East County Magazine
FREE CLINIC FOR HOMEOWNERS AND HOMEBUYERS NOVEMBER 19
November 17, 2011 (Chula Vista) – Assemblyman Marty Block (D-78th Assembly District), whose district includes much of East County, invites the public to attend a free clinic to assist homeowners and homebuyers on Saturday, November 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A coalition of nonprofit organizations and housing agencies in the San Diego region will be on hand to
HOT KITCHEN TRENDS ON DISPLAY AT ASID KITCHEN TOUR
By Miriam Raftery and Mayan Avitable November 17, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – What are the hot styles, materials and design trends in kitchens today? ECM spoke with Lynn Wyndham Morris, communications director for the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) San Diego Chapter and owner of a Touch of Tradition Home & Garden Shoppe in the Miramar
FITDESK PEDAL DESK TURNS SEDENTARY COMPUTER WORK INTO A HEALTHY EXERCISE OPTION
November 11, 2011 — (Nashville, Tennessee) – FitDesk is a unique product that combines two seemingly polar opposite activities – exercise & computer work – into one productive and efficient activity. The FitDesk Pedal Desk is an innovative product that allows a person to exercise comfortably on a stationary bike while using a laptop computer or playing a video game.
SUSTAINABLE HOMES TOUR NOV. 5 SHOWCASES CREATIVE LIVING—FROM A STRAW BALE HOME TO AN AIRPLANE HANGER
November 4, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) — Lakeside River Park Conservancy will host a Sustainable Homes Tour on Saturday, November 5. The tour includes about 10 sites on tour, including many in East County. These homes have a variety of sustainable applications from the construction of the homes, products, landscape and conservation. The variation from new build
ASK THE DESIGNER LANDSCAPE CONSULTATIONS DURING FALL HOME AND GARDEN FESTIVAL NOV. 5
November 4, 2011 (El Cajon) — The Water Conservation Garden is offering a 20 minute landscape design consultation at the Fall Garden & Home Festival. A professional designer who focuses on drought tolerant landscapes will meet with you. After the meeting, you’ll leave with design ideas, and a list of plants. Bring photos of your house and the area
SIXTH ANNUAL LA MESA HISTORIC HOMES TOUR NOV. 5
November 1, 2011 (La Mesa) – Take a step back in time on the La Mesa Historic Homes Tour on Saturday, November 5. Sponsored by the La Mesa Historical Society, this year’s tour features five historic houses by noted local architects, some of whom went on to even greater architectural fame. The houses include two mid-century moderns, an original Cliff
AT HOME IN DEERHORN VALLEY: AN ARTIST’S STRAW BALE STUDIO RISES FROM THE ASHES, DOUBLING AS COMMUNITY CENTER
"At Home” is a new series highlighting creative homes and lifestyles in San Diego East County communities. By Miriam Raftery “Straw bale building is like a barn raising—a wonderful, friendly activity that reaches out and brings people together.” – Kim Hamilton October 30, 2011 (Deerhorn Valley) – Four years after the Harris Fire
SUSTAINING THE GOOD LIFE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA—THE ART OF CONSERVATION
Fall Garden and Home Festival abounds with conservation ideas, gardening tips, art and family fun October 24, 2011 (Rancho San Diego, CA)–The Fall Garden and Home Festival, hosted by The Water Conservation Garden and Lakeside’s River Park Conservancy will take place on Saturday, November 5, 9am-4pm on the campus of Cuyamaca College. The multi-faceted event takes conservation and sustainable
SEVEN EAST COUNTY KITCHENS ON THE ASID KITCHEN TOUR ON OCT. 22
October 20, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)–The American Society of Interior Designers’ self-guided Kitchen Tour, set for Saturday, Oct. 22, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., will showcase 14 beautifully remodeled kitchens in San Diego County — including several in East County and San Diego’s inland regions. designed by some of the region’s own design stars. “This is an
FROM THE MIDDLE EAST TO EAST COUNTY: ARCHITECT CRAFTS HOMES THAT ARE ENERGY-SAVING AND BEAUTIFUL
By Rachel Ford July 28, 2010 (San Diego) — Green architecture is hot right now. For San Diego architect Simi Razavian, who developed techniques in her Middle Eastern homeland, it’s also a way of life. Designing homes that utilize energy saving construction and passive solar design is a simple solution to save
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County hosts webinar October 22 on Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) proposed ordinance
East County News Service October 14, 2025 (San Diego) – The County of San Diego Planning & Development Services (PDS) invites you to attend a virtual meeting to share your thoughts on the draft ordinance for the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Zoning Ordinance Amendment and the proposed Separate Sale of ADUs Program, which is currently available for public review.
