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: BUTTERFLY BEAUTY

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery November 8, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) — ECM editor Miriam Raftery snapped this colorful image of a monarch butterfly on a lantana plant at the backyard of a home near San Diego State University on last weekend’s Sustainable Homes Tour. Printer-friendly version

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BALD EAGLES, CANADA GEESE TAKE WING AT LAKE CUYAMACA

Printer-friendly version   By Miriam Raftery       October 31, 2011 (Lake Cuyamaca) – In search of fall foliage, I ventured out to Rancho Cuyamaca State Park today.  Though it’s still early for the vibrant gold aspens and oaks yet to turn, some splashes of color were visible.  I found a far more rare and thrilling sight — a pair of

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: AN ILLUMINATING IMAGE HONORING ALPINE’S VETERANS

Printer-friendly version       October 17, 2011 (Alpine) – Rod Hinrichsen snapped this inspiring image at the Alpine Wall of Honor last weekend, when 33 new names of local veterans were added to the monument. “It shows the reflection of the people that are honoring the reflection of the service that their neighbors gave for this great country, exemplified

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: IT’S A DOG’S LIFE

Printer-friendly version   By Miriam Raftery   October 14, 2011 (La Mesa) — Editor Miriam Raftery snapped this pic of a pampered pooch and owner enjoying some lakeside dining at Anthony’s Fish Grotto in La Mesa. Dogs are welcome daily on an outdoor patio overlooking a duck pond.  Printer-friendly version

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: RARE BIRD SPOTTED IN EAST COUNTY

Printer-friendly version September 24, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Photographer Greg Turok snapped these images of a Nutmeg Mannakin, or Spice Finch, and its mate in the Mission Trails Regional Park area Sept. 5.     “This bird is a recent resident to San Diego County,” said Turok, who has had the bird identified by the Ornithology Department at the

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: VIEJAS REMEMBERS 9/11

Printer-friendly version     September 14, 2011 (Alpine) – Robert Scheid, vice president of community and public relations at the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, has submitted these photos of tribal members participating in a ceremony at the Viejas reservation to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.   On Sunday, September 11, 2011, a wreath

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FOR “MUSTANG MAN” WHO DARED TO DREAM, A SPIRITED JOURNEY CONTINUES

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery Video by Billy Ortiz  https://www.facebook.com/LakesideCaliforniaHistory/videos/1389484353508/   There comes a time in life when a person may decide to take a chance—to do something wild, so daring that it challenges the spirit and nurtures the soul. September 3, 2011 (Blossom Valley) – When Dale Harker, a Vietnam combat veteran and cancer survivor, decided to train a

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VIDEO TOUR: MISSION TRAILS, AMERICA’S LARGEST URBAN PARK

Printer-friendly version   August 28, 2011 (San Diego) — East County Magazine videographer Jack Winemiller has created this video tour of Mission Trails Regional Park.  At over 6,150 acres, Mission Trails is larger than Balboa Park, New York’s Central Park, and San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park combined!   From hiking to rock climbing, bicycling to birdwatching, you’ll find a variety of activities. There’s

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK

Printer-friendly version      August 21, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Photographer Wayne Brammer sent in these images of construction along the Sunrise Powerlink, with the following commentary on the Sunbird sky crane.   “Now if you’re a big kid like myself, you may like seeing choppers lifting BIG stuff.  Now this is a big chopper…”      

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: A SIZZLING SUMMER’S NIGHT IN EAST COUNTY

Printer-friendly version   August 21, 2011 (El Cajon) – Samantha Bonpensiero photographed the Novamenco concert at the Water Conservation Garden last weekend, capturing the beauty and drama of both music and dance on a sizzling summer’s night in Rancho San Diego.  Novamenco has emerged as one of San Diego’s hottest musical entertainment groups.              Printer-friendly

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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: CAN YOU NAME THIS BIRD?

