Sycuan Casino Resort hosted the San Diego Regional East County Chamber of Commerce's 114th annual East County Honors Awards Gala over the weekend.
Photos and story by Karen Pearlman
March 2, 2026 (El Cajon) -- More than 400 business and nonprofit leaders, community advocates and public officials gathered at Sycuan Casino Resort last Saturday for the 114th Annual East County Honors Awards Gala.
Hosted by the San Diego Regional East County Chamber of Commerce, the event continues to be more than a formal dinner, it also acts as a fundraiser for the nonprofit that represent the diverse business community of the East County region, including El Cajon, Lemon Grove, Rancho San Diego, Alpine, Spring Valley and Jamul.
The organization also maintains strong partnerships with other chambers in Santee, La Mesa, Lakeside, Julian, Borrego Springs, Ramona and Poway.
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Feb. 26, 2026 (Poway) -- Valentine's Day is in the rear-view mirror but the Poway Symphony Orchestra is going to keep love alive, sweeping audiences into the heart of the Romantic era in March.
The orchestra's "Mendelssohn Classics" will be performed in a concert that starts at 4 p.m., Sunday, March 22, at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts.
Poway Symphony Orchestra, a 65-member ensemble, will perform under the baton of Conductor and Music Director John LoPiccolo.
Ensemble leadership said that the afternoon will showcase two of Felix Mendelssohn’s most enduring masterworks, headlined by internationally acclaimed guest violinist YuEun Gemma Kim.
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Feb. 18, 2026 (San Diego County) — The thunder of hooves isn’t just coming from local farms and ranches this week; it’s the sound of the Year of the Fire Horse.
Lunar New Year festivities -- some of which will last all year long -- are trotting through the region.
The 2026 celebrations carry a rare significance. This is the first "Fire Horse" element since 1966. Fire Horse years traditionally symbolize a period of high energy, bold transformation and spirited movement.
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Feb. 1, 2026 (Borrego Springs) – K-RAM 90.5 FM is hitting the airwaves this week.
After years of radio static, the new station out of Borrego Springs will start broadcasting to the greater San Diego County desert community starting Wednesday, Feb. 11. Its license was granted March 19, 2025.
Gabriel Wisdom, a legendary San Diego radio figure from the 1970s at KGB-FM in San Diego and at KMET Los Angeles, is behind the launch of KRAM 90.5 FM. The FCC licensed non-commercial station is in the old Wells Fargo bank building at Christmas Circle in Borrego Springs, an unincorporated community of about 3,100 adjacent to the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
K-RAM has a partnership to rebroadcast KPBS-FM out of San Diego. The station will also serve as a critical node for emergency information if cell towers or landlines fail during storms, wildfires, earthquakes or other crises.
KPBS Chief Marketing Officer Heather Milne Barger said that the station will not have Borrego-centric news, talk and weather but is "very interested in receiving tips from the Borrego area that we can include in our news coverage by the KPBS newsroom, and highlight area events."
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Jan. 22, 2026 (Escondido) – Wrappers will crinkle and corks will pop next month along Grand Avenue in Escondido.
The Escondido Chocolate Festival is set for Feb 7, turning the city’s historic downtown into a literal moveable feast for those with a sweet tooth, a penchant for chocolate pairings and an appreciation for local flair.
Hosted by the Escondido Downtown Business Association, the event is a self-guided "chocolate crawl" designed to help visitors ages 21 and up shop, eat and play their way through the heart of the city.
The festival runs from noon to 5 p.m., but showing up early at the Maple Street Plaza check-in will help chocolate aficionados beat the rush.
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Evening event at new IGNITE Academy campus (see photo, left, showing students from the academy) will support automotive career training for local youth
East County News Service
Jan. 7, 2026 (Santee) -- The San Diego Automotive Museum will host its first Garage Night from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, at the recently opened IGNITE Academy campus, 8630 Argent St. in Santee.
The evening event will invite the community to experience an evening of food, drinks and vintage automobiles while supporting the Museum's workforce development initiative.
Attendees will have the chance to tour the academy campus, view vehicles owned and maintained by program participants, and learn about student achievements since the program's launch.
