By Miriam Raftery

March 21, 2014 (Santee) -- Our Mardi Gras celebration at Pinnacle Peak in Santee was a hit - thanks to our wonderful readers, the fabulous Bayou Brothers Band, and our generous donors and sponsors!  Your support will help East County Magazine continue to provide award-winning coverage of important news that matters here in our region -- as well as providing wildfire and emergency alerts.  We're your community media!

Oh, and we do like to put the "fun" in fundraising, too!  Scroll down to see lots more photos of our readers enjoying the festivities -- and if you missed the best party in town, be sure to click "subscribe" (it's free!) at the top right side of our homepage to be added to our email list for future fabulous events.

February 28, 2014 (Santee) – Are you ready for a rollicking evening of New Orleans-style festivities including the award-winning Bayou Brothers band, Cajun/Creole dinner feast, masks and beads for all guests, prizes drawings and silent auction with thousands of dollars in prizes?   Then you won’t want to miss our East County Mardi Gras party March 12 from 6-10 p.m. at Pinnacle Peak restaurant, 7927 Mission Gorge Road in Santee!   

Hear our radio interview with the Bayou Brothers (and some lively music) here: http://kiwi6.com/file/lk1mwrss4u

January 30, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – East County Magazine has been awarded the World Council for Nature’s 2013 award.

“A number of articles published in East County Magazine have been brought to my attention,” Mark Duchamp, Chairman of WCFN, a global organization based in Spain, wrote in an e-mail to ECM’s editor. “The work you do informing people of the threats against nature in your county is commendable. The World Council for Nature wishes to honor your publication with the WCFN award for 2013.”

November 14, 2013 (San Diego's East County)--Our October shows are now online—including special reports on East County issues, interviews with top newsmakers, local musicians, authors, colorful characters and people making a positive difference in our community.  Click here for a list of October shows and guests with links to listen online now.

You can also hear our show live when it airs on KNSJ 89.1 FM on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 5 p.m. and reruns Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 9 a.m.  Or listen live online during those hours at www.KNSJ.org.

October 9, 2013 (San Diego’s East County ) – Once again, East County Magazine writers and photographers are well represented among the winners listed in the 2013 San Diego Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards. 

August 31, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) -- Podcasts of our August radio show broadcasts are now posted online -- so you can listen to shows you missed them on the airways.  Click "read more" below  to open and then scroll down for  links to each show with a lineup of  guests.

Our show schedule has changed. It now runs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and repeats on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on KNSJ 89.1 FM.  If you can’t hear the signal, you can listen live at www.knsj.org or click “read more” below and scroll down to hear podcasts of past shows.  We welcome your feedback and suggestions for future shows!

1st place wildlife photo, Bighorn Ram by Daren Sefcik (left) and 1st place landscape photo, Bridge to Opportunity by Gary Avant (right)

By Miriam Raftery

August 15, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) -- We received many amazing images from talented photographers across our region for our photography contest jointly sponsored by Assemblyman Brian Jones and East County Magazine.

 Winners and honorable mentions in landscape and wildlife photographer were selected by judges in Sacramento and San Diego based on aesthetics, composition, and lighting.  All photos were taken in the Assemblyman’s district in San Diego’s East County. 

 The list of winners and their photos are published below. Winning entries will also  be displayed in Assemblyman Jones’ office in the state capitol.  Congratulations to the winners – and to the many talented photographers who submitted entries!

EARLY BIRD RATES EXTENDED THROUGH FRIDAY: $15 INCLUDES WILD WEST SHOW, BBQ DINNER, LIVE MUSIC, DANCING & THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN PRIZES!

Late breaking news: Wind Spirit Drum, winner of the Native American Music Awards, to perform

Our "Wild West Fest" this Saturday, August 10 from 4-7 p.m. is shaping up to be our wildest event ever with some amazing prizes. entertainment and great food!

Want to be a cowboy for a day (or cowgirl) and ride the range at a working cattle ranch?  We're giving away this experience---for two--thanks to Campo Creek Ranch. (view video) Or win a stay at the new Viejas Resort, plus steakhouse dinner and outlet center shopping spree?

How about $165 in hay bales? Gift certificates to restaurants, salons, markets, major stores and shops?  Wine baskets? Leather bag from McClintock Saddleworks? Event tickets to "Magic in the Mountains" in Julian? Wine baskets? And much more? All to benefit wildfire reporting in this severe fire season.

Don't miss the fun - we still have tickets left so we've extended the early bird rates through Friday.  We've also added kid rates - $10 for kids ages 4-12. The fun takes place this Saturday, August 10 from 4-7 p.m. at the historic Descanso Town Hall, 24536 Viejas Grade Road in Descanso (Please note corrected address of event).

Western wear is encouraged - channel your inner cowboy (or cowgirl), round up the family and head on out! 

