Deserts

HIGH TEMPERATURE RECORDS BROKEN AS EXCESSIVE HEAT WAVE CONTINUES

East County News Service

June 12, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- An excessive heat warning remains in effect through today. The heat wave which prompted an excessive heat wave on Tuesday brought record-breaking temperatures across East County. So how hot was it?


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EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING

By Miriam Raftery

 

June 9, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning for San Diego County’s deserts from Tuesday morning through Wednesday, when high temperatures are forecast to reach 110 to 114 degrees.  


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PASSAGES: DENNIS RUTH, MOUNTAIN MAN OF JACUMBA, IN KO PAH

Memorial gathering June 8 at 2 p.m. at Desert View Tower

East County News Service

May 31, 2019 (Jacumba) -- Local icon "Mountain Man" Dennis Ruth passed away May 23rd after a battle with cancer.  He spent his early years in Santee, and the rest of his life in the high desert community of In Ko Pah, near Jacumba. 
 
His stone cabin became a hidden local treasure which took him 30 years to build and where he lived without electricity with his dogs and mule named Big John. 
 

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BORREGO ARTISTS INVITED TO COOL OFF AT SUMMER SALON IN THE GALLERY

 
 
By Miriam Raftery
 
May 27, 2019 (Borrego Springs) – The Borrego Art Institute invites fellow artists and friends to come spend time in a cool art zone this summer for “Summer Salon” sessions where you can create, socialize, and hang out in the gallery.
 

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CALLING ALL SHEEP COUNTERS: BORREGO BIGHORN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

By Miriam Raftery

May 22, 2019 (Anza-Borrego)–Volunteers are needed for the 49th annual Bighorn Sheep Count in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park July 5-7, with an orientation session June 22nd.  If you want to enjoy the thrill of seeing these elusive and majestic animals while helping gather important data to help protect the species, please contact AB.Sheepcount@parks.ca.gov with questions and be sure to fill out the RSVP form on Page 2 of this flyer.


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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: BORREGO RAINBOW

 
East County News Service
 
May 22, 2019 (Borrego Springs) -- Rob Amato shot this idyllically posed photo of a rainbow arcing over horse statues by artist Ricardo Breceda in Borrego Springs.
 
You can read more about world-famous metal sculptor Breceda at his website: http://ricardobreceda.com/
 
Find a map and details on the Borrego sculptures at https://www.desertusa.com/borrego/bs-art.html#newmap.


HOMELESS COUNT SHOWS 6% DROP COUNTYWIDE: HOMELESS RISES IN RAMONA AND EL CAJON BUT DROPS IN SPRING VALLEY

 

Updated with corrected figures for El Cajon, where homelessness rose and a higher percentage are without shelter than last year.

By Miriam Raftery

May 2, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – For the second year in a row, the annual Point-in-Time homeless count for 2019 found a 6% drop in the number of homeless people living on the streets and in shelters across San Diego County.  The count found a 1% increase in those who are sheltered and a 10% decrease in those left unsheltered.


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SUPERVISOR JIM DESMOND TO HOLD REVITALIZATION MEETING IN BORREGO SPRINGS MAY 7

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

April 30, 2019 (Borrego Springs) – Newly elected County Supervisor Jim Desmond has been holding a series of community revitalization meetings in his district. Now he is starting a Borrego Springs Community Revitalization Committee to bring public resources to Borrego Springs.  This is a community meeting and the public is welcome to attend.  On Tuesday, May 7, the meeting will be held in the community room at the Borrego Springs Library.


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OUTDOOR CONCERT SUNDAY IN BORREGO

 

 

East County News Service

April 2, 2019 (Borrego Springs) – The Alice Wallace Band will perform a free outdoor concert this Sunday, April 7 at the Springs At Borrego (2255 DiGiorgio Rd.) in Borrego Springs.  Recently named female vocalist of the year in the California Country Awards, Alice Walker is a singer/songwriter who mixes modern folk, classic country, American and blues into a genre all her own.


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24-HOUR CLOSURE AT SR-78 FROM SAN FELIPE ROAD (S-2) BORREGO SPRINGS ROAD BEGINS WEDNESDAY

 

 

Source: Caltrans

Photo:  Detour will route motorists onto Montezuma Valley Road

March 30, 2019 (Borrego Springs) — Construction crews will close a 13-mile segment of State Route 78 (SR-78) from San Felipe Road/ Great Southern Overland Stage Route (S-2) located just east of Julian to Borrego Springs Road for 24 hours beginning Wednesday at sunrise. The closure is needed for rock scaling to remove boulders and loose soil from highway slopes to ensure that they remain stable.


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HEALING WOMEN AT JACUMBA HOT SPRINGS SPA RESORT APRIL 6

 

 

By Rebecca Person

March 28, 2019 (Jacumba Hot Springs) -- The Healing Women are back. You're invited to come for a day of renewal on April 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Jacumba Hot Springs Spa Resort (44500 Old Highway 80) in Jacumba Hot Springs.  Opening with an Earth &  Water blessing, the event also features a selection of healing and psychic therapies.  


