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Hearing May 15 on proposed release of sexually violent predator Gary Snavely in Borrego Springs: public comments sought
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 11, 2026 (Borrego Springs) – The San Diego Superior Court has ordered the conditional release
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
News Issues
Hearing May 15 on proposed release of sexually violent predator Gary Snavely in Borrego Springs: public comments sought
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 11, 2026 (Borrego Springs) – The San Diego Superior Court has ordered the conditional release
Attacked by AI-cyberbots: Please help us fund critical security upgrades
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery April 10, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) – Our East County Magazine website is being attacked
Politics
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
Latest No Kings rallies draw 70,000 in San Diego County, 8 million nationwide
70,000 San Diego County residents join 8 million nationwide in No Kings demonstrations, the largest ever U.S. protest By Miriam Raftery March 31, 2026 (San…
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
Cheers to the Valley Wine Festival April 18 in Ramona
East County News Service April 5, 2026 (Ramona) – The Ramona Chamber of Commerce is inviting the public to savor the 2026 Cheers to the…
Destination East County: Festive events in mid-April and May 2026
By Miriam Raftery April 5, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) – As April continues, drifting into the merry month of May, there are many unique…
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
Hearing May 15 on proposed release of sexually violent predator Gary Snavely in Borrego Springs: public comments sought
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 11, 2026 (Borrego Springs) – The San Diego Superior Court has ordered the conditional release
San Diego County has free parking perks for seniors
Printer-friendly versionSan Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson holds up his senior parking pass at Mt. Woodson Gateway County Preserve in
Features
San Diego County has free parking perks for seniors
Printer-friendly versionSan Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson holds up his senior parking pass at Mt. Woodson Gateway County Preserve in
Don’t miss Santa Ysabel and Wynola on your way to visit Julian
Printer-friendly versionTiny mountain towns often overlooked by travelers in East County’s back country By Paul Levikow Photos by Miriam Raftery
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SPORT CLIPS RAISES $2,500 FOR ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION
Printer-friendly versionJune 23, 2009 (Santee) – Terry Klinker, owner of the Sport Clips store in Santee, donned the company’s “Sporty” mascot suit and joined with other members of the haircut store’s team to participate in the 2009 Arthritis Walk last Saturday. The retail chain raised more than $2,500 through the walk as well as through a “Cut-a-Thon” held at its
“HOW GREEN IS MY SAN DIEGO” PROGRAM SET JUNE 30
Printer-friendly versionJune 22, 2009 (San Diego) –The League of Women Voters will host a luncheon program titled “How Green is My San Diego” with Tom Blair and Stephen Grealy from the City Environmental Systems and Waste Reduction Departments and Carolyn Chase from the Sierra Club in San Diego on June 30th. Speakers will address what San Diego is doing to
LA MESA TO CONSIDER HELPING NON-CITY GROUPS FUND FIREWORKS & OTHER CAUSES TO BENEFIT AREA RESIDENTS
Printer-friendly versionJune 21, 2009 (La Mesa) –On Tuesday, June 23, at 3 p.m. La Mesa’s City Council will hold a joint special meeting with the La Mesa Community Redevelopment Agency and La Mesa Public Financing Authority. Staff will present a recommendation urging Council to approve the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 budgets. Council will also consider a possible rule change regarding travel
OH NO , TAINTED COOKIE DOUGH! FDA WARNS CONSUMERS NOT TO EAT NESTLE TOLLHOUSE DOUGH CONTAMINATED BY E-COLI
Printer-friendly versionNestle Voluntarily Recalls all Varieties of Prepackaged, Refrigerated Toll House Cookie Dough June 19, 2009 (Washington D.C.)–The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are warning consumers not to eat any varieties of prepackaged Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough due to the risk of contamination with E. coli O157:H7 (a bacterium that
FILNER SECURES FUNDING FOR CRITICAL COMMUNITY PROJECTS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY
Printer-friendly versionJune 20, 2009 (Washington, DC) – Congressman Bob Filner announces that he has secured significant funding for critical community projects within California’s 51st District through the bi-partisan Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill as follows: • $1.2 million for the Regional Communications System Upgrade through the County of San Diego, which will also benefit Imperial County • $200,000 for
LOCAL WRITER SLEUTHS OUT PROOF THAT FINGERPRINT EVIDENCE CAN BE WRONG, SKEWED BY EXAMINERS’ BIAS
Printer-friendly versionEast County Magazine editor Miriam Raftery interviewed journalist/author Sue Russell, an East County resident whose latest article exposes evidence that fingerprint analysis is not infallible as we’ve always thought and may be wrong in as many as 1,000 cases a year in the U.S., according to one estimate. Russell’s article, BIAS AND THE BIG FINGERPRINT DUST-UP, documents how unintentional
SHERIFF CONDUCTS ANTI-GANG SWEEP IN FALLBROOK
Printer-friendly versionThe North County Regional Gang Task Force, in conjunction with the Sheriff’s Fallbrook Substation, conducted an anti-gang enforcement operation in Fallbrook on Saturday night, June 13th. The operation focused on all gang members residing in the jurisdiction of the Fallbrook command. Deputies conducted directed patrol, gang compliance checks, and probation and parole searches on gang members. The operation lasted
LA MILPA ORGANICA FARM OPEN HOUSE & POTLUCK MOVIE NIGHT: SAT. JUNE 20
