East County Magazine
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: RACCOONS IN SAN CARLOS
June 30, 2025 (San Diego) – Diana Rozenshteyn snapped this photos of masked intruders– a raccoon family– in the backyard of her San Carlos home near Cowles Mountain. You can view more of her work at her website, San Diego in Bloom | Nature Photography by Diana Rozenshteyn. Printer-friendly version
INTERVIEW WITH CAL FIRE CAPTAIN ON MONTE FIRE
June 22, 2025 (Lakeside) — Cal Fire Captain Robert Johnson discusses firefighting efforts in the Monte Fire in Lakeside, during an interview yesterday with Shiloh Ireland. View video. At the time of the interview, the fire had burned 1,051 acres of rugged terrain on El Capitan Mountain. El Monte County Park in Lakeside became the staging and command center for the
VIDEO OF THE WEEK: LAKESIDE RESIDENTS THANK FIREFIGHTERS
East County News Service June 23, 2025 — Photographer Shiloh Ireland provided this video of Lakeside residents Sarah Ann WIlson and BIlly Ortiz unfurling a banner to thank firefighters who worked tirelessly to protect homes and halt the Monte Fire in Lakeside’s El Monte Valley. View video: Monte Fire Appreciation to Firefighters- 06/21/2025 Also see Ireland’s drone video showing the scope
ANZA-BORREGO NAMED BEST STATE PARK FOR WILDFLOWERS
Three other state parks in San Diego County also recognized East County News Service Photos. left and right by Bob Kutschner: Wildflower fields at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park May 17, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – Anza-Borrego Desert State Park has been named the best California state park for wildflower viewing in a new “Best of California State Parks”
VIDEO OF THE WEEK: ELEPHANTS’ POOL PARTY!
East County News Service May 11, 2025 (Escondido) — Elephants at the the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park in Escondido found a cool way to beat the heat during this week’s heat wave–holidng their own pool party. In this video, you’ll see the herd’s matriarch, Swazi, playing in the water with the youngsters. When one elephant goes in, the others
ENGAGED COUPLE SEEKS PHOTOGRAPHER WHO SHOT THIS PHOTO IN BORREGO ON MARCH 16, 2024
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Our guide to restaurants in San Diego’s inland region
San Diego’s East County is a wonderful destination for discovering dining adventures. For decades, our region has taken in refugees and immigrants from around the world, bringing culinary delights with international flair to our local restaurant scene. Our inland region has a wide assortment of restaurants and eateries to choose form, including cuisines from around 40 countries spanning six continents,
BUTTERFLY JUNGLE AT SAFARI PARK OPEN NOW THROUGH APRIL 20
East County News Service Photo: Blue Morpho butterfly, by Amanda Martinez, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance April 6, 2025 (Escondido) – The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is offered a “butterfly safari” at its Butterfly Jungle open now through April 20. Become immersed in the vibrant world of pollinators as you explore the Safari Park’s Butterfly Jungle. Once a year,
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: PLAYING POSSUM
East County News Service April 4, 2025 (La Mesa) – Cailin Acosta spotted these playful opossums on the fence in her La Mesa yard. “I was super excited, but my 12 year old twins were not impressed, ha,” she writes. “I did reach out and touch its fur. It was crispy, like a Bristol scrub, so interesting!” Printer-friendly
COTTONWOOD SITE TO BECOME METAMORPHOSIS CENTER FOR HOMELESS, INSTEAD OF SAND MINE
April Fools! By Hope Rising April 1,2025 (Rancho San Diego) – Today, the County of San Diego made a surprising announcement it has acquired the former Cottonwood Golf Course site in Rancho San Diego from the developer who planned a sand mining operation on the site. Thanks to a generous grant provided by the nonprofit Metamorphosis Institute, the site will
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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.
Thanks to the Prebys Foundation for their generous support.
Our Guide to Live Entertainment venues
Thanks to the Prebys Foundation for their generous support.
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
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 County line, after he attended
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…
February fun: free admission for seniors at the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park
By Miriam Raftery February 23, 2026 (San Pasqual Valley) – Who knew that giraffes sleep only 5 to 30 minutes a day, while standing up?…
DESTINATIONS: Borrego and beyond — a beautiful backcountry day
By Karen Pearlman, with photos by Karen Pearlman and Miriam Raftery Feb. 22, 2026 (San Diego County) — With an early wildflower bloom in Borrego,…
Early desert wildflowers abloom in Borrego area
By Miriam Raftery February 16, 2026 (Borrego Springs) – Heavy winter rains have brought an early start to wildflower blooming season in the Anza Borrego…
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…
Pine Valley Camp Christmas brings forest to life with lights, holiday music and activities
East County News Service November 17, 2025 (Pine Valley) – Each Friday, Saturday and Sunday night from Nov. 21 through Dec. 23, Pine Valley Camp Christmas provides enchanting family entertainment.
Photo of the Week: Beaver moon
East 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”
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…
February fun: free admission for seniors at the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park
By Miriam Raftery February 23, 2026 (San Pasqual Valley) – Who knew that giraffes sleep only 5 to 30 minutes a day, while standing up?…
DESTINATIONS: Borrego and beyond — a beautiful backcountry day
By Karen Pearlman, with photos by Karen Pearlman and Miriam Raftery Feb. 22, 2026 (San Diego County) — With an early wildflower bloom in Borrego,…
Early desert wildflowers abloom in Borrego area
By Miriam Raftery February 16, 2026 (Borrego Springs) – Heavy winter rains have brought an early start to wildflower blooming season in the Anza Borrego…
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…
Search by Specific Date
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.
Our Guide to Live Entertainment venues