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IT'S PEAK BLOOM SEASON AT AGUA CALIENTE COUNTY PARK!

 

 

By Andy Tolley, County of San Diego Communications Office

March 28, 2019 (Julian) - The time to go is now! Check out some of the beautiful flowers and green landscapes at Agua Caliente County Park. There’s probably only 1-2 weeks left of the peak bloom season at the park, so make plans and don’t forget to bring your camera!


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SLEEPY JACUMBA HOT SPRINGS GETS A WAKE-UP CALL: PROPOSED MAJOR ENERGY PROJECT DRAWS CONCERNED CROWD

 

 

By R. Person

March 27, 2019 (Jacumba Hot Springs) -- Residents of the sleepy 1930s resort town Jacumba Hot Springs are awakening to the realities of a massive solar project planned for the edge of town on a site previously dedicated to a walled equestrian housing project.


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JUDGE APPROVES RELEASE OF SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATOR ALLAN EARL JAMES IN JACUMBA HOT SPRINGS

 
 
By Miriam Raftery
 
March 25, 2019 (San Diego) – Ignoring tearful pleas from three people victimized as children by sexually violent predator Alan Earl James, San Diego Superior Court Judge Albert Haratunian III today reaffirmed his earlier decision allowing release of James into Jacumba Hot Springs.

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FLOWER POWER: TIPS FOR WILDFLOWER VIEWING IN BORREGO

 

 

East County News Service

March 24, 2019 (Anza-Borrego Desert) - Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is offering these tips for visitors coming to enjoy springtime wildflowers:


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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: BORREGO BLOOMS AND BIRDS

 
 
East County News Service
 
Photos by Renee Owens
 
March 24, 2019 (Borrego) -- The Anza-Borrego Desert's superbloom season continues.  Wildlife biologist Renee Owens sent in these beautiful images showing fields of wildflowers and a beavertail cactus in bloom.  She also captured images of two birds that frequent California's largest state park, the California quail, our state birds, as well as a black-throated sparrow.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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EARTH DAY GATHERING AT DESERT VIEW TOWER APRIL 20 FEATURES LIVE MUSIC, WILDFLOWER HIKES AND HEALING

 
 
East County News Service
 
March 23, 2019 (Jacumba Hot Springs) -- An Earth Day Celebration at the Desert View Tower (1 In-Ko Pah Park Rd., Jacumba Hot Springs) will be held on April 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
 
"We’ll have live music featuring local artists Damian and Marion Bowles on electric guitar and mandolin playing traditional American, blues, Classic Rock, Reggae," says Rebecca Person.  Other entertainment includes Mountain Mayhem, Stephen Cogswell, Meemusica and Jason Berneke and Grammy-nominated Shamanic healer Windwalker.  There will also be food provided by Gloria’s Authentic Mexican Cuisine, Jay’s 5 Star (vegan) Tacos and vegan treats by Valley Girl, Sweet Surrender and Vanessa’s Golden Lemonade.  Find native plants for sale, plant identification and wildflower hikes, farm products and displays, natural beauty, healing therapies (crystal bowl sound healing, intuitive counseling, reiki energy work, acupuncture, ionic detox foot bath) alpaca yarns, nutrition and EMF education and basketry.  Plus, you'll have a chance to explore In Ko Pah Boulder Park with its unique stone carvings. 

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VIDEOS OF THE WEEK: BORREGO BIGHORNS

March 21, 2019 (Anza-Borrego) -- Our editor, Miriam Raftery, took these two videos of Bighorn sheep along Montezuma Valley Road, the steep grade into Anza-Borrego Desert State park.  If you're heading to Borrego, which means "Bighorn," keep a sharp eye out for these desert denizens along rocky slopes.

 

 

 


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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: LUPINE AT INDIAN HEAD

 

 

East County News Service

March 21, 2019 (Borrego Springs) – Bob Kutscher has sent yet another gorgeous shot of wildflowers in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.  These purple lupine are blossoming along a trail to a ridgeline to Hidden Saddle east of the Cove at Indian Head Mountain. 


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BLOOMS, BIGHORNS AND BUTTERFLIES





Superbloom season is in full swing



By Miriam Raftery

March 15, 2019 (Borrego Springs) -- What a glorious day in Borrego Springs!  The desert is in full bloom --- a huge contrast to just a few days go, when I last visited and found some early blossoms but not the spectacular flower fields now delighting visitors.  Something about frolicking in a field of flowers elicits pure joy. (Photos left and right, along DiGiorgio Road.)


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YOUR VOICE HAS POWER: GROUP SEEKS TO STOP RELEASE OF SEXUALLY VIOLENCE PREDATORS INTO EAST COUNTY

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

March 14, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – A new citizens’ group, Your Voice Has Power, has been formed to oppose the continuing release of sexually violent predators into East County communities. The group will meet on Thursday, March 21 at 4 p.m. at Tio Lio’s, 5302 Napa St. in San Diego. Organizers are calling for a public forum and encourage community leaders, impacted citizens and survivors of sexually violent predators to attend and speak out.  The group also urges the public to attend two hearings next week on the proposed release of two sexually violent predators into Jacumba Hot Springs.


