East County News Service

May 26, 2016 (Julian) – The Medical Examiner’s office has identified Andrew Grettenberger, 55, of San Diego as the motorcyclist killed on May 23^rd in a solo-vehicle crash near Julian.

Expert Panel to Discuss Oak Borer Beetle Tuesday March 8, 6 p.m. at Julian Library.  Public invited free.

Photo, left:  Gold Spotted Oak Borer

By Jim Madaffer

March 4, 2016 (Julian) -- Suspecting we had dead or dying oak trees on our property in Wynola Estates, my wife and I hired an arborist to inspect and inventory our trees.  The verdict: out of 80 trees, 10 oak trees are dead and must come down – all thanks to the Golden Spotted Oak Borer Beetle, or GSOB.

By Miriam Raftery

December 11, 2015 (Julian) – The County Planning commission today granted a continuance for a hearing on 24 homes proposed on the 1,000-acre Hoskings Ranch at Highway 78 and Pine Hills Road in Julian.  A request for continuance until February 5 at 9 a.m. was requested by both the developer and an attorney representing residents opposed to the project.

Over 250 people signed up for the Hoskings Ranch Subdivision Action and Resource group on Facebook within two hours of its being formed.  About 50 concerned residents met December 8^th at Julian’s town hall.

East County News Service

October 14, 2015 (Julian) – The Julian Triangle Club’s  59^th annual October melodrama, “Keeping the Doctor Away”  or “Take Two Apples and See Me in the Morning” continues this weekend and next at the historic Julian Town Hall. 

This year’s director, Sandi Bennett, is cracking the whip over the all-volunteer local cast, who come from all walks of life to put on the traditional Melodrama and raise money for our local charities including scholarships for local students.

By Miriam Raftery

File photo: Black jaguar

September 1, 2015 (Cedar Creek Falls) – Last year, East County Magazine ran a two-part series  on numerous reported sightings of large black wildcats in our region :

http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/are-black-wildcats-prowling-east-county

http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/hello-kitty-more-black-wildcat-reports-surface

Today, we received an email from Chris and Peter Ruth, Forest Service volunteers and trail head hosts at Cedar Creek Falls.  “We now have had two reports of a black `cat-like’ animal down by the falls,” they wrote, adding that there is water in the pond though the waterfall is dry this time of year.

Multiple hikers reported seeing a “large black animal” resembling a big cat in a tree near the falls in San Diego's backcountry in Cleveland National Forest between Julian and Descanso. The sightings were reported to the ranger.  In addition, the Forest Service volunteers state, “Today, two female volunteers who hike the trail and pick up trash heard growling noises three times. With the drought, we wonder if animals are frequenting the pond to get water.”

East County News Service

July 20, 2015 (Julian) – From a film festival to guided hikes to a dinner in the meadow benefit and more, the Volcan Mountain Foundation is hosting an array of fascinating events coming up in August and September.  Below are details on these activities, which all benefit conservation efforts to preserve Volcan Mountain in the scenic and historic Julian area.

East County News Service

June 16, 2015 (Julian)—A 24-year-old hiker has died after suffering apparent heat-related physical distress on the Cedar Creek trail near Julian on June 16^th in the early evening.  His friends called 911 and paramedics were notified, along with Sheriff’s deputies.

The 17^th annual Blues Bash will be held at Menghini Winery in Julian on Saturday, June 20 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.  The music fest will include Jonathon Boogie Long and the Blues Revolution from Louisiana, crowned “King of the Blues” by Guitar Center. The event also features wine-tasting and dancing. 

June 15, 2015 (Julian)--California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials are looking for a minimum-security inmate who walked away from the La Cima Conservation Camp #42, located near the community of Julian, in San Diego County.

By Cathy Ozbun, Julian Fire Plugs

Vendors can sign up now for May's Arts & Crafts Fair in Julian

March 10, 2015 (Julian) - The Julian Arts & Crafts Fair, a local marketing event for artists, artisans and crafters from the Julian area, will be held on Saturday, May 23rd. This event is being sponsored by the Julian Cuyamaca Fire Protection District (JCFPD), and coordinated by the Julian Fire Plugs, a non-profit organization of community volunteers working to support the JCFPD.

Public comments due by March 25

By Miriam Raftery

February 25, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--Three Sisters Falls is one of the most beautiful natural attractions in East County – a trio of waterfalls and natural swimming holes in a wilderness area within Cleveland National Forest.  But the falls are also among the most difficult scenic sites to access.

Now Cleveland National Forest’s Palomar Ranger District is planning a major recreation management   project at Three Sisters Falls, located near Boulder Creek Road between Santa Ysabel  and Descanso. The proposed action is to adopt and/or construct a Level 2 System Trail to Three Sisters Falls, to decommission and restore existing user-created trails, and to clear and construct  a primitive dirt or gravel parking area off of Boulder Creek Road, also adding a kiosk with educational materials.

The purpose of this project is to  address concerns related to public health and safety, resource impacts from unmanaged recreation use, and compromised access along Boulder Creek Road for area residents and emergency vehicles during high-use periods at Three Sisters Falls, says district ranger Joan Friedlander.

January 19, 2015 (Julian)--California State Parks will be conducting a prescribed burn in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park with CAL FIRE’s assistance on Wednesday January 21st. The prescribed burn will occur on the south side of Middle Peak in the Park.

By Randy Zuniga

December 13, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) - I had been training off and on throughout the summer for a night trail half-marathon up by Julian in October. I was doing different trail runs throughout the Cuyamaca and Laguna Mountains to get ready for it.

By Miriam Raftery

November 11, 2014 (Julian) – The Golden Chariot mine along the Banner Grade near Julian was once a motherlode that produced nearly a million dollars worth of gold.  Commercial mining there ceased in 1931 during the Great Depression, though small-scale operations continued up until 2002, when a fire blazed through the Chariot Canyon.

Update October 8, 2014:  The search for Sally Estabrook continues.  A witness reported seeing someone resembling her Monday walking near mile marker 15.  A dog search team and helicopters with night-vision goggles have joined in the search.

East County News Service

October 6, 2014 (Julian) – Take a look at these newly-released photos of 75-year old Sally Estabrook, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and has been missing since Saturday, October 4th  from the Pinezanita RV Park & Campground on Highway 79.  Dozens of Sheriff’s Search and Rescue volunteers have joined professional search teams from across Southern California.

The Sheriff is asking anyone with surveillance video (home or business) from the day she disappeared to come forward, in hopes of finding clues.

Estabrook’s husband discovered she was missing after he finished taking a shower around 4 p.m. Saturday.  The search has been going on ever since then.  On Monday, the search area was expanded to five miles outside of the campground.