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Grossmont Union High School District to graduate 4,725 students in June
East County News Service June 1, 2026 (El Cajon) – This week, 4,725 students will graduate from the Grossmont Union High School District. The matriculating students will be earning their high school diplomas on Wednesday, June 3 and Thursday, June 4, from the district’s nine comprehensive high schools, two independent
Passages: Maggie Eggers, La Mesa Chamber of Commerce Chairman, 69
By Karen Pearlman June 1, 2026 (La Mesa) – East County has lost a big part of its community vibe with the passing of Margaret (Maggie) Eggers. A devoted wife, stepmother, sister, aunt, colleague and friend who placed family and community at the center of her life, Eggers passed away
News Issues
Grossmont Union High School District to graduate 4,725 students in June
East County News Service June 1, 2026 (El Cajon) – This week, 4,725 students will graduate from the Grossmont Union High School District. The matriculating students will be earning their high school diplomas on Wednesday, June 3 and Thursday, June 4, from the district’s nine comprehensive high schools, two independent
Man sentenced to life without parole for brutal murder of estranged wife, Ericka Wilson, in Spring Valley
East County News Service May 31, 2026 (Spring Valley) – San Diego County District Attorney announced this week that Kandynn Wilson, 34, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the vicious stabbing death of his estranged wife, Ericka J. Wilson, mother of their young child, in
Politics
More than 200 vote centers open for June Gubernatorial primary
Photo courtesy County of San Diego East County News Service June 1, 2026 (San Diego County) — The gubernatorial primary election has arrived and the San Diego County Registrar of Voters is reminding residents of options for casting ballots, including at more than 200 vote centers across the county. As
Lemon Grove City Council pushes back tenant ordinance discussion
“Residents took time out of their evening to come speak, and I believe their voices deserved to be heard through action, not continued postponement!” – Jennifer Mendoza, Lemon Grove City Councilmember, screenshot of May 19 meeting courtesy Lemon Grove City Councilmember Jessyka Heredia’s Facebook video By Armando Rasing II May
Wildfires and Emergencies
New Firehawk helicopter now stationed at Ramona Air Base
By Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office May 29, 2026 (Ramona) – San Diego County’s wildfire response just got a major boost. A new CAL FIRE Firehawk helicopter is now permanently based at the Ramona Air Base and officially went into service on Monday. “When wildfire strikes, minutes
Spring Valley arson suspect arrested
East County News Service May 26, 2026 (Spring Valley) – Sheriff’s deputies used a drone to tract down a suspect reportedly seen setting a fire that caused evacuation of homes in Spring Valley last night. Printer-friendly version
Events & Arts
Missing in Paris: Recipe for Murder (Kat Velvet Twist & Turn Thrillers Book 4)
Novel by Emmeline August Reviewed by Pennell Paugh June 1, 2026 (San Diego) — San Diego mystery writer Emmeline August has written a fourth mystery. This time, the story is centered in Paris. Cookbook author Katri Velvet goes to France to take a pastry class. She arrives to a
Ilan-Lael Foundation offers June tours of historic Hubbbell house in Santa Ysabel
East County News Service May 29, 2026 (San Diego) – You’re invited to see James and Anne Hubbell’s acclaimed home and art studios near Julian, California. Docent-led tours are offered each Thursday through Saturday in June, starting at 10 a.m.An immersive art and nature experience, each 90-minute tour covers
Best of East County
Photos of the Week: Two winning shots from Lake Jennings Photo Contest
East County News Service May 17, 2026 (East County) — The Helix Water District has announced the winners of the Lake Jennings 2026 Photo Contest: Sunrise to Sunset! and East County Magazine is featuring two for our “Photos of the Week.” At left and top, first-place youth category winner Hannah
Don’t miss Santa Ysabel and Wynola on your way to visit Julian
Tiny mountain towns often overlooked by travelers in East County’s back country By Paul Levikow Photos by Miriam Raftery and Paul Levikow April 10, 2026 (Santa Ysabel/Wynola) – Visitors travelling to Julian north from Ramona can oftentimes overlook two equally charming communities along the way. Some might even think Santa
People
Lemon Grove Forward Club earns 13 prestigious awards and community honors
