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Padre Dam’s Ray Stoyer Water Recycling Facility decommissioned after more than a half-century of use
Printer-friendly versionRay Stoyer Water Recycling Facility at Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Santee Lakes Community event makes way for the
Lemon Grove Library hosting Sheriff’s reentry event
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 13, 2026 (Lemon Grove) — The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office Reentry Services Division
News Issues
Padre Dam’s Ray Stoyer Water Recycling Facility decommissioned after more than a half-century of use
Printer-friendly versionRay Stoyer Water Recycling Facility at Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Santee Lakes Community event makes way for the
Lemon Grove Library hosting Sheriff’s reentry event
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 13, 2026 (Lemon Grove) — The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office Reentry Services Division
Politics
Padre Dam’s Ray Stoyer Water Recycling Facility decommissioned after more than a half-century of use
Printer-friendly versionRay Stoyer Water Recycling Facility at Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Santee Lakes Community event makes way for the
Supporters flee Swalwell’s governor campaign amid allegations of sexual assault
Printer-friendly versionBy Jeanne Kuang and Yue Stella Yu, CalMatters This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Photo: U.S. Rep. Eric
Wildfires and Emergencies
Cal State University San Marcos and nearby homes evacuated due to brush fire
East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts April 5, 2026 (San Marcos) – The #MoreeFire in San Marcos has led to evacuations, including the California State…
Help shape fire priorities in San Diego County
East County News Service April 4, 2026 (San Diego County) — With “fire season” now a year-round threat, public input is growing in importance as…
Events & Arts
Lionel’s Legacy hosting sleepover party and more in Lakeside April 18-19
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 14, 2026 (Lakeside) — East County-based senior dog rescue group Lionel’s Legacy is holding
Mountain Empire Art Show Debuts April 15 in Boulevard
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 14, 2026 (Boulevard) — The Backcountry Resource Center in Boulevard will be busy this Wednesday,
Visit East County
DESTINATIONS: Borrego and beyond — a beautiful backcountry day
Printer-friendly versionBy Karen Pearlman, with photos by Karen Pearlman and Miriam Raftery Feb. 22, 2026 (San Diego County) — With
We need your help! We have more news tips for East County issues than our budget can cover
Printer-friendly versionLast year tapped our resources at East County Magazine more than any on record, with so many major news
People
Donate to help pets in need at Alpine Pet Food and Supply Drive April 4
East County News Service March 14, 2026 (Alpine) – Dog and cat food, treats, grooming supplies, new pet toys, feeding
Descanso resident named American Honey Queen
By Miriam Raftery February 18, 2026 (Descanso) — You could call it sweet success. The American Beekeeping Federation has chosen
Communities
Lionel’s Legacy hosting sleepover party and more in Lakeside April 18-19
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 14, 2026 (Lakeside) — East County-based senior dog rescue group Lionel’s Legacy is holding
Mountain Empire Art Show Debuts April 15 in Boulevard
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 14, 2026 (Boulevard) — The Backcountry Resource Center in Boulevard will be busy this Wednesday,
Features
Lionel’s Legacy hosting sleepover party and more in Lakeside April 18-19
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 14, 2026 (Lakeside) — East County-based senior dog rescue group Lionel’s Legacy is holding
Mountain Empire Art Show Debuts April 15 in Boulevard
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 14, 2026 (Boulevard) — The Backcountry Resource Center in Boulevard will be busy this Wednesday,
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SWINE FLU STRAIN IN SAN DIEGO MATCHES DEADLY VIRUS IN MEXICO; ANTI-VIRAL MEDICINES COMBAT DISEASE IF TREATED EARLY
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery ECM intern Marissa Kerizan also contributed to this story. April 25, 2009 (San Diego)—The Center for Disease Control has found that swine flu virus strains in San Diego match samples of a virus that has killed 81 people and sickened over 1,300 in Mexico. In Mexico City, where the majority of cases occurred, all
