January 28, 2025 (Jamul) -- Robert Hobbs sent in these images of the Border 2 Fire, which burned over 6,500 acres after starting on Otay Mountain in San Diego County on Jan. 23. These photos were taken Jan. 23 and 24 from Jamul.
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January 8, 2025 (Los Angeles) – No, that’s not a tornado or mother ship descending. Henri Migala snapped this apocalyptic image of the Palisades Fire which is devastating Los Angeles. This photo was taken from the Westin Hotel near Los Angeles International Airport. As of today, the fire has burned 15,832 acres, has destroyed many homes and forced evacuation of some 70,000 residents in several communities including Pacific Palisades, Topanga, Malibu, and Santa Monica. It remains zero percent contained.
Anyone in the path of this fire is urged to evacuate. High winds grounded firefighting aircraft last night and some hydrants ran out of water, leaving firefighters without the means to halt the destructive blaze which has burned all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
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January 6, 2025 (Deerhorn Valley) – Jordan Valladares snapped this close-up portrait of a bobcat near his home on Deerhorn Valley Road south of Jamul on Sunday.
“I spotted the little guy sneaking about while I was enjoying some warm morning sunshine,” he writes. “So I ran in, grabbed my camera and a 300mm lens with a teleconverter, and made my way down into a nearby field. The bobcat was comfortable with my presence, even showcasing some stalking behavior. This allowed me to snap a decent photo at eye level.”
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November 30, 2024 (El Cajon)--El Cajon Councilman Gary Kendrick celebrated his 70th birthday on October 26 with a poolside party at his home.
The guest list read like a who's who of East County, with bipartisan comunity leaders turning out to honor the long-serving East County Councilmember.
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November 28, 2024 (La Mesa) – Thanks to all of you who turned out in style at our Roaring ‘20s party on November 17 at Wineworks in La Mesa. We appreciate your support, which is vital to sustain our independent news reporting as well as our wildfire and emergency alerts.
The event recreated the era of flappers, Great Gatsby, rum runners and Prohibition--including historical highlights of the era right here in East County!
We extend our special appreciation to the following for supporting our "party of the century":
Wineworks, for generously donating space and a percentage of all wine sold
Joseph Luna Duo, for their jazz performance evoking the 1920s Jazz Era
California Coast Credit Union, for their generous music sponsorship
Cupid’s Catering, for a delicious feast
The La Mesa Historical Society and their representative, Kristine Alessio, for educating our guests on local history during Prohibition
Our raffle and silent auction prize donors: San Pasqual Winery, Time and Treasures, Little Roma Italian restaurant, Alvarado Skincare Institute, Amethyst Moon, Maxwell's House of Books, Jackalope, Public Square coffee house and private donors.
Here are more photos from East County Media's "Roaring '20s" festivities:
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Photo, left: Mark Robak, chair of the Water Conservation Garden’s joint powers authority
November 21, 2024 (Rancho San Diego) – The Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College celebrated its 25th anniversary on November 9 with a free celebration commemorating a quarter century of educating the public on water conservation and more.
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November 26, 2024 (Alpine) – Nearly two years after a severe storm damaged the floating fishing dock at Loveland Reservoir in Alpine back in January 2023, a restored fishing dock is back.
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November 24, 2024 (Campo) – Eileen Martinez of Boulevard took these photos of controlled burn conducted by Cal Fire in the Cal Fire area on November 22.
She wrote after receiving our alert, “Thanks for keeping us up to date! I was driving thru Campo this evening and this fire was visible all along 94, to the south with flames occasionally. It was quite spectacular and kind of surreal as there was no concern it was threatening anything.”
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October 27, 2024 (Mt. Helix) -- Karen Pearlman stopped atop Mt. Helix with her dog, Charlie, last weekend and captured some stunning sunset shots.
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The San Diego Humane Society now offers an adoption guarantee* per Nina Thompson, so families can have peace of mind knowing that if the pet isn't the right match, they will welcome y/our pet back into care if you adopt her or him through the San Diego Humane Society, including the one in El Cajon, in the event the pet does not work out.
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August 10,2024 (Lakeside) -- The annual Vaqueros Run rumbled down Maine Avenue in Lakeside on August 1st. El Capitan High School football team, a Grossmont Union district school, marched down Maine Avenue with their football team and cheerleaders while Maine Avenue was lined with fans. The small-town spirit was alive and the marching band complimented the atmosphere.
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July 29, 2024 (Pine Valley) -- I returned to the Annual Pine Valley Days Parade in Pine Valley on Saturday, July 27. The Mountain Empire is always welcoming and friendly and the small community pride was evident. Starting at 9 a.m., the parade traveled down old Highway 80 from Pine Valley Road to Pine Blvd. The parade entries included equestrian, bands, clowns, old cars, fire trucks and many others.
After the parade, the fun commenced at the Pine Valley County Park, where attractions included a, bounce houses for kids, music, horse shoe tournament, market place with over 30 vendors and of course, food. The events lasted all day until early evening.
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July 8, 2024 (San Diego's East County)-- Junebug Owens sent in this idyllic image taken in late June of her Belgian Malinois mix dog, Ellie, lolling amid blossoms from a purple flowering Jaracanda tree and a scarlet Bougainvillea.
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July 4, 2024 (Borrego) – With temperatures in triple digits in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Suzanne Brooks snapped this image on July 3 showing the area’s iconic bighorn sheep “chilling” out in the shade of a ramada at Palm Canyon Campground.
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July 1, 2024 (Jacumba)—Paul Cummings drove from Ribbonwood Road at I-8 east to Jacumba tonight, and sent these photos taken with his iphone. He says 8 West (which is shut down at Carrizo Gorge) is a staging area for many fire trucks. “Some are coming into Jacumba now,” he says, adding that he also saw several helicopters on scene.
