By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

December 26, 2016 (San Diego) -- New Year’s Eve is a night to have fun and celebrate the coming year, says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna. However, safety is a must when participating in the festivities.

Following a few safety tips will ensure that you’re safe and sound when the clock strikes midnight, ringing in the New Year!

East County News Service

December 20, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes a cribbage tournament, a brass band concert and off-road excursions into the Anza-Borrego desert.

Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including New Year’s Eve bashes in Alpine and La Mesa, an International Music & Art Festival in Poway, a library concert, ice skating, a hike up Mt. Helix and a performance by Ben Vereen.

So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

East County News Service

December 17, 2016 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County includes full moon fishing at Lake Jennings, a concert of many strings, Santa’s reindeer at Grossmont Center, a winter solstice hike up Cowles Mountain, a holiday homes tour and more.

Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions  including excursions to Split Mountain in the Anza Borrego desert, a New Year’s Eve party at Viejas, and a wintertime walk up Mt. Helix.

So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

Listen now:  Hear  this week's Destination East County by clicking the orange audio link.

East County News Service

December 7, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) - This week’s Destination East County includes several Christmas theatrical productions, La Mesa’s Holiday in the Village celebration, Victorian teas in Julian, and a holiday wine trail in Ramona.

Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including Santa’s reindeer at Grossmont Center, a singing and clogging fiddler at Parkway Plaza, full moon fishing at Santee Lakes, a Jingle Concert by the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus at Sycuan, an excursion to Split Mountain in the Anza Borrego Desert, and a winter solstice hike to the top of Cowles Mountain.

So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

East County News Service

November 30, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) - This week’s Destination East County includes a parade of lights and snow festival, a murder mystery theatre, a pottery studios tour, a holiday concert by the San Diego Festival Chorus and Orchestra, and a Christmas festival at Lions, Tigers and Bears.

Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including La Mesa’s Holiday in the Village celebration, a holiday wine trail in Ramona, Victorian Christmas teas, and a production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol in Julian.

So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

By Liz Alper

November 21, 2016 (San Diego) - I, like most little girls in the 90s, ate, slept and breathed Disney movies.  I was never a princess for Halloween--I was too tomboyish for that--but Belle was my favorite Disney princess and Beauty and the Beast was my favorite Disney movie.  I watched it all the time.  That and Toy Story.  That honor eventually went to 101 Dalmatians (seriously, I was obsessed with that movie.  I played the computer game all the time too).  Tonight I had the privilege of reliving my childhood as an almost 25-year-old.  I attended a pre-screening of the new Disney film Moana, directed by Ron Clements, Don Hall, John Musker and Chris Williams. 

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

Now You’re Cooking – With Safety!

November 14, 2016 (San Diego)--Thanks giving is quickly approaching and did you know Thanksgiving Day is the leading day for home cooking fires, with three times as many occurring on Thanksgiving as any other day of the year? “Thanksgiving is a fun, festive holiday, but it’s also very hectic says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna. “All the entertaining and distractions make it easy to forget about what’s cooking on the stovetop.”

East County News Service

November 7, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes a Veterans Day commemoration, breakfast with firefighters, Kidz Dance Kompany’s production of 1968, a Wieghorst Museum Holiday Lunch, a wine and painting gathering in La Mesa, and the Spinners live in concert at Sycuan.

Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including a Turkey Bowl in Spring Valley, Casa de Oro’s first Fall Festival, the Mother Goose Parade, Pomegranate Days at the Oasis Camel Farm in Ramona, Jesus Christ Superstar at San Diego State, breakfast with Santa in Santee, a Jingle Paws walk for pets, Lakeside’s Spirit on Maine, and a Country Christmas in Julian.

So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

East County News Service

October 26, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) - This week’s Destination East County includes the college area Boo! Parade and a HallowScream extravaganza.

Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including La Mesa’s Historical Home Tour, a fall plantstravaganza, the Ramona Art & Wine Festival, the Trout Opener at Santee Lakes, a Veterans Day commemoration in El Cajon, the Wieghorst Museum’s holiday lunch and the Mother Goose parade celebrates its 70^th year of ushering in the holiday season in East County.

So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

From the Editors of E - The Environmental Magazine

Caption: Green Halloween encourages parents to organize costume swaps & give out healthy snacks or treasures instead of candy this year at Halloween. Credit: Cascadian Farms, FlickrCC.

Dear EarthTalk: Any tips for how to green up my Halloween this year? -- Jason Falcone, Bern,NC

October 22, 2016 (San Diego's East County) - Halloween may be fun, but...this most ghoulish of holidays is also cause for lots of waste, given the preponderance of one-time use costumes that end up in a box or in the trash come November 1. And sustainability proponents also decry Halloween for promoting unhealthy eating habits, as obesity and diabetes rates among American kids continue to skyrocket. So what’s a green Halloween reveler to do?

Dedicated to the Men of Engine Company 57

“I can’t believe it’s been 10 years. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was home in Orange County leaving for work in Los Angeles. I could see the large plume of smoke to the east. In a matter of moments it intensified. The plumb expanded and rose quickly into the atmosphere. I knew something went bad. I didn’t think it was this bad… Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna”

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

October 17, 2016 (San Diego) -- October 26^th 2006, 1:11 a.m. Santa Ana winds stirred across the southland.

A Red Flag warning had been identified and was in effect. A high probability for large fire growth was in effect as conditions were high temperatures, low humidity, and Santa Ana winds.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

October 11, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 conflagration that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on October 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on October 9, 1871.

Wine Awareness Month

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna October 1,  2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- To date, some of this year’s most destructive fires were dangerously close to the Napa, Paso and Santa Barbara Wine Regions. Our hearts go out to the victims of these dangerous wildfires. Ask any Firefighter - they take any loss personally. Sometimes were just outnumbered, many times mother nature and the fires fury is too much. Especially with these drought conditions.

East County News Service

September 20, 2016 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County includes a Latin film festival, Julian Apple days, Lemon Grove’s community potluck, Peace Day in La Mesa, and  a cowboy swap meet in Descanso.

 Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including Oktoberfests in La Mesa and El Cajon, Marshall Scotty’s scare trail,  Haunt Fest on Main,  East County’s first over-the-line tournament and a tailgate barbecue cook-off.

So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

Hear our KNSJ radio broadcast of this week's Destination East County by clicking the orange button above.

East County News Service

September 15, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes the Julian Music Festival, concerts by Siren’s Crush and the Grossmont Symphony and Master Chorale and a hike to the Valley of the Moon.

 Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including Julian Apple Days, Oktoberfests in La Mesa and El Cajon, an OktOVERfest and over-the-line tournament in Santee, a Marty Stuart concert in downtown El Cajon, Stockzilla at Santee Lakes, the Laguna Mountain Rendezvous, open house with firefighters, a tailgate barbecue contest in Spring Valley, and Haunt Fest on Main.

So scroll down for all of these events and many more!