East County Magazine
The stress of apartment searching in San Diego: monthly rents and cost of living exceed national average, while scammers target renters
By Heidi Hope December 15, 2025 (San Diego) — Hunting for an affordable apartment in San Diego County is a recipe for aggravating stress. Rents and living expenses in the city of San Diego are among the highest in the nation. East County communities are also too expensive for a single person working a low-wage part-time job to afford. Scam
Keep pets safe throughout the holiday season
By Sir Milo Loftin, County of San Diego Communications Office November 28, 2025 (San Diego) – The holidays are a time for food, family and celebration. But the extra activity, rich meals and decorations can create hazards for pets. County Animal Services is sharing safety tips to help keep cats, dogs and other pets safe from Thanksgiving through New Year’s.
Hearing and new website showcase County housing efforts
By Donna Durckel, County of San Diego Communications Office Image credit: Shutterstock November 28, 2025 (San Diego) – The Board of Supervisors held a housing workshop that focused on unincorporated land use policy and the need for regional housing solutions in support of the County’s commitment to address the region’s housing crisis. The informational workshop set the stage ahead of
San Diego plans 322% housing boom for College Area amid SDSU’s continued growth
By Calista Stocker, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association Photo: an aerial view of the College Area. Photo courtesy of the city. November 25, 2025 (San Diego) – San Diego is set to update the College Area’s blueprint for future development, and San Diego State University’s enrollment forecasts are driving city planners’ push to
Warner Springs opens historic adobe doors for inaugural Holiday Tour
East County News Service Nov. 25, 2025 (Warner Springs) — The community of Warner Springs will open its proverbial doors next month and offer the public an unprecedented look inside its architectural soul. Six private historic adobe homes — some dating back to the 1890s — will be part of the community’s inaugural Holiday Adobe Home Tour &
Supervisors discuss future housing and development in unincorporated county
By Paul Levikow Photo: map shows targeted areas to be prioritized for housing November 20, 2025 (San Diego) – With San Diego County experiencing a housing crisis, the Board of Supervisors held a workshop Wednesday aimed at finding solutions for the unincorporated areas, including several in East County. The Valle de Oro/Casa de Oro neighborhood was identified as being positioned
Board of Supervisors to discuss land use on Nov. 19
East County News Service Nov. 14, 2025 (San Diego County) — The San Diego County Board of Supervisors is continuing a critical conversation about the future of housing and development in the unincorporated areas of the county, including Spring Valley, Lakeside and Casa de Oro. The Board of Supervisors will discuss land use legislations at its meeting at
New affordable housing for veterans headed to Mission Gorge Road
By Anita Lightfoot, County of San Diego Communications Office Video by José Eli Villanueva November 6, 2025 (San Diego) – A groundbreaking ceremony was held today for The Grant at Mission Trails, a 48-unit affordable housing development dedicated to current and former military members and families. Located in the Grantville neighborhood on Mission Gorge Road, the seven-story project will have
County rejects supporting statewide ban on foreign investment in homes
By Paul Levikow Photo, left: Supervisor Jim Desmond sought to restrict foreign investors from buying homes and driving up prices. October 23, 2025 (San Diego) – The San Diego County Board of Supervisors this week rejected a proposal by Supervisor Jim Desmond to support statewide bans or restrictions on foreign investment in entry-level and single-family housing, particularly when located near
County approves negotiations to buy land for Troy Street Sleeping Cabins in Lemon Grove
By Paul Levikow Image, left: Rendering of Troy Street Sleeping Cabins Project October 22, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – The County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to approve negotiations with Caltrans to purchase land for the Troy Street Sleeping Cabins Project in Lemon Grove, after hearing comments overwhelmingly in opposition from residents and two City Councilmembers. The project plan calls for
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AFRICAN GARDEN, AIRPLANE MODELS AND LOTS OF COLOR AT 19TH ANNUAL FRIENDS OF EAST COUNTY’S GARDEN TOUR
By Janis Russell April 29, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)– Despite windy weather and some rain, the 19th annual garden tour presented by Friends of East County Arts on April 26 was still held, providing visitors with an array of colorful and fascinating gardens to enjoy. This event was put on by Friends of East County Arts, Inc, which
SAGE & SONGBIRDS PREVIEW: NIGHT-TIME GARDENER REAPS RARE REWARDS
This garden and others will be on view at the Sage & Songbirds Garden Tour May 2-4 in Alpine Story by Maureen Austin, CHIRP Photos by Mendi Wyatt, CHIRP April 15, 2014 (Alpine) – Laughingly labeled as a “plant hoarder” by a friend, Pete Swoboda prefers the title “plant collector.” He says he never met a plant he didn’t
10 TIPS TO KEEP YOUR POOL SAFE AND LOOKING GREAT!
April 6, 2014 (San Diego)–The rains have gone and temperatures are expected to start rising again. And that means swimming pool season can’t be far off! Every year, San Diego County’s Department of Environmental Health (DEH) inspects about 4,000 public swimming pools and spas to make sure they’re clean and safe. Now, they only inspect public pools — not
EAST COUNTY GARDEN TOUR BLOSSOMS APRIL 26
March 30, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)–Friends of East County Arts, Inc. presents its 19th Annual Garden Tour on Saturday, April 26 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Six spectacular gardens will offer an amazing variety of settings and each garden is lovingly planned and cared for by its owner. Included in this year’s tour are: Recreated gardens of
OPENING YOUR POOL FOR A NEW SUMMER SEASON
By Ryan Harrison Photo by harmonicagoldfish via Flickr March 22, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – Preparing your swimming pool for the upcoming summer season means more just than taking off the cover and refilling it. After a long winter, your pool may be green and full of gunk and debris. More than 53,000 in-ground pools and 171,000 above-ground
COUNTY OFFERS VIDEOS ON WATER CONSERVATION GARDENING
March 20, 2014 (San Diego)–California is in the midst of a drought emergency, and there’s no relief in sight as our unseasonably warm winter continues. Gov. Jerry Brown is asking all residents to cut water use by 20 percent — something that may be easier than you think. Simple changes in the garden can make a big difference when it
PREPARE FOR POTENTIAL FLOODING
Photo credit: Tom Lemon Safety tips from the nonprofit FLASH March 1, 2014 (San Diego)–With much needed rain expected over the next few days, residents should take precautions to protect their home and family from the possibility of flooding. Eighteen to 24 inches of moving water can wash an SUV off of the road. In fact, according to the National
EAST COUNTY REALTORS HOST CLASS ON SELLING HUD HOMES
February 13, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – The Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors, a trade group for San Diego-area realtors who serve East County and South County communities, will host a free class for realtors on the process of selling homes offered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on
EL CAJON’S MAYOR MEETS WITH REALTORS
February 5, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – The Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS® (PSAR), a 2,000-member trade group for San Diego area realtors, hosted El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells at a recent PSAR brown-bag lunchtime conversation presented by PSAR’s Government Affairs Committee. Wells, a city councilman in El Cajon since 2008 and mayor pro tem since December 2012,
HOW TO GET RID OF YOUR MORTGAGE INSURANCE – MI & PMI
By E. Vernon Small Mortgage Insurance is required on conventional and FHA loans if the loan to value of the loan amount exceeds 80% of the value of the home. It is an insurance policy that covers the lender in case of default or loss when the loan balance exceeds the property value. Unfortunately, most homeowners will have to
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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