Printer-friendly version   April 7, 2013 (Julian) – This photo taken by Nadin Abbott in Julian stumped our staff initially when we were asked to identify the bird with dramatic black and white markings. Fortunately, our “Bird Talk” columnist Greg Dunne checked with experts and confirmed that this beautiful bird in flight is Acorn Woodpecker. “Acorn Woodpeckers are social birds,”

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: EASTER BUNNY HOPS INTO JAMUL

Printer-friendly version   April 3, 2013 (Jamul) — Ariele Brooke sent in this adorable photo of her young relatives at an Easter event sponsored by Jamul Kiwanis. “They had a petting zoo with chickens, bunnies, and a goat,” Brooke reports, adding that activities also included an egg hunt, face punting and inflatable jump. “They always give away fantastic prizes (and

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: SPRING VISITOR AT LAKE JACUMBA

Printer-friendly version   By Miriam Raftery March 24, 2013 (Jacumba Hot Springs) –I spotted this beautiful crested bird, a cedar waxwing, on a visit to Jacumba Hot Springs last week.  Lake Jacumba, once virtually dry, is now refilled and is a magnet for a wide variety of bird species. Cedar waxwings are most often found in the northern United States,

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PARTICIPANTS GET IN CHARACTER AT VALLECITOS DAYS: ANNUAL EVENT CONTINUES SUNDAY

Printer-friendly version     By Miriam Raftery View videos:   Soldier, sea captain, mountain man’s “Rendevous tale March 16, 2013 (Vallecitos) — A soldier, a sailor, and a mountain man—all bringing to life tales from the 1850 and ’60s, shared their stories at Vallecitos Days.  The two-day event continues Sunday morning (ending at 2 p.m.)  at the Vallecitos Stage Station in

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: FROLICKING FAWNS

Printer-friendly version     March 13, 2013 (Jamul) — Debbie Ekhaml caught the action as twin fawns leaped across a meadow in an ecological preserve in Jamul.  Who knew that Bambi could jump so high–nearly resembling a kangaroo at times? “I have many pictures of them with the doe, but like them jumping the best,” wrote Ekhaml, who declined to

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JACUMBA HOT SPRINGS: AN OASIS FOR TOURING CYCLISTS ON THE SOUTHERN TIER

Printer-friendly version   March 11, 2013 (Jacumba Hot Springs)–Pinch Flat Fortune Productions has created a delightful video that provides a cyclist’s eye view of Jacumba Hot Springs, a town built around a natural mineral spring bubbling up from the ground near a pond that’s a birdwatcher’s haven. The filmmakers call Jacumba Hot Springs “magical,” adding that in addition to free camping

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: HIKING AT MISSION TRAILS REGIONAL PARK

Printer-friendly versionBy Greg Dunne March 6, 2013 –  Last week I did back to back hikes in Missions Trails Regional Park. I was treated with three Mule Deer on the trail—a great sight!  I have only seen deer at Mission Trails once before and that was after the Cedar fires of 2003. It was on my way back from North

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: CORTE MADERA PEAK

Printer-friendly version   March 2, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) — “A beautiful day, and a huge chunk of granite in The East County,” photographer Tom Lemon says of this image he shot of Corte Madera Peak, also known as the “Half Dome of San Diego County” rising majestically above pine trees.  Printer-friendly version

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: DESCANSO SNOW

Printer-friendly versionFebruary 26, 2013 (Descanso) — Julie Salmons shot these photos after this week’s heavy snowfall  blanketed her community in Descanso.  A headache for motorists when I-8 shut down nearby, the unusual weather created a tapestry of beauty from a photographer’s eye. Printer-friendly version

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: FOUR-WHEELING INTO MCCAIN VALLEY

Printer-friendly version   February 17, 2013 (McCain Valley) – Melody Ponchot of Boulevard sent this beautiful set of photos from an early morning adventure she took with a friend, Donna Tisdale, after the snowfall last weekend. “Four wheeling in the snow to McCain Valley is so much fun,” she observed.  This pristine public land, one of East County’s most beautiful

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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.