January 28, 2012 (El Cajon)--Visit the first commercial building in El Cajon, built in 1876 as a hotel for travelers and teamsters on their way to the Julian gold fields. The Knox House Museum will be open each Saturday in February, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 280 N. Magnolia Ave., El Cajon. Also view a continuing exhibit titled Children's Toys on the Frontier.

January 22, 2012 (La Mesa)—Do you have the “write stuff to be a novelist or nonfiction writer?” Want to learn about the literary world or meet local authors? From romance writing to knights and chivalry, from political figures to an e-book publishing expert, you’ll find it all at the first annual La Mesa Readers and Writers Festival.

 
January 16, 2012 (Alpine) -- The Council for Youth Empowerment, a 501 c 3 non-profit organization announces their 2012 Father-Daughter Dance on Friday, February 3, 2012 at the Alpine Community Center.  Attendance is limited to the first 100 couples who apply and this event completely sells out each year.

January 12, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – View the planet Jupiter, star constellations, and the Andromeda Galaxy at a stargazing party this Saturday, January 14 at Mission Trails Regional Park from 5-8 p.m. Join trail guide and resident stargazer George Varga for this star-studded free event.

 
José Antonio Vargas, award winning multimedia journalist and founder of Define American, to headline Breakfast program heralding “inspirational voices for acceptance, inclusion, opportunity and change.”

January 1, 2012 (Lemon Grove)—“Joe Young, for more than three decades the go-to guy at the Helix Water District for all things H2O, will star on the next "History Alive" lecture,” announced Helen M. Ofield, president of the Lemon Grove Historical Society.  The lecture will be held Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. in the H. Lee House Cultural Center, 3205 Olive, Lemon Grove.

November 21, 2011 (Ramona) –Want to feed pomegranates to a camel—or let the kids take a camel ride?  One of East County’s most unique events takes place November 26-27, when the Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona hosts Pomegranate Days. 

Guests can also enjoy an exotic bird show performance, petting zoo, and souvenir shopping including camel milk soaps and chocolates.

November 17, 2011 (La Mesa) -- TV and radio personalities, sports stars, elected officials, comedians and entertainers will be serving up fare at Hooley's Irish Pub & Grill in La Mesa from 5-9 p.m. tonight--all for a good cause. 

November 11, 2011 (El Cajon) – The mother of all East County celebrations takes place November 20, when the 65th annual Mother Goose Parade rolls through downtown El Cajon. 

November 8, 2011 (San Diego)--UnitedGREEN’s Forging a Sustainable Future event series begins on November 12 and 13 at Irwin M. Jacobs Hall at Qualcomm Corporate Headquarters in Sorrento Valley. This two-part event covers a wide array of topics including green building, green job training, building sustainable communities, community redevelopment, renewable energy sources, community- centered architecture, and green transportation. The goal of the conference is to plan for economic, environmental, and cultural sustainability in the San Diego/Tijuana region. View video of ECM publisher Mark Hanson of Lakeside discussing this global event (click screen above).

 Part 2 on March 3-4 to feature Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

November 3, 2011 (San Diego) – UnitedGREEN, a division of the nonprofit Heartland Coalition and sister organization of East County Magazine, will present Forging a Sustainable Future, a two-part conference that aspires to foster alliances between businesses, government and grassroots organizations to build a green future not only for San Diego, but our nation and the world.

California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom will keynote the event.

October 31, 2011 (La Mesa) -- La  Mesa’s November free family fun events begin November 5 with a tennis play day featuring an introduction to the new 10-and-under tennis program and concludes with a stargazing program on November 18.