San Diego, CA
Community events in San Diego County: From Children’s Book Party to Jobapalooza festival
CARLSBAD
Earth Day Plant Sale
The Carlsbad Garden Club will host a plant sale at Plaza Paseo Real, 6965 El Camino Real, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 26 in the upper courtyard next to LaCosta Coffee Roasting. The sale includes potted flowers, succulents and many other plant varieties. Proceeds support Carlsbad schools’ garden programs and student scholarships.
Genealogists put on free seminar
The North San Diego Genealogical Society will put on its annual Spring Seminar from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. April 26 virtually via Zoom. Society members will present “Cornucopia: My Favorite Research Journeys” case studies illustrating a variety of research problems. Admission is fee. The registration deadline is April 23 at nsdcgs.org.
Flower Fields at peak bloom
The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch are in peak bloom with 55 acres of giant tecolote ranunculuses. There are a number of attractions including an exhibit by artist Alex Heveri, “Glass in Flight.” The exhibit includes more than three dozen glass and steel sculptures of butterflies, dragonflies and insects. The exhibit inspired this year’s theme at The Flower Fields, “Where Color Takes Flight.” Tickets must be purchased online in advance and are $27; $25 for seniors, $17 for children 3-10 and free for kids younger than 3. Visit theflowerfields.com.
Local genealogy buffs gather
The North San Diego County Genealogical Society will meet from 10 to 11:30 a.m. April 22 at City of Carlsbad Faraday Center, 1635 Faraday Center. The speaker, Lisa Medina, will give a presentation on “Your Personal Tour: Creating a Locality Guide.” Admission is free; no registration required. To attend via Zoom, visit nsdcgs.org.
Rep. Levin to speak at Democratic Club
The Democratic Club of Carlsbad and Oceanside meets from 9 to 11 a.m. April 26 at 2375 Camino Vida Roble, Suite A. The speaker will be U.S. Rep. Mike Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano, who will give a “National State of Affairs Update.” RSVP at 951-970-0372. Visit demcco.org.
Community Easter celebration at Flower Fields
The annual Flower Fields Easter Sunrise Service is at 6:30 a.m. April 20 amid the blooming ranunculuses at The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch, 5704 Paseo del Norte. There will be live music, singing, an Easter message of hope and renewal along with breakfast, while supplies last. The celebration is hosted by The Fields Church. Visit thefieldschurch.org/easter.
CHULA VISTA
Prescription Drug Take Back Day
The 28th semiannual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 26 at the John Lippitt Public Works Center, 1800 Maxwell Road, hosted by the Chula Vista Office of Sustainability, Chula Vista Police Department and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The free event is open to all, and participants can drop off unwanted, unused or expired prescription drugs for safe disposal. Prescription pills (including for pets) and patches are acceptable for disposal. Needles and liquids will not be accepted. No reservations are required, and disposals are anonymous. Visit chulavistaca.gov.
EL CAJON
Olaf Wieghorst Day
The Olaf Wieghorst Museum will put on a celebration of “Olaf Wieghorst Day” from 3 to 6 p.m. April 30 to mark the Danish American artist’s birthday in 1899 and the grand opening of the museum showing his works in 2000. The event will be at the museum, 131 Rea Ave. Refreshments will be served. Admission is free. Visit wieghorstmuseum.org/event/olaf-wieghorst-day.
ESCONDIDO
Del Dios community pancake breakfast
The Community of Del Dios will hold a pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. April 27 at the Del Dios Community Center (the Old Firehouse), 20155 Elm Lane, on the shores of Lake Hodges. The event features an “all you can eat” breakfast with pancakes, eggs, sausage, kielbasa, ham, homemade beans, homemade salsa, orange juice, fruit salad and coffee or tea. Cost is $10; $4 for children younger than 12. The Community of Del Dios has been serving a twice-a-year breakfast for more than 40 years. Visitors can see the “Hodgee Monster” sculpture. Proceeds support local Del Dios/Mount Israel fire prevention, ecological preservation, community center maintenance and restoration of the community’s 1935 fire engine.
Assistance League Open House
The Assistance League Inland North County holds a May Day Open House fundraiser from 4 to 7 p.m. May 1 at 2068 E. Valley Parkway. Highlights include a thrift shop tour, light refreshments, an overview of philanthropic programs and raffles along with a silent auction. Visit assistanceleague.org/inland-north-county.
Library holds book sale
The Friends of the Escondido Library bookstore is holding its monthly half-price sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 25-26 at the library, 239 S. Kalmia St. All items in the store will be 50% off (25-cent minimum), including a wide variety of fiction, nonfiction, collectors books, and DVDs and CDs along with an extensive children’s section. Call 760-839-4832. Visit library.escondido.org.
JULIAN
Wildflower Show at clubhouse
The Julian Woman’s Club will host the 99th annual Wildflower Show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 2-3 in the Woman’s Clubhouse, 2607 C St. The show features wildflowers from seven regions in and around Julian. Various flowering species that grow in the area will be displayed along with artwork from local students. There will be handcrafted items for sale, including a quilt made by club members to be raffled off in the opportunity drawing. Admission is free. Donations are appreciated. Proceeds go to the club’s scholarship fund and the community. Visit julianwomansclub.org.
