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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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ACTIVISTS TO HOLD EMPTY CHAIR TOWN HALL MARCH 23, AFTER REP. ISSA REFUSES CONSTITUENTS’ REQUESTS FOR MEETING
Printer-friendly version LIVESTREAMING UPDATE: For those unable to attend in-person, here are platforms where organizers plan to livestream this event: Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/groups/indivisiblencsd/ TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@indivisiblencsd Youtube Live – https://www.youtube.com/@IndivisibleNCSanDiego Twitch.tv – https://www.twitch.tv/indivisiblencsandiego; By Miriam Raftery March 14, 2025 (Escondido) – After weeks of rebuffed requests for Congressman Darrell Issa (R-48)to hold a community townhall to discuss constituents’ concerns, activists have scheduled an “Empty
GUHSD BOARD REFUSES TO RECONSIDER MASS FIRINGS, DESPITE PICKETING, PROTESTS, AND ANGRY CROWD AT MARCH 11 MEETING
Printer-friendly versionBy Alexander J. Schorr Photo, left, via Grossmont Education Association: angry crowd turns back on Acting Superintendent Sandra Huezo and the GUHSD board March 13, 2025 (El Cajon) – The Grossmont Union High School district staff and its students have been protesting the board majority’s controversial firings of teaching, librarian, and counseling positions in recent days, including student walk-outs, picketing
URBAN TIMBER FINDS RURAL SALVATION IN CAMPO
Printer-friendly versionBy Leorah Gavidor March 13, 2025 (Campo) — When Urban Timber partners Jessica Van Arsdale and Dan Herbst learned they had just a few months to move their well-established tree salvage business, the couple had to scramble to find a place to move hundreds of tons of logs that they had saved from the landfill. The company that saves
READER’S EDITORIAL: YES, IT’S TIME TO BLOCK DESTRUCTIVE BUDGET
Printer-friendly versionAn open letter sent to California Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff By Chuck Brown, Spring Valley March 13, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) – The House passed legislation to fund the government through Sept. 30 and thereby avert a shutdown at the end of this week. The measure now goes to the Senate, where Democrats must decide whether to support
KRISTEN DARE EXITS SANTEE CHAMBER
Printer-friendly version By Mike Allen March 12, 2025 (Santee) — Kristen Dare, who led the Santee Chamber of Commerce as CEO for the past six years, resigned from the position to take a new job at Waste Management Corp. In an email sent to chamber members March 3, Chamber Chair Susie Parks said she is grateful for Dare’s decade of
EL CAJON CITY COUNCIL MAJORITY VOTES TO SUPPORT ‘PIG IN A POKE’ IMMIGRATION BILL IN CONGRESS
Printer-friendly versionUpdate April 4, 2025: The text of the bill is now available here. By Miriam Raftery March 12, 2025 (El Cajon) – Four members of El Cajon’s City Council yesterday voted to send letters of support for H.R. 1680 to its author, Colorado Republican Gabe Evans, and ask local Congressman Darrell Issa to co-sponsor the bill–even though the text
EL CAJON BANS SALE OF VAPING DEVICES DISGUISED AS OTHER PRODUCTS
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery March 12, 2025 (El Cajon) – By a unanimous vote, El Cajon’s City Council yesterday voted to adopt an ordinance prohibiting the sale of vaping or e-cigarette devices disguised as other products. According to the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, teens are using stealth vaping products. Some are hidden in backpacks or hoodies. Others resemble flash drives,
EL CAJON MOVES FORWARD ON MEASURE DENOUNCING ANTISEMITISM, DESPITE CONCERNS OVER WORDING
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Photo: Doris Bittar, a Lebanese-Palestinian woman with a Jewish husband, wants a resolution that protects everyone equally without infringing on free speech rights. March 12, 2025 (El Cajon) – El Cajon’s City Council once again waded into contentious waters at yesterday’s meeting, weighing a resolution to condemn antisemitism, with the Council majority refusing to remove a
ADVANCING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES: DRINKING ALCOHOL INCREASES THE RISK OF HEART DISEASE
Printer-friendly versionBy Seraphina Eberhardt, Program Manager, Institute for Public Strategies East County March 17, 2025 (San Diego) — The U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory in January highlighting the cancer risks associated with even small amounts of alcohol consumption, noting that alcohol links to at least seven types of cancer. However, alcohol does not only increase the risk of cancer.
