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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…
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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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MAGIC OF DISNEYLAND INSPIRED MT. HELIX GARDEN WITH MANY LANDS
Printer-friendly version Story and photos by Karen Pearlman April 24, 2025 (Mount Helix) – There are no rides or parades in its magical atmosphere, but a local garden in Mount Helix area has been influenced by a famous amusement park in Anaheim. Bob Caparas and his childhood sweetheart, Carole, have channeled the magic of Disneyland to help them create
SAN DIEGO SPORT INNOVATORS ANNOUNCES WALTON INNOVATION NETWORK
Printer-friendly versionTo commemorate the one-year anniversary of basketball legend Bill Walton’s passing, SDSI annonces phase one of a “Bill Walton Legacy Project” By Scott Yoffe May 27, 2025 (Solana Beach) — To commemorate the one-year anniversary of the tragic passing of basketball legend Bill Walton, San Diego Sport Innovators (SDSI) announced that it will pay homage to its
40 MILITARY HOMES UNINHABITABLE AFTER MURPHY CANYON PLANE CRASH: NAVY-MARINE CORPS RELIEF SOCIETY PROVIDES SUPPORT
Printer-friendly versionNonprofit immediately provided $77,000 in direct emergency assistance and continues to provide long-term support to 40 families displaced East County News Service May 29, 2025 (San Diego) – Dozens of military families evacuated their homes when a private Cessna aircraft crashed into military housing in the Murphy Canyon area at 3:45 a.m. on May 22. The families had
GROSSMONT HEALTHCARE DISTRICT AWARDS OVER $319,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO LOCAL STUDENTS PURSUING HEALTHCARE CAREERS
Printer-friendly versionSource: Grossmont Healthcare District Group photo of all scholarship recipients and GHD board members. May 28, 2025 (La Mesa) — In an affirmation of its commitment to building the healthcare workforce of tomorrow, Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD) has awarded a total of $319,850 in scholarships to 63 local students for the 2024–2025 academic year. The awards were presented at
SANTEE HOMELESS COURT POP-UP EVENT
Printer-friendly versionCommunity resource pop-up events, like this one in Santee which meet people where they are, have become an important part of the County’s homeless outreach strategy By Anita Lightfoot, County of San Diego Communications Office May 28, 2025 (Santee) — Community resources pop-up events bring essential services directly to people experiencing homelessness and have become an important part of
COUNTY ACQUIRES 540 ACRES TO EXPAND SANTA YSABEL PRESERVE AND PROTECT SENSITIVE SPECIES
Printer-friendly versionBy County News Center County of San Diego Communications Office May 28, 2025 (Santa Ysabel) — The San Diego County Board of Supervisors recently approved the purchase of about 540 acres of property in North County for $5.1 million to expand its conservation efforts. Located within a designated conservation area in Santa Ysabel, the land will expand an existing
TB EXPOSURES REPORTED AT TWO LOCAL HOMELESS SHELTERS
Printer-friendly version By Fernanda Lopez Halvorson, County of San Diego Communications Office Image Credit: CDC.gov May 28, 2025 (San Diego) –County Public Health is working in close collaboration with Father Joe’s Villages and the San Diego Rescue Mission to notify residents, employees and volunteers who may have potentially been exposed to tuberculosis (TB) at the Father Joe’s Villages Paul Mirabile Center
RFK, JR. ORDERS CDC TO STOP RECOMMENDING COVID VACCINES FOR HEALTHY CHILDREN AND PREGNANT WOMEN
Printer-friendly version Order ignores science, which shows pregnant women and newborns have high risk for serious COVID complications By Miriam Raftery May 27, 2025 (Washington D.C.) – Health leaders are reacting with alarm to Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s announcement that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have removed the COVID vaccine from its list of
TRUMP BRAGS THAT HE’S ‘NOT CUTTING 10 CENTS’ FROM PENTAGON AS GOP GUTS MEDICAID
Printer-friendly version“We can cut plenty of other things,” President Donald Trump told West Point’s graduating class. By Jake Johnson, Common Dreams Photo: Screenshot via CSpan; Pres. Trump speaks at West Point graduation May 26, 2025 (West Point Military Academ, New York) — U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday bragged to West Point’s graduating class that he has refused to cut
COUNTY PARKS HITS BULLSEYE WITH NEW ARCHERY RANGE IN LAKESIDE
Printer-friendly version County News Center Photo courtesy County News Center: Elizabeth Howe, member of U.S. Archery team U8 Women’s Barebow, takes a shot at the new outdoor archery range in Lakeside. May 26, 2025 (Lakeside) –The County opened its much-anticipated outdoor Archery Range at Kumeyaay Valley Park last week. Located at 10964 Ashwood Street in Lakeside,
SAGE & SONGBIRDS GARDEN TOUR: RAPTOR REHAB FACILITY INCLUDED ON THIS YEAR’S TOUR MAY 1-3
