Award-winning nonprofit media in the public interest, serving San Diego's inland region

Award-winning nonprofit media in the public interest, serving San Diego's inland region

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.