East County Magazine
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: SDG&E’S NEW “ECO” SUBSTATION
Printer-friendly version February 15, 2014 (Jacumba)—Wayne Brammer sent in these photos of SDG&E’s new Eco Substation in Jacumba. The project is (so-named for hooking up to industrial-scale renewable energy projects. But to most backcountry residents, the project is an ecological disaster that destroyed the landscape and used three times more water (90 million
MT HELIX ACADEMY KIDS SHOW THEIR TALENT IN “LIKE TO HAVE FUN” VIDEO
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery February 15, 2014 (Mt. Helix)—The Mt. Helix Academy in la Mesa, which has students from kindergarten through ninth grade, takes pride in “happy kids who love to learn,” says Tracey Singer, marketing coordinator. So Singer wrote and directed a music video starring kids at the school “to show what a fun place we have,” he
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: RED-TAILED HAWKS AT NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE IN JAMUL
Printer-friendly version February 8, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – Debbie Ekhaml photographed these red-tailed hawks at three different locations around East County recently. They were taken in the National Wildlife Refuge in Jamul. Printer-friendly version
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: MICA GEM/TABLE MOUNTAIN
Printer-friendly version February 4, 2014 (McCain Valley) – Charles and Laurie Baker sent in these surreal images taken while hiking in the Mica Gem and Table Mountain wilderness areas in McCain Valley, where winds and weathering have carved out fantastic rock formations in this rugged terrain. Printer-friendly version
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: THE BEAUTY SOITEC WANTS TO DESTROY
Printer-friendly version January 30, 2014 (Boulevard) — Is a “green” energy project really green if it destroys these beautiful scenes? Soitec wants to industrialize our backcountry with over 8,000 solar panels, each 30 feet high, scraping the earth bare and destroying sensitive wetlands and wildlife habitat. Thanks to Teresa DeGroot for documenting what
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: CARRIZO GORGE
Printer-friendly version January 23, 2014 (Carrizo Gorge) – Laurie Baker sent photos taken while hiking at the rugged Carrizo Gorge in McCain Valley, near the site of a planned industrial wind facility. Her images show the dramatic rock formations that make this area one of the most spectacular scenic vistas in San Diego’s East County. A highlight of
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: A CHILD’S PARADISE AT INDIAN SPRINGS
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery January 7, 2014 (Descanso) — Duncan McFetridge sent in these idyllic images of his “spiritual grandson,” Ki, enjoying a swim at Indian Springs along the Sweetwater River, about a half hour hike from the town of Descanso. Printer-friendly version
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: RED TAIL HAWK
Printer-friendly version January 2, 2013 (Santee) – Laurie Baker sent in this photo of a Red Tail Hawk eating an American Coot, also known as a mud hen. “Isn’t it beautiful?” Baker says of the raptor, photographed at Santee Lakes. Printer-friendly version
INTERNATIONAL SKATING CHAMPION HEADLINES KROC ICE HOLIDAY SHOW
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery December 19, 2013 (San Diego) — Christopher Caluza, Philippine national champion, performed as the grand finale at last night’s holiday ice show at the Ray & Joan Kroc Community Center Ice Arena. The show also included performances by skating school students, from tots to senior citizens. Caluza got his start training at local
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: FALL AT MISSION TRAILS
Printer-friendly version December 11, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) — Mission Trails Regional Park forwarded these images taken by David Cooksy, showing resplendent fall foliage and a coyote in the park—the largest urban regional park in America. Printer-friendly version
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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.
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,
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: RACCOONS IN SAN CARLOS
Printer-friendly version June 30, 2025 (San Diego) – Diana Rozenshteyn snapped this photos of masked intruders– a raccoon family– in the backyard of her San Carlos home near Cowles Mountain. You can view more of her work at her website, San Diego in Bloom | Nature Photography by Diana Rozenshteyn. Printer-friendly version
INTERVIEW WITH CAL FIRE CAPTAIN ON MONTE FIRE
Printer-friendly versionJune 22, 2025 (Lakeside) — Cal Fire Captain Robert Johnson discusses firefighting efforts in the Monte Fire in Lakeside, during an interview yesterday with Shiloh Ireland. View video. At the time of the interview, the fire had burned 1,051 acres of rugged terrain on El Capitan Mountain. El Monte County Park in Lakeside became the staging and command center for
VIDEO OF THE WEEK: LAKESIDE RESIDENTS THANK FIREFIGHTERS
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service June 23, 2025 — Photographer Shiloh Ireland provided this video of Lakeside residents Sarah Ann WIlson and BIlly Ortiz unfurling a banner to thank firefighters who worked tirelessly to protect homes and halt the Monte Fire in Lakeside’s El Monte Valley. View video: Monte Fire Appreciation to Firefighters- 06/21/2025 Also see Ireland’s drone video showing the
VIDEO OF THE WEEK: ELEPHANTS’ POOL PARTY!
Printer-friendly version East County News Service May 11, 2025 (Escondido) — Elephants at the the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park in Escondido found a cool way to beat the heat during this week’s heat wave–holidng their own pool party. In this video, you’ll see the herd’s matriarch, Swazi, playing in the water with the youngsters. When one elephant goes in,
ENGAGED COUPLE SEEKS PHOTOGRAPHER WHO SHOT THIS PHOTO IN BORREGO ON MARCH 16, 2024
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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: PLAYING POSSUM
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 4, 2025 (La Mesa) – Cailin Acosta spotted these playful opossums on the fence in her La Mesa yard. “I was super excited, but my 12 year old twins were not impressed, ha,” she writes. “I did reach out and touch its fur. It was crispy, like a Bristol scrub, so interesting!”
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: MARY’S DONUTS CELEBRATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Photos by Karen Pearlman March 29, 2025 (Santee) – Mary Hennessy, the 90-something owner of Mary’s Donuts, grabs a sweet treat during her business’s 40th anniversary bash Saturday morning, March 29. Hennessy, who plied the donut trade at a Winchell’s Donuts, bought the former Zona’s Donut Shop with her husband, and opened the original Mary’s Donuts
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: TREED!
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service March 28, 2025 (San Carlos) – San Carlos resident and ECM reporter Karen Pearlman snapped this photo of a pair of raccoons chased up a tree by her dog,Charlie. Printer-friendly version
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: BORDER 2 FIRE
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service January 28, 2025 (Jamul) — Robert Hobbs sent in these images of the Border 2 Fire, which burned over 6,500 acres after starting on Otay Mountain in San Diego County on Jan. 23. These photos were taken Jan. 23 and 24 from Jamul.
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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.