
East County Magazine

Boulevard Bazaar coming to backcountry May 17
East County Magazine May 9, 2026 (Boulevard) — Don’t look now (or maybe definitely look) but the Mountain Empire is about to get a little more eccentric. Community members in Boulevard on Sunday, May 17 will host the inaugural “Bizarre Bazaar.” The plan, according to Boulevard community spokesperson Mara Harris, is to continue this event and have a quarterly “Art

Use your pedal power on “Bike Anywhere Day” on May 21: free T-shirts and chance to win an e-bike
East County News Service Image via SANDAG May 8, 2026 (San Diego) – Bike Anywhere Day (formerly Bike to Work Day) is a free, annual event that SANDAG has hosted in the San Diego region for more than 30 years. It is an opportunity for everyone to bike to work, school, the beach, or anywhere. Register to participate in the

Women’s Wine Alliance and Ramona Valley Vineyard Association present “San Diego Wine Country at the Bay”
East County News Service May 8, 2026 (Ramona) – The Women’s Wine Alliance, in partnership with the Ramona Valley Vineyard Association, invites wine enthusiasts and industry professionals to experience San Diego Wine Country at the Bay, an evening dedicated to showcasing the depth, diversity and rising prominence of San Diego’s wine scene. Printer-friendly version

Lemon Grove Forward Club earns 13 prestigious awards and community honors
East County News Service May 7, 2026 (Lemon Grove) — The Lemon Grove Forward Club received 11 prestigious awards this past April from the GFWC Southern District, recognizing the club as a leading intermediate-sized organization for its outstanding servicepeop and impact. The Lemon Grove Forward Club achieved 16,829 volunteer service hours as a collective, to achieve these top honors. The
Lakeside Fire’s Pancake Breakfast is May 9
East County News Service May 7, 2026 (Lakeside) — Lakeside Fire Protection District is holding a Pancake Breakfast from 8 a.m. until noon, Saturday, May 9 at Lakeside Fire Station 2. Visitors will have the chance to see the station’s fire engines, meet fire personnel, learn CPR and get tours of the fire station. Cost is $5 per person and

Spring Valley filmmakers featured in GI Film Festival
Screenshot still from “The Craftsman” East County News Service May 6, 2026 (San Diego) — The GI Film Festival San Diego returns for its 11th year this week, moving into the Museum of Photographic Arts at the San Diego Museum of Art (MOPA @ SDMA) from today, May 6 through May 8. Among the 15 films scheduled is a high-profile

La Mesa Chamber to host 17th annual ‘Taste of San Diego – East’
East County News Service May 6, 2026 (La Mesa) — The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce will hold its 17th annual “Taste of San Diego – East” on Monday, June 15. The food and business showcase will go from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Legacy Resort Hotel & Spa in Mission Valley. The event features food samplings from a

How social media shapes SDSU student identity
Story and photos by Kevin A. Green May 5, 2026 (San Diego) — Social media plays a vital role in shaping individual identity. On any given day at San Diego State University, students can be seen scrolling through their phones in class, posting updates and watching short videos. For many, platforms such as TikTok and Instagram do more than entertain

San Diego River Days 2026: Conservation, culture and community exploration
Photo courtesy San Diego River Park Foundation By Karen Pearlman May 3, 2026 (San Diego County) — The 23rd annual San Diego River Days is officially underway, offering more than three dozen events designed to connect San Diego County residents with the 52-mile waterway that serves as the region’s ecological backbone. Organized by the nonprofit San Diego River Park Foundation