Celebration of 250th anniversary American Revolution
A Revolution in the Orchard event to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the battles of Lexington and Concord, which marked the start of the American War of Independence, will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 26-27 at Julian Farm and Orchard, 4381 Julian Highway. Volunteer historians and re-enactors will share living history of the American War of Independence (1775-1783) through battle re-enactments with muskets and cannons. The family-friendly event features dozens of historical interpreters representing soldiers and civilians of the American Revolution, giving demonstrations of daily and military life. Meet Gen. George Washington and other historical figures. Join the Colonial militia and learn how to march with the Colonial militia. Local merchants and 18th-century re-enacters will sell goods and crafts along with food. Cost is $10 per person over the age of 3. Tickets are on-site and at julianfarmandorchard.com/revolution-in-the-orchard.
Volunteers sought to clear trails
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park’s trails maintenance volunteer unit is looking for volunteers to help with trail maintenance in Cuyamaca. The group clears trails of brush and fallen tree branches and works on grading on over 80 miles of park trails. Work party days are four hours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Contact the volunteer coordinator at cmcurtis@pacbell.net or 858-278-3280.
LA JOLLA
Concours d’Elegance car show
The La Jolla Concours d’Elegance runs April 25-27 featuring culinary creations from 20 of San Diego’s top restaurants and a display of more than 120 classic cars. Friday’s VIP Opening Soirée, “Beyond the Barn: A Gilded Journey to Restoration,” is from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. April 25 on the Concours lawn at Ellen Browning Scripps Park, 1100 Coast Blvd. The La Jolla Concours Tour d’Elegance from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the Porsches & Power on Prospect event from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. April 26 are free for spectators. Sunday’s grand event at The La Jolla Concours d’Elegance is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. General admission tickets are $119; VIP are $429 (and increase on April 20). Visit lajollaconcours.com.
LAKE HODGES
Earth Day cleanup
A Lake Hodges community cleanup is from 9:30 to 11 a.m. April 27. Meet at Lake Hodges Visitor Center Parking Lot, 20102 Lake Drive. Join volunteers cleaning up litter and debris around the lake, hiking trails and public areas, and participate in discussions on sustainability and protecting the environment. Reusable gloves, trash bags, grabber tools, hand sanitizer, sunscreen and water will be provided. Visit secure.givelively.org/event/friends-of-lake-hodges/earth-day-with-friends-of-lake-hodges.
LAKESIDE
Western Day Parade
The 60th annual Western Day Parade takes off at 9:35 a.m. April 26 from Woodside Avenue and heads to Maine Avenue with marching bands, floats, decorated vehicles, classic cars and other participants. The parade will honor hometown heroes. Visit lakesidechamber.org/western-days-parade.
Library holds book sale
The Lakeside Friends of the Library Bookstore will be having a Buy One, Get One Free sale on books and puzzles April 21-26 at 12428 Woodside Ave. Hours are from 11 to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. Proceeds support library programs.
Reading of ‘Letters From an American’
A reading of Heather Cox Richardson’s “Letters From an American” is at 3 p.m. Wednesdays at the Lakeside branch of the San Diego County Library, 12428 Woodside Ave. The reading is done in the context of the U.S. Constitution and is free and open to the public. Email questions to bkindbstrong@gmail.com.
LA MESA
Courtesy California Note Catchers
The California Note Catchers, a nonprofit women’s a cappella chorus, holds rehearsals every Monday. (California Note Catchers)
Chorus marks 30th anniversary
The California Note Catchers, a nonprofit women’s a cappella chorus that sings four-part harmony, marks its 30th anniversary this year. The chorus was started by a group of women in East County and Chula Vista in 1995 and performs throughout the San Diego area at community venues, retirement homes, hospital rehab facilities and service club events. The chorus recently held Harmony Awareness Week. As part of the community event, the group invited women of all ages to join its Monday night rehearsal at the La Mesa First United Methodist Church. The mission of the chorus, which is under the umbrella of Harmony Inc., is to preserve the uniquely American style of music that the chorus calls barbershop, by “nurturing it and teaching it to current and future generations.” The chorus motto is “Come for the singing and stay for the friendship.” Rehearsals are every Monday. The chorus will perform a Spring Sing concert at 3 p.m. May 18 at Liberty Hall Theatre in Paradise Village, 2700 E. Fourth St., National City. Donations are accepted at the door. Visit californianotecatchers.com.
Taste of La Mesa Village
The La Mesa Village Association will put on its first Taste of La Mesa Village from 5 to 8 p.m. April 24 in downtown La Mesa along La Mesa Boulevard. Ticket holders can enjoy tastings from a variety of local restaurants offering signature dishes along with sip stops serving local craft beer, wines and other drinks. A “Passport” voucher will guide visitors. Advance tickets are $45, including food, alcoholic drinks and nonalcoholic beverages, or $35, including food and nonalcoholic beverages. Event day tickets are an additional $10. Tickets are at tasteoflamesavillage.com.
Parkinson’s Support Group meets
The East County Parkinson’s Support Group meets from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. April 23 at the United Church of Christ of La Mesa, 5940 Kelton Ave. The event is aimed at people with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners, friends and family. There will be educational information and fun activities. For questions, email altamura13@myyhoo.com.
Earth Day Fair
An Earth Dair Fair featuring eco-friendly vendors, a kids zone, a bounce house and activities to learn how to care for the planet will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 19 at MacArthur Park, 4900 Memorial Drive. Bring your bicycles. The festival will feature bicycle activities and helmet giveaways along with a fix-it clinic. Admission is free. Visit cityoflamesa.us/Calendar.aspx?EID=8411.
LEMON GROVE
Arbor and Earth Day resource fair
A community resource fair to celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day is from 9 a.m. to noon April 26 at Treganza Heritage Park, 3200 Main St. There will be music, information booths with resources about health, fitness and protecting the environment, a kids zone and fitness classes along with food for sale. Admission is free. Visit lemongrove.ca.gov/parks-events.
