“We need public school leadership that we can trust.” —Madeline McCurry-Schmidt, a La Mesa parent and graduate of a GUHSD school
A new promise to keep
July 25, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) -- All public boards in California are expected to follow the state’s open government laws. But explosive revelations based on public records published by the San Diego Union Tribunesuggested secret meetings and backroom deals involving several Grossmont Union High School district trustees. In response, on July 17, the GUHSD Governing Board took the unusual step of pushing a resolution to follow the Brown Act and district bylaws, which trustees approved unanimously.
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July 25, 2025 (San Diego) – The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in San Diego and its law enforcement partners yesterday arrested five people believed to be associated with the Mexican Mafia prison gang, the latest in string of related arrests and indictments.
The latest five suspects have been indicted for allegedly running an illegal gambling establishment, money laundering, and importing methamphetamine.
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Carnival rides are a big part of the fun at Ramona Country Fair. Photo by Regina Elling
July 25, 2025 (Ramona) -- Visitors to the Ramona Country Fair, set for Friday, Aug. 1 through Sunday, Aug. 3, can expect to enjoy amusement rides, vendor booths, carnival food, a variety of musical acts, a car show, a dog demonstration, equestrian events, a corn hole tournament and lots of old-fashioned fun and entertainment. There is even expanded shade and cool zones to help beat the heat.
“The importance of the Fair is multi-faceted,” said Karen Domnitz, Ramona Chamber of Commerce vice president. “It’s for people to enjoy, it brings people to Ramona and is the largest event and fundraiser put on by our Chamber of Commerce.”
Presented by the Ramona Chamber of Commerce, admission to the Fair is free. Single day parking passes are $20; unlimited, $25.
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July 24, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – Hot August nights and late summer days bring some of East County’s most iconic events.
This month’s hot happenings include the Ramona Country Fair, San Diego Dark Sky Fest in Julian, A Gatsby-themed Mt. Helix Food and Wine Festival celebrating the Mt. Helix Park’s centennial, a country music pool party at Sycuan, Santee’s summer concerts, La Mesa’s classic car show, Julian Mountain brew fest, Macy Gray in concert at the Magnolia, Grammy Award-winning Alabama Shakes at SDSU, Julian Mountain Brew Fest, open farm days at the Oaisis Camel Dairy, and the new Jacumbia Fest brings Afro-Columbian vibes to Jacumba Hot Springs.
Scroll down for details on these events and more.
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July 24, 2025 (Julian) – The Julian Chamber of Commerce is inviting the public to savor the Julian Mountain Brewfest at Nickel Beer Company at 1485 Hollow Glen Road from noon to 4 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 23.
A $25 ticket includes eight tastings, a commemorative cup and live music by the Sun Valley String Band.
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Last year's Mt. Helix Park Foundation Food & Wine Festival event was a
hit. (Photo courtesy Mt. Helix Park Foundation)
July 24, 2025 (La Mesa) – A privately owned "public" park and nature preserve with an outdoor ampitheater toward the top, East County is fortunate Mount Helix Park is open 365 days a year and has no entrance fee. Thousands annually hike its trails, sit by the 35-foot stone cross at the top and take in sweeping views across San Diego County.
But keeping the six-acre park -- celebrating its 100th year in 2025 -- open for free comes at a cost for its operations and upkeep.
With that in mind, the nonprofit Mt. Helix Foundation. which owns and maintains the park grounds, is hosting its annual fundraiser on Aug. 16. The foundation will transform the scenic hilltop of Mt. Helix into a vibrant celebration of culinary arts, fine beverages and community spirit for the 18th Annual Mt. Helix Food & Wine Festival, In honor of the centennial, this year's celebration will feature a Great Gatsby theme reflecting the site's historical roots complete with a speakeasy, two live bands and dancing under the stars.
The event is recognized as one of East County’s premier gatherings, and serves as the organization’s primary fundraiser to preserve and enhance the historic park, said Krista Powers, executive director of the Mt. Helix Park Foundation.
Powers said the Food & Wine Festival typically draws 700 people. The park's biggest yearly draw is Easter sunrise services, which attracts about 1,800 people to the top. Christmas activities bring close to 1,000 people to the site annually.
