Dog costume contest and Halloween party Oct. 25 in El Cajon aims to be a treat for pets and their owners
By Miriam Raftery October 8, 2025 (El Cajon) – Last month, several dog owners in El Cajon got together to hold a birthday party for their dogs complete with music, cake, doggie gift bags, games and more. That event proved so much fun that organizers will be hosting a community Halloween party complete with dog costume contest, games and food for people, and a prize for the costume contest winner. The event will be held on October 25 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. “What started as a simple birthday celebration for my dog has grown into a beautiful community event — and it all began with the idea of just celebrating my dog at the dog park,” says Liliana Moses. “As I started planning, I met others at the dog park who also wanted to celebrate their dogs.” The birthday bash wound up drawing 30 to 40 dogs and owners. People pitched in to bring shade canopies, chairs, a photo backdrop, cornhole and other games, an outdoor speaker and more. Next up, the Halloween party and dog costume contest aims to be a howling success, bringing together even more dog lovers and their pets. It’s become such a feel-good community celebration — full of joy, kindness, and love for our pets,” Moses reflects. “In a time when the world often feels heavy, this is a simple, genuine moment of happiness and connection,” she says. Scan the QR code on the flyer at the top of this story to donate to help cover the event’s expenses. Contact LilianaMosesDA@gmail.com for more information, and scroll down to view photos from last month’s community dog birthday celebration.
Crest achieves Firewise USA® recognition, a communitywide commitment to wildfire preparedness
By Diana Griffin October 8, 2025 (Crest) — Every year, devastating wildfires sweep across the United States, threatening homes, landscapes, and lives. As more people live in wildfire-prone areas, communities like Crest are stepping up to reduce risk and strengthen resilience. While wildfires are an unavoidable part of living in fire-adapted regions, there are proven ways to make homes and neighborhoods safer. The Firewise USA® program, led by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), offers communities practical, science-based steps to prepare for wildfire. Supported by CAL FIRE’s Community Wildfire Preparedness & Mitigation Division, the program encourages residents, local fire departments, and organizations to work together to improve defensible space and reduce fire hazards. Simple actions, like clearing dry leaves, pine needles, and downed branches can make a big difference in reducing the spread of wildfire. Community-driven projects such as brush clearing, curbside chipping, and helping neighbors with yard work further strengthen protection for the entire neighborhood. Crest’s Firewise journey began in late 2024, when J. Humphrey and D. Griffin volunteered to lead the community’s initial Firewise recognition effort. Thirty-one homes in Northeast Crest participated in a pilot program that earned official Firewise USA® designation in December 2024. Building on that success, Crest expanded its efforts communitywide, and in October 2025, the entire Crest area achieved Firewise USA® recognition. This achievement reflects the dedication and teamwork of Crest residents who continue to make wildfire safety a shared priority. By staying engaged and taking preventive measures, Crest is helping ensure a safer, more resilient future for all. Benefits of joining a Firewise community: Potential discounts on fire insurance Access to possible grant funding and assistance for yard cleanup and weed abatement Reduced risk to life and property from wildfire Strengthened community connections through shared resources and neighbor support The Firewise USA® program is free and built on grassroots collaboration — neighbors working together to reduce the risk of wildfire damage in their community. It only works when everyone participates. Important note: The Firewise program does not involve home inspections, pass/fail evaluations, or citations. Its purpose is to educate, support, and organize communities around practical steps to reduce wildfire risks. Nothing more. Learn more about the Firewise USA® program at nfpa.org/Firewise.
