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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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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: AN OPEN LETTER TO THE SDSU COMMUNITY
Printer-friendly version by SDSU President Stephen L. Weber Sept. 21, 2009 (San Diego) — As a direct result of devastating state budget cuts of $571 million, the California State University is reducing enrollment system-wide this year and next by 40,000 undergraduate students. Over the same period, San Diego State will be reducing its enrollment by 4,588 undergraduates. These cuts
VICTIM IDENTIFIED IN EL CAJON MOBILE HOME FIRE
Printer-friendly version September 28, 2009 (El Cajon) – Karen Hunter was found dead following a fire in her mobile home that began shortly before 7 p.m. last night, the County Coroner’s office has confirmed. Heartland Dispatch received numerous calls about the fire at El Capitan Mobile Home Park, 1425 E. Madison Avenue. El Cajon firefighters were cooking their dinner
CONGRESSMAN FILNER URGES IMPROVEMENT IN LABOR POLICY FOR WOMEN FEDERAL CONTRACTORS
Printer-friendly version As the economic downturn intensified over the last year, previous gains in women’s wages disappeared. From 2007 to 2008, real wages for full-time women workers fell by 2 percent – twice the rate of male workers’ wages. “We must have a more aggressive strategy to close the wage gap to ensure that both men and women are
JERRY BROWN ADDRESSES DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION IN SAN DIEGO; ATTORNEY GENERAL CALLS FOR REFORMS, HINTS AT THROWING HAT IN RING FOR GOVERNOR’S RACE
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery September 27, 2009 (San Diego) – “Our state is in trouble,” former Governor and current Attorney General Jerry Brown said at the San Diego Grassroots Democratic Convention here yesterday. Massive deficits coupled with tax revenues drying up are crippling education and public safety, Brown suggested during his speech and in an interview with East
TRIO OF REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR CANDIDATES ADDRESS STATE GOP CONVENTION
Printer-friendly version Whitman takes heat for failure to vote for nearly 3 decades By Miriam Raftery September 27, 2009 (Indian Wells) – Three Republican candidates vying for the California governorship offered contrasting views on how to revive the state’s ailing economy—and lobbed some pointed barbs at each other at this weekend’s state Republican convention. In recent months,
HEALTH CARE REFORM: CAN WE PASS THE FINAL HURDLE? OCT. 20 IN SAN DIEGO
Printer-friendly version September 27, 2009 (San Diego) – Want to learn more about healthcare reform options? San Diego’s League of Women Voters presents a luncheon featuring keynote speaker Gerald Kominski, Ph.D., professor at UCLA School of Public Health and Associate Director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. Dr. Jeoffrey Gordon from California Physicians Alliance will also speak, summarizing the
WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT HEALTHCARE MAY HURT YOU
Printer-friendly version Ex-Senator Kuehl Leads New Effort to Win Healthcare for All Californians By Miriam Raftery September 27, 2009 (San Diego) –Speaking to the San Diego League of Women Voters last week, former state Senator Sheila Kuehl shared some startling facts: California law used to require insurance companies to be nonprofits. Since that law changed, premiums have skyrocketed much faster than
Chicago ICE raid draws condemnation over tactics including zip-tying naked children and terrorizing residents, even citizens
Printer-friendly version“It’s illegal. Unconstitutional. It’s dangerous. It’s wrong. This is not about deportation. This is not about safety. This is about authoritarianism. It’s about stoking fear. It’s about breaking the Constitution” – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson By Alexander J. Schorr October 8, 2025 (Chicago) — On Friday morning at 1:00 AM on Chicago‘s South Shore Drive, federal agents in military garb smashed through doors with flash-bangs, dragged residents
Law enforcement stands ready to respond to regional emergencies
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service October 8, 2025 (San Diego) — In the wake of recent high-profile incidents across the nation, Sheriff Kelly Martinez and local law enforcement agencies held a press conference yesterday to advise the community that they are prepared and ready to respond to any emergency in San Diego County. Sheriff Martinez was joined by San Diego Law Enforcement Coordination Center (LECC) Director Roy
Diet tea recalled for containing sugar, posing danger to diabetics
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service October 7, 2025 (Washington D.C.) – Over 2,854 cases of Lipton Green Tea Citrus made by PepsiCo have been recalled because they actually contain mislabeled bottles of Lipton Green Tea Mixed Berry. The berry flavor is supposed to contain zero sugar, but these drink bottles labeled “Diet” in the mixed berry flavor contain 25 grams
Bicyclist dies after collision in Lemon Grove
Printer-friendly versionSource: San Diego County Sheriff October 7, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – A bicyclist is dead after a collision with a black Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck shortly before 9:30 p.m. last night in the 8500 block of Troy Street in Lemon Grove. Deputies form the Lemon Grove Sheriff’s station responded to reports of a serious injury collision and found the
Missing Spring Valley teen
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service October 7, 2025 (Spring Valley) – Public help is sought to local Angel Mauricio Reyes Mejicanos, 15, who vanished after walking his sister to school on September 29. He was reportedly sighted in the Encanto area on October 1. His family is pleading for public help to find him according to the RAD Movement, which
Charging your devices: Safety steps can prevent lithium-ion fires
Printer-friendly versionBy Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine contributed to this report Photo: firefighters purposely overloaded a lithium-ion battery to show what can happen. October 6, 2025 (San Diego) — Make sure you’re charging your lithium-ion batteries safely for devices such as cell phones and laptop computers. Using the wrong charger or one
No kidding–firefighters save goat trapped in boulders
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery October 6, 2025 (Descanso) – A goat trapped between boulders on Mizpah Lane in Descanso has been freed, thanks to the efforts of Cal Fire/San Diego Fire crews. Firefighters from Station 44 in Pine Valley and Station 45 in Descanso responded and performed a technical rescue to extricate the goat. “We are deeply honored to serve
Recall Ortiz effort in El Cajon fails to qualify for ballot
Printer-friendly versionAn effort to recall El Cajon City Council Phil Ortiz (seated, left) is not moving forward. By Karen Pearlman Oct. 6, 2025 (El Cajon) – A grass-roots effort begun in 2024 to recall El Cajon City Councilmember Phil Ortiz has fizzled after organizers failed to turn in signatures as required by last Friday to qualify a recall for the
Reduced Santee Council approves 285-unit condo project near Town Center Community Park
Printer-friendly versionBy Mike Allen October 5, 2025 (Santee) — The vacant lot behind the Cameron YMCA will soon be vacant no longer. The Santee City Council voted 3-0 to approve a 285-unit condominium project on the 22.17-acre site which had long been used by dog walkers, model car and plane users, and overspill parking during big events at the Town
Media Watch: Free speech groups denounce deportation of Emmy-award winning journalist for live-streaming ICE raids and protests
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery October 5, 2025 (Atlanta, GA) – In an action that has drawn condemnation from journalism and civil liberties organizations, the Department of Homeland Security on Friday deported Mario Guevara, an Emmy award-winning journalist, to El Salvador in retaliation for his live-streaming of ICE raids. “The government kept Mario unlawfully detained for weeks because of his
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