August 8, 2018 (El Cajon) – Cajon Valley students put on a ‘50s musical performance at El Cajon’s Classic Cars night this evening in Downtown El Cajon. Thanks to Jill Barto for sharing this video: https://www.facebook.com/cvusd/videos/10155942006118924/
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August 3, 2018 (San Diego's East County) - Coyotes always seem to be getting a bad rap. They’re usually villains in the movies and cartoons, and when they pop up in the news, it’s never good.
But recent coyote sightings are often due to things that we, as residents of the surrounding communities, are doing to attract them into our neighborhoods – like leaving dog food and cat food outside.
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July 11, 2018 (Alpine) - A local assistance center has been set up at the Alpine Library following the recent West Fire, that destroyed homes in the Alpine community, and the Building Fire.
The County of San Diego, along with other community partners, has experts stationed there so that fire victims can get everything they need to know in one central location.
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July 2, 2018 (Lakeside) - Hit the trail at one of the oldest County parks: Lindo Lake County Park in Lakeside.
We’ve chosen a scenic 1 1/4 mile route that’s ADA-friendly and fun for the entire family. And if you’re looking to get more than just a stroll in, you’re in luck! There are 17 fitness stations along the trail.
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.
June 19, 2018 (Alpine) – Moka, a young rescued tiger, has arrived at the Lions, Tigers and Bears rescue facility in Alpine. The tiger was intercepted by Border Patrol agents when someone tired to smuggle him over the border and was temporarily cared for at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park before coming to the Alpine facility.
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By Suzanne Bartole, County of San Diego Communications Office
June 2, 2018 (San Diego) - A park isn’t a park without some shady trees! And after seven years of drought in San Diego County, trees in county parks have weakened and pests are causing them to die.
We’re doing what we can to protect trees and be forward thinking when it comes to ways to save them. More than 450 trees have been removed and 4,000 have been planted in their place.
Watch these volunteers who came together to give new life to our parks.
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By James Kecskes, County of San Diego Communications Office
May 25, 2018 (San Diego) - Having air-conditioned Cool Zones where seniors and others can congregate to beat the heat not only reduces their individual energy costs, but can protect their health.
The Cool Zones program was started by Supervisor Dianne Jacob in 2001. The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency Aging & Independence Services partners with SDG&E to provide a network of Cool Zone sites for seniors and people with disabilities to escape extreme heat during the summer.
To locate a Cool Zone, call 1-800-339-4661, or visit www.CoolZones.org.
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By Andy Tolley, County of San Diego Communications Office
May 3, 2018 (Lake Morena) - Hop on the boat and take a ride around Lake Morena!
Lake Morena County Park is only an hour away from San Diego and a great spot to fish, hike, camp or even take a day trip out with the family. Here are some views from one of the boats you can rent at the lake.
Learn more about our parks and preserves at SDParks.org.
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March 1, 2018 (Julian) -- Bobbi Zane sent in this video from Deborah J. Kerch of dogs enjoying a frolic in newfallen snow earlier this week in Julian, California.
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February 9, 2018 (Alpine) -- The Viejas band of the Kumeyaay Nation celebrated the grand opening of The Willows Hotel and Spa on January 31st with this dazzling pyrotechnics fireworks display.
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By Andy Tolley, County of San Diego Communications Office
Video courtesy County of San Diego
January 2, 2018 (Julian) - William Heise County Park in Julian offers more than 10 miles of picturesque hiking trails.
We’ve highlighted a one-mile stretch, the Cedar Trail, that will get your heart pumping, given you go try it out after watching the virtual version of it!
William Heise County Park offers up camping, cabins, playgrounds and more. Find it and all of our parks at sdparks.org.
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December 21, 2017 (San Diego's East County)-- Local songwriter Paul Nichols noticed Santa and elves "running rampant" at shopping malls, but no mention of Jesus. So he wrote "Blues for Jesus' as his tribute to the reason for the sesaon.
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November 21, 2017 (Fletcher Hlls) – Ten-year-old Luke Lumsden of Alpine was recently invited to bring his Blue Heritage turkey named Tire to the Fletcher Hills Library in El Cajon for a special pre-Thanksgiving presentation to children.
The breed is named for his blue tint. Luke got the turkey as a chick from Richard and Marcia Edwords about 15 months ago and has raised it as a pet “which he loves—not for cooking,” says Luke’s grandfather, Craig Linden.
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October 15, 2017 (Santa Ysabel) – The Laguna Mountain Rendezvous in Santa Ysabel continues this week through October 22nd, offering fascinating glimpses into the rugged skills of mountain men, frontiersmen and Revolutionary War era militia members.
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September 15, 2017 (El Cajon) – The 28th annual Sycuan Powwow was held last weekend at the Sycuan reservation, drawing tribal members from across the U.S. The grand procession and ensuing Native American dance competitions provided a panoramic vista of swirling colors and patterns, as participants clad in full regalia performed timeless steps to the accompaniment of pulsating drum rhythms.