Brews & Bites event coming to Santee Oct. 18
East County News Service Oct. 8, 2025 (Santee) — There will be plenty of treats — in the form of brews, boos and bites — with no tricks in sight at this month’s Santee Brews & Bites Festival Fundraiser. The annual Brews & Bites Festival Fundraiser, a Halloween-themed night of live music, food and beverage samples for those ages 21 and up, plus opportunity drawings and costume contests, is set for 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 18, at the city of Santee’s Town Center Community Park East. Musical group BETAMAXX, an ultimate 80’s experience, will headline the event. Proceeds from Brews & Bites benefits the Santee Teen Center, senior programs, recreational programming, special events, park improvements and the Recreation Scholarship Program, which assists qualifying Santee residents in participating in city recreation programs. A pirate-themed add-on experience will also be available at the site, and is hosted by Deano’s Pub. Town Center Park is at 550 Park Center Drive in Santee. Parking is available on-site but is limited. Guests are encouraged to walk, bike or use rideshare services. The cost is $59.78 for general admission, $54.45 for military members and seniors ages 55 and better, and $38.50 for those who are designated drivers. The city is offering an add-on reserved table at a cost of $175. For more information, visit SanteeSpecialEvents.com
Chicago ICE raid draws condemnation over tactics including zip-tying naked children and terrorizing residents, even citizens
“It’s illegal. Unconstitutional. It’s dangerous. It’s wrong. This is not about deportation. This is not about safety. This is about authoritarianism. It’s about stoking fear. It’s about breaking the Constitution” – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson By Alexander J. Schorr October 8, 2025 (Chicago) — On Friday morning at 1:00 AM on Chicago‘s South Shore Drive, federal agents in military garb smashed through doors with flash-bangs, dragged residents into streets in zip-ties—including naked children—and left families outside for hours while apartments were trashed. Eyewitnesses say children were zip-tied together, with one agent reportedly laughing and said “F*** them kids,” a witness told ABC. Eyewitness Darrel Ballard told the reporters: “We’re under siege. We’re being invaded by our own military.” This particular raid is considered a significant escalation in federal immigration enforcement tactics under the Trump administration, and has drawn widespread condemnation from civil rights groups, lawmakers, and the Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, who accused agents of violating due process rights. The raid detained all tenants in the building, CNN reports, even U.S. citizens and immigrants who committed no crimes. Public and Legal Fallout Some context: in late January, reports emerged of immigration raids being done in Chicago, which included the targeting of undocumented immigrants. The raids followed an announcement that “border czar” Tom Homan and other Department of Justice officials were in the city to oversee enforcement. Civil Rights groups, including the National Immigrant Justice Center and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Illinois, have challenged the government’s legal basis for the raids. The lawsuit alleges that federal agents made dozens of arrests without probable cause or warrants and detained US citizens. Attorneys argue that the agents did not properly document probable cause for many of the arrests. While DHS claimed that the South Shore was tied to the Tren de Aragua gang, reports indicate that only a few of the arrested individuals have suspected gang ties. Additionally, the use of military-style tactics, such as raids and flash bangs without a clear or sufficient cause, raises constitutional questions about unlawful searches and seizures. Lawyers have also emphasized concerns over agents allegedly carrying blank warrants to fill out on the spot. A federal judge is preparing to rule on the legitimacy and damage of this invasion of ICE agents into the homes of citizens. Cindy Hernandez of the Chicago Sun-Times reported on the raid, noting that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said some of those arrested were “believed to be involved in drug trafficking and distribution, weapons crimes and immigration violators.” According to DHS, it is also said to be a neighborhood to be “a location known to be frequented by Tren de Aragua and their associates.” However, just as Hernandez reported, DHS did not provide any evidence to support its assertions— some of the people detained during the raid were US citizens. Most Americans now disapprove of ICE tactics Overall, the majority of Americans (51%) now think Trump has gone too far in “arresting and deporting immigrants,” a number that increased since April. Fewer (26%) say his approach has been “right,” or even fewer (15%) believe that he hasn’t “gone far enough.” A full 55% of independents think Trump has gone too far. According to the Wall Street Journal, public opinion appears to be turning on Trump and his top White House aide Stephen Miller. Miller, the architect of Trump’s immigration agenda, who in a tense meeting in May at the ICE headquarters, had demanded that officers do “what they needed to do” to make more arrests, including arresting noncriminals in public places. A July Gallup Poll found that fewer Americans supported mass deportations compared to the previous