By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

Photos courtesy of Julia Young  (pictured left)

 Oct. 20, 2022 (San Diego’s East County)  – East County resident Julia Young, a project manager for a logistics organization, has a hobby.  She’s a horror actor -- with experience, via attending and acting, going back to Knott's Scary Farm, the Dos Picos Park in Ramona, to this year’s Scareventures called Fright Nights at Alesmith  in Mira Mesa. Young grew up in Santee and still lives in the East County. 

In an interview with East County Magazine, she provided behind-the-scenes details on how she scared up such an unusual sideline.  

 Q. How did it come about for you to become a horror actor?

A. My first haunted maze was in the early ‘80s at Knott's Scary Farm. Each year I went, I fell more in love with it. I was fascinated by the scenery, the actors, the fun being scared. 

Source: San Diego Sheriff’s Department

October 19, 2022 (San Diego) -- Twelve years ago, San Diego Sheriff’s Deputy Ken Collier was killed while trying to stop a driver who was drunk and high on drugs going the wrong way on SR-52 in Santee. His life was cut short robbing his family of a son, brother and fiancé, and his coworkers of a valued colleague.

East County News Service

October 14, 2022 (El Cajon) – Supervisor Joel Anderson will host a forum open to the public on El Cajon homelessness on Saturday, October 22 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Grossmont College.  This forum will inform you of the impacts of homelessness in El Cajon and existing, collaborative efforts to address it. In addition, El Cajon’s leadership, including the Mayor, City Councilmembers, City Manager, and Police Chief, have been invited to discuss how the County can help address homelessness in El Cajon.

East County News Service

October 8, 2022 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa History Center is teaming up with Grossmont High School and Museum to present the 16h annual Home Tour on November 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This year’s theme will be “Fabulous Foothillers.”

By Christianne McCormick

October 2, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) -- Many family-friendly Halloween events are popping up throughout East County and will be available all throughout the month of October. 

Festivities include a spooky campover, costume contests for people and pets, a haunted train ride, pumpkin patches and corn mazes, a haunted amusement park, a fall celebration, safe trick-or-treating for children at a local shopping mall, and Haunt Fest, a family-friendly Halloween festival. 

Source:  La Mesa Chamber of Commerce

October 4, 2022 (La Mesa) - The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce invites you to join us at Thoughtful Creations, an innovative retail location at 8270 La Mesa Boulevard to enjoy a pre-holiday shopping mixer. This is the perfect opportunity to walk around this unique business with friends and mix and mingle while shopping. This evening mixer will be held on Wednesday, October 12^th between the hours of 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

East County News Service

October 3, 2022 (Santee) -- Friends and relatives of Steven Krueger will host a memorial Sand Sculpture Build on Sunday, October 9, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in his home community of Ocean Beach near the main lifeguard tower. The event will be led by award-winning master sand carvers of I.B. Posse, who will erect this memorial with the help of Steve’s family, friends and any community members who would like to participate.

Almost a year ago, on October 11, 2021, Krueger tragically lost his life when a plane crashed into his UPS truck in Santee. After a 30-year career, Krueger, was less than a year away from his planned retirement.

By Susan Taylor

September 28, 2022 (Normal Heights) - The Adams Avenue Street Fair was back in Normal Heights on September 24 and September 25. This was the 40^th year of the annual event and featured 65 musical acts.  The Fair is Southern California’s largest free two-day music festival and is held every year in September.  Included in the fun were carnival rides, beer gardens and beer tastings, arts and crafts and plenty of tasty food.

East County News Service

September 23, 2022 (La Mesa) -- Visionary Youth Theatre presents Seussical, Jr at the Visionary Performance Space (8674 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa) from November 4-13.   Bring your family and friends to enjoy as the diverse and talented children of Visionary School for the Performing Arts bring to the stage this fun, family musical directed and choreographed by Sharla Mandere.

East County News Service

September 21, 2022 (Julian) – The first day of Fall brings Julian Farm and Orchard’s “Harvest Fest” to ring in the seasonal spirit. 

By Miriam Raftery

September 21, 2022 (El Cajon) – Oktoberfest, the world’s largest folk festival, started more than 200 years ago with the community-wide celebration of a German prince’s wedding. In El Cajon, the German-American Club will host its own authentic Oktoberfest over two weekends: Sept. 30-Oct. 2 and Oct. 7-9 at the Club’s headquarters, 1017 S. Mollison Ave. in El Cajon.

 East County News Service

September 19, 2022 (Spring Valley) – Mt. Miguel High School Foundation, the nonprofit organization devoted to helping Mt. Miguel High School, is hosting Quartermania on Saturday, October 1 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.  

East County News Service

September 13, 2022 (Spring Valley) - The Saps at Sea, the San Diego chapter of the Sons of the Desert, the official Laurel & Hardy fan organization, present their Halloween program, "Howl-O-Scream," October 15 at Williams Hall at Trinity Presbytarian Church in Spring Valley.

East County News Service

September 9, 2022 (La Mesa) – The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the County of San Diego, invites you to “Shop & Dine La Mesa” to enjoy free family-friendly activities, entertainment, a car show, raffle prizes, live music and more.

The event takes place at The Marketplace at Lake Murray Village (at the corner of Lake Murray Blvd. and Baltimore Drive) in La Mesa on Saturday, September 24 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.