Lions Tigers & Bears ‘Wild in the Country’ event is May 30
by Karen Pearlman | May 10, 2026 4:12 am
East County News Service
May 9, 2026 (Alpine) — Lions Tigers & Bears, Southern California’s premier accredited big cat and bear sanctuary, is holding its signature fundraising gala, Wild in the Country later this month.
The event is set to take place from 2 to 6 p.m., Saturday, May 30 at 24402 Martin Way, the organization’s 142-acre ranch in Alpine.
As the only fully accredited facility of its kind in the region, LTB serves as a lifelong haven for more than 60 animals rescued from lives of abuse, neglect and the exotic animal trade.
The annual event brings critical financial assistance to the nonprofit. Ticket prices ranging from $165 to $375.
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Endnotes:- (more…): https://eastcountymagazine.org/lions-tigers-bears-wild-in-the-country-event-is-may-30/#more-124602
Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/lions-tigers-bears-wild-in-the-country-event-is-may-30/
SD & Imperial Small Business Development Center Network hosting expo June 11
by Karen Pearlman | May 10, 2026 3:36 am
East County News Service
May 9, 2026 (La Mesa) –The San Diego & Imperial Small Business Development Center Network will host the Small Business Expo La Mesa on Thursday, June 11 at the La Mesa Community Center.
The half-day event is designed to support local entrepreneurs, is scheduled to run from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at 4975 Memorial Drive.
The expo will serve as a hub for networking, education and resource allocation for local small businesses For an entry fee of $10, attendees will gain access to a comprehensive morning program featuring professional panels and direct connections to industry experts.
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Endnotes:- (more…): https://eastcountymagazine.org/sd-imperial-small-business-development-center-network-hosting-expo-june-11/#more-124597
Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/sd-imperial-small-business-development-center-network-hosting-expo-june-11/
SD Superior Court warns of sophisticated new scams
by Karen Pearlman | May 10, 2026 2:09 am
East County News Service
May 9, 2026 (San Diego County) — If you receive a text message about a missed court date or a phone call from someone saying they are a “law enforcement officer” demanding payment for a warrant, take a breath before you take out your wallet.
It’s likely a trap, say leaders from the Superior Court of California – County of San Diego.
San Diego Superior Court officials issued an urgent warning[1] Thursday, May 7 following a surge in increasingly sophisticated scams designed to frighten residents into sending money to fraudsters. In just the past week, two distinct and highly convincing schemes have been reported to court officials.
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Endnotes:- urgent warning: https://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/news/san-diego-superior-court-warns-public-about-scams-2
- (more…): https://eastcountymagazine.org/sd-superior-court-warns-of-sophisticated-new-scams/#more-124594
Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/sd-superior-court-warns-of-sophisticated-new-scams/
Boulevard Bazaar coming to backcountry May 17
by Karen Pearlman | May 10, 2026 1:48 am
East County Magazine
May 9, 2026 (Boulevard) — Don’t look now (or maybe definitely look) but the Mountain Empire is about to get a little more eccentric.
Community members in Boulevard on Sunday, May 17 will host the inaugural “Bizarre Bazaar.” The plan, according to Boulevard community spokesperson Mara Harris, is to continue this event and have a quarterly “Art and Oddities Fair” that is designed to showcase the region’s creative spirit and stimulate the local open commerce economy.
The event, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., will transform the grounds of the Backcountry Resource Center into a vibrant marketplace of the unusual.
Harris said that the Bizarre Bazaar is modeled after the successful Jacumba Bathhouse Bazaar, which takes place the first Saturday of every month. Like its Jacumba model, the Boulevard event offers free space to vendors — no registration fees and no booth costs — in an effort to lower the barrier to entry for local makers.
“If there were more venues organized throughout the region, it could enliven our local economy by offering regular outlets for free commerce,” Harris said.
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Endnotes:- (more…): https://eastcountymagazine.org/boulevard-bazaar-coming-to-backcountry-may-17/#more-124591
Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/boulevard-bazaar-coming-to-backcountry-may-17/
Heat warning coming to San Diego County this weekend into next week
by Karen Pearlman | May 9, 2026 5:23 am
East County News Service
May 8, 2026 (San Diego County) — A powerful high-pressure system will settle over Southern California, pushing temperatures in San Diego’s desert regions toward unseasonably extreme temperatures this weekend.
The National Weather Service has officially upgraded its Extreme Heat Watch to an Extreme Heat Warning for the low deserts, effective 10 a.m. Sunday through 8 p.m. Monday.