Thousands of dollars in fabulous prizes--and a wild west show!

Listen to our audio preview for this exciting event 

July 12, 2013 (Descanso) --Descanso Junction is firing up the BBQ to help us celebrate East County's western heritage at our Wild West Fest and BBQ on Saturday, August 10 from 4-7 p.m. at the historic Descanso Town Hall (24536 Viejas Grade Road, Descanso).  Prince includes BBQ feast, wild west show, dancing, live music, and prizes galore!

Your ticket ($15 at early-bird rates, $20 at the door) includes a delicious tri-tip and chicken barbecue feast,  Wild West show, live music, dancing, and a chance to win thousands of dollars in prizes.The Hole in the Wall Gang and  Gaskill Brothers Gunfighters will provide live western reenactments with a full half-hour wild west show. Author Bryon Harrington will be there with his book, Campo, the Forgotten Gunfight. Plus we'll have a Doc Holliday reenactor. Pine Creek Posse Band will provide live music- so bring your dancing shoes (or your cowboy boots!)

THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN PRIZES: Prizes include a vacation at the Viejas Resort, "cowboy for a day" at Campo Creek Ranch, gift certificates from delicious restaurants, $165 in hay bales, gifts from feed stores, retail shops, salons, leather bag from MCClintock Saddleworks, hay bales, winery gift baskets, bowling, buffets, event tickets and even a free rental at Descanso Town Hall! and more. Descanso Junction will serve up the barbecue feast. KNSJ 89.1 FM radio will be on hand to record YOUR stories, too.

Photo by Kim Hamilton

Update 5 p.m.:  The fire has reached 100 acres and is burning uphill and into the Otay Truck Trail area, closer to homes. Smoke is visible from Highway 94.

Update from Cal-Fire at 4:40 p.m.:   CAL FIRE is on scene of a 7 acre vegetation fire along the US/Mexico Border near Alta Road and Tin Can Hill (TB Map 1352 C3).  Currently we have 17 engines, 6 fire crews, 4 airtankers, 2 helicopters, 1 bulldozer, 3 water tenders and 2 chief officers either on scene or enroute.

The fire was dispatched at 4:14 and the fire originated in Mexico.  No structures are threatened.

May 22, 2013 (Otay) – Firefighters are battling a fast-spreading brush fire that started at Alta Road and Via De La Amistad in the east Otay area south of Otay Lakes.   The fire has  charred at least seven acres and has potential to burn 300, IPN reports.

There are currently no structure threats.  On flank has slowed but the other side is “taking off” per IPN.   Six hand crews and ten type-3 engines have been requested by the incident commander.

Celebrate our launch party! Thousands of dollars in prizes!

Early bird rates extended to Friday! RSVP to reserve space

You're invited! Celebrate launch of our East County Magazine prime-time radio show on KNSJ!  Join us Sunday, May 19 from 12-3 p.m. at the beautiful Maness Vineyards estate, 3044 Colina Verde Lane in Jamul.  Winetasting, great food, music, amazing prizes and more!  

DIRECTIONS:  (click read more below to open and view directions)

East County Magazine is now on Facebook!  You can follow us, be our friend, and "like" us here:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/East-County-Magazine/524328380924611.

This is a new page, separate from our editor, Miriam Raftery's Facebook page.  We will be transitioning our news site's information to the new page, so please be sure to "friend" us for the latest posts. 

VIP guests include Congresswoman Davis, Mayor Art Madrid and many more!

This year's festivities will take place on Sunday, December 16 from 2-6 p.m.

Savor delicious foods prepared by Chef Patrick Dean and Grove Pastry Shop, enjoy wine tasting by La Serenissima and San Pasqual Winery as well as live jazz music by Chris Klich of Grossmont College Music Dept.  Plus we'll have prizes and surprises!

By Miriam Raftery

September 27, 2012 (El Cajon ) – It was the hottest party in town last night at the El Cajon Brewing Company, where a “Beer Bash Benefit” was held to raise funds for East County Magazine’s wildfire reporting and to encourage the public to sign up for ECM's free Viejas Wildfire & Emergency Alerts.

The event raised nearly $3,500, including a generous $2,500 donation from the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians.  Charlie Brown, director of Community Relations for Viejas, and Chief Don Butz of Viejas Fire were on hand to make the presentation. 

June 29, 2012 (San Diego) – The Society of Professional Journalists' San Diego chapter has awarded East County Magazine editor Miriam Raftery the James Julian Memorial Award for best community service series.  Raftery received the honor, along with a $100 prize, for her series titled FEMA refund demand sparks firestorm of controversy.

The series also won an honorable mention in daily news reporting. In addition, Raftery won a second place award for environmental reporting for an East County Magazine article titled County issues draft wind ordinance; backcountry leaders level harsh criticism.