East County Magazine
Photo of the Week: Jacumba Sunset
April 6, 2026 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – Martin Eder sent in this photo, taken along Interstate 8 just west of Jacumba near the San Diego-Imperial County line, after he attended the Magical Mystery Beatles tribute music festival at De Anza Springs Resort. The setting sun illuminated a plume in the sky, creating a magical effect. Printer-friendly version
Male lion joins pride at San Diego Zoo Safari Park
East County News Service View video: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1484962496593617 March 24, 2026 (San Pasqual) — The lion pride at the Safari Park just got a little louder…
Sunrise to sunset is theme of 2026 Lake Jennings photo contest
East County News Service March 15, 2026 (Lakeside) – Lake Jennings invites you to enter your best photos taken at Lake Jennings between April 1…
Photo of the Week: Here’s the buzz!
East County News Service February 7, 2026 (La Mesa) — Kristin Kjaero snapped this photo of a honeybee pollinating flowers in her succulent garden in…
Photo of the Week: Beaver moon
East County News Service November 9, 2025 (Mt. Helix) — Dawn Sebaugh snapped this picture of the “Beaver Moon” on November 5, The November full moon was dubbed “Beaver Moon” because it’s the time when beavers are most active building their lodges for winter, and when the fur trading season was at its peak. The name has its origins in
Photo of the week: Egret at Lake Morena amid dead plants and green water
East County News Service October 3, 2025 (Lake Morena) — Karen Pearlman snapped this photo of snowy white egret searching for fish at Lake Morena, casting a reflection in the deep green waters. The visit raises a curious question: Why are all the plants in the water at Lake Morena dead? It isn’t drought, since plants further up the shoreline
Exclusive: ECM obtains video showing start of Coches Fire
View video September 17, 2025 (Lakeside) — East County Magazine photographer Patrick Ward has obtained surveillance video from a Lakeside homeowner who lives next to the spot where the Coches Fire began. The video from the homeowner, who asked to remain anonymous, shows vehicles on the roadway around 2:56 p.m. on September 8, 2025, followed by brush igniting in several
Photo of the week: Santee Fire Department’s new brush rig
Photo and story by Patrick Ward August 24, 2025 (Santee) – The Santee Fire Department this week held a push-in ceremony with its new home-type 3 brush engine, a symbol of the department’s commitment to safety and efficiency. The brush rig is designed to handle any emergency with precision and speed. The cost of the apparatus was $627,000,
State Parks Photo Contest Running Through Sept. 30
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park photo (left) by Karen Pearlman East County News Service July 15, 2025 (San Diego County) — California State Parks Foundation is inviting park visitors and photography enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels to capture the natural beauty, recreational activities and unique landscapes of California’s state parks. The California State Parks Foundation Photo
Photos of the Week: Crest Celebrates Independence Day
July 6, 2026 (Crest, CA) – Paul Levikow sent in these photos from the 79th Crest Fourth of July Parade near Nancy Jane County Park. Parade watchers lined La Cresta Blvd. and Suncrest Blvd., to watch motorcycles, offroad vehicles, bicycles, classic cars, floats, and equestrians. The community event also included a live band, crafts, venders, food, and even
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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.
NEW TRAIL OPENS AT EL MONTE PARK
Watch a video of the trail opening ceremony here:. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6000bFjSB0s By Billy Ortiz February 23, 2011 (Lakeside) — Supervisor Dianne Jacob, other County officials and around 100 local residents were on hand for the opening ceremony of a new trail in Lakeside yesterday. Jacob said she was delighted to be standing at the foot of “East County’s
Photos of the week Feb. 23, 2011
February 23, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) — What can be more welcoming than a warm sunny day after the winter rains? Our readers and photographers have documented the wonders of nature–and human nature, from the sands of Anza-Borrego Desert to the top of Palomar and Laguna Mountains. We had so many great shots this week, we’re
EAST COUNTY VIDEO ADVENTURES: HIKING THE PINE CREEK TRAIL
View the Pine Creek trail video: http://www.facebook.com/v/1334760865455 "I would rate this trail as a five-star experience…The trail is very scenic, with a chance to see wild turkey, cattle ranging in the canyon, and perhaps even a mountain lion." By Billy Ortiz February 20, 2011 (Pine Valley) — As I cross the the tallest bridge in San Diego
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: Feb. 20, 2011
February 20, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) — February brings out the beauty in East County, as these photos clearly show. February is a great time for driving along our backcountry roads, taking a hike, or pausing to marvel at the beauty of a simple late winter’s bloom. ECM photographer Dennis Richardson trekked to the top of
VIDEO ADVENTURES IN EAST COUNTY: WINTER WONDERLAND ON LAGUNA MOUNTAIN
By Billy Ortiz View our “Winter Wonderland” Video February 2, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Living in the San Diego area, it’s a rare treat to visit the snow in our local mountains. So on a cold day in January, when the weather report said the storm was over, I packed my cameras and headed east to the Laguna
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: FEB. 1, 2011
February 1, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)–This week, we bring you some beautiful images of nature. This egret paid a visit to Robin Kendall’s home in San Carlos, wading right in to take a dip in a swimming pool in her backyard. Kristin Hobbs Kjaero photographed this dazzling daybreak shot of a sunrise in La Mesa.
VIDEO ADVENTURE: FLYING HIGH OVER EAST COUNTY
By Pam Wilmers View an aerial video of East County: http://www.facebook.com/v/1274446437632 January 28, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) — With my heart beating and my curiosity rising, I lifted off from Gillespie Field in El Cajon in a single engine Cessna with pilot Bill Howell. Nothing could have prepared me for what we are about to behold
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: JAN. 26, 2011
January 26, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) — Our readers have been hitting the trails, venturing into parks and basking in the sunshine in their own backyards to bring you the latest intriguing images from East County. Garden camouflage: Robert Gehr snapped this image of a praying mantis artfully blending with leaves in his backyard. Scroll down for more amazing images.
LEGENDS OF LAKESIDE VIDEO: THE LAST DAIRY IN LAKESIDE
View our Ommering Dairy video tour, including exclusive interviews, at https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1269855082851&set=vb.121848884514514&type=3&theater By Billy Ortiz Photos by Pam Wilmers and Ommering Dairy January 20, 2011 (Lakeside) — There is something special about visiting a dairy. The sights and sounds, and the people that run the dairies, are very unique. You can't help but think you have taken a trip back
PHOTOS OF THE MONTH: JANUARY 2011
January 18, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) — Here are a few of our favorite shots from January–early signs that spring is on the way. Please send us your best images for publication in a future issue! E-mail your top shots taken in East County or San Diego’s inland regions to editor@eastcountymagazine.org.
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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.