East County Magazine
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
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
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
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
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
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
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: THE DESERT IS ABLAZE IN COLOR
Printer-friendly version April 9, 2012 (Anz-Borrego Desert) — Daren Sefcik snapped these beautiful blooms this week in the Anza Borrego Desert State Park, where the desert is ablaze in color. Printer-friendly version
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
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
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.

Photo of the week: Jacumba sunset
April 6, 2026 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – Martin Eder sent in this photo, taken along Interstate 8 just west of Jacumba near the San Diego-Imperial…

Male lion joins pride at San Diego Zoo Safari Park
East County News Service View video: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1484962496593617 March 24, 2026 (San Pasqual) — The lion pride at the Safari Park just got a little louder…

Sunrise to sunset is theme of 2026 Lake Jennings photo contest
East County News Service March 15, 2026 (Lakeside) – Lake Jennings invites you to enter your best photos taken at Lake Jennings between April 1…

Photo of the Week: Here’s the buzz!
East County News Service February 7, 2026 (La Mesa) — Kristin Kjaero snapped this photo of a honeybee pollinating flowers in her succulent garden in…
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

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

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

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

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

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.