April 3, 2026 (Jacumba Hot Springs) - Sunny, mild desert weather sets the stage April 4 and 5th, for a stellar weekend full of music, outdoor fun and fantastic food, a new shop opening and more. The weekend’s events include a Beatles tribute music fest and campout, bathhouse bazaar, Easter Brunch, and an herbalist’s new shop opening.
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April 3, 2026 (Boston) -- A change of scenery has not had much of a positive effect so far on the bats of the San Diego Padres.
The Boston Red Sox, in their 2026 home opener, beat the Padres 5-2 on Friday afternoon. With the loss, the Padres lost their fifth of seven games to start the Major League Baseball season, falling to the National League West basement with a 2-5 record.
While the Padres' pitching has been good enough to compete, San Diego's offense, which struggled to come alive at Petco Park during opening week, continues to remain quiet.
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April 3, 2026 (San Diego County) – New structures being built in Very High Fire Severity Zones in California must now comply with state-mandated Zone Zero wildfire safety requirements, which includes the area within five feet of an occupied dwelling.
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April 3, 2026 (Santa Ysabel) – Reach for the stars at San Diego County’s International Dark Sky Week Celebration on Saturday, April 18 from 2-10 p.m. at the Santa Ysabel Nature Center (22135 Highway 79). The event includes “Defending the Night Sky,” a symposium from 2-7 p.m., followed by an after-dark star party to view the celestial sights from 8-10 p.m.
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April 3, 2026 (El Cajon) -- The San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus will take center stage at The Magnolia later this month with their production, “HERstory: Icons, Rebels & Trailblazers.”
Scheduled to run on just two days -- April 25 and April 26 -- the concert is a musical tribute to women who revolutionized the landscape of American music. The performance will highlight the cultural disruptors and powerhouse vocalists who have empowered generations.
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April 2, 2026 (Santee) -- The Santee Fire Department and the Santee-Lakeside Emergency Medical Services Authority have expanded their emergency fleet with the official April 1 start of BLS 5, a new Basic Life Support ambulance.
The unit’s inaugural shift began yesterday morning when EMT Chris Brooks radioed dispatch, placing the vehicle into active service for the region.
BLS 5 marks the third Basic Life Support unit for SLEMSA, the joint authority that manages prehospital care for both Santee and Lakeside.
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“...What we have learned from the Lemon Grove incident is that when we unite together and we fight against those forces, we are stronger than they are.” - Mayor Alysson Snow
(Photo, left, by Armando Rasing II): Community members gathered in front of a mural created by Mario Chacon that honors the Lemon Grove Incident
By Armando Rasing II
April 1, 2026 (Lemon Grove) – Lemon Grove community members gathered at The Neighborhood Event Center on Sunday afternoon to celebrate the 95th anniversary of the 1931 Lemon Grove desegregation court decision, a decision that stopped students of Mexican descent from being separated into a different school.
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April 1, 2026 (Santa Ysabel) -- The nonprofit Ilan-Lael Foundation will host an immersive art and nature experience on a 90-minute-long docent-led tour at 10 a.m., Thursday, April 9.
The event will take place in Santa Ysabel and focuses on the art and architecture of founder and artist James Hubbel, set against the beautiful natural scenery of the Santa Ysabel landscape.
Admission fees start at $45 per person, and a prior reservation is required.
Participants should be prepared for the activity level in and around 930 Orchard Lane. Organizers emphasize that everyone must wear closed-toe, sturdy footwear for the tour, which involves natural paths and steps.
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“Water Sweet – The Story of Jamul” Earns Top Honors at AAF Reno ADDY Awards
East County News Service
April 1, 2026 (Jamul) – Jamul Casino Resort has been recognized with two prestigious ADDY Awards from AAF Reno, earning a Gold ADDY and Best of Show in the Corporate Social Responsibility category for “Water Sweet – The Story of Jamul.”
