By Mimi Pollack

June 3, 2016 (El Cajon) -- Last month, as I was walking around checking out all the booths at the San Diego Humane Society Walk event, I saw two sweet and funny little faces that drew me in. They were two senior chihuahuas named Fred and Ethel, like the couple who lived next door to Lucy and Ricky Ricardo on the “I Love Lucy” show. What perfect names for those silly little faces!

Fred and Ethel are two lucky pooches that were taken in by Lionel’s Legacy, a non-profit organization, out of El Cajon that specializes in rescuing senior dogs.

Answering your questions about writing, publishing, and marketing books

By Sarka-Jonae Miller

Writing duo Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke are dropping by to talk book covers, chick lit and favorite spots in San Diego. Although Steinke currently resides in Chicago both authors are San Diego natives. The writers have been best friends for decades and have some advice for people thinking of writing with someone else. Their published works include The Year We Turned Forty, The Status of All Things, and Your Perfect Life.

They say, "Don't judge a book by its cover" but with today's market, how important are book covers to overall exposure and success, and by extension, does the same theory also apply to e-books as well? - Sahar Abdulaziz, author of Secrets That Find Us

Listen to Destination East County, also aired on KNSJ, by clicking the audio link.

We thank the County of San Diego for a Community Enhancement Grant supporting Destination East County.

East County News Service

May 24, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) - This week’s Destination East County includes a  barbecue with firefighters,  the Santee Craft Beer and Street Festival, the catfish opener at Lake Jennings and more.

Plus we’ll have previews of coming attractions including La Mesa’s Flag Day Parade, Fido Fest in Santee, the Taste of La Mesa, an Apple Blossom Tea in Julian, and a Western luau in Descanso.

So stay tuned for all of these events and much, much more!

Listen to Destination East County, also aired on KNSJ, by clicking the audio link.

We thank the County of San Diego for a Community Enhancement Grant supporting Destination East County.

East County News Service

May 16, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) - This week’s Destination East County includes a rodeo and parade, America on Main Street, those lively Rhinestone Grannies, a catfish opener, Peter Pan and more.

Plus we’ll have previews of coming attractions including the Santee Street Fair and Craft Beer Festival, a Cactus Garden Festival, Julian Fiddle and  Pickin’ Contest, La Mesa Flag Day Parade, Taste of La Mesa, Boars and Brew along the San Diego River, plus concerts, live theater shows and outdoor movies – all part of the summer fun herein East County.

So stay tuned for all of these events and much, much more!

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

May 16, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- Prom and graduation season is here again. You want to make sure you graduate ‘with’ your class! Unfortunately, these happy occasions sometimes involve underage drinking which can result in tragedy.. It is therefore critical that parents keep the lines of communication open when it comes to talking to their kids about the dangers of underage drinking and drunk driving.

By Greg Dunne 

May 9, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Birdbrain? No, I’m not talking about my life-long friend Bud Morris and definitely not the Western Scrub Jay.  Make a mistake or do something considered stupid and you might be call a birdbrain by fellow humans. This phase could not be further from the truth. We have really missed the mark on judging and understanding the cognition of the bird kingdom. Memory, tool using, ability to learn, and communication are all skills used by most birds and are far above the rest of the animal kingdom with the exception of dolphins, whales, elephants and great apes.

Answering your questions about writing, publishing, and marketing books

By Sarka-Jonae Miller

May 5, 2016 (San Diego's East County) - Local writer, award-winning journalist and USA Today best-selling author Jennifer Coburn is finally joining me to offer advice to authors and talk about her latest book, We'll Always Have Paris: A Mother/Daughter Memoir. I've been trying to get her here for months and have been a fan since reading The Wife of Reilly, though I had no idea at the time that Coburn lived in San Diego – not until we both ended up scheduled at a local author event at the Barnes & Noble in Santee. She was promoting We'll Always Have Paris, her first memoir. Coburn has also authored six novels and contributed to four literary anthologies, not bad for someone who originally thought she couldn't write a novel.

