East County Magazine
ICE AGENTS SCATTER AS SD BISHOP PHAM, CLERGY VISIT IMMIGRATION COURT
San Diego Bishop Michael Pham (left) waits to enter the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building on World Refugee Day. (Photo by Chris Stone/Times of San Diego) By Ken Stone, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association June 20, 2025 (San Diego) — Eight immigration courts line the fourth-floor hallway of the downtown Edward J. Schwartz
RENOVATED VFW POST TO OPEN SOON IN NEW CAMPO LOCATION
By Leorah Gavidor Photos by Irvin Gavidor June 19,2025 (Campo)– Veterans have a friend in Campo: his name is Kevin Martin, and he’s a Vietnam-era Marine veteran himself. Thanks to Martin and a group of volunteers, along with a grant from San Diego County, vets in Campo will soon have a new place to hang out. VFW Post
SAN DIEGO BISHOP, A FORMER REFUGEE, CALLS ON CLERGY TO ACCOMPANY IMMIGRANTS TO HEARINGS AT COURTHOUSES
By Miriam Raftery June 16, 2025 (San Diego) – Federal immigration officials have begun arresting immigrants and refugees at San Diego’s federal courthouse, denying them due process at hearings that could have granted them legal status in the U.S. Now, Bishop Michael Pham and two local auxiliary bishops have announced that on World Refugee Day June 20, they will stand
U-T OWNERS BLOCKED EDITORIAL ON ICE PROTESTS, SAYS FIRED OPINION EDITOR
Laura Castañeda (left) had been deputy opinion editor of The San Diego Union-Tribune until Thursday. (Times of San Diego photo illustration) By Ken Stone • Times of San Diego June 13, 2025 (San Diego) — A fired San Diego Union-Tribune opinion editor is accusing the paper’s owners of “censorship at its best” after she was let go at the
CALIF. SENATOR PADILLA FORCIBLY REMOVED FROM HOMELAND SECURITY PRESS CONFERENCE AND HANDCUFFED
Action sparks bipartisan outrage By Miriam Raftery June 12, 2025 (Los Angeles) – In a shocking action, California’s U.S. Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly dragged out of a press conference in Los Angeles today, thrown on the ground and handcuffed while trying to ask a question of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Video shows he clearly identified himself, stating “I
“HIGHWAYMAN” TOM WELLER, WHO AIDED THOUSANDS OF STRANDED MOTORISTS, NOW NEEDS HELP FOR EMERGENCY HOME REPAIRS
Photos and story by Karen Pearlman June 11, 2025 (El Cajon) – He spent more than 50 years helping close to 10,000 stranded motorists along all stretches of freeways across San Diego County, and now Thomas Weller could use some assistance of his own. While health issues forced him off the road in 2017, Weller (photo left, Weller in front
LOS ANGELES IMMIGRATION PROTESTS, CIVIL UNREST FUEL CLASH BETWEEN GOVERNOR AND PRESIDENT
By Alexander J. Schorr Photo: KTLA screenshot: flashbang deployed amid L.A. civil unrest at Los Angeles Sheriff’s officer looks on June 11, 2025 (Los Angeles) — California sued the Trump administration this week over the President’s order to deploy 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles without the Governor’s consent. California Governor Gavin Newsom has argued that the deployment
FARM TOUR DAY RETURNS JUNE 28
Explore San Diego Agriculture with Local Farmers East County News Service June 10, 2025 (Escondido) — The San Diego County Farm Bureau is bringing back Farming Tour Day, starting at 9 a.m., Saturday June 28. This year’s event offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at a diverse array of local farms in Escondido, showcasing the heart of San Diego agriculture. Participants
LATINOS EN ACCION HELPING THEIR COMMUNITY
From left to right: Mairene Branham, Violeta Lombrera and Eva Pacheco. (Photo by Mimi Pollack) By Mimi Pollack June 8, 2025 (El Cajon) — Latinos en Acción, a group in El Cajon, is led by three mothers who want to make a difference in their diverse community. These three very different women came together with the same goals in mind:
CONCERNS LEAD JEWISH COMMUNITY TO PULL SUPPORT OF SD PRIDE
Controversial Headline Performer, Safety Concerns Cited as Reasons for Withdrawal By Karen Pearlman June 7, 2025 (San Diego) – Many local Jewish organizations from across San Diego County that have traditionally been part of the annual San Diego Pride event will not be joining in this year. Jewish community leaders say that because the Pride Festival chose musical artist Kehlani
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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.
