Does the thought of going house-to-house Trick or Treating make you feel uncomfortable? How about mall Trick or Treating?

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By Miriam Raftery

Video by Rob Constantine

“Just like the Roman Empire, things that are built can decay, but they’re never lost as long as you keep them in your heart.” – Christian Woempner

May 7, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)—Traveling down Old Highway 80 with a man who helped build it proved a nostalgic and fascinating journey. “I love the sound of tires,” Craig Woemper, a 39-year veteran of Cal-Trans, said as the road ker-thumped beneath us. Raised in rural East County, Craig and his son, Christian, joined ECM’s editor and videographer for a trip down memory lane, providing insights not only into the road’s colorful history, but also sharing lore and legends of our region, assuring that these memories will not be consigned to the dust bin of history.

March 19, 2009 (San Diego's East County)--What's up this weekend and next week? Plenty! Flowers are still in bloom in portions of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Stop by the visitor center for info on best viewing areas to view wildflowers; also ask for tips on where to spot bighorn sheep, including young lambs.

February 7, 2009 (El Cajon) -- Circus Vargas will present dazzling and death-defying feats in its 40th anniversary production, coming to El Cajon February 19th-23rd in the Parkway Plaza parking lot. Acrobats, clowns, magical illusionists, horses, motorcycles, music and dance are among the entertainment slated.

Early-birds will be treated to a preview show in which children of all ages will be invited into the center ring to experience life under the Big Top and received a crash course in circus skills such as juggling, feather balancing and hula-hooping.

UPDATE 9 p.m. A winter storm warning remains in effect through Thursday morning. I-8, closed earlier in portions of East county due to snow, has been reopened, according to the California Department of Transportation website, though many accidents are reported and conditions remain hazardous-. State Route 79 remains closed from I-8 to 11.9 miles south of the junction of State Route 78. State Route 78 is closed from Washington Street in Julian to 11.9 miles east of the junction or SR 79. For updates on these and other roadways, check the California Department of Transportation website at http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi. Six to eight inches of snow have fallen in Julian today and ten to twelve inches at Mount Laguna. At Camp Palomar, Middle School students are reportedly snowed in. Send your photos of winter weather conditions to editor@eastcountymagazine.org.

December 17, 2008, 12 noon  (San Diego's East County) — Heavy snowfall is blanketing much of East County, clogging major highways.

"Snow is falling on I-8 from the Golden Acorn Casino east to Jacumba," CAL FIRE Captain Nick Schuler told East County Magazine, calling from Boulevard where an estimated one to two inches of snow covered the ground.  "I'm out here with a four-wheel-drive vehicle and I wouldn't recommend cars out here.  We are responding to accidents on the I-8 corridor."  CAL FIRE also responded to a fire on BIA 15 south of Highway 94 this morning, where a home burned to the ground, Schuler reported.

October 14 (12:30 p.m.) - Santa Ana winds are fueling new fires in several
portions of San Diego County, forcing closure of several major highways and
evacuations in the Rancho Bernardo, Oceanside, Fallbrook and Campo areas last
night and today.

Police have ordered evacuation of homes on the west side of a fire on a hillside
at Camino del Norte and Camino San Bernardo in the 4S Ranch area near Rancho
Bernardo. Two helicopters are dropping water on the flames; fire engines and
ground crews are also dousing hot spots. Details and video: www.cbs8.com/stories/story.143243.html.