
East County Magazine

Karnival of the Arts coming to DeAnza Springs April 30 through May 3
East County News Service March 24, 2026 (Jacumba Hot Springs) — Performance art and music will collide and combine in concert in the high desert…

Celebration of Olaf Wieghorst in downtown El Cajon on May 2
East County News Service April 23, 2026 (El Cajon) — The Olaf Wieghorst Museum is hosting a birthday remembrance next month, celebrating the life of its namesake artist widely regarded as the “Dean of Western Art.” The museum is hosting “Olaf Wieghorst Day,” from 3 to 6 p.m., Saturday, May 2, and will offer a deep dive into the history of the

Villa Musica expanding to East County for 20th anniversary
East County News Service April 22, 2026 (El Cajon) — For two decades, the halls of Villa Musica’s Sorrento Valley headquarters have been alive with a specific kind of beautiful chaos — the steady thumps on the drum, soaring scales of soprano singers and the first notes of student violinists. Now with Villa Musica is celebrating its 20th anniversary, the

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 Waters (member); Kayleen; Susie Hoolihan (Club Treasurer); Metilde; Rasha; Flor;

Federal judge: Continued Border Patrol sweeps in California violated court order
By Wendy Fry and Sergio Olmos, CalMatters. This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Photo: a line of federal immigration agents and protesters stand-off near the Glass House Farms facility outside Camarillo on July 10, 2025. Protesters gathered after federal immigration agents conducted an immigration raid earlier in the day. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local April 18, 2026 (Sacramento)

How the fruit fly quarantine has impacted food donations — and how you can help
By Philicia Tonangoye Image: Tangerines, via Bing (cc) April 18, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) – The Mexican fruit fly quarantine has reduced donations of fresh produce to local food pantries, since organizations such as Produce Good mainly rely on backyard harvests to help community members in need. Home growers are not allowed to move their backyard products in the

Jamul Casino Resort gets two film awards
Water Sweet – The Story of Jamul” Earns Top Honors at AAF Reno ADDY Awards East County News Service April 1, 2026 (Jamul) – Jamul Casino Resort has been recognized with two prestigious ADDY Awards from AAF Reno, earning a Gold ADDY and Best of Show in the Corporate Social Responsibility category for “Water Sweet – The Story of

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 Ysabel, population around 600, and Wynola with about 200 residents,

Lionel’s Legacy hosting sleepover party and more in Lakeside April 18-19
East County News Service April 14, 2026 (Lakeside) — East County-based senior dog rescue group Lionel’s Legacy is holding a day of games, community and advocacy on Saturday, April 18 at the Rock House in Lakeside. The first-ever “Canine Carnival” is set for April 18 while a slumber party that starts that night will take visitors into more activities the morning and