Printer-friendly versionApril 20, 2009( Alpine)–Are you looking for ideas to “spruce up” your garden or yard? The Sage & Songbirds Garden Tour has a wealth of ideas for creating beautiful gardens that also provide wildlife-friendly habitat. The 12th annual event, set for May 1-3, spotlights five unique gardens, chock-full of plants, waterscapes, pathways, structures and other very interesting features. Lisa
HUNTER CALLS ON CONGRESS TO WITHHOLD FUNDS FOR GITMO CLOSURE; OBAMA RELEASES RECORDS CONFIRMING TORTURE ORDERED BY BUSH OFFICIALS
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery April 16, 2009 (Washington, DC) – U.S. Congressman Duncan D. Hunter (R-CA), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, has issued a statement opposing the Obama Administration’s request for $30 million in supplemental funding for the closure of Guantanamo Bay. “The Obama Administration’s plan to close Guantanamo Bay appears to be moving forward without any
WELCOME RECEPTION MAY 5 FOR NEW GCCD CHANCELLOR: DEALING WITH BUDGET CRISIS A TOP PRIORITY
Printer-friendly versionApril 18, 2009 (El Cajon)–– Talk about a baptism by fire. Dr. Cindy L. Miles has started a new job as chancellor of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District at a time of fiscal uncertainty amid what some economists still expect to be the deepest recession in the modern era. Limited funding by the state at a time of escalating
SPRING GARDEN FESTIVAL’S “CONSERVATION IN BLOOM” HIGHLIGHTS WATER CONSERVATION, CULTURAL CONSERVATION, AND CUYAMACA COLLEGE’S BIGGEST PLANT SALE OF THE YEAR
Printer-friendly versionDrawing to win a High-Efficiency Clothes Washer or Home Landscape Re-design April 18, 2009 (RANCHO SAN DIEGO)—On Saturday, April 25, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m,, Cuyamaca College’s campus will bloom with activity as three of its on-campus venues—the Ornamental Horticulture Department, the Water Conservation Garden,and the Heritage of the Americas Museum—invite the public to celebrate spring at their sixteenth annual
LA MESA VILLAGE REVITALIZATION WORKSHOP
Printer-friendly versionApril 20, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm at the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Dr. By Kristin Hobbs Kjaero La Mesa – Locals call the La Mesa Village the heart and soul of their hometown. Given this sentiment, the Village Revitalization Workshop on April 20 is a great opportunity for the community to share their thoughts for improvements
SAN DIEGO EARTH WEEK FEATURES NEW EVENTS IN 2009
Printer-friendly versionGREEN JOBS FAIR AT SDSU AND A GREEN CITY LEADERSHIP FORUM ARE NEW THIS YEAR; EARTH FAIR KICKS OFF WEEK’S ECO-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES April 17, 2009 (San Diego)—Earth Day Week in San Diego kicks off with Earth Fair 2009 in Balboa Park on Sunday, drawing more than 70,000 visitors. Produced by 400 volunteers, EarthFair features more than 400 exhibitors, special
TOP DOG: BERSIN NAMED BORDER CZAR BY OBAMA; BUT CAN HE TAKE A BITE OUT OF BORDER VIOLENCE?
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery April 16, 2009 (San Diego)—Alan Bersin has officially been appointed Border Czar by President Barack Obama, Homeland Security Director Janet Napolitano announced today. Bersin held a similar position during the Clinton administration. He served as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California a the U.S. Justice Department’s special representative for the Southwest border. He was
CHILD MOLESTER ARRESTED IN LA MESA
Printer-friendly versionApril 15, 2009 (La Mesa)—La Mesa police have arrested Garth Gumienny, 35, a convicted child molester found to be living with a young boy who he repeatedly molested. The child was the son of Gumienny’s roommate, according to La Mesa Police Captain Ed Aceves. “The mother did not know the sexual abuse was occurring,” Aceves told East County Magazine.
A QUARTER CENTURY STRONG: LA MESA DEMOCRATS CELEBRATED 25th ANNIVERSARY; EMERALD STAFFER ADDRESSED COMMUNITY ISSUES
Printer-friendly versionApril 10, 2009 (La Mesa) – La Mesa-Foothills Democratic Club celebrated its 25th anniversary with a celebration last week that included cake, a potluck dinner, recognition of key members and presentation by Councilwoman Marti Emerald’s chief of staff, Xema Jacobson. Special honorees included the club’s founding members, Claude Cassirer, a Holocaust survivor, and his wife, Beverly (photo). Songs
FACING FORECLOSURE? NEED INFO ON HOME LOANS? GET HELP AT FREE HOMEOWNER PRESERVATION SEMINAR APRIL 18 IN SAN DIEGO
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery April 13, 2009 (San Diego)—At a time when many lenders have evicted families and aggressively foreclosed on, one lender has taken a different approach, setting up a series of events to help families find ways to avoid foreclosure. On April 18th, Project Homeowner, a program to advise California homeowners facing foreclosure on how to keep their
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