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: Beaver moon

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service November 9, 2025 (Mt. Helix) — Dawn Sebaugh snapped this picture of the “Beaver Moon” on November 5,   The November full moon was dubbed “Beaver Moon”  because it’s the time when beavers are most active building their lodges for winter, and when the fur trading season was at its peak. The name has its origins

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Photo of the week: Egret at Lake Morena amid dead plants and green water

Printer-friendly version East County News Service October 3, 2025 (Lake Morena) — Karen Pearlman snapped this photo of snowy white egret searching for fish at Lake Morena, casting a reflection in the deep green waters. The visit raises a curious question:  Why are all the plants in the water at  Lake Morena dead? It isn’t drought, since plants further up

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Exclusive: ECM obtains video showing start of Coches Fire

Printer-friendly version View video   September 17, 2025 (Lakeside) — East County Magazine photographer Patrick Ward has obtained surveillance video from a Lakeside homeowner who lives next to the spot where the Coches Fire began.  The video from the homeowner, who asked to remain anonymous, shows vehicles on the roadway around 2:56 p.m. on September 8, 2025, followed by brush igniting

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Photo of the week: Santee Fire Department’s new brush rig

Printer-friendly versionPhoto and story by Patrick Ward   August 24, 2025 (Santee) – The Santee Fire Department this week held a push-in ceremony with its new home-type 3 brush engine, a symbol of the department’s commitment to safety and efficiency. The brush rig is designed to handle any emergency with precision and speed.   The cost of the apparatus was

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State Parks Photo Contest Running Through Sept. 30

Printer-friendly versionAnza-Borrego Desert State Park photo (left) by Karen Pearlman   East County News Service   July 15, 2025 (San Diego County) — California State Parks Foundation is inviting park visitors and photography enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels to capture the natural beauty, recreational activities and unique landscapes of California’s state parks.   The California State Parks Foundation

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Photos of the Week: Crest Celebrates Independence Day

Printer-friendly version   July 6, 2026 (Crest, CA) – Paul Levikow sent in these photos from the 79th Crest Fourth of July Parade near Nancy Jane County Park. Parade watchers lined La Cresta Blvd. and Suncrest Blvd., to watch motorcycles, offroad vehicles, bicycles, classic cars, floats, and equestrians.   The community event also included a live band, crafts, venders, food,

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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.

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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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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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.