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: SUPER MOON CLOSE-UP

Printer-friendly version  May 10, 2012 (East County) — If you thought the moon looked larger than usual Saturday night, you’re right! The “super moon” occurs once a year, when the moon’s orbit past brings it closest to the Earth.   Bill Ortiz took this photo of the “super moon” shining brightly over East County.      Printer-friendly version

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: SUPER MOON

Printer-friendly version May 6, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) — ECM editor Miriam Raftery snapped this image of last night’s "super moon" — the closest that the moon comes to earth in its orbit this year.  This full moon shot was taken off Highway 79, between Santa Ysabel and Ramona, casting a golden halo as it rose. Printer-friendly version

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NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT AT MISSION TRAILS NOW THROUGH MAY 4

Printer-friendly version April 25, 2012 (San Diego) — The Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation is presenting a solo exhibition by award winning nature photography Scott Streit. This exhibition is on display in the Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor’s Center Art Gallery, One Father Junipero Sera Trail, San Diego now through May 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. Streit

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: YUCCA—YUM!

Printer-friendly version   April 21, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Dan Connors spotted this enterprising ground squirrel, a member of the gopher family.    “Gophers generally cannot eat the Yucca flowers as the spiny leaves protect the plant,” he observed.  “This one grew up next to a rock pile, and the gopher jumped from the rock pile to the

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: CITIZENS FIGHT BACK AGAINST OCOTILLO WIND PROJECT

Printer-friendly version   May 17, 2012 (Ocotillo) –Robert Lundahl spotted these signs posted by residents and environmentalists, who are mobilizing to inform the public about negative impacts of the proposed Ocotillo Express wind energy facility. The site borders Anza Borrego Desert State Park on Bureau of Land Management public lands.  If built, 450-foot-tall turbines would produce electricity for transmission over

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PHOTOS OF THE MONTH: DESERT BIGHORNS

Printer-friendly version April 12, 2012 (Ocotillo) – “My wife, Mary, and I had the pleasure of seeing a large group of bighorn sheep while we were on one of our desert wildflower trips,” Robert Baran says. They photographed a group of 15 or more Peninsular Bighorn Sheep on Saturday, April 7 between Meyer Creek and Ocotillo.   Printer-friendly version

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MISSION TRAILS 2012 AMATEUR PHOTO CONTEST: DEADLINE APRIL 27

Printer-friendly version   April 5, 2012 (San Diego) — Do you enjoy taking photos of your experiences while in Mission Trails Regional Park? Perhaps you’ve taken interesting photos of the various flora and fauna within the park. If so, you may want to consider submitting a few of your better photos into our annual Photo Contest. The entry fee is

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: ONLY IN EAST COUNTY!

Printer-friendly version    April 3, 2012 (Lakeside) — Pami Wilmers of Lakeside rides her horse, Seth Boy, through the Jack in the Box drive-through in Lakeside.  Photographer Billy Ortiz offers this explanation for the unusual jaunt. “Pami will be in the Lakeside Western Days Parade next month, so she rode through town to get Seth Boy used to the cars

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: IRONY AT BUCKMAN SPRINGS

Printer-friendly version  March 31, 2012 (Buckman Springs) — Cynthia Rowley found irony in this sign posted by SDG&E at a Powerlink tower site in Buckman springs. "It’s right behind my house where we would hike," she said of the posted environmentally sensitive area, where the greatest damage to the environment has been caused by SDG&E itself. "Now there are 10 towers on the

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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.

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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EXPLORING CEDAR CREEK FALLS’ NEW TRAIL

Printer-friendly version   Story, photos and video by Elena Peña June 29, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)–Nestled in between slopes in the Cleveland National Forest lies a gem known as Cedar Creek Falls, often referred to as The Devil’s Punch Bowl. A wondrous waterfall is the picturesque background to the swimming hole at the end of this approximately four-mile hike. 

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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.