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.

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: HOW TO SPOIL A GOOD PICTURE

Printer-friendly version   February 9, 2013 (Ocotillo) — Photographer Jim Pelley brings us this perspective of how the Ocotillo Express Wind Facility has marred the beauty of nature in his desert community. “The snow can been seen from Ocotillo and it used to be a good picture from my house,” he writes. “Now the picture is littered with these monstrosities.”

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: WILE.E COYOTE IN EAST COUNTY

Printer-friendly version   January 29, 2013 (Santee)–Van Collingsworth, Executive Director of Preserve Wild Santee, snapped this portrait of a coyote this week. “The Coyote had just finished drinking from Sycamore Creek near the boundary of Fanita Ranch, MCAS- Miramar, and a Mission Trails Expansion Area parcel of East Elliot,” he states. “Sycamore Creek is an important wildlife corridor and is the

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: ALIEN INVASION?

Printer-friendly version   January 28, 2013 (Ocotillo) – A reader on our Facebook page posted that when she drove east over the Mountains into Ocotillo recently at night, she was startled to see an array of blinking lights that resembled an “alien invasion.” Ocotillo resident Jim Pelley sent us this photo of the “invaders” — nearly 100 wind turbines flashing

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PHOTOS OF THE MONTH: “BIRD HOLE ROCK” IN MCCAIN VALLEY

Printer-friendly version   January 24, 2013 (McCain Valley) – Charles and Laurie Baker enjoy hiking in McCain Valley and the rugged Carrizo Gorge.  They have submitted numerous photos of rocks containing large holes suitable for hawks and eagles to nest in, or perch on while scanning the valley below for prey.  This is an area close to the proposed Tule

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: SNOW FALLS IN JACUMBA

Printer-friendly versionJanuary 12, 2012 (Jacumba) — This week’s winter storm brought an unusual treat for residents of Jacumba, elevation 2850: snow!  Danielle Cook took these photos outside Jacumba Hot Springs, where a light dusting of snow blanketed the area.  Don’t rush out to visit, though — it’s already melting away in the mid-day sun. Printer-friendly version

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: ANZA BORREGO DESERT STATE PARK

Printer-friendly version   January 9, 2013 (Anza Borrego) – Daren Sefcik photographed these spectacular images in the Anza Borrego Desert State Park.  This endangered Peninsular Bighorn Sheep ram was spotted in a canyon between Potrero and Squaw canyons near Agua Caliente campground. “We were out backpacking for four days through there, “Sefcik says.  He also captured this beautiful sunrise over

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: FARMER’S DAY OFF

Printer-friendly versionJanuary 5, 2013 (Boulevard) – It’s clear they weren’t plowing fields at this ranch in Boulevard, where a heavy snowfall created these winter wonderland scenes on New Year’s Eve taken by Melody Ponchot.              Printer-friendly version

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: TALKING TURKEY

Printer-friendly version January 4, 2013 (San Diego’s East County)–ECM editor Miriam Raftery photographed this healthy-looking flock of wild turkeys near Cuyamaca. There is some debate on whether turkeys are native or non-native in our region.  Thousands of wild turkeys present today in our backcountry are descendants of wild turkeys released in 1993 by hunting groups.  But it’s quite possible that

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PHOTOS OF THE YEAR 2012

Printer-friendly version December 31, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – A photo is worth a thousand words, as the saying goes. East County Magazine’s photographers and readers have compiled an impressive portfolio of dramatic images this year. These are our editor’s picks for the photos that create an emotional chord, from inspiration to anguish. We deeply appreciate our professional photojournalists

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: WHAT DOES AN ACTUAL GAS “PEAKER” PLANT LOOK LIKE?

Printer-friendly versionJanuary 2, 2013 (Otay)–“Look out, Santee, here’s your future,” Tom Lemon writes, referring to the Quail Brush gas-fired peaker power plant proposed just outside of Mission Trails Regional Park. Curious to see what a peaker plant actually looks like – not just in drawings prepared by the developer—Lemon ventured to Otay Mesa, where a gas-fired peaker plant recently opened.  Note: Peaker

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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.