
East County Magazine

Indigenous Peoples’ Celebration at San Diego Zoo Safari Park Oct. 13
East County News Service October 10, 2025 (San Diego) – The annual Indigenous Peoples’ Celebration, organized by the San Pasqual Band of the Kumeyaay Nation and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, will take place at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on October 13, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event celebrates Indigenous communities, their cultures, and their commitments to wildlife. The event is open to the

The art and spirit of Borrego Springs in downtown San Diego
East County News Service Oct. 10, 2025 (San Diego) — The heartbeat of the Borrego Springs art scene is coming to downtown San Diego this weekend. Metal sculptor Ricardo Breceda‘s Public Art Roadshow will be on the San Diego County Administration’s Lawn No. 2 from Friday, Oct. 10 through Monday, Oct. 13. Presented by Borrego Community Builders, a Rams Hill

Dog costume contest and Halloween party Oct. 25 in El Cajon aims to be a treat for pets and their owners
By Miriam Raftery October 8, 2025 (El Cajon) – Last month, several dog owners in El Cajon got together to hold a birthday party for their dogs complete with music, cake, doggie gift bags, games and more. That event proved so much fun that organizers will be hosting a community Halloween party complete with dog costume contest, games and food

Brews & Bites event coming to Santee Oct. 18
East County News Service Oct. 8, 2025 (Santee) — There will be plenty of treats — in the form of brews, boos and bites — with no tricks in sight at this month’s Santee Brews & Bites Festival Fundraiser. The annual Brews & Bites Festival Fundraiser, a Halloween-themed night of live music, food and beverage samples for those ages 21

Chicago ICE raid draws condemnation over tactics including zip-tying naked children and terrorizing residents, even citizens
“It’s illegal. Unconstitutional. It’s dangerous. It’s wrong. This is not about deportation. This is not about safety. This is about authoritarianism. It’s about stoking fear. It’s about breaking the Constitution” – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson By Alexander J. Schorr October 8, 2025 (Chicago) — On Friday morning at 1:00 AM on Chicago‘s South Shore Drive, federal agents in military garb smashed through doors with flash-bangs, dragged residents into

Diet tea recalled for containing sugar, posing danger to diabetics
East County News Service October 7, 2025 (Washington D.C.) – Over 2,854 cases of Lipton Green Tea Citrus made by PepsiCo have been recalled because they actually contain mislabeled bottles of Lipton Green Tea Mixed Berry. The berry flavor is supposed to contain zero sugar, but these drink bottles labeled “Diet” in the mixed berry flavor contain 25 grams of

Recall Ortiz effort in El Cajon fails to qualify for ballot
An effort to recall El Cajon City Council Phil Ortiz (seated, left) is not moving forward. By Karen Pearlman Oct. 6, 2025 (El Cajon) – A grass-roots effort begun in 2024 to recall El Cajon City Councilmember Phil Ortiz has fizzled after organizers failed to turn in signatures as required by last Friday to qualify a recall for the ballot.

Oktoberfest brings cheer to La Mesa Vlilage
By Heidi Hope Miriam Raftery contributed to this report October 5, 2025 (La Mesa)—Oktoberfest continues through 8 p.m. tonight in La Mesa’s downtown village. The three-day festival, which began on Friday, celebrates Bavarian culture complete with good food, live music and fun games. Some of the prominent German themed dishes available are the homemade root beer, Bratwurst sausages and pretzels, along

Media Watch: Free speech groups denounce deportation of Emmy-award winning journalist for live-streaming ICE raids and protests
By Miriam Raftery October 5, 2025 (Atlanta, GA) – In an action that has drawn condemnation from journalism and civil liberties organizations, the Department of Homeland Security on Friday deported Mario Guevara, an Emmy award-winning journalist, to El Salvador in retaliation for his live-streaming of ICE raids. “The government kept Mario unlawfully detained for weeks because of his vital

