East County Magazine
A DAY WITHOUT A BAG GOES COUNTYWIDE
Printer-friendly version More than 25,000 reusable shopping bags to be given away Dec. 16 December 16, 2010 (San Diego)–To promote “green’” shopping for the holidays and beyond, San Diego County has declared Thursday, Dec. 16, “A Day Without a Bag,” with shoppers encouraged to forgo single-use bags, and retailers and volunteers planning to give away more than 25,000 reusable
PADRE DAM’S SANTEE LAKES WINS AWARD FOR SOLAR PROJECT
Printer-friendly version December 8, 2010 (Santee) – At the Association of California Water Agencies conference in Indian Wells on December 2, Padre Dam’s Santee Lakes received the Theodore Roosevelt Award, ACWA’s honor for innovative resource management. The award was given to Santee Lakes for its solar power project, which placed 14,000 solar panels on top of the newly-constructed 300
2010 “GREEN” RANKINGS ISSUED FOR 10 LARGEST PUBLICLY TRADED U.S. HOMEBUILDERS
Printer-friendly version Major new “Green Homebuilder” Survey ; Impact of Recession Gauged in Terms of Progress (and Lack of Progress) Among Major U.S. Homebuilders. December 7, 2010 (Bethesda, Maryland)–An updated ranking of the environmental and sustainable practices of the United States’ 10 largest publicly traded homebuilders has been released today 2010 in a new report from the investment firm
HOLIDAY IN THE GARDEN LIGHTS UP NIGHT AT WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN DEC. 3 & 4
Printer-friendly version December 3, 2010 (Rancho San Diego)–The public is invited to enjoy holiday-merry making at The Water Conservation Garden’s third annual ‘Holiday in the Garden’ event. The five-acre water-saving garden will be illuminated with thousands of energy-saving lights, courtesy of SDG&E. The glow of holiday lights will make an enchanting backdrop as visitors stroll the grounds and enjoy activities
WHY ARE SOME EAST COUNTY CITIES CHARGING 100 TIMES MORE THAN OTHER LOCAL CITIES FOR COMMERCIAL SOLAR FEES?
Printer-friendly version East County News Service High fees violate state law, and discourage rooftop solar, Sierra Club says November 29, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – The Sierra Club has launched a campaign to urge local municipalities charging exorbitant permit fees for commercial rooftop solar installations to lower those fees to actual cost-recovery levels. A survey by Sierra Club found
FREE JOB TRAINING PROGRAM IN GREEN BUILDING AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PRACTICES
Printer-friendly version November 20, 2010 (Rancho San Diego)– Cuyamaca College and three other community colleges will be providing free classes and hands-on work experience in green building and sustainable energy to 360 students through a training program funded by San Diego Workforce Partnership. The $1.6 million in funds for the program comes from federal stimulus money along with grants from
LAKESIDE DAIRYMAN DAVE VAN OMMERING NAMED FARMER OF THE YEAR
Printer-friendly version Farmer powers dairy operations with electricity from cow’s methane waste, diversified business by opening pumpkin patch and Christmas tree patch for visitors November 20, 2010 (Lakeside) – Dave Van Ommering, co-owner/operator of Van Ommering Dairy in Lakeside, was honored as the 2010 Farmer of the Year for San Diego County at the California Center for the Arts
NATIVE GARDEN PLANTING & COMMUNITY POTLUCK NOV. 20 IN SANTEE
Printer-friendly version November 14, 2010 (Santee) – Volunteers are needed on November 20 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon to help San Diego River Park Foundation complete creation of an East County native Plant Garden at the Edgemoore Polo Barn—future home to a museum on the history of East County and Santee. Volunteers will help install native plants and trees that were used
TURN OVER A NEW “LEAF”– STATE OFFERS TAX CREDIT FOR PLUG-IN VEHICLES
Printer-friendly version November 12, 2010 (San Diego)–Next month, San Diego will become one of the first and few markets in the country where Nissan will begin selling its plug-in electric vehicle called the Leaf. That model will be joined by the Chevrolet Volt, another plug-in electric vehicle, by year’s end. These models and other plug-in electric vehicles are eligible for
WATER-SMART GARDENING FESTIVAL NOV. 13
Printer-friendly version Water-wise, fire-wise and cool-season gardening resources available November 12, 2010 (El Cajon) — In many parts of the U.S., people would scoff at the notion that fall and winter can be prime gardening months. But not in San Diego, with its Mediterranean climate characterized by mild to cool, wet winters and warm to hot, dry summers. The
