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Archived Columns(Columnists no longer active.)
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.
CHEAPSKATE GUIDE – TIPS FOR SURVIVING HOLIDAYS IN HARD TIMES
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery December 1, 2008 Holiday season can be a major budget-buster. Short of morphing into Ebenezeer Scrooge and avoiding gift-giving or merrymaking, how can you survive the
THE WILL POWER REPORT – A BLANKET PARDON?
Printer-friendly versionNothing but the Truth! By Will Power December 1, 2008 (San Diego) — When I was about five years old, my father was a US Air Force Officer. He
THE RENO REPORT – Good Luck, Chuck!
Printer-friendly versionAn Iowa native & SDSU Alum on the Firing of Chuck Long By Jamie Reno Exclusive for East County Magazine November 25, 2008 (San Diego) — The announcement this
SIMPLE WISDOM – NOVEMBER
Printer-friendly versionGratitude for Hard Times By Penelope Young Andrade LCSW Are you grateful for hard times? Although you may welcome reminders to be grateful, you probably don’t strive to be
THE ROLLING REVIEWER — A TRAIL FIT TO BE WHEELED
Printer-friendly versionBy Janelle Eckardt Dec. 1, 2008 (San Diego) — Native San Diegans are quick to admit that we enjoy arguably the best weather in the entire country – boasting
VINES AND STEINS – ORFILA VINEYARD & WINERY
Printer-friendly versionBy Richard Noel Orfila employee Dolores Castaneda pours a generous taste for Shari Zollo (right) of Vista, who enjoyed the festivities with Barbara Deuel and Drea Zollo Bush (both
THE CHEAPSKATE’S GUIDE TO LIVING WELL IN EAST COUNTY – Hot Tots and Cool Kids
Printer-friendly versionResale Clothes & Toys for Children of All Ages By Miriam Raftery November 1, 2008 – In today’s cost-conscious times, parents are rediscovering the jobs of resale shopping. By
VOTER’S WATCHDOG – Be a Good Citizen: Vote!
Printer-friendly versionVOTER’S WATCHDOG – Be a Good Citizen: Vote! By Penelope Young Andrade, LCSW, guest columnist Are you ready to be a good citizen? Like many of us, you may
‘East of the Line’ debuts this week
Printer-friendly versionA new column by award-winning rural journalist Billie Jo Jannen makes its exclusive debut this week in East County Magazine. The column, dubbed East of the Line, will deal
East of the Line – 50 PERCENT OF MY SDG&E BILL IS SUPPOSED TO GO FOR INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE — SO WHAT AM I GETTING FOR MY MONEY?
Printer-friendly versionBy Billie Jo Jannen Once upon a time, our power in many parts east of the line, was provided by a cooperative formed, as many were in the wake
Search by Specific Date
Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting — not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine’s local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
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.

Trump ramps up bullying and censorship efforts against media
Printer-friendly versionBy G. A. McNeeley September 20, 2025 (Washington D.C.) — Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has been waging an aggressive campaign against the media, unlike

Destination East County: October outings
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service September 17, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) — October brings Oktoberfest celebrations in La Mesa and El Cajon and Borrego Days in the desert, as

From the Fire Chief’s Corner: it’s Fall Prevention Awareness Month
Printer-friendly versionBy Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna September 19, 2025 (San Diego) – Each September, as the seasons shift and leaves begin to fall, we turn our attention to a quieter

Advancing Healthy Communities: Cannabis data shows significant impact on physical and mental health of youth and young adults
Printer-friendly versionBy Seraphina Eberhardt Photo: “Cannabis Understands – 2017” by Jurassic Blueberries is licensed under CC BY 2.0. September 4, 2025 (San Diego) — New data shows a concerning trend: today’s high-potency cannabis products are

Destination East County: Memorable September events
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery August 18, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – As summer transitions into fall, September brings seasonal events such as an Autumn Jubilee, Sycuan’s Powwow,

From the Fire Chief’s Corner: August is national immunization month
Printer-friendly versionBy Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna This is no shot in the dark August 16, 2025 (San Diego) — Viruses and bacteria that cause illness and death still exist

Advancing Healthy Communities: one year of change: Revitalize Broadway Lemon Grove celebrates its first anniversary
Printer-friendly versionBy Seraphina Eberhardt, Program Director, Institute for Public Strategies East County Photo: members of the Revitalize Broadway Board celebrate the one-year anniversary of its founding. Photo by Revitalize Broadway

From the Fire Chief’s Corner: hot blooded?
Printer-friendly version By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna July 25, 2025 (San Diego) — Warm temperatures can have a surprisingly complex impact on your blood and cardiovascular system. Here’s how your
Destination East County: hot August nights bring late summer celebrations
Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version

Advancing Healthy Communities: Inside the Bing and Underage Drinking Initiative’s 2025 Annual Status Report for County
Printer-friendly version By Seraphina Eberhardt, Program Director, Institute for Public Strategies July 1, 2025 (El Cajon) — Community leaders, prevention experts, and local advocates came together at Singing Hills
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