By Miriam Raftery

April 11, 2018 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – You’re invited to celebrate Earth Day at the Desert View Tower in Jacumba Hot springs on Saturday, April 21^st from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

You can participate in a land blessing and Native American drumming with Grammy award-nominated Chief Windwalker, plus enjoy a native plant sale, coil-pottery and basketry demonstrations, face painting, tie-dye clothing, desert hikes, In-Ko-Pah yoga in nature, Reiki energy healing, intuitive tarot and spiritual counseling, palmistry, essential oils, crystals, herbs, jewelry, geodes, books, gifts, a nature photography contest, and organic gardening.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Herman Smith, San Diego County Sheriff’s Dept.

March 30, 2018 (Jacumba Hot Springs) — A hearing is set for April 27 on proposed release of Herman Smith at 42920 Desert Rose Ranch Road in Jacumba Hot Springs.  Smith has been convicted of sexually violent crimes including rape by force in 1993, oral copulation with a minor under age 14 by force or fear, and sodomizing a victim under age 14 with force. He has also been convicted of raping a drugged victim.

By Miriam Raftery

March 11, 2018 (Borrego Springs) – The Peg Leg Smith Liar’s Contest dates back more than a century, inviting the public to come spin your best treasure hunting tale.  Always held on the first Saturday in April, this year’s event will be held April 7 starting at 7 p.m.  The event has a new location in 2018 at the American Legion Hall, 4515 Borrego Springs Road in Borrego Springs, where you can get a chuckwagon dinner if you’re so inclined.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left: “Passing Through Borrego,” by Arizona oil painter Robert Goldman

March 2, 2018 (Borrego Springs) – “I am proud to be the 2018 Curator for the Borrego Art Institute 12th Annual Plein Air Invitational paint-out and exhibit,” says Shannon O’Dunn.  “Fifteen artists in oils, pastel, and watercolors will be in painting the field all week, March 5-9.” 

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

February 26, 2018 (Anza-Borrego) – The Anza Borrego Desert Research Center has posted stunning photos on its Twitter feed showing snowfall transforming the desert to a fairytale scene, as well dramatic sun rays, all taken in Sicco Road in Anza-Borrego State Park between Feb. 14 and 22.

East County News Service

February 15, 2018 (Borrego Springs) – Art lovers can view works of over 70 fine artists at the 29^th annual Circle of Art Show and Sale on Christmas Circle in Borrego Springs. This popular event will be held Saturday, March 10^th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, March 11^th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

February 10, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- Legislation introduced by State Senator Ben Hueso aims to expand a successful “promise zone” program originally used to improve inner city areas in the city of San Diego.  If enacted,  Senate Bill 635 would allow blighted rural and tribal communities as well as cities with populations under 200,000 people to also apply for promise zone designation.

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

February 3, 2018 (Borrego Springs) - You’re invited to don your “desert dressy” attire and finest hiking boots for the second annual “Boots Ball” hosted by the Anza Borrego Foundation on Saturday, March 3 from 2-5 p.m.

By Miriam Raftery

January 24, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – County Supervisors on Tuesday approved a proposal to accept bids from outside animal welfare organizations seeking to compete against the County’s Animal Services Department to provide services in the County’s unincorporated areas, including rural, desert and mountain regions in East County as well as neighborhoods such as Spring Valley, Alpine, and Lakeside. In East County, the city of Santee will also be impacted.

East County News Service

Photo:  © 2018 Peter Tellone – photographer

January 9, 2018 (Borrego Springs) – Photographer Peter Tellone sent in this postcard-perfect image of a rainbow after the storm in Borrego Springs.

You can view more of his works at petertellone.com.

By Miriam Raftery

December 27, 2017 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – Hi ho! The Jacumba Hikers and Walkers are hitting the trail to Carrizo Gorge and Walker Canyon on December 30^th.   This six mile hike is rated hard due to a steep down and up trek across the gorge, where hikers will see an up-top view of the “Impossible Railroad” at De Anza Resort, then head north on an old road to an abandoned railroad settlement in historic Walker Canyon.

Residents angered at loss of water pumps, alarm systems, refrigeration, comunication and heat during outages up to a week in some areas that have suffered repeated outages

By Miriam Raftery

December 12, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – SDG&E announced last night that it has fully restored power to all customers who were de-energized due to “public safety concerns” following a week-long red flag warning with strong gusty winds, low humidity and dangerous fire conditions.  An SDG&E media release states, “After crews inspected power lines all day in coordination with contract firefighters who were on hand to ensure a safe restoration process, power was turned on for all remaining customers. Field crews patrolled on the ground and in the air. Aerial inspections were completed by five helicopters in rural, mountainous areas."

Power remains out to 56 customers in the Lilac Fire zone in North County, where full restoration is expected early Tuesday evening. All 43 poles damaged in the fire will be replaced with fire-resistant steel poles and thicker, stronger wires, SDG&E indicates, adding, ““We understand that being without power, for any reason, is an inconvenience and we appreciate the patience we have received from our customers.”  For current information on outages and restoration times, visit sdge.com/outage.

Across East County,  many residents in rural, mountain and high desert towns have taken to social media to voice concerns over the prolonged outages.  Although SDG&E says it did provide advance notice to 170,000 customers of possible planned outages due to high winds and fire danger, before shutting off power to many thousands of homes, many rural residents say that’s not enough – and they want changes made. Below are highlights of residents' concerns and proposals.

East County News Service

December 1, 2017 (Borrego Springs) – Borrego Springs Performing Ars Center will present “Here We Come A-Caroling, Borrego Style” on Saturday, December 9 at 7:30 and 9 p.m. and again on Sunday, December 10 at 3 and 4:30 p.m. 

You’re invited to come sing carols with neighbors and friends while being entertained by Borrego's finest musicians and orators.  A program of songs, heartwarming stories and surprise appearances will lift your spirits and add joy to the Holiday season as you celebrate, Borrego style.

East County News Service

October 18, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - On Saturday, October 21st, the Jacumba Hikers and Walkers are hitting the trail to Carrizo Creek.  This is a four-mile round trip hike rated moderate.  Hikers will be traveling a short distance on a county maintained dirt road, through a short tunnel to the “Echoing Mountains,” down a cliff to a creek bed strewn with boulders, overgrown shrubs and Tamarisk trees. Following the creek bed, you will encounter numerous pools and waterfalls.

East County News Service

September 21, 2017 (Borrego Springs) - The 52nd Annual Borrego Days Desert Festival returns to showcase qualities that make Borrego Springs so unique as both a weekend getaway and a world all its own with beautiful weather, incredible star gazing, resorts, and the free Borrego Days Festival which kicks off Saturday, October 21 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and continues through Sunday, October 22, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.