By Christianne McCormick

October 21, 2022 (El Cajon) – Colorful tiny homes now occupy a formerly vacant lot at Meridian Baptist Church in El Cajon. Built by the nonprofit Amikas, the tiny homes were completed last month and will soon serve as safe, temporary havens for women and children experiencing homelessness.

Pastor Ronald Slade, who is also serves as a board member for Amikas, explained the lot’s recent history to East County Magazine (ECM). “We were just growing tumbleweeds on this lot. The unofficial nickname for the congregation was ‘tumbleweed village,’” he recalled.

By Yes on El Cajon Measure P (FPPC: 1453166)

October 22, 2022 (El Cajon) -- Measure P is an investment in El Cajon. It is an investment in decreasing homelessness, reducing 911 response times, increasing firefighter staffing, and beautifying parks and streets.

Donation challenge kicks off today as the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres face off on the field 

Source:  Feeding San Diego

October 22, 2022 (Philadelphia) - Feeding San Diego, the county’s leading hunger-relief and food rescue organization, has accepted a challenge from fellow Feeding America organization Philabundance – Philadelphia's food bank – to see who can raise more funding to help feed their communities during the baseball series between the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres. This friendly fundraising challenge will raise critical funds and awareness for the hunger-relief organizations during a challenging economic period that has made the cost of operations skyrocket.  

East County News Service

October 21, 2022 (Spring Valley) – A 61-year-old man has died at a local hospital after sustaining a head injury yesterday during a fight in Spring Valley.

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office

October 21, 2022 (San Diego) - You must register by Monday, Oct. 24 to receive a ballot in the mail for the Nov. 8 Statewide General Election. Otherwise, you will need to make a trip in person to the Registrar’s office in Kearny Mesa or visit a vote center starting Saturday, Oct. 29 to conditionally register and vote provisionally through Election Day.

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. 

East County News Service

October 19, 2022 (El Cajon) - El Cajon Police today announce the arrest of Obaida Saad Ramadhan of El Cajon for the August 19 murder of Jasiah White. White was shot multiple times in an outdoor parking lot at 441 Dominguez.

Reviewed by Pennell Paugh

October 19, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) -- The Spirit of Shy Moon Lake is a spooky, sometimes creepy, often mysterious tale, filled with tension and foreshadowing. Award-winning local author Reina Lisa Menasche is also the long-time host of the “Bookshelf” segment on East County Magazine’s radio show.

October 17, 2022 (La Mesa) -- Tony Orlando is a La Mesa City Commissioner on the Personnel Appeals Board and pastor of Lifepoint Church in La Mesa.

Asked what motivated him to run, he says he’s lived in La Mesa for 21 years, raised his children here along with his wife, and says he’s dedicated himself to serving the community to “help adopt and embrace those who need help.”

Click the video link above to view the full interview, or scroll down for highlights.

East County News Service

October 17, 2022 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District will host a special “Wellness Wednesday” event on Nov. 2 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., celebrating both the 20^th anniversary of the Herrick Library and the district’s 70 years of dedication to health and wellness in East County. The open house event will be at the library at 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa.

By Mike Allen

October 17, 2022 (Lakeside) -- Voters in the unincorporated town of Lakeside will get to vote on four seats of the five-member Lakeside Union School District this November.

The Lakeside district, which covers nearly 75 square miles and has about 5,000 students, consists of six elementary schools, two middle schools, a preschool program, a DREAM Academy, and world language programs.

Seven candidates are running for three seats with a full four-year term, and two candidates are running for a shortened term. 

For the three full term seats the candidates are Jim Bennet, Maureen Cruise, Holly Ferrante, Aaron Gordon, Andrew Hayes, Ron Kasper, and Bonnie LaChappa.  For the short-term seat, the two candidates are incumbent Don Whisman, and Autumn Ellenson.

East County Magazine sent questionnaires out to all nine candidates and received four responses, which are published in full below.

East County News Service

October 16, 2022 (Julian) - Julian Farm and Orchard has just rescued 17 Pot Belly Pigs from the local Santa Ysabel area. The pigs were rescued in partnership with the Mesa Grande Indian Reservation and the USDA after more than 100 pigs were dumped on the Reservation land. Julian Farm and Orchard coordinated with Mesa Grande Tribe to pick up 17 pigs and bring them to their new permanent home on the farm.

“We learned about the plight of the pigs on the Mesa Grande Reservation through Facebook and immediately wanted to help. Working with the Mesa Grande Tribe, we were able to rescue 17 of the pot belly pigs” said Robin Madaffer, owner of Julian Farm and Orchard.

Staff will be working diligently to bring the pigs to good health and ensure they have a wonderful life in their new home. Visitors to Julian Farm and Orchard will now be able to visit the pigs along with the other furry friends that reside on the farm.

“We are excited to have them as part of our petting zoo family where they will be well-cared for and loved” Madaffer said.