How do you decide whether to write a sequel? - G. Elizabeth Kretchmer, author of Women on the Brink

Listen to Destination East County, also aired on KNSJ, by clicking the audio link.

We thank the County of San Diego for a Community Enhancement Grant supporting Destination East County.

East County News Service

April 26, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) --This week’s Destination East County includes Cinco de Mayo festivities, an Arbor Day celebration, theatrical performances and more.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

April 24, 2016 (San Diego’s East County ) -- We’ve all encountered them at one time or another, and never a pleasant experience “snakes!” (and I’m not referring to some of those ‘special’ people in your life or at work). “Snake season usually picks up steam between April and May," says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.

Answering your questions about writing, publishing, and marketing books

By Sarka-Jonae Miller



April 23, 2016 (San Diego's East County) - Aidan Donnelley Rowley and I tackle works in progress (WIPs) in this week's column, specifically the part of the process when they stop being “in progress” and become completed manuscripts. Rowley is the author of Life After Yes and a Yale University graduate with a law degree from Columbia University. Her latest novel The Ramblers is a “sophisticated tale of entangled urban lives” about three 30-something Manhattanites whose lives are forever altered over the course of Thanksgiving week.  

How does an author know when to stop editing/changing/reading the WIP and send it out into the world? – Linda Crawford

By Miriam Raftery

April 17, 2016 (San Diego) --In light of issues in some other states about long lines to vote, cuts in polling places or numbers of voting machines,  lack of enough voting machines on college campuses and Indian reservations, and an inquiry from a reader, we sent questions to San Diego Registrar of Voters Michael Vu.  We also asked about deadlines to register to vote , change parties or get a mail ballot for the June 7 primary, and procedures to verify your registration. In addition, we got information on how you can vote early, as well as the need for poll workers, particularly bilingual poll workers for the election.

Below are our questions, along with Vu’s responses.

Listen to Destination East County, also aired on KNSJ, by clicking the audio link.

We thank the County of San Diego for a Community Enhancement Grant supporting Destination East County.

By Miriam Raftery

April 15, 2017 (San Diego's East County) --This week’s Destination East County includes the opening of Cajon Classic Cruises this season, an antiques and crafts fair in Flinn Springs, a Victorian tea in Alpine,  and a Magic in the Mountains event in Ramona benefitting our own nonprofit  media and wildfire alerts.

Plus we’ll have previews of coming attractions including a Spring Garden Festival, Lakeside Western Days Parade, an Arbor Day Celebration, the Coyote Music Festival and many others.

So scroll down for all of these events and more.

Listen to Destination East County, also aired on KNSJ, by clicking the audio link.

We thank the County of San Diego for a Community Enhancement Grant supporting Destination East County.

East County News Service

April 1, 2016 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County includes Mozart, an Old West Art Fest, the Garden Native Tour, Padre’s Opening Day and more.

Plus we’ll have previews of coming attractions including the Spring Garden Festival at Cuyamaca College, Chaldean Nights at Sycuan in El Cajon and an El Monte Flume Trail Hike.

So scroll down for all of these events and more.

By Miriam Raftery

March 29, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) — Increasingly, media watchdogs are citing bias by the mainstream media as a key factor influencing the  presidential primary race.

Listen to Destination East County, also aired on KNSJ radio, by clicking the audio link.

We thank the County of San Diego for a Community Enhancement Grant supporting Destination East County.

East County News Service

March 25, 2016 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County includes an Eggstravaganza at Santee Lakes, Spring Harp Fest – a harmonica festival in La Mesa, a water-wise garden tour, Vietnam remembered in Lemon Grove, and more.

Plus we’ll have previews of coming attractions including the Music of Mozart in Spring Valley, an Old West Art Fest in Shelter Valley, and a Garden Native tour across East County.  So scroll down for all of these events and more!