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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.
Julian News
PO Box 639 Julian, CA 92036
1985
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DATED MATERIAL
For the Community, by the Community.
Wednesday
www.JulianNews.com
JCFPD Board To Negotiate With County Fire Authority
February 21, 2018 Volume 33 — Issue 29
Julian, CA.
ISSN 1937-8416
Boys Finish League Undefeated Fly Into Basketball Playoffs
by Michael Hart
Tuesdays Fire board meeting once again proved there is no consensus in the community about where the board should go. To the County or to the community for more money and support. Of the 30 speakers a third of which spoke about ambulance services. The other took their stances in concrete, firmly for the board reconsidering a negotiation with the County Fire Authority or just a firmly against any talk. Through this vitriol there were the occasional “voices of reason.” The first speaker was former Del Mar Fire Chief, JCFPD board member and long time resident Jim Baker - “This s*** has to stop” - “the fighting and arguing is not helping protect the community” - “something need to be done, either we fund the volunteers, join the Fire Authority or come to an understanding that we can work together.”-”two
Jim Baker more years waiting on the money to keep the current structure is unacceptable!” Pat Landis, who is heading the petition drive to place a ballot measure to fund the JCFPD then spoke of the new effort to place it on the ballot and how they would work to acquire funding through grants and other sources.
Pat Landis James Stowers of the volunteers took the podium and lambasted all who are “spreading rumors, talking trash and generally affecting the morale and attitude within the fire house.” He took particular aim at the postings on social media sights, “where the most of the BS seems to be - attacks on those who think differently are not helpful, when we should be working together to solve this.” Former JCFPD fire fighter Rachel Goddard spoke of how she started learning firefighting while in High School before joining the volunteers then continuing on
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at the fire academy at MiraMar College. When she moved out of the area and ened up working at the Warner CalFIRE station and noticing that it felt different, “it didn’t have that community” that she had experienced with the JCFPD. She also is planning on returning to the area and serving with the JCFPD.
Woody Barnes
Rachel Goddard Numerous resident. spoke on the difficult in finding the homes, because they don’t show up on GPS and the claim that only the volunteers knew where they live and how to get there. Others brought up their concerns over the lack of medical aid that would be available when the ambulance is off the hill, referencing the CalFIRE decision to reassign the Paramedic engine after the contract expired at the end of December. Although ambulance services are not part of the County Fire Authority and the Office of Emergency Services is evaluating future contracts for all of the unincorporated areas. The speakers continued, until at about the 40 minute mark, board president Jack Shelver attempted to invoke board procedure to limit the speakers and move the meeting along. That was met with a chant of “We want to speak” from the back of the room that grew as the board discussed it among themselves. Ed Glass then took to speaking without a microphone and expressed his disgust for the way people had been treating each other throughout the process and tried to remind the room that “this a community of volunteers, we help each other.” After discussion and a motion of holding and evening meeting to allow more potential speakers was turned down, the board then agreed to reopen the public comment period to anyone wishing to address the issue. Another 15 speakers took to the podium reinforcing each side with their opinion of what they believed was best for the community. One of the last speakers was life long resident Woody Barnes, who was one of the founding members of the original Julian Fire District which started the volunteers. He stated his golden
rule of government - “Who ever has the gold makes the rules.” Woody also observed that it was his experience that maintaining the district as currently operating would “be difficult to raise the funds and maintain them as necessary to insure a future.” After all the speaker had been heard, the board voted on a motion to contact the County and reopen negotiations on what the future would look like. We contacted Chief Meacham of the Fire Authority who responded: “I met with the County administrative officer. The County agreed to immediately fund an Amador engine at our station in Julian so that the community has some level of 24x7 fire suppression coverage. This coverage will remain under a contract to the County until sometime later in the Spring, but no later than May 1st when full financial responsibility returns to CAL FIRE.” He went on to clarify the current staffing with both the Julian and Cuyamaca stations “The decision to close the Julain and Cuyamca Stations had nothing to do with the JCFPD, it was purely based on operational funding and how we choose to deploy our 7 funded fire engines among the 18 stations. Although no one has had much rain, the higher elevations are “wetter” than the lower lands and the fuel temperatures (The internal temperature) of the fuels are lowest in the higher elevations. We also have our hand crews working on fuel projects daily in the Julian-Cuyamaca Area and the United States Forest Service has a Fire Engine in Pine Hills (We share a dispatch center and this USFS engine is used just like a CAL FIRE Engine)” At this point it is up to the board of the JCFPD voted 3 yes (Shelver, Tucker, Starlin) - 2 no (Siefert, Kramer) to negotiate with the County for the future, of the volunteers, the safety community and just what fire protection will be. The board also acted on forming a budget committee that will include at least one member of the public. (see Legal Noticespage 14). The 2½ hour meeting then adjourned. No one seemed excited, just relieved.
The boys all celebrate after their victory at Vincent Memorial on Friday. photo courtesy of Eagles Booster Club The Eagles boys basketball team finished Manzanita League season with an undefeated 6-0 record and are now preparing for their first playoff game, scheduled for Friday, February 23 (we think at Ramona HS, contact the school to confirm) at 7pm. Julain enters the tournament as the number 4 seed and will start play in the quarter finals against the winner of Tuesdays San Diego Academy against either Holtville or Horizon Prep (who play Monday). The Eagles are the only team from the Manzanita League which starts with 13 teams: #1-The Cambridge School, #2-Escondido Charter, #3-Southwest SD, #4-Julian, #5-San Diego Academy, #6-San Pasqual, #7-Clairemont, #8-Southern California Yeshiva, #9-Bayfront Charter, #10-Classical Academy, #11-Del Lago Academy, #12-Holtville or Horizon Prep. The tournament Semifinals will be played on February 27 at a yet to be announced location with the finals on Thursday, March 1st at La Costa Canyon High School. Adults Students First Round/Quarterfinals $8.00 $5.00 Semifinals $10.00 $5.00 Finals- Division I-V $14.00 $5.00
Julian Historical Society
Exploring The Washington Mine With Guest Speaker. Jim Davis
Jim Davis will be the speaker at the Julian Historical Societies monthly meeting, Wednesday, February 28 at 7:00 pm. The meeting will be held at the Witch Creek School building, 2133 Fourth Street, in Julian. Jim will share his research of the Historic Washington Mine; it's history and future Mr. Davis is the Chairman of the Washington Mine restoration project for the Julian Historical Society and with the help of many local residents has overseen the establishment of a parking area, road improvements and fencing at the mine site. These improvements carry on the legacy of the men and women of the Julian Historical Society who began the Washington Mine project many years ago. Join us Wednesday, January 24, to learn more Julian history and the history of the Washington Mine.
Winter Sports Schedules Boys Basketball
Wednesday, Jan 3 L 66-43 @ Chula Vista High School Thurs, January 11 L 28-70 Home vs Guajome Park Academy Friday, January 19 W 57-47 Home vs Warner Tuesday, January 30 W 37-26 @ Borrego Springs Friday, February 2 W 81-43 @ West Shores Tuesday, Feb 6 W 67-39 Home vs Vincent Memorial Friday, February 9 W 70 -7 Home vs Borrego Springs Tuesday, Feb 13 W 89-12 Home vs West Shores Friday, February 16 W 57-43 @ Vincent Memorial
Girls Soccer
Friday, January 12 L 2-6 @ Tