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: OH BABY! BOBCAT KITTENS IN JAMUL

Printer-friendly version   August 9, 2011 (Jamul) – What could be cuter than a bouncing baby bobcat? How about an entire bobcat family?   “He’s sleeping in the big ash tree right in front of our house—he’s been there for hours!” writes Jan Maxted, whose husband, Don snapped these photos outside their rural Jamul home. “No sign of his mom,

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A ROARING GOOD TIME: EAST COUNTY CHAMBER MEMBERS GET UP CLOSE & PERSONAL WITH BIG CATS AT LIONS, TIGERS & BEARS

Printer-friendly version   Story by Miriam Raftery; Photos by Mark and Miriam Raftery   August 2, 2011 (Alpine) — "Oh, you’re beautiful!" San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce President Scott Alevy exclaimed as his wife, Joanne, dished up a forkful of chicken.  But he wasn’t complimenting her cooking. Instead, Alevy was admiring Raja–a 500-pound Bengal tiger that Joanne was feeding after winning a drawing at Lions,

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: SNAKES ALIVE!

Printer-friendly version      August 2, 2011 (Ramona) — ECM intern Elena Luz Pena snapped these "striking" close-ups of an unusually colorful rattlesnake at the home of her fiance’s father in Ramona.    This two-foot-long critter’s message is crystal clear: don’t tread on me!   Unlike some rattlers, Pacific Rattlesnakes are active both by day and night–often coming out at dusk to hunt

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: SPLISH-SPLASH, I WAS TAKING A BATH….

Printer-friendly version July 29, 2011 (Lakeside) –Thanks to Mike and Cathy Sears for sending in this photo of a surprising visitor in the birdbath outside their home on Wildcat Canyon Road in Lakeside.   “It’s one of two red shouldered hawks in the area,” Mike said. “The hawks will even in get in and splash around in the bird bath.”

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: WILDCAT!

Printer-friendly version  July 29, 2011 (Anza Borrego) — Daren Sefcik captured this rare image of a bobcat peering out of a rocky cave at Potrero Canyon in Anza-Borrego, a remote location accessible only by foot or by horse.      "I went out hiking the canyon to try and reach the base of Stephenson Peak," Sefcik said. "About a mile from the base

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: WILDFIRE AT JACUMBA

Printer-friendly version                   July 16, 2011 (Jacumba) — Wayne Brammer captured these two images of a Cal-Fire crew and a San Diego Sheriff’s helicopter in action battling a brush fire near Jacumba this week.   "With all  the power lines running all over this area, my hat goes off to all of these

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: MIDSUMMER BLOOMS

Printer-friendly version   July 9, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) — Joan McIntosh captured the fragile beauty of these night-blooming cereus at her backyard in Lakeside.               The ghostly cactus flowers blossom just once in the warmth of a mid-summer’s night, then wither and perish.  Printer-friendly version

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FAMILY FUN AT SANTEE SALUTES 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION

Printer-friendly version  Photos by Mark and Miriam Raftery   July 6, 2011 (Santee) — The City of Santee hosted its annual "Santee Salutes" patriotic celebration on July 4th, drawing families from across East County for this major event.   Scroll down to view photos of participants enjoying fun in the sun, followed by fireworks in the park after dark.  

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MISSED THE FIREWORKS? WATCH FINALE HERE FROM SANTEE SALUTES!

Printer-friendly version    July 4, 2011 (Santee) – An estimated 7,000 people turned out for Santee Salutes, including families from throughout East County as well as local dignitaries including Assemblyman Brian Jones and Mayor Randy Voepel.  Live music, patriotic presentations, carnival rides and a spectacular fireworks show were all part of the festivities.   Printer-friendly version

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ALL ABOARD! STEAM TRAIN RIDES, SQUARE DANCING & DIXIELAND JAZZ AT OLD POWAY PARK’S INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION

Printer-friendly version     July 4, 2011 (Poway) –Decked out with red and blue bunting on wooden railway bridges, water tower and gazebo/bandstand, Old Poway Park today looked like a scene straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting. The Old West-themed park exemplifies the best of Americana this 4th of July, compete with rides on the Baldwin steam train (watch