Mountain Empire Art Show Debuts April 15 in Boulevard
East County News Service April 14, 2026 (Boulevard) — The Backcountry Resource Center in Boulevard will be busy this Wednesday, April 15 hosting the first-ever Mountain Empire Art Show 2026, opening at 4 p.m. and the Boulevard-Jacumba Town Hall Event at 6:30 p.m. The first annual Mountain Empire Art Show is an act of advocacy for the vibrant and sometimes hidden gem
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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.
PEARL HARBOR SURVIVORS HONORED IN LA MESA FLAG DAY PARADE
May 30, 2009 (La Mesa) – For Robert Ruffato, the sight of Old Glory holds special significance. Ruffato was among 16 survivors of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor who were honored in La Mesa’s Flag Day Parade. View our photo album from this event: http://www.photoshop.com/user/eastcountymagazine/?wf=share&trackingid=BTAGC&galleryid=987530fcbdc64e9fa01666e211decf7f “I was aboard the U.S.S. Utah at Pearl Harbor. Most of all, it was
WARNER SPRINGS PROGRAM TEACHES KIDS AGRICULTURAL SKILLS, PRESERVES WESTERN & NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE
By Miriam Raftery June 1, 2009 (Warner Springs)—“It’s always fun when we get an adult to volunteer to be the cow,” Sherri Freeman quipped, then deftly lassoed a running parent. Nearby, youngsters saddled up on a bucking mechanical horse, ground acorns, studied history of the Butterfield Stage Coach, hiked with an ecologist, visited farm animals, and learned about wild herbs
SMILE! LA MESA DENTIST OFFERS TEETH WHITENING AT DISCOUNT, DONATES PROFITS TO BRING SMILES TO POOR ON HUMANITARIAN MISSIONS
June 1, 2009 (La Mesa) — Jeff Gray, DDS, recently led a team from his La Mesa office on a 10-day humanitarian mission to provide dental care to people living in rural villages in the Dominican Republic. Originator of Smiles for Life, an annual fundraiser for children’s charities supported by more than 800 dentists nationwide, Gray has committed half of
FLIGHT OF FANCY: NEW ZIPLINE RIDE OFFERS BIRDS-EYE VIEWS OF WILD ANIMAL PARK
By Marisa Kezirian Editor’s Note: In our quest to bring you the best of everything east of I-15, we sent ECM intern Marisa Kezirian on a fledgling flight to review San Diego Wild Animal Park’s new zip-line ride, which benefits the Park’s program to preserve endangered California condors. It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it! June 1,
HAPPY DAYS! BACK TO THE 50’S CAR SHOWS IN LA MESA VILLAGE
June 1, 2009 (La Mesa) — Step back in time to those lazy, crazy carefree ‘50s days at the La Mesa Village Back to the 50s Car Show. The event runs every Thursday evening between June 4th and August 27th. This Summer Event draws more than 2,500 spectators. Classic cars line La Mesa Boulevard and compete in the weekly contest.
C. HOOK THEATER PRESENTS DAMN YANKEES JUNE 24-27 AT KROC PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
June 9, 2009 (San Diego)–Damn Yankees, a baseball-themed musical comedy, will be presented by C. Hook Theater at the Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Performing Arts Center June 24-27. The show provides a musical retellingof the Faust legend set during the 1950s in Washington, D.C., during a time when the New York Yankees dominated Major League Baseball. Joe Boyd
RESCUE TASK FORCE ISSUES URGENT PLEA TO HELP VICTIMS OF HONDURAS EARTHQUAKE; ORPHANAGE SPONSORED BY EL CAJON GROUP HAS BEEN HARD HIT
May 28, 2009 (El Cajon)–Rescue Task Force (RTF) and World Emergency Relief (WER) are responding to the 7.1 earthquake that struck Honduras at 2:20 AM this morning. “The orphanage that WER-CA sponsors has sustained heavy damage to the dormitory,” Gary Becks at Rescue Task Force informed East County Magazine. “Thirty-six of our orphans have been moved into the office and
BIG HIT: ALPINE LITTLE LEAGUE HONORS VIEJAS
May 28, 2009 (Alpine)– The Alpine Little League presented a plaque to the Viejas Tribal Council on May 27th, expressing the organization’s appreciation for the Tribe’s ongoing support of their efforts to promote youth sports in the Alpine area community. “Each year for the past 8 or 9 years, Viejas has supported our league with major cash contributions. With these
ANONYMOUS DONOR TO MATCH UP TO $20,000 TO STOP SUNRISE POWERLINK: WESTERN FUNDRAISER SET FOR MAY 30 AT HAZY MEADOW RANCH, LAKESIDE
May 28, 2009 (Lakeside)—Donations raised at Saturday’s fundraiser to “Sunset the Sunrise Powerlink” will be matched up to $20,000, organizers have announced. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 30th at Hazy Meadows Ranch, 15466 El Monte Road, in Lakeside and costs $5. Live music by “Fiddlegirl” Celia Lawley and the Mountain Echo trio
ARTISTS NEEDED TO PAINT UTILITY BOXES–AND BEAUTIFY DOWNTOWN EL CAJON
May 28, 2009 (El Cajon)–Art – and the community it creates – is at the heart of igniting culture, communicating history and values, stimulating economic development, and building community pride. Transform common utility boxes into works of public art for all to enjoy through UArt: Downtown El Cajon’s Utility Art Box Program. If you’re an art lover and/or community enthusiast,
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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.