Reduced Santee Council approves 285-unit condo project near Town Center Community Park
By Mike Allen October 5, 2025 (Santee) — The vacant lot behind the Cameron YMCA will soon be vacant no longer. The Santee City Council voted 3-0 to approve a 285-unit condominium project on the 22.17-acre site which had long been used by dog walkers, model car and plane users, and overspill parking during big events at the Town Center
Harmony Grove Village South development approved by Board of Supervisors despite controversy
By Paul Levikow Photo, left: Brenda Wright October 2, 2025 (San Diego) — The San Diego County Board of Supervisors Wednesday unanimously approved a housing development in the North County community of Harmony Grove, despite objections by several residents who expressed concerns about the lack of a second evacuation route during wildfires. The Harmony Grove Village South development will be
Jones’ mobile home insurance bill passes Legislature: measure would protect owners in case of disaster
East County News Service September 25, 2025 (Sacramento) — Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) announced passage of his SB 525, which if signed by the Governor would help manufactured and mobile home owners afford to acquire full replacement cost insurance policies. “Mobile home owners should not be treated like second rate citizens when it comes to protecting
Losses in Coches Fire show need for firewise upgrades to mobilehomes: County offers grants and loans to mobilehome owners
By Miriam Raftery Photos and video by Josh Stotler View video Updated Sept. 10, 2025 with latest damage assessment based on a report from Lakeside’s Fire Marshal September 9, 2025 (Lakeside) – Swift action by firefighters including aerial attacks held yesterday’s Coches Fire to 5.3 acres, but the damage was substantial. Five homes were destroyed, including three mobilehomes at the
El Cajon receives SANDAG grants to improve streetscapes, revamp Parkway Plaza and add housing
Photo by Karen Pearlman East County News Service Sept. 4, 2025 (El Cajon) – El Cajon has been given a Notice of Intent to be awarded three grants through the San Diego Association of Governments TransNet Smart Growth Incentive Program. The city is expecting to receive one engineering grant and two planning grants as part of SANDAG’s
Building together: local trades connect at Ram’s Hill Golf Cottages
Meet-and-Greet By Jennifer Sencion September 2, 2025 (Borrego Springs) – On July 31, Borrego Community Builders, in partnership with Skyline Construction, hosted a Subcontractor Meet-and-Greet in Borrego Springs to connect local tradespeople with a landmark hospitality project. The gathering brought together electricians, plumbers, painters, construction crews, and other skilled trades from Borrego Springs and neighboring desert communities, providing a
East County Neighborhoods Could Be Impacted By Proposed State Law to Allow Significantly More Multi-Family Housing Projects
By Paul Levikow Image, left, via United Neighbors August 26, 2025 (East County) – Large-scale, high-rise apartment complexes could soon be built within a half mile of a bus stop or trolley station near you, under a proposed state law that would take away local control of developments and turn single-family neighborhoods into high-density housing. State Senate Bill 79, the
How much more valuable is land in East County cities? $14 billion in El Cajon, $10 billion in La Mesa, $9 billion in Santee,$3 billion in Lemon Grove
East County News Service Photo from left to right: Jordan Z. Marks, San Diego County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk (ARCC) and Andrew Potter, Executive Officer, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors. August 21, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – Land in East County has never been worth so much. According to Jordan Z. Marks, San Diego County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk (ARCC), the
Disparate impacts in fair housing and how to get help
By Vanessa Rojas, Fair Housing Program Manager July 31, 2025 (El Cajon) — Renters generally pay their rent through the most practical option for themselves. It may be easier for some people to pay through cashier’s checks, personal checks, money orders, or online. However, what works for one person can end up being tedious, harder, or impossible to do for
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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