By Miriam Raftery

November 12, 2012 (El Cajon) - In honor of El Cajon's centennial celebration, each chapter of this year's 66th annual Mother Goose Parade will be dedicated to a 10-year period of the city's history.

Mayor Mark Lewis will be the grand marshall of the parade, which features elaborate floats, equestrians, marching bands, and Santa Claus to usher in the holiday season. 

 We're making our list and checking it twice....finding you lots of great holiday coupons! Scroll down for some great bargains -- and check back for more holiday deals as our busy elves add new coupons each week.

If you would like to run a holiday coupon, e-mail ads@eastcountymagazine.org or call 619-698-7617. Happy holidays!

By Miriam Raftery

November 21, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – This holiday season, why not support our local economy by buying your gifts locally? Below are our picks to some of this year’s most unique and special offerings from San Diego’s eastern regions.

December 1, 2011 (La Mesa) – For two nights, December 9 and 10, La Mesa’s downtown village transforms into a Victorian-style winter wonderland complete with horse-drawn carriage, bonfires, carolers, strolling minstrels, an a parade at 5 p.m. each evening.

December 1, 2011 (San Diego)—Leaping cossacks and flurries of snowflakes--See them all leap across the stage in the 22nd annual production of the Nutcracker by the San Diego Ballet Company Ballet.

Productions of the cherished holiday favorite by Peter Tchaikovsy will be presented Dec. 3-4 at the Birch North Park Theater in a co-production with the Grossmont College Symphony Orchestra and Master Chorale. Additional shows will be presented December 17-18 at the UCSD Mandeville Auditorium, directed and choreographed by Robin Sheretz-Morgan and Javier Velasco.

 We're making our list and checking it twice....finding you lots of great holiday coupons! Scroll down for some great bargains -- and check back for more holiday deals as our busy elves add new coupons each week.

If you would like to run a holiday coupon for just $150, e-mail ads@eastcountymagazine.org or call 619-698-7617. Happy holidays!

January 1, 2010 (La Mesa)--Residents of La Mesa can drop off holiday trees to be recycled and receive free holiday tree mulch on a self-load/self-haul basis at EDCO, 8184 Commercial Street in La Mesa. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. through January 15th.

December 28, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – Looking for a festive party or a special restaurant to celebrate New Year’s Eve? Below is our guide to New Year’s Eve attractions in East County and San Diego’s eastern regions on December 31st, including live music and dancing, fireworks, special menus, casino promotions, and activities for children, families and seniors.

December 30, 2009 (San Diego) -- Need a ride after New Year's revelry?  On December 31st,  all bus and trolley routes in San Diego County will be free after 9 p.m.  This free service is made available through a partnership with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation.

This page is our archived coupons from 2009. 

Find our brand new 2010 Holiday Coupons by clicking the "Holiday Coupons" Santa at the top left side of this page!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

We're making our list and checking it twice....finding you lots of great holiday coupons!  Take a sneak preview.....and keep checking back for more great bargains as our busy elves add new coupons each week.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Also scroll to the bottom to find links below to even more discount coupons at malls and shops in East County.  

If you would like to run a holiday coupon for just $150 on this page, e-mail ads@eastcountymagazine.org.

The Victorian Roses Ladies Riding Society, an equestrian unit of nine women from several East County communities including Descano, Lakeside, Campo, Alpine and El Cajon, will appear in the 121st annual Rose Parade on New Year's Day, Jan. 1st, in Pasadena.

December 25, 2009 (San Diego) – Now that the 12 days of Christmas and the eight days of Hanukkah are over, if you're ready for some more celebrations, check out the Kwanzaa activities which begin tomorrow at the Malcolm X Library in East San Diego, followed by more events Sunday at the World Beat Center in Balboa Park and on Monday at the Black Contractors Association in San Diego. In addition, the Pan-African Association is holding a food drive from December 26-January 2.

All events are free, open to the public and children are welcome.

By Miriam Raftery

December 18, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – Waited too late to order online? Hate battling crowds at the malls? Or perhaps you’ve been holding out for gifts that are unique and locally made.

Good news! This year our “Gifts from the East” guide has plenty of great ideas for last-minute holiday shoppers who are seeking great gifts—all without venturing far from home. Be sure to tell these vendors that you heard about them in East County Magazine!

Still time for shoppers to donate food purchases for needy families in East County

December 22, 2009 (San Diego's East County)--Record numbers of shoppers are bagging hunger this season to match record numbers of the needy, with help from Henry's Farmers Market's annual Grab 'n' Give holiday food drive, which runs until January 4, 2010. Henry's  is on the way to top its 2008 donation amount of 7,000 pounds of food donations.

