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.
Our Rural section covers most San Diego County's inland communities south of I-8 to the border including Alpine, Barrett Junction, Boulevard, Campo, Deerhorn Valley, Dehesa, Dulzura, Jamul, Japatul, Lake Morena, Otay, Potrero, and Spring Valley.
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Our Mountain Living section covers the mountain communities in San Diego's East County north of I-8 including Aguanga, Cuyamaca, Descanso, Guatay, Julian, Mount Laguna, Pine Valley, Ranchita, Ramona, Santa Ysabel, Shelter Valley and Warner Springs.
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Our deserts section covers the Anza Borrego Desert State Park and the communities of Borrego Springs, Ocotillo, Ocotillo Wells and Jacumba.
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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.
October 2, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – Ready to savor German beers and foods, kick up your heels to traditional German music as well as contemporary bands, enjoy games, carnival rides and vie for prizes? All of these opportunities and more can be found at Oktoberfest celebrations across East County include large festivals in La Mesa and El Cajon this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, as well as smaller Oktoberfest gatherings in Alpine and Julian on October 4.
Scroll down for details on Oktoberfest events across San Diego's inland region.
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Oct. 3, 2025 (Alpine) -- For a unique, once-a-year experience, Lions Tigers & Bears sanctuary in San Diego County is inviting the public to its annual Spooky Campover event on Friday, Oct. 24.
The overnight campout offers the rare chance to sleep under the stars -- surrounded by the sounds of rescued big cats and other sanctuary animals.
The "spooky celebration" packs in a night of Halloween-themed fun.
Attendees will enjoy campfire songs, pumpkin carving and a Halloween costume contest.
For those who dare, an all-ages haunted house will also be part of the evening's entertainment.
Visitors can also test their knowledge in an animal trivia challenge (with clues available on the LTB website), make s'mores, and sip on hot cocoa by the campfire.
The fun doesn't end when the sun comes up the next day. The following morning features the "Pumpkin Bash."
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October 3, 2025 (Rancho San Diego) — Miss Smarty-Plants will bring a “batty” show to the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College on Saturday, Oct. 18 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
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October 3, 2025 (Borrego Springs, CA) -- Borrego Springs hosts its annual Borrego Days Desert Festival on October 18 and 19. Saturday features a morning flyover and parade, as well as the "Shine and Show" vehicle show.
There's also a beer garden, kids' zone, food stations, and booths featuring everything from art to information. Plus you can enjoy live music and other activities all weekend long.
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October 2, 2025 (San Diego) -- The San Diego County Board of Supervisors Wednesday unanimously approved a housing development in the North County community of Harmony Grove, despite objections by several residents who expressed concerns about the lack of a second evacuation route during wildfires.
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San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to approve pilot program for El Capitan Reservoir. Photo courtesy Friends of San Diego Lakes via Instagram
By Karen Pearlman
Oct. 1, 2025 (San Diego County) -- In a move hailed by East County residents and recreation advocates, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a pilot program that could dramatically expand public access and recreational opportunities at El Capitan Reservoir in Lakeside.
Championed by Supervisor Joel Anderson of District 2 and Vice Chair Monica Montgomery Steppe of District 4, by a 5-0 vote, the Supervisors approved a recommendation to allocate up to $2.4 million over four years to allow the County’s Department of Parks and Recreation to oversee maintenance and operation of the reservoir's recreational activities.
The goal is to establish a consistent, year-round operation model similar to the successful long-term partnership currently in place at Lake Morena.
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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.
October 1, 2025 (Julian) - For anyone interested in exploring the historic aspect of weaving on a loom, or buying hand-woven products, you won’t want to miss Julian Weaving Works in Santa Ysabel. Julian Weaving Works is a weaving academy and store created and run by Beryl Warnes. She has been in this weaving business for 30 years.