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Supervisors greenlight pilot program for El Capitan Reservoir, promising expanded access
Printer-friendly versionSan Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to approve pilot program for El Capitan Reservoir. Photo courtesy Friends of San Diego Lakes via Instagram By Karen Pearlman Oct. 1, 2025 (San Diego County) — In a move hailed by East County residents and recreation advocates, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Wednesday to
Orphaned Mountain Lion Cubs Return to Wild
Printer-friendly version San Diego Humane Society’s Project Wildlife program helps young big cats reclaim their place in nature Source: San Diego Humane Society September 29, 2025 (Ramona) — Two mountain lion cubs who arrived at San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center as orphans in March have been returned to the wild. The young carnivores were released into suitable habitat
Clean swimming: San Vicente Reservoir gets new floating restroom
Printer-friendly versionThe floating restroom at San Vicente Reservoir. (Photo courtesy of the city of San Diego) By JW August, Times of San Diego Sept. 13, 2025 (Lakeside) — Good news for anyone who uses San Vicente Reservoir to fish, swim or boat — the 1,600-acre reservoir has a new floating bathroom. The previous floating john is past
Cottonwood sand mine in Rancho San Diego rejected by Board of Supervisors
Printer-friendly versionBy Paul Levikow Karen Pearlman contributed to this report Sept. 10, 2025 (San Diego County) – The Cottonwood Sand Mine project in Rancho San Diego was rejected unanimously Wednesday by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. In a packed board room, the supervisors heard from more than 100 speakers in a span of over two hours,
City of La Mesa gifting trees, hosting education series
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Sept. 10, 2025 (La Mesa) — La Mesa is hoping more trees will sprout up after it hosts a four-event educations series from September through November. As part of the series, thanks to partner Tree San Diego, 100 free trees will be distributed to La Mesa residents. La Mesa is partnering with Tree
Proposed Lakeside Sand Mine Owner Sues City of San Diego for Damages From Water Release at El Capitan Dam
Printer-friendly version 91-year-old dam is too dangerous for city to keep reservoir filled, leading to massive water waste and now, damage claims downstream Updated Sept. 5, 2025 with additional seismic risk details. By Karen Pearlman Sept. 1, 2025 (Lakeside) – A lawsuit against the city of San Diego is highlighting safety and management concerns at the El
Rollback of “Roadless Rule” to allow logging and road construction in National Forests draws opposition from tribes and ecologists
Printer-friendly version Trump administration opens 21-day public comment period Aug. 29-Sept. 19 By Miriam Raftery Photo: Cedar Creek Falls, one of the most scenic hiking destinations in San Diego’s East County, is in a roadless portion of Cleveland National Forest. August 29, 2025 (San Diego) — The Trump administration announced it is seeking public comment on its proposal to rescind the
Toxic Algae Bloom at Mission Trails Dam Site
Printer-friendly versionSource: San Diego River Park Foundation August 28, 2025 (San Diego) – Water samples collected last week at Old Mission Dam in Mission Trails Regional Park have tested positive for a cyanotoxin that can be harmful to people and pets. The San Diego River Foundation has posted caution signs, in cooperation with the California Water Boards San Diego Region
California Supreme Court hands victory to rooftop solar panel owners
Printer-friendly versionBy Malena Carollo, CalMatters This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Photo: rooftop solar panels on a home in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland, on Feb. 18, 2020. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters August 7, 2025 (Oakland) – The California Supreme Court today sided with environmental groups in a case seen as pivotal for the
County closes three parks in August to protect hikers from heat
Printer-friendly versionBy Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office Photo: El Capitan County Preserve August 1, 2025 (Lakeside) – As summer temperatures rise, the County of San Diego has closed three parks that it shuts down every year for the month of August to protect residents during what is often the hottest time of the year. Parks officials announced
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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.