The short film honors the history, culture and resilience of the Jamul Indian Village of California. As a Gold ADDY recipient, the work will now advance to the national ADDY competition.
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April 1, 2026 (La Mesa) – In a surprise announcement today, La Mesa Mayor Mark Arapostathis announced that the city has acquired the former Macy’s department store building at Grossmont Center.
“I’m delighted to reveal that this site will soon be home to a spacious new library and long-awaited community theatre,” said Arapostathis, a retired teacher and long-time junior theater leader. He added, “The new Jewel of the Hills center will become a cultural and arts hub for our community, fulfilling our promise of a state-of-the-art library as well as providing event space and a stage for youth theater and other community groups.”
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Anne Christine “Chris” (Raines) Stevens, 80, of Gilbert, Arizona, passed away on September 24, 2025.
She was born in Los Angeles, California in 1944 and grew up in a loving family that nurtured her creativity, faith, and determination. Chris attended Monte Vista High School in Spring Valley, CA, graduating in 1962, and was especially proud of her role as Captain of the marching corps, where her leadership and school spirit shone brightly.
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March 31, 2026 (San Diego) -- Leaders from across San Diego County will gather at San Diego City Hall tomorrow (April 1) with a serious message: “Don’t Be Fooled,” with a press conference and rally to mark the official launch of the "No on Measure A" campaign.
Measure A or the "No-Primary Homes Tax" is on the June 2 ballot and asks voters to weigh in on taxing owners of properties in the city that sit empty for more than half a year.
If passed, Measure A would impose an $8,000 annual tax on more than 5,000 residences deemed "non-primary," and would increase to $10,000 in 2028. Corporate owners would face a $4,000 surcharge on top of the base tax.
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March 31, 2026 (San Diego County) -- A a quiet supplier notification in January about tainted pizzas has turned into a federal safety alert, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration now officially upgrading the recall of a popular meal-kit pizza because of the potential presence of metal fragments.
The recall, which specifically targets HelloFresh’s Basil Pesto & Mozzarella Pizza, was elevated to a Class II classification on March 23.
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“This is nothing compared to what is taking place in the world” -- Jerome Gastaldi, who lost 50 years of work in a fire at his Fallbrook studio on March 20 (photo courtesy Villa con Cuore studio)
East County News Service
March 31, 2026 (Fallbrook) -- Contemporary American artist Jerome Gastaldi on March 20 lost his primary studio in Fallbrook, as well as more than 50 years of his own art and collected pieces of other artists' works in a sudden fire at his studio property, Villa con Cuore.
The fire at the 2500 block of Los Alisos S. Drive destroyed Gastaldi's paint studio, welding and print studios, library, gallery storage and a lifetime of collected works — many exhibited publicly over the years.
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70,000 San Diego County residents join 8 million nationwide in No Kings demonstrations, the largest ever U.S. protest
By Miriam Raftery
March 31, 2026 (San Diego) -- No Kings rallies nationwide on Saturday, March 26 drew more than 8 million people, including over 70,000 across San Diego County. Organizers say this was the largest protest in United States history.
The protestors voiced opposition to antidemocratic actions by the Trump administration. Many also voiced concerns over an escalating war in Iran and other military conflicts, as well as other issues including aggressive actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement against immigrants protestors and bystanders, including two U.S. citizens killed in Minnesota.
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March 30, 2026 (El Cajon ) -- The El Cajon City Council last week unanimously upheld a decision by the city's Planning Commission to deny the Afghan Community Culture Center a permit extension for its temporary prayer tent on East Main Street between Walter Way and East Madison Avenue.
The ruling ended an ongoing dispute between the city’s safety regulations and the center, which provides services to a community of more than 3,000 people who look to the ACCC as a spiritual, educational and social home, according to ACCC Board President Bakhtar Aminzay.
"We have to follow the state law, which has to do with public safety issues," said El Cajon City Councilmember Gary Kendrick.