December 23, 2009 (North Pole) – For more than 50 years, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and its predecessor, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD), have tracked Santa’s Christmas Eve flight. Starting before dawn on December 24, you and your children can log on at http://www.noradsanta.org/ to watch videos via “Santa Cams” tracking Santa’s journey around the world to homes of all children who believe in him.

December 22, 2009 (Ramona) -- Sheriff William D. Gore announced this year’s Christmas Bicycle Program, which provided pre-selected deserving children with a free bicycle, helmet and bike lock. The event was hosted by the Ramona Sheriff’s Substation and firefighters from the Ramona CalFire Fire Department.

December 22, 2009 (La Mesa)--With the holidays rapidly approaching, many East County residents wille will be giving and receiving valuable items as gifts.  La Mesa Police offers tips to protect your valuables by keeping accurate records.

By Miriam Raftery

December 18, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – Where can you find Christmas tree ornaments that are unique and reflective of life in the eastern areas of Sa Diego County? Here are a few of my favorite finds, from hand-blown glass to Native American handicrafts to critters crafted from corks at a local winery.

December 20, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) –Looking for some spectacular holiday lighting displays?

We found the home in these photos on Kildare Lane in Santee (1 block west of Fanita). Yes, these elaborate displays are all on a single house! (Glad we're not paying this electric bill--but the display is definitely dazzling.)

To find more neighborhoods that light up with elaborate holiday illuminations, visit http://sandiego.about.com/od/thingstodo/a/holiday_lights.htm.

December 20,2009 (Escondido) – Want to create a gift for a lion, elephant, vulture or meerkat? The San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park is hosting enrichment days for guests to view animals playing with hand-painted boxes, popcorn-stuffed bags, insect-filled tubes and more. You can even create your own meerkat maze, paint a lion toy, or prepare a taco for an elephant with hay and food pellets.

Courtesy of the Julian Grille, Julian

This recipe is a favorite among diners at the Julian Grill in Julian, San Diego County’s historic gold-mining town. Celebrating its centennial this year, Julian today is best known for its apple festival and array of delicious apple-based recipes—including this sweet and savory salad dressing featuring apple cider.

December 17, 2009 (San Diego) – In celebration of Hanukkah, San Diego Jewish Academy kindergarten through fifth grade students lit the menorah, ate potato pancakes and learned about Hanukkah in Israel and Israeli culture. The third-grade choir, Kol Tikvot, took singing voices on the road as they visited Seacrest Retirement Home and Jewish Family Services and brought their joy of Jewish music to the elderly community during the Hanukkah season.

Dec. 15, 2009 (San Diego) – San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is encouraging  customers to deck the halls with energy-efficient holiday decorations to help the environment and save money at the same time.
 

“As we prepare for the holidays, we hope customers will keep safety and energy conservation at the top of the list,” said Hal D. Snyder, vice president of customer solutions for SDG&E. For example, he noted, switching to LED bulbs for holiday decorations has a number of benefits; LED lights are shatterproof and cool to the touch, making them safer as well as about 90-percent more efficient.

Share creative ideas to assist people of all ages with tips to save money and improve their lifestyle!
 

By Nancy and Dawn Clement

December 17, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) - We all know the holidays can get extremely expensive. Not only do people buy many gifts to give away, they also spend a good chunk of change on gift-wrap for those gifts. There are ways you can save on gift-wrap, however. You just need to get a little creative. You can even use the money you save to buy more presents!

December 15, 2009 (San Diego's East County)-- In  East County's mountains, Santa got some help to airlift in toys just in time for Christmas.

The U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program has been collecting toys for needy children in the community. Members of The Ninety-Nines, a women's flying organization (1st President Amelia Earhart), packed their airplanes full of toys at Montgomery Field & Gillespie Field on December 5th, then flew into the Ramona airport to deliver the Toys for Tots.

Councilman Anthony Young Spearheads 13 Mini-Concerts at select Orange Line Trolley Stations in December and January

December 14, 2009 (San Diego)--The Orange Line’s third annual Holiday Entertainment Series starts today at the 62nd Street/Encanto Trolley Station. Rodney Hutsona, a jazz vocalist will kick off the series which will feature performers from the Southeast San Diego area.

The holiday music tradition is spearheaded by San Diego Councilman and MTS Board Member Anthony Young, with support from the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation, Coca-Cola, and MTS. This is Councilman Young’s third year to offer the holiday music series.

Dear Readers,

December 14, 2009 (San Diego) -- Did you know that 200 homeless people a year die on the streets of San Diego? That’s what a counselor who works with the homeless told me at our holiday party last night. Children account for 39% of all homeless people nationally—and families are the fastest growing segment. This holiday season, as most people are opening gifts and enjoying warm meals, nearly 10,000 homeless men, women and children are living on the streets or in their cars, enduring bitter cold, hunger, and hopelessness. Many have lost their jobs and homes in this difficult economy. Fortunately, there are some things that each of us can do to help this holiday season.