By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

August 3, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - Wildfires are burning throughout the State and things will only get worse before they get better says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna. If by chance you are near a wildfire, you may be asked to evacuate. Here are some things you should know if you find yourself in that situation:

Listen to this week's Destination East County broadcast from the East County Magazine Show on KNSJ radio 89.1 FM! Click the orange link above.(note: sound files make take a few moments to load.)

By Miriam Raftery

July 28, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County features a once in a blue moon hike, a vocal and jazz trio concert, and a watermelon festival at a camel dairy. Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including movies at Santee Lakes, a Sip of Julian, the reopening of Rancho San Diego’s Farmer’s Market, and a rollicking new Lamplighters Theatre production.  So stay tuned for all of these events and much, much more!

July 23, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County features hikes and hops,Pine Valley Days, Music in the Garden and more. Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including a Sip of Julian and Watermelon Days at the Oasis Camel Dairy. So stay tuned for all of these events and much, much more!

East County News Service

July 13, 2015 (Spring Valley) -- Local award-winning author and publicist Sarka-Jonae Miller will be answering questions about writing, marketing, and publishing books at the Casa De Oro Branch Library (9805 Campo Rd., #180, Spring Valley, 91977) on Saturday, July 18th at 10 a.m. SJ will give instructions for submitting manuscripts to her publisher Booktrope as well as offer tips about self-publishing and pursuing a traditional publishing deal.

By R. J. Hernandez

July 11, 2015 (San Diego) -- This is the inaugural  “What Works” column. And in this column, there will be stories and editorials that talk about what is working or ideas about how things could work. How things could work when people find ways to come together, even if those ways are tied together by a shoe string. This is about progress to its greatest degree, the very existence of forward motion. It isn’t even momentum that I’m talking about here. It is motion that brings people together for their mutual benefit, that engages them and inspires them and case-by-case builds them up.

Story and photos by Susan A Mahalick

July 7, 2015 (Baja, Mexico)--The day dawned cloudy and cool as it often does this time of year; sometimes the marine layer stays all day, or for a month at a time along the Pacific coastline. At about three in the afternoon the layer was thin enough that the sun came out for a brief time. Time to go to Angel’s Camp for the annual 4^th of July pig roast.

Listen to our podcast of this week's Destination East County by clicking the audio  link.

July 6, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County features lots of  community concerts, from jazz in a lavender field to blues in a park, plus the Descanso Days Parade, and more. Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including Pine Valley Days, outdoor movies, off-road madness and Jimmie Johnson night in El Cajon. So stay tuned for all of these events and much, much more!

by Susan A Mahalick. Photos and article by the author

June 23, 2015 (Baja, Mexico) - I met Sitara when she first got here from Costa Rica with not much more than the clothes on her back and a dog named Lily. We became fast friends, fast. She got enrolled in the wine school which has tough requirements, one of which is knowing Spanish well enough to understand the classes and become proficient in business afterwards. I was her very first investor and it is indeed the best investment I have ever made. In a few short years she is now sending her wines to Mexico City which is the ultimate market here and poised to export to the United States. It takes at least a year to become legal, getting a tax stamp for your bottles, becoming a legal resident and the like. Since her grandmother was Mexican this allows her to become a dual citizen with the US. Originally from Alaska, she is an adventurer like so many of us expats in Mexico. She prefers to create blends so I just got a case of her Dolcetto at the rock bottom price of five dollars a bottle. I am going to use some of these along with her new house wine, Ruffian, for a wine tasting BBQ tomorrow on my patio with two friends.

By Miriam Raftery

June 16, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County includes some amazing events to delight dad this Father’s Day weekend, from an air show to a vintage train ride and a brunch with Cowboy Jack. Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including 4^th of July Festivities, a country music concert in Santee, and the annual Descanso Days fair and parade.  So stay tuned for all of these events and much, much more!

Now for a preview of coming attractions…

For complete Calendar including Authors Events, go to www.SDWriteWay.org

June 10, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County includes an Olympic Day, dancing, live music, film showings,  fishing, classic cruising and more. Plus we’ll also have a preview of coming attractions including Boars and Brew, Blues & Jazz, a vintage train ride, a Father’s Day brunch with Cowboy Jack, and a desert sky photo shoot starring the Milky Way.  So stay tuned for all of these events and much, much more!

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

June 8, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--Drowning incidents are dramatically on the rise locally and statewide. Parents whose children have drowned say the day of the tragedy started out just like any other day. No matter how the drowning happened or where it happened -- pool, spa, or any other body of water -- one thing was the same, the seconds that claimed their child's life slid by silently, without warning, it happens just like that and can never be brought back. Drowning is Preventable reminds Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.

Story and photos by Susan A Mahalick

June 3, 2015 (Cantamar, Mexico)--Robin MacKenzie, proprietor of Black Cross winery in Cantamar up in the hills helps to support Pretty Horse Rescue owned by Krystal Redmon. Robin had her first anniversary party on a fine May afternoon overlooking the hills surrounding the property where both businesses coexist.

By SharonAnn Hamilton

May 31, 2015 (San Diego's East County) -- Dear SharonAnn,

My eighth decade is creeping up and I find that I am deeply disturbed by how people act today. It bugs the heck out of me when I see people do not pick up after their dog, when kids sit talking in their cars along the park and throw trash out the window to the ground and when people leave shopping carts where it could damage a car because they are too lazy to return them. When I couldn’t find my gold hoop earrings that I hadn’t worn in a year, I chalked it up to losing them on a trip. Then I couldn’t find my leaf rake or my extra package of toilet paper in the garage. Someone is stealing from me. I am getting increasingly angry because people just are not doing the right thing. I just feel so helpless. What am I supposed to do? Signed: Old but not Crazy!