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October 1, 2025 (Boulevard) – Border Patrol agents thwarted a drug smuggling attempt Sunday afternoon, seizing over 52 pounds of methamphetamine concealed within the spare tire of a side-by-side utility terrain vehicle in San Diego’s East County.
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September 29, 2025 (Borrego Springs) – The Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center 2025-2026 season is underway. In October, the center will host the Miss Borrego Springs Pageant on Saturday, Oct. 11, followed by legendary blues musician Doug McLeod in concert on Friday, Oct. 17.
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San Diego Humane Society’s Project Wildlife program helps young big cats reclaim their place in nature
Source: San Diego Humane Society
September 29, 2025 (Ramona) — Two mountain lion cubs who arrived at San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center as orphans in March have been returned to the wild.
The young carnivores were released into suitable habitat in San Diego County on Sept. 18, 2025, after undergoing more than five months of rehabilitation designed to limit human interaction and prepare them for life on their own.
The cubs were originally found alone and malnourished before being safely trapped by the UC Davis California Carnivores Program team in coordination with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. They were transferred to San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center on March 26, 2025.
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September 28, 2025 (El Cajon) - The Heartland Coin Club announces its highly anticipated Coin Show, taking place on Saturday, October 25, 2025 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the El Cajon Elks Lodge, El Cajon, CA. This event offers opportunity for coin enthusiasts, collectors, and curious minds to come together and explore the fascinating world of numismatics.
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The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS New Hampshire returns to port at Naval Station Norfolk on May 7,2021. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Alfred A. Coffield)
By Cristina Johnson
September 29, 2025 (San Diego) -- The noble sacrifices made by United States veterans have always been woven into the fabric of the nation.
Unfortunately, far too many of them continue to deal now with the profound challenge of homelessness or living without stable homes. Rising housing costs combined with various medical and mental health conditions have left thousands of people vulnerable to life on the streets.
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September 28, 2025 (Santee) -- The ninth annual Ladies at the Lake Fall Market will be Saturday, October 11, 2025, at the Lake 1 event area at Santee Lakes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Shoppers and craft fair goers throughout San Diego are expected to attend the event that celebrates women owned businesses, and a few men as well.
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Sept. 27, 2025 (San Diego County) -- Health insurance can feel confusing and daunting, and typically is expensive.
But Covered California, the state’s Affordable Care Act Marketplace, offers a less stressful way to shop for and compare plans, and works with all the major health insurance companies to negotiate the lowest possible prices for coverage, helping reduce costs and increase options for consumers throughout California.
Covered California is the state’s health insurance marketplace, where Californians can find affordable, high-quality insurance from top insurance companies, and is the only place where individuals who qualify can get financial assistance on a sliding scale to reduce premium costs.
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Sept. 27, 2025 (Alpine) -- While most San Diego County residents are planning their Thanksgiving feasts, a much wilder kind of holiday celebration is in the works for a special group of residents in Alpine.
Lions Tigers & Bears, the county’s only accredited big cat and bear sanctuary, will be hosting its annual Thanksgiving Turkey Bash in the days after Thanksgiving (Thursday, Nov. 27) at the venue at 24402 Martin Way in Alpine.
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Sept. 27, 2025 (San Diego County) -- The latest National Weather Service forecast for the San Diego area shows below-seasonal temperatures and a chance of thunderstorms, especially over the mountains and deserts, with a Beach Hazard Statement for coastal areas due to elevated surf.
A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for the San Diego County mountain and desert areas until 7 p.m. Saturday.
The NWS reports that an unanticipated weather pattern continues to affect the county, particularly the East County's mountains and deserts, bringing chances of showers and thunderstorms and unseasonably cool temperatures.
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Sept. 27, 2025 (Santee) – The San Diego County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk (ARCC) will host an American Archives Month Celebration to highlight San Diego County history from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 4 at the ARCC’s East County office, 10144 Mission Gorge Road, Santee. Admission is free.
