liz Alper

October 1, 2015 (Santee) - A Santana High School staff member found a gun in the school’s staff parking lot on September 30, KUSI reports.

The staff member found the firearm while she was walking through the staff parking lot at 6:15 this morning.  She says she walked over to clean up some glass she had spotted, and that is when she found the gun, KUSI reports.

East County News Service

September 30, 2015 (La Mesa)-- Heartland Fire & Rescue crews from La Mesa and Lemon Grove, with assistance from San Diego Fire, responded to a house fire in the 4100 block of E. Arrieta Circle in La Mesa this morning. 

The first Chief Officer arrived within five minutes to report a single story, single family dwelling with heavy smoke coming from the house. Firefighters quickly attacked the fire from the interior, while simultaneously cutting a hole in the roof to alleviate smoke and hot gases from inside the structure, said Sonny Saghera, public information officer for Heartland.

El Cajon cancer survivor is organizer of “Dance for Life” event

September 30, 2015 (San Diego)--Jazzercise instructors will bring San Diegans together to fight breast cancer and dance for a cure aboard the USS Midway on Saturday, Oct. 3 from 8:30-10 a.m. More than 1,000 Jazzercise instructors, customers, family and friends, including many who have been affected by breast cancer, are expected to participate in a huge group fitness class on the deck of the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier located at 910 N. Harbor Drive, San Diego. Proceeds will benefit the Susan G. Komen 3-Day®. At last year’s Jazzercise Dance for Life event, more than 1,100 people danced together and raised more than $93,000 to fight the disease.

East County News Service

September 29, 2015 (Lakeside)—Twenty people were arrested Saturday morning during a probation compliance sweep conducted by Sheriff’s detectives, deputies and other staff.

East County News Service

September 10, 2015 (La Mesa)—Oktoberfest has been a tradition in La Mesa’s downtown village since 1942, drawing over 100,000 attendees in recent years.  This year, the La Mesa Village Merchants Association aims to host the Oktoberfest on Friday and Saturday, October 2 and 3 from 12 noon to 10 p.m.

After meeting its deadline for paying off past debt to the city and obtaining a permit, organizers plan to bring the popular festival goes back to its roots with a focus on German heritage. 

The Bavarian Beergarden Band, Alpine Gemutlichkeit Dancers, and the El Cajon German Band highlight the entertainment listed on the Merchants' website.  There will be German food including bratwurst and real German beer served up at two beer gardens. Beer lovers can choose from Oktoberfest Marzan, Hef, Munich Lager and kegs of Salvator. There will also be vendors.

Below is the lineup of entertainment:

By Mike Allen

Photo, left: Concrete pour for new sidewalk, courtesy City of La Mesa. See more photos on the City's Twitter feed for the project.

September 29, 2015 (La Mesa)--Several downtown La Mesa restaurants say the city’s Downtown Village Streetscape Improvement Project has taken a much bigger hit on their businesses than anticipated—and the owners aren’t happy about having to shell out more money to get their patio seating back.

While the project that began construction in July of last year is nearly finished, there’s still work to be done, and most restaurants haven’t had their outside patios re-installed in time for this weekend’s big Oktoberfest celebration.

September 29, 2015 (San Diego) – Barons Market will host “Backroom Beer Pairing,” featuring locally made brews from Pizza Port Brewing Co. and yummy delights from Gourmet Bites. The event will be held on Wednesday, September 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. Join Barons Market at  1347 Tavern Road in Alpine to raise money for local breast cancer support.

September 28, 2015 (El Cajon) – Robert Gehr shot this image of a rare “Super Moon” combined with a blood moon and lunar eclipse last night over El Cajon. A Super Moon occurs when the moon is at its perigee, the closest point in orbit to earth, making it appear larger.   The eclipse is caused by the earth between the sun and moon, casting a shadow on the moon. The red  hue is due to sunbeams that slip around the sides of the shadow, creating sunset colors in rust and red.

East County News Service

September 27, 2017 (Alpine)—Phevos, a  17-year-old tiger rescued from Greece and given refuge at Lions, Tigers and Bears in Alpine has died.

In an e-mail from LTB, founder Bobbie Brink states, “Phevos' health had been on a slow decline over the last two months.

September 27, 2015 (Jacumba Hot Springs)—A bake sale and ice cream social will be held at the Jacumba Library on Saturday, October 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  as part of the fall festival.  Proceeds will be used to send Jacumba Middle School students to sixth grade camp.

September 25, 2015 (Spring Valley)—A San Diego Laurel and Hardy Group, Saps at Sea, will present a Howl-o-Ween Spooky Spectacular event on October 31 starting at 7 p.m. at Williams Hall at Trinity Church, 3902 Kenwood Drive in Spring Valley. 

The event features Laurel and Hardy comedy films, a creepy cartoon, and guest comedians. The evening will also include a 3-D treat as well as a tribute to the late John Locke of Lyric Pines Theatre and more.