The ACCC since last November has owned a building at 1342 E. Main St., but structural damage on the inside by previous tenants have made the building uninhabitable as well as not being up to code, Kendrick said.
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Update 7:42 p.m. -- The fire has crossed the river and is now burning directly behind commercial buildings including Michael's. "There appears to be no direct access for engines to get to it," ECM reporter Patrick Ward says. The Sheriff has evacuated some stores and is advising the public to avoid the area.
East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts
Photos by Patrick Ward.
March 29, 2026 (Santee) – Fire crews are battling the Town Center Fire burning in vegetation in the 100 block of River Rock Court, across the river from Walmart and the Town Center shopping plaza. The fire is within 50 to 100 yards of commercial structures and has burned 3 aces as of 7:40 p.m., per Watch Duty.
Per Watch Duty App, the incident commander has requested a type 1 strike team of 5 engines, a strike 3 team of 5 engines, and a water dropping helicopter.
Ground crews are now engaged in structure protection on the south side of the river due to a threat to commercial structures there.
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March 29, 2026 (La Mesa) — The La Mesa City council met on March 24 to try and tackle the “parking crisis” fueled by new housing development in the Downtown Village.
La Mesa is currently facing massive tension over the need for affordable housing and a growing parking crisis in its Downtown Village district. Recent developments have prioritized transit-oriented housing with reduced parking requirements, sparking concerns from local business owners and residents about the long-term impact on the area’s accessibility and economic health.
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March 28, 2026 (Santee) -- Deputies from the Santee Sheriff's Station conducted an enforcement operation on Thursday aimed at addressing the growing number of electric bikes (e-bikes) and electric motorcycles (e-motorcycles) being operated in violation of state and local laws within the City of Santee.
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March 28, 2026 (El Cajon) – Heartland Fire’s station 7 in Fletcher Hills, built in 1960, will soon undergo major renovations. El Cajon’s City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to approve budget revisions for the reconstruction.
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Officials seeking potential contacts, photo courtesy County of San Diego
East County News Service
March 28, 2026 (Escondido) -- San Diego County public health officials are seeking anyone who may have come into direct physical contact with two wild bats found in separate Escondido locations last weekend.
Both animals have since tested positive for rabies, marking the fourth and fifth confirmed cases of rabid bats in the county this year.
The first infected bat was discovered at about 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 21, in a grassy area near the White Oak Villas condo complex. The animal was retrieved by the San Diego Humane Society for testing.
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Helix Water District Board Member Joel Scalzitti tells the crowd at the Helix Operations Center on Vernon Way on Friday that the district's new electrification project will be a model for the rest of the county.
Photos and story by Karen Pearlman
March 27, 2026 (El Cajon) – While providing safe drinking water to their 278,000 ratepayers is their main goal, the Helix Water District has put some energy into other public utility needs.
On Friday, the District showed how infrastructure and mandates have led it to expand its portfolio, showing off its $11 million electrification project in El Cajon.
The project on Vernon Way is designed to power Helix's fleet for the next 50 to 60 years -- and acts as a pioneer for the region with a replicable success story for municipalities navigating the transition to zero-emission vehicles.
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March 28, 2026 (Jacumba Hot Springs) -- East County’s abuzz with a Beatles invasion. De Anza Springs Resort, a high desert retreat, welcomes the public to the Magical Mystery Campout and Beatles Fair, a two-day festival on April 4 and 5. The weekend will feature multiple Beatles cover bands, hiking, swimming in indoor and outdoor mineral pools and a spa, stargazing, and Beatles memorabilia.
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March 27, 2026 (San Diego County) -- On the eve of what many are calling the largest civil mobilization in American history, in "No Kings" protests, the official stance from regional law enforcement has been clear and public-facing.
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March 27, 2026 (Santee) – A staffer spotted a camouflage backpack near the front entrance of the Santee Sheriff station today at 12:24 p.m. Surveillance video showed a man on bicycle dropping off the suspicious pack. Deputies secured the area and sought help from the Sheriff’s Bomb/Arson detectives.