Residents in the inland valleys and mountains are also under a Minor to Moderate Heat Risk advisory, with temperatures expected to run 10 to 20 degrees above seasonal norms in the farthest inland locations.
While the entire county will feel the heat, the low deserts — including Anza-Borrego State Park and Ocotillo Wells — are facing the most severe conditions. High temperatures in these areas are projected to peak between 103°F and 109°F from Sunday through Tuesday.
For those in the inland valleys, such as Escondido, Ramona, and Alpine, the mercury is expected to climb into the upper 80s to low 90s at peak, posing a significant threat to those without adequate air conditioning. Even mountain communities like Julian and Mt. Laguna will see uncharacteristic heat, with Moderate Heat Risk levels forecast early next week.
The National Interagency Fire Center[1] has already flagged the Southwest for “above normal significant fire potential” this month, citing the rapid drying of “flash fuels” like grass and brush. With the heat spike and low humidity, the risk of a fast-moving brush fire is significantly elevated.
County officials are urging residents to utilize the “Cool Zone” program, particularly for the elderly, the homeless, and those living in older homes without cooling systems.
All San Diego Public Library branches and many Parks and Recreation centers are designated as safe places to escape the heat during their standard business hours. The County says not to wait until you feel dizzy or thirsty to seek shade. Heat exhaustion can set in rapidly, especially when temperatures exceed 100°F. Check on the elderly and those living along at least twice a day; ensure animals have plenty of water and shade; avoid walking dogs on hot asphalt; drink more water than usual; and if someone stops sweating and becomes confused, call 9-1-1 immediately — this is a sign of life-threatening heat stroke.
Forecast at a Glance (Peak Sunday–Monday)
Coast: 5 to 10°F above normal (Highs in the low-to-mid 70s)
Inland Valleys: 10 to 20°F above normal (Highs in the upper 80s to low 90s)
Mountains: Minor to Moderate Heat Risk (Highs in the mid-80s to low 90s)
Deserts: Highs of 103°F to 109°F — Extreme Heat Warning in effect
For the most up-to-date local forecasts and cooling center locations, visit weather.gov/sandiego[2] or Alert San Diego[3].
Endnotes:- National Interagency Fire Center: https://www.nifc.gov/
- weather.gov/sandiego: http://weather.gov/sandiego
- Alert San Diego: https://www.alertsandiego.org/en-us.html
Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/heat-warning-coming-to-san-diego-county-this-weekend-into-next-week/
County of San Diego West Nile Virus aerial mosquito treatment update
by Karen Pearlman | May 9, 2026 4:56 am
East County News Service
May 8, 2026 (San Diego County) — The County of San Diego will be launching its annual air war against the mosquito later this month and keep it going
Starting May 14, the County’s Vector Control Program will begin a series of aerial larvicide drops designed to thin the ranks of mosquito populations before they can take flight and spread the West Nile virus.
Unlike traditional “spraying” that targets adult insects in the air, the County will fly a helicopter over nearly 50 hard-to-reach locations — including wetlands, marshes and large areas of standing water — dropping small, granular grains of larvicide directly into the water.
These grains are designed to act like birth control for mosquitoes and contain a special larvicide that prevents young larvae from maturing into biting adults.
County officials say that the treatment is environmentally friendly and safe for people, pets, plants, and other wildlife like birds and fish.
The May 14 launch is the first of several planned. County officials say that aerial drops will recur every three to four weeks through the end of October, which typically marks the end of the peak mosquito season in San Diego County.
Health leaders say that the West Nile virus[1] remains a persistent threat in the county. While many who contract the virus show no symptoms, it can lead to severe neurological issues or even death in vulnerable populations.
The County notes that the community’s role in fighting the mosquitoes is vital. Residents are urged to turn over any containers that hold standing water, including saucers under flower pots, birdbaths, and clogged rain gutters, and drain them.
Visit the County Vector Control website[2] to see a list of neighborhoods on the flight path, which include Escondido, Kumeyaay Lake in Mission Trails Regional Park, Lakeside and Santee.
