East County Magazine
Photos of the Week: Crest Celebrates Independence Day
July 6, 2026 (Crest, CA) – Paul Levikow sent in these photos from the 79th Crest Fourth of July Parade near Nancy Jane County Park. Parade watchers lined La Cresta Blvd. and Suncrest Blvd., to watch motorcycles, offroad vehicles, bicycles, classic cars, floats, and equestrians. The community event also included a live band, crafts, venders, food, and even
Alligator Alcatraz: A Florida ‘Concentration Camp’
By Alexander J Schorr July 4, 2025 (Everglades, FL) — Nearby President Trump’s Miami resort in the swamplands of the Florida Everglades sits a makeshift detention facility dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz,” the latest in his administration’s immigration enforcement efforts. Andrea Pitzer, author of One Long Night: A Global History of Concentration Camps, writes in an editorial published on MSNBC, “I visited four
Haute with Heart Fashion Show Aug. 2 Benefits St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center
By Heidi Hope July 4, 2025 (El Cajon) – You’re welcome to join in the spirit of London at the 47th annual Haute with Heart Fashion Show benefiting the nonprofit St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center in El Cajon. The event will celebrate British fashion and culture. This fashion show on Saturday, August 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
A Lavender and Camel Oasis in Ramona
By Mimi Pollack July 4, 2025 (Ramona) — A nice place to retreat from the hustle and bustle of San Diego and escape to the countryside is Ramona, especially when you are walking around and enjoying the lavender fields at the new Camel Valley Lavender Farm on Old Julian Highway. It is next to the Oasis Camel Dairy and getting
Pizzabilities in Alpine Serves Up Build-Your-Own Pizza and Inclusive Opportunities for Employees
Pam Baker and her granddaughter Grace Baker at Pizzabilities in Alpine Story and photos by Karen Pearlman July 2, 2025 (Alpine) – Any way you slice it, Pizzabilities, Alpine’s newest addition to the culinary scene, is about to serve the community in some of the most delicious and unexpected ways. While Pizzabilities serves delicious pies, it is
Festive Fourth of July Events and Fireworks
By Karen Pearlman June 25, 2025 (San Diego County) – Independence Day in the USA is just days away, and across San Diego County, there are myriad events to be part of to celebrate. East County Magazine has compiled a list of various offerings to celebrate the Fourth of July, whatever part of the region you’re in.
Roaring ’20s Fashion Show Sept. 27 Benefits Lemon Grove Charities
East County News Service July 3, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – You’re invited to step into the splendor of the Jazz Age at a Roaring Twenties Fashion Show event benefitting the Lemon Grove Forward Club and the Southern District Women’s Club. The event on Saturday, September 27 will feature a glamourous day of style and community purpose featuring a luncheon and
“ICE Out” Marchers in El Cajon Take Stand for Immigrants as Concerns Over ICE Raids and Abuse of Detainees Grows
By Miriam Raftery Photos and videos by Shiloh Ireland “It’s my duty…to speak up for other people that currently are scared… I know what it feels like to be undocumented and having to be living in the shadows for fear of being deported.” – Carlos Gomez Perez, an Iraq War combat veteran who earned a Silver Star medal of valor.
McCann Concedes; Aguirre Wins Supervisor Seat
By Miriam Raftery July 2, 2025 (San Diego) – Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre has declared victory in the 1st Supervisorial district special election, after her opponent, Chula Vista Mayor John McCann, conceded the race. Aguirre issued this statement, “Whether you voted for me or not, I’m ready to work my heart out to bring down costs, protect our health,
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: RACCOONS IN SAN CARLOS
June 30, 2025 (San Diego) – Diana Rozenshteyn snapped this photos of masked intruders– a raccoon family– in the backyard of her San Carlos home near Cowles Mountain. You can view more of her work at her website, San Diego in Bloom | Nature Photography by Diana Rozenshteyn. Printer-friendly version
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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.
Our Guide to Live Entertainment venues