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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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Five candidates running against Rep. Issa are also expected to be there
East County News Service
July 23, 2025 (Escondido) – Since Republican Representative Darrell Issa has repeatedly refused to hold a townhall in his 49th Congressional district, Indivisible North County has organized “The Town Hall We Deserve” with Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, a Democrat representing the 51st Congressional district, to speak with voters on critical issues facing our nation.
Five Democratic candidates running against Issa have also been invited to have tables at the event, according to organizers.
Registration is required and seating is limited. Register here. The event will take place July 27 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the California Center for the Arts,340 N. Escondido Blvd.in Escondido.
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.
July 24, 2025 (Ramona) – Enhanced wildfire response capabilities are coming to Southern California, after CAL FIRE announced a significant construction project at the Ramona Air Attack Base that will prepare for a new tanker to be based there.
Construction is tentatively set to begin Aug. 1 and take 8-12 months to complete, according to a news release from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s San Diego Unit.
“The project is a crucial step in preparing the base to accommodate one of CAL FIRE’s new C-130H air tankers, dramatically enhancing the agency’s wildfire response capabilities in Southern California,” the news release said. The tanker will be added to CAL FIRE’s current resources of three aircraft, one air attack platform and two air tankers that are currently based in Ramona.
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July 24, 2025 (Julian) – Keith and Priscilla Webb, best known locally as owners of Julian Hard Cider, the nation's first craft cider company in Julian, passed away two days apart earlier this month. They also owned Apple Lane Orchard, a popular wedding and vacation rental destination in the mountain community in San Diego's East County.
Both are remembered as generous community members who contributed to numerous local charities, as well as being successful business owners.
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July 23, 2025 (Rancho San Diego) -- The final public hearing on the fate of the Cottonwood Golf Course and whether it will be turned into a sand mine is going to be held later this summer.
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors will hear from residents as well as the developers about the proposal to grant the Cottonwood Golf Club a major use permit to operate an industrial open-pit sand mine for a minimum of 10 years.
The county's planning commission earlier this month denied the MUP, but the supervisors will be listening to testimony about it in September.
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July 23, 2025 (Ramona) – A 40-year-old Ramona man is dead after being struck by a vehicle shortly before midnight on July 18.
The victim was standing in the roadway on northbound State Route 67 north of Archie Moore Road in Ramona, an area with low lighting, when a Dodge Challenger driven by an Irvine woman, 44, collided with the pedestrian, according to Officer Jasmine Lopez with the California Highway Patrol.
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July 23, 2025 (San Diego) – An El Cajon woman, 60, is dead and three others injured as a result of a three-vehicle crash that occurred July 19 on Dehesa Road, east of Sloan Canyon Road in unincorporated El Cajon. Her identity has not yet been released by the county medical examiner.
According to the California Highway Patrol, she was driving a 2018 Nissan Sentra westbound on Dehesa Rd. when for unknown reasons, her vehicle crossed over the center double-yellow lines and struck a 2007 Honda Pilot driven by a 77-year-old El Cajon woman.
The Nissan driver could not regain control and then crashed into a 2019 Ford F-150 driven by a 42-year-old El Cajon woman with a female passenger. The Ford overturned onto the roadway.
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July 23, 2025 (Santee) -- As expected, a coalition of environmental groups including Preserve Wild Santee have filed a new legal challenge against Santee’s biggest residential project, Fanita Ranch, which the City Council most recently approved in June.
It was the third time in five years that the Santee City Council gave its approval to the controversial 3,000-house development that has a history dating back to the 1990s.
At every juncture, the environmental coalition which also include the Center for Biological Diversity, the Endangered Habitats League and the California Chaparral Institute, have opposed the project as dangerous due to building in a very high fire hazard severity zone but also non-complaint with existing state laws covering new construction.
Also, the latest suit states that the city is ignoring the passage of Measure N in November 2020, which required a public vote on any new development that increases density and would necessitate amending the city’s General Plan.
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Image,left: Rendering of Buzz's planned cannabis store interior
July 23, 2025 (Santee) -- Santee has concluded what Mayor John Minto called “an exhaustive process” to award four business permits for the sale of cannabis and related products to four groups, all of which have experience in retailing the highly regulated lines of liquor and gasoline.
The vote on the cannabis business licenses July 11 followed an extensive, four-phase vetting process that began in October culminating in three days of interviews with all 16 groups interviewed by the five-member council.
