East County Magazine
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: DOE, A DEER
Printer-friendly version December 29, 2012 (Cuyamaca) — While driving through Rancho Cuyamaca State Park last week, ECM editor Miriam Raftery spotted several groups of deer grazing in the sun-dappled woods, including this doe, which paused to pose for a picture-perfect moment. The best time to see deer is in the last hour before sundown; this photo was taken
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: MOON HALO
Printer-friendly version December 29, 2012 (Mount Helix) — “Ring around the moon, rain is coming soon,” according to an old saying. There is truth to the statement, since a halo around the moon is caused by high cirrus clouds and a reflection off millions of ice crystals high up in the atmosphere that creates this irridescent rainbow-like effect. Moon halos
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: WILD TURKEYS IN CUYAMACA
Printer-friendly version Decenber 26, 2012 (Cuyamaca) — Turkeys for Christmas may conjure up images of a holiday dinner. But photographer Tom Lemon spotted this flock on Christmas Day while driving through Rancho Cuyamaca State Park. He suggests these turkeys should be grateful that they’re living in a protected area where hunting is not allowed–or, perhaps, hoping more folks will choose
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: CHRISTMAS MAGIC AT COWLES ISLAND
Printer-friendly version December 25, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) — No, this isn’t a preview of what East County might look like after a few decades of rising tides and global climate change. This image of Cowles “island” is in fact Cowles Mountain, surrounded not by water, but a sea of clouds. Scroll down for a second image depicting the
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: MOUNTAIN SHADOW
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery December 24, 2012 (Mount Helix) — This Christmas Eve, enjoy Tom Lemon’s gift to our readers. I’ve seen shadows cast by clouds on the earth below, but I’d never before seen shadow on top of the clouds. Lemon snapped this unusual image from Mount Helix, looking down on pink-tinged clouds early in the morning
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: ALL IS CALM, ALL IS BRIGHT
Printer-friendly version December 21, 2012 (Mount Helix) — Tom Lemon snapped this serene image depicting a sea of golden-hued clouds, taken from atop Mount Helix on a foggy mid-winter morning in San Diego’s East County. Printer-friendly version
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: UNCLE SAM AT LAKE MURRAY
Printer-friendly versionDecember 4, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – “Uncle Sam made sure everyone knew (well – everyone at Lake Murray on my 6 mile walk) it was their civic duty to vote today,” Greg Dunne wrote in an e-mail to ECM on election day, adding that he received enthusiastic comments from walkers, dog walkers, bicyclists, joggers and others. “Thanks
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: SILENT BEAUTY
Printer-friendly version December 1, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Melody Ponchot has provided us with a dazzling set of photographs that are a study in contrasts, some shot in the snow-covered rural landscape around her home in Boulevard, others taken at Valley of the Moon, a boulder-strewn terrain east of Jacumba. In both places, there is tranquility in the
BEST VIDEOS IN EAST COUNTY: BOBCATS IN EL MONTE VALLEY
Printer-friendly versionBy Billy Ortiz View video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0EPuSgKJOY November 20, 2012 (Lakeside) –Early in the morning on November 15 in El Monte Valley, I was driving slowly like always, hoping to see a cat. Today was my day–I spotted one close to the road, followed it up the mountain a bit and discovered that there was more than one. Much to
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: DESERT PANORAMA
Printer-friendly versionNovember 11, 2012 (Ocotillo) – Tom Lemon sent in this photograph of pristine desert before the construction of the wind project in Ocotillo. “The view from the bottom of Mountain Springs Grade has been a favorite for many years,” said Lemon, who shot this view looking south. In the foreground are the SD&AE railroad tracks; above is I-8 and
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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: 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.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: PALISIDES FIRE IN LOS ANGELES
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service January 8, 2025 (Los Angeles) – No, that’s not a tornado or mother ship descending. Henri Migala snapped this apocalyptic image of the Palisades Fire which is devastating Los Angeles. This photo was taken from the Westin Hotel near Los Angeles International Airport. As of today, the fire has burned 15,832 acres, has destroyed many
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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.