OCEANSIDE
Asian and Pacific Islander festival
The Southern California Asian and Pacific Islander festival is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 26 at the Oceanside Civic Center Plaza and Pier View Way. The free community event celebrates the heritage of more than 20 Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander cultures through traditional and contemporary performances led by local artists. Highlights include art exhibits, hands-on cultural activities, a health and wellness area, a martial arts arena and live mural painting along with food. Visit apifestival.com.
Earth Day Community event
A family-friendly neighborhood cleanup is from 9 a.m. to noon April 26 at Alamosa Park as part of the annual Creek to Bay Cleanup. Join the Oceanside Green Team for the volunteer event that includes educational booths, music, kids activities and games. Visit ci.oceanside.ca.us/government/water-utilities/environmental-services-programs/green-oceanside/earth-month.
Learning is for Everyone group meets
The Learning is for Everyone group, aka LIFE, at MiraCosta College meets at 1 p.m. April 25 in Building 1000’s Conference Room at MiraCosta’s Oceanside Campus, 1 Barnard Drive. A presentation on the Surfrider Foundation at 1 p.m. will be led by Janis Selby Jones. At 2:30 p.m., Lyford Rome, NASA solar system ambassador, will discuss, “The Hubble Anniversary.” Admission is free. Visit miracosta.edu/life.
Art museum features community exhibit
The nonprofit Oceanside Museum of Art opens an exhibit April 26 on “Tsikuris” or God’s Eyes, “sacred spiritual objects crafted from brightly colored yarn, symbolizing protection and spiritual connection.” The works were created during community workshops for all ages at the museum. Each Tsikuri tells a story, with layers of color representing the years of life. The art is rooted in the traditions of the Huichol people. The exhibit, curated by Natalie Gonzalez, runs through Sept. 21. Visit oma-online.org.
Surf museum holds book launch
The California Surf Museum holds a book launch at 6:30 p.m. April 23 for “Surfer Stories: 12 Untold Stories by 12 Writers” about 12 of the world’s greatest surfers by Claudia Lebenthal. Doors open at 6 p.m. General admission is $10; $5 for California Surf Museum members. Pre-purchase a book ($40) at 760-721-6876 and get free admission.
Retired teachers meet April 29
The local California Retired Teachers, Division 45 is having a general meeting at 10:30 a.m. April 29 at the Broken Yolk Cafe, 2434 Vista Way. The speaker is Linda Nelson, who will discuss the Stewart Indian School in Nevada. Reservations are due by April 24 at calrtalunchreserve@gmail.com or 760-729-6185.
POINT LOMA
Chorale sings Brahms’ Requiem
The San Diego Master Chorale presents Brahms’ Requiem, a choral work of solace and reflection, at 4 p.m. April 26-27 at Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church, 2128 Chatsworth Blvd. The concert will be conducted by music director John K. Russell. Tickets are $30, $25 for seniors and military, $15 for students and free for children under age 12 at sdmasterchorale.org/brahms-requiem.
Parkinson’s Support Group meets
The Point Loma Parkinson’s Support Group will hold its monthly meeting from 10 a.m. to noon April 22 at Point Loma Cafe, 4865 N. Harbor Drive, to “Meet, Greet and Eat.” There will be a no-host brunch and open discussion group for people with Parkinson’s and care partners. Reserve at doloresviolacohenour@gmail.com.
POWAY
Interfaith gathering for peace
The Poway Interfaith Team hosts a Gathering for Prayers and Peace from 3 to 5 p.m. May 4 at St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church, 16275 Pomerado Road. The theme is “The Essence of Prayer: Insights Through Interfaith.” The event celebrates the practices of diverse faith traditions and brings the community together to focus on peace. Representatives from spiritual traditions such as Baha’i, Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu, Islam, Judaism, New Thought and Sikh will speak about how prayer is used in their tradition, what is the expectation of the one praying, to whom they pray and for what do they pray. Each faith leader will offer a prayer for peace, both inner peace and peace in the world. A collective prayer will be read at the end of the gathering. For questions, email myingalls@yahoo.com.
RAMONA
Earth Day Festival
The fourth annual Ramona Earth Day Festival is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 26 at Regent Ranch, 18528 Highland Valley Road, hosted by Sustainable Ramona. Highlights include exhibitors and speakers, entertainment, including bands and folklorico dancers, children’s activities and food trucks. Visit sustainableramona.com.
RANCHO BERNARDO
Taste of Oasis
The San Diego Oasis, a nonprofit that provides educational and fitness programs for older adults, will hold its free Taste of Oasis from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 25 at San Diego Oasis, 17170 Bernardo Center Drive. The event includes fitness demonstrations and instructor presentations for lifelong learning programs and other classes along with free food and opportunity drawings. No registration. Visit san-diego.oasisnet.org.
Aviara Trio to give concert
The Aviara Trio will perform a free concert at 6 p.m. April 22 in the Rancho Bernardo Library’s second-floor community room, 17110 Bernardo Center Drive. The concert will feature violinist Rob Schumitzky, cellist Erin Breene and pianist Ines Irawati. Schumitzky will perform on the “Ex-Halir” Stradivarius violin made in 1694. The program will include works by Piazzolla, Brahms and Turina. The concert is part of the Friends of the Rancho Bernardo Library’s 24th annual Chamber Concert series. Donations are appreciated. Visit friendsoftherblibrary.org.
