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.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: AZTEC STARS VISIT VALLEY FARMS MARKET
Printer-friendly version Photo by Miriam Raftery April 1, 2023 (Spring Valley) – With Aztecs men’s basketball advancing to the “final four” for the first time in the team’s history, Aztec players Nate Mensah (left) and Matt Bradley (right) stopped by Valley Farms Market in Spring Valley earlier this week to meet shoppers and pose for pictures with fans, as well
VIDEO OF THE WEEK: REVOLUTION IN THE ORCHARD
Printer-friendly version March 31, 2023 (Santa Ysabel, CA) — East County Magazine interns Jacob Pamus and Daniela Torres visited Julian Farm and Orchard, where a recreation of a Revolutionary War battle was held. They interviewed participants in both the British and Colonists camps, including General George Washington. Julian Farm and Orchard is located in Santa Ysabel, California, just outside of
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: BOOT DRIVE FOR BURN INSTITUTE
Printer-friendly versionMarch 22, 2023 (Lakeside) – Shiloh Ireland snapped these phots of firefighters from the Lakeside Fire Department collecting donations for the annual Boot Drive in March. Proceeds benefit the San Diego Burn Institute. Printer-friendly version

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY
Printer-friendly versionMarch 15, 2023 (La Mesa) — Chuck Cibulka snapped this photo of a beautiful Western Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly on pink lantana blooms in La Mesa. Printer-friendly version
CANINE FUN AT ANNUAL FIDO FEST IN SANTEE
Printer-friendly version By Daniela Torres March 15, 2023 (Santee) — The 7th annual Fido Fest was held Saturday, March 11 at the Town Center Community Park East. This event provided a great opportunity for dogs and dog lovers to enjoy themselves with giveaways, an agility course, contests, and much more for a tail-waggin’ good time. Originally, Fido Fest was supposed

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: EAST COUNTY SNOW
Printer-friendly versionBy Rebecca Person Photo, left: Shane Marie – Boulevard March 7, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – East County’s high desert communities saw a better-than-ever snowfall this winter and many residents have captured scenes unusual to the area in Campo, Jacumba, Live Oak Springs, Boulevard and Bankhead Springs. Photo, right: Greg Curran – In Ko Pah Spirit Retreat Jacumba Hot Springs

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: WILDLIFE AT LINDO LAKE
Printer-friendly versionMarch 4, 2023 (Lakeside) – No, that’s not a penguin at Lindo Lake in Lakeside. Here’s how photographer Shiloh Ireland described this startling image. “I took out the camera and thought I would look for something unusual. Well, the animal world is amazing. I was able to take many shots of a mammal with a bird, the heron hanging

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: IN-KO-PAH SNOW
Printer-friendly versionMarch 2, 2023 (In-Ko-Pah) – Greg Curran sent in these photos of a rare snowfall blanketing In-Ko-Pah in the high desert, near the Desert View Tower and Boulder Park. Printer-friendly version

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: HAIL IN ROLANDO
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service February 27, 2023 (Roland) — A rare hailstorm pelted much of San Diego County on Saturday night. Pat Bennett of Rolando sent in these photos, stating, “I have lived in San Diego for 55 years and have never seen more than a few hailstones fall. Tonight, my garden, deck, patio furniture and roof were covered

SNOW PLAY IN SANTA ISABEL
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery Photos by Henri Migala and Miriam Raftery February 27, 2023 (Santa Ysabel)– The weekend storm brough snow to unusually low levels in San Diego County’s mountains. With popular destinations such as Julian, Cuyamaca and Mount Laguna blocked except to residents and chains required in the morning, followed by traffic jams when some highways later opened,
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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.