A little help from us can tip the balance between life and death for our wildlife neighbors

By Renee Owens

July 25, 2018 (San Diego) -- Our local wildlife species have evolved over many millions of years, adapting to some amazing extremes of weather where drought is par for the course. That means they can withstand pretty much anything Mother Nature delivers, right? Not necessarily, and especially not when combined with the incredibly high rate of ecological change to which  modern day global warming is exposing them.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

July 15, 2018 (San Diego) -- I don’t think any of us thought it would get this hot and humid so early in the summer! And the bad news it, it looks like more is in store this week with a long hot summer ahead.

Each year, dozens of children and untold numbers of pets left in parked vehicles die from hyperthermia. Hyperthermia is an acute condition that occurs when the body absorbs more heat than it can handle. 

When Thunder Roars Head Indoors!

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

July 12, 2018 (San Diego's East County) - We’ve seen them this week and we will continue to notice large cumulous clouds forming around southern California. This ‘monsoonal pattern’ is produced by an area of high pressure over the four corners. The clockwise flow draws moisture into southern California from the south. These clouds can produce lightning, thunder, hail and heavy rain reminds Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.

Find Fourth of July fireworks, parades, picnics and more

By Miriam Raftery

June 28, 2018 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County includes Sha Na Na at Sycuan, the Jamul Wine Tasting Festival, El Cajon’s 4^th of July picnic and fireworks, Deerhorn Valley's Independence Day Parade, Santee Salutes, Julian’s Fourth of  July Parade, the Lake Murray Music Festival, a patriotic painting class, and a 90^th birthday party for Lemon Grove’s giant lemon.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including the Descanso Days Fair and Parade, open house at the Oasis Camel Dairy, Pine Valley Days, and a local Laurel and Hardy fan club's 40th anniversary film fest party.

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

By Miriam Raftery

June 13, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes hikes in local parks after dark,  El Cajon movies in the park and more movies in county parks, Santee’s Summer Concerts series, Wags and Wine at the Water Conservation Garden, a Queen Bee Brunch in Alpine and a Passport Through Time along historic highways in East County.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including Sha Na Na. live at Sycuan, the Jamul Wine Tasting Festival, Julian’s Quilt Show, Santee Salutes, Julian’s Fourth of July Parade, the Lake Murray Fireworks and Music Fest, and the Descanso Days Parade and Fair.

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

By Miriam Raftery

June 6, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes a Star Party at Oakoasis preserve in Lakeside, Lavender Day at Summers Past Farms, Fido Fest in Santee, the Julian Dance and Back Country BBQ, Art in the Park and a firefighters breakfast in La Mesa, the San Diego Concert Band at Harry Griffith Park, a Taste of La Mesa, and the start of Santee’s summer concert series.

Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including a Queen Bee Brunch in Alpine, the Jamul Wine Tasting Festival, Julian’s Quilt Show, Santee Salutes, Julian’s star-spangled Fourth of July Parade, and the Descanso Days Parade and Fair.

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

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

June 4, 2018 (San Diego) - Summer is here and so is the heat!  No matter where you live or what you do, we’re all encountering Mother Nature’s wrath of the heat. You can get cool and beat the heat by practicing a few Summer Safety Tips.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna 

May 28, 2018 (San Diego) -- This Memorial Day Weekend brought cool temperatures in Southern California.  with many areas experiencing light precipitation. What makes this unusual is the fact we had several brush fires throughout southern California. This is very strong evidence we are looking at another significant wildfire season this summer.

By Miriam Raftery

May 22, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes the Santee Street Fair and Craft Beer Festival, a Warrior Hike Challenge on El Capitan Mountain in Lakeside, Fortunate Son in concert in downtown El Cajon, Laurel and Hardy films in Spring Valley, and a stockroom speakeasy at Baron’s Market in Alpine.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including La Mesa’s Flag Day parade, Lavender Day at Summers Past Farms, Fido Fest in Santee, movies in county parks, a Secret Garden Party in El Cajon, the San Diego Concert Band in La Mesa, a Taste of La Mesa, Santee’s summer concerts, the Jamul Wine Tasting Festival, a historic quilt show, Santee Salutes and Julian’s Fourth of July parade.

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

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

May 14, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) - We know all about those snakes at work that slither around trying to work their way into promotions, office social circles and politics, or even belly up to the boss. They’ll do anything (even bite you in the back) as long as it benefits them.

By Miriam Raftery

May 1, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes the premier of El Cajon’s Dinner and a Concert series, a Dive-In movie at Kroc Center, the La Mesa Beautiful plant sale, Vintage Alpine wine and food tastings, and a production of Sherlock Holmes, the Final Adventure at Grossmont College.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including the Manzanita High Rendezvous in Lake Morena, Salsa and Salsa in Lemon Grove, a Taste of Julian, the Coyote Music Festival at Cuyamaca College, film nights in the Lemon Grove library, the Ramona Rodeo, La Mesa’s Flag Day Parade, and the San Diego Concert Band at La Mesa’s Harry Griffen Park.

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

By Miriam Raftery

April 19, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) - This week’s Destination East County includes a murder mystery theatre in Julian, a meteor watch in Lakeside, a hike for you and your dog in Santa Ysabel, an antiques and crafts fair at Summers Past Farms, girls night out at Cajon Classic Cruises, and a lilac festival.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including the San Diego Concert Band’s American salute, the Lakeside Rodeo, a garden and butterfly festival at the Water Conservation Garden, a medieval music concert at Mission Trails, History Alive and film nights at the Library in Lemon Grove, El Cajon’s dinner and a concert series, Vintage Alpine, the Final Adventures of Sherlock Holmes onstage at Grossmont College, a Salsa Fiesta in Lemon Grove, a Taste of Julian, San Diego Festival Chorus and Orchestra's spring concert, and the Coyote Music Festival at Cuyamaca College.

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

By Liz Alper

Photo via Apple Trailers

April 4, 2018 (San Diego) - I’m a sportswriter who doesn’t know anything about volleyball.  Kind of pathetic, I know.  Of course I know how it’s played, but I don’t know the logistics of scoring, etc.  That’s why you won’t see any college or prep volleyball recaps on here.  But as a sports reporter and fan, of course I love a Cinderella sports story.  The Miracle Season was all of that and more.

By Miriam Raftery

April 4, 2018 (San Diego) – Free press advocates and some anchors at Sinclair Broadcast Group are raising objections to Orwellian scripts that Sinclair is forcing its news anchors nationwide to read, including scripts denouncing “false news” that “national media outlets are publishing.”

By Miriam Raftery

April 2, 2018  (San Diego's East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes the Julian Gold Rush Days, open farm day at the Oasis Camel Dairy, a Martin Luther King remembrance in Lemon Grove, the Peg Leg Smith Liar’s Contest in Borrego Springs, Meet the Winemaker Weekend in Ramona, and a Lilac Festival in Wynola.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including a dance production of the Constitution,  a Warbirds Expo at Gillespie Field, the Jamul Hotrod and Chili Cookoff, Cajon Classic Cruises, Heritage of the Americas Museum’s anniversary party, a meteor watching night at Oakoasis Park, a hike for you and your dogs at the Santa Ysabel East Preserve, a  crafts fair in Flinn Springs, a Spring Garden and Butterfly Festival, a Spring concert by San Diego Festival Chorus and Orchestra, and medieval music at Mission Trails Regional Park.

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