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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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Momentum Tutoring hosts Youth Business Fair at Santee Lakes Aug. 16
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service August 12, 2025 (Santee) – Momentum Tutoring (www.momentumtutoring.org) invites the community to the Santee Youth Business Fair at Santee Lakes, a dynamic one-day marketplace where young entrepreneurs will showcase their creativity, hustle, and heart. The event takes place on Saturday, August 16, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Lake #2, Santee Lakes Recreation
Lemon Grove is now accepting applications to fill vacancy left by Councilman Faiai’s death
Printer-friendly versionApplications accepted now through through Sept. 4; forum for applicants Aug. 13 By Karen Pearlman Aug. 12, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – Lemon Grove is actively seeking applicants to fill the vacant City Council seat of Sitivi “Steve” Faiai, who passed away on July 8. Faiai, who was elected in 2024, had just begun his political career when he died
Trump orders fedoral takeover of Washington D.C. police
Printer-friendly versionNational Guard to also be deployed in nation’s capital city By Miriam Raftery August 11, 2025 (Washington D.C.) – President Donald Trump has issued an executive order to put Washington D.C.’s police force under federal control, claiming a need to reduce crime, CNN reports. However, according to a Newsweek report, violent crime in Washington D.C. was the lowest in
70 and strong as ever at Sharp Grossmont Hospital
Printer-friendly versionSHARP Grossmont Hospital employees stand atop the helicopter pad atop its Emergency Room on Aug. 11 as part of a celebration of the hospital’s 70 years of service to the community. Photo courtesy SHARP Grossmont Hospital By Karen Pearlman Aug. 11, 2025 (La Mesa) — Grossmont Hospital just hit 70 years, but the venerable facility is looking sharper than
Spring Valley woman facing animal cruelty charges
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Services Aug. 10, 2025 (Spring Valley) — San Diego County Department of Animal Services has taken custody of a Chihuahua and is pursuing animal cruelty charges against a Spring Valley woman after a disturbing video surfaced which appeared to show a dog being struck with a wooden plank, then covered with a container and kicked. On
Santee gets a new brush fire engine
Printer-friendly versionBy Mike Allen Photo: Members of Santee Fire Dept, SD Regional Fire Foundation and the SD River Conservancy with new brush rig funded through the city along with grants from the two nonprofits. August 11, 2025 (Santee)– The city of Santee has another key tool in its goal of protecting the city from wildfires, a new brush fire engine. City
Fire devastates condo in Lakeside
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Photo by Shiloh Ireland August 10, 2025 (Lakeside) – A fire on August 7 heavily damaged a unit in a condominium on Mapleview Street in Lakeside. Crews from Lakeside Fire and San Miguel Fire departments responded to the blaze. Since the residence is located less than two miles from a fire station,
City of La Mesa launches redesigned website with new .gov domain
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service August 9, 2025 (La Mesa) — The City of La Mesa announces the official launch of its redesigned website, which is now live at www.cityoflamesa.gov. While the site may look different, it retains all the same tools, features, and functionality residents and businesses have come to rely on, according to a press release from the
La Mesans celebrate canceled plans for battery storage facility
Printer-friendly versionBy Drew Sitton, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego online news association Photo: Plans for a proposed battery storage facility at 8135 El Paso St. have been set aside. Photo by Amy Reichert. August 9, 2025 (La Mesa) – In her meetings with La Mesa’s city manager, Councilmember Laura Lothian asked about the proposed 18-megawatt battery storage facility
Measles exposure at Rady Children’s Hospital and Scripps Clinic
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service August 8, 2025 (San Diego) — County public health officials have confirmed the first case of measles in the region this year in a teenage resident who had recently traveled overseas. Anyone who visited Rady Children’s Hospital’s emergency room or the Scripps Clinic Torrey Pines Urgent Care on August 6 or 7, County epidemiologists are
CONTROLLED BURNS WED. & THURS. OVER EAST COUNTY’S RURAL AREAS
