By David R. Shorey, East County Program Manager, Institute for Public Strategies

June 11, 2023 (San Diego) -- If you’re looking for medical attention in the East County’s backcountry, chances are you have about a 30 to 60-minute drive ahead of you to get the help you need. While the challenges of rural health care are not new, the topic got more attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccination rates in the region were lower than anywhere else in the county. That could have been because of the lack of trust by some rural residents, disinformation spreading by word of mouth, and isolation, among several other reasons. The rural backcountry stretches from the east side of Alpine to the County line and from the border to the south side of Julian. Rural healthcare challenges are not limited to East County.

East County News  Service

May 22, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – Concerts, comedy, a Flag Day parade, a musical play, food festivals, a pride walk, and a library fundraiser are all coming up in San Diego’s inland region during late May and June. 

Scroll down for full details on these and more festive events coming up.

May is High Blood Pressure Awareness Month

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

May 16, 2023 (San Diego) -- Feeling Over Pressure?  Let’s see if you can “get it under pressure” with this https://lnkd.in/g8vrE-kJ.

Heart disease is no stranger to firefighters. It ranks right at the top of our number one killer. So what is the first thing you should know about blood pressure?

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

May 1, 2023 (San Diego) - It’s not a matter of if, But when. Southern California already experiences about 30 earthquakes everyday. While most of them are too small to be felt, the U.S. Geological Survey estimates a serious chance of being struck with a magnitude 7.5 earthquake in the next couple of decades.

By Miriam Raftery

April 14, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) -- There’s a wide assortment of events coming up across San Diego’s East County, including Cajon classic cruises, a butterfly jungle,  Earth Day celebrations, music festivals and concerts, a Lego building event, a wine and food festival, Campo Days, Wild in the Country at Lions, Tigers and Bears in Alpine,  a Western Days parade, a rodeo, and Descanso Day.

Scroll down for full details on these and more great events.

By Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss

Photo credit: Pexels

March 23, 2023

Dear EarthTalk: I’ve heard that gas stoves are bad for indoor air quality, but what about gas furnaces and other gas-powered appliances typically found in homes?

By Miriam Raftery

March 22, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – There’s a wide assortment of events coming up across San Diego’s East County, including a Revolutionary War reenactment, a supper club show with an SNL comedy star, a butterfly jungle, Easter egg hunts, car shows, Earth Day celebrations, wolf center tours, music festivals, a Western Days parade, a wine and food festival, and a Wild in the Country event at an exotic animal sanctuary.

By David R. Shorey, East County Program Manager, Institute for Public Strategies

Photos courtesy IPS

March 4, 2023 (Lakeside) -- For almost 20 years, the Lakeside Community Collaborative has worked to enhance the health and safety of Lakeside residents. The Collaborative is made up of representatives from schools, law enforcement, chamber of commerce, public health organizations, and everyday Lakeside residents. Through monthly meetings, the group shares information and coordinates activities to address important issues facing Lakeside. This includes assessments of community conditions that could lead to substance use and abuse.

A “Walking Woodside” community assessment was conducted by the Lakeside Community Collaborative on a Saturday morning in February 2023. IPS was joined by a representative from the San Diego County Department of Homeless Solutions and Equitable Communities and a member of recently formed Lakeside Amity Group. We walked both sides of Woodside Avenue, between Winter Gardens Boulevard and Maine Avenue. A distance of about 1.4 miles.

The goal of the Collaborative was to not only conduct the assessment, but also encourage community engagement. We hope that this endeavor will bring awareness to issues like alcohol retail density. By physically walking down this street and taking in the environment, we were able to better identify with our own eyes, potential areas of concern. What we found was more than concerning, it was outright scary.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

February 26, 2023 (San Diego) -- Though the heavy rains have subsided, more rain is in the forecast. However, the danger will lurk with mudflow and erosion problems. Make sure you are prepared!

In the next few days, you might find your home and property damaged and you’ll be wondering how do I get this put back together?

Where do I start? 

East County News Service

February 20, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County has a wide range of creative events, from Black History Month to Fido Fest, from birdwatching tips to the return of HoooleyFest, Touch-a-Truck, a liar’s contest in the desert, a harmonica festival in La Mesa, a chili cookoff in Lemon Grove, and an Earth Day Boulder Fair in Jacumba Hot Springs.

By Miriam Raftery and Jonathan Goetz

February 3, 2023 (San Diego's East County) - This week’s destination East County features events in mid-to late February across San Diego’s inland region.

Hot happenings include a tribute to Michael Jackson at Sycuan, a candlelight concert in Jacumba, Valentine teas in Julian, black history month events at Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges, new moon fishing at Lake Jennings, Laurel and Hardy night in Spring Valley, birdwatching classes at Mission Trails, Fido Fest in Santee, Touch-a-Truck in Lakeside, and Hawkwatch in Ramona.

By Jonathan Goetz and Miriam Raftery

January 21, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – Upcoming festivities and events include concerts at The Magnolia in El Cajon and Viejas in Alpine, a star party, wildlife tracking and birding classes at Mission Trails, a play at Lamplighters Theatre in La Mesa and Hawkwatch raptor viewing in Ramona.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

January 9, 2023 (San Diego) --  In the past 20 years, from 2001 to 2020, cancer death rates went down 27%. We all still have a lot of work to do!

Take charge with these Mayo Clinic tips such as eating a healthy diet and getting regular screenings.

By David R. Shorey, East County Program Manager, Institute for Public Strategies

December 12, 2022 (Spring Valley) -- Spring Valley residents have become agents of change for their community’s health  and welfare and their work is having significant results. The Spring Valley Community Alliance has become actively engaged in planning and land use issues and neighborhood health and safety concerns, while securing resources for community transformation.

Seasonal Affective Disorder Effects Over 3 million People in the U.S.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

November 28, 2022 (San Diego) -- Feeling an onset of sadness? Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of mood disorder associated with seasonal changes. Commonly seen as depression arising during the winter months, it happens due to a disturbance in the circadian system of the body.