By SharonAnn Hamilton

Dear SharonAnn,

August 23, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - My wife and I are 60 and 62 respectively looking at retirement in a few years. She is a medical researcher and I am a CPA. We feel we have an adequate income prepared for our future but what concerns me is lifestyle. What are we going to do with the 50-60 hours each week when we are not working anymore? Our kids are grown and independent, our parents are happy in their community of friends. We need outside interests, but who has time? We want to make a difference in our world but how and where? I expect we could live 30-40 years and that is a lot of time ahead of us that right now seems daunting. Signed Kind of Lost.

Listen to a podcast by clicking the audio link of Destination East County originally aired on KNSJ.

August 20, 2015 (San Diego's East County)--This week’s Destination East County features the Julian Wild & Scenic Film Festival, singers and song writers of the  ‘60s, grape stomping at a vineyard, a top comedian's performance and movies in the park.

Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including a Native American pow-wow, a Bluegrass  Festival in Santee and Descanso’s Deep Pit BBQ.  

So stay tuned for all of these events and much, much more!

By Buck Shott

August 19, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)—As the presidential candidates court voters in America’s heartland in Iowa this week, it almost seems as if the current crop of presidential wannabes are competing to see who can be the most outrageous, extreme, or scandal-prone.

For complete Calendar including Authors Events, go to www.SDWriteWay.org

I'M BACK

I have retired and moved to the southern Mexican beach town of Zipolite in the state of Oaxaca. If anyone wants to visit, I would be glad to help you get a place to stay and show you around.

I have to warn you though. It is not your typical resort town. It is clothing optional, marijuana smoking is legal, it is gay friendly, bars open all night, and you won't find any luxury hotels. What happens in Zipolite, stays in Zipolite. One can stay in a dormitory for about $4 a night or rooms or bungalows from$10 and up. Email me at sambookwarren@yahoo.com.

Listen to the podcast of Destination East County, originally aired on KNSJ radio, by clicking the audio link.

August 12, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County features dancing under the stars, a star party at a Julian winery and a rocking outdoor concert. Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including a Native American pow-wow, Julian’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival, the Nudestock music festival, and Descanso’s Deep Pit BBQ. So stay tuned for all of these events and much, much more!

Article and photos by Susan A Mahalick

August 7, 2015 (Baja California, Mexico)--Another beautiful summer day for this now locally famous annual event dawned just like most this time of year, with a light marine layer and cool temperatures. The event would not start until 11 a.m., when people have to start cooking their entries on site to be ready for judging and tasting at 2:30 p.m. Booths were mostly set up the night before, with one couple who always has the best spot in the first place where most people start their tasting. Frank and Darlene, who live here, have entered since the first cook-off seven years ago. Two hundred and eighty to three hundred and twenty people were estimated to have attended the event.

Answering your questions about writing, publishing, and marketing books

By Sarka-Jonae Miller

August 5, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – How does a writer know what's right for their work with so many different opinions from agents, publishers, and articles? What is your suggestion for handling backstory? – Linda Crawford

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

August 3, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - Wildfires are burning throughout the State and things will only get worse before they get better says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna. If by chance you are near a wildfire, you may be asked to evacuate. Here are some things you should know if you find yourself in that situation:

Listen to this week's Destination East County broadcast from the East County Magazine Show on KNSJ radio 89.1 FM! Click the orange link above.(note: sound files make take a few moments to load.)

By Miriam Raftery

July 28, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County features a once in a blue moon hike, a vocal and jazz trio concert, and a watermelon festival at a camel dairy. Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including movies at Santee Lakes, a Sip of Julian, the reopening of Rancho San Diego’s Farmer’s Market, and a rollicking new Lamplighters Theatre production.  So stay tuned for all of these events and much, much more!

July 23, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County features hikes and hops,Pine Valley Days, Music in the Garden and more. Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including a Sip of Julian and Watermelon Days at the Oasis Camel Dairy. So stay tuned for all of these events and much, much more!

East County News Service

July 13, 2015 (Spring Valley) -- Local award-winning author and publicist Sarka-Jonae Miller will be answering questions about writing, marketing, and publishing books at the Casa De Oro Branch Library (9805 Campo Rd., #180, Spring Valley, 91977) on Saturday, July 18th at 10 a.m. SJ will give instructions for submitting manuscripts to her publisher Booktrope as well as offer tips about self-publishing and pursuing a traditional publishing deal.

By R. J. Hernandez

July 11, 2015 (San Diego) -- This is the inaugural  “What Works” column. And in this column, there will be stories and editorials that talk about what is working or ideas about how things could work. How things could work when people find ways to come together, even if those ways are tied together by a shoe string. This is about progress to its greatest degree, the very existence of forward motion. It isn’t even momentum that I’m talking about here. It is motion that brings people together for their mutual benefit, that engages them and inspires them and case-by-case builds them up.

Story and photos by Susan A Mahalick

July 7, 2015 (Baja, Mexico)--The day dawned cloudy and cool as it often does this time of year; sometimes the marine layer stays all day, or for a month at a time along the Pacific coastline. At about three in the afternoon the layer was thin enough that the sun came out for a brief time. Time to go to Angel’s Camp for the annual 4^th of July pig roast.

Listen to our podcast of this week's Destination East County by clicking the audio  link.

July 6, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County features lots of  community concerts, from jazz in a lavender field to blues in a park, plus the Descanso Days Parade, and more. Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including Pine Valley Days, outdoor movies, off-road madness and Jimmie Johnson night in El Cajon. So stay tuned for all of these events and much, much more!