Printer-friendly versionJune 19, 2009 (Escondido) – La Milpa Organica Farm invites the public to join in a potluck that also features freshly-made wood-fired pizzas and a family-friendly film showing outdoors beneath oak trees after dark. The event will be held at 9928 Protea Gardens Road, Escondido from 3 to 10 p.m. Guests are asked to “bring something tasty to share”;
HELIX WATER DISTRICT TO IMPOSE LEVEL 2 WATER RESTRICTIONS JULY 1: OUTDOOR WATERING RESTRICTED TO 3 DAYS A WEEK–EXCEPT FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH WATER-EFFICIENT IRRIGATION SYSTEMS
Printer-friendly versionBy Kate Breece HWD Public Affairs Editor’s Note: Due to a family emergency I was unable to cover this important hearing. Thanks to Kate Breece at Helix Water District for providing this summary of the Board’s decision. La Mesa, CA – Thursday, June 18, 2009 – Due to water the allocation cutback of 8% from the San Diego County
BUDGET AXE FALLS ON POWAY DAYS PARADE—UNLESS CITIZENS CAN SAVE IT
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery June 18, 2009 (Poway)—Poway Councilmembers voted Tuesday to stave off cuts in public safety services and avoid lay-offs, but opted to cancel the Poway Days Parade and reduce park hours to make ends meet amid state budget cuts. The parade has been a 44-year tradition in the community. Council adopted a $33.2 million general fund budget
FIRE AUTHORITIES MOP UP TWO SMALL BRUSH FIRES IN POWAY & LAKESIDE
Printer-friendly version August 6, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)1:45 p.m. – Two brush fires in Lakeside and Poway have been quickly contained. In Poway, a vegetation fire started at approximately noon today next to 15281 Hilltop Circle. “With assistance of the San Diego Fire Department, helicopters and us, we were qable to keep it at three acres,” Poway Fire
IDENTITY THEFT ALERT- YOU MAY BE AT RISK
Printer-friendly version By Peter Tworoger Identity theft can be devastating. The costs associated with identity theft have surpassed that of the drug trade. According to USA Today, the number of victims is expected to increase 20 fold over the next few years. Identity theft is not just about credit cards. The five types of identity theft are: DRIVERS LICENSE
SAN DIEGO SELECTED AS TARGET MARKET FOR LARGEST TRANSPORTATION ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT IN U.S. HISTORY
Printer-friendly version U.S. Department of Energy Chooses ECOtality’s eTec to Implement Project: 1,000 Electric Cars to be Tested in San Diego County August 5, 2009 (San Diego) – San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) and Electric Transportation Engineering Corporation (eTec) today announced that eTec, a leader in development of advanced transportation and energy systems, has been
SEMPRA ENERGY REPORTS SECOND-QUARTER 2009 RESULTS’ SDG&E EARNINGS RISE 15%
Printer-friendly version SAN DIEGO, August 4, 2009 – Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE) has reported second quarter 2009 earnings of $198 million, or $0.80 per diluted share, compared with second-quarter 2008 earnings of $244 million, or $0.98 per diluted share. Sempra Energy reaffirmed its previously announced 2009 earnings-per share guidance range of $4.35 to $4.60. Second-quarter 2009 results included an asset
BORREGO SPRINGS NAMED INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY COMMUNITY—ONE OF ONLY TWO WORLDWIDE
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery August 4, 2009 (Borrego Springs) — On Friday, July 31, Borrego Springs was designated by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) as only the second official International Dark Sky Community on earth—and the first in California. “It’s taken us nearly two years to make this happen, and we’re all pretty excited about this achievement,” said
IT’S IN THE HOLE! GOLF TOURNAMENT TEES OFF OCT. 16 AT COTTONWOOD
Printer-friendly version August 2, 2009 (El Cajon) –Looking for some fun in the sun? Rancho San Diego-Jamul Chamber of Commerce invites community members to take their best shots with local business members in the “It’s in the Hole Golf Tourmanent” Friday October 16. The event will be held at the brand new Lakes Course at Cottonwood Golf Course in Rancho San Diego.
$1.6 MILLION IN ANNUAL PERMANENT FUNDING ANNOUNCED TO ENCOURAGE DOCTORS TO SERVE IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES
Printer-friendly version San Diego’s Diamond Neighborhood Family Health Care Center will benefit from Thompson Program August 2, 2009 (San Diego) – Assemblymembers Mary Salas (D-San Diego) and Hector De La Torre (D-Los Angeles) announce permanent funding of $1.6 million annually to the Steven M. Thompson Program, which encourages doctors statewide to serve in low-income rural and urban communities .
GROSSMONT COLLEGE STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT NAMED TO CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES’ BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Printer-friendly version Student leader tasked with keeping state board attuned August 1 2009 (El Cajon) – Marc Valenzuela, Grossmont College’s new student body president, has a busy year ahead–including his latest appointment as a student liaison to the California Community Colleges’ Board of Governors. Valenzuela, who also represents the nine community colleges in San Diego and Imperial counties
BURNING ISSUE: ECM EDITOR SPEAKS ON SDG&E SHUT-OFF PROPOSAL IN TV, RADIO SHOWS
Printer-friendly version July 31, 2009 (San Diego) – Hosts of two radio programs and a TV show today interviewed East County Magazine editor Miriam Raftery on some of the hottest topics in town– including a fiery East County issue: SDG&E’s proposal to shut-off power during fire-prone weather. Audio, video and transcripts from KPBS and KCBQ are available below. (cartoon reprinted with
VIEJAS CASINO NAMED “BEST CASINO” 10 YEARS IN A ROW; ALSO TAKES TOP HONORS FOR DINING & ENTERTAINMENT
Printer-friendly version August 1, 2009 (San Diego) – Viejas Casino (http://www.viejas.com) has been named the “Best Casino” for the tenth year in a row. Viejas also picked up awards for “Best Casino Dining,” “Best Live Music Venue” (for Concerts-in-the-Park), “Best Steakhouse” (for The Grove Steakhouse), “Best Dance Club/Entertainment” (for the DreamCatcher Lounge). The highly-coveted honors were announced today as part
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