Scripps Research offers lecture on new drugs to tackle diseases May 20
East County News Service Join the community in person on the Scripps Research campus https://frontrow.scripps.edu/lectures/michael-erb or attend virtually via Zoom webinar. May 1, 2026 (San Diego) — Some of the most devastating diseases are driven by proteins that cannot be targeted with conventional drugs. Scientists are now discovering ways to control disease by recruiting the cell’s own machinery to tackle
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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.
THE WILL POWER REPORT – PRISONERS OF DEBT
Nothing but the Truth! By Will Power October 14, 2008 (San Diego) – When John McCain accidentally referred to “My Fellow Americans” as “My Fellow Prisoners” this week, he was right on one account. We are all prisoners of the National Debt – currently $10 trillion and rising rapidly. Every time a US citizen fills up a gas tank, shops
SAN DIEGO SOLAR HOMES TOUR: SATURDAY OCT. 18
The San Diego Solar Homes Tour is quite possibly the longest running and most popular tour in California. Celebrating the ninth year of the free tour, over 40 homes throughout San Diego County are participating—including many in East County and San Diego’s Eastern region. This self-guided tour, sponsored by the California Center for Sustainable Energy, offers real-life, working examples of
ARTISTS’ RECEPTION Oct. 19 for 6th EL CAJON INVITATIONAL ART EXHIBIT
By Jolene Crowley Sisters III by Sammy Pasto (El Cajon) – The public is invited to a free artists’ reception hosted by the St. Clair Gallery in East County Business Center on Sunday, Oct. 19 from 3-6 p.m. Nearly 200 pieces of art in all fine art categories will be displayed, including photography by 22 San Diego artists, about 70
EAST COUNTY OKTOBERFESTS: WUNDERBAR!
October 1, 2008 (East County) – Time to get into the zeitgeist (spirit of the time) and take to the streets for some old-fashioned celebrating at East County’s multiple Oktoberfests! Began in Bavaria to celebrate the marriage of royalty, Oktoberfests have since gained popularity worldwide. Below are details on our region’s oldest and biggest Oktoberfests, where you can savor German
GREEN HOUSES
ASID Kitchen and Bath Tour Oct. 25 Features “Green” Kitchen on Mt. Helix By Miriam Raftery Recycled glass adds sparkle to natural slate backsplash October 11, 2008 (Mt. Helix) – A Mount Helix kitchen/great room featuring natural materials, solar screens and and energy-efficient features is among 11 kitchens featured on the 2008 Fall Kitchen Tour on October 25th. Sponsored by
THIS WEEK’S HOT EVENTS: OCT. 15-22, 2008 — PRO-AM GOLF, CRUISIN’ OLD HWY 80, GREEN JOBS FAIR, SYMPHONY CONCERT, SIDEWALK ARTS, CAMPO HARVEST FESTIVAL AND PARADE!
Tee off for a good cause at a Pro-Am Golf Tournament at Sycuan Resort’s Willow Glen Course this Friday. Proceeds benefit Home of the Guiding Hands, which provides shelter and services for mentally disabled people. HGH has a huge funding gap due to the California budget crisis. Speaking of driving, take a blast to the past by joining a cruise
FUNDRAISER TO HELP HOME OF THE GUIDING HANDS OCT. 12: CARE FACILITY FOR DISABLED FORCED TO BORROW $1.25 MILLION DOLLARS DUE TO STATE BUDGET GAP
By Miriam Raftery October 6, 2008 (El Cajon) – A wine-tasting event to benefit Home of the Guiding Hands (HGH) will be held Sunday, October 12th at Mangia Bene Restaurant in El Cajon. HGH provides residential, healthcare and training services for over 160 children and adults with developmental disabilities at 27 facilities in San Diego County. But now the program
NUTS ABOUT PUMPKINS? BATES NUT FARM HAS GIANT GOURDS, FESTIVITIES & FAMILY FARM FUN
By Miriam Raftery Leon Thompson “This one, this one!” Brendan Robeson of Santee pounces gleefully on a giant pumpkin far too large for his Mom to hoist. David and Mandy Pumphrey of Murietta used a wheelbarrow to haul their 120-pound pumpkin to the weigh-in station at Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center, where activities between now and October 31 include
FALL IN LOVE WITH EAST COUNTY
By Miriam Raftery, Editor Hey, beach dwellers – tired of those misty mornings? As the fog rolls in and the first chill of fall is in the air, head east and discover the beauty of our back country. Here are a few of my favorite pics, snapped last autumn in East County. You don’t have to visit New England to
Weekly Events – October 6-14 THIS WEEKEND: ARRIBA! LA TOMATINA TOMATO FEST
Plus Candidate Forums, Oktoberfest Parade, Hello Dolly and more By Miriam Raftery Borrowing a tradition from Spain (with a few Southern California twists), Tierra Miguel Farm in Pauma Valley is hosting La Tomatina – a tomato fest complete with authentic Spanish cuisine (bring your own paella), wine and beer tasting, live music and a tomato fling! Call ahead to join
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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.