East County Magazine
Nature Day on Mt. Helix March 14: Butterflies, plants galore and more
East County News Service March 6, 2026 (Mt. Helix) – You’re invited to celebrate Nature Day at the Mt. Helix Park, where Earth Day is…
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…
Nature Day on Mt. Helix March 14: Butterflies, plants galore and more
East County News Service March 6, 2026 (Mt. Helix) – You’re invited to celebrate Nature Day at the Mt. Helix Park, where Earth Day is…
California opens $2.5M in grants to reimagining State Parks through art and culture
East County News Service Feb. 10, 2026 (Sacramento) – Looking to literally bridge the gap between nature and the diverse communities of the state, California…
La Mesa hosting Home Energy Fair in March
East County News Service February 5, 2026 (La Mesa) — With San Diego County residents navigating some of the highest utility rates in the nation,…
Navy officials meet with Warner Springs community to address PFAS in water
By Karen Pearlman with additional reporting by Miriam Raftery Jan. 14, 2026 (Warner Springs) — Dozens of local residents and business owners visited the CAL Fire Station in Warner Springs on Jan. 12 to glean information from the United States Navy and several other federal groups as well as state and county water agencies about PFAS and their impact on
“Forever chemical” crisis seeps into Southern California: from Sweetwater Reservoir to Orange County, districts grapple with how to protect drinking water supplies
Photo: PFAS have been detected in Sweetwater Reservoir, via Sweetwater Water Authority By Karen Pearlman Jan. 8, 2025 (San Diego County) — “Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink” goes the line from Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s 1798 poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, describing sailors surrounded by undrinkable ocean water. That old phrase also fits today. Obtaining clean, fresh
Reader’s Editorial: Venezuela could yield more profits from ecotourism than from oil
By Renee Owens, wildlife biologist Photo by Renee Owens: capybaras and sunset in Venezuela’s llanos January 7, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) — Having lived and worked in Venezuela, I can no longer remain silent amidst all the clueless rhetoric. Venezuela is more than a cliché of dictators and oil. It is a wondrous place and a cautionary tale we ignore
The Water Conservation Garden gears up for a blooming 2026
Photo of a buttefly at the Dorcas E. Utter Butterfly Pavilion at The Water Conservation Garden and story by Karen Pearlman Jan. 3, 2025 (Rancho San Diego) — The Water Conservation Garden, the 6-acre botanical showcase of sustainable landscaping and water-wise gardening adjacent to Cuyamaca College, has rooted out its slate of events for Winter and Spring 2026. The schedule includes educational opportunities, community connection
PFAS “forever chemicals” found in Warner Springs groundwater: Navy to host open house January 12 and provide testing of wells at nearby properties
By Miriam Raftery Updated Dec. 31 with comments from the Warner Spring Community Sponsor Group chair and a local winery representative, plus a statement from the Vista Irrigation District. December 27, 2025 (Warner Springs) — The U.S. Navy has announced that PFAS, known as “forever chemicals” have been detected in groundwater in Warner Springs. The contamination is believed to be linked to a former
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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.
HANNAH GBEH TO SPEAK ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND AGRICULTURAL ISSUES SEPT. 20 IN SANTEE
East County News Service September 11, 2018 (Santee) – Hannah Gbeh will be the featured speaker at the East County Democratic Club meeting on Thursday. September 20 at Jimmy’s Restaurant in Santee (9635 Mission Gorge Rd.) Dinner and social hour start at 6 p.m. with the meeting at 7 p.m. Gbeh is an environmental impact report preparer, organic
SUBSTATION AND NEW POWER LINES PROPOSED FOR TORREY WIND IN MCCAIN VALLEY
By Miriam Raftery Photo: Sunrise Powerlink tower dwarfs mountain ridges in McCain Valley September 7, 2018 (Boulevard) — Boulder Brush LLC (Terra-Gen) is seeking a major use permit to construct and operate a gen-tie line and substation/switchyard facilities on 110 acres of private land in McCain Valley south of I-8. The gen-time line would carry energy from the Terra-Gen
360-DEGREE VIEW FROM THE TOP: VOLCAN MOUNTAIN SUMMIT
By José Eli Villanueva, County of San Diego Communications Office September 8, 2018 (Julian) – Get motivated to do the 3-mile hike to Volcan Mountain Summit near Julian by watching this 360-degree video. Visit sdparks.org for information on all our County trails. To watch 360-degree videos, you’ll need the latest version of Chrome, Opera, Firefox or MS Edge
BLUE GREEN ALGAE INVADES EAST COUNTY LAKES
The naturally-occurring algae can form toxic blooms, causing severe illness in humans, kill pets, livestock, and other animals By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor September 3, 2018 (San Diego )– Some people believe in the health benefits of blue green algae as nutritional supplements found at health food stores. But too much of it can make humans very sick and
BILL WOULD PHASE OUT FOSSIL FUELS IN CALIFORNIA BY 2045
Update: This bill has been signed into law by Governor Brown. By Miriam Raftery August 29, 2018 (Sacramento) – California could become the first state in the nation to generate 100 percent of its power from renewable energy resources. A bill by State Senator Kevin del Leon would require California to reach that goal by 2045. The measure has
PUBLIC URGED TO SPEAK OUT ON WIND TURBINE IMPACTS AT TORREY WIND SCOPING MEETING AUG. 23 IN BOULEVARD
By Miriam Raftery August 11, 2018 (Boulevard) — Terra-Gen’s proposed Torrey Wind project (with up to 30 giant turbines each up to 586 tall and 4.2 megawatts) in Boulevard is moving through the planning process quickly. Boulevard Planning Group Chair Donna Tisdale is asking all who have concerns or information to share on impacts of wind turbines to come
VIDEO OF THE WEEK: THE WEASELS ARE BACK!
By Miriam Raftery August 10, 2018 (Lakeside) – Weasels haven’t been seen for five years at Lakeside’s Lindo Lake County Park. But this morning, photographer Billy Ortiz videotaped a welcome sight: a weasel has returned. “This weasel brings me more joy than any other animal, just cracks me up watching its antics,” he wrote on Facebook. Ortiz adds this
SANTEE COUNCIL DELAYS VOTE ON SLOW GROWTH INITIATIVE, EFFECTIVELY TO 2020
By Mike Allen Photo: Pam Kerzner testified, “We don’t need any more houses,” citing traffic delays. August 9, 2018 (Santee) — Voters in Santee hoping to have more say in future development projects will have to wait two more years to do so, following the City Council’s vote last night to prepare a report on the initiative’s possible impacts instead
MAKE BACK TO SCHOOL SEASON THE GREATEST EVER
Earn an A+ in sustainability this school year with tips from Waste Management Source: Waste Management August 7, 2018 (San Diego) – As millions prepare to head back to school, Waste Management of Southern California is offering parents, students and educators practical tips to make this school year more sustainable by reducing, reusing and recycling right, in and
READER’S EDITORIAL: WHILE ROME (AND MOST EVERYWHERE ELSE) BURNS
The Trump administration is taking action, but in precisely the wrong direction. By Mel Gurtov, published by Common Dreams The sky above Soda Bay, Calif. is seen on July 30, 2018 as the River Fire burns. (Photo: Bob Schoenherr/flickr/cc) August 5, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) — By now we’re accustomed to learning that every year brings record high
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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.