year. Specific ICE tactics, like increased workplace raids, also say a majority disapproval in a June Pew Poll.There has been federal enforcement activity in the Los Angeles area in recent months, which prompted the presence of these vans: In August 2025, ICE arrested about 200 people in a Los Angeles-area operation targeting individuals with criminal histories and others subject to deportation. In June of 2025, there were reports of multiple immigration sweeps across Los Angeles, with some federal agents operating in unmarked cars and street clothes. Lawsuits were filed against the government after a 79-year-old US citizen was reportedly pinned to the ground by ICE agents during a raid at his business in Van Nuys in late September. Right now, three Liberty Vans are rolling in Los Angeles, with a chaplain, lawyer, veteran, and camera crew in tow. This is to document raids in real-time, deescalate situations, and protect families, as well as broadcast to the nation what is happening under the President’s weaponization of ICE against citizens. The vans were launched by the activist group “Save America Movement” to monitor federal immigration enforcement activities. Support for abolishing the ICE agency has increased since 2024, driven largely by Democrats, as well as some gaining support among independents and few Republicans. Widely reported raids, along with the “Abolish ICE” movement” have placed the agency and its actions in the public and subsequently influencing public perception. The growing opposition to ICE is consistent with the broader trends in immigration attitudes over the past decade. In a 2024 report for the Democracy Fund, John Sides, Robert Griffin, and Michael Tesler showed how the public’s perception of immigration enforcement from 2016 to 2024 adapted following the alternating political discourse over the immigration issue during the Trump and Biden presidencies. As politicians and the media shifted from criticizing unpopular Trump-era policies like family separation to expressing concern about the record number of border crossings during the Biden administration, the opinions of average Americans shifted in a similar way. It is no surprise that in recent polling, there is growing support for giving most undocumented immigrants in the United States a pathway to legal status, as well as a rising disapproval of how President Trump is handling deportations. ICE’s popularity is plummeting; most Americans believe that ICE’s actions have “gone too far.” Even while Congress decided to give ICE an additional $75 billion for four years under Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” the only significant piece of legislation that the Trump administration is able to provide, ICE morale has been reported
Law enforcement stands ready to respond to regional emergencies
East County News Service October 8, 2025 (San Diego) — In the wake of recent high-profile incidents across the nation, Sheriff Kelly Martinez and local law enforcement agencies held a press conference yesterday to advise the community that they are prepared and ready to respond to any emergency in San Diego County. Sheriff Martinez was joined by San Diego Law Enforcement Coordination Center (LECC) Director Roy Frank, San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan and the region’s top law enforcement leaders (who are all a part of the San Diego County Chiefs’ and Sheriff Association) for a news conference in Kearny Mesa. To watch video of the news conference in its entirety, click here. At this time, there are no specific threats to San Diego County, said Sheriff Martinez. However, she highlighted the amazing communication and partnership that exists between law enforcement and first responder agencies as a major reason why they are prepared to handle any emergency or threat. “We’re ready to respond as a region. We’re ready to investigate that incident. We’re ready to act quickly to prevent any further damage,” said Sheriff Martinez. “We train religiously in this county together and collaboratively.” LECC Director Frank explained the important role Fusion Centers play in the gathering and sharing of information about potential threats. He said Fusion Centers bring local, state and federal authorities together in one place, which is important during investigations. “Post-9/11, Fusion Centers were developed to assist law enforcement enhance communication, especially when it comes to terrorism and mass casualty threats,” said LECC Director Frank. “There are about 80 Fusion Centers throughout the country. In California, we have six Fusion Centers.” District Attorney Stephan spoke in detail about the positive working relationships between law enforcement and the public. “Even if you don’t hear about it, this group (of local law enforcement agencies) is working with the community, with our schools, with our faith institutions, with our hospitals, every single day to make sure that we are safe in San Diego,” said District Attorney Stephan. The public plays a vital role in keeping San Diego County safe by being vigilant. Sheriff Martinez had a simple message for our communities: If you see something, say something. “I hope the takeaway today is how important it is for the community to help us to identify potential threats, for us to be able to investigate those threats, to prevent the threats in the first place,” said Sheriff Martinez. Report any suspicious activity by calling your local law enforcement agency. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1.