East County Magazine

Photo of the week: Jacumba sunset
April 6, 2026 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – Martin Eder sent in this photo, taken along Interstate 8 just west of Jacumba near the San Diego-Imperial…

Male lion joins pride at San Diego Zoo Safari Park
East County News Service View video: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1484962496593617 March 24, 2026 (San Pasqual) — The lion pride at the Safari Park just got a little louder…

Sunrise to sunset is theme of 2026 Lake Jennings photo contest
East County News Service March 15, 2026 (Lakeside) – Lake Jennings invites you to enter your best photos taken at Lake Jennings between April 1…

Photo of the Week: Here’s the buzz!
East County News Service February 7, 2026 (La Mesa) — Kristin Kjaero snapped this photo of a honeybee pollinating flowers in her succulent garden in…
Photo of the Week: Beaver moon
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service November 9, 2025 (Mt. Helix) — Dawn Sebaugh snapped this picture of the “Beaver Moon” on November 5, The November full moon was dubbed “Beaver Moon” because it’s the time when beavers are most active building their lodges for winter, and when the fur trading season was at its peak. The name has its origins

Photo of the week: Egret at Lake Morena amid dead plants and green water
Printer-friendly version East County News Service October 3, 2025 (Lake Morena) — Karen Pearlman snapped this photo of snowy white egret searching for fish at Lake Morena, casting a reflection in the deep green waters. The visit raises a curious question: Why are all the plants in the water at Lake Morena dead? It isn’t drought, since plants further up

Exclusive: ECM obtains video showing start of Coches Fire
Printer-friendly version View video September 17, 2025 (Lakeside) — East County Magazine photographer Patrick Ward has obtained surveillance video from a Lakeside homeowner who lives next to the spot where the Coches Fire began. The video from the homeowner, who asked to remain anonymous, shows vehicles on the roadway around 2:56 p.m. on September 8, 2025, followed by brush igniting

Photo of the week: Santee Fire Department’s new brush rig
Printer-friendly versionPhoto and story by Patrick Ward August 24, 2025 (Santee) – The Santee Fire Department this week held a push-in ceremony with its new home-type 3 brush engine, a symbol of the department’s commitment to safety and efficiency. The brush rig is designed to handle any emergency with precision and speed. The cost of the apparatus was

State Parks Photo Contest Running Through Sept. 30
Printer-friendly versionAnza-Borrego Desert State Park photo (left) by Karen Pearlman East County News Service July 15, 2025 (San Diego County) — California State Parks Foundation is inviting park visitors and photography enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels to capture the natural beauty, recreational activities and unique landscapes of California’s state parks. The California State Parks Foundation

Photos of the Week: Crest Celebrates Independence Day
Printer-friendly version July 6, 2026 (Crest, CA) – Paul Levikow sent in these photos from the 79th Crest Fourth of July Parade near Nancy Jane County Park. Parade watchers lined La Cresta Blvd. and Suncrest Blvd., to watch motorcycles, offroad vehicles, bicycles, classic cars, floats, and equestrians. The community event also included a live band, crafts, venders, food,
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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.
‘GET OUT THERE’ AT THE FAIR WITH COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION
Printer-friendly version By José Eli Villanueva, County of San Diego Communications Office June 12, 2023 (Del Mar) – Get great ideas to get outside this summer at a new San Diego County fair exhibit. This year’s theme at the fair is ‘Get Out There’ and the County’s Parks and Recreation Department is featured in the main hall. Here’s a sneak peek

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: MEMORIAL DAY IN EAST COUNTY
Printer-friendly versionMay 31, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) –Shiloh Ireland sent photos of East County Memorial Day commemorations, including changing of the flag on the bridge at Santee’s Veterans Memorial on Mast Blvd. The flag was donated by the city; and in attendance was the VFW of Santee as well as the American Legion of Santee and Dan Bickford, Vice
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: MISSING MAN TABLE
Printer-friendly versionMay 28, 2023 (Lakeside) – This Memorial Day weekend, the Boll Weevil in Lakeside set up a “missing man” table to commemorate prisoners of war and soldiers missing in action who never came home. “Lest we forget,” says Shiloh Ireland, who sent in this photo. Printer-friendly version
PHOTOS OF THE MONTH: BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE LAKESIDE RODEO
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service May 25, 2023 (Lakeside) – Shiloh Ireland took photos behind the scenes for two days leading up to the Lakeside Rodeo last month. Just eight seconds is considered a successful bull ride. Bulls released into the arena briefly weighed between 1,800 to 2,000 pounds each. Bronco-bucking horses of different breeds are bred to buck.
VIDEO OF THE WEEK: LAKESIDE WESTERN DAYS PARADE
Printer-friendly version May 16, 2023(Lakeside) — ECM interns Jacob Pamus and Danielle Torres took video highlights of the 2023 Lakeside Western Days Parade. The 59th annual parade featured the theme “Fighting for Justice” with District Attorney Summer Stephan as Grand Marshal, plus equestrian entries and other Western-themed participants. Printer-friendly version
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: LAKESIDE RODEO AND WESTERN DAYS PARADE
Printer-friendly versionBy Shiloh Ireland May 13, 2023 (Lakeside) – Lakeside Rodeo, which is Lakeside’s largest event of the year along with the parade, was Thursday through Sunday, April 27th. – April 30th. And the annual Lakeside Western Days Parade rolled out on April 29th. and it too was a fun-packed venue and family event. ECM was at Texas Roadhouse Restaurant

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: BALD EAGLE TAKES FLIGHT AT LAKE MORENA
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service May 2, 2023 (Campo) – Scott Lagace snapped images of a Bald Eagle taking flight at Lake Morena in rural East County. Printer-friendly version
VIDEO OF THE WEEK: EARTH DAY IN LA MESA
Printer-friendly version April 24, 2023 (La Mesa) — ECM interns Jacob Pamus and Daniela Torres visited La Mesa’s Earth Day celebration on Saturday, speaking with an event organizer and participants about their efforts to protect our planet. Printer-friendly version
VIDEO OF THE WEEK: SANTEE’S BUNNY TRAIL
Printer-friendly version April 13, 2023 (Santee) ECM intern Daniela Torres visited “Hop Down the Bunny Trail,” a free family-friendly event hosted by the city of Santee on April 1 at the Santee Trolley Square center. The fun included music, kids’ crafts, carnival rides, giveaways, Easter bunny photos, an egg hunt, and more. Printer-friendly version
VIDEO OF THE WEEK: MOUNTAIN LION VS. DEER
Printer-friendly version View video ful frame: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rLMqpVuZGbo April 5, 2023 (Alpine) — Buddy Wilkerson shot this video of a deer in a life-or-death struggle with a mountain lion. It was taken earlier this month along Tavern Road in Alpine, near Dehesa Road in San Diego’s East County. It’s rare to spot a mountain lion in broad daylight, let alone
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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.