March 30, 2012 (La Mesa) – The 13th Annual Spring Harp Fest will be held at Harry Griffen Park, 9550 Milden Street, La Mesa on April 7 from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Featured performers include Jon Gindick, Harmonica John with the Bayou Brothers and many more. 

The event is free to all and benefits the San Diego Blues in the Schools program.  The money raised will be used to provide harmonicas to the students involved in the BITS program.  For more information visit www.springharpfest.org.

April 4, 2012 (Rancho San Diego) – Cub Scouts and their families got a tour yesterday of at MCAS Miramar.  They were able to see demonstrations of the K-9 dogs used to detect explosives.  They were also shown how a fire is fought should a crash occur on the runway.  Finally, they were shown how ordinance is detonated via a robot and if necessary with highly trained Marines in the field.

The photo is of the Scouts and a Marine from the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team.

April 4, 2012 (San Diego) – “GreenBlue San Diego" kicks off Earth Month in San Diego, on April 5th, 2012.  A distinguished group of regional Green leaders will brief on the next wave in the renewable sector, the sustainable oceans and water economy. Career experts will also discuss the growth of careers and job paths in this new and expanding area of the economy.

County, City, School and Church Partner to Make Vision a Reality

April 4, 2012 (San Carlos) – San Carlos has its first community garden at Springall Academy, a school serving K-12 students with special needs throughout San Diego County.  The school, in partnership with San Carlos United Methodist Church, developed and will operate and maintain the garden.  The garden, located at 6460 Boulder Lake Ave., San Diego, is one of two community gardens on San Diego Unified School District sites and represents an agreement between the district and the community to jointly use the plots for growing fresh fruits and vegetables.

By Miriam Raftery

April 2, 2012 (Cedar Creek) – When Ed Hale read that the National Forest Service (NFS) was reopening one of two entrances to Cedar Creek Falls starting yesterday, he and a friend headed east to hit the trail--and brought back a firsthand account of their experiences as well as some changes at the popular hiking site.

April 2, 2012 (El Cajon) – The Knox House Museum is open for tours the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  The museum, which is the first commercial building in El Cajon built in 1876, is located at 280 N. Magnolia Avenue.  The continuing exhibit is “Shards, Archaeology Tools & Milk Bottles?”

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 ECM stands by our story-and offers additional details. 

By Miriam Raftery

April 2, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – A representative of Covert Canyon and Marc Halcon has contacted East County Magazine to contend that our March 5, 2012 article titled “Residents react to news of pig killings at military site in Alpine” contained “false, defamatory statements.” 

Our editor, publisher and attorney have carefully reviewed this claim. Our story was researched thoroughly, fully vetted, and we stand by our story, with the following clarifications of details.

By Miriam Raftery

April 1, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – House Republicans this week passed a budget that would give massive tax breaks to the wealthy and to corporations, while weakening programs that benefit students, the middle class and senior citizens, including Medicare.