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.

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.

East County News Service

March 7, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – Daylight savings time begins this Sunday, March 10.  Be sure to wind your clocks forward an hour.  

Moving clocks forward is intended to allow more daylight during spring and summer months.  Daylight savings time official begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, but it’s a good idea to change your clocks and watches before going to bed Saturday night.

Source:  Society of Professional Journalists

March 7, 2019 (San Diego) - The San Diego Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is deeply troubled by proposed state legislation that would make it more difficult for journalists and the public to understand how government works and hold officials accountable.

March 6, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) --- East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Manafort gets 47 months in prison for financial fraud (Politico)
• Wetter than ever: Winter 2018-19 was USA's soggiest in recorded history (USA Today)
• Cohen Offers Documents in Bid to Show Trump Lawyers Helped With False Testimony (New York Times)
• Flake, Kobach to take part in GOP debate about Trump (The Hill)
• Thousands of migrant children report that they were sexually assaulted in U.S. custody (USA Today)
• Crime lab scandal rocked Harris' term as San Francisco district attorney (Washington Post)

WORLD

• Can US help resolve Venezuela crisis? The first hurdle is history.  (Christian Science Monitor)
• A snub and a last minute Hail Mary. Trump's tough lesson in North Korean diplomacy (CNN)
• Man who plotted truck attack on London's Oxford St jailed for life (Reuters)
• India builds bunkers to protect families along Pakistan border (Reuters)
• Saudi Arabia strips Osama bin Laden's son of citizenship (Reuters)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

Source: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District

March 6, 2019 (El Cajon) -- In recognition of Women’s History Month, designated by Congress in 1987, both Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges have a number of events planned that are free and open to the public:

By Miriam Raftery

March 6, 2019 (San Diego's East County) – This week’s destination East County includes the musical Mary Poppins in Spring Valley, Tomatomania at the Water Conservation Garden, and Quartet Luminosos at Mission Trails.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including Baroque, Renaissance and Classical music in El Cajon, Arlo Guthrie performing in Poway, a St. Patrick’s Day lucky adventure at Fort Cross in Santa Ysabel, Hooleyfest and more St. Patrick’s Day activities at Grossmont Center, Sha Na Na at Sycuan, the Danny Green Trio at Cuyamaca College, Les Miserables at Steele Canyon High School,  the 1000 Lights Festival at Santee Lakes, Arbor Day in El Cajon, Latin heart throb Roberto Carlos in concert at SDSU and an Off Broadway Live performance of The Bridge in Santee.

So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

"Neighbors" aims to reduce crime in neighborhoods by connecting people, security cameras and law enforcement.

Source:  La Mesa Police Department

March 6, 2019 (La Mesa) - The La Mesa Police Department today announced that it is joining the Neighbors app by Ring (available via iOS/Android here: https://download.ring.com/lamesa to provide the La Mesa community with real-time, local crime and safety information. The Neighbors network already has millions of users and has been instrumental in catching package thieves, stopping burglaries, and keeping neighborhoods safe.

East County News Service

March 6, 2019 (San Diego) - Summer Safari is returning to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, bringing fun activities and entertainment for the whole family May 25 through September 1. Guests can enjoy an array of activities, live music, arts and crafts, pop-up entertainment for all ages, and more. Guests at the Safari Park will also have the unique opportunity to encounter fascinating animals up-close and enjoy a variety of special evening shows.

By Donald H. Harrison 

Originally published in San Diego Jewish World, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  Panelist Shor Masori tells of experiences at Grossmont Middle College High School

March 5, 2019 (El Cajon) - There’s a secret that I feel it’s my duty to divulge to other grandparents and parents of high school students.  High school sophomores can get a jump on their college educations—maybe even save their parents a bundle of money —by applying to Grossmont Middle College High School for the upcoming fall semester.

OHV Restoration Project Review Period

East County News Service

Restoration work has been proposed by the Back Country Land Trust for OHV impacted areas of their Clover Flat Wildlife Preserve.  The public is invited to review and comment on their application for funding of a habitat restoration grant. These grants are solicited by the California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program,

Grant funding would be used to restore 15 acres of OHV impacted critical wildland habitat in Clover Flat Preserve to the east of Campo. Clover Flat is located to the west of La Posta Road and north of Highway 94.  Habitat restoration, fencing, and educational signage will protect endangered species, prevent soil erosion, redirect recreational Off-Highway Vehicle users to nearby legal recreational areas, and will employ local contractors.

Source:  California Department of Justice

March 4, 2019 (San Francisco) - California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has announced the release of a California Department of Justice (DOJ) report on immigration detention facilities in the state. The report is the result of Assembly Bill 103, which passed in 2017, requiring the DOJ, over a 10-year period, to report on: conditions of confinement; the standard of care and due process provided to detainees; and the circumstances around the apprehension and transfer of detainees to facilities. This initial report is intended to provide increased transparency around immigration detention facilities in California. The report is an important step forward in understanding the conditions under which civil immigration detainees are living, including their access to critical health and legal resources.