Follow @SDFightTheBite[3] on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) here[4], and for more information, visit SDFightTheBite.com[5]
Endnotes:- West Nile virus: https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/deh/pests/wnv.html
- County Vector Control website: https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/deh/pests/wnv/wnv_activity_update/chd_wnv_aerial_ops.html
- @SDFightTheBite: https://www.facebook.com/SDFighttheBite
- here: https://x.com/SDFighttheBite
- SDFightTheBite.com: http://SDFightTheBite.com
Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/county-of-san-diego-west-nile-virus-aerial-mosquito-treatment-update/
El Cajon woman arrested following stabbing and interstate pursuit
by Karen Pearlman | May 9, 2026 4:15 am
East County News Service
May 8, 2026 (El Cajon) – A 39-year-old woman is in custody following a stabbing on Prince Street that led to a police pursuit across Interstate 8 the morning of Wednesday, May 6
The incident began around 11:20 a.m. when El Cajon police officers responded to reports of an assault in the 1000 block of Prince Street. Upon arrival, they located an adult female victim with multiple stab wounds to her torso and arm. The victim was treated at the scene and subsequently transported to a local hospital.
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Endnotes:- (more…): https://eastcountymagazine.org/el-cajon-woman-arrested-following-stabbing-and-interstate-pursuit/#more-124582
Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/el-cajon-woman-arrested-following-stabbing-and-interstate-pursuit/
Use your pedal power on “Bike Anywhere Day” on May 21: free T-shirts and chance to win an e-bike
by Eliza Bethalper | May 8, 2026 9:33 pm
East County News Service
Image via SANDAG
May 8, 2026 (San Diego) – Bike Anywhere Day (formerly Bike to Work Day) is a free, annual event that SANDAG has hosted in the San Diego region for more than 30 years. It is an opportunity for everyone to bike to work, school, the beach, or anywhere.
Register to participate in the event and pedal to one of 100 pit stops to pick up a free, commemorative t-shirt on Thursday, May 21, between 6:30 and 9:30 a.m. (while supplies last). You could win an e-bike!
This year, registered participants who are 18 or older will be entered for the chance to win one of five e-bikes, courtesy of Ridepanda. View sweepstakes rules[1]. To register and learn more, visit SANDAG.org/bikeday[2].
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Endnotes:- View sweepstakes rules: https://www.sandag.org/projects-and-programs/regional-initiatives/sustainable-transportation-services/bike-month/bike-anywhere-day/bike-anywhere-day-sweepstakes
- SANDAG.org/bikeday: https://www.sandag.org/projects-and-programs/regional-initiatives/sustainable-transportation-services/bike-month/bike-anywhere-day
- (more…): https://eastcountymagazine.org/use-your-pedal-power-on-bike-anywhere-day-on-may-21-free-t-shirts-and-chance-to-win-an-e-bike/#more-124578
Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/use-your-pedal-power-on-bike-anywhere-day-on-may-21-free-t-shirts-and-chance-to-win-an-e-bike/
Sharp Grossmont Hospital to begin primary care physician residency program
by Eliza Bethalper | May 8, 2026 9:24 pm
Family Medicine Residency Program at Sharp Grossmont Hospital receives accreditation from ACGME
Source: Sharp Healthcare
May 8, 2026 (La Mesa) – Sharp HealthCare is pleased to announce that its Family Medicine Residency Program has been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The program, which will be based at Sharp Grossmont Hospital, will graduate six family medicine physicians into practice each year, helping ensure that San Diego County residents continue to receive the highest quality care from the best-trained physicians. The Grossmont Healthcare District will provide a generous $1 million per year over 10 years to help ensure the financial stability of the residency program. Additionally, the hospital was awarded a $2 million grant from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information’s Song-Brown program.
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Endnotes:- (more…): https://eastcountymagazine.org/sharp-grossmont-hospital-to-begin-primary-care-physician-residency-program/#more-124575
Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/sharp-grossmont-hospital-to-begin-primary-care-physician-residency-program/
Santee School District dedicates Educational Resource Center to longest serving board member, Barbara L. Ryan
by Eliza Bethalper | May 8, 2026 9:09 pm
Source: Santee School District
May 8, 2026 (Santee) – The Santee School District Board of Education voted to rename the Douglas E. Giles Educational Resource Center to the Barbara L. Ryan Educational Resource Center, to honor Mrs. Ryan’s leadership and service to the school district and community.
“I am deeply honored by this recognition. Serving the students, families, and staff of the Santee School District has been one of the greatest privileges of my life,” said Ryan. “I am sincerely grateful to my fellow board members and community partners for selecting me for this meaningful honor. This is a reflection of the collective dedication and shared commitment to student success among the many board members, leaders, educators, and community partners I’ve had the privilege to work alongside throughout the years.”
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Endnotes:- (more…): https://eastcountymagazine.org/santee-school-district-dedicates-educational-resource-center-to-longest-serving-board-member-barbara-l-ryan/#more-124572
Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/santee-school-district-dedicates-educational-resource-center-to-longest-serving-board-member-barbara-l-ryan/
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