HOLLINGSWORTH OPPOSES BILLS TO RESTRICT SALE OF TOBACCO NEAR SCHOOLS & ADD RENEWAL FEE FOR TOBACCO LICENSES; SENATOR TOOK HEFTY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM TOBACCO INDUSTRY
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery April 24, 2009 (Sacramento) California State Senate Leader Dennis Hollingsworth (R-Murietta), whose district includes San Diego’s East County, has issued a statement opposing three bills aimed at restricting sale of tobacco to minors. The three measures, SB 601, 602 and 603, passed the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee on a party-line vote. Holilngsworth took $39,500 in
SMALL BRUSH FIRE CONTAINED IN SAN MARCOS
Printer-friendly version (Capt. Nick Schuler, Cal-Fire) April 19, 2009 (San Marcos)—A small brush fire was contained shortly after it broke out around 1 p.m. near the 3000 block of North Twin Oaks Valley Road, CAL FIRE reports. “Due to the quick response of firefighters, no structures were damaged of destroyed,” said CAL-FIRE Captain Nick Schuler. “The fire was burning in
CONGRESSMAN FILNER JOINS LOCAL OFFICIALS TO OPPOSE RELEASE OF CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER TO OTAY MESA
Printer-friendly version ( Manuel Paul, San Ysidro School District Superintendent; Clarissa Falcon, District Director for State Senator Denise Ducheny; Rachel Solorzano, Congressman Bob Filner, Representative from Assembly Member Mary Salas’ Office; Yolanda Hernandez, San Ysidro School Board Member; Hector Espinoza, San Ysidro High School Principal; Jesus Gandara, Sweetwater School District Superintendent; Ralph Dimarucut from Assembly Member Mary Salas’ Office; Anastasia
HOT TOPIC: VIEJAS HOSTS WILDFIRE FIGHTING DRILLS FOR 60 FIRE PROTECTION AGENCIES
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery April 23, 2009 (Viejas Indian Reservation)—Preparing for fire season, fire engine crews from more than 60 fire protection agencies donned full safety gear and participated in structure protection drills, wildland hose lays, pumping evolutions and other exercises. Aerial resources, including helicopters, practiced coordinated fire attacks with ground crews under simulated fire conditions. The eighth annual event
HELIX WATER DISTRICT PROPOSES HEFTY WATER RATE INCREASE
Printer-friendly versionNew rates start metering May 1, Public Hearing May 27 By Kristin Hobbs Kjaero and Rachel Ford Hutman The Proposal (Rachel Ford Hutman) April 21, 2009 (La Mesa) – If you are one of the 260,000 residents in the Helix Water District, you may soon be paying a minimum increase of 20% more for your water—and for some heavy
BUNGLED BURGLARY: THREE ARRESTED IN LA MESA
Printer-friendly versionApril 23, 2009 (La Mesa)– La Mesa Police received a 911 call at 1:32 p.m. on April 22 from a witness who told dispatchers that a man and two women were breaking into a home in the 7900 block of Pasadena Ave. Officers arrived and detained two female suspects in the driveway of the victim’s residence. The witness told
STUDENTS GO ALL OUT FOR FREE COYOTE MUSIC FESTIVAL , HOPE FOR A HOWLING SUCCESS
Printer-friendly versionApril 23, 2009 (El Cajon, CA) – The bands are ready to play. The stage is set up and the equipment is in place. Thousands of flyers and postcards have been distributed, and hundreds of posters have been put up San Diego City and in East County. For the students in Cuyamaca College’s Music Industry Studies program, the efforts
SAN DIEGO’S CARBON FOOTPRINT IS BIGGER THAN LA’S: LOCAL POLICIES TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE ARE LAGGING, CPI REPORT FINDS
Printer-friendly versionApril 22, 2009 (San Diego)–The carbon footprint of the average San Diegan–including residential energy use and transportation–is larger than that of the average resident of Los Angeles, a review of available data shows. San Diego also lags behind LA in policies and programs to reduce energy use, according to Climate Change Performance and Policy: San Diego versus Los Angeles,
FILNER INTRODUCES BILL FOR FEDS TO PAY COSTS OF EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AT BORDER ENTRIES
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery April 18, 2009 (San Diego)—Congressman Bob Filner (R-San Diego) has introduced the “Save Our Border Communities Act, H.R. 670. The bill would require the federal government to reimburse costs for local police, firefighters and other first responders to provide services associated with U.S. ports of entry on the international border. “The federal government has not reimbursed
CREATIONIST BILLBOARD, CABLE SKI PARK, & BIKE PLAN TO BE CONSIDERED BY SANTEE COUNCIL WED. OCT. 28