East County News Service May 7, 2026 (Lemon Grove) — The Lemon Grove Forward Club received 11 prestigious awards this past April from the GFWC Southern District, recognizing the club as a leading intermediate-sized organization for its outstanding servicepeop and impact. The Lemon Grove Forward Club achieved 16,829 volunteer service
Eight local women Honored at Soroptimist’s annual “Live Your Dream” Awards Celebration
Soroptimist International of Valley de Oro recognizes women overcoming extraordinary obstacles to build better lives through education By Henri Migala Photo: Soroptimist Live Your Dream Award winners. Seated (left to right): Dr. Peggy Fischer, DVM, Valley de Oro Club Chair; Tenisha Back row (left to right): Sue Bucheman (member); Nancy
Communities
Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges to award more than 6,230 degrees and certificates in 2026
Source: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District May 30, 2026 (El Cajon) – Next week, Grossmont and Cuyamaca Colleges will be awarding more than 6,230 degrees and certificates to nearly 2,500 graduates, with over 900 graduates expected to participate in the Commencement Ceremonies. Cuyamaca College is awarding 358 additional degrees compared to
Restoration or destruction? Proposed plan for Laguna Mountains raising concern
Photo of part of the Laguna Mountains area that could be part of a plan by the government to prevent wildfires by bulldozing the area and cutting down chaparral. Photo by David Hogan, The Chaparral Lands Conservancy By Karen Pearlman May 29, 2026 (Mt. Laguna) — A sweeping federal plan
Features
Ilan-Lael Foundation offers June tours of historic Hubbbell house in Santa Ysabel
East County News Service May 29, 2026 (San Diego) – You’re invited to see James and Anne Hubbell’s acclaimed home and art studios near Julian, California. Docent-led tours are offered each Thursday through Saturday in June, starting at 10 a.m.An immersive art and nature experience, each 90-minute tour covers
Descanso Day Parade and Fair June 6 continues a 137-year-old historic tradition
East County News Servicerur May 29, 2026 (Descanso) — Descanso’s first community fair was held in 1899 under a tent near the creek. The tradition has grown through the years to include a parade and community fair, which this year will be held on June 6. The festivities take place
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GOOD MONEY: MARKET CRISIS? 10 THINGS YOU SHOULD DO NOW!
GOOD MONEY: Your guide to profitable and socially responsible investing By Judith L. Seid, CFP ® October 1, 2008 (La Mesa) — The crisis on Wall Street caused by the bursting of the real-estate bubble has now lasted 13 months and has caused far more damage than analysts initially forecast. Three of the five biggest American investment banks have failed
HEROES HELPING HEROES
By Miriam Raftery What can be more heartwarming than a tale of heroes banding together to help victims of two devastating tragedies—East County wildfires and the 9/11 terrorist attacks? On September 11th, the City of La Mesa held a memorial service honoring rescue workers and victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks. The event, held at the City’s 9/11 memorial at
THE GREENING OF LA MESA – MAYOR ART MADRID SHARES HIS VISION
By Miriam Raftery Mayor Madrid (R) with Shane Shaw of E-Village Beneath solar panel display at “Sustain La Mesa” festival Crowds flocked to view cooking demonstrations on solar ovens, visit with solar energy experts, get tips on water-saving landscaping and more at Sustain La Mesa, the City’s first annual Environmental Awareness Festival on September 13th in Harry Griffith Park. “It
THE CITY OF LA MESA’S FIRST ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS FESTIVAL
THE CITY OF LA MESA’S FIRST ANNUAL ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS FESTIVAL La Mesa will conduct its First Annual Environmental Awareness “Sustain La Mesa” Festival on: Saturday, September 13, 2008 from 10:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. at Harry Griffen Park, 9550 Milden St. A total of 21 booths including education displays, light bulb exchange, recycling of non-hazardous materials, free shopping bags (subject
FUN-FILLED FESTIVALS: SEPT. 12-30th
By Miriam Raftery Fall is in the air – the perfect time for an end-of-summer celebration or a visit to East County’s back country towns in the early days of autumn. Find details on these at many other events at our calendar, which covers all communities east of I-15. Julian Apple Days are here! Time to head up to the
Register to Vote!