Supervisor Joel Anderson and Sheriff Kelly Martinez to host Wildfire Safety Town Hall in Ramona on Monday, Oct. 6
East County News Service Photo, L-R: CalFire Chief Tony Mecham, Sheriff Kelly Martinez, & Supervisor Joel Anderson October 3, 2025 (Ramona) – San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson and Sheriff Kelly Martinez are hosting a wildfire safety town hall during Fire Prevention Week in Ramona on Monday, October 6 at 5:30 p.m. in the Ramona Library (1275 Main St., Ramona). Supervisor
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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.
PUMPED UP: CHAPARRAL HIGH STUDENTS TAKE ON POLICE IN SHOW OF STRENGTH
Campus Supervisor Tim Wargo (left), Resource Officer Steve Paz, and Officer Joe Crawford spot student Brandon Lawtum-Grindle Annual bench-press competition fosters trust between El Cajon Police Officers and at-risk teens. By Gayle Early March 25, 2009 (El Cajon)—Twenty-three Chaparral Continuation High School students flexed their muscles last week during a weight-lifting competition with members of the El Cajon Police Department
TAKING ROOT: VICTORY GARDENS SPROUT IN SAN DIEGO
April 2, 2009 (San Diego)–San Diego Roots, in coordination with several grassroots food and gardening groups, announces the formation of Victory Gardens San Diego. The group’s mission is to encourage and assist in the development of sustainable, healthy, Earth-friendly home, community and school food gardens throughout the San Diego area. The movement aims to foster appreciation for the taste of
ANZA-BORREGO DESERT STILL BLOOMING IN HIGHER ELEVATIONS
Wildflower Hike Planned April 16. April 1, 2009 (Borrego Springs) – It’s not too late to see Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in bloom. As we move past the peak flower time, the show is moving from the desert floor to canyons and higher elevations, where there are a wide variety of plants just beginning to bloom. Anza-Borrego Institute will offer
EAST COUNTY EATER – THE VINE WINE BAR & BISTRO: VINTAGE CHARM IN ALPINE
2502 Alpine Blvd., Alpine CA 91901 (619)722-7046 www.visitthevine.net April 1, 2009 (Alpine) — Let me recommend a sure-fire place to unwind. The Vine Wine Bar & Bistro in Alpine is situated in a cozy wooden building with hand-hewn beams and split-rail trim, reminiscent of places sure to be found in the back-closets of our memories. Places surrounded by trees

REMINDER! JOIN THE FUN TONIGHT AT A “HOT TIME AT HOOLEYS” WITH EAST COUNTY MAGAZINE!
August 12, 2009 – We sold out — but had a handful of cancellations so there are just a few tickets left for tonight’s "Have a Hot Time at Hooleys with East County Magazine." Festivities are from 6-9 p.m. at Hooleys Irish Pub & Grill in Grossmont Center. Tickets cost $25 or $20 for Chamber of Commerce members or members of sponsoring organizations. Printer-friendly
APRIL 2009 FESTIVALS OF THE MONTH: PARTIES, A PARADE, RODEO, RIVER BLITZ AND MUCH MORE
By Miriam Raftery April 1, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)–Aloha! Viejas teams up with El Cajon to host a brand new festival on Saturday, April 4. The new "It’s 5’clock Somewhere Party" includes transformation of a downtown warehouse into an inland "beach" paradise complete with tiki bar, Hawaiian food and music by Shipwrecked, a Jimmy Buffet-style band. Also this weekend,
JESSE LAMONACA HEADLINES AT CUYAMACA COLLEGE COYOTE MUSIC FESTIVAL MAY 1
Jesse LaMonaca April 1,2009 (El Cajon) — The Cuyamaca College Music Industry Studies program is proud to announce the Coyote Music Festival on May 1, 2009 on the grand lawn of Cuyamaca College. The event will feature 6 San Diego acts playing original music during the late afternoon concert: Jesse Lamonaca, Regina Leonard, Silent Lune, Goodnight Caulfield, Rhythm and the
LOCAL GROUP HELPS WOMEN IN SUDAN: MARCH 29 WALK FOR DARFUR PLANNED HERE
By Miriam Raftery March 26, 2009 (San Diego)–Horrified to learn that women in Darfur were being attacked by soldiers when they would go out to gather wood for cooking, San Diego-based Voices of Women started raising funds to send solar-powered stoves to the women of Darfur. "They can keep a pot boiling 24/7," VOW founder Jenni Prisk said of the
LA MESA VILLAGE ANTIQUE STREET FAIRE
March 26, 2009 (La Mesa)–”Step back in time in La Mesa’s downtown village on Sunday, March 29 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Antique Street Faire. During the annual event,, La Mesa Boulevard is closed and antique dealers from far and wide set out their wares. Reminiscent of an old fashioned Midwest flea market, the event features live
SPRING BREAK! WHERE TO HAVE FUN IF YOU’RE STAYING IN TOWN
March 26, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) — With the economy in the tank, many college students are staying in San Diego over spring break. So after you get sunburned at the beach, what’s there to do for the rest of the week? Check out our guide to the coolest spots to have fun in San Diego’s eastern region. IT’S
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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.