Award-winning nonprofit media in the public interest, serving San Diego's inland region

Award-winning nonprofit media in the public interest, serving San Diego's inland region

East County Magazine

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

Our Guide to Live Entertainment venues

Stylish fundraising

  The fashion show enriches lives of disabled students from St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center   By Heidi Hope Photos by Heidi Hope and Miriam Raftery   August 7, 2025 (San Diego) –  Haute with Heart, a fashion show themed “London Calling,”  evoked English fancy style while supporting students with disabilities and pivotal programs at St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, an El

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Destination East County: Memorable September events

  By Miriam Raftery August 18, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – As summer transitions into fall, September brings seasonal events such as an Autumn Jubilee, Sycuan’s Powwow, the Alley Cat Art Walk in El Cajon, Grape Stomp Festa and Apple Time Tea in Julian, Oktoberfest in El Cajon, a 911 Memorial walk in Lakeside, a roaring ’20s fashion show

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Never Forget: 9/11 memorial walk in Lakeside

East County News Service August 17, 2025 (Lakeside) – The Maine Avenue Revitalization Association in Lakeside will hold its sixth annual “Never Forget” memorial walk to commemorate the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The walk will be held on September 11, 2025 starting at 6:15.  Participants are asked to meet at 6 p.m. at Mary’s Donuts, 10101 Main Ave. A

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Our guide to the Ramona Wine Region

By Miriam Raftery Overview Nestled in the foothills of San Diego’s East County, The Ramona region is nationally recognized as an American Viticultural Region (AVA). You can savor wines at over 40 tasting rooms.   Ramona is also home to a historic downtown district with shopping, galleries and restaurants, a western museum, a camel dairy, a paint ball range, colorful

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Mount Laguna Living History brings past alive August 30-31

East County News Service August 16, 2025 (Mt. Laguna) – Enjoy a free tour to learn about indigenous people and settlers who have lived in the area at the Mount Laguna Living History event on Saturday, August 30 and Sunday, August  31. Meet at the Red-Tailed Roost Activity Center, located at mile marker 22.5 on Sunrise Highway in Cleveland National

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‘Bring home the bacon’ for rescued pigs

Story and photo by Karen Pearlman   Aug. 15, 2025 (Guatay) – Horses of Tir Na Nog is going hog wild with its latest event.   The nonprofit equine rescue group, which also rescues other animals, is hosting a fundraiser, “Wine for Swine,” to support its pig rescue efforts.   The Aug. 23 event (for those 21 and older) will

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Migrant children sites in El Cajon and Lemon Grove shut down: Trump admin. drops lawsuit that accused operator of sexual abuse

  Actions raise concerns over children’s wellbeing; their locations are undisclosed   By Karen Pearlman Miriam Raftery contributed to this story; photos by East County Magazine staff   Updated Aug. 15 with responses from federal officials   Aug. 14, 2025 (El Cajon) – Nonprofit Southwest Key Programs Inc. (photo, left) is no longer operating its site in El Cajon that

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Protestors demand El Cajon repeal ICE cooperation amidst recall effort against city councilmember

By Paul Levikow August 13, 2025 (El Cajon) – Dozens of East County residents filled El Cajon City Council chambers Tuesday, demanding the City repeal a resolution allowing police to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The effort was organized by Latinos en Accion and Activist San Diego to urge speakers to address the Council during public comments.

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Momentum Tutoring hosts Youth Business Fair at Santee Lakes Aug. 16

East County News Service August 12, 2025 (Santee) – Momentum Tutoring (www.momentumtutoring.org) invites the community to the Santee Youth Business Fair at Santee Lakes, a dynamic one-day marketplace where young entrepreneurs will showcase their creativity, hustle, and heart. The event takes place on Saturday, August 16, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Lake #2, Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve.

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ICE stops: exercise your rights with knowledge

By Alexander J. Schorr August 4, 2025 (San Diego) — In an age when it is uncertain who is a lawful agent of the US government and who is a vigilante, it is important to remember to stay safe and stay informed. Some immigration agents are wearing masks, but there have also been instances of people abducted by individuals falsely

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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