January 2026 Articles

January 2026 Articles

San Diego Humane Society’s Emergency Response Team assists animals at Rose Parade

Story and photo courtesy of San Diego Human Society

January 2, 2026 (San Diego) -- San Diego Humane Society’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) deployed to Pasadena on Thursday morning to assist Pasadena Humane in keeping animals safe during the 2026 Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl festivities. This marks the 29th year San Diego Humane Society’s ERT has deployed to support animal safety at the Rose Parade.


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Laurel and Hardy Valentine-themed comedy night Feb. 7 in El Cajon

East County News Service 

January 1, 2026 (El Cajon) -- Saps at Sea, the San Diego Laurel and Hardy fan organization, will present February Valentine's Fun on Saturday, February 7 from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. (doors open at 4:30) at First Lutheran Church, 867 South Lincoln Avenue in El Cajon.


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Tea by the Sea January 17 at the Marine Room to benefit St. Madeleine Sophie’s

Photo by Miriam Raftery:  View of waves crashing against window at the Marine Room

January 1, 2026 (El Cajon) -- St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC), a nonprofit organization in El Cajon dedicated to educating and empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, will host its 13th annual Tea by the Sea event on Saturday, January 17 from 11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the elegant Marine Room in La Jolla (2000 Spindrift Drive).   


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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

Cause of death released on 35-year-old man who died in county jail Aug. 30

East County News Service

January 1, 2026 (San Diego) – The County Medical’s office has determined that Steven Curren, 35, died of natural causes at a hospital on August 30, less than an hour and a half after he was found unresponsive in his cell at San Diego County’s Central Jail.  An autopsy found the cause of death was due to complications of hypertensive cardiovascular disease in the setting of a smaller than normal right kidney. Asthma, chronic ethanol use, and obesity were cited as significant contributing factors.


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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

Local leaders lost in 2025

By Miriam Raftery

January 1, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) -- Our region lost leaders in many fields during 2025 – two tribal chairmen, La Mesa’s long-serving Mayor, a Chaldean bishop, a Padres pitching star, a Lemon Grove Councilman,  a Congressman and ex-military hero, a San Diego Mayor and ex-Congressman, a high school superintendent, founders of local businesses, a journalist and community planning group chair, and a retired county treasurer/tax assessor. All had impacts on our region, and their memories live on.

Read highlights of their lives and legacies below, or click the names to read their full obituaries.


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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.