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Jan. 3, 2025 (Lakeside) — San Diego County anglers should worm their way into their tackle boxes and grab their lanterns for one of the region’s most anticipated winter traditions.
From 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, Lake Jennings will host its first "New Moon Fishing" event of the year, offering a rare opportunity for nighttime access to one of Lakeside’s most scenic reservoirs.
Lake Jennings leaders said that to ensure a productive night for all skill levels, the lake will be freshly stocked with 1,500 pounds of Rainbow Trout.
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Photo of a buttefly at the Dorcas E. Utter Butterfly Pavilion at The Water Conservation Garden and story by Karen Pearlman
Jan. 3, 2025 (Rancho San Diego) — The Water Conservation Garden, the 6-acre botanical showcase of sustainable landscaping and water-wise gardening adjacent to Cuyamaca College, has rooted out its slate of events for Winter and Spring 2026.
The schedule includes educational opportunities, community connection and hands-on learning.
Founded in 1999 by the Helix and Otay water districts in response to ongoing drought conditions, The Garden has grown into a premier environmental education destination that inspires visitors to conserve water and nurture resilient landscapes. Operated by a Joint Powers Authority with Helix Water District, Otay Water District, Sweetwater Authority and Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District stakeholdership, the nonprofit garden attracts guests with its themed display gardens, native butterfly pavilion and educational opportunities.
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Dec. 22, 2025 (San Diego) — Across the street from the calm San Diego Bay but amid a rising tide of global concern, some of San Diego County’s top elected officials, law enforcement and multi-faith leaders gathered Monday at the County Administration Center to send a singular message: Hate has no sanctuary in San Diego.
Organized by San Diego County Assessor Jordan Marks (shown speaking in photo above right), Monday afternoon’s "Rally for Light," marked the eighth and final day of Hanukkah, and the hour-long event ended with a ceremonial lighting of a 6-foot hanukkiah (menorah) by local faith leaders, county employees and community members.
While the event celebrated the "Festival of Lights," the atmosphere was underscored by a somber urgency following a string of recent anti-Semitic attacks reaching from San Francisco to an outdoor celebration on Bondi Beach in Australia.
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Dec. 17, 2025 (San Diego County) — Behind the support of San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson from District 2, the County of San Diego will illuminate its County Administration Center in blue and white tonight, Dec. 17.
The illumination in blue and white across from San Diego Bay, serves as a visible beacon of unity. It is being lit in remembrance of victims and to show solidarity with survivors of the recent anti-Semitic attack targeting the Jewish community in Sydney, Australia.
Fifteen innocent individuals were murdered by two gun-wielding terrorists. The gunfire resulted in dozens of injured victims who were celebrating the first night of Hanukkah on Bondi Beach. See related story here.
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Photo from The Karen Cooper Foundation gift sharing for dogs courtesy San Diego Humane Society
East County News Service
Dec. 9, 2025 (San Diego) -- Christmas arrived a few weeks early for more than 600 dogs at the San Diego Humane Society.
Thanks to the generosity of The Karen Cooper Foundation, on Tuesday, Dec. 9, every dog under the SDHS' care received a special holiday toy and treat to lift their spirits while they wait for a loving, forever home.
Members of The Karen Cooper Foundation, including Bob Cooper and his daughter, Michele Cooper, were able to spread holiday joy through their donations at the SDHS's main campus on Gaines Street.
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June 30, 2022 (San Diego) — The San Diego Sheriff department reminds the public that it is illegal to make, store, sell, use, transport or handle fireworks in San Diego County. Violators can face up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $50,000. Parents are liable for any damages or injuries caused by their children using fireworks.
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East County News Service
East County News Service
Graphic courtesy Ram Media Foundation
East County News Service
Evening event at new IGNITE Academy campus (see photo, left, showing students from the academy) will support automotive career training for local youth
East County News Service
Photo of a buttefly at the 
Photos and story by Karen Pearlman
Photo courtesy San Diego County
Photo from The Karen Cooper Foundation gift sharing for dogs courtesy San Diego Humane Society
By Miriam Raftery
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