By Miriam Raftery

November 7, 2024 (Rancho San Diego, CA) – The Water Conservation Garden is hosting a free 25^th anniversary celebration this Saturday, November 9,  from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Celebrating 25 years of educating the public about water conservation, this event features animal encounters, garden talks, food, live music, activities and fun for all ages. The event is free,  but guests are asked to register here.

The garden is located at Cuyamaca College, 12122 Cuyamaca College Drive, El Cajon.

Below is a full schedule of events.

By Miriam Raftery

November 5, 2024 (El  Cajon) – All three incumbent El Cajon City Councilmembers have won reelection.  Councilmembers Michelle Metschel and Phil Ortiz ran unopposed.  Councilmember Steve Goble has more than twice as many votes as his opponent, Courtney Hall, 69.64% to 30.36%.

East County News Service

November 5, 2024 (Santee) – Santee Mayor John Minto has won reelection over challenger Kelli O’Brien, with 79.39% of the votes tallied thus far.  Councilman Dustin Trotter appears cruising to victory over Padre Dam Water Board member Augie Scalzitti, with 61.85%.  Laura Koval has also been reelected, running unopposed.

By Miriam Raftery

November 5, 2024 (Lemon Grove) – Councilmember Alysson Snow may be poised to oust incumbent Mayor Racquel Vasquez in Lemon Grove, if early election returns hold. With 855, 948 ballots counted out of the county’s 1,983,767 registered voters, Snow has 41.27%,  Vasquez 30.34%, and Councilmember Liana LeBaron  28.39%.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left to right:  District 4 candidates Kim Hales and Ivan Andujar,  District 2 candidates Robert Lloyd Senior and Suzanne Till

November 2, 2024 (Santee) – Four candidates are vying for two seats on the Padre Dam Municipal Water District. The district provides water, including recycled water, to over 100,000 East County residents and businesses.  In division 4, appointed incumbent Ivan Andujar, a facility operations manager at Lions, Tigers and Bears, faces a challenge from biologist Kim Hales.  In division 2, incumbent Suzanne Till , a veteran with a PhD in water resources management, is being challenged by business owner Robert “Bob” Loyd, Sr.  Key issues include water affordability, accessibility, and reliabilty.

Source: San Diego Sheriff’s Department

October 27, 2024 (Campo) – The San Sheriff's Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteers have found and rescued a woman who was lost in San Diego's backcountry for almost two days.

October 27, 2024 (Mt. Helix) -- Karen Pearlman stopped atop Mt. Helix with her dog, Charlie, last weekend and captured some stunning sunset shots.

Cost reduced due to a generous sponsor!

East County Magazine invites you to our Roaring '20s Jazz Age Party!

Sunday, November 17  6 p.m.

at Wine Works (8167 Center St., La Mesa, CA 91941)

Benefits East County Media, 501c3 nonprofit supporting East County Magazine local news reporting and our East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

• Celebrate the era of Great Gatsby, flappers, gangsters, silent film stars, ragtime. speakeasies and the Jazz Age
• Savor an elegant dinner and delicious desserts from Cupid’s Catering including charcuterie/appetizers(meats, fruits, cheeses), tri-tip, herbed chicken, portabello mushrooms (on request), ambrosia, salad, cheesecake, lemon marscapone cake
• Award-winning wines and sparkling wines available from San Pasqual Winery, the winemakers who led La Mesa to roll back its Prohibition-era ban on alcohol production
• Live jazz by the Joseph Luna duo (piano, sax, and vocal)
• Silent auction and raffle with amazing prizes
• Hear about local history during Prohibition from La Mesa Historical Society
• Dress in your best ‘20s attire or cocktail wear and party the night away
•  

Cost:  $50

Prepayment is REQUIRED for this special event.  To reserve space:

By Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office

Video by Alex Aguirre

October 21, 2024 (Santee) - County officials all stepped aside for Howard the dog to take the first dig at the groundbreaking for the new 23,000-square-foot County animal shelter. When completed in early 2026, it will provide a new standard of care in animal housing for long-term animals as they patiently wait for a new home.

The new shelter in Santee will serve animals and residents in the South and Southeast County with an on-site small animal hospital. It will also serve as a fire evacuation site with animal intake and care during local disasters and will be energy efficient.

By Joyce Moore

October 25, 2024 (Lemon Grove) - Progress, cooperation, competence, and compassion. In Mayor Racquel Vasquez, those qualities have served Lemon Grove for decades. Through some tough times, and meaningful achievements, she has worked to bring people together and improve the way of life in our special community.

October 17, 2024 (Lemon Grove) -- All four candidates running for Lemon Grove City Council participated in East County Magazine’s candidate forum on Oct.10, which was moderated by editor Miriam Raftery.

The candidates are Councilman George Gastil, a history professor, Seth Smith, Chair of the Lemon Grove Planning Commission, architectural designer and project manager, high school coach Steve Faiai, and Jessyka Heredia, a small business owner, community volunteer, and reporter who previously covered Lemon Grove issues for our news site. 

Candidates fielded questions on issues including infrastructure, housing, homeless, the business community, and increasing access to public meetings through livestreaming and videotaping.  See highlights of their responses belone, or click here for video of the complete forum.  Listen to audio here, as aired on our radio show on KNSJ, edited slightly for length.

By Lindsay Elias

October 16, 2024 (Rancho San Diego) – The Living Room Coffeehouse has opened its third San Diego location in Rancho San Diego, continuing its signature theme of “A European cafe with a Californian flair.” 

The cafe offers a variety of options for breakfast, lunch and dinner with indoor and outdoor seating available. Notable items on the menu include short rib eggs benedict, tamarindo hot wings and club bagels.  As for their drinks, they have distinctive options such as a black forest mocha, raspberry white mocha, and pistachio frappes. For those looking for drinks with a kick, they have a bar and serve morning cocktails. Additionally, they have bakery sweets and a selection of gelato for those with a sweet tooth. 

By Mike Allen

October 16, 2024 (Santee) -- At least four Santee sports groups including the local Pop Warner club, the Ravens, and youth soccer teams will soon get to experience the newly installed synthetic turf fields at Town Center Community Park.

The two new fields that feature lines for both football and soccer and can accommodate lacrosse were recently installed after an unusually long delay from having to wait to be adequately dry after a wet spring.

Stephanie Price, a member of the Santee Park and Recreation Committee (SPARC), was happy to see the brand new turf at the Oct. 10 dedication ceremony that took some six months to install due to the drying out time.

View video of full Lemon Grove mayoral candidate forum

Hear audio version aired on radio (edited slightly for length)

By Miriam Raftery

October 13, 2024 (Lemon Grove)—All three candidates for Lemon Grove mayor fielded questions on issues ranging from housing and homelessness to infrastructure, the business community, and the city’s sales tax measure during a forum moderated by East County Magazine editor Miriam Raftery on Oct. 10.  The candidates are Mayor Racquel Vasquez, Councilmember Alysson Snow, and Councilmember Liana LeBaron.

Scroll down for highlights, or click the link above to view the complete one-hour forum.