East County Magazine
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
Water Conservation Garden restores educational programs, expands displays and plans festive events
April 30, 2026 (Rancho San Diego) — The Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College is thriving once again, after facing an uncertain future due to financial troubles. In an interview with East County Magazine for KNSJ Radio, Lauren Magnuson, director of garden operations, shares information on the return of educational programs, new displays including fire-wise landscaping, and the return of
Backcountry residents raise concerns over industrial energy projects during energetic townhall meeting
Concerned East County backcountry residents filled the Boulevard Backcountry Resource Center earlier this month to discuss concerns, including a massive battery storage area planned for the region. Photo by Karen Pearlman By Karen Pearlman and Miriam Raftery April 28, 2026 (Boulevard) — Hundreds of rural residents turned out at a town hall in Boulevard’s new Backcountry Resource Center on April
Anza-Borrego Foundation leads opposition to new Golden Pacific Powerlink through heart of Anza Borrego Desert State Park
By Miriam Raftery April 28, 2026 (Borrego Springs) – “California’s largest state park — and one of the last true wild places in Southern California — could face one of the biggest industrial threats in its history,” states a website set up by the Anza-Borrego Foundation at https://theabf.org/park-threat/ . “A proposed 500-kV transmission line, the Golden Pacific Powerlink, could
Padre Dam’s Ray Stoyer Water Recycling Facility decommissioned after more than a half-century of use
Ray Stoyer Water Recycling Facility at Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Santee Lakes Community event makes way for the East County Advanced Water Purification Program Story and photos by Paul Levikow April 13, 2026 (Santee) — After more than a half-century of water reuse in East County, the Ray Stoyer Water Recycling Facility has been decommissioned, marking the end of
Boulevard residents battle proposed Starlight Solar battery storage facility; urge community to attend town hall meeting April 15
By Miriam Raftery Photo: proposed Starlight Solar site, via County of San Diego April 4, 2026 (Boulevard) – Should a 588-acre solar project with one…
Power struggle ends — no Seguro BESS in North County
East County News Service April 4, 2026 (Escondido) — The developer of the Seguro Battery Energy Storage System has formally withdrawn its application to build…
Helix Water District electrifies East County
Helix Water District Board Member Joel Scalzitti tells the crowd at the Helix Operations Center on Vernon Way on Friday that the district’s new electrification…
$33M water facility expansion buffers growth in Temescal Valley
East County News Service March 12, 2026 (Temescal Valley) — The Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District marked a significant infrastructure milestone earlier this month with…
Spring Into El Cajon on April 18 celebrates Arbor Day and arrival of spring
East County New Service Image by Satheesh Sankaran from Pixabay March 6, 2026 (El Cajon) – The City of El Cajon invites community members and…
Search by Specific Date
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.
LAKESIDE PLANNERS TO HOLD HEARING THURSDAY AND VOTE ON SAND MINE EIR
East County News Service October 22, 2018 (Lakeside) – The Lakeside Community Planning Group will hold a public hearing this Thursday on an environmental impact report on a controversial sand mining project proposed in the El Monte Valley. After public comments and discussion, planning group members are expected to vote on the project’s EIR. The meeting will be held
22 CA LEGISLATORS JOIN GLORIA IN DEMANDING THAT FEDERAL GOV’T STOP INHUMANE ROUNDUP OF WILD HORSES IN MODOC NF
East County News Service October 17, 2018 (San Diego) – Approximately 1,000 of California’s wild horses are currently being rounded up by the federal government with many at risk of being sold for potential slaughter by the United States Forest Service (USFS). Today, California State Assemblymember Todd Gloria (D-San Diego) and 22 of his legislative colleagues demanded the USFS cease this inhumane
STATE MOVES TO REDUCE METHANE LEAKS THAT FUEL CLIMATE CHANGE
By Suzanne Potter, Public News Service Photo: A new rule from the California Public Utilities Commission will require more inspections of gas distribution systems in order to reduce leaks. (Wikimedia Commons) October 15, 2018 (San Francisco) – The state’s gas utility companies are going to have to spend about $300 million over the next three years to find, fix
COUNTY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT STAFF FACES STIFF OPPOSITION FROM IRATE LAKESIDE RESIDENTS OVER PROPOSED SAND MINE PROJECT
By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor Photo, left, by Paul Kruze October 12, 2018 (Lakeside) — Members of San Diego County’s Planning and Development staff bravely faced some 500 irate Lakeside residents at a recent loud and often rowdy standing room only meeting at the Lakeside Community Center over a proposed sand mine project at the El Monte Valley.
GOV. BROWN SIGNS LANDMARK CLIMATE ACTION BILL; U.N. CLIMATE CHANGE REPORT WARNS OF “LIFE OR DEATH” CONSEQUENCES OF INACTION
By Miriam Raftery October 8, 2018 (Incheon, South Korea) – California must get 60 percent of its energy from renewable resources by 2030 and 100 percent clean energy sources by 2045, under the landmark Senate Bill 100 signed into law by Jerry Brown as one of his final acts as Governor. Days later, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on
COUNTY WINS HIGHEST LEED AWARD FOR SUSTAINABILITY
By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office Image via Bruce Heimbach October 8, 2018 (San Diego) – The County of San Diego has become the first county in California and the second in the nation to receive the U.S. Green Building Council’s Platinum certification – its highest distinction – in its LEED for Communities program. LEED stands
STRAW BALE HOME IN CAMPO HONORED AS ENERGY CHAMPION BY SDG&E, WILL BE FEATURED ON GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL TOUR OCT. 21
By Miriam Raftery Photos: Simple Construct Hear our interview on KNSJ radio with homeowners Brian and Susan Fallgren, Simple Construct builder Rebeca Tasker, and SDG&E communications manager Helen Gao. View video on the home’s construction and view tour of the finished residence. July 14, 2018 (Campo) – Inspired by historical California adobe homes, Brian and Susan Fallgren in Campo teamed
BRAVE THESE HAUNTED TRAILS AT COUNTY PARKS
East County News Service October 1, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) — Ready to get spooked? County parks invite you tor a haunted adventure through the woods. Don’t forget to dress up in your favorite Halloween costume! Click the links below for details on each of these haunting experiences: Saturday, Oct. 13: 15th Annual Spooky Trails at Hellhole Canyon County Preserve Saturday, Oct.
SKYLINE CHURCH PLAN FOR SENIOR FACILITY ON OPEN LAND DRAWS CONTROVERSY
By Miriam Raftery September 25, 2018 (Rancho San Diego) – The Valle de Oro Planning Group has voted 12-2 on September 4th to oppose a proposal by Skyline Church to build a senior living facility on 9 acres of open land north of Highway 94 in Rancho San Diego. Planners and long-time community residents say that when the evangelical megachurch
EIR FOR EL MONTE SAND MINING PROJECT NOW AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT: HEARING SET SEPT. 25 IN LAKESIDE
By Miriam Raftery August 31, 2018 (Lakeside) – The County has published a draft environmental impact report (EIR) for the controversial El Monte Sand Mining Project. A public meeting will be held at the Lakeside Community Center located at 9841 Vine Street Lakeside, CA 92040 on Tuesday, September 25, 2018 from 5:30 to 8:00 P.M. County staff will
Search by Specific Date
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.