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An Independent Weekly Newspaper Serving the Backcountry Communities of Julian, Cuyamaca, Santa Ysabel, Shelter Valley, Mt. Laguna, Ranchita, Sunshine Summit, Warner Springs and Wynola. For the Community, by the Community.
1985
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Periodical • Wednesday
Time Sensitive Material
August 16, 2017
Volume 33 — Issue 02
Julian, CA.
ISSN 1937-8416
JCFPD Board To Look Deeper Into Options
www.JulianNews.com
Eagle Scouts Just Keep Hatching
Partial Eclipse For Julian, Monday
by Michael Hart
The discussion continues. The Julian Cuyamaca Fire Protection District made no formal decision on the future of the district at last Tuesdays board meeting. Once again they heard impassioned pleas from community members the keep the district operational. Pat Landis made a presentation that included a proposed budget proposed by a committee of citizens, with an increased benefit fee to $200, from the current $50. Their proposal would include funding a full-time chief, 3 full-time para-medics and stipends for 2 reserves per day. It would also require passing a ballot measure on the June 5, 2018, Statewide Direct Primary Election. Lynn Jarmen suggested that the district is currently leaving “money on the table” by not charging for false alarms, engine calls and tourists. Other speakers expressed how the community has shown increased interest in the past four months. That few board members seemed to be out in the community soliciting opinions. One suggested that the County is practicing taxation without representation by threatening to pull their resources and reassign them to other smaller communities. It was also suggested that the board find a way to cooperatively work with the County and maintain the district while proactively reaching out for additional funding sources (i.e. Grants and donations). The public comment period was void of any members of the business community or a representative of the Chamber of Commerce. It was obvious that the 25 or so members of the public where all opposed to the idea of disillusion of the district. Brian Crouch, representing the districts volunteers made a short statement – “JCFPD members do not support a merger.” The meeting then went into the regular items on the agenda. Chief Marinelli gave his report: the Rescue rig is being repaired, for less than the original estimate. The Explorer Program is to be reinstated with Jason Kuiper in charge. The district has received a small Volunteer Assistance grant and a $10,000 Grant from the San Diego Fire Foundation to off-set upgrades for the districts radios. The district’s attorney, Randall Sjobcom made a presentation to the board on liability issues. The ambulance service corrected a misconception that was left by Chief Mecham at the Thursday, July 27 presentation – the Julian Ambulance has met the requirements of the current contract and board member Buddy Seifert reinforced that assessment. Chairman Shelver then made a proposal of strategy for moving forward with the issues surrounding the County and the district and LAFCO. His proposal included: • Hold a closed (executive session) meeting following regular business on August 8th in which we explore the options to the district including the disposition of the property which would provide the legal basis for the closed session. Discussion of disposition/sale of property is one of the exceptions to the Ralph M. Brown open meeting act. After that discussion authorize the Chief and Board President to enter negotiations with SDCFA regarding the potential conditions of Dissolution. • Chief and Board President report back at the September meeting on the results of those discussions. If the discussions have been favorable we can move on to the next step. If the board is not satisfied it can abandon further discussions with the SDCFA. If we decide not to move forward with the SDCFA we should then determine our next strategy. • The Board should then prepare a letter to all property owners who have a stake in the future of fire protection in the district explaining the options and asking them to choose from the three basic options available. 1. Dissolve the district and join CSA 135-SDCFA, 2. Raise the benefit fee by approximately $450 to replicate the level of service offered by the SDCFA, or 3. Continue operating the district as it was in the past with the resources available excluding a benefit fee increase. • The information letter and poll should go out by October 1st with responses requested by October 15th. We could have a special meeting of the Board in late October to review the results. • If after reviewing the results of the poll and the possible conditions of dissolution that would be submitted to LAFCO we decide to move forward with the SDCFA we would send the letter to LAFCO triggering the dissolution process. That would stop the removal of Engine 50 and would put us in a good position to negotiate for the extension of the $60,000 subsidy. (it was referred to in the meeting as a $78,000 subsidy, but $18,000 of that is for services provided by the district to SDCFA which may or may not go away if we lose the subsidy) • If after reviewing the results of the poll and the possible terms of dissolution we determine that we should remain independent we should thank the SDCFA for the offer and for cooperating with us to reach an informed decision that we feel is in the best interests of the community (or at least in the best interests of the volunteers) and tell them that we do not want to consider dissolution of the district Under the last scenario we could review the number of respondents who indicated that they would support a $450 benefit fee increase to increase the level of fire protection service with full time fire fighter paramedics. If that number exceeds 67% we could consider putting a ballot measure on the June 2018 primary election ballot, or if we want a better chance of the measure passing we would wait until the November 2018 general election ballot. Personally, I believe that if the number respondents saying that they would vote for a benefit fee increase were any less than 100% I would not favor wasting money on an election as it would probably fail. Folks who will not respond to a district poll are more likely to vote no on a substantial tax increase. If we decide not to put a fee increase measure on the ballot or if we do and it fails (as it most certainly would) then by default our decision to remain independent and hope for the best would prevail. The board, after heated discussion, moved into “closed session” to discuss the potential next step, and formulate a plan. They also had to resolve or continue possible litigation with the Julian Community Services District and the old fire house. No announcement was made about either. The next board meeting is scheduled for September 12, 10am at the Julian Women’s Club. At that time the board may have more information to share on the future of JCFPD and the relationship with the County Fire authority. Time is running out.
