by Miriam Raftery | May 29, 2026 2:00 am
East County News Service
May 28, 2026 (La Mesa) — The La Mesa Flag Day Parade is a cherished annual tradition that celebrates our nation’s colors and spirit of patriotism. Since its inception in 1997, the parade has become a beloved community event, featuring vibrant floats, marching bands, and local groups.
This year’s parade salutes Old Glory on Saturday, June 13, starting at 10 a.m. The parade will march west through the La Mesa Village, from Memorial Drive to Acacia Avenue.
For more information, visit https://www.cityoflamesa.gov/1665/Flag-Day-Parade.
Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/125058-2/
by Karen Pearlman | May 29, 2026 12:34 am
East County News Service
May 28, 2026 (Mount Helix) — A high-energy jungle adventure under the stars is coming this summer to Mt. Helix Park.
El Cajon-based nonprofit Arms Wide Open (AWO) will bring its “Inspire” inclusive theater arts program to the Mt. Helix Theatre for a run of “TARZAN – The Beat of the Jungle.”
According to information shared by AWO, the production will take audiences on a rhythmic journey through the heart of the jungle, where every beat tells a story. Featuring live percussion, dance and singing, the show celebrates the power of music, movement and community.
Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/mt-helix-park-hosting-inclusive-tarzan-performances-in-july-and-august/
by Karen Pearlman | May 28, 2026 11:29 pm
East County News Service
May 28, 2026 (San Diego County) — California State Parks[1] and nonprofit partner Parks California[2] announced a $2.4 million investment in championing the next generation of environmental stewards — with a portion of those funds bringing paid internships and hands-on career training for high school students at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park[3].
Distributed among 13 community and tribal organizations across the state through the Career Pathways grants program[4], the funding is expected to prepare more than 350 participants for careers in parks and public lands management.
The grant represents a direct investment in the community’s youth with the Borrego Village Association[5] selected as an Implementation Grantee, meaning the group will actively provide high school students with multi-month training programs at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/anza-borrego-desert-state-park-part-of-2-4m-statewide-grant-program/
by Miriam Raftery | May 28, 2026 6:47 pm
By Paul Levikow
May 26, 2026 (El Cajon) — Weeks after the City of El Cajon filed a lawsuit challenging California’s sanctuary state law, the political and legal aftershocks continue to reverberate far beyond East County. What began as a local dispute has quickly escalated into a nationally watched test of federal versus state authority, drawing sharp reactions from residents, elected officials, legal advocates, and law enforcement agencies. (more…)
Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/el-cajon-sanctuary-lawsuit-against-california-draws-national-attention/
by Miriam Raftery | May 28, 2026 9:21 am
By David Myers (photo, top)
May 26, 2026 (El Cajon) — Bill Wells[1] is the mayor of one of the largest refugee resettlement cities in the United States, and he has spent years treating that fact as a political opportunity rather than a sacred trust. City Of El Cajon[2]. He recently announced a lawsuit[3] — drafted by the Trump-aligned America First Policy Institute — attacking California’s sanctuary law, as ECM reported. He called it “one of the most important days of my life.”
That sentence is the indictment. The most important day of the mayor of El Cajon’s life is not a budget that lifts a refugee family out of poverty. Not a Chaldean kid sworn in as a citizen. Not a public-safety success his officers can be proud of. It is a press conference with a Trump operative at his shoulder, attacking the laws that protect his own neighbors. (more…)
Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/readers-editorial-mayor-wells-sanctuary-suit-in-a-city-of-immigrants-attacks-law-that-protects-residents/
by Miriam Raftery | May 27, 2026 8:58 pm
By Miriam Raftery
May 27, 2026 (La Mesa) – La Mesa City Council members voted unanimously last night to ask staff to analyze four proposed options to increase parking in the downtown village. The proposals came after Councilmember Laura Lothian, Vice Chair Lauren Cazares and a parking commissioner rode through downtown in a golf cart, looking for hidden spaces that could be converted to parking. (more…)
Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/la-mesa-council-asks-staff-to-weigh-options-to-expand-parking-in-downtown-village/
by Miriam Raftery | May 27, 2026 5:43 pm
East County News Service
May 27, 2026 (Julian) – A head-on collision on May 25 shortly before 7 p.m. on Pine Hills Road, just north of Deer Lake Park in Julian, resulted in one death and injuries to four other people. (more…)
Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/fiery-collision-kills-julian-man-injures-four-others/
by Miriam Raftery | May 27, 2026 1:50 am
East County News Service
May 26, 2026 (Spring Valley) – Sheriff’s deputies used a drone to tract down a suspect reportedly seen setting a fire that caused evacuation of homes in Spring Valley last night. (more…)
Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/spring-valley-arson-suspect-arrested/
by Karen Pearlman | May 26, 2026 5:42 pm
By Karen Pearlman
May 25, 2026 (Lemon Grove) — Lemon Grove voters will have the final say this November on a measure that would end commercial bird sales in the city, replacing them with a rescue-only model that requires pet stores to source birds exclusively from animal shelters, humane societies or nonprofit rescue organizations. The Lemon Grove City Council voted 3-2 last Tuesday, May 19, to place a citizen-led initiative to ban the commercial sale of birds on the November ballot. (more…)
Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/lemon-grove-bird-sale-ban-heading-to-november-ballot-after-3-2-vote/
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