Patrol deputies conducted a search of the surrounding area for the individual, while the Sheriff’s helicopter issued public address announcements with a description of the subject.
Bomb/Arson detectives assessed the backpack and identified items that appeared to be military-style equipment. As a precaution, nearby streets and sidewalks adjacent to the station were temporarily closed to ensure public safety. Upon further examination, multiple rounds of high-powered ammunition were recovered from inside the backpack.
Detectives ultimately rendered the backpack safe and confirmed there is no ongoing threat to the public.
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March 27, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) -- U.S. Border Patrol horse patrol units across the Southwest recently received 15 horses from the U.S. Army, an interagency transfer that will save the agency an estimated $105,000.
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March 27, 2026 (Lakeside) – Voters are invited to the “Candidates to Constituents Town Hall” series. The series is hosted by Alpine resident Anne Tillmond and features local, county & state candidates that voters can connect with over three town halls. The first C2C town hall is on Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 in Lakeside from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:15 p.m.
Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
March 27, 2026 (Otay Mesa) - San Diego County Sheriff’s officials failed to investigate at least seven reported sexual assaults at the privately run Otay Mesa immigration detention center in 2025, and records show the agency has ceded control of the cases to civilian administrators employed by the nation’s largest for-profit prison contractor.
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Hazard Construction President Jason Mordhorst and one of Hazard Construction's old trucks -- which still works.
Photos and story by Karen Pearlman
March 26, 2026 (Lakeside) – If you’ve driven a car in San Diego County, you've literally been on top of things with the Hazard Construction Company.
From the winding, scenic roads of Rancho Santa Fe and Del Mar to the massive, multi-lane interchanges of Interstate 8, the Lakeside-headquartered firm has spent a century literally laying the foundation for San Diego and Southern California's growth and expansion.
This June, Hazard officially hits the 100-year mark -- a rare centennial milestone that cements Hazard as one of the oldest and most influential civil engineering contractors in the state.
Hazard Construction Company started small in 1926 when it concentrated on road construction and excavation, but has evolved into a full-service general engineering contracting firm with a focus on private sector work.
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Skip Interstate 8 and 'ride the rails' with the Padres-wrapped Trolley
East County News Service
March 25, 2026 (San Diego) -- With the San Diego Padres set to kick off the 2026 season at Petco Park tomorrow afternoon (March 26, first pitch set for 1:10 p.m.), baseball fans in Santee, El Cajon, Lemon Grove, La Mesa, San Carlos and beyond are being urged to dodge the inevitable Interstate 8 gridlock.
With sellout crowds expected all weekend, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System is ramping up Green and Orange Line service to ensure East County fans spend more time in their seats and less time hunting for pricey parking spots.
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By Rebecca Person
Photo courtesy San Diego Padres Instagram
By Paul Levikow
East County News Service
East County News Service
East County News Service
By Philicia Tonangoye
“Water Sweet – The Story of Jamul” Earns Top Honors at AAF Reno ADDY Awards
Obituary provided by Ron Stevens
East County News Service
East County News Service
“This is nothing compared to what is taking place in the world” -- Jerome Gastaldi, who lost 50 years of work in a fire at his Fallbrook studio on March 20 (photo courtesy Villa con Cuore studio)
East County News Service
Councilmember Laura Lothian 
East County News Service
East County News Service
Officials seeking potential contacts, photo courtesy County of San Diego
Helix Water District Board Member Joel Scalzitti tells the crowd at the Helix Operations Center on Vernon Way on Friday that the district's new electrification project will be a model for the rest of the county.
By Rebecca Person
East County Magazine
By Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
East County News Service
By Wendy Fry and Nigel Duara, CalMatters
Hazard Construction President Jason Mordhorst and one of Hazard Construction's old trucks -- which still works.
Skip Interstate 8 and 'ride the rails' with the Padres-wrapped Trolley
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