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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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Fatal motorcycle crash in Julian kills Jamul man
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service October 14, 2025 (Julian) – A Jamul man, 49 died at the scene of a collision in Julian on October 12. He was driving a Yamaha R6 motorcycle that crossed a double yellow line, colliding head-on with a Chevrolet Silverado towing a travel trailer. The driver was ejected from the motorcycle and was pronounced dead

County offering two no-cost flu vaccination events this week
Printer-friendly versionLocations are in Spring Valley and San Diego By Anita Lightfoot, County of San Diego Communications Office October 14, 2025 (San Diego) – Cooler temperatures have arrived in San Diego, and influenza is already threatening to make this another rough flu season. The County is hosting two cost-free flu vaccine events in local communities. Up to 200 doses of flu

Every San Diego County-born baby has a scholarship in wait via CalKIDS
Printer-friendly versionPhoto courtesy CalKIDS East County News Service Oct. 14, 2025 (San Diego County) — California-born babies can getting an early start on saving and investing. Through the California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program, every baby born in the state of California on or after July 1, 2022, automatically has a scholarship waiting in their name,

County hosts webinar October 22 on Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) proposed ordinance
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service October 14, 2025 (San Diego) – The County of San Diego Planning & Development Services (PDS) invites you to attend a virtual meeting to share your thoughts on the draft ordinance for the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Zoning Ordinance Amendment and the proposed Separate Sale of ADUs Program, which is currently available for public review.

Governor signs bill letting relatives care for children if parents are deported
Printer-friendly versionBy Jeanne Kuang, CalMatters Photo: Gov. Gavin Newsom delivers the 2025-26 state budget. File photo courtesy of the Governor’s office This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. October 13, 2025 (Sacramento) – Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday signed a bill allowing a broad range of relatives to step in as children’s caregivers if their parents are

Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza and release of all hostages
Printer-friendly versionThis is first phase of Trump’s ceasefire plan, but it’s uncertain if plan to end the war will be accepted By G. A. McNeeley Photo: rubble in Gaza; public domain image via Wikipedia October 12, 2025 (San Diego) – After days of negotiations, President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of

Senator Weber Pierson holding Town Hall on Oct. 16
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Oct. 12, 2025 (San Diego County) — California State Senator Dr. Akilah Weber Pierson is holding a Community Town Hall this week at Crawford High School in San Diego. Weber Pierson’s event will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 16, at the high school at 4191 Colts Way. You can RSVP here. In

La Mesa aims to have new city hall by 2029, but library expansion remains stalled
Printer-friendly versionBy Alexander J. Schorr October 11, 2025 (La Mesa) — Following a September City Council meeting, La Mesa is moving forward with a redevelopment plan for a new civic center which has spanned decades. The current timeline calls for a new city hall to be completed as early as 2029, with expansion plans for the library to follow. View

Governor Newsom signs Senator Weber Pierson’s first-in-the-nation reparative justice bill
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery October 11, 2025 (San Diego) — Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill 518, authored by Senator Akilah Weber Pierson, M.D. (D-San Diego), the first law in the to move beyond study to create a commitment toward advancing reparative justice for descendants of slaves and building lasting systems of equity for Black Californians. The measure was

Health Resources
Printer-friendly versionHEALTH RESOURCES For emergencies, call 911. Scroll down for local and national resources including hospitals, health information and services. Hospitals in East County/San Diego inland Sharp Grossmont Hospital (La Mesa) UC San Diego Health, East Campus (SDSU College area) (Formerly Alvarado Hospital) Kaiser Permanente (Mission Gorge/Grantville) Palomar Medical Center Escondido Palomar Medical Center Poway Mental health and
MAKING MIRACLES HAPPEN: CHALLENGE CENTER TAKES THE “DIS” OUT OF DISABILITES
Printer-friendly version Story and photos by Miriam Raftery; videos by Leon Thompson and Rob Constantine. December 21, 2008 (San Diego’s East County) — “When I first had my stroke, I couldn’t speak or move my right side. I couldn’t walk,” recalled Austin Junkin, 80, of Lemon Grove. “Now I can do anything. I lift 100 pounds with ease,” he said,
STATE CUTS FIRE STAFFING DUE TO BUDGET CRISIS
Printer-friendly versionOnly 5 of 20 engines will be staffed this winter By Miriam Raftery December 11, 2008 (San Diego) — CAL FIRE will reduce staffing to winter preparedness levels in Southern Califiornia to address a one-time $6.3 million budget crisis. “This means additional seasonal employees will be laid off for a total of 17 weeks from mid-December to mid April,
Poway Sheriff’s Investigators Seek Public’s Help to Identify and Apprehend Burglary Suspects: $1,000 Reward
Printer-friendly versionDecember 4, 2008 (Poway) — San Diego County Crime Stoppers is joining forces with San Diego County Sheriff’s Department’s Poway detectives to help identify and apprehend the suspects responsible for burglarizing a jewelry store. The suspects’ vehicle was caught on store surveillance video. On November 11, 2008 at about 6:00 a.m., two suspects stole about $100,000 worth of jewelry
La Mesa Rotary Gives Donation to CHIP’s Organization
Printer-friendly version (left to right) Lynn Hamilton, current La Mesa Rotary President, Joel Tzinberg and Glenn Kellogg. December 10, 2008 (La Mesa) — The La Mesa Rotary Club donated $500.00 to the Community Health and Improvements Partners (CHIP’s) organization. CHIP is a collaboration of San Diego health care systems, hospitals, community clinics, insurers, physicians, universities, community benefit organizations and the
U.S. CRANBERRY MARKETING COMMITTEE PARTNERS WITH SAN DIEGO-BASED SOUPLANTATION
Printer-friendly versionPartnership promotes benefits of cranberries During the Month of December December 3, 2008 (SAN DIEGO) — San Diego-based Souplantation, voted one of “America’s Healthiest Restaurants” by Health magazine, has formed a partnership with the Cranberry Marketing Committee (CMC), a committee established by the federal government that works to promote and inform the public about the benefits of U.S. cranberries.
EAST COUNTY ROUND-UP – DECEMBER
Printer-friendly versionLinks to top stories in other publications on East County issues AUDITOR: CITY BOTCHED DEBRIS REMOVAL, At least $775,000 at issue after ’07 fires, report says San Diego Union-Tribune (December 20, 2008) — San Diego’s auditor has concluded that the city was not equipped to manage the large debris removal program it developed after the wildfires of 2007, and
SUPERVISORS VOTE TO ALLOW HOMEOWNERS TO SELL SURPLUS SOLAR POWER BACK TO UTILITY COMPANIES
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery December 7, 2008 (San Diego) — A unanimous vote by the San Diego Board of Supervisors in November requires the County’s Chief Administrative Officer to provide county-sponsored legislation making it easier for residential power customers the ability to sell surplus solar energy back to utility companies. Supervisor Dianne Jacob, who represents East County, introduced the resolution
SAN DIEGO COUNTY’S INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS ADDRESSED AT NCA CONVENTION
Printer-friendly versionStory and photos by Thea Skinner Rev. Canon Mary Moreno-Richardson, coordinator for Hispanic Ministry in the Diocese of San Diego speaks as other panelists are attentive during the National Communication Association’s 94th Annual Convention, "unCONVENTIONal" at the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Diego Nov. 22. Dec 1, 2008 (San Diego) — Spirits ran high in higher education during
CALIFORNIA LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS 2008 SCORECARD: A TO F FOR SAN DIEGO’S LEGISLATORS
Printer-friendly versionEnvironmental voting records for east San Diego County state legislators and Governor Schwarzenegger By Sylvia Hampton December 9, 2008 San Diego) — Environmental protection is very important to San Diego County voters. Every year the League of Conservation Voters publishes a "scorecard" on the voting records of all state level representatives: www.ecovote.org/scorecard_2008.pdf. Among Assembly members representing East County and
Tecate, our Neighbors South of the Border
Printer-friendly versionBy Dennis Moore December 7, 2008 (Tecate) — Between the desert and the sea beats the heart of Baja California: Tecate, Mexico (not to be confused with the American city by the same name just across the border). Located in the northern central part of the state, Tecate is the ideal starting destination to every other city or point
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