Organizers are seeking a headline sponsor
East County News Service
March 26, 2025 (Escondido) -- Mark your calendars for Valley Vibes, a free, family-friendly fiesta with interactive exhibits, great food, crafts and live music courtesy of North Park Rock-n-Blues Band. Valley Vibes will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 1, at the Sikes Adobe Historic Farmstead, 12655 Sunset Drive, Escondido. The San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy and San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority are hosting the free event to celebrate nature and draw attention to the organizations’ conservation, education and recreation programs.
“Our plan is to have a great time while showing visitors the value of nature and how much it deserves our protection,” said Conservancy Executive Director Cheryl Goddard.
To offset costs, organizers are seeking a headline sponsor.
More than a dozen partner organizations are joining the party to showcase wildlife in the watershed. Visitors can participate in demonstrations of outdoor skills, get up close with reptiles, meet adoptable senior dogs, learn to track wildlife and interact with conservation experts.
Exhibitors include: San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy; San Dieguito River Park JPA; Volcan Mountain Foundation; Southwestern Field Herping Society; Master Gardeners; Surprise Farm Retreat Center; Friends of Sikes Adobe; Ilan-Lael Foundation; San Diego Turtle and Tortoise Society; San Diego Mountain Biking Association; Frosted Faces Foundation; San Diego Tracking Team; Kit Fox Outfitters; Free Flight Exotic Bird Sanctuary, and City of Escondido.
Interested in sponsoring Valley Vibes? As a $5,000 headline sponsor, your organization can be front and center during the event while tying your brand to our conservation and education mission.
Exclusive headline sponsors benefits include: prominent placement on all digital and print promotions including websites, social media, newsletters and press releases; display of your banner for maximum exposure at the event, and multiple sponsor announcements during the event to highlight your support. Sponsorship of Valley Vibes is tax deductible. Let’s make Valley Vibes a huge success together!
Contact 858-866-6956 or sdrvc@sdrvc.org.
East County News Service
March 21, 2025 (Valley Center) – Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call yesterday reporting that a family member who recently passed away was buried on the family property in the 29000 block of Paso Robles Road, Valley Center. Deputies found a grave that appeared recent.
“Due to there being no record of the decedent's death, the Sheriff's Homicide Unit responded to the scene and took over the investigation,” says Lieutenant Patrick Fox with the San Diego County Sheriff’s department.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Homicide Unit at (858) 285-6330/after hours at (858) 868-3200. You can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
LIVESTREAMING UPDATE: For those unable to attend in-person, here are platforms where organizers plan to livestream this event:
- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/indivisiblencsd/
- TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@indivisiblencsd
- Youtube Live - https://www.youtube.com/@IndivisibleNCSanDiego
- Twitch.tv - https://www.twitch.tv/indivisiblencsandiego;
By Miriam Raftery
March 14, 2025 (Escondido) – After weeks of rebuffed requests for Congressman Darrell Issa (R-48)to hold a community townhall to discuss constituents’ concerns, activists have scheduled an “Empty Chair Town Hall” at the California Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, March 23 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The event, hosted by Dr. Allison Gill from the "Mueller, She Wrote" podcast, will provide constituents with the opportunity to voice questions and concerns they would typically address directly to their congressional representative, particularly regarding potential cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and Veterans Services.
Following recommendations outlined in the "Indivisible Guide" (indivisible.org/resource/guide), this Empty Chair Town Hall is part of a nationwide effort encouraged by Indivisible National during the congressional recess from March 13-23.
"When our elected officials refuse to engage with their constituents, democracy suffers," said Pamela Albergo of Indivisible North County San Diego. "Rep. Issa hasn't held a town hall since 2017, but the concerns of his constituents haven't gone away."
San Diego’s four other Congressional members, all Democrats, have not held live town halls in the past year, Times of San Diego recentlyreported. But Issa, the lone local Republican representative, has not held a townhall since 2017. Issa has been a vocal supporter of the Trump administration and has refused pleas from constituents to hold one, despite regular protests outside his Escondido Congressional office since Trump took office.
