Columns
East County Magazine
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Advancing Healthy Communities
Destination East County
Earth Talk ®
East County Eater
From the Chief’s Corner
Media Watch
Archived Columns(Columnists no longer active.)
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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…

League of Women Voters of San Diego continues nonpartisan candidate forums ahead of June primary
YouTube video screenshot of League of Women Voters’ District 2 candidate forum on March 5 East County News Service March 25, 2026 (San Diego) –…

Destination East County: April festivities and Easter events
By Miriam Raftery March 20, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) – Upcoming events in our inland region include egg hunts, a bunny bash, and a…

Advancing Healthy Communities: Building resilience in the backcountry
Printer-friendly versionCommunity Unites to Reimagine Campo’s School Field By David Shorey, Institute for Public Strategies Photo: Campo Elementary field (photo courtesy of Estrada Land Planning) December 17, 2025 (Campo) — In the

Rehabilitated bobcat released after 4-month recovery in Ramona
Printer-friendly versionPhoto courtesy San Diego Humane Society East County News Service Feb. 23, 2026 (Ramona) — A bobcat kitten was returned to her native habitat yesterday (Feb. 22) after undergoing

Destination East County: Springtime festivals and events
By Karen Pearlman Feb. 13, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) — As the chill of winter fades, seasonal events are blossoming across San Diego’s inland…

Buon appetite! New Gino & Gianni’s Pizzeria by Mamma Mia in La Mesa offers artful and delicious dining experiences
Printer-friendly versionBy Heidi Hope December 2, 2025 (La Mesa) – Gino & Gianni’s Pizzeria by Mamma Mia, a new pizza restaurant in La Mesa, evokes Italian ambience from delicious food

Destination East County: Dreamy December events to remember
Printer-friendly version East County News Service Listen to an audio version of this story. November 30, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – ‘Tis the season to be jolly—and there’s plenty

From the Fire Chief’s Corner: Thanksgiving safety tips with a side of manners
Printer-friendly versionBy Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna November 22, 2025 (San Diego) — Thanksgiving signifies the beginning of the holiday season. Many will be spending more time in the kitchen preparing for the

ACT II provides budget-friendly and stylish women’s fashions
Printer-friendly version By Heidi Hope November 18, 2025 (La Mesa)– For 43 years, Act II has been a thriving and successful boutique offering women’s resale fashion in La Mesa’s downtown
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CLICK TO READ ALL CURRENT AND PAST COLUMNS BY THESE COLUMNISTS:
Scroll down to see the most recent column entries by all columnists, or click your favorite columnist’s link below to see all current and past columns.
Advancing Healthy Communities
Destination East County
Earth Talk ®
East County Eater
From the Chief’s Corner
Media Watch
Archived Columns(Columnists no longer active.)
Scroll down to see the most recent column entries by all columnists, or click your favorite columnist’s link above to see all current and past columns.
MARKETING MATTERS: TIPS AND TRICKS FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS AND GROWTH
Printer-friendly versionYour #1 Marketing Tool By Rama Beerfas April 1, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – Clients often ask me, “What is the number one most effective marketing tool?” My
Good Money – How to Survive a Bear Market, “Armchair Quarterback” Analysis
Printer-friendly versionYour guide to profitable and socially responsible investing By Judith L. Seid, CFP ® April 1, 2009 (La Mesa)–I thought you would all appreciate this “armchair quarterback" analysis, done
MEDIA WATCH: DEMISE OF NEWSPAPERS, INCREASED MEDIA CONSOLIDATION THREATEN DEMOCRACY, WARN MEDIA EXPERTS AT LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS EVENT
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery “If we don’t find a way to save investigative journalism, our democracy will not only suffer, it will die." – Jeanne Brown, vice president, San Diego
VOTER’S WATCHDOG: ELECTION OFFICIALS ARRESTED FOR RIGGING ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES; PLUS DIEBOLD ATM MACHINES FOUND TO CONTAIN SECRET ID-STEALING SOFTWARE
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery April 1, 2009 (La Mesa)—The prospect of election-rigging via electronic vote machines is no longer a theory. In Kentucky, election officials have been arrested for reportedly
VOTER’S WATCHDOG: CIA WARNS E-VOTING NOT SECURE; PROOF EMERGES THAT CA’S DIEBOLD VOTING MACHINES DROP VOTES & AUDIT LOGS ALLOW DELETION OF VOTING RECORDS
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery March 28, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)—In testimony before the U.S. Election Assistance Commission in Florida, CIA cyber security expert Steven Stigall said that voting equipment
PEARLS – PARALLEL PASSIONS
Printer-friendly version By Charlavan Baker Hart April 1, 2009 (El Cajon)– I spend part of each week and sometimes a portion of each day doing what I call ‘social cancer
LOCAL ARTIST AND AUTHOR CHARLAVAN PUBLISHES BOOK FOR BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery April 1, 2009 (El Cajon)—The indomitable spirit of Charlavan Baker Hart shines like a beacon of hope in her new book, Tit Tatts: Life After Breast
Excerpt from Tit Tatts: Life After Breast Cancer
Printer-friendly version PRELUDE Little girls can hardly wait to have boobies. When I was about 13 I started to notice a difference in my body. I wasn’t all LITTLE GIRL
YOU’RE INVITED! JOIN US AT “ON THE ROAD WITH THE EAST COUNTY EATER” APRIL 20 AT THE VINE WINE BAR & BISTRO IN ALPINE
Printer-friendly versionApril 7, 2009 (Alpine)—East County Magazine invites our readers to join us in a festive culinary experience—and the unmasking of our very own East County Eater restaurant reviewer. For
THE BARREL ROOM: A WINETASTER’S TREAT IN RANCHO BERNARDO
Printer-friendly version A column for East County wine and beer enthusiasts 16765 Bernardo Center Dr., San Diego CA 92128 (858) 673-7512; www.thebarrelroomsandiego.com By J.J. Gold, guest columnist April
Columns
East County Magazine
CLICK TO READ ALL CURRENT AND PAST COLUMNS BY THESE COLUMNISTS:
Scroll down to see the most recent column entries by all columnists, or click your favorite columnist’s link below to see all current and past columns.
Advancing Healthy Communities
Destination East County
Earth Talk ®
East County Eater
From the Chief’s Corner
Media Watch
Archived Columns(Columnists no longer active.)

Lemon Grove Forward Club announces annual Sock Drive for November
Printer-friendly versionSource: Lemon Grove Forward Club November 4, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – The Lemon Grove Forward Club is kicking off its annual sock drive, “Socktober,” a tradition that has made a