Our Mountain Living section covers the mountain communities in San Diego's East County north of I-8 including Aguanga, Cuyamaca, Descanso, Guatay, Julian, Mount Laguna, Pine Valley, Ranchita, Ramona, Santa Ysabel, Shelter Valley and Warner Springs.
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Jan. 23, 2026 (Julian) -- As the winter chill hits in the Cuyamaca Mountains, one of Julian's coziest spots is preparing for some warmth and romance over five days next month.
Located in the charming Clarence King home -- a turn-of-the-century residence built in 1898 -- the tea shop offers a step back in time.
Before, during and after Valentine's Day, the historic venue will transform into a romantic retreat, serving a four-course "Cottage Classic" menu designed to offer a perfect blend of history, hospitality and homemade treats -- while celebrating love.
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Jan. 23, 2026 (San Diego County) -- More attention to security needs and new chips are making a difference in the safety of electronic benefits cards, also known as EBT cards.
San Diego County officials report that enhanced security measures and new chips have led to an 84 percent reduction in EBT card thefts affecting the county’s CalFresh, CalWORKs and General Relief recipients.
Nearly a year ago, the California Department of Social Services issued new EBT cards with chips similar to those in many credit cards. The card expiration date, card security code and all personal information also were moved to the back side of the card. Prior to the shift to improve security, California EBT cardholder information was traditionally printed on the front of the card.
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Jan. 22, 2026 (Santa Ysabel) – A family farm in the Julian mountains is bringing back its popular guided tour that brings rustic adventure and recreation education to the outdoors.
Fort Cross, at 4425 Highway 78, has evolved from a living history site into a premier destination for agriculture workshops and team building. The end of January tour, running from 1 to 3 p.m., offers visitors a curated activity rotation designed to keep guests of all ages moving and learning.
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Jan. 21, 2026 (Ramona) — The Wildlife Research Institute (WRI) began its annual "HawkWatch" program on Jan. 3 and has had two more events since then, all offering the public a direct look at one of Southern California's most significant raptor populations. But don't fly the coop! More programming is coming.
The free weekly events, held at Begent Ranch in the Ramona Grasslands, combine educational presentations with guided field observations of local and migratory birds of prey.
The rest of the dates for 2026 are as follows: Jan. 24, Jan. 31, Feb. 7, Feb. 14, Feb. 21 and Feb. 28. Each session begins at 10 a.m., with a suggested arrival time of 9:30 a.m. to secure parking.
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Jan. 17, 2026 (San Diego County) -- San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson is looking for residents to help in the county's annual Point-in-Time Count, the one-day evaluation and counting of the region's population of those experiencing homelessness.
Every year, Anderson joins hundreds of residents and county employees in waking before the sun rises to take part in the snapshot of the county’s homeless population.
This year’s regional effort will take place from 4 to 8 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 29.
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By Karen Pearlman with additional reporting by Miriam Raftery
Jan. 14, 2026 (Warner Springs) -- Dozens of local residents and business owners visited the CAL Fire Station in Warner Springs on Jan. 12 to glean information from the United States Navy and several other federal groups as well as state and county water agencies about PFAS and their impact on the waterways in the region.
The U.S. Navy announced late last year that PFAS were detected in groundwater in Warner Springs, with contamination believed to be linked to a former landfill, wastewater treatment site and spray aeration field at the Navy’s Remote Training Site in Warner Springs,at 34567 State Route 79. The Navy most recently sampled the groundwater in 2024 and is now offering testing of wells for residents in approximately a one-mile radius near the site.
The site reportedly was used by the Navy as a Survival Invasion Resistance Escape School, using what they learned from Vietnam era prisoners of war. There, pilots are taught thow to survive if you crash or must eject, how to navigate, not be found, or if found how to resist interrogation.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are "forever chemicals" that have been found in water as far away as the Arctic Ocean and as near as the Sweetwater Reservoir locally, as well as in Warner Springs.
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Fundraisers launched to help owners and employees at both restaurants
By Miriam Raftery
Photos courtesy of Lakeside Fire and Heartland Fire & Rescue
Updated January 17 with information on Panda Machi fundraiser
January 14, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – A pair of two-alarm fires in the past 24 hours have heavily damaged two local restaurant, Panda Machi Sushi Bar & Chinese Cuisine on Alpine Boulevard in Alpine and the Junction Bar & Grill on Jamacha Road in El Cajon. No one was injured, but it’s unclear how long the restaurants will remain closed.
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Jan. 9, 2026 (San Diego County) -- Detra Williams has been appointed as San Diego County's next Chief Deputy of Tax Collection, succeeding Chief Deputy David Baker, who has retired.
Williams was appointed to the position effective Jan. 6. County Treasurer-Tax Collector Larry Cohen announced the appointment on Jan. 6.
Williams has worked for the County of San Diego for nearly 35 years. She spent more than 20 years in the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office and held leadership roles in the District Attorney’s Office and other County departments.
In October, the County Board of Supervisors had selected Williams and three other finalists, including Cohen and Baker, as candidates to fill the role of Treasurer-Tax Collector during a public hearing.
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Photo: PFAS have been detected in Sweetwater Reservoir, via Sweetwater Water Authority
By Karen Pearlman
Jan. 8, 2025 (San Diego County) -- “Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink” goes the line from Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s 1798 poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, describing sailors surrounded by undrinkable ocean water.
That old phrase also fits today.
Obtaining clean, fresh water is not only a challenge but also part of a global crisis where much of the water is either saline, contaminated, or polluted — or a combination of all three.
Sweetwater Water Authority (SWA), the special district providing water to 200,000 customers in the South Bay area of San Diego County, has been at the forefront of the battle to fight “forever chemicals” that refuse to break down: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).
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December 31, 2025 (Julian) – An online fundraiser at GoFundMe has been set up to help Oscar Cruz Acencio, a U.S. Marine, and his family. On November 30, the family was traveling on San Felipe Road near Julian when a Tacoma truck crossed the center line and hit their vehicle head-on, killing their 8-year-old daughter, Arya. Acencio, his wife, and their two other children, ages 4 and 5, were all hospitalized with serious injuries.
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Dec. 30, 2025 (Pine Valley) -- A motorhome accident on the Pine Valley bridge has shut down one lane of I-8 east and knocked down 80 feet of guardrail, per the California Highway Patrol. Westbound lanes remain open.
Motorists traveling east are advised to take an alternative route by exiting I-8 onto State Route 79 north through Descanso, then turn east (right) onto Pine Valley Road.
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Updated Dec. 31 with comments from the Warner Spring Community Sponsor Group chair and a local winery representative, plus a statement from the Vista Irrigation District.
December 27, 2025 (Warner Springs) -- The U.S. Navy has announced that PFAS, known as “forever chemicals”have been detected in groundwater in Warner Springs. The contamination is believed to be linked to a former landfill, wastewater treatment site and spray aeration field at the Navy’s Remote Training Site in Warner Springs.
The Navy is offering to test well water on private properties nearby and will hold a public meeting on January 12 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Cal Fire Station, 31049 State Route 79 in Warner Springs.
The tests will be conducted from January 13 through 20th, with additional times available on request.
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December 12, 2025 (Julian) – Ebeneezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future will come to life in Julian, where the Julian Theater Company presents Charles Dickens’ holiday classic play, “A Christmas Carol.”
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December 4, 2025 (Ranchita) – An 8-year-old girl has died and seven other people injured, including children, in a multi-vehicle collision Sunday afternoon, November 30 on San Felipe Road south of Montezuma Valley Road. Alcohol is suspected as a factor in the crash, according to the California Highway Patrol.
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A coyote peers out from near Cowles Mountain in 2023. Photo by Karen Pearlman
Dec. 4, 2025 (San Diego County) -- San Diego County officials are sharing information in response to a recent coyote attack that took place in the Westview UTC mall parking lot on Nov. 25.
The coyote attack injured two children and has prompted a coordinated response by the county and partner agencies to ensure public safety.
The coyote has since been euthanized, county officials say. The animal tested negative for rabies.
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December 3, 2025 (Alpine)—Paul Nichols, aka Retro One-Man Band will provide lively entertainment on the patio at Mike Hess Brewing in Alpine this Friday, December 5, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
He performs on fingerstyle and slide guitar, vocals, harmonicas, and foot percussion as well as signing in a wide variety of styles, from blues, roots, and roadhouse boogie to Latin, classics and instrumental jazz. He’s performed at many venues, including East County Magazine events over the years.
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November 27, 2025 (Julian)— U.S. Border Patrol agents from the San Diego sector have apprehended a felon who escaped from a Cal Fire work camp in Julian early on Nov. 24. The escapee, Joseph Lee Randall, was serving time for crimes including corporal injury, petty theft, vehicle theft, and grand theft.
Using the Border Patrol’s specialized tracking methods, agents located Randall at 5 p.m. near Camp Cuyamaca in Descanso. They apprehended him and returned him to CDCR custody. He will face administrative and criminal review following his return to state custody.
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Nov. 25, 2025 (Warner Springs) -- The community of Warner Springs will open its proverbial doors next month and offer the public an unprecedented look inside its architectural soul.
Six private historic adobe homes -- some dating back to the 1890s -- will be part of the community's inaugural Holiday Adobe Home Tour & Christmas Market. The private residences are not typically open for public viewing, making this event a rare opportunity to connect with the living history of the region.
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November 24, 2025 (Julian) -- California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials are searching for an incarcerated man who walked away today from La Cima Conservation Camp run by Cal Fire in Julian.
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Journey through historic towns, high-mountain wilderness, and seasonal splendor
By Karen Pearlman and Miriam Raftery
Overview: San Diego County’s mountains offer a majestic escape from city life, inviting visitors into a different kind of Southern California experience — one steeped in Gold Rush history, seasonal beauty and outdoor adventure.
The region's charming, high-elevation communities provide a refreshing break, whether for a day trip to enjoy pine-scented air and famous apple pies, or a longer weekend getaway. Attractions including Julian, Mount Laguna, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, and William Heise County Park beckon year-round. You'll primarily discover these gems along Highways 78 and 79 and through Cleveland National Forest lands, including wilderness areas and even spectacular waterfalls.
Other towns to visit include Santa Ysabel, Wynola, Descanso, Pine Valley, Guatay, and Warner Springs.
Our mountain areas are beautiful all year long with winter snowfall, colorful fall foliage, summer days ideal for hiking or camping, and springtime when wildflowers bloom and waterfalls are flowing.
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November 21, 2025 (Alpine, CA) – A concerned neighbor called 911 to request a wellness check on her neighbor on November 5, after she found his door partially open and he did not answer. The incident ended tragically. Sheriff’s deputies fatally shot the resident, 72-year-old Robert Edmund Liddell, after they saw him holding what appeared to be a gun, but was later determined to be a replica weapon.
The Sheriff’s Department has released video of the shooting. Viewer discretion is advised.
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November 17, 2025 (Julian) – Make a holiday treat such as a pumpkin spiced meatball, then watch as wolves at the California Wolf Center in Julian savor their pre-Thanksgiving feasts.
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November 17, 2025 (Pine Valley) – Each Friday, Saturday and Sunday night from Nov. 21 through Dec. 23, Pine Valley Camp Christmas provides enchanting family entertainment. Hundreds of thousands of lights bring the forest to life, timed to the beat of holiday music hourly from 6-9 p.m. including the finale, Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.” There’s also a dancing water show onthe half hour, plus many other activities to enjoy.
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Nov. 14, 2025 (San Diego County) -- The San Diego County Board of Supervisors is continuing a critical conversation about the future of housing and development in the unincorporated areas of the county, including Spring Valley, Lakeside and Casa de Oro.
The Board of Supervisors will discuss land use legislations at its meeting at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19. The meeting is in person at the County Administration Center and can be accessed as well online.
County staff will be presenting information to set the stage for major decisions coming in the 2026-27 fiscal year that will affect where and how new homes and buildings are built.
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Nov. 11, 2025 (Alpine) -- Pet lovers have the chance to help local animals in need next month at the Alpine Pet Food & Supply Drive, hosted by the Viejas Community Market.
The Alpine Pet Food & Supply Drive is set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6 at the Viejas Community Market, located at the Viejas Pit Stop.
The drive aims to gather a wide range of supplies to benefit local pets and organizers are seeking both food and various essential items to assist animals and the organizations that care for them.
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November 9, 2025 (Ramona) – This is not a turkey trot. The Wild West Turkey Stampede returns November 15, 28, 29 and 30 at the Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona.
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November 8, 2025 (San Diego County) -- CalFire is on scene at a fire being called Border 18 Fire. The fire was reported today at 2:10 p.m. 1/3 mile east of Marron Valley Truck Trail & Lupe Springs Spur Truck Trail, south of Dulzura.
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Nov. 18, 2025 (Alpine) -- Lions Tigers & Bears, San Diego County’s lone accredited animal sanctuary is getting ready for the winter holidays.
The nonprofit organization is holding Christmas with the Animals Fundraiser in December at its 142-acre site in Alpine.
The event will include gift-giving, holiday lights and music, and will support ongoing care for the more than 60 animals that live at Lions Tigers & Bears.
The Dec. 13 event is set for 2:30 to 7:30 p.m, with a special feeding of the animals to happen between 3 and 4 p.m.
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Santee resident James Sly was unanimously approved by the five-member GHD board to be the Grossmont Healthcare District CEO and lead the organization on Tuesday afternoon.
Sly, who has been the CEO of the East County Economic Development Council since December 2020, will start as the GHD CEO on Dec. 15. His salary will be $270,000 a year with a yearly $5,000 stipend.
Aaron Byzak, who has been the interim CEO for the Grossmont Healthcare District since March 2025 following the GHD board's decision to not renew the contract of Christian Wallis, will stay as interim director until Dec. 19, and he will continue to be the communication strategy consultant for the GHD.
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Fundraisers launched to help owners and employees at both restaurants
Photo: PFAS have been detected in Sweetwater Reservoir, via Sweetwater Water Authority
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By Miriam Raftery
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