By Miriam Raftery

February 26, 2017 (Alpine) – Alpnie was once known as the honey production capital of the world.  Now here’s the buzz:  On Saturday, March 11 from 10 to 4, Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce will present the first annual Honey Festival to celebrate the region’s sweet success.

By Miriam Raftery

February 16, 2017 (Alpine) — The Alpine Sun newspaper celebrated its 65th anniversary on Valentine’s Day.  At Tuesday’s Alpine-Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce “Hot Topics” breakfast meeting,  the newspaper’s publisher and editor were presented with certificates and plaques  from the offices of Congressman Duncan Hunter,  State Senator Joel Anderson, and Assemblyman Randy Voepel.

East County News Service

February 15, 2017 (Alpine) – Now here’s the buzz! Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce invites you to the Queen Bee Tea on March 5^th at 11:30 in the Alpine Community Center.  Teatime will be presented by Donna Marie’s Tea Time, plus guests will enjoy vendors and a fashion show by Dana’s Boutique.

By Miriam Raftery

February 11, 2017 (El Cajon) — In a closed-door session Thursday just before the 6 p.m. public meeting, the Grossmont Union High School District Board will discuss ongoing litigation over funds for an Alpine high school in a case filed by Alpine Union School District and Alpine taxpayers,  as well as a new lawsuit filed in January by San Diegans for Open Government alleging campaign violations by the district over school bond Proposition BB.  A conference with labor negotiators is also on the closed-session agenda.

Photo: The winter storms caused damage throughout the County such as flooding and this rockslide on Wynola Road in Julian.

Residents asked to report all storm damage: County has not reached level yet to get help for individuals or businesses

By Michele Clock, County of San Diego Communications

Photo: The winter storms caused damage throughout the County such as flooding and this rockslide on Wynola Road in Julian.

February 5, 2017 (San Diego) --The County of San Diego proclaimed a local emergency Friday, due to damage caused by the severe winter storms that hit the region late last month.

By Ben Locke, Alpine resident

January 31, 2017 (Alpine) -- Located at http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/pds/generalplan.html is the County website for the General Plan (GP).  As you may have heard, a GP update will be taking place for Alpine over the next 18 months.  The preamble to the GP states that it is:  “…a framework for the future growth and development of the unincorporated areas of the County.”  And that it “…is based on a set of guiding principles designed to protect the County’s unique and diverse natural resources and maintain the character of its rural and semi-rural communities. It reflects an environmentally sustainable approach to planning that balances the need for adequate infrastructure, housing, and economic vitality, while maintaining and preserving each unique community within the County, agricultural areas, and extensive open space.”  Finally, it states that it:  “…reflects the County’s commitment to  a sustainable growth model that facilitates efficient development near infrastructure and services, while respecting sensitive natural resources and protection of existing community character in its extensive rural and semi-rural communities. The General Plan provides a renewed basis for the County’s diverse communities to develop Community Plans that are specific to and reflective of their unique character and environment consistent with the County’s vision for its future."

By Miriam Raftery

January 24, 2017 (Boulevard) – A reader alerted us that after picking up free sandbags recently at the Boulevard Fire Station,  he noticed “hoary mustard weed growing out of the sand they used…The hoary mustard is a terrible weed that is spreading in Boulevard on equipment or anything that gets dirty and now is in sand bags spreading into even more areas. Once on someones property they will be fighting it forever as it invades gardens and any disturbed soil.”

East County News Service

January 22, 2017 (Julian) – As a new storm sweeps into our region, the San Diego Sheriff retweeted this image, along with some winter wit from the Sheriff’s Julian substation: “Extra police presence in SD Mtns during inclement weather, use caution, FYI.”

East County News Service

January 18, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - The heaviest rains of the winter—and maybe the heaviest in several years—set to soak our region over the next several days, bringing flash flooding and erosion problems.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Mark and Miriam Raftery

Photos, left:  Bill Schweitzer, Ramona Valley Vineyards Association cofounder and past president at Highland  Hills Winery; Pamo Valley Tasting Room on Holiday Wine Tour

January 8, 2017 (Ramona) –“2016 is going to be our greatest vintage so far. Everybody says it came in perfect,” says Bill Schweitzer, cofounder of the Ramona Valley Vineyard Association (RVVA) in 2002,  and a driving force in attaining an American Viticulture Area (AVA) designation for Ramona back in 2006.  That’s due to the ideal combination of heat, rains and drought years—as well as years of efforts by local vintners now savoring the fruits of their labors.

Sipping wine on the sunny patio at Highland Valley Winery during the Holiday Wine Trail event in December, he reflected that back in 2001,  Ramona had just one winery (Schwaesdall) and 20 vineyards growing grapes.  Today, there are at least 29 wineries in Ramona, soon to be 35, and 150 vineyards.

East County News Service

January 8, 2017 (Alpine) – Authorities recovered a stolen U-Haul truck on Friday, filled with other stolen property.

An Alpine Sheriff’s deputy was patrolling the lot of a local casino and spotted the stolen U-Haul truck.  With help from casino security, the deputy located the truck’s two occupants, Kimberly White, 47, and Salomon Saenz, 60. 

East County News Service

December 30, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) - Two storms are set to douse our region this weekend. The first is forecast to arrive Friday morning and continue Friday night, followed by the second storm Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning.

East County News Service

Photo courtesy Bob Perry

December 29, 2016 (Mount Laguna) – The Laguna Mountain Volunteers (www.LMVA.net) are looking for more volunteers to man the visitor center and do other good works.  There are no minimum obligations, “just opportunities to seize,” says Bob Perry, who sent us these photos of a visit this week to the winter wonderland complete with  six inches of snow:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/rudyperry/albums/72157678384403265

He adds, “Louise and I drive up from El Cajon two Sundays a month to open the visitor center.  It's just the two of us having fun at 6,000 feet.  We've been doing this for six years.” 

Not wearing seatbelt led to ejection of driver from vehicle

East County News Service

December 25, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) — Two women died yesterday morning  after they were ejected from a vehicle that rolled over on a rain-slicked section of S-2, the Great Southern Overland Stage Route, south of State Route 78 in rural East County.