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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Our East County Dining Club invites you to Zest Wine Bistro August 21

We still have room for a few more at tonight’s wonderful event! You’re invited to our East County Dining Club special event at Zest Wine Bistro in Lemon Grove on Thursday, August 21 at 6:30  p.m. 20% of dinner proceeds and100% of raffle proceeds will benefit East County Magazine’s reporting and wildfire alerts. Savor gourmet charcuterie served family-style (gourmet cheeses

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Julian Family Fiddle Camp pie social and promotion August 16

East County News Service August 9, 2025 (Julian) – If you are going to Summergrass, and if you are a Julian Family Fiddle Camp (JFFC) alumni OR if you are interested in attending JFFC, you are invited to attend the JFFC pie scial & promotion at 7 p.m. on Sat., Aug. 16. The pie and promotion event will be held

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East County Posse comes to the rescue of San Diego Highwayman

    Thomas Weller in one of the bathrooms in his home in El Cajon (Photo by Karen Pearlman)   By Karen Pearlman   August 7, 2025 (El Cajon) – Thanks in a large part to the efforts of a local philanthropic nonprofit, The San Diego Highwayman is on the road to better times.   Though he is now retired,

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Ramona Wildlife Center gives new lease on life to rescued cubs

East County News Services August 5, 2025 (Ramona) – Three young black bear cubs found orphaned in Calaveras County have a second chance at life. Housed and cared for at the San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center, the cubs, thought to be between 6 and 7 months old, were rescued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife after

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San Diego County Sheriff’s Office to participate in National Night Out Against Crime August 5

East County News Service August 1, 2025 (San Diego) – Sheriff’s stations and substations across the county will be hosting family-friendly community events to take a stand against crime on Tuesday, August 5. National Night Out is an annual event that promotes law enforcement-community partnership and neighborhood camaraderie. Meet your local Sheriff’s Deputies and receive public safety resources. Crime Prevention Specialists

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Jacumbia fest brings Afro-Columbian rhythms to Jacumba Aug. 30

East County News Service July 29, 2025 (Jacumba Hot Springs) — Bad Vibes Good Friends and Jacumba Hot Springs Hotel will present Jacumbia Fest  on August 30 starting at 5 p.m.— a one-night-only celebration of Afro-Colombian rhythms, traditional and psychedelic cumbia from Colombia, Mexico and USA. This powerful night of music and dance features the legendary Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto—torchbearers of

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New Trump admin policy bars many students from adult school classes

By Adam Echelman, CalMatters Photo:  students work on an assignment during an English as a second language class at the San Diego Continuing Education Mid-City campus in San Diego on Oct. 6, 2023.  File photo courtesy Adriana Heldiz/CalMatters  July 28, 2025 (San Diego) – As President Donald Trump ramps up immigration enforcement, targeting immigrants at workplaces and street corners across California,

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Behind the masks: who are the people rounding up immigrants in California?

By Michael Lozano, CalMatters Photo:  a line of federal immigration agents and protesters stand-off near the Glass House Farms facility outside Camarillo on July 10, 2025. Protesters gathered after federal agents conducted an immigration raid earlier in the day. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. July 27, 2025 (Sacramento)

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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

Lemon Grove Pride Drag Brunch coming on June 6

East County News Service May 24, 2026 (Lemon Grove) — J Lau Farrow-Halston of Escondido Drag is hosting the Lemon Grove Pride Drag Brunch next month. The 2 1/2-hour show will include performances by  Amore Envy, Gabby Link Aux and Drag Latina’s Rosalinda and will be held starting at noon on Saturday, June 6. Doors open at 11 a.m. at

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Destination East County:  Joyful June events

By Miriam Raftery May 21, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) – June is jumping with joyful events including Santee Summer Knights—a Medieval festival, star parties on Mount Laguna, Wild in the Country at Lions, Tigers and Bears in Alpine, open farm tours at Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona, a ballet production of Snow White at Kroc Theatre,  Cajon Cruise nights,

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Al Awael Brings Authentic Iraqi Cuisine to El Cajon

Review by Philicia Tonangoye May 16, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) –On the corner of Avocado and Chase Ave in El Cajon, Al Awael is a new family-owned Mediterranean restaurant that offers a wide range of flavorful and affordable Middle Eastern food options for individual diners or family occasions. Al Awael, meaning “the first,” holds special significance for the owner.

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Photos of the Week: Two winning shots from Lake Jennings Photo Contest

East County News Service May 17, 2026 (East County) — The Helix Water District has announced the winners of the Lake Jennings 2026 Photo Contest: Sunrise to Sunset! and East County Magazine is featuring two for our “Photos of the Week.” At left and top, first-place youth category winner Hannah Hedrick’s “A Dusky Walk,” and below right, second place youth

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Mount Laguna Observatory summer visitors program starts May 23

East County News Service May 17, 2026 (Mount Laguna) — Star parties are back at Mount Laguna with the return of the Summer Visitors Program at the Mount Laguna Observatory. The public programs will be held on Saturday nights from 8 to 11 p.m., May 23 through August 15, with a special bonus mid-week viewing scheduled for Wednesday, August 12.

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‘Snow White’ coming to Joan B. Kroc Theatre on May 30 and 31

Photo by Trystan Loucado East County News Service May 12, 2026 (San Diego) — San Diego’s BalletCenter Studios is set to to debut its latest production, “Snow White,” at the end of the month for three performances at the Joan B. Kroc Theatre inside The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Rolando. Scheduled for Saturday, May

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Lions Tigers & Bears ‘Wild in the Country’ event is May 30

East County News Service May 9, 2026 (Alpine) — Lions Tigers & Bears, Southern California’s premier accredited big cat and bear sanctuary, is holding its signature fundraising gala, Wild in the Country later this month. The event is set to take place from 2 to 6 p.m., Saturday, May 30 at 24402 Martin Way, the organization’s 142-acre ranch in Alpine.

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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