I am an East County Native and the proud mother of a wonderful daughter who currently provides social work for Riverside County’s families. I am the owner of Lemon Grove Media and Communications, a company I developed after I started recording the Lemon Grove City Council meetings for the public on my own, after realizing they were the only City in East County, and possibly the entire county, that was not using their already collected PEG (Public Education in Government) funds to broadcast their meetings online or on a cable cannel. Having a wheelchair bound roommate, I found this unacceptable in this technologically advanced society we live in. I have now been recording for 3 years and the city has still made no progress on the matter, However I will continue to bring the meeting to the people until the day comes when the city decides to take over.
Due to my recordings, I was then approached by East County Magazine to do freelance reporting on the Lemon Grove City Council meetings, which then led to other East County stories as well as just recently I was able to cover some of the Presidential race when President Biden announced he was stepping down from the race and giving his support to now presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
I am also the Social Media Manager for the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce. That really feeds my passion for being a business owner. For 26 years, I have been self-employed, owning a hair salon in El Cajon and perfecting my trade of cosmetology. After 26 years of this profession, I found that my body was starting to feel the effects of being in the trade so long. It was time to find a new path and passion and Lemon Grove Media was born and has been slowly getting me to close one chapter and open another one.
I’m passionate about my community, so I started a Facebook and Instagram pages to showcase the wonderful businesses in Lemon Grove called Lemon Grove Support Local. The success of that page instantly took off with residents and businesses alike posting specials, pictures, sharing experiences and so on, so naturally I started pages to support La Mesa and El Cajon Businesses as well and now those pages are also starting to take off. I look forward to building relationships with East County businesses and help them get their messages out to the community moving forward.
In 2020 I also re-opened the Lemon Grove Women’s Club, called the Lemon Grove Forward Club after the original Club of 1913 was called. We are all inclusive and have men and women ranging in ages from early twenties up to the eighties. We do charitable work specific to our Lemon Grove community with things such as supplying toys to the local Toy Drive, Socks in the winter to Lemon Grove’s unhoused neighbors, school supplies to the Back to School Drive annually, helping support community groups financially such as Lemon Grove Pickleball and the Busy Bee’s Co-op Native pollinator Garden Group.
My goals are to bring positivity to Lemon Grove and foster a thriving business community to bring a strong economy to Lemon Grove. We have so much to offer, so im willing to step up and help raise the vibration here for all to see in East County. I hope more will join me!
About Jessyka Heredia
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
My family is my strength. My Daughter, 26 years old, is my everything. I’m so proud of her giving spirit and dedication to her education and now her career. I’m at the fun part of being a parent. I have a brother and sister who both live here in East County as well as a nieces and nephews and several great nieces and nephews I just adore. My father was a Vietnam Veteran and was stationed here in 1970. Originally from Ohio, my parents fell in love with San Diego and we were blessed to live here my whole life.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
As a hair dresser/ salon owner I was blessed to do what I loved from a young child. I gravitated to styling hair as a toddler, playing with my dolls but also watching my mother do hair as a stylist but also as a wig stylist in a wig factory. I just couldn’t get enough so I perfected my craft in my adult years. After 26 years of twisting bending and reaching, my body started to feel the effects of a physical Job. I’m too young to retire so I’m following another passion with Lemon Grove Media and Communications that might be my best chapter of my career yet. I’m currently running for City Council in Lemon Grove as well. After seeing dysfunction and a lack of vision on Council, I’ve decided to bring an option for real change in Lemon Grove by running in the 2024 election.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Always follow your passions. Never let anyone tell you that you cant or aren’t good enough, because if there is one thing I have learned in my career is that YOU CAN! You absolutely can, and will if you want it bad enough. My father always told me, “If you are going to do something, do it right the first time.” I always keep that in mind when starting anything as well.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
In 5 to 10 years I see myself continuing to work with the business community here in Lemon Grove and East County. I see myself in a role I never imagined possible, helping others just like me, a woman, a business owner, a mom, a sister, a friend, and a neighbor.
Jessyka Heredia & Our Community
Q: What are a few of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Lemon Grove has a very diverse food section, from tacos to sushi to Italian and so much more. Look for us as an up and coming foodie destination. A few of my favorites are El Pollo Grill, Giardino’s, Zest Wine bar, Hinata sushi, Lemon Grove Bistro and Lemon Grove Cafe. But please, don’t just stop there, the list goes on like Chef John’s Fish and Chips, Charlies Burgers and Lido’s Italian Restaurant which are also long time staples that are a must try.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
50 years
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
Lemon Grove is rich in history and the community stays here for generations. One of the first long time residents I met has become a great friend over the years. David Eckler has lived here his whole life and lives in his grandparent’s old home now. He is a painter by trade, he used to teach art classes at the Recreation Center before it closed to the public about 15 years ago. He shares what it was like in the “Old Days” and he will take me to meet his childhood friends that still reside. He believes in what Lemon Grove used to be and what he hopes to see it return to. Eckler, along with neighbor Josh Klein, will go out and cover graffiti, remove trash and talk to homeless about helping in the efforts even. Eckler gets people excited to pick up trash because pride in your neighborhood is what is important. Eckler is always willing to help his neighbors and having lived here so long, I enjoy hearing his experiences, knowledge and perspective.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Lido’s hands down. Lido’s has been there my entire life. I graduated from Helix High School in 1992 and I had countless friends in school who worked at Lido’s as their first job. I still eat there because not only is the food delicious but the food is a tradition in this town. The service is great and the owner is a wonderful participant in the community by donating to several community events in Lemon Grove. Come try the pizza and the ribs, the linguine with clams, spaghetti and meatballs. Its all delicious!
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
The giant lemon by the trolley tracks in our Downtown Village is definitely our most unique thing and I dare any neighboring city to top it!
Q: If you could choose anyone alive today and not a relative, with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would you meet for this lunch?
I would sit with the original families that sued the Lemon Grove School District in the first school De-Segregation case in this country. This part of our history is not talked about enough. To this day, this historical moment has shaped much of the fighting spirit for what is right in this City is still very strong today. The community has continually through the decades stood up and fought for better, for change and for a community for all.
For Fun
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
Court Tv is my guilty pleasure. I’m not much of a TV or Movie watcher, im more of a mover and a shaker.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I grew up on a very small homestead in Spring Valley where we had goats and geese and a miniature pony on Bancroft and Troy Street area. We eventually outgrew that little farm and moved to a 40 acre farm in Alpine off Japatul Valley Road. We added many more goats and began selling our milk to health food stores around the county. We had several horses including mine named Charles Nelson Riley the 3rd, a few cows, chickens, pigs, cats and dogs. I was an animal lover early on and come to find out, milking a goat is just like riding a bike, you never forget!
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
The invention of electricity being used in society is definitely a 10 out of 10. I think about that all the time. Thank you Ben Franklin.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My daughter, I want to always set a good example and strive to be better everyday for her. She deserves the best mom!
Q: What community organizations and/or local nonprofits do you admire/support?
The Lemon Grove Forward Club and the Lemon Grove Lions Club as these 2 groups are doing so many wonderful things that directly impact the lives of all who live in Lemon Grove.
Q: What Neighborhood do you live in?
Lemon Grove
What I love about my Neighborhood:
My Neighbors and all the cool community organizations that fill in where the City can’t.
Please describe your ideal San Diego weekend:
Any beach with my family and my dog, O’Chan that I recently rescued from The San Diego Humane society.
Q: Finally, what three words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Family, safe, happy.