Drive-thru collection of baby supplies
Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church will hold a drive-thru collection of supplies for infants and toddlers from 9 to 11 a.m. April 26 at 17010 Pomerado Road. Items needed include diapers of all sizes (except newborn), wipes, shampoo, baby towels and wash cloths, pajamas, baby blankets and crib sheets, baby powder, bottles, formula, baby food and crackers. Donations will be given to families served by Supporting the Enlisted Project (STEP), Interfaith Community Services, San Diego Rescue Mission and New Day Urban Ministries. Visit rbcommunity.org.
SAN DIEGO
Children’s Book Party
The 41st annual communitywide Children’s Book Party is from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. April 26 at the Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. The free event, hosted by read4thefuture, was started by Roosevelt Brown in 1984 and features free new books for children along with entertainment and refreshments. The emcee is Jamarr Brown. The goal is to foster a love of reading and help children build their own home library. For questions, call 619-266-4188.
Donut Run benefits Down syndrome community
GiGi’s Playhouse San Diego, a Down syndrome achievement center, will host its annual Donut Run 5K from 8 a.m. to noon April 27 at Crown Point Shores North, 700 Corona Oriente Road. The event helps GiGi’s Playhouse continue its mission of providing free educational, therapeutic and career programs for community members with Down syndrome of all ages. Cost is $55; $45 for children ages 2-17; free for kids age 2 and younger; $21 for anyone with Down syndrome. Register at gigisplayhouse.org/sandiego/san-diego-donut-run.
Midway Museum holds Vietnam War commemoration
The USS Midway Museum will hold a commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Operation Frequent Wind and the Fall of Saigon from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 27 at the USS Midway Museum, 910 N. Harbor Drive. The event will be a tribute honoring the courage of those involved in this historic Vietnam mission. The livestream of the event will be on the USS Midway Museum’s Facebook page. Visit midway.org.
Bonsai show in Balboa Park
The 60th annual Fall Bonsai Show and Sale of the San Diego Bonsai Club will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 26 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 27 in Room 101 of Balboa Park’s Casa del Prado Building. The free event features more than 50 unique bonsai of various sizes and species along with bonsai demonstrations. There will be a table sale featuring hundreds of trees, pots and other bonsai items. Visit sandiegobonsaiclub.com.
Multi-Cultural Earth Day
WorldBeat Cultural Center hosts its 33rd annual Multi-Cultural Earth Day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 20 at 2100 Park Blvd., in Balboa Park, with the theme of “Together As One.” Highlights include live music, environmental education, and multicultural performances, guest speakers and wellness activities. There will be a seed swap, compost workshop, garden tours, plant sale and children’s arts and crafts. Free RSVP at worldbeatcenter.org/event/33rd-annual-multi-cultural-earth-day.
Arc of San Diego Gala supports people with disabilities
The Arc of San Diego Gala kicks off at 5:30 p.m. May 3 at Coasterra, 880 Harbor Island Drive. This year’s gala, themed “The Greatest Place on Earth,” includes a cocktail reception, followed by dinner at 7 p.m., live entertainment and dancing. Live music will be provided by Wayne Foster Entertainment. The Master of Ceremonies is KUSI News meteorologist Mark Mathis. Attendees are encouraged to dress in white-tie optional, circus-inspired attire. Proceeds benefit children and adults with disabilities. Tickets are $300 at arc-sd.com/gala.
Jobapalooza hiring fest at Belmont Park
Belmont Park, a beachfront amusement park in Mission Beach, holds its fourth annual Jobapalooza hiring festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 25. The park-wide hiring event will connect job seekers with a range of local employers across industries such as hospitality, service, ride operations and more. Job seekers are encouraged to bring résumés, IDs and references, and participate in on-the-spot interviews. New to this year’s event, professional headshots will be offered to attendees. The San Diego Unified School District will partner with Urban Life to host an interview preparation and résumé-writing workshop. Visit belmontpark.com.
San Diego Book Crawl
The San Diego Public Library hosts a Book Crawl from April 26-28 at the Library Shop SD and other participating San Diego independent bookstores. Dave Eggers, the 2025 San Diego Book Crawl author ambassador, will sign books at the Library Shop SD from noon to 1 p.m. April 26. Participants can make a purchase of at least $10 at one of the participating stores to receive a Book Crawl Passport and first stamp and then receive additional stamps for each purchase of $10 or more at other bookstores. The more stamps you earn, the more prizes. Visit libraryfoundationsd.org/events/san-diego-book-crawl.
Volunteers sought to fill food bags
Sports4Kids hosts a community Hungry Hearts Fill A Bag volunteer event from 10 to 11:30 a.m. April 26 at Perkins Elementary School, 1770 Main St. Volunteers are needed to pack 250 food bags for families in need in the Perkins Elementary community. Visit sports4.org.
Woodworkers group runs classes
The nonprofit San Diego Fine Woodworkers Association will give introductory woodworking classes for ages 18 and older at 5360 Eastgate Mall. Participants will learn the basics and create a wooden cutting board and step stool in five, four-hour sessions. Class fee of $500 includes supplies, instruction and machine use. The upcoming session is from 8 a.m. to noon April 29 to May 7. Visit sdfwa.org/intro-classes.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY
Annual Creek to Bay Cleanup
The annual Creek to Bay Cleanup is from 9 a.m. to noon April 26 at beaches, parks and other locations across San Diego County. The effort is expected to include over 5,000 volunteers at more than 100 sites from Julian to the coast as part of the county’s Earth Week cleanup. Volunteers help remove litter from their communities. Register at cleansd.org/environmental-action/countywide-cleanups/creek-to-bay.
