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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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POVERTY RATE AT 50-YEAR HIGH IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY; EL CAJON HAS WORST POVERTY RATE IN COUNTY
Printer-friendly version New Census data show 850,000 county residents living in economic hardship September 29, 2009 (San Diego)–Poverty in San Diego County shot up in 2008, rising at a much faster pace than in California or the nation. This plunge in quality of life for many San Diegans is documented in U.S. Census data released today. The data shows
PEDESTRIAN ROBBED & BEATEN IN LA MESA
Printer-friendly version September 30, 2009 (La Mesa)–At approximately 1:50 PM on September 28, 2009 a man called La Mesa P.D. from the Kaiser Hospital in San Diego to report that he had been robbed walking home from a local bar early Sunday morning. Assailants beat the man and reportedly left him unconscious. La Mesa Police contacted the male victim at the
DEMOCRATIC CLUB RETURNS TO SPRING VALLEY-LEMON GROVE
Printer-friendly version Candidates for Attorney General and Insurance Commissioner Spoke at Festive Gathering September 30, 2009 (Lemon Grove) – Dozens of people packed into the Por Favor Restaurant in Lemon Grove Friday night to celebrate the community’s newly formed Spring Valley-Lemon Grove Democratic Club. The new club hosted an impressive array of guest speakers, including two candidates for statewide
RED FLAG WARNING THURSDAY: CAL-FIRE BOOSTS STAFFING & EQUIPMENT DUE TO FIRE DANGER
Printer-friendly version September 30, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service in San Diego has upgraded its fire weather watch to a red flag warning. The red flag warning will be in effect from 3 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 1st throughout most of the County, includingi nland valleys and mountains. Weak to moderate Santa
GAME OF THE WEEK: TITANS TAME COUGARS IN 38-13 WIN
Printer-friendly version by Christopher Mohr (RANCHO SAN DIEGO) September 25 – Steele Canyon’s football team is not happy right now. After the Cougars’ 38-13 loss to Eastlake Friday night, head coach Ron Boehmke gathered his players in a circle on the field, and told them in no uncertain terms that this performance was not acceptable. The players knew it,
TSUNAMI ALERT ISSUED FOR WEST COAST
Printer-friendly versionSeptember 29, 2009 (San Diego) 4:30 p.m. — Federal experts have issued a tsunami advisory for possible dangerous currents in coastal areas of California and Oregon following a magnitude-8 earthquake in the Pacific Ocean near Samoa. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center says an advisory means that a tsunami capable of producing strong
SMALL BRUSH FIRE IN SPRING VALLEY
Printer-friendly version September 29, 2009 12:20 p.m. (Spring Valley)– A small brush fire has been reported at 1502 Ramona Avenue in Spring Valley, Incident Protection Network reported at 11:26 a.m. The fire was reportedly heading uphill toward a home. A dispatcher at Heartland Fire informed East County Magazine that the fire is not considered a threat and that all but
SANTEE CHAMBER ANNOUNCES AWARDS FINALISTS
Printer-friendly versionOctober 1, 2009 (Santee)–The Santee Chamber of Commerce announces finalists for the 2009 Santee Chamber Awards Night, which will be held on October 16 at Barona Resort & Casino. Small Business of the Year Finalists: Ronn Hall Insurance Services, Cookies By Design & Eccentric International Chefs Medium Business of the Year Finalists: Michael’s Grill, Union Bank of
RAMONA FIRE VICTIMS FIND A “VINE” WAY TO BUILD HOME THAT’S FIRE-SAFE & GREEN
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery Zak Valade and his wife, Gina, lost their home in the 2007 Witch Creek fire. Now, they’re rebuilding a new home designed by famed architect Drew Hubbell,.constructed of fire-safe and energy efficient materials. They’ve also ripped out their avocado grove and planted a vineyard instead. “Today, this is the new fire buffer,” Zak Valade
BRUSH FIRE IN ESCONDIDO AREA ENDANGERS HOMES
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery Photo by Tracy Emblem September 28, 2009 5:40 p.m. (Escondido) — A brush fire reported at 5:05 p.m. today at Bear Valley Parkway and San Pasqual Road has burned three to four acres, CAL-FIRE spokesperson Denise Kessel informed East County Magazine. According to Incident Reporting Network, homes are in danger and air support was
EDITORIAL – WHO DESERVES AN ORGAN TRANSPLANT-AND WHO SHOULD DECIDE?
