By Miriam Raftery

June 4, 2017 (Campo) – A report by the San Diego County Grand Jury issued May 30^th proposed consolidating juvenile detention facilities and closing Camp Barrett in a remote area of Alpine near Descanso, 35 miles from San Diego.

East County News Service

June 1, 2017 (San Diego’s East County)  You’re invited to join in a fun drive to discover the unveiling of Historic Highway 67 in San Diego’s East County on June 17^th from 8:30 to 1 p.m.  Travel through the wild and scenic countryside, stopping at pit stops in El Cajon, Santee, Lakeside and Ramona to get your passport stamped and win drawing tickets for prizes.

This event is  presented by the Historic Highway 80 Corporation along with the Santee, Lakeside, Ramona, and San Diego East County Chambers of Commerce.

Source: Ramona H.E.A.R.T. Murals

Photo:  artist, Bob Teague (left) with Kenneth Tinsley, a member of the committee who helped with the installation.

May 30, 2017 (Ramona) – A dedication ceremony for the “Country Lifestyle Mural,” sponsored by the San Diego Country Estates Association, will be held on Saturday, June 3, 2017, beginning at 10 a.m. at the site of the mural at 325 10^th Street, Ramona CA 92065.  The public is invited to attend. In addition to refreshments, attendees will receive a picture of the mural, autographed by the artist.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Jacques Sapier serves up a glass of peach and cherry sangria

May 28, 2017 (Ramona) – What better way to start off summertime than sipping sangrias on a stone patio in the noontime sun?  At Vineyard Grant James, a sangria contest  began Friday and continues through Monday for Memorial Day reason. 

Savor three tasty options – peach cherry, lemonade or a red wine and jalapeño based sangria—and then vote for your favorite.  Glimpsing the jarful of ballots, the votes appeared split between all three of these creative choices, which went well with a delightful  locally made cheese that we savored as well.

East County News Service

May 23, 2017 (Ramona) -- Winery members of the Ramona Valley Vineyard Association (RVVA) will kick off the Ramona Valley Wine Country Summer of Wine with extended tasting days and/or unique experiences and tasting opportunities over the Memorial Day Weekend, May 26-29, 2017.

East County News Service

May 17, 2017 (Alpine) -- Detectives from the Sheriff's Homicide Detail and the Alpine Sheriff's Station are investigating the apparent murder of a 42-year-old man in Alpine.

Last night at approximately 6:35 pm, the Sheriff's Communications Center received a call of a suicidal man at 31 Viejas Grade in Alpine. Deputies from the Sheriff's Alpine Station responded to the area and found the man unresponsive and suffering from a gunshot wound. Paramedics began life saving measures but the victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

By Julie Pendray

May 15, 2017 (Alpine) -- In the latest move to get Grossmont Unified High School District (GUHSD) to build a high school in Alpine, appeals have been filed in the Fourth Appellate Court in San Diego, with oral arguments expected late summer to early next year.

Alpine Union School District (AUSD) and Alpine Taxpayers for Bond Accountability (ATBA) are disputing a 2016 decision by a trial judge who found that Grossmont is not mandated to construct the Alpine school because an enrollment trigger of 23,245 students in the Grossmont district had not been reached “at the time of release of request for construction bids.”

East County News Service

Ramona's Dye & Highland Valley Intersection to be Impacted

May 13, 2017 (Ramona) -- Lane closures with one-way traffic will impact State Route 67 at the Dye Road/Highland Valley Road intersection in Ramona on Sunday, May 14, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and next week during overnight hours from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. rom Monday night, May 15, to Friday morning, May 19.

By Miriam Raftery

Video, above: Open fiddling competition 2016 champion Shira Ellison in her winning performance

May 2, 2017 (Julian) -- Each year,  the town of Julian comes alive with the sounds  of music—fiddle music, along with banjos, guitars, mandolins and mountain dulcimers at the annual Julian Fiddle and Pickin’ Contest. 

This year’s event will be held on Saturday, May 20^th at the Julian Town Hall, plus on Friday night a Texas-style fiddle workshop will be led by two-time national grand fiddle champion Matthew Hartz.  (For details and a schedule visit www.SanDiegoFiddler.org)

Recently we’re seeing a revival of interest in the art of fiddling and more broadly, a Renaissance in traditional music both regionally and nationally.

By Miriam Raftery

April 29, 2017 (Warner Springs) – Ten historic cottages at Warner Springs Ranch Resort reopen this weekend, after the resort’s long closure for remodeling under new ownership.

“As they were in the past, Warner Springs Ranch Resort cottages are meant to provide a simple, rustic setting similar to that experienced in the old west…a place to create memories that last a lifetime,” an announcement from Warner Springs Resort reads. “You’ll find our cottages to be a comfortable environment to unwind after a great day on the golf course or on horseback.”

East County News Service

Photo:  Fearless Girl, Wall Street, N.Y.

April 28, 2017 (Julian) – Seeking to reverse “damage to our country using our American values of inclusion, tolerance, fairness and respect,” residents in Julian are organizing an Indivisible group, part of the nationwide effort to resist the agendas of Donald Trump and the Republican Party.

By Miriam Raftery

April 25, 2017 (Cuyamaca) –From flowing water falls to blooming wildflowers, nature put on a spectacular show in San Diego’s East County. On Saturday,  I headed out to the mountains, taking the Highway 79 exit north off I-8 to start with a visit to Green Valley Falls in Rancho Cuyamaca State Park, followed by stops at Lake Cuyamaca  and picturesque Julian.

East County News Service

April 24, 2017 (Ramona) – State Route 67 between Ramona and Lakeside is one of the most accident-prone stretches of highway in San Diego County. 

Caltrans is planning to install flexible posts between Willow Road in Lakeside and Shady Oaks in Ramona at a cost of $7.14 million in hopes of preventing head-on collisions.

East County News Service

April 19, 2017 (Ramona) -- State Route 78 will be closed in both directions over the next four weekends while Caltrans crews conduct emergency repairs to stabilize the roadway and construct a retaining wall. The repairs are needed after large boulders damaged the roadway. 

East County News Service

April 19, 2017 (Ramona) - The Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona invites you to an open farm and show this Saturday and Sunday, April 22^nd and 23^rd.  The fun starts at 1 p.m. for an afternoon featuring friendly farm animals and curious camels. At 1:30 there’s an animal show featuring performing parrots, racing turkeys, working farm dogs and majestic camels.