Voter registration drives are being held at several East County locations listed below. You must be registered by October 20th to vote in the November 4th presidential election. Registering in person means you don’t have to worry about forms getting lost in the mail or arriving too late. If you’re not yet registered, you can sign up at any of
WATER SHORTAGE REVIVES RECYCLED WATER PROPOSALS
By E.A. Barrera Photos by Daisy Sharrock October 1, 2008 (SAN DIEGO) – Water is the single biggest issue facing the future of San Diego County. Even the process for updating San Diego County’s land use general plan – the so-called General Plan 2020 process – depends on the availability and amount of water the area will sustain. "Water is
Editor’s Message
Dear Readers, Back in the Dark Ages before Internet and cell phones, chatting over the back fence with neighbors was the cool way to get news Think of this site as your virtual back fence: a place to share your views with neighbors all over East County! We started this publication to fill a news void, give voice to people
Health Tips
HUMAN WEST NILE VIRUS CASES REACH FIVE TOTAL SAN DIEGO August 18, 2008 — Another confirmed locally-acquired human case of West Nile virus (WNV) brings the year-to-date total to five—including one patient in East County, according to the County Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA). FDA DECISION ON BPA OUTRAGES HEALTH ADVOCATES FALLS CHURCH, Va., Aug 20, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via
Hundreds attend SDG&E virtual workshops on proposed 145-mile Golden Pacific Powerlink as state champions grid resiliency
Preliminary graphic of a proposed map outlining planned Golden Pacific Powerlink By Karen Pearlman May 15, 2026 (San Diego County) — Four virtual open house meetings about the Golden Pacific Powerlink provided hundreds of online attendees insight on the proposed grid that will bring a 500-kilovolt transmission line project of around 150 miles, spanning from outside of El Centro to
Data centers are guzzling California’s water. We have no idea how much
By Rachel Becker, CalMatters This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Photo via Data Center News on YouTube May 16, 2026 (San Diego) – Data center builders don’t tell the public how much water they use, according to a new report — and the industry is encroaching into water-stressed and vulnerable communities. The report, by the think tank Next10 and
State launches new funding to help flood victims repair and rebuild homes
By Miriam Raftery May 16, 2026 (San Diego)—The California Dept. of Housing and Community Development has just launched new round of funding through the ReCoverCA program to help homeowners and landlords repair and rebuild single-family homes damaged by floods, as well as replace flooded mobile homes. The funds are available to eligible applicants who suffered damage in declared federal disasters
El Cajon Church joining nationwide Memorial Day ‘Taps Across America’ tribute
East County News Service May 15, 2026 (El Cajon) — East County residents can unite with thousands of communities across the country this Memorial Day for a synchronized musical tribute honoring the United States’s fallen service members. The First Presbyterian Church of El Cajon will host a live local observance as part of Taps Across America, a nationwide initiative that
Ram Media Foundation acquires historic Borrego Sun, expanding local journalism and digital community media
Source: Ram Media Foundation May 15, 2026 (Borrego Springs) — Ram Media Foundation, a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on strengthening community through media, has acquired the historic Borrego Sun, reinforcing its commitment to local journalism, public media access, and community storytelling in Borrego Springs and surrounding desert communities. Printer-friendly version
State Republican Party sends cease and desist letter to Carl DeMaio and Reform California over “unlawful and deceptive” voter guide mailers and website
Letter alleges deceptive voter guides violate state and federal laws By Miriam Raftery May 15, 2026 (San Diego) – The California Republican Party has sent a cease and desist letter and threat of litigation to San Diego Assembly member Carl DeMaio, principal officer of Reform California dated May 14.The letter accuses DeMaio of a “coordinated, brazen, and unlawful campaign to
San Diego Trolley ready for influx of Padres fans next week with Dodgers coming to town
East County News Service May 15, 2026 (San Diego County) — The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System is ramping up its San Diego Trolley service to accommodate sold-out crowds next week at Petco Park when the San Diego Padres prepare to host their rival Los Angeles Dodgers, in their first high-stakes matchup of the 2026 season. The three-game series, running
Dodgers up in the National League West by 1 game after Padres drop series finale in Milwaukee
Padres relief pitcher Mason Miller has been stellar as the closer for the team this season. Photo courtesy San Diego Padres Facebook page East County News Service May 14, 2026 (San Diego) — The San Diego Padres closed out a rocky three-game road trip in Milwaukee on a rough note Thursday, falling 7-1 to the Brewers in the series finale
Hear our interview with Stan Caplan, candidate for 51st Congressional district
East County News Service May 14, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) – Stan Caplan is a former Republican running as a Democrat against incumbent Democrat Sara Jacobs and several lesser known candidates in the 48th Congressional district. ECM recently interviewed Caplan for our radio show on KNSJ. Click the audio link to hear our full interview, or scroll down
Senate adopts Padilla amendment to resolution prohibiting senators from betting on prediction markets
East County News Service May 14, 2026 (Washington D.C.) – “Politicians betting on their own races, massive wagers placed moments before the President announced of a ceasefire in Iran, and suspected insider trading before the capture of Nicolás Maduro – these are just a few examples of the blatant, brazen corruption that we’ve seen playing out on prediction markets,”
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