The stores will offer both medical and recreational cannabis (marijuana) products.
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President Donald Trump, who has praised Vladimir Putin in the past, has recently started publicly criticizing him.
By G. A. McNeeley
July 22, 2025 (Washington D.C.) -- President Donald Trump has recently criticized Vladimir Putin, according to CNN. He has also announced that he will increase weapons supplies for European allies, so that those countries can send them to Ukraine, according to Axios.
On Tuesday, July 15, Russia rejected Trump's "ultimatum" for Moscow to sign a ceasefire deal to end the war in Ukraine within 50 days as "unacceptable," calling for continued negotiations and insisting that the invasion ordered by Putin will continue until their goals are achieved, according to CBS News.
Meanwhile, Putin intends to keep fighting in Ukraine until the West meets his terms for peace, unfazed by Trump's threats of tougher sanctions, and his territorial demands may widen as Russian forces advance, three anonymous sources told Reuters.
On Wednesday, July 16, General Christopher Donahue, commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, warned that their forces could capture Russia's heavily fortified Kaliningrad region "in a timeframe that is unheard of" if necessary. He said this as the alliance unveiled a new Eastern Flank defense plan at the Association of the U.S. Army's inaugural LandEuro conference, according to Newsweek.
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July 17, 2025 (Crest) – San Miguel Fire & Rescue Deputy Chief Tobin Riley appeared before the Crest Community Association Thursday to provide an update on construction of Fire Station 18 on the corner of Suncrest Boulevard and North Lane. The update was provided after Facebook posts by concerned residents wondered why the lot has been sitting empty for so long.
“Perception is reality, people drive by, they see the dirt lot not moving and they have the right to ask questions,” Riley said. “The station is being built in phases.”
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July 18, 2025 (Poway) -- Highway 67 was closed in both directions Friday, July 18, after a fatal crash involving three vehicles started a brush fire south of Poway Road near Iron Mountain.
Cal Fire reported that the vehicles involved in the crash caught fire just at about 12:45 p.m., and the fire then spread through the vegetation.
San Diego County Sheriff's Department reported that the fire started after a serious injury collision north of the intersection of State Route 67 and Iron Mountain Drive, in the city of Poway.
Upon arrival, deputies from the Poway Sheriff's station learned a three-vehicle collision occurred near the intersection, which sent one vehicle into the ravine, which started the brush fire.
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July 17, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – As the weather heats up, late July has many cool events including visits to the new Camel Lavender Farm in Ramona, Music on Main in El Cajon, Cajon Cruises, Movies at county parks and recreation centers, La Mesa’s Sundays at Six concerts and classic car shows, outdoor concerts in Santee and Lemon Grove, concerts by a lazy river at Sycan, tribute band concerts at The Magnolia in El Cajon, as well as outdoor concerts at Viejas.
Scroll down for details on these sizzling midsummer events.
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San Diego resident, Muffy Walker celebrates the release of her debut novel, Dream Weavers. The book has received the Firebird Book Award, the Literary Titan Silver Book Award, the Hawthorne Prize, and was selected as finalist for the 2025 International Impact Book Awards in the Women's Fiction category.
Rachel, in her early twenties, was raped in her college dorm. Traumatized, she quit college. At age 28, she continued to suffer from panic attacks and sometimes hallucinated a replay of her rape.
Hadley, in her forties, has three children and a loving husband. Unfortunately, she has a form of early-onset Alzheimer’s.
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By Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office
July 16, 2025 (San Diego County) -- The County of San Diego has been honored with 51 Achievement Awards for programs it provides to the public by the National Association of Counties, which recognizes standout county government programs.
The County received awards in 15 categories for programs that run the gamut of the services the County provides from law enforcement to health services, to land use, including the Campo Road Corridor Revitalization Specific Plan.
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July 15, 2025 (La Mesa) -- The Grossmont Center shopping mall is in for some major renovations, after the La Mesa City Council unanimously approved the first phase of the new design at its July 8 meeting.
Phase 1 focuses on storefronts between the two anchor stores, Target and Walmart with a new, modern design theme with updated materials, colors, and architectural features. The central plaza will be renovated with outdoor seating, shade structures, lighting, a fountain, and a community gathering space. Landscaping upgrades are also planned with 30 new trees and low-water native plants. In addition, there will be improvements to sidewalks and ADA handicap access. Energy-efficient and safety-conscious design elements, including improved lighting and security bollards will be implemented.
