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

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.

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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PHOTO OF THE MONTH: CHALDEAN FESTIVAL

Printer-friendly versionNovember 4, 2012 (El Cajon) – “Doesn’t the “spirit” of those kids/young adults shine thru in the photo beautifully?” says Rebecca J. Williamson, who captured the moment at last month’s 3rd annual Chaldean Festival at Prescott Promenade in El Cajon. The annual event, sponsored by the Saint George Chaldean Association, draws thousands of attendees enjoying live entertainment, booths, food and

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OSPREY NESTING TOWER TAKES WING AT LAKESIDE RIVER PARK

Printer-friendly versionStory, photos and video by Billy Ortiz View video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9Y0hc267sA November 3, 2012 (Lakeside) — On a cool, cloudy autumn morning on October 20 in East County a group of teenage Boy Scouts from troop 801 in Coronado arrived at the Lakeside River Park. They brought heavy timbers and other materials to build what they hope will become a

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: WIND TURBINES SCAR VIEW FROM MCCAIN VALLEY’S CARRIZO GORGE OVERLOOK

Printer-friendly version October 28, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Construction of the Tule Wind project in McCain Valley has not yet begun, though developer Iberdrola has pledged to preserve the most scenic portion of views across the Carrizo Gorge.  But photographer Tom Lemon stopped by  McCain Valley’s famed Carrizo  Gorge Overlook this weekend in McCain Valley, discovering to his

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: SPACE SHUTTLE’ ENDEAVOR’S FINAL JOURNEY

Printer-friendly version October 14, 2012 (Los Angeles)– ECM photographer Ron Logan, in Los Angeles this week, snapped this historic image of the Space Shuttle Endeavor on its final journey to the California Science Center in Inglewood.  Astronauts, movie stars and political leaders were on hand. State Senator Roderick Wright concluded, that the reason for making the California Science Center the

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: A TOWN SURROUNDED

Printer-friendly versionOctober 8, 2012 (Ocotillo) – Photographer Daren Sefcik visited Ocotillo in May, before construction began on the Ocotillo Express wind project, then returned on October 3. Through still photos and dramatic panoramic videos that reveal 360 degree views, Sefcik documents turbines dwarfng mountains and looming in close proximity to homes. “The landscape has already been destroyed by Pattern [Energy] and it

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HELP CREATE A LIVING PHOTO HISTORY OF EAST COUNTY! OCT. 7 DEADLINE

Printer-friendly versionSeptember 23, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Help tell East County’s story through  photos!  The Far East Project, a print/multimedia anthology and performance project, is comprised of personal narratives, interviews and histories from East County communities and residents.  This living history project for our region is sponsored by San Diego Foundation Arts and Culture Foundation along with So

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: A WIND FARM RISES

Printer-friendly versionSeptember 21, 2012 (Ocotillo) — Parke Ewing forwarded these images showing transformation of the desert landscape in Ocotillo, where public outcry and seven lawsuits have thus far failed to stop the Pattern Energy’s wind project.  The first image reveals excavation for just one of the 112 wind turbines; this hole measures 16 feet deep.  In the sunset shot, towering wind turbines

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: SUNSET OVER LAKESIDE

Printer-friendly version September 10, 2012 (Lakeside)–Billy Ortiz snapped this colorful image of the setting sun over Lakeside’s historic downtown district. To submit a photo of the week, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org. Printer-friendly version

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: PERSEIDS METEOR SHOWER

Printer-friendly version     August 14, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) — Daren Sefcik photographed our own East County light show—the Perseid Meteor Shower illuminating the night sky above Blair Valley on August 11.  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.