Troop 690 Scout Master Keith Stringfellow introduces the gathered friends, relatives, mentors and guests to Julian’s newest Eagle Scouts.
Eagle Scout David Stringfellow Eagle Scout Jedidiah Kron Those of us who have chosen to live here know Julian is a special place. Nothing shows it off more than the number of Eagle Scouts Troop 690 has produced. Two more boys joined the ranks of the 2% of all Scouts who attain the top award in the Boy Scouts. David Stringfellow’s Eagle Project was a kiosk for the central gathering area of Camp One of the easiest ways to Julian Oaks. Designing, planning safely watch a solar eclipse is to and securing all materials, much use 2 sheets of cardboard and of it locally. make your own simple pinhole Jedidiah Kron’s project was projector. performed at Whispering Winds Project the Sun Conference Center, in Harrison Never look directly at the Sun Park. A shade structure for those without proper eye protection. waiting for their turn on the zip You can seriously hurt your eyes line. and even go blind. Both completed over 20 Projecting the Sun through a merit badges on their journey box projector, or using binoculars to becoming Eagle Scouts and or telescope, or simply 2 pieces paid thanks and tribute the many, of card is a safe and easy way to mentors, grandparents and view a solar eclipse. fellow scouts who helped along DIY: Simple Card Projector the way. The simplest and quickest way Troop 690 has now awarded to safely project the Sun is with 16 Eagle Scouts in the past 15 a projector made from only 2 years. Much higher percentage pieces of card or paper. than the nation as a whole. You Need: - 2 pieces of stiff white cardboard, e.g. 2 paper plates - alternatively, 2 sheets of plain white paper - a thumbtack, a sharp pin, or a needle What to Do: 1 - To make a quick version of the pinhole projector, take a sheet of paper and make a tiny hole in the middle of it using a pin NASA issued a warning to or a thumbtack. Make sure that let people know unsafe eclipse glasses are being distributed by “unscrupulous companies.” The space agency recommends only using eclipse glasses with ISO 12312-2 printed on them that have been printed by the four following companies: American Paper Optics, Rainbow Symphony, Thousand Oaks Optical, and TSE 17 NASA says buying your eclipse glasses on Amazon does not ensure their safety. “Make sure to check your eclipse glasses and viewers to verify that they have the correct ISO designation and were manufactured by one of the four companies recognized by NASA as legitimate,” the agency noted. It’s unsafe to look at the sun for any amount of time as it can possibly be dangerous and lead to permanent damage, hence why purchasing eclipse glasses is so important. Read more from NASA’s website<https:// eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety>.
Astronomers and sky watchers have been waiting all year for this total eclipse of the Sun on August 21st, but this solar eclipse will only be partial in the Julian area(about 60%). The website https:// is.gd/2017eclipsemap has an excellent Google map with some details available if you enlarge it and click on San Diego. The partial eclipse will be slightly less than 60% (the Sun will be 57.3% covered), the first contact will be at approximately 9:07am and the maximum will be at 10:23 am local time. A partially eclipsed Sun’s crescent is brilliantly bright and can actually blind you in a matter of seconds. Only observe the Sun directly with a safe solar filter (glass or thin, metal-coated plastic film) or indirectly by projecting an image of the Sun onto a piece of white paper and watching the paper. “Sky and Telescope” magazine recommends the Baader Astro-Solar thin film for solar filters and use those inexpensive eclipse glasses only if they have “ISO 12312-2” printed on them. You should watch for sunspots, although the Sun is well past its maximum activity level. First contact is the moment that the edge of the Moon first touches the Sun’s western edge, but after first contact you may observe jagged edges on the Moon’s silhouette from the lunar mountains. As the eclipse progresses to its maximum be sure to look at the landscape and observe any changes as the sky becomes a deeper blue. You may see a dappled effect under trees and bushes as the light between the leaves forms tiny images of the eclipsed Sun. It is unlikely that you will be able to see Venus during the eclipse, but it will be located approximately 35 degrees (3 ½ fists at arm’s length) to the west of the Sun.
Make A Projector To Safely See A Solar Eclipse the hole is round and smooth. 2 - With your back towards the Sun, hold 1 piece of paper above your shoulder allowing the Sun to shine on the paper. 3 - The 2nd sheet of paper will act as a screen. Hold it at a distance, and you will see an inverted image of the Sun projected on the paper screen through the pinhole. 4- To make the image of the Sun larger, hold the screen paper further away from the paper with the pinhole. A box projector works on the
same principles, it requires a little more time and a few extra items to construct, but it is more sturdy. Keep Safe! * Never look at the Sun directly without protective eye gear. Even sunglasses cannot protect your eyes from the damage the Sun's rays can do to them. * Always keep your back towards the Sun while looking at a pinhole projection. * Do not look at the Sun through the pinhole.
WARNING: Your Sight Could Be At Risk During Eclipse
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