GROUP THAT HELPED TRANSFORM LITTLE ITALY POISED TO COLLABORATE ON REVITALIZING DOWNTOWN EL CAJON
Printer-friendly version By Karen Pearlman Photo, left, by Miriam Raftery: El Cajon’s downtown district March 12, 2025 (El Cajon) – A new city vibe is expected to come to the more than 100-year-old city of El Cajon. Earlier this month, the Downtown El Cajon Business Partners, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting a safe and prosperous downtown El Cajon, announced that
LA MESA CHAMBER MIXER AT VIEJAS DRAWS CROWD
Printer-friendly version La Mesa Chamber of Commerce President Mary England and Viejas spokesman Charlie Brown By Miriam Raftery March 26, 2009 (Alpine) —“We don’t just hold mixers. We make cash registers ring,” La Mesa Chamber of Commerce president Mary England told a crowd of approximately 100 members and guests at a mixer hosted by the Chamber at the Dreamcatcher Lounge
HOG WILD: 4,000 CELEBRATE GRAND RE-OPENING OF EL CAJON HARLEY-DAVIDSON
Printer-friendly version March 28, 2009 (El Cajon) —Ribbon-cuttings for Chamber of Commerce members are usually sedate affairs. Not so the grand re-opening of the E l Cajon Harley-Davidson dealership today, where thousands of motorcyclists packed in to join the celebration on El Cajon Boulevard. “We were expecting 3,000, but it looks more like at least 4,000 people are here,” office
CONGRESSMEN SPAR AT SAN DIEGO REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LUNCHEON
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery April 3, 2009 (San Diego)—Democratic Congressman Bob Filner took some good-natured swings at fellow members of San Diego’s Congressional delegation at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce luncheon on March 27th. “First let me take some cheap political shots,” quipped Filner, sporting boxing gloves. He noted that the Chamber of Commerce and other business interests
RECORD NUMBER OF GUHSD SCHOOLS RECEIVE CALIFORNIA DISTINGUISHED SCHOOLS AWARD
Printer-friendly versionGrossmont High School, Helix Charter High School and Grossmont Middle College High School Receive Prestigious Honor April 2, 2009 (El Cajon)—On April 1, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell announced that 125 California high schools were awarded the prestigious 2009 California Distinguished Schools Award. This marks the first year that a record three GUHSD schools have been recognized
DESERT DREAMS: LOOK WHAT’S NEW UNDER THE SUN AT ANZA-BORREGO
Printer-friendly version Wild horse sculptures By Miriam Raftery April 1, 2009 (Borrego)—Visitors to Anza-Borrego may be startled by the vision of life-sized metal sculptures of dinosaurs, mastodons and other prehistoric creatures rising from the desert floor like sentinels of a forgotten era. Other sculptures portray wild horses, birds of prey, tortoises, a saber-tooth tiger and Native American themes. The creations
MAKING THE GRADE: GUHSD’S 2009 TEACHER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
Printer-friendly versionMike Love and David Bradford Selected to Represent GUHSD in Prestigious San Diego County Teacher of the Year Competition April 3, 2009 (El Cajon)–At its Governing Board Meeting on Thursday, April 2, the Grossmont Union High School District honored Teacher of the Year nominees from its represented school sites. These nominees are selected by their peers. A panel comprised
DRY TIMES: WATER-SAVING LANDSCAPE ADVICE
Printer-friendly versionApril 4, 2009 (San Diego)—With water districts urging consumers to cut outdoor water usage by 40% amid the drought, homeowners are left wondering how to maintain an attractive yard without being water hogs—and paying hefty prices to be levied against heavy water users. The California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) offers some recommendations for consumers to make smart choices and
HOP TO GROSSMONT CENTER SATURDAY: EASTER BUNNY TO HIDE OVER 1500 EGGS AT LA MESA MALL
Printer-friendly versionApril 2, 2009 (La Mesa)—Grossmont Center is hosting an Easter egg hunt with treats for all visitors on april 11th from 9-10 a.m. in Macy’s Courtyard. The festivities include meeting the Easter bunny, prizes, giveaways and refreshments. Bring your own basket to hunt for over 1,500 colorfully decorated eggs. The event is free. The Easter bunny’s hut located in
EDITORIAL: AN OPEN LETTER TO JANET NAPOLITANO, SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY, REGARDING ALAN BERSIN–A TOP CANDIDATE FOR U.S. CUSTOMS & BORDER PATROL TOP SLOT
Printer-friendly versionBy Ernie McRay Editor’s Note: Alan Bersin has served as Superintendent of Public Education in San Diego City Schools and was appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as California Secretary of Education. He is now in the running to head up the U.S. Customs & Border Patrol. Dear Secretary Napolitano: April 1, 2009(San Diego)–I write this letter because Alan Bersin
PUMPED UP: CHAPARRAL HIGH STUDENTS TAKE ON POLICE IN SHOW OF STRENGTH
Printer-friendly version Campus Supervisor Tim Wargo (left), Resource Officer Steve Paz, and Officer Joe Crawford spot student Brandon Lawtum-Grindle Annual bench-press competition fosters trust between El Cajon Police Officers and at-risk teens. By Gayle Early March 25, 2009 (El Cajon)—Twenty-three Chaparral Continuation High School students flexed their muscles last week during a weight-lifting competition with members of the El Cajon
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