Our Guide to Live Entertainment venues
BE A FLOWER HELPER (OR JUST AN ADMIRER) AT THE WORLD’S BIGGEST FLOWER PARADE
Roses for Bayer float December 1, 2008 (Pasadena) — For a unique adventure just up the road, you can help behind the scenes in the days before the Jan. 1st Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena. The parade will be seen by 40 million people on Jan. 1 on TV networks including HGTV. Each float is decorated with more flowers
HOLIDAY SEASON ARRIVES IN EAST COUNTY
By Miriam Raftery It’s official! The holiday season has begun, heralded in by special events across East County. Over 100,000 people turned out to watch the 2008 Mother Goose Parade on Sunday, which had a “Heroes of Might and Magic” theme. Dazzling floats, giant balloons, equestrians, marching bands, 50 celebrities plus heroes ranging from fictional Star Wars characters to real-life
HOTEL CASSIOPEIA
Reviewed by Kathy Carpenter Now showing at the Don Powell Theatre at the San Diego State University campus, through December 7, 2008. Sundays 2:00 p.m. all other days 8:00 p.m. For ticket information call 619-594-6884 or check online at www.theatre.sdsu.edu. Charles L Mee’s Hotel Cassiopeia follows the American collage artist Joseph Cornell. Cornell’s dreamlike abstract art is the theme of
COOL! OUTDOOR ICE RINK OPENS AT VIEJAS OUTLET CENTER: ICE SHOW, TREE-LIGHTING CEREMONY NOV. 22
By Miriam Raftery November 17, 2008 (Alpine) — Looking for the coolest place in East County? The largest outdoor ice rink in Southern California is now open for the holiday season at Viejas Outlet Center in Alpine. Skating costs $12 for 90 minutes, including skates. (Watch skating live via the Viejas webcam) An ice show extravaganza will be held Saturday,
TALKING TURKEY: BEST THANKSGIVING OPTIONS FOR EAST COUNTY RESIDENTS
By Miriam Raftery Credit: Leon Thompson Whether your holiday spirit hearkens for a traditional feast or offbeat alternative activities, you’ll find plenty of tempting choices in and around East County this Thanksgiving weekend. Here are a few of my favorite discoveries for ECM readers to savor: Wild turkeys outside Pine Hills Lodge, Julian. Credit: Miriam Raftery Feast in the Woods:
WATER FOR CHILDREN AFRICA PRESENTS THE 12TH AFRICAN TRADE AND BUSINESS CONFERENCE NOV. 22
By Miriam Raftery November 17, 2008 (San Diego) — The twelfth Annual Africa Trade and Business Conference sponsored by Water For Children Africa will be held November 21-23, 2008. Inspired after a visit to Africa with her mother, El Cajon resident Vickie Butcher founded the nonprofit organization to create infrastructure for bringing clean, safe water and medical supplies to help
MOTHER OF ALL FESTIVALS – A STAR-STUDDED MOTHER GOOSE PARADE!
By Miriam Raftery November 17, 2008 (El Cajon) — The mother of all East County festivals takes place this Sunday, November 23rd. The Mother Goose Parade in downtown El Cajon is the largest parade in San Diego County and the biggest parade of its kind west of the Mississippi. This year, parade organizers have assembled a dazzling array of 50
VINES AND STEINS – ORFILA VINEYARD & WINERY
By Richard Noel Orfila employee Dolores Castaneda pours a generous taste for Shari Zollo (right) of Vista, who enjoyed the festivities with Barbara Deuel and Drea Zollo Bush (both of Oceanside). “Oh yes, it’s Eighties night!” For all those who still wear their sunglasses at night, you could have worn them to Orfila Vineyards’ tasting room as the crew kept
GREEN HOUSES: DEL CERRO DESIGNER COOKS UP A GREEN KITCHEN
By Miriam Raftery November 1, 2008 (Del Cerro) — “Clients will ask, `How can we go green and still make it beautiful? That’s really the trick,” observes designer Rick Fahmie of Kitchen Expo. Fahmie designed a green kitchen in his own Del Cerro home, using utilizing natural and eco-friendly materials as well as maximizing energy efficiency. “Granite is as green
HUNGRY IN EAST COUNTY
Story and photos by Gayle Early November 1, 2008 (La Mesa/Spring Valley) – It’s 7:00 a.m., third Saturday of the month. The line behind Crosspointe Life Church in La Mesa snakes through the parking lot and all the way down the alley. Feeding America, a nonprofit agency formerly known as Second Harvest, has dropped off its monthly food distribution here
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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.
Our Guide to Live Entertainment venues