Deserts

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

 

 


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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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CHILD RAPIST PROPOSED FOR RELEASE IN JACUMBA

 

 

East County News Service

February 22, 2019 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – The state of California is proposing to release Alan Earl James, a sexually violent predator and pedophile, at 4512 Old Highway 80 in Jacumba Hot Springs. He has multiple convictions including child rape and child molestation.


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AS VOTERS PREPARE TO CAST BALLOTS ON FUTURE OF JULIAN AREA'S FIRE DEPARTMENT, COUNTY ANNOUNCES FULL STAFFING OF RANCHITA FIRE STATION

By Miriam Raftery

February 21, 2019 (Ranchita) – For years, residents of Ranchita, a small town between Borrego Springs and Julian, have complained about prolonged periods of time when their fire station was unstaffed, leaving their community without rapid response to medical emergencies and fires. 

But now, just as area residents prepare to go to the polls in March to vote on a ballot initiative to determine the fate of the Julian-Cuyamaca Fire Department, the County Fire Authority and Cal Fire have announced that they have upgraded staffing at the Ranchita Fire Station to permanent full-time staffing and are in the process of boosting paramedic services.  


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VALENTINE DINING SPECIALS IN EAST COUNTY

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

February 5, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – Several  of East County’s most popular restaurants are offering specials for sweethearts on Valentine’s Day. Below are the delicious details. 


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SEARCH FOR MISSING OCEANSIDE MAN TURNS TO EAST COUNTY

 

 

East County News Service

February 2, 2019 (Oceanside) – An Oceanside father of four who vanished on January 4th may have traveled to East County.  John Sturkie’s cell phone was traced to El Cajon on January 5 and 6 before it died. He is known to frequent Julian, the mud caves in Anza-Borrego desert, Palomar Mountain and Brawley/Calipatria.


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THE PATIO GROUP TO MANAGE FAMED LA CASA DEL ZORRO DESERT RESORT & SPA IN BORREGO SPRINGS

 

 

East County News Service

 

January 24, 2019 (Borrego Springs)  The Patio Group division of American National Investments (ANI) announces new partnership and management ofLa Casa Del Zorro Desert Resort & Spa in Borrego Springs.


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RAINS BRING EARLY DESERT WILDFLOWER BLOOMS: BOOKMARK THESE RESOURCES

 

 

East County News Service

January 22, 2019  (Borrego) -- Thanks to the rain, wildflowers are blooming early this year in the Anza-Borrego desert, according to Sunbelt Publications. If you’re planning to visit the Anza Borrego Desert State Park, these sites will provide updates on where and when to view those beautiful blooms:


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JACUMBA HIKERS AND OMEGAMANIACS HIKE TO BOW WILLOW AND ROCKHOUSE CANYONS LOOP JANUARY 12

 

East County News Service

 

January 8, 2019 (Jacumba Hot Springs) -- Jacumba Hikers are invited to join Omegamaniacs for their next hike Saturday, January 12 - Bow Willow and Rockhouse Canyons Loop.  This is a moderate 8 mile (5 hour) hike located northwest of Ocotillo off S-2.   Hikers will travel through canyons in the Carrizo Gorge Wilderness with the halfway point an old cattleman’s line shack.

 


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JACUMBA HIKERS GROUP SEEKS HIKE LEADERS, HALTS OUTINGS TEMPORARILY

 

East County News Service

January 5, 2019 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – Following the recent death of hiking leader Richard Henry Alcorn, the Jacumba Hikers group will be inactive until new hiking leaders step forward. The group has long organized hikes in desert areas of east San Diego County and Imperial County.


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PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: EAST COUNTY CHILLS OUT





 

East County News Service

January 3, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – A New Year’s eve storm dropped temperatures to below freezing across most of East County, bringing snow and ice even to some low elevation areas.  Area residents took to social media with their icy images.

Anza Borrego Desert Research Center posted an image (left) of snow blanketing the ground around the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park’s landmark sign  The group reported snow flurries down to 2300 feet, with snow sticking above the 2500 foot elevation in the normally arid terrain.


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SNOWFALL IN EAST COUNTY’S MOUNTAINS

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Mt. Laguna, courtesy SDG&E camera via HP Wren

January 1, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – Two and a half inches of snow have fallen in Julian on New Year’s Eve, with an inch reported atop Mt. Laguna and Mt. Palomar.  A light dusting of snow fell at lower elevations including Cuyamaca in East County’s mountains.


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PHOTO OF THE WEEK: OCOTILLO SUNRISE





December 14, 2018 (Ocotillo, California) -- Jim Pelley sent in this spectacular photo of a desert sunrise piercing periwinkle-hued clouds near his home in Ocotilo, near the border of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.


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