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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: OCOTILLO SUNRISE

Printer-friendly version August 13, 2012 (Ocotillo) — ECM photographer Jim Pelley shot this beautiful sunrise this morning from the yard at his home in Ocotillo.  Soon this dramatic landscape may be only a memory, vanished in the dust as towering ocotillo cacti are torn down and replaced by 112 wind turbines, each 500 feet tall.  That’s the plan for Pattern

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: EAST OF EAST COUNTY

Printer-friendly versionBy Tom Lemon   August 10, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) — When you’re driving east on Interstate 8 past Jacumba and the Desert View Tower there’s a sharp left turn and you begin to descend Mountain Springs Grade. You will drop about three thousand feet to the desert in ten miles, and can see the remains of Old

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: WILD RIDES AT THE BULLS ONLY RODEO

Printer-friendly version     July 29, 2012 (Lakeside) — Barry Claessens (www.bcphotography.biz) snapped these action shots at the Optimist Club’s "Bull’s Only Rodeo" at the Lakeside Rodeo arena on July 21. Rodeos began to help cowboys hone their skills and, in the case of bull-riding, showcase their bravado. Isn’t this the original extreme sport? Today there are some modern-day twists. Some local bull riders

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: ON THE ROCKS

Printer-friendly version  July 23, 2012 (McCain Valley) – ECM reader Tom Lemon sent in these spectacular photos of McCain Valley, site of the proposed Tule Wind facility in San Diego’s East County. "I first visited McCain Valley around 1995 after reading Jerry Shaad’s book Afoot and Afield in San Diego County. I began camping and hiking in the Valley and

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: SPACE INVADERS?

Printer-friendly version   July 25, 2012 (Ocotillo) – No, this isn’t the mother ship that’s landed in Ocotillo. It’s another alien power – the first wind turbine foundation poured at Pattern Energy’s Ocotillo Express project.  Photographer Jim Pelley measured a single turbine foundation hole measures 286 feet. More than 100 turbines, each 450 feet tall, are planned to invade this

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: SNOWFALL AT MCCAIN VALLEY

Printer-friendly version July 19, 2012 (McCain Valley) – Tom Klimek of Lemon Grove shared these photos that he took of McCain Valley “as few have seen it,” blanketed in snow, isolated in its pristine beauty. “On March 18, 2012 I drove to Laguna Mountain and then to McCain to enjoy the late winter storm that brought wind, rain, hail, and

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: STORM OVER OCOTILLO

Printer-friendly version   By Miriam Raftery Photo by Jim Pelley July 15, 2012 (Ocotillo) — Photographer Jim Pelley captured this inspiring image of sunbeams illuminating the proverbial silver lining of this storm cloud over the desert in Ocotillo. There is a tragic irony to this spectacular image, however. The landscape in shadow beneath the stormcloud is being destroyed, as excavation

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DOWN ON THE FARMS: A VIDEO TOUR OF LOCAL AGRICULTURAL IN LAKESIDE

Printer-friendly versionIn honor of Harold Hilliker Farm Day at Lakeside Middle School, videographer Billy Ortiz created a video documentary tour of local agricultural sites Story, photos and video by Billy Ortiz June 30, 2012 (Lakeside)– Lakeside Middle School held  its first annual Harold Hilliker Farm Day on May 30.  It  was a day full of information on agriculture, highlighting several

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: HORNED DESERT LIZARD

Printer-friendly version   June 20, 2012 (Ocotillo) — Photographer Jim Pelley snapped this image of a horned desert lizard, whose camouflaged appearance blends right in with its desert surroundings. Pelley spotted the reclusive reptile on the site of the Ocotillo Express wind energy facility, which is now under construction. Printer-friendly version

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: REFLECTIONS AT SANTEE LAKES

Printer-friendly version               By Miriam Raftery May 30, 2012 (Santee) – ECM editor Miriam Raftery took a break from the hustle and bustle of news editing for a stroll at Santee Lakes.  There, she spotted a majestic great blue heron and a colorful wood duck, both with images reflected in the water’s surface, as

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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.