Printer-friendly versionQuestions Regarding the Tragic Death of Nataline Sarkisyan By Joel A. Harrison, PhD, MPH January 6, 2008 — Few people who read about the Nataline Sarkisyan case last year could have avoided being touched by her tragic death. Recently her family filed a lawsuit against her insurer, Cigna and is trying to get criminal charges brought against them as
MICHAEL’S CRAFT STORE ROBBED AT GUNPOINT IN LA MESA: $1,000 REWARD OFFERED BY CRIMESTOPPERS
Printer-friendly versionJanuary 5, 2009 (La Mesa) — On January 5, 2009, at 3:12 PM, two masked men entered the Michael’s Craft Store at 9108 Fletcher Parkway, La Mesa and robbed customers and the store employees at gunpoint. The suspects entered the store and ordered employees and customers to the floor while they each waved a handgun around. The suspects took
GROSSMONT & CUYAMACA COLLEGES GO SMOKE-FREE CAMPUSES STARTING JANUARY 1
Printer-friendly versionJanuary 1, 2009 (El Cajon) — Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District becomes the first multi-campus district in California to ban smoking starting New Year’s Day. “In the long run, we have done something very valuable for this district,” said governor board president Bill Garrett. Deanne Weeks said the district has a responsibility to “be ahead of the curve.” Trustee Rick
SHOULD PRESIDENT BUSH PARDON BORDER PATROL AGENTS RAMOS AND COMPEAN?
Printer-friendly version Border agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean January 5, 2008 (San Diego’s East County) — Assemblyman Joel Anderson has written a letter to President George W. Bush requesting a pardon for Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compeon. Both are currently in prison, serving 11 and 12 year sentences after being convicted by a jury of
RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH NEW LAWS
Printer-friendly versionSeveral new laws designed to help strengthen existing DUI laws January 4, 2009 (Sacramento) — With a new year on the horizon, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) wants to remind motorists of a handful of new laws, passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Schwarzenegger, that go into effect in 2009. "The overall safety of the motoring public
COMPUTER BIZ WIZ– MAKING COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY WORK FOR YOUR SMALL BUSINESS
Printer-friendly versionTop 5 IT Mistakes Small Businesses Make By Michael Natter It is deceptively easy to see what the five top small business mistakes in IT are. They are pervasive, recurring and everywhere! Typical small businesses mistakes include: Not getting value for invested and spent IT dollars: Small businesses are constantly paying for lack of knowledge, hasty decisions, oversights, mistakes,
KIDNAPPING OFÂ 8-YEAR OLD BOY WAS FALSE REPORT
Printer-friendly versionJanuary 2, 2000 (La Mesa) — On January 1, an eight-year-old boy reported being kidnapped from in front of his residence in the 4800 block of Parks Ave., La Mesa. However, the La Mesa Police have concluded after further investigation that the boy had falsified the entire story and that no crime had ever occurred. On January 2, the
EAST COUNTY MAGAZINE’S 2008 NEWSMAKERS OF THE YEAR
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery January 1, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)–For better or worse, these are the East County people who made headlines in 2008. Some are famous–elected officials and sports stars. Others are unsung heroes and ordinary citizens who found themselves in extraordinary situations, battling foes ranging from cancer to large-scale developments in their communities. Some have aspired to amazing feats,
2008 NEWSMAKERS OF THE YEAR: HONORABLE MENTIONS
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Each of these individuals has attained remarkable achievements. Some have sparked controversy for their views or actions. Many are working to make our community, our nation, or our world a better place. Our list includes people who triumphed over disabilities, animal protection advocates, artists and musicians, business leaders, citizen watchdogs, educators, fire heroes, healthcare reformers, humanitarians,
EIGHT YEAR OLD BOY KIDNAPPED BY STRANGER IN LA MESA ;CHILD ESCAPED, POLICE SEEK SUSPECT
Printer-friendly versionUPDATE: Police have determined that this reported kidnapping was a hoax. La Mesa Police Officers responded to an attempted kidnapping that occurred at 4827 Parks Avenue in the city of La Mesa on January 1st at 6:55 p.m.. Officers met with the eight-year-old male victim and his aunt at the Parks Avenue address. The victim told officers he was
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