Award-winning nonprofit media in the public interest, serving San Diego's inland region

Award-winning nonprofit media in the public interest, serving San Diego's inland region

Breaking News

Explore What Matters

Stay informed on the issues that shape East County. From local news and emergency alerts, to community celebrations

News Center

News Issues

Politics

Wildfires and Emergencies

Events & Arts

Visit East County

People

Communities

Features

Get East County Wildfire, Emergency Alerts

Critical wildfire and emergency notifications delivered instantly.Join Neighbors who stay informed and prepared with our award winning Journalist

Latest Stories

Sponsorship Placement

MEETING SET FOR NOV. 9 ON SDSU AXING GUARANTEED ADMISSION FOR LOCAL STUDENTS

Printer-friendly version  San Diego Unified School Board invites parents, high school students and SDSU students impacted by changes to a special district-wide meeting     October 29, 2009 (San Diego) – San Diego Unified School Board wants to hear from parents and students impacted by San Diego State University changing its admission policies to eliminate guaranteed admissions for students who

Read More ...

LA MESA BANS ALCOHOL IN ALL PUBLIC PLACES WITHOUT A PERMIT

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery October 28, 2009 (La Mesa) – At last night’s La Mesa City Council meeting, it came as a surprise to many in the audience to learn that alcohol consumption has been prohibited in City parks since 1991. Last night Council voted 5-0 to extend that ban to all public places including City streets, curbs, and

Read More ...

ALERT: HIGHWAY 94 CLOSED IN LEMON GROVE

Printer-friendly versionUpdate:  The woman, who has not been identified, fell from the bridge at 3:30 p.m. while law officers tried to talk her down.  Following CPR, she was transported to a hospital. Her condition has not been released.   October 28, 2009 (1:30 p.m.) – California Highway Patrol has issued a traffic alert and shut down Highway 94 in both directions in

Read More ...

SMOKIN’ HOT CHANGES AT PINNACLE PEAK

Printer-friendly version Famed Local Restaurant Serves Up Fare for a Crowd at Santee Chamber Mixer   By Miriam Raftery   October 28, 2009 (Santee) – Pinnacle Peak, East County’s Western-themed steakhouse best-known for adorning its walls with ties cut from the necks of guests who violate the casual dress code, hosted a recent mixer for the Santee Chamber of Commerce that attracted a

Read More ...

EVERY DOLLAR SPENT ON METH TREATMENT SAVES $7 IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM COSTS, EAST COUNTY PILOT PROGRAM REVEALS

Printer-friendly version  October 28, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)–Operation Tip the Scale was a six month multi-jurisdictional effort in East County that sought to increase public contact with law enforcement and to provide information about how to get help with drug problems. In San Diego County, methamphetamine continues to be the drug of choice for many adults, although this operation focused on

Read More ...

LIFE WALK DRAWS HUNDREDS IN LA MESA & ESCONDIDO TO FUND PRO-LIFE CURRICULUM

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery October 28, 2009 (La Mesa) — Linda Noble believes strongly that abortion is wrong. But she has taken a different approach to the controversial issue from most pro-life organizations. On Saturday, 200-300 walkers turned out in La Mesa, with more in Escondido to raise funds for an education program authored by Noble. “The political aspect

Read More ...

EL CAJON ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR PLANNING COMMISSION & PLANNING COMMISSION

Printer-friendly version  October 28, 2009 (El Cajon)–If you live in the City of El Cajon and would like to be more involved in your community, consider applying for one of two City Commissions. The El Cajon City Council is accepting applications for the Personnel and Planning Commissions.   The filing period is October 14, 2009 through November 6, 2009, at 5:00

Read More ...

CREATIONIST BILLBOARD, CABLE SKI PARK, & BIKE PLAN TO BE CONSIDERED BY SANTEE COUNCIL WED. OCT. 28

Printer-friendly version  October 27, 2009 (Santee) – Santee City Council will hold public hearings on Wednesday Oct. 28 for three hot topics. First, Council will hear public testimony on a cable ski park and restaurant at Santee Lakes, proposed by Padre Dam Municipal Water District. Second, Council will weigh whether to issue a conditional use permit for a freeway-oriented sign

Read More ...

WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL TEAM TO CHALLENGE CUYAMACA COLLEGE ATHLETES IN FAST-PACED ACTION EVENT WED. OCT. 27

Printer-friendly version October 26, 2009 ( El Cajon)–The annual wheelchair basketball game–where the sound of squeaking rubber isn’t from the soles of players’ shoes, but from custom-built chairs pivoting and spinning across the gym floor–is set for 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28 at the Cuyamaca College gym. The five-on-five games feature a mix of Cuyamaca’s basketball team

Read More ...

MUSIC IS THE BEST MEDICINE: GROSSMONT/SHARP HOSPITAL PHYSICIANS SAVORED “HAPPINESS COMMITTEE” MUSICAL EVENING

Printer-friendly version  A review by Bill Pogue   October 27, 2009 (La Mesa)–Grossmont Hospital Chief of Staff Michael Musicant M.D. recognized that the pace and structure of the medical practice today is stressful and tends to isolation of practitioners, compared to 30 years ago. So he set up a “Happiness committee” dedicated to getting staff together around social projects. Six

Read More ...

THE RENO REPORT: MORNING HAS BROKEN

Printer-friendly versionBy Jamie Reno Exclusive for East County Magazine October 15, 2008 (Tierrasanta) – Morning has broken. As the sun rises over the East County, a sense of calm permeates my body. Yesterday morning, when I started writing this column for East County Magazine on the new fire threats, it was a different story. I was filled with anxiety. The

Read More ...

CONTROL OF GROSSMONT UNION HIGH SCHOOL BOARD HANGS IN BALANCE

Printer-friendly versionElection creates rift among Republicans By Miriam Raftery Five candidates are vying for two seats on the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) Board of Trustees. The stakes are high. The outcome of this election may determine if  a popular superintendent will be retained, if a new high school will be built in Alpine, and if divisive forces will

Read More ...

PROPOSITION U SEEKS FUNDS FOR CLASSROOM UPGRADES, NEW BUILDINGS IN GROSSMONT UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery Grossmont Union High School District’s superintendent and four of five GUHSD school board trustees agree that Proposition U is critical to repair and replace aging buildings throughout the district—and build a long-awaited new high school for Alpine. “We can’t modernize the old industrial classrooms abandoned years ago without Proposition U,” GUHSD Superintendent Robert Collins said

Read More ...

ETHICS, BUDGET CUTS, & CHOOSING NEW CHANCELLOR TOP ISSUES IN GROSSMONT-CUYAMACA COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD RACE

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery The race:  Four candidates are running for two seats on the Grossmont-Cuyamaca College Board of Trustees.  Challengers Mary Kay Rosinski and Moe Bakeer face off against incumbents Tim Caruthers and Bill Garrett, board president.  ECM interviewed Rosinski, Caruthers and Garrett; Bakeer did not respond to interview requests. What’s at stake:  Community colleges face tough times amid

Read More ...

Remember “L” is on “La Mesa” ballots

Printer-friendly versionCity faces low reserves; bond rating, city jobs at stake if measure fails to pass By Kristin Hobbs Kjaero The proposition Proponents call it the “Vital City Services Measure,” and opponents call it a “Pension Tax.” The impartial ballot analysis identifies it as a “general tax,” which means revenue would go into La Mesa’s general fund and “the City

Read More ...

STATE OF DISUNION:  WAR VETERANS SPEAK OUT AGAINST MILITARY ABUSE OF TROOPS IN LOCAL STOP ON NATIONAL TOUR

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Editor’s Note:  Military authorities declined to speak with East County Magazine regarding this story. We also requested permission to interview veterans at Balboa Naval Hospital to obtain a diverse range of views on conditions in mlitary service.  Our request was denied.   October 18, 2008 (San Diego)–Army intelligence officer Selena Coppa has risked her freedom to speak out. 

Read More ...

SAN DIEGO SOLAR HOMES TOUR: SATURDAY OCT. 18

Printer-friendly version The San Diego Solar Homes Tour is quite possibly the longest running and most popular tour in California.  Celebrating the ninth year of the free tour, over 40 homes throughout San Diego County are participating—including many in East County and San Diego’s Eastern region. This self-guided tour, sponsored by the California Center for Sustainable Energy,  offers real-life, working

Read More ...

7th DISTRICT FIGHT – EMERALD VS. BOLING:  YOUR RINGSIDE GUIDE

Printer-friendly versionAccountant April Boling refuses to comment on allegations of “illegal and unethical bookkeeping”; opponent Marti Emerald shares vision for San Diego’s future By Joseph Rocha October 15, 2009 (San Diego)–Touted  as “The Troubleshooter vs. the Accountant” by local media,  San Diego’s 7th District Council race sounds more like a build-up to a Saturday night cage fight than a hotly contested

Read More ...

HIGHWAYS OPEN, FIRES 100% CONTAINED IN CAMPO AND RANCHO BERNARDO; FIREFIGHTERS STILL BATTLE JULIET BLAZE

Printer-friendly versionOctober 14, 2008, 11:00 p.m. — All major highways in San Diego County are open tonight. The Juliet Fire, which burned 3,980 acres in the Oceanside area after spreading from Camp Pendleton, is now 60% contained and evacuation orders in Fallbrook have been lifted. The Shockey Fire in Campo is 100% contained after burning 200 acres. A small fire

Read More ...

Get Wildfire Alerts & Wildfire Emergency News

Stay ahead of emergencies with real-time notifications delivered directly to your inbox when seconds count.

Partner To ECM

Connect with East County’s most informed and engaged community. Our readers trust ECM for critical news and actively support local businesses.

Our Engaged Audience

Unique Visitors

5 to 10 million hits

per month!

Number of Visitors
0

5 to 10 million hits

per month!

A quarter million visits

each month

Most widely read news site dedicated to

San Diego’s East County

Winner of over 150

journalism awards

“Sponsoring East County Magazine is a great way to reach our loyal and engaged readers, who value organizations and businesses that support nonprofit, independent news in the public interest and wildfire/emergency alerts that keep people safe and informed. Sponsors can choose to underwrite our community news site, support a favorite section or a new special section, underwrite an event, or sponsor our wildfire and emergency alerts.”

Miriam Raftery, Founder of East County Magazine

Thanks To Our Major Sponsors

📬 Subscribe to ECM – 100% Free, Trusted by East County Since 2008

Reviews and Feedback