By Miriam Raftery

September 3, 2020 (San Diego’s East County) – The  magic of movies on the big screen returns after months of shutdowns due to COVID-19. 

Two major theater chains, Reading Cinemas International (NASDAQ: RDI) and Regal, announced reopenings this week of cinemas including several locations in East County (La Mesa, El Cajon and Rancho San Diego) featuring long-awaited new-release films.

Both chains have also rolled out new procedures to protect guests  in compliance with CDC health guidelines and state safety regulations.

East County News Service

September 1, 2020 (Ramona) -- The 8th annual Ramona Art & Wine Festival is expanding to a progressive Festival from one day at one location, to three days at six Ramona wineries, with wine tasting, gourmet bites, silent auction, and art and vendor exhibitors at each participating winery on Friday to Sunday, November 6th to 8th, 2020.

East County News Service

August 24, 2020 (Pala, CA) – Pala Casino Spa Resort in northeast San Diego County is launching an outdoor concert series in the Starlight Theater. The series is titled “Up & Coming Country Artists, opening Aug. 29 and running through Oct. 2.

The Pala tribe is able to host these events because sovereign tribal lands are not required to follow state or county restrictions on gatherings due to COVID-19.  However, Pala will follow guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control to protect health and safety of guests. According to Pala’s press release, guests will be asked to wear facial coverings and practice safe social distancing at events. Seats will be sanitized and pre-set to enforce proper social distancing. All guests will have temperatures screened. For a full list of the property updates and safety protocols, see https://www.palacasino.com/.

By Miriam Raftery

East County News Service

August 1, 2020 (La Mesa, CA) – The City of La Mesa Community Relations and Veterans Commission has scheduled an educational event titled LIVABLE LA MESA: A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ON INCLUSIVITY to take place on Wednesday, August 5 at 6:00 PM. The goal of the virtual event is to foster education and a dialog on the topic of equity and understanding in the La Mesa community to result in possible items for action where improvements can be made. Panelists Rodney G. Hood, MD and Leda Albright, with facilitator Gail A. Nugent will address the topic of inclusivity followed by a question and answer session.

By Miriam Raftery

July 23, 2020 (La Mesa) – The public is invited to donate clothing and shoes to help assure “discharge with dignity” for patients at Sharp Grossmont Hospital. Donated items can be dropped off at the Grossmont Healthcare District parking lot at 9001 Wakarusa St., La Mesa between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. this Friday and Saturday, July 24 and 25. 

By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photos: Courtesy County of San Diego Communications Office, (Photo, left) at Waterfront Park's south fountain

July 9, 2020 (San Diego County) - It’s the summer of coronavirus — and to keep it from spreading we’re staying home more, foregoing big vacations and looking for new ways to entertain and educate kids who have been home for months.

Well, here’s some good news. There are still some great, fun, free/or inexpensive things that kids, families and adults can do in July. And we’ve got a list!

By Helen Ofield, Lemon Grove Historical Society

Photos: Lemon Grove Historical Society

July 5, 2020 (Lemon Grove) -- Since Miller Dairy's founding in 1926 and its demise in 1985, Lemon Grove has looked back at its noble agrarian past and its unique persona as an urban-rural enclave, and wiped away a few tears — because once there were cows. As recently as 1983, 300 cows roamed the 16-acre Miller Dairy smack in the middle of town.

You could see, hear and smell the cows of Miller Dairy everywhere. At dawn, you heard them lowing in their stalls as the Miller sons, Ralph, Ed, Pete and Bill, milked each Holstein. At dusk, you heard the jangle of cow bells as the herd walked back into the barn for a repeat performance.

Source: Children’s Nature Retreat

June 23, 2020 (Alpine) -- The Children’s Nature Retreat, a 20-acre animal sanctuary in Alpine with 140-plus domesticated animals, is reopening to guests.

The animal sanctuary is open by appointment only, limited to 50 people. Guests are required to wear masks at the entrance, and if they come within 6-feet of anyone outside of their family/household; visitors can roam the outdoor property on the self-guided tour without masks.

By Miriam Raftery

June 17, 2020 (San Diego) – Roaring back after the COVID-19 shut down of the past three months, the world famous San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in San Pasqual are set to reopen  to the public on June 20.  However, admissions will be limited and hours are reduced to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

East County News Service

Photo: Shine co-Founders Naomi Hirabayashi and Marah Lidey (youtube 2019)

May 19, 2020 (San Diego) - Whether on the frontlines, navigating the pandemic as a parent, or struggling with uncertainty, caring for our mental health matters now more than ever.

“You deserve to take a mental health break,” states an e-mail from Shine, a self-care community prototyped in 2015 as a weekday SMS message to practice self-compassion.

Shine has grown exponentially since then, and is hosting the second annual National Mental Health Break on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. They hope for it to trend at #NationalMentalHealthBreak

“You’ll walk away feeling calm, refreshed, and less alone in caring for your mental health,” promises the team at Shine. 

Shine is making it easier for non-subscribers by offering a day of free, virtual gatherings all focused on helping one take a break and prioritize mental health. 

What each event includes: A Daily Shine group meditation, insightful Q&As about navigating these uncertain times, and one-on-one discussions.

Children’s Nature Retreat launches virtual field trips & online lessons

**The Alpine sanctuary also calls for support among COVID-19 pandemic** 

Source: Chlidren’s Nature Retreat 

May 5, 2020 (Alpine) – The Children’s Nature Retreat is a 20-acre animal sanctuary in Alpine with nearly 150 domesticated animals. Due to the statewide COVID-19 stay-at-home order, the Retreat is closed for public visits and school field trips. They have recently launched online classes – $5 lessons and virtual school field trips. 

The Retreat has teamed up with the Association for Human-Animal Bond Studies to offer the remote programming, which will include a video lesson, as well as a tutorial for a craft project related to the lesson. The first lesson – launched this week – is Reptiles and Birds. The objective is to introduce students to the similarities that reptiles and birds have with each other, and for them to have an opportunity to see different reptiles up close, including a rosy boa snake, a bearded dragon lizard, and a leg less lizard, as well as different birds from the Retreat – chickens, ducks, and turkeys. 

By Miriam Raftery

April 11, 2020 (Jamul, CA)  -- Kymm Civetta and her husband, Andy, owners of NRG productions in Jamul, have provided bands and musical entertainment for celebrities including Jay Leno and Larry King, major charities and corporate events.  Now they are hosting free concerts online each Saturday night at 7 p.m. “out of the goodness of our hearts, to get everybody feeling connected, because there’s so much isolation and everybody’s feeling pretty sad,” she told ECM. 

You can view the concerts live tonight and every Saturday on Kymm Civettta's Facebook page  as well as on the NRG Productions Facebook page and YouTube channel at 7 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

Their first concert last weekend drew over 2,000 viewers.  Kymm says viewers called her to say how much they appreciated the musical entertainment.  “It’s become a very cool thing,” she says.

East County News Service

April 2, 2020 (El Cajon) — El Cajon’s Parks and Recreation site has set up a Virtual Recreation and Resource Center filled with fun, education and resources through these wild and turbulent times.