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July 16, 2025 -- As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:
For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.
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July 15, 2024 (San Diego County) -- San Diego has been named one of six global finalists for host city of the Invictus Games 2029.
San Diego is only the second American city ever to host the international adaptive sporting event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women.
The official announcement by The Invictus Games Foundation marks a major milestone for the region’s efforts to bring the Games back to the United States for only the second time since its inception in 2014.
San Diego’s bid was championed by the City of San Diego and the British American Business Council San Diego. It aims to showcase the city as a global leader in veteran wellness, recovery and mental fitness.
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Anza-Borrego Desert State Park photo (left) by Karen Pearlman
East County News Service
July 15, 2025 (San Diego County) -- California State Parks Foundation is inviting park visitors and photography enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels to capture the natural beauty, recreational activities and unique landscapes of California’s state parks.
The California State Parks Foundation Photo Contest is now open for submissions and runs through September 30, 2025.
San Diego County has more than a dozen state parks, including Anza Borrego Desert, Cuyamaca Rancho, Palomar Mountain and several state beaches — including Carlsbad State Beach, Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve in La Jolla, Border Field State Park Beach in Imperial Beach and Silver Strand State Beach in Coronado.
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July 14, 2025 (San Diego) --Grocery members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Locals 135, 324, 770, 1167, 1428, and 1442 voted this week overwhelmingly to ratify new three-year agreements with Ralphs (a subsidiary of Kroger) and Albertsons (which includes Albertsons, Vons, and Pavilions).
The union local members had previously voted to authorize a strike, after months of tense negotiations and member-driven actions in a strong show of unity and determination from more than 45,000 essential grocery workers across Southern California.
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July 15, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media. This week's round-up stories include:
For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down
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Fire officials announce other upgrades in fire protection for Crest
By Paul Levikow
July 14, 2025 (Crest) – For years, Crest residents have asked the County to create an additional evacuation route on Suncrest Truck Trail to protect residents in the rural community that was devasted in the 2003 Cedar Fire. In response to a reader’s request, ECM looked into the matter.
While officials from the County and Cal Fire say Suncrest Truck Trail is not a viable option for several reasons, many other steps are being taken to improve fire safety for Crest.
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The Otay Mesa Detention Center operated by CoreCivic. (Photo by Adrian Childress/Times of San Diego)
By Wendy Fry, CalMatters
July 14, 2025 (San Diego County) -- A deaf Mongolian man has spent more than four months in a Southern California immigrant detention center without the opportunity to communicate with anyone who understands Mongolian Sign Language, according to his civil rights attorney.
“He’s basically been in solitary confinement because he has not had one person actually speak to him in Mongolian Sign Language for the entirety of the time that he’s been in proceedings and detained,” said his attorney, Alegría De La Cruz, director of litigation for the Disability Rights Legal Center.
U.S. Southern District of California Judge Dana Sabraw this week ordered officials at the Otay Mesa Detention Center to provide him with a Mongolian Sign Language interpreter.
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By Seraphina Eberhardt, Program Director, Institute for Public Strategies
July 1, 2025 (El Cajon) -- Community leaders, prevention experts, and local advocates came together at Singing Hills Golf Club in El Cajon recently to talk about the realities of alcohol misuse in our neighborhoods.
The San Diego County Binge and Underage Drinking Initiative (BUDI) released its 2025 Annual Status Report over lunch, and the data was a lot to digest.
Angelica Raya, Program Manager for BUDI, and epidemiologist Carol Manisouk from the County of San Diego Behavioral Health Services Department kicked off the presentation.
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By 
East County News Service
East County News Service
East County News Service
By Paul Levikow
By Mike Allen
President Donald Trump, who has praised Vladimir Putin in the past, has recently started publicly criticizing him. 
By Paul Levikow
July 16, 2025 -- As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:
East County News Service
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park photo (left) by Karen Pearlman
The Otay Mesa Detention Center operated by CoreCivic. (Photo by Adrian Childress/Times of San Diego)
By Seraphina Eberhardt, Program Director, Institute for Public Strategies
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