The event will feature a panel of five to six community leaders, including a veteran advocate, school board member, city council member and other local experts.
Each panelist will be briefly introduced by Dr. Gill, and panelists will take turns answering questions. Attendees are asked to bring their 60-second questions written on paper. Selected questioners will be invited to the front of the room to ask their question, followed by a three-minute response from a panelist.
The venue has 375 seats, which are filling quickly. Community members can register at eventbrite.com/e/darrell-issa-empty-chair-town-hall-presented-by-indivisible-tickets-1274626525249. A waiting list is also being established.
Information about livestream channels will be distributed as the event date approaches.
Members of the media are invited to attend. Rep. Issa's office has been formally invited to the event.
Indivisible North County San Diego is a grassroots organization dedicated to advocating for progressive policies and holding elected officials accountable to their constituents.
East County News Service
Photos by Ken Jacques
March 13, 2025 (Scripps Ranch) -- Scripps Ranch Theatre continues its Season 45 with Mary’s Wedding, written by Stephen Massicotte. Directed by Kate Rose Reynolds, the production runs April 4th - 27th on the campus of Alliant International University. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. There will be a preview performance on Friday, April 4th with a Press Opening on Saturday, April 5th at 7:30 p.m. Patrons can purchase Tickets online at https://scrippsranchtheatre.org/showtickets/ or contact SRT Patron Services at 858-395-0573.
Synopsis: Mary and Charlie meet in a deserted barn and begin a whirlwind romance. But World War I is looming, and the lovers must part as Charlie joins the war effort and Mary is left alone with her dreams. This deeply romantic dream-play is an exquisitely personal examination of the cost of war. The talented cast includes Dennis O’Connor and Lilliana Talwatte.
Director Kate Rose Reynolds shared, “I have had a decade-long love affair with Mary’s Wedding, ever since I was lucky enough to perform in it in upstate New York. The show is a powerful, poignant balancing act - deeply romantic without veering into melodrama, heart-wrenching while still feeling hopeful, highly theatrical without seeming contrived. Even the writing reflects this dichotomous nature; Massicotte transports us with rich, poetic narration, and then grounds us with charming, everyday dialogue.”
She adds, “It’s a rare gem of a play that feels both familiar and entirely fresh and inventive, that can speak to us of love and war (two tales as old as time) and yet leave us in suspense, waiting for the next moment. The dream play structure, with its nonlinear storytelling and charged surreality, deepens the already profound emotional resonances. This highly theatrical framework allows all of the artists involved to shine - it’s a tour de force not just for the actors, but for each member of our incredible design team as well. I am thrilled to invite audience members to dream this dream with us.”
Source: Cal Fire
March 2, 2025 (San Diego) – Cal Fire law enforcement investigators have arrested Ruben Vasquez on multiple felony arson charges following an extensive investigation into two wildland fires that ignited on January 21. The fires, known as the Pala Fire and the Lilac Fire, started 25 minutes apart near Interstate 15 and State Route 76 in the Pala Mesa and Bonsall areas.
Together, they burned nearly 100 acres and prompted evacuations affecting hundreds of residents. Witness reports and investigative efforts led to the identification of Vasquez as a suspect.
On February 28, Cal Fire Law Enforcement Investigators arrested Vasquez for two counts of felony arson, and he was transported to the Vista Detention Facility. The investigation report will be referred to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.
Cal Fire indicates that arson investigations are complex and require thorough evidence collection, scene examination, and witness interviews, which can be time-consuming. Accurate findings are essential for accountability and preventive measures.
Cal Fire extends gratitude to its partners at the San Diego County Sheriff's Office, North County Fire Protection District, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office for their valuable support and assistance during the investigation.
East County News Service
February 20, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) -- Activists from Fallbrook, Escondido, Julian, and Ramona will gather at Congressman Darrell Issa’s office on February 21, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. to demand an in-person town hall meeting. The protest will take place at 210 W. Crest Street, Escondido, California.