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MIGRATORY BUTTERFLIES FLUTTER ACROSS REGION

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

March 13, 2019 (Borrego Springs) – This year’s super bloom season has brought an added bonus.  “Butterflies are gracing us with even more color,” says photographer Bob Kutscher, who snapped this image south of Clark Lake in the Anza-Borrego desert.  Swarms of the Painted Lady butterflies on their migratory path from Mexico are being reported across Southern California.


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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: PEOPLE WATCHING AND WILDFLOWER JAMS

 
 
East County News Service
 
March 12, 2019 (Borrego Springs) – If you’re going wildflower watching in the Anza-Borrego desert area, several sources tell us that the desert floor is now in full bloom—and with wildflower season comes tourists and traffic jams.

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EMERGENCY CLOSURE OF STATE ROUTE 78 FROM WYNOLA ROAD TO GREAT OVERLAND STAGE ROUTE (S-2) FOR ROCK SCALING

If you plan to go view wildflowers in the desert this weekend, be sure to read this and plan an alternate route.

March 8, 2019 (Julian)-- Caltrans crews are preparing to close a six-mile segment of State Route 78 (SR-78) from Wynola Road just east of Julian to Great Southern Overland Stage Route (S-2) later this afternoon for rock scaling activities, according to Caltrans. The emergency closure may extend through the weekend as needed to ensure that the highway slopes are stable.

Residents will be allowed access through the closures as safe to do so.

Motorists on eastbound SR-78 from Ramona toward Banner grade will be detoured onto northbound SR-79 at Santa Ysabel, then directed to turn right onto San Felipe Road (S-2), to eastbound SR-78 towards Ocotillo Wells.

Motorists on westbound SR-78, east of the closure, will be detoured to turn right onto San Felipe Road (S-2) to southbound SR-79, to Santa Ysabel to westbound or eastbound SR-78.


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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: FLOWER FIELDS ABLOOM IN BORREGO

 

 

East County News Service

 

Photo, left: Panoramic view of wildflower south of S22 looking toward Clark Dry Lake 3/7/19

 

March 8, 2019 (Borrego Springs) – Bob Kutscher visited an area about 10 miles east of Borrego Springs north of S22 and south of Clark Dry Lake, where fields of wildflowers are starting to bloom.  

 

The blooms so far are not as dramatic as the “super bloom” in 2017, in part due to freezing night temperatures as well as invasive Sahara mustard, which grows larger and blocks sunlight from some native plants.


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MARCH 21 SCOPING MEETING ON JACUMBA VALLEY RANCH SOLAR PROJECT

By Miriam Raftery

March 8, 2019 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – The proposed 90 megawatt Jacumba Valley Ranch (JVR) solar project on 1,345 acres next to the Jacumba Hot Springs airport has a project footprint “much larger than the small town that is right next door,” says Donna Tisdale, chair of the Boulevard Planning Group.

An environmental impact report will be prepared and public input  is sought on what should be included in the EIR.  Comments are due by April 8.  A scoping meeting will be held on March 21, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at the Highland Community Center, 44681 Old Highway 80, Jacumba Hot Springs.

Below is the county’s public notice with full details:


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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: SUN SHAFTS AND FLOWERS

 

 

East County News Service

March 6, 2019 (Borrego Springs) – Bob Kutscher sent in these dramatic images yesterday in the Anza-Borrego desert, “before the clouds completely blocked the sun as a few light showers started.”

 

 

 


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VIDEO OF THE WEEK: WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM

 

 

East County News Service

March 3, 2019 (Borrego) -- Anza Borrego Desert Park has posted a video of wildflowers  blooming early across the desert, along with tips on what you should know if you plan to go wildflower watching.

https://www.facebook.com/AnzaBorrego/videos/2668093956566649/


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COLD RECORDS BROKEN IN FEBRUARY

 
 
By Miriam Raftery
 
Photo by Dave Hogan:  Deep snow near his home in the Pine Valley/Mt. Laguna area
 
March 1, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – Across Southern California, February broke records for cold temperatures.  Campo averaged just 42.5 degrees for the month of February, the chilliest since February 1956.  In Ramona, February temperatures averaged 46.8 degrees, tying the all-time record from January 2007.  Alpine’s average 47.7 degrees was the coldest since January 1955 and Palomar Mountain, at a brisk 35.3 degrees, was the coldest since January 1949.

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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: DESERT GREENERY

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Culp Valley at top of long passing lane (south side) looking southerly

February 23, 2019 (Borrego Springs) –  Bob Kutscher in Borrego Springs sent in thee images, stating, “I  captured some panoramic images yesterday of what Borrego desert looks like after the snowfall we had yesterday and have attached and inserted them with this email.  Note you can also see just how green the desert has become with all this rainfall.”  


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