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Photo: sign posted by East County residents when two sexually violent predators were proposed for release in their neighborhood
September 27, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) - Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) announced the passage of his Senate Bill 380, which directs the Department of State Hospitals to examine placing sexually violent predators in state-run transitional housing facilities upon release. Current law allows for their conditional release into the community where they pose a significant risk to the public safety.
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Sept. 26, 2025 (Lemon Grove) -- A teenager in Lemon Grove reportedly was being followed by a suspicious person in a car earlier this week and the Lemon Grove Sheriff's Substation is now investigating the matter.
Just after 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 23, a 13-year-old student was walking to Lemon Grove Middle School when the student said they noticed an older man driving a gray Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, spotted at a stop sign near the intersection of Cypress Avenue and Lemon Grove Avenue.
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Sept. 26, 2025 (Jacumba) -- The Federal Bureau of Investigation is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information on the individual or individuals who shot at and robbed four hikers, injuring one, earlier this year in Jacumba.
The FBI's San Diego Field Office, Imperial County Resident Agency, in coordination with federal law enforcement partners, is offering the reward for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the individual(s) who in January committed assault and armed robbery on four hikers near the United States/Mexico International Border.
On Wednesday, Jan. 22, at about 10:37 a.m., four hikers were shot at and robbed at gunpoint by two unknown Hispanic male subjects approximately 1,000 feet from the U.S./Mexico international border.
At that time, the unknown subjects began shooting in the direction of the hikers, hitting one of the hikers. The unknown subjects then approached the hikers and stole their valuables while holding them at gunpoint. The injured hiker suffered non-lethal injuries.
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Sept. 26, 2025 (San Diego County) – Three of San Diego County's largest foundations --Prebys Foundation, Price Philanthropies and San Diego Foundation -- along with members of the Robert Price family, have formed a group to help local families during a time of challenging cuts in services.
The group -- United for San Diego -- is increasing their annual giving by $70 million for safety net needs, leaders shared at a Thursday press conference at Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank headquarters.
The funders are coordinating efforts during a current urgent need, when historic cuts are imminent, to make the biggest impact -- helping safeguard access to food, housing and healthcare.
Robert Price, President and CEO, Price Philanthropies, explained the mission by usinga thought from Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers), a collection of Jewish ethical teachings and aphorisms from the Mishnah, the first text of the Jewish oral law.
“To paraphrase a wise teaching from Jewish ethics, we are not commanded to complete the task of making our world better, but neither are we free to do nothing,” Price said. “Many of our fellow San Diegans will soon be facing major challenges in meeting their basic needs for food, shelter and medical care. We have made the decision to increase our charitable giving to help as many of our neighbors as possible. We hope many of you will join in this effort.”
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By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office
Photo: Zach Pope, Youtube screenshot
September 24, 2025 (San Diego) - It doesn’t arrive in theaters until Friday, but a new blockbuster movie generating Oscar buzz has already been a big financial hit for San Diego County.
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September 23, 2025 (Spring Valley) - Two juveniles have been arrested on suspicion of bringing a replica firearm (BB gun) to an East County magnet school.
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Photo, left: mural of talented chef Gabriela “Gaby” Lopez
September 20, 2025 (La Mesa) – Casa Gabriela in the La Mesa Village has a first-rate, affordable Happy Hour that features unique, scrumptious food full of flavor, and a list of drink specials including both alcoholic and non-alcoholic varieties. The food is not just delicious, it’s presented well. Stunning, actually.
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East County News Service
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San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to approve pilot program for El Capitan Reservoir. Photo courtesy Friends of San Diego Lakes via Instagram
East County News Service
By Heidi Hope
Source: Border Patrol
By Miriam Raftery
San Diego Humane Society’s Project Wildlife program helps young big cats reclaim their place in nature
Source: Heartland Coin Club
East County News Service
East County News Service
East County News Service
East County News Service
East County News Service
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Source: San Diego County Sheriff
By Paul Levikow
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