SANTEE
We Walk for Hope 5k supports drug recovery
The nonprofit Garrett Webber Memorial Scholarship Fund will hold its annual We Walk for Hope 5k at 9 a.m. May 3 at Santee Lakes, 9310 Fanita Parkway. The fund helps people suffering from substance addiction to begin treatment that they otherwise couldn’t afford and gives their families hope. The fund was started to honor Garrett Webber, a San Diegan who died at age 22 from a drug overdose. The 3.1-mile walk, which started in 2018 in partnership with Genesis Recovery, raises awareness of the national opioid epidemic and raises money for treatment to help people kick drugs and recover from drug addiction. The event is open to people of all fitness levels. Street parking is free, but parking within lake property is $7 per car. Refreshments will be served after the walk, and a disc jockey will play music for a community gathering. Registration is $45 for both in-person and virtual walkers. Visit garrettwebbermemorialscholarshipfund.com/get-involved.
SPRING VALLEY
Thrift sale benefits food pantry
Santa Sophia St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry will hold a thrift sale to benefit the pantry from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 10 in the hall behind Santa Sophia Catholic Church, 9800 San Juan St. There will be new and used items for sale, including clothing, home goods, linens, glassware, jewelry, toys, knick-knacks and furniture. Clothing in the main hall will be $1. There will also be a vintage/collectibles section and a boutique along with a room full of record albums and more than 1,000 CD/DVDs. Visit santasophia.org/st-vincent-de-paul-pantry.
VISTA
Earth Day Craft Fair
The Gloria McClellan Senior Center is hosting an Earth Day Craft Fair from 1 to 4 p.m. April 22 to promote sustainable shopping with local vendors. The fair is in the center’s Azalea Room, 1400 Vale Terrace Drive. Free admission to shoppers. Visit GMACvista.com.
Cactus buffs hold meeting
The Palomar Cactus and Succulent Society will host Craig Kolodge from San Pasqual Valley Soils to speak about developing healthy soil for cactus and succulents. The free meeting starts at 11:30 a.m. April 26 at Grace Presbyterian Church, 1450 E. Vista Way, in the Fellowship Room. Also, the group’s Festival Plant Show & Sale is from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 24 at the church. Visit palomarcactus.org.
Garden club puts on flower show
The Vista Garden Club puts on its Flower Show, Plant Sale and Garden Art Boutique, themed “Flower Power – Baby” from 2 to 5 p.m. May 3 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 4 at the Jim Porter Recreation Center, Brengle Terrace Park, 1200 Vale Terrace Drive. The show is free and open to the public. Visit californiagardenclubs.com/vistagardenclub or email vistagardenclub@gmail.com.
For more San Diego-area Earth Day events, visit sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/11/how-to-celebrate-earth-day-in-san-diego-county-here-are-more-than-20-ways/
If your nonprofit would like to submit an event listing or photos of events that have happened recently, please email linda.mcintosh@sduniontribune.com. Include the name of the group, date and time of event, address, cost and contact information for readers within the email text. Event listings should be submitted at least two weeks in advance. Photos should be sent as JPEGs. Include the names of those in the photos from left to right along with the photo credit and permission from the photographer to use the photo in The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Originally Published:
San Diego, CA
As shelter requests fail, San Diego leaders weigh changing who gets a bed
For years, asking for shelter in the city of San Diego has often been a first-come, first-serve process.
Everyone deserves a safe place to sleep, the thinking goes, so anyone living outside should have a shot.
But as the region’s overwhelmed shelter system continues to reject staggering numbers of requests, some leaders are considering overhauling that approach by creating a priority list based on vulnerability.
“Do we need to look at how we prioritize differently?” Lisa Jones, president and CEO of the San Diego Housing Commission, asked during a board meeting in December. “Maybe we have to look at our most vulnerable that are on our streets and think about it from that perspective.”
Local city-funded shelters have long been at or near capacity, with the pressure becoming particularly intense in recent months.
In November, San Diego received 2,442 requests for a bed, according to Casey Snell, a senior vice president at the housing commission. Only 199 of those led to someone getting a spot. That’s a success rate of around 8%.
The main reasons most requests failed were familiar ones: There just weren’t spots available.
The bigger picture is not much better. Since July, people have asked for shelter 12,275 times. A little more than 1,200 succeeded, meaning about 9 out of every 10 requests failed. “What happens with credibility and effectiveness when people repeatedly get a negative answer?” Housing Commissioner Ryan Clumpner asked during the same meeting. “Do they keep requesting, or do people, the more times they hear ‘no,’ begin becoming more resistant?”
Some residents are certainly asking more than once. November’s 2,442 beds requests were collectively made by 868 separate households, officials said. That’s an average of about 3 asks per individual.
‘It makes sense to me’
The idea of trying to rank those requests appears to have at least some supporters within both the service world and the homeless population.
Bob McElroy, CEO of the nonprofit Alpha Project, said in an interview that using vulnerability lists would be a return to how shelters operated decades ago. “I’ve been irritated all these years when they turned away from it,” he noted. Disabled residents, older adults, those who’ve been outside the longest — McElroy believes it’s only fair to give them first dibs.
That’s roughly the process already in place at Father Joe’s Villages, at least when it comes to beds relying on private, not government, funding. The stricter criteria applies to hundreds of spots in the nonprofit’s family, sober-living and recuperative care programs.
“We look at, for instance, is a person pregnant?” said Deacon Jim Vargas, Father Joe’s president and CEO. “If they have very small children, or if they’ve given birth recently, they’re considered more vulnerable.”