The rally, organized by Indivisible North County San Diego, aims to address critical issues facing the community, including the urgent need for transparency and accountability from elected officials. Issa, San Diego County's only Republican Congressional member, has been a staunch supporters of President Donald Trump to date.
Activists will call on Congressman Issa to engage directly with his constituents and to stand firm against the illegal dismantling of federal agencies orchestrated by Elon Musk.
“Congressman Issa has a responsibility to represent the voices of his constituents, and that includes holding town hall meetings where we can express our concerns,” said Pam Albergo, a spokesperson for Indivisible North County San Diego. “We are here to demand that he stands up against the reckless actions that undermine our government and its agencies.”
Participants will share their concerns about the impacts of these actions on federal services and the broader implications for democracy. The protest seeks to unite community members in advocating for a government that works for the people and upholds its responsibilities. All community members are encouraged to join the protest to make their voices heard and stand in solidarity for a government that prioritizes the needs of its citizens.
WHAT: Protest at Congressman Darrell Issa’s Office
WHEN: February 21, 2024, at 10:30 AM
WHERE: 210 W. Crest Street, Escondido, California
East County News Service
File photo by Miriam Raftery
December 10, 2024 (Valley Center) — A bomb threat from an anonymous caller yesterday morning prompted a safety sweep at Harrah’s Resort Southern California on the Rincon tribe’s reservation in Valley Center. Resort staff found a backpack in an unauthorized area.
After clearing that portion of the facility, a joint incident command was established with the Valley Center Sheriff's Substation, Rincon Fire Department, Rincon Gaming Commission, Rincon Tribe, Harrah's Security personnel, Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit and Sheriff's Explosives Detection K-9s.
“The backpack was eventually checked but did not contain anything suspicious,” says Sergeant Brendan Cook with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Valley Center substation.
Sheriff's Explosive Detection K-9s checked the rest of the resort to ensure the safety of guests. The resort was not evacuated. No additional suspicious items were locatedand no injuries were reported during the incident.
If you have any information related to this incident, call the San Diego County Sheriff's Office non-emergency line at (858) 868-3200.
Update 4 p.m.: Evacuations have been listed and forward spread has been stopped.
Update 11 a.m. -- The evacuation center at Castle Creek Golf Course has closed. Evacutees should go to Riverview Church,4980 Sweetgrass Lane in Bonsall.
January 21, 2025 (Bonsall) -- The #LilacFire in Bonsall has burned 80 acres and destroyed two homes, with 10% containment. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered. The fire is burning along Old Highway 395 and North Lilac Rd.
View evacuation areas at the Genaysis mapping site. An evacuation center is at the Castle Creek Golf Course, 8797 Circle R Drive in Escondido 92026. Large animals can be taken to the CRC Ranch at 43101 Anza Rd in Temecula - per San Diego Sheriff's on X.
All schools in Bonsall are closed today due to the fire, according to the Bonsall Unified School District.
A second blaze that started overnight, the Pala Fire, is 100% contained at 17 acres. That fire was located west of I-15 and 2 miles north of Highway 76 in Pala.
Firefighters are making good progress on the fire, Cal Fire posted on X.
Sign up for East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts, which are free via email, at the top right side of our homepage.
You can also follow EastCountyAlert on X.
Update 4 p.m.: Forward spread has been stopped and fixed-wing aircraft dismissed, though helicopters remain on scene.
East County News Service
January 20, 2025 (Poway) – Structures are immediately threatened by a brush fire in Poway. The #TedWilliamsFire is burning along Ted Williams Parkway and Pomerado Road.
Evacuations are being conducted near Glen Oak Road, Watch Duty App reports. Evacuation details: www.AlertSD.org.
The blaze has charred three acres thus far and comes amid a Red Flag Alert due to dry conditions and potential for very high winds.Sign up to receive free East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts via email at the top right side of our homepage. Also follow EastCountyAlert on X.