Printer-friendly versionJune 2, 2009 (Boulevard)–If you see smoke, don’t panic! CAL-FIRE has announced plans for a 100-acre controlled burn east of Boulevard near McCain Valley on Wednesday and Thursday, June 3 and 4, East County Magazine has learned. Smoke will be visible over most of East County, said CAL-FIRE Captain Nick Schuler. The controlled burns are part of CAL-FIRE’s program
EAST COUNTY CHAMBER REPORTS DEFEAT OF “JOB KILLER” BILLS; COALITION OF POWERLINK OPPONENTS TAKE ISSUE WITH CHAMBER OVER GREEN ENERGY MEASURE & POWERLINK STANCE
Printer-friendly versionJune 4, 2009 — The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce reports victory in helping to defeat several bills it describes as “business UN-friendly bills." But a coalition opposed to Sunrise Powerlink has taken the Chamber to task for its opposition to one measure which supporters say would, in fact, create jobs in renewable energy production locally. The
MORE KUDOS FOR CAL-PASS: RESEARCH AWARD LAUDS CONNECTION OF K-16 EDUCATORS
Printer-friendly versionJune 1, 2009 (El Cajon) – The awards keep rolling in for California Partnership for Achieving Student Success (Cal-PASS), the data-sharing resource that had its genesis as a Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District partnership with San Diego State University and is now a state-funded network of more than 7,000 institutions from elementary schools to universities. Cal-PASS has been awarded the
HELIX WATER BOARD HOLDS SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING MONDAY; RATE PLAN TO BE UNVEILED WEDNESDAY
Printer-friendly versionMay 31, 2009 (La Mesa) — The Helix Water Board will hold a special meeting on Monday, June 1st at 8 a.m. to discuss the District’s budget. At the next regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, June 3rd at 2 p.m., the Board has announced it will reveal its new proposal for water rate hikes. The board last week agreed
WARNER SPRINGS PROGRAM TEACHES KIDS AGRICULTURAL SKILLS, PRESERVES WESTERN & NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery June 1, 2009 (Warner Springs)—“It’s always fun when we get an adult to volunteer to be the cow,” Sherri Freeman quipped, then deftly lassoed a running parent. Nearby, youngsters saddled up on a bucking mechanical horse, ground acorns, studied history of the Butterfield Stage Coach, hiked with an ecologist, visited farm animals, and learned about wild
CLEAN, GREEN MACHINES: ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES ON SHOW AT STREET SMART SAN DIEGO JUNE 7
Printer-friendly versionJune 1, 2009 (San Diego)—In San Diego, vehicle emissions are the number one cause of greenhouse emissions that cause global warming. Fortunately, a new generation of vehicles powered by alternative fuels now provides cleaner options for us all. Check out the latest innovations in alternative fuel vehicles from showroom models to electric sports cars and scooters at the third
DINO MOUNTAIN ROARS TO LIFE AT THE SAN DIEGO ZOO’S WILD ANIMAL PARK
Printer-friendly versionStory by Marisa Kezirian Photo by Ken Bohn, San Diego Zoo May 31, 2009 2009 (Escondido)–For a limited time this summer, the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park offers its exceptional exhibit, Dino Mountain. The mechanical robotic dinosaurs come to life and give viewers a true life experience of being up close and personal with some of the
MARKETING MATTERS: TIPS AND TRICKS FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS AND GROWTH
Printer-friendly versionInternal Customers’ Interaction with External Customers: The Ultimate Marketing Tool By Rama Beerfas June 1, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) –In our previous installment, we looked at how important your internal customers (employees) are to the success of your business. (If you missed it, check it out at http://eastcountymagazine.org/?q=node/986). Of course, no matter how good your relationship is with
PARKWAY PLAZA BECOMES ART GALLERY FOR EAST COUNTY KIDS
Printer-friendly versionBy Gayle Early June 1, 2009 (El Cajon)—Six art pieces selected from each of 87 participating middle and elementary schools were on display at the 19th Annual Kids Art Show last month at Westfield Parkway. Cookies accompanied a reception in the mall, just around the corner from Macy’s. Each artist received a blue ribbon, including Sophia Coseip, whose artwork
DOWNTOWN ARCHWAY IN EL CAJON: NEW CITY LANDMARK TO BE DEDICATED JUNE 10th
Printer-friendly versionJune 1, 2009 (El Cajon) The public is invited to the official lighting of downtown El Cajon’s new archway, which is being installed this week. A lighting ceremony will be held at the closing of the Classic Car Show on Wednesday, June 10th at 8:00 p.m. The new City landmark will arch over West Main Street, just west of
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