Gustavo Prado, a 52-year-old who’s been homeless for the last two years, agreed with the general concept. “It makes sense to me,” he said while standing on a downtown San Diego sidewalk.
Prado added that he’d been unable to get into a local shelter program. Speaking a few days before Christmas, he was trying to plan for the coming rain. “I gotta get a tarp or something.”
Shelters do sometimes focus on specific populations. There’s a program downtown, for example, for women and children, and another for young adults. But guidelines known as the Continuum of Care Community Standards, which help dictate who’s allowed in, don’t have prioritization criteria.
In response to a request for comment about changing the status quo, city spokesperson Matt Hoffman wrote in an email that “staff are always open to evaluating new tools to better serve those in need.”
Leaders will likely discuss the possibility of creating a priority list at another public meeting before a specific proposal is drawn up.
More requests
One factor potentially driving the surge in demand is San Diego’s decision to expand encampment sweeps.
In July, the city signed an agreement with the California Department of Transportation, or Caltrans, to get access to land that would normally be under state jurisdiction. Since then, many areas near freeways have been cleared of tents and dozens of individuals did receive some form of shelter. A few even made it into a permanent housing.
Yet they appear to be in the minority.
Housing commission officials have so far declined to blame the Caltrans agreement for the increase in requests, saying mainly that they’ll continue studying this trend. They did, however, note a few other factors at play.
For one, the city may be getting better at fielding requests for shelter. On the same day local crews got access to Caltrans property, San Diego opened a homelessness resource center in the downtown library. That office, known as The Hub, coordinates with the help line 211 to make it easier for people to ask for aid. “It’s actually streamlining our referral process, which is another reason you see a big jump,” added Snell, the vice president.
In addition, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office continues to roll out a phone app that lets outreach workers look for shelter beds in the same way a tourist might search for hotel rooms. While it used to take hours to determine whether facilities had any openings, officials have said this program can flag vacancies within minutes.
San Diego, CA
11 from Point Loma High get All-CIF sports honors
Eleven members of Point Loma High School sports are among the All-CIF honorees announced recently in the San Diego Section, including a Coach of the Year.
Here are the Pointers selected:
Football
First team
Romeo Carter, wide receiver, senior
Mateo Correa, linebacker, senior
Second team
Brandon Bartocci, defensive line, senior
Owen Ice, defensive back, senior
Teams are based on a vote of media members and the Coaches Advisory Committee.
Girls cross country
Coach of the Year
Keith DeLong
DeLong guided Point Loma’s girls team to its best finish in school history this past season, placing second at the CIF Division III State Championships after winning the San Diego Section Division III title.
First team
Isabella Ramos, senior
Second team
Kelly McIntire, junior
Nicole Witt, senior
Sara Geiszler, senior
Teams are based on finishes at the San Diego Section championships.
Boys cross country
Second team
Ethan Levine, senior
Teams are based on finishes at the San Diego Section championships.
Girls tennis
First team
Noel Allen, senior
Teams are chosen based on finishes in the San Diego Section individual championships.
— The San Diego Union-Tribune contributed to this report.
San Diego, CA
From AI-Powered Fraudsters to Broken Treaties: Top 10 Stories of 2025
2025 gave us no lack of news to cover.
Some of the battles were familiar to San Diegans, such as the city’s struggle to get people out of homelessness. Others were new, such as the rapid influx of AI-powered bots used to for community college financial aid fraud.
But not all of it was bad. Two of this year’s top posts highlighted successful methods for how outreach workers are getting more people housed.
We asked our reporters to break down the top 10 posts of 2025, why they matter and what they’re looking forward to in the year ahead.
Editor’s note: Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
By Jakob McWhinney
What’s this story about? When the pandemic forced schools online, few systems embraced the shift more than community colleges. Their students are often older, working people, so having more opportunities to earn credits online was a welcome change.
But there was a catch.
As online classes became more prevalent, so did community college financial aid fraud. The scam is fairly simple. Fraudsters would use stolen identities to create a network of fake students, or bots. They use these bots to register for classes and attempt to stick around long enough to receive financial aid payouts for each of their fraudulent accounts. Community colleges are uniquely at risk because they don’t charge application fees.
The scam has been around for years, but the rise of online classes and AI platforms that allow fraudsters to easily create classwork to submit has supercharged the practice. As bots have flooded classes, community colleges have struggled to respond.
In 2024, fraudsters stole more than $10 million in aid. In that same year, one of every four California community college applicants was a fraudster. The bots have also crowded out real students trying to register for classes. For the piece I spoke with one Southwestern College professor who found that of 104 students registered in her online classes, only 19 were real people.
Where do you see this story going in 2026? As I reported in follow-up pieces, community college officials have had to rapidly evolve how they fight this fraud, because fraudsters themselves are rapidly evolving. As part of that fight, AI has become an increasingly important weapon in community colleges’ arsenals.
The tech-enabled arms race will likely only heat up, as fraudsters and watchdogs try to out-smart each other with new and more sophisticated AI strategies. For example, colleges have begun to require in-person appointments or video calls to verify identities, which has given rise to scammers using AI platforms to create fake videos.
The Trump administration will also likely continue to lean into the chaos. Officials this month touted their efforts to crack down on the scam, claiming they’d prevented fraudsters from absconding with more than $1 billion in financial aid.
Read the story here.
Enrollment Decline Can’t Be Explained Away by Shift to Private Schools, Homeschooling

By Jakob McWhinney
What’s this story about? Enrollment at San Diego County’s public schools has been dropping for years – and it doesn’t show any signs of stopping. Over the past decade, local schools have lost about 27,000 students. That’s an about 5 percent decline in enrollment countywide.
