By Miriam Raftery

October 12, 2023 (San Diego’s East County)—Looking for a frightfully good time? You’ll find plenty of spooky special events, from a Haunted Forest at Banner Ranch to HauntFest on Main in El Cajon, as well as haunted train rides in Campo, a Pumpkin Bash and Spooky Campover at Lions, Tigers and Bears in Alpine.

Plus an Autumn Jubilee and an Heirloom  Apple Festival continue in Julian,  while the Borrego Days Desert Festival takes place in Borrego Springs and Santee hosts its Brews and Bites Festival. Theatre aficionados can watch Randy Rainbow’s political comedy show at The Magnolia in El Cajon, or savor an  Old Globe For All experience in Lemon Grove. Plus tribute artist Robert Neary brings his "So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience" to the Magnolia in El Cajon.

Scroll down for details on all of these events and more.

Restaurant to be featured at East County Magazine’s “Taste of Africa” Oct. 8

By: Jessyka Heredia

September 29, 2023 (City Heights) -- Ethiopian cuisine is known for spicy meats and savory vegetable dishes. Red Sea Restaurant located at 4717 University Ave in City heights has authentic cuisine and a traditional experience the diner might have if they had traveled all the way to Ethiopia. Red Sea restaurant is the oldest Ethiopian restaurant here in San Diego, according to its website. Look no further for a true Ethiopian delight!

By Miriam Raftery

September 21, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) -- As autumn arrives and Halloween draws near, East County has a wealth of festivals and events coming up.  These include Julian’s Autumn Jubilee and an Heirloom Apple Festival, Oktoberfests in La Mesa and El Cajon, the Borrego Days Desert Festival,  Haunt Fest on Main in downtown El  Cajon, a Pumpkin Bash and Spooky Campover at Lions, Tigers and Bears in Alpine,and a Pumpkin Express train ride in Campo.

Plus there are live entertainment stars taking stage in East County, including comics Paula Poundstone and Randy Rainbow at The Magnolia, the rock artist  Sting at SDSU, and El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells with his band in a benefit concert to help the homeless in El Cajon.

Scroll down for details on all of these events and more.

By David R. Shorey, East County Program Manager, Institute for Public Strategies

September 3, 2023 (Lemon Grove) -- Lemon Grove’s main business corridor on Broadway is the center of commerce, but the physical environment of the area is suffering. Community leaders recently took to the streets to conduct a comprehensive assessment of their neighborhood along Broadway. It was an inspiring display of community engagement and commitment to positive change to shed light on issues like drug and alcohol harm, blight, walkability, and other areas needing of improvement. This June walk on a Saturday morning reflects the strong sense of community among Lemon Grove's residents and underscores the urgency to address pressing concerns through collaborative efforts.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

August 24, 2023 (San Diego) -- This August celebrates National Wellness Month. This month focuses on self-care, stress management, and creating healthy routines. If you are looking for an excuse to make a change, start this month in support of National Wellness Month.

By Miriam Raftery

August 14, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) -- As summer draws to a close and autumn fast approaches, some of East County’s most anticipated events of the year are coming up including the Mt. Helix Food and Wine Festival, X-Fest in Santee, the Barona and Sycuan powwows, and the Borrego Days Desert Festival. There are also attractions onstage indoors, including Crystal Gayle in concert and comic Paula Poundstone performing.

Scroll down for details on all of these events.

Drug can cause rotting skin, amputations

By David R. Shorey, East County Program Manager, Institute for Public Strategies

August 2023 (San Diego’s East County) --Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. But a DEA Public Safety Alert warns that a sharp increase in the trafficking of fentanyl mixed with xylazine is making the threat even deadlier.

Xylazine, also known as “tranq,” is a powerful sedative approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for veterinary use. Not human use. It is commonly used to tranquilize large animals like horses and livestock during medical procedures. It requires a prescription. But it has found its way into the illicit drug market and is being used recreationally by users seeking an intense and dangerous high.

An East County Eater review for East County Magazine

By Henri Migala

Photos by Miriam Raftery

July 25, 2023 (Julian) – If you live in San Diego, you have probably taken a leisurely country drive to enjoy the historic mountain town of Julian. But now there’s another exciting reason to visit Julian – Kali’s Garden Café &Juice Bar.

Open just a few weeks ago in a  charming little cottage with relaxing outdoor seating at 1921 Main Street, Kali’s Garden is already enjoying nearly 900 followers on Instagram, a 4.5-star rating on Yelp – and a 5-star rating from this reviewer.

The restaurant features entirely plant-based foods, such as jackfruit-based tacos and mock-pulled pork sandwiches with jackfruit. I love meat, but found jackfruit an entirely satisfying substitute with the taste and texture of real pork. The jackfruit tacos came with mangoes and more for a delicious burst of flavor.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

July 16, 2023 (San Diego) -- Wildfires are increasing everyday and will increase as we start to peak in our year-round wildfire season. Even if your home is not in the path of a fire, you can still be affected by smoke particles released into the air from wildfires.

Reviewed By Jessyka Heredia

June 27, 2023 (Lemon Grove) -- Buon appetito! Three brothers– Take a culinary stroll with ECM as we review AnniVenti La Trattoria in Lemon Grove with their fresh Italian dishes created from family recipes and a modern twist inspired by their family business in Palermo Italy.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

June 22, 2023 (San Diego) --Why is the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day so deadly? It’s called the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer!

Now that Memorial Day is behind us, we are now on the road to the deadliest days of summer--the days when our teenage children hit the streets with lots of time on their hands as well as cell phones and distracting friends.

Per mile driven, drivers aged 16 to 19 years old are nearly three times more likely than drivers older than 20 to be in a fatal crash. During the summer months, teenage deaths in vehicle accidents increase by 26% compared with the other months of the year.



Let's look at some more facts:

By David R. Shorey, East County Program Manager, Institute for Public Strategies

June 11, 2023 (San Diego) -- If you’re looking for medical attention in the East County’s backcountry, chances are you have about a 30 to 60-minute drive ahead of you to get the help you need. While the challenges of rural health care are not new, the topic got more attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccination rates in the region were lower than anywhere else in the county. That could have been because of the lack of trust by some rural residents, disinformation spreading by word of mouth, and isolation, among several other reasons. The rural backcountry stretches from the east side of Alpine to the County line and from the border to the south side of Julian. Rural healthcare challenges are not limited to East County.

East County News  Service

May 22, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – Concerts, comedy, a Flag Day parade, a musical play, food festivals, a pride walk, and a library fundraiser are all coming up in San Diego’s inland region during late May and June. 

Scroll down for full details on these and more festive events coming up.

May is High Blood Pressure Awareness Month

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

May 16, 2023 (San Diego) -- Feeling Over Pressure?  Let’s see if you can “get it under pressure” with this https://lnkd.in/g8vrE-kJ.

Heart disease is no stranger to firefighters. It ranks right at the top of our number one killer. So what is the first thing you should know about blood pressure?