Printer-friendly version October 27, 2009 (Santee) – Santee City Council will hold public hearings on Wednesday Oct. 28 for three hot topics. First, Council will hear public testimony on a cable ski park and restaurant at Santee Lakes, proposed by Padre Dam Municipal Water District. Second, Council will weigh whether to issue a conditional use permit for a freeway-oriented sign
WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL TEAM TO CHALLENGE CUYAMACA COLLEGE ATHLETES IN FAST-PACED ACTION EVENT WED. OCT. 27
Printer-friendly version October 26, 2009 ( El Cajon)–The annual wheelchair basketball game–where the sound of squeaking rubber isn’t from the soles of players’ shoes, but from custom-built chairs pivoting and spinning across the gym floor–is set for 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28 at the Cuyamaca College gym. The five-on-five games feature a mix of Cuyamaca’s basketball team
MUSIC IS THE BEST MEDICINE: GROSSMONT/SHARP HOSPITAL PHYSICIANS SAVORED “HAPPINESS COMMITTEE” MUSICAL EVENING
Printer-friendly version A review by Bill Pogue October 27, 2009 (La Mesa)–Grossmont Hospital Chief of Staff Michael Musicant M.D. recognized that the pace and structure of the medical practice today is stressful and tends to isolation of practitioners, compared to 30 years ago. So he set up a “Happiness committee” dedicated to getting staff together around social projects. Six
CITIZENS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ISSUES REPORT ON HOSPITAL BOND EXPENDITURES
Printer-friendly version October 27, 2009 (La Mesa)–A volunteer citizens group that is overseeing how the taxpayer-supported Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) is spending millions of dollars in voter-approved bonds for construction projects at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa has issued a special mid-year report on construction progress, including the recent completion of the hospital’s Emergency and Critical Care Center (ECCC)
ARMED ROBBERY AT LA MESA HALLMARK STORE
Printer-friendly version October 22, 2009 (La Mesa) An armed man robbed the Susie’s Hallmark store at 5648 Lake Murray Blvd., La Mesa on October 22 at approximately 1:58 p.m. The man shopped in the store for several minutes, waiting for all customers to leave. Once all the customers were gone, the suspect displayed a k handgun to the store clerks and
PRESIDENT OBAMA SIGNS EMERGENCY DECLARATION OVER H1N1 FLU PANDEMIC
Printer-friendly version October 25, 2009 (Washington D.C.) –In an effort to proactively address the ongoing pandemic, President Barack Obama has signed a National Emergency Declaration on H1N1, which allows healthcare systems to quickly implement disaster plans should they become overwhelmed. This declaration gives authority for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to waive certain regulatory requirements for
SDG&E TO TEST INNOVATIVE WATER-SUSPENDED SOLAR POWER TECHNOLOGY
Printer-friendly version Increased Efficiencies, Reduced Costs Expected SAN DIEGO, Oct. 23, 2009 – San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) today announced it has joined with Pyron Solar of San Diego to test an advanced concentrated solar-power system that floats in a shallow pool of water and is expected to generate electricity at higher efficiencies and lower costs than conventional flat-panel
MORTGAGE SCAMS ON THE RISE, DUMANIS SAYS AT RANCHO SAN DIEGO-JAMUL CHAMBER EVENT
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery October 24, 2009 (El Cajon) – “The biggest thing we’re seeing now is mortgage loan fraud and real estate fraud,” San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis said at Cuyamaca College during a breakfast hosted by the Rancho San Diego-Jamul Chamber of Commerce. “One scam had 400 victims.” The D.A. discussed loan scams and other
WATER SMART GARDENING FESTIVAL NOV. 14: MORE BEAUTY WITH LESS WATER
Printer-friendly version Attendees eligible to win a free Home Landscape Re-design–$700 value! (RANCHO SAN DIEGO, CA)—Fall is here–San Diego’s second planting season. The Water Conservation Garden celebrates with an exposition of drought tolerant landscaping on Saturday, November 14, 2009, 9am-3pm, at the Water Smart Gardening Festival. Admission and parking are free. Plant vendors will offer a variety of drought
VACCINES ARRIVE FOR H1N1 FLU, CLINICS OPEN THIS WEEKEND
Printer-friendly version Pregnant women, children, healthcare workers and infants’ caregivers urged to get vaccinated October 24, 2009 (San Diego) – A new shipment of 102,000 doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine arrived in San Diego on Friday. Seven public health clinics will be open extended hours over the weekend from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to vaccinate high-risk individuals. The
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