State officials think the declines will speed up in coming years. If their projections pan out, between 2014 and 2044 the county will lose about 115,000 students. That would mean the number of kids in local public schools would drop by the population of Del Mar, Solana Beach, Coronado, Lemon Grove and Poway combined.
For schools, the declines are frightening because they will lead to funding cuts, which will in turn lead to a whole lot of layoffs and closed schools. But what’s even more worrisome is why this is happening – declining birth rates and high costs chasing families elsewhere mean our region just has fewer kids.
And what happens to societies that shrink? Not great things!
Why did you pursue this story? This story started as a sort of fact check. One of the primary reactions I got to the first in a series of stories I wrote about this topic was that enrollment was declining because parents no longer trusted public schools and were opting to homeschool their children or send them to private schools. That’s just not true. The reason behind declining enrollment is much more simple – San Diego County has fewer kids.
Read the story here.
An Experiment to Clear a Homeless Camp in North County Seems to Be Working

By Tigist Layne
What was this story about? For this story, I checked in on a joint effort by Oceanside and Carlsbad officials to move hundreds of unsheltered homeless people from encampments into stable and long-term housing. The two cities had received a state grant to move every person camped along state Route 78 and the Buena Vista Creek into housing, and the state gave them three years and $11.4 million to do it.
I visited the first major encampment area where the cities’ homeless outreach teams, along with several nonprofit organizations, were set up, and I watched as homeless people and families were moved into housing one by one. So far, the ambitious plan had been very successful, and people were accepting help and services at a much higher rate than city officials had expected.
Where do you see the story going in 2026? In 2026, I’m planning to check in on the program again to see if city officials are still having as much success with it as they were in the beginning. I’m interested to see if they have had to adjust their methodology as they continue through different encampments. I also want to dig into the most recent data from this program; the state grant came with strict reporting requirements, and I’m curious to see if both cities have adhered to that, and what they’re learning from these reports. And finally, depending on how the program has progressed, I want to understand if this is a strategy that can be duplicated by other cities moving forward.
Read the story here.
The Faster, Cheaper Way Homeless People Are Getting Housed

By Tessa Balc
What is this story about? This story is about a strategy that the Regional Task Force on Homelessness credited as part of the reason why more people exited homelessness than became homeless in November and December 2024. That was the first time in nearly three years that this had happened. Rather than functioning as a systematic program, diversion is a strategy designed to be inherently flexible in helping solve the problems that contribute to an individual’s homelessness.
Where do you see this going in 2026? While the early results of funding diversion strategies were extremely promising, the number of people becoming homeless is once again higher than the number of people becoming housed. But as Lisa Halverstadt recently wrote, this gap is becoming narrower, and those working to find solutions to homelessness are still crediting diversion.
In a world of increasing economic uncertainty, with many San Diegans living on the financial edge, we’ll need creative solutions to combat homelessness. Diversion is interesting because it’s an evolving strategy that looks different for everyone who encounters it, much like the circumstances that lead people into homelessness; they don’t all follow the same path. A main function of the strategy is targeting people who aren’t homeless yet but are on the brink. It’s more cost-effective to provide someone with assistance for car repairs so they don’t have to miss work — and, in turn, miss a rent payment — than it is to provide a bed in a shelter.
Solutions like these, when funded robustly, could reduce the inflow of people into the homelessness services network and begin chipping away at the population of people who have been homeless but still retain access to some personal resources.
Read the story here.
In 2025, San Diego Can’t Look Away from the Screaming

By Scott Lewis
Why did you write this? It was my New Year’s essay. It was about the homelessness crisis and, in particular, the people we see every day having breakdowns in public. It was a call to action for city and county leaders to meet the moment with creativity, leadership and urgency.
Where do you see this story going in 2026? Rereading it, I’m struck by how much has changed in a year. The mayor had proclaimed that we were entering an “era of austerity” for the city of San Diego and he was going to fix the structural budget deficit. Since then, city residents have absorbed a long menu of new fees or fee increases but the deficit remains. However, visible street homelessness has significantly improved. And even the ratio of how many people are seeking homeless services compared to how many are finding housing has flipped to the positive side. In part because of our reporting there are now more detox beds available. It used to be like winning the lottery to get one of those beds.
However, one thing that has also changed is that there are now hundreds more people in jail than would have been last year because of harsher penalties imposed by voters on theft and drug offenses. This has surely had an impact as well. Part of the reason things may seem like they’ve improved in the streets is that we have moved the screams to the jails. Now the sheriff has asked for $3 billion to improve jail facilities and county employee unions are seeking a sales tax increase. These discussions will be a big part of San Diego public affairs in 2026.
Read the story here.
Encinitas Councilmember Luke Shaffer Charged with Felony Assault, Two Misdemeanors

By Tigist Layne
What was this story about? This story was about criminal charges that the District Attorney’s office filed against a sitting elected official in Encinitas, who is fresh into his term. Encinitas Councilmember Luke Shaffer was charged with felony assault and two misdemeanors of hit-and-run driving and willful omission to perform duty, which basically means that a public official knowingly failed to do something they were legally required to do as part of their job.
The charges stemmed from a July confrontation over trash bins between Shaffer and resident Declan Caulfield. Shaffer moved Caulfield’s trash bins to clear space to park his truck. Caulfield moved the bins back, insisting that’s where the bins needed to be. Shaffer then got into his truck and allegedly reversed into the bins and Caulfield’s outstretched palms.
