East County Magazine
CHEAP CHIC: SAVOR A RESALE FASHION SHOPPING SPREE
By Miriam Raftery September 22, 2008 (LA MESA) – If your budget is tight amid today’s rising prices, take heart! A fun way to shrink your clothing budget without sacrificing style is to treat yourself to a shopping spree in a delightful East County resale shop. My personal favorite resale outlet is Act II, which has two stores in downtown
HUNDREDS FLOCK TO JULIAN BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL
By Miriam Raftery September 21, 2008 (JULIAN) – “We’ve had at least 500 people here so far,” Dick Thilken, president of the Julian Lions Club said of the 38th annual Julian Bluegrass Festival on Sunday afternoon, September 21st. “Each day we’ve had six musical groups playing.” Besides officially scheduled acts, players from various areas joined in for some impromptu musical
PHOTOS FROM OUR READERS & STAFF
October 1, 2008 (EAST COUNTY) – BEST PICS FROM EAST COUNTY LAST MONTH Printer-friendly version
PEOPLE POWER – WORLD’S LAST CASES OF POLIO?
Local Rotary Members Strive to End Global Scourge By Miriam Raftery October 1, 2008 (San Diego’s East County) — Polio, once the most dreaded childhood disease which killed or paralyzed millions of people, may soon be eradicated worldwide – and members of local Rotary chapters are eagerly pitching in to rid the globe of this silent killer. Since the World
IN SEARCH OF THE GREAT PUMPKIN
Our Guide to East County Pumpkin Patches Article and photos By Daisy Sharrock Leon Thompson. Bear Padilla checks out pumpkins at Bates Nut Farm. There is something wonderful about autumn. Even here in East County, where the temperature dips only a fraction compared to much of the country, you can still feel a tinge of crisp coolness ushering in the
People Power – On the Trail With the Rock “Doc”: Bringing Natural Science to Reservation Children
By Miriam Raftery October 1, 2008 (Mesa Grande reservation) – Bouncing down a dusty dirt road with hairpin turns so narrow that we have to honk our horn to warn oncoming drivers, we descend past Lake Sutherland into a deep gorge. We emerge in a hidden valley—home of the lower Mesa Grande Indian reservation. The most remote tribal village in
HEROES HELPING HEROES
By Miriam Raftery What can be more heartwarming than a tale of heroes banding together to help victims of two devastating tragedies—East County wildfires and the 9/11 terrorist attacks? On September 11th, the City of La Mesa held a memorial service honoring rescue workers and victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks. The event, held at the City’s 9/11 memorial at
FUN-FILLED FESTIVALS: SEPT. 12-30th
By Miriam Raftery Fall is in the air – the perfect time for an end-of-summer celebration or a visit to East County’s back country towns in the early days of autumn. Find details on these at many other events at our calendar, which covers all communities east of I-15. Julian Apple Days are here! Time to head up to the
Citizens “Take Action!” Guide
Whose interests are your elected officials representing: the people–or the special interests? Too many voters haven’t got a clue—so East County Magazine is shedding light into those smoke-hazed back-rooms in Washington D.C. and Sacramento, enabling you to keep up with what your elected officials are doing – and decide whether or not they deserve your vote next election. You can
DYING TO COME TO AMERICA – Immigrant Death Toll Soars; Water Stations Sabotaged
By Miriam Raftery September 1, 2008 (Holtville)–“These people came here looking for opportunity. Not one of them expected to die,” said Enrique Morones, erecting a hand-made wooden cross at a gravesite marked only by a brick engraved with the name Jane Doe. A few years ago, there were twenty bricks in this pauper’s graveyard at Holtville in Imperial County, final
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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
Local leaders voice concerns over Afghans facing threats to safety amid new restrictions in wake of D.C. National Guard shooting
By Miriam Raftery Photos: Tazheem Nizam, CAIR San Diego executive director, and Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac December 17, 2025 (San Diego) – Local community leaders who have worked to help Afghan refugees are speaking out over new restrictions imposed on Afghan immigrants following the shooting of two National Guard member in Washington D.C. on November 26 by Rahmanullah Lakanal,
County share: Sustainability hacks during the holiday season
Sustainable gifts are always in. Photo from Pexels.com East County News Service Dec. 10, 2025 (San Diego County) — Going green and being sustainable poses some challenges, and can be especially difficult to navigate during the holiday season. Gving and receiving gifts and packages of all makes and models — and most come with wrapping of all types — plus
Gifts and love from The Karen Cooper Foundation for dogs at the San Diego Humane Society
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
Buon appetite! New Gino & Gianni’s Pizzeria by Mamma Mia in La Mesa offers artful and delicious dining experiences
By Heidi Hope December 2, 2025 (La Mesa) – Gino & Gianni’s Pizzeria by Mamma Mia, a new pizza restaurant in La Mesa, evokes Italian ambience from delicious food to images of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel paintings on the ceiling. As a huge pizza enthusiast, I appreciated the variety of pizzas on their menu. I savored the Mamma Mia Signature, consisting of
East County Magazine’s “Feasting and Merrymaking” holiday party December 7
December 1, 2025 (La Mesa) – ‘Tis the season to be jolly—so East County Magazine is hosting a “feasting and merrymaking” holiday party this Sunday, December 7 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at a private Mt. Helix home. The party is open to all subscribers—and subscriptions to our e-newsletter is free! Subscribe. Cost is just $20 and bring a
Destination East County: Dreamy December events to remember
East County News Service Listen to an audio version of this story. November 30, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – ‘Tis the season to be jolly—and there’s plenty of merry events coming up in December across East County! Festivities include a stage production of “’‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” in La Mesa, Pine Valley’s Camp Christmas holiday lighting extravaganza, the
Holiday season safety tips & reminders from the California Fire Foundation and PSA program
Source: California Fire Foundation November 29, 2025 (San Diego) – The holiday season is a time of joy, family gatherings, and cherished traditions. As families across California prepare for festive celebrations, it’s essential to prioritize safety—especially in a state prone to wildfires. Here are some key holiday safety tips from the California Fire Foundation: 1. Kitchen Safety The kitchen is
Artists from St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center to show off skills
East County News Service Nov. 28, 2025 (El Cajon) — The holiday spirit is already brightening up downtown El Cajon, with St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center and its Sophie’s Gallery again central to the vibe. Next month, St. Madeleine Sophie’s is inviting the community to meet and discover the creative talents of some of its artists while giving an
New City Sinfonia and Downbeat Big Band swing into the holidays with Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker
East County News Service Nov. 25, 2025 (El Cajon) — The sounds of the holiday season will get a swinging upgrade next month, as the New City Sinfonia and the Downbeat Big Band team up for a special performance featuring Duke Ellington’s jazz interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s classic, The Nutcracker Suite. Organizers of the Dec. 10 event at Grossmont
It’s Thanksgiving, take our annual cook-safely quiz!
By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office Image credit: Shutterstock November 24, 2025 (San Diego) – Thanksgiving! For home chefs, it’s the Oscars, the Super Bowl, the biggest, feast-i-est day of the year. And the quickest way to ruin the occasion would be to serve your family and friends heaping platefuls of something that could make them sick
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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