East County Magazine
A ROARING GOOD TIME: EAST COUNTY CHAMBER MEMBERS GET UP CLOSE & PERSONAL WITH BIG CATS AT LIONS, TIGERS & BEARS
Printer-friendly version Story by Miriam Raftery; Photos by Mark and Miriam Raftery August 2, 2011 (Alpine) — "Oh, you’re beautiful!" San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce President Scott Alevy exclaimed as his wife, Joanne, dished up a forkful of chicken. But he wasn’t complimenting her cooking. Instead, Alevy was admiring Raja–a 500-pound Bengal tiger that Joanne was feeding after winning a drawing at Lions,
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: SNAKES ALIVE!
Printer-friendly version August 2, 2011 (Ramona) — ECM intern Elena Luz Pena snapped these "striking" close-ups of an unusually colorful rattlesnake at the home of her fiance’s father in Ramona. This two-foot-long critter’s message is crystal clear: don’t tread on me! Unlike some rattlers, Pacific Rattlesnakes are active both by day and night–often coming out at dusk to hunt
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: SPLISH-SPLASH, I WAS TAKING A BATH….
Printer-friendly version July 29, 2011 (Lakeside) –Thanks to Mike and Cathy Sears for sending in this photo of a surprising visitor in the birdbath outside their home on Wildcat Canyon Road in Lakeside. “It’s one of two red shouldered hawks in the area,” Mike said. “The hawks will even in get in and splash around in the bird bath.”
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: WILDCAT!
Printer-friendly version July 29, 2011 (Anza Borrego) — Daren Sefcik captured this rare image of a bobcat peering out of a rocky cave at Potrero Canyon in Anza-Borrego, a remote location accessible only by foot or by horse. "I went out hiking the canyon to try and reach the base of Stephenson Peak," Sefcik said. "About a mile from the base
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: WILDFIRE AT JACUMBA
Printer-friendly version July 16, 2011 (Jacumba) — Wayne Brammer captured these two images of a Cal-Fire crew and a San Diego Sheriff’s helicopter in action battling a brush fire near Jacumba this week. "With all the power lines running all over this area, my hat goes off to all of these
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: MIDSUMMER BLOOMS
Printer-friendly version July 9, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) — Joan McIntosh captured the fragile beauty of these night-blooming cereus at her backyard in Lakeside. The ghostly cactus flowers blossom just once in the warmth of a mid-summer’s night, then wither and perish. Printer-friendly version
FAMILY FUN AT SANTEE SALUTES 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION
Printer-friendly version Photos by Mark and Miriam Raftery July 6, 2011 (Santee) — The City of Santee hosted its annual "Santee Salutes" patriotic celebration on July 4th, drawing families from across East County for this major event. Scroll down to view photos of participants enjoying fun in the sun, followed by fireworks in the park after dark.
MISSED THE FIREWORKS? WATCH FINALE HERE FROM SANTEE SALUTES!
Printer-friendly version July 4, 2011 (Santee) – An estimated 7,000 people turned out for Santee Salutes, including families from throughout East County as well as local dignitaries including Assemblyman Brian Jones and Mayor Randy Voepel. Live music, patriotic presentations, carnival rides and a spectacular fireworks show were all part of the festivities. Printer-friendly version
ALL ABOARD! STEAM TRAIN RIDES, SQUARE DANCING & DIXIELAND JAZZ AT OLD POWAY PARK’S INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION
Printer-friendly version July 4, 2011 (Poway) –Decked out with red and blue bunting on wooden railway bridges, water tower and gazebo/bandstand, Old Poway Park today looked like a scene straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting. The Old West-themed park exemplifies the best of Americana this 4th of July, compete with rides on the Baldwin steam train (watch
EXPLORING CEDAR CREEK FALLS’ NEW TRAIL
Printer-friendly version Story, photos and video by Elena Peña June 29, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)–Nestled in between slopes in the Cleveland National Forest lies a gem known as Cedar Creek Falls, often referred to as The Devil’s Punch Bowl. A wondrous waterfall is the picturesque background to the swimming hole at the end of this approximately four-mile hike.
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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.
VIDEO OF THE WEEK: LIGHTS AT THE LAKES HOLIDAY SHOW IN SANTEE
Printer-friendly version December 16, 2022 (Santee) — ECM took a drive through the first-annual Lights at the Lakes holiday show, now running on select dates through December 24 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve. John Levken’s video shows highlights of the one-mile drive through over 35 different sparkling light displays set to music synchronized

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: BIG CATS ENJOY SNOW IN ALPINE
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service December 17, 2022 (Alpine) – Rescued tigers at the Lions Tigers & Bears big cat and bear sanctuary in Alpine enjoyed last week’s snowfall. Moka was a victim of the international exotic animal trade, and was rescued after being confiscated from the floorboard of a car at the U.S./Mexico border. He now has a permanent home with Nola, a white tiger who was an
VIDEO OF THE WEEK: FALL IN EAST COUNTY
Printer-friendly version December 5, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) — ECM intern John Lekven and editor Miriam Raftery highlight the many annual autumn attractions, festivals and events across San Diego’s East County. From colorful fall foliage to Oktoberfests, grapestomps at local wineries, Halloween happenings and fall festivals, culiminating in events to herald in the holiday season, each fall brings a

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: FALL FOLIAGE IN EAST COUNTY
Printer-friendly versionDecember 4, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) — It’s a beautiful time of year for a drive through East County’s mountain areas. Our editor, Miriam Raftery, snapped the image in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park (left) and of the town hall in Ramona (right, below), resplendant in fall foliage. Printer-friendly version

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: INAJA MEMORIAL
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service November 27, 2022 (Inaja) – Claudia White took this photo of the Inaja Memorial between Santa Ysabel and Julian, where she stopped to remember the 11 men who lost their lives battling the Inaja Fire on November 25, 1956. She writes, “My husband, Dean White, was across the canyon on the same fire. He was

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: SUNBEAMS
Printer-friendly version November 22, 2022 (Alpine) — Josh Stotler snapped this inspirational image of a starburst sun beaming morning rays onto a field in Alpine, California. Printer-friendly version
VIDEO OF THE WEEK: FIREFIGHTERS DOUSE CAR FIRE IN EL CAJON
Printer-friendly version East County News Service November 4, 2022 (El Cajon) – Robert Gehr snapped these photos and videos of firefighters in action, extinguishing a car fire in the 100 block of Wells Avenue in El Cajon around 7 a.m. today. “San Miguel Fire appeared to be the first responder and used a fire extinguisher to knock down the flames,” Gehr says.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: MASKED BANDIT IN SANTEE
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service October 23, 2022 (Santee) — Cynthia Robertson sent in this image, originally posted on Facebook, with the following witty message. “Well, tonight I had the scare of my life coming out of the Walmart in Santee. As I walked up to my car, I was approached by a masked bandit. I stepped back and

PHOTO OF THE MONTH: REMEMBERING 911 IN EL CAJON
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service October 4, 2022 (El Cajon) – Robert Gehr shot this dramatic photo of a massive flag hanging off El Cajon City Hall in memory of the 911 attacks, against the backdrop of the sunrise. Printer-friendly version

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: COYOTE IN COLLEGE AREA
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service September 27, 2022 (San Diego) — Steve Treese took this photo of a coyote in his garden, poised to snatch fruit from his garden. He used his iPhone to snap this image from his bedroom window in College View Estates. Treese says the coyote, shown beneath a Ponderosa lemon tree, was there to eat persimmons
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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.