Since we first published this story, a judge reduced Shaffer’s felony assault charge to a misdemeanor and dismissed the willful omission to perform duty misdemeanor. Later, another judge suspended Shaffer’s case with the contingency that he completes anger management and community service hours.
Why did you decide to pursue this story? I pursued this story because, initially, these were serious charges being brought against an elected official. It was shocking to see that a sitting councilmember was being charged with felony assault because of an incident involving a resident. I believed Shaffer’s constituents and residents in Encinitas deserved to know what was happening with a public official that they elected.
Read the story here.
City’s Housing Agency Won’t Issue Vouchers for New Housing Projects

By Lisa Halverstadt
What’s this story about? The San Diego Housing Commission, the city’s housing agency, made the tough call that it needed to stop doling out new vouchers that have been crucial to helping the city dramatically increase housing options for formerly homeless people and others with very low incomes. These vouchers — known as project-based vouchers — are attached to specific projects to subsidize rents for years to come, helping developers make projects pencil out financially that wouldn’t otherwise and allowing them to serve more people with very low incomes.
The housing agency said its decision was forced by insufficient federal dollars to cover existing commitments and uncertainty about future resources. Officials don’t expect the situation to change for years to come.
Where do you see this story going in 2026? The Housing Commission’s decision will likely have reverberations on the city’s ability to help deliver affordable housing projects for people with the lowest incomes in 2026 and beyond — and slow the development of new subsidized homes for formerly homeless people.
The Housing Commission’s decision also foreshadowed more tough calls that will affect low-income families with housing vouchers in late 2026. The Housing Commission recently approved rent increases for thousands of families with Section 8 vouchers to help address a budget shortfall that it said would otherwise force the agency to halt housing aid for some families.
Read the story here.
Mexico Said River Border Wall Broke Treaties. The US Built it Anyway.

By MacKenzie Elmer
What’s this story about? The story is about how the United States has broken multiple treaties with Mexico by building a piece of border wall through the polluted Tijuana River. Voice of San Diego sued the federal government after they refused to produce public records in a timely matter, which revealed this information. The International Boundary and Water Commission, which is supposed to act as a negotiating body with Mexico on border water issues, was the only federal agency standing in the way of Homeland Security from completing their project. They greenlighted the project despite pleading from Mexico to stall it. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also raised alarm over the project, which studies they generated showed could cause deadly flooding in Tijuana.
Why did you pursue this story? I pursued this story because it was clear that this project could cost lives. But it was also clear that U.S. Homeland Security was dead-set on building the project regardless. It remains to be seen what the true impact of the border wall across the river will be. If Mexico fails to keep the border wall clean of trash, or if the United States fails to open the wall before a flood, the wall could devastate communities on both sides of the border. Time will tell.
Read the story here.
San Diego Is on the Hook for Monthly $77,000 Payments of Shuttered Senior Shelter

By Lisa Halverstadt
What’s this story about? A downtown hotel that the city once turned into a dedicated shelter for homeless seniors was sitting vacant after the city quietly shuttered the program early last year – and the city was set to pay $77,000 in rent for months until its lease with the owner ended. The city said it closed the 34-room shelter at a time when homelessness among vulnerable seniors was spiking because needed building repairs made the program unsustainable.
The move unsurprisingly upset nonprofit operator Serving Seniors and advocates for homeless seniors who argued the non-congregate shelter was a successful model that should have continued – whether at the hotel on Pacific Highway or elsewhere.
Why did you pursue this story? A reader noticed that the downtown hotel that was once clearly occupied looked to be empty and wondered what was going on. I started asking questions and found that the city had closed the shelter – and was set to keep making rent payments despite the building issue it said forced the closure. Writing about all of this was a no-brainer.
A little post script: A city spokesperson confirmed the city ultimately did make rent payments until the lease ended in June. Though there were some conversations with the landlord, spokesperson Matt Hoffman said the city’s lease required it to make renovations after homeless residents moved out.
The city and its housing agency do still fund some non-congregate beds that are reserved for seniors. They report that there are 18 beds in nine apartment units for seniors at Veterans Village of San Diego and that there are plans to set aside a yet-to-be-determined number of beds for senior women at Catholic Charities’ Rachel’s Promise shelter in mid-2026.
Read the story here.
New Safe Parking Site Frees City to Push Campers Out of Mission Bay

By Mariana Martínez Barba
What’s this story about? Residents in Mission Bay were frustrated at a growing number of people living in their recreational vehicles in the area. But because of the opening of H Barracks, a safe parking lot nearby, police could start ticketing campers again.
The city wasn’t able to do that before because of a 2024 legal settlement that said camping citations can only be issued if people have access to a safe alternative. The opening of H barracks allowed police to come back in and start handing out citations.
But folks living out of their vehicle said getting to the safe parking lot came with its own hurdles. Some of them can’t afford the gas to move their car in and out of the lot everyday, as it is only open from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m.
While the city saw this as the only option and needed to continue enforcement, the people living in their RVs found it difficult to just pick up their things and go.
Why did you pursue this story? I pursued this story because it speaks to a tension point where the city is attempting to balance two needs. Mission Bay residents are frustrated at the campers and the settlement allowed the cops to start ticketing. At the same time, people living in their RVs said that the alternative is not feasible for them. In fact, it adds another burden when they’re already pressed for cash.
I think this story also speaks to what works for unhoused people and what doesn’t. While I found some people I talked to were struggling financially to move their cars, other more high-end RVs just liked being in the area. But with those people struggling, I learned that not every solution the city provides is one-size-fits-all. While safe parking lots can be an option for some, they don’t work for everyone.
Read the story here.
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