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Video: Teams compete at the 2017 Ramona Grape Stomp Competition
By Miriam Raftery
September 10, 2017 (Ramona) – To the strains of songs like “Mountain Dew”, teams of competitors vied to see who could crush the most grapes in two minutes and emerge champion at the first-ever Ramona Grape Stomp this weekend.
Teams chose names such as the “Juicy Lucys” or the “Toe Jammers.” One team member stomped the ripe purple grapes, the other filled a cup with juice spurting out of a spigot on a wine barrel.
A Grape Stomp princess was also on hand to help officiate as contestants hopped in feet first, demonstrating their stomping skills on stage as the audience cheered them on with gusto.
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By Andy Tolley, County of San Diego Communications Office
July 30, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - San Diego is known for its many hiking trails. But sometimes, you want to know what you’re getting into before you make that trek. Or maybe you just want to see if the view really is as spectacular as the photos.
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June 30, 2017 (Cleveland National Forest) -- The San Diego County Sheriff's Department is partnering with CAL FIRE and the U.S. Forest Service for a public safety video about hiking in the East County. To watch the video, click https://vimeo.com/223528992.
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June 2, 2017 (Spring Valley) -- Ever wonder how to eat a bowlful of spicy crawfish? ECM reviewer Jordan Damond demosntrates the technique at the Mardi Gras Cafe in Spring Valley.
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Video, above: Open fiddling competition 2016 champion Shira Ellison in her winning performance
May 2, 2017 (Julian) -- Each year, the town of Julian comes alive with the sounds of music—fiddle music, along with banjos, guitars, mandolins and mountain dulcimers at the annual Julian Fiddle and Pickin’ Contest.
This year’s event will be held on Saturday, May 20th at the Julian Town Hall, plus on Friday night a Texas-style fiddle workshop will be led by two-time national grand fiddle champion Matthew Hartz. (For details and a schedule visit www.SanDiegoFiddler.org)
Recently we’re seeing a revival of interest in the art of fiddling and more broadly, a Renaissance in traditional music both regionally and nationally.
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By Andy Tolley, County of San Diego Communications Office
February 16, 2017 (Lakeside) - The County cut the ribbon Thursday for the new Helix Flume Trail in Lakeside, and a group took an inaugural hike on the 0.8-mile path. It may be short in distance, but it’s long on history, with signs that share the story of early water transportation in San Diego. It also feature spectacular views of Lake Jennings and El Cajon Mountains.
The trailhead is located at 14003-14023 El Monte Road in Lakeside.
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January 17, 2017 (Lakeside) -- Not all coyotes are a nuisance, in fact where there is open land they can thrive without ever setting paw in your yard.If a habitat has all the right elements--grasses, mice, gopher, rabbits and a few other rodent types--the coyote has all it needs to live long and bear young.
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By James Kecskes, County of San Diego Communications Office
November 2, 2016 (El Cajon)--County officials and community members broke ground on Gillespie Field Airport’s new Cajon Air Center on October 31st.
The groundbreaking kicked off the first phase of a multi-phase redevelopment project in unincorporated El Cajon.
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September 4,2016 The 46th annual Barona Powwow continues today at the Barona sports park, located on the Barona reservation in Lakeside.
View our video (top left) of Saturday night’s grand entry procession featuring NativeAmerican dancers in full regalia from tribes across the nation, and a second video (below) of a victory song honoring all warriors including our military and veterans.
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September 2, 2016 (Jamul) -- Ray Conser sent in these dramatic videos of the Lyons Fire in Jamul. He writes,”The fire on Thursday that burned up to Skyline Truck Trail was 1/4 mile from my house and these are the video that I took. God bless all those firefighters!!!!”
The second shows a helicopter dropping water on the fast-moving brush fire, which firefighters held to about 10 acres with no structures lost: https://youtu.be/G5yde4f0qHc
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July 27, 2016 (San Diego) --It has gone viral and taken social media worldwide by storm: people busting out their best dance moves for the "Running Man Challenge."
The San Diego Police Department recently challenged the San Diego County Sheriff's Department to join in the fun. Challenge accepted. To watch Sheriff's employees showcase their dancing chops, click the image above or view video here in larger frame: https://goo.gl/ltZs1q.
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June 16, 2016 (Julian) -- Alex Sharps dazzled the audience at the Julian Fiddle and Pickin' Contest last weekend, which drew competitors from across the nation.
Sharps placed third in the highly competitive Open Fiddling category.
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June 12, 2016 (Lakeside) - Billy Ortiz has created a beautiful and moving video of El Monte Valley in Lakeside, which is threatened by a proposed sand mining project.
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March 10, 2016 (Hellhole Canyon) - The California lilac, know botanically as Ceanothus, has got the County's Hellhole Canyon Preserve looking downright heavenly.
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February 20, 2016 (Pine Valley) -- Pine Valley is celebrating the grand opening of a multi-use field for baseball and soccer events.
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