The view from I-8 included many small fires in rugged, rocky terrain difficult for firefighters to access, creating an eerie volcano-like effect.
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June 6, 2024 (Jacumba Hot Springs) — Shiloh Ireland sent in this beautiful image of a cactus flower and bee, taken in Jacumba Hot Springs.
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May 29, 2024 (Lakeside) -- Shiloh Ireland sent in these photos of Sheriff’s Deputy Carter at the Eastern San Diego County Youth Fair at the rodeo grounds in Lakeside last week, where a livestock auction was also held. The annual fair has representation of FFA, 4H and Grange with sheep, goats, swine, cattle, ducks, chickens, rabbits, more small animals and non-animal projects.
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May 24, 2024 (Borrego Springs) – Astronomy writer and night sky photographer Dennis Mammana snapped these stunning photos of the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, which made a rare appearance over our region on May 11. The photo, left, taken from his backyard in the Anza-Borrego Desert, also shows the Milky Way.
“I aimed my camera with 14mm lens toward the east-southeast. The right (south) side of the frame shows the Milky Way as it appears on a normal night. The left (north) side shows how far southward the aurora extended that night, and how it nearly overwhelmed the Milky Way,” Mammana told East County Magazine.
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May 12, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) — The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, made a rare but spectacular appearance over San Diego’s East County Friday night, visible in mountain and rural areas dark enough to see the dramatic night sky.
These images were taken by Joyce Teague from Guatay, CA, in East County near Pine Valley.
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May 7, 2024 (Borrego Springs) – Mitchell Sterling sent in these dramatic images showcasing natural spectacles in the Anza-Borrego Desert.
The dramatic desert sunset features lenticular clouds; the rainbow is over the San Ysidro Mountains on the western end of Borrego Springs..
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April 11, 2024 (El Cajon) – Recent rains have brought spring flowers. Robert Gehr sent in these photos of beautiful blooms in his El Cajon neighborhood.
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March 31, 2024 (Lakeside) — Shiloh Ireland snapped this photo of a Swallowtail butterfly at his Lakeside home.
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February 29, 2024 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon shows its patriotic spirit on President’s Day.
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February 11, 2024 (San Diego) -- January's heavy rains created waterfalls in many rocky areas across East County. Rod Lagace sent in this beautiful photo of a waterfall that formed at Mission Trails Regional Park after the storm.
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January 27, 2024 (Ramona) -- Joe Cortez photographed this pair of coyotes chilling out in the Ramona Grasslands County Preserve. This biologically diverse 3,541 acre preserve also supports 23 butterfly species, 21 reptile species, six types of amphibians, 37 mammals, over 100 types of birds, and 408 plant species. You can visit on your own, or join a docent-led guided excursion.
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January 14, 2024 (San Diego) – Tim and Susan Taylor sent in these photos from this weekend’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade in San Diego. Participants carried messages in support of Reverend. King’s goals including freedom, equality, peace, and love triumphing over hate.
Others called for an end to gun violence.
Participants came from across San Diego County, including students San Diego State University and Gompers Preparatory Academy, shown below.
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December 20, 2023 (Ramona)—The crew from Cal Fire’s Station 80 rescued nearly 20 animals from a barn fire in Ramona earlier this week, including these adorable puppies.
Unfortunately, one animal perished in the fire on Ramona Real.
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December 12, 2023 (Lakeside)-- Thousands of merrymakers attended Lakeside’s Spirit of Christmas on Maine event December 2.
The event along Maine Avenue featured vendors, local merchant displays, food trucks, dance and vocals from local middle schools, community information booths, animals, local dignitaries, a band, classic car show, Lakeside Rodeo And Bulls Only Queens, Lakeside pre-teen and teen queens, Lakeside Fire Department, Lieutenant Katra of San Diego Sheriff Lakeside office and much more.
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November 5, 2023 (Boulevard, CA) -- Benjamin Hayden took these scenic shots earlier this year in Boulevard, a high-desert town in San Diego's East County.
From colorful sunrises to dramatic sunbeams, the photos depict spectacular skies over mountains, rocky terrain, and ridges topped with wind turbines.
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October 15, 2023 (San Diego’s East County)—Jake Christie of East County snapped this shot of yesterday’s solar eclipse, shot through a welder’s mask.
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East County News Service
East County News Service
East County News Service
Photo, left: Mark Robak, chair of the Water Conservation Garden’s joint powers authority
By Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
October 27, 2024 (Mt. Helix) -- Karen Pearlman stopped atop Mt. Helix with her dog, Charli
By 
After the parade, the fun commenced at the Pine Valley County Park, where attractions included a, bounce houses for kids, music, horse shoe tournament, market place with over 30 vendors and of course, food. The events lasted all day until early evening.
East County News Service
East County News Service
East County News Service
April 11, 2024 (El Cajon) – Recent rains have brought spring flowers. Robert Gehr sent in these photos of beautiful blooms in his El Cajon neighborhood.
March 31, 2024 (Lakeside) — Shiloh Ireland snapped this photo of a Swallowtail butterfly at his Lakeside home.
Photo by Robert Gehr
January 27, 2024 (Ramona) -- Joe Cortez photographed this pair of coyotes chilling out in 
By Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
November 5, 2023 (Boulevard, CA) -- Benjamin Hayden took these scenic shots earlier this year in Boulevard, a high-desert town in San Diego's East County.
Jake Christie of East County snapped this shot of yesterday’s solar eclipse, shot through a welder’s mask.
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