By Miriam Raftery

August 22, 2013 (Santee) –Founded in Santa Ysabel half a century ago, Dudley’s Bakery has gained fame across the region for its tempting array of freshly baked bread varieties such as Julian apple nut and jalapeno cheese breads.  Long a secret of travelers through East County’s backcountry, Dudley’s later gained fame after winning the U-T San Diego’s “Reader’s Choice” poll as best bakery in the county three years in a row.

Now, fans of Dudley’s breads, fruit bars, pies and more won’t have to drive to the mountains.  Dudley’s has announced plans to open up Dudley’s Bakery and Deli in the Santee Town Center in Santee this September.

Update: This fire was halted at 15 acres.

May 3, 2013 (Santa Ysabel) – A brush fire now called the Highway 2 Fire has burned at least 15 acres along State Route 78 at Witch Creek. The blaze is burning eastward in light grass. A blaze is also reported near Highway 78 and Hiddean Valley Road; it is unclear if these are the same fire or two separate ones.  Info is from Cal Fire; watch for details soon.

By Miriam Raftery

February 9, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) ---Heavy snowfall has transformed our local mountains into winter wonderlands.  Mount Laguna received 10 inches of snowfall in the past 24 hours, followed by Palomar Mountain with 7 to 8 inches.  Cuyamaca also received significant snowfall, as this image sent in by reader Grace Schlesier shows. Frost and freezing temperatures are expected through Monday in inland valleys.

Other areas dusted in white include Julian (3-6 inches), Ranchita (5 inches), Santa  Ysabel (2 inches) and Pine Valley (2 inches) .  Snow even dipped down to Descanso and Campo, which received less than a half inch each.

• Padres sold to group headed by O’Malley heirs (UT San Diego)
• Aquifers shrink as nation digs deeper for water (UT San Diego)
• Why a Major Food Organization Is Teaming Up With Monsanto and Friends to Block Your Right to Know What’s in Your Food (San Diego Free Press)
• Local casino’s past, present and future—impacts of Santa Ysabel potential closure( Ramona Journal)
• Helix extends employee contract, draws criticism (UT San Diego)
• Dead, sick animals found at Lemon Grove store (UT San Diego)
• Crime up 6% in county for first half of year (UT San Diego)
• Democratic Super PAC going after Bilbray with $1.2 million ad buy (La Jolla Patch)

• California reaches deep into special funds to pay for schools, social services and prisons (Sacramento Bee)
• State finds $230 million more in unreported reserves (UT San Diego)
• Real estate license revocations set record in California (Sacramento Bee)
• Judge says Riverside County can’t close pot shops (Sacramento Bee)
• Top California Democrats rally around new assault weapons bill (Sacramento Bee)
• Two California projects selected for transformational energy storage research to advance electric vehicle and grid research (Scoop San Diego) 

May 6, 2012 (San Diego's East County) -- ECM editor Miriam Raftery snapped this image of last night's "super moon" -- the closest that the moon comes to earth in its orbit this year. 

This full moon shot was taken off Highway 79, between Santa Ysabel and Ramona, casting a golden halo as it rose.

January 5, 2011 (Julian)--The San Diego County Department of Parks and Recreation will be conducting weekday pile burns in January through May, weather permitting, at Santa Ysabel East Preserve, Volcan Mountain Preserve and William Heise County Park.

The pile burns — in which piles of cleared brush and other cut vegetation are burned — will reduce the fire hazard of excess vegetation fuels.

August 27, 2011 (Santa Ysabel) – Two motorcyclists sustained serious injuries this afternoon in an accident on Highway 79 at School House Canyon, Incident Page Network reports.

The crash occurred at 1:12 p.m.; two victims were flown to a local hospital via medical helicopter.
 

May 13, 2011 (Santa Ysabel)--The Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) and deputies from the Pine Valley Substation have released a photo of Patricia McGinn, 63, who has been missing since 11:30 a.m.  She was seen walking away from her car in the 4800 block of Mountainbrook Road, Santa Ysabel at 11:30 a.m.  Witnesses have indicated she seemed disoriented.

The area is near the Inaja Memorial Park (Thomas Guide page 1135-C4) in Santa Ysabel.  Patricia McGinn is a white female, 5 feet 8 inches tall, with gray hair. She was last seen wearing a light blue shirt and dark blue pants.

April 22, 2011 (Santa Ysabel) –Visit a pre-1840 North American fun trade encampment and see history come alive at the Manzinita High Mountain Rendezvous. The event also showcases frontier skills such as fire starting, tomahawk, and shooting with rifle, pistol, shotgun, smoothbore and primitive bow.