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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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JOHN DEAN, FORMER WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL DURING WATERGATE, TO SPEAK IN LA MESA AUGUST 5
Printer-friendly version July 10, 2009 (La Mesa) – John Dean, the former White House lawyer under President Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal, will speak August 5th at the La Mesa Community Center. The event, co-sponsored by the Eastlake–Bonita Democratic Club and La Mesa–Foothills Democratic Club, is free and open to all people. Dean’s publisher will be issuing an
BUG BOMBS CAUSE FIRE THAT DESTROYS TRAILER HOME IN EL CAJON
Printer-friendly version July 9, 2009 (El Cajon)–At 5:15 p.m. this evening El Cajon Fire crews responded to reports of a trailer home fire at the Chieftain Trailer Park, located at 187 Ballard, space number 48-B in El Cajon. Upon arrival firefighters found the trailer home engulfed. About 15 firefighters had the fire extinguished in about ten minutes, preventing damage to
HUNTER TO HOLD VIDEO TOWN HALL TUESDAY; HEALTHCARE REFORM TOPS AGENDA
Printer-friendly version July 12, 2009 (Washington D.C.) – Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine) whose district includes most of East County, will hold a video town hall meeting on Tuesday, July 14th at 6:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. To participate, click the “video townhall meeting” link on his website Tuesday evening (http://www.hunter.house.gov/). This event was previously scheduled for the end of
POWERLINK MAY HINGE ON CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST SUPERVISOR: Attorney for 3 Community and Environmental Groups Sends Legal Notice to Metz; Metz Speaks With East County Magazine
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery July 9, 2009 (San Diego, Calif.)- An attorney for three community and environmental groups sent a letter today urging Cleveland National Forest Supervisor William Metz to reject construction of the Sunrise Powerlink transmission line project across the forest. The letter describes in detail numerous legal conflicts between Powerlink and the Forest’s overarching management plan. The
GUHSD TRUSTEES TO HELIX: CHANGE BOARD POLICIES TO PREVENT SEXUAL MISCONDUCT, OR LOSE CHARTER
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery July 8, 2009 (El Cajon)—By a 5-0 vote, Grossmont Union High School District trustees approved a notice of intent to revoke the charter for Helix High School. Superintendent Bob Collins (photo, left) and the trustees made clear that Helix must change the makeup of its governing board and improve procedures to protect students from
MARKETING MATTERS: TIPS AND TRICKS FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS AND GROWTH
Printer-friendly version Planning for Effective Marketing By Rama Beerfas July 1, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)—It takes many different components coming together to make a marketing campaign successful: a defined target market, an understanding of that target market, a “SMART” goal, a cohesive campaign, and, most importantly, planning. One of the biggest mistakes I see when my clients
HEALTHCARE REFORM MOVEMENT GAINS TRACTION LOCALLY
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery June 28, 2009 (San Diego)— Last week, President Barack Obama presented his “prescription for America” (http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=7922187&page=1). The President aims to create a public option for a government healthcare program similar to Medicare that would compete against private insurance companies. As debate in Washington D.C. heats up, local advocates are speaking out, holding
REP. CONYERS TO SPEAK ON HEALTHCARE REFORM IN SAN DIEGO SATURDAY, JULY 11
Printer-friendly version Town hall forum: Congressman John Conyers Jr. (D-MI), will discuss health care reform 1 to 4 p.m. July 11 at the Joe and Vi Jacobs Center, 404 Euclid Ave., San Diego. Conyers is a leading voice on Capitol Hill for healthcare reform and author of a single-payer healthcare bil that a Congressional committee has thus far refused to
NEW PALLATIVE MEDICINE HOTLINE IN SAN DIEGO
Printer-friendly version The Institute for Palliative Medicine in San Diego will operate California’s first statewide consultative service for palliative care resources July 8, 2009 (San Diego) – Communities in California lacking palliative medicine resources will now receive top quality palliative care consultative and educational support through a new hotline housed and operated by The Institute for Palliative Medicine. The pilot
HEALTH REFORM: THE DEVIL IS STILL IN THE DETAILS; AN AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION FORUM JULY 17 IN SAN DIEGO
Printer-friendly version July 8, 2009 (San Diego) — Health Reform will impact all of us. Proposals are emerging from Congress, the White House, organizations and groups across the country. By July, several strong proposals will be taking shape and major issues clearly on the table. Successful health reform should address not only how coverage and access to care will be
FIRE NEAR SYCUAN NOW 65 ACRES, VOLUNTARY EVACUATIONS
Printer-friendly versionMay 22, 2009 6 p.m. updated (San Diego’s East County) — A fire burning at Willow Glen Drive and Singing Canyon near Sycuan is now more than 65 acres and 20% contained. Voluntary evacuations have been made along Vista Sierra Drive but no structures have been damaged. Leonard Villareal, spokesman for the San Miguel Fire Department, confirms that the
EAST COUNTY ROUND-UP — MID-MAY
Printer-friendly version East County Roundup highlights the best stories about East County issues found in other publications. MENTALLY ILL DETAINEES’ TREATMENT AT HOSPITALS WORRIES ADVOCATES San Diego Union-Tribune (May 18, 2009)–Federal immigration officials send mentally ill detainees to a private psychiatric hospital in La Mesa, where they are shackled to beds 24 hours a day, prohibited from watching television or
FREE LOCAL BUSINESS DIRECTORY FROM BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU
Printer-friendly versionThe San Diego Better Business Bureau (BBB) has announced that distribution has begun at about local 500 retail outlets of its 2009 Summer edition of the BBB Yellow Pages, a free, 216-page, yellow-page-type directory that includes contact information on 6,000 BBB accredited businesses, as well as consumer protection tips articles and information on how to avoid scams and make
ART SHOW AT WILLIAM HERRICK COMMUNITY HEALTH LIBRARY FEATURES DISABLED ARTISTS’ WORKS
Printer-friendly versionThe Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library in La Mesa, a public library specializing in health research information, has announced it is hosting a display of 20 charcoal drawings drawn by persons who have developmental disabilities from Sophie’s Art Gallery, an art program provided by St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, a non-profit based in El Cajon. The
HELIX WATER DISTRICT RESIDENTS EXPRESS IRE OVER PROPOSED RATE INEQUITIES, ALLEGE DECEPTIVE NOTICES AT GROSSMONT-MT. HELIX ASSOCIATION (GMIA) PUBLIC FORUM
Printer-friendly version by Gayle Early May 20, 2009 (Mt. Helix)—Residents poured into Fuerte Elementary School’s auditorium Thursday evening, May 15th to get a status update on Helix Water District’s (HWD) rate-increase proposals and express outrage over what they contend is an unfair tier-pricing system. GMIA, representing the large unincorporated area of East County around La Mesa, offered eight recommendations to
WATER BOARD STIRS FLOOD OF CONTROVERSY: ALLEGED VIOLATIONS, SECRECY FUEL THREATS OF LEGAL ACTION; SPECIAL MEETING SET MAY 22 TO ADDRESS LEGAL CHALLENGES
Printer-friendly version A special joint investigative report by East County Magazine and Channel 10 News 10news.com story By Miriam Raftery May 19, 2009 (La Mesa)—A water board controversy has sparked public outcry in East County. No, we’re not talking about a torture tactic—though many ratepayers fear pain from steep rate hikes in the Helix Water District. The local “water
EXCERPTS FROM LETTERS SENT TO HELIX WATER DISTRICT IN OPPOSITION TO THE RATE HIKES
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery May 19, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)–Helix Water Board’s management withheld 68 letters sent by ratepayer from at least one Board member until after a vote was taken on rate hikes at the April 27 meeting. Below are excerpts from those letters. All opposed the rate hikes; many accused the board of unfairly targeting homeowners over businesses,
$20 MILLION IN ENERGY-EFFICIENCY INCENTIVES FOR BUSINESSES OFFERED
Printer-friendly versionMay 19, 2009 (San Diego) – Southern California Gas Co. (The Gas Company) announced today that more than $20 million in rebates and incentives are available this year to business customers for qualifying energy-efficiency projects—the largest pool of incentive money in the utility’s history. The Gas Company shared the news with more than 300 business representatives gathered for its
“LOST BOYS OF SUDAN ” SHARE HARROWING STORIES OR SURVIVAL FRIDAY AT CUYAMACA COLLEGE
Printer-friendly versionMay 20, 2009 (El Cajon)–Students from the Sudanese Cultural Club at Cuyamaca College will share their own harrowing stories from their war-torn homeland, including riveting tales demonstrating the triumph of the human spirit in Darfur, a land ravaged by genocide. The program, titled "An Afternoon with the Lost Boys of Sudan: Stories of Hope and Survival", will be held
FIRE DAMAGES BANK AMERICA IN EL CAJON
Printer-friendly versionMay 19, 2009 (El Cajon)–At 7:33 p.m. tonight El Cajon Firefighters responded to reports of a fire in the kitchen area of the Bank of America branch, located at 512 Fletcher Parkway. Upon arrival fire crews found smoke coming from the rear of the building where they made entry. Quick action by firefighters had the fire knocked down in
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