By Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office

June 15, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- San Diego County Fire can now dispatch up to four new quick-attack vehicles to assist CAL FIRE operations when a brush fire breaks out in a hard-to-reach part of the backcountry.

East County News Service

June 14, 2016 (San Diego's East County) -- Very hot and potentially dangerous conditions are forecast for Sunday through the early part of next week as a strong ridge of high pressure develops over the Southwest. Monday is expected to be the hottest day, the National Weather Service in San Diego predicts.

Highs near the coast will be in the upper 80s to low 90s, in the 90s in the mountains, around 100 to 110 in the valleys and high desert, and over 115 in the low deserts.

We're hosting an emergency benefit "Bohemian Bash" this Saturday, June 18 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at our editor's home on Mt. Helix.  Come celebrate our communities' creative roots and savor summer solstice revelry at the hottest party of the season!

Last week, vandals and thieves knocked our radio show and KNSJ's station off the air, doing thousands of dollars of damage at the transmitter site on Mt. Laguna. Come help us rebuild and assure that our communities' voices will be back on the air!

Festivities at this free-spirited gathering with artists, authors, musicians, and thinkers will support nonprofit media in the public interest, local news reporting, and coverage of arts, music and culture. Hear live musical entertainment, savor delicious food and libations, enjoy comedy with Second Chances for Grace, hear poetry readings, watch San Diego Asian Artists Ensemble performers, and win fabulous prizes!   Share your ideas, mingle with our Bohemian crowd, and meet the media. 

Proceeds benefit KNSJ "people powered radio" and East County Magazine, both nonprofit organizations.

RSVP today for early bird rates! ($19, or 2 for $34 in advance, $22 at the door.)   Call 619-698-7617 or email editor@eastcountymagazine.org to RSVP. You can prepay online at http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/donate, check"East County Magazine" off our publisher's list of options and write"Bohemian Bash" on the designation line to secure your reservation.

Click "read more" for more delicious details:

East County News Service

June 12, 2016 (La Mesa) - You're invited to celebrate the grand opening of The Lookout at Legacy Park in La Mesa on June 29th at 6:00 p.m. in honor of La Mesa's centennial.

East County News Service

View the video: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10201644595153046&id=1724097629

June 12, 2016 (Lakeside) - Billy Ortiz has created a beautiful and moving video of El Monte Valley in Lakeside, which is threatened by a proposed sand mining project. 

East County News Service

June 11, 2016 (Julian) -- The stars and stripes will move down Main Street in Julian during this year’s Fourth of July parade honoring Independence Day. For over 20 years, Julian residents, their friends and parade lovers turn out to watch what some call the “the best little town parade in America.” Pre-parade events start at 10:00 a.m. The parade begins at 12 noon and ends around 2:00 p.m.

East County News Service

June 11, 2016 (Santee) – The city of Santee invites you to Santee Salutes, an annual extravaganza set for July 4^th from 2:30 to 10 p.m. at Town Center Community Park East (550 Park Center Drive) in Santee.

By Miriam Raftery

June 10, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – A 5.2 earthquake that struck northwest of Borrego Springs in Anza Borrego Desert State Park at 1:03 this morning was felt widely, in part because it was at a shallow depth of just 1 kilometer.  Residents and at least one seismologist jolted by the quake and aftershocks quickly took to social media to report their experiences.

June 10, 2016 (Borrego)—If you felt the earth move under your feet, that’s because a series of earthquakes struck in the Borrego Spring area including a 5.2 quake at 1:03 a.m.at a shallow depth or less than 1 kilometer along theSan Jacinto Fault.  Aftershocks as strong as 3.5 also rattled the area according to the U.S.. Geological Survey.

(Note: The USGS originally reported two strong quakes, 5.1 and 5.2, a minute apart but have since corrected the data to indicate this was just one major quake.)

Rocks are reported blocking the roadway on Montezuma Valley Road, per the CHP site.  There are no reports of serious damage as yet, though items felloff store shelves in La Quinta, a Lakeside resident reported a laptop fell to the ground and the screen broke. As far away as Downey, books reportedly fell off shelves.

We have reports the quakes were felt strongly across the San Diego region and as far away as the San Fernando Valley.  The quakes struck at a shallow depths near major fault lines capable of producing a 7.0 quake or higher. 

If you know of damage, impacts to roadways or other effects of the quake or have photos, contact editor@eastcountymagzine.org. You can also post in our commentsbelow.

Below are details:

East County News Service

June 9, 2016 (El Cajon) – The Olaf Wieghorst Museum at the Wieghorst Western Heritage Center, 131 Rea Ave., El Cajon, will present “Moments in Time,” an exhibit featuring 24 pieces created by six artists from June 15 to Aug. 22.

East County News Service

Photo Mt. Helix courtesy Allan Ferguson on Flickr

June 7, 2016 (Mt. Helix) – This summer, several fun events will be held atop Mt. Helix, including an astrononmy night, the annual heART of Mt. Helix festivities, and an Art in the Park children’s art camp.  Scroll down for details.

East County News Service

June 7, 2016 (Alpine) -- San Diego County Fire Chiefs, in cooperation with the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians and the community of Alpine, are conducting their annual Fire Preparedness Exercise June 6 – 8, 2016 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m...  Emergency Service Agencies from throughout San Diego County will come together to prepare for the upcoming fire season.

By Chisato Iversen

June 6, 2016 (San Diego) -- Visionary Dance Theatre showcased Shadoworx, an amazing dance performance choreographed by Natalia Valerdi-Rogers on May 27 and 28th.  All the dancers were stunning. They could really convey their emotions through to the audience. They were able to go from sad and forlorn to sassy and quirky to soft and delicate. The dancers ranged from children to adults.

Source: U.S. Forest Service

June 6, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- The Descanso Ranger District in Alpine, and the Palomar Ranger District in Ramona, have recently gained over 30 years’ experience between them with the addition of 2 new district rangers. Christopher Dowling for the Palomar, and Bob Heiar for the Descanso, both come from an extensive Forestry background and have already begun making substantial head weight on improving recreational opportunities, enhancing community protection, and enforcing ecological restoration. Forest Supervisor William Metz believes the expertise and timing couldn’t be better, "This comes at a crucial time as we head into fire season and begin preparations on the ground. Our focus is to meet the mission of public safety by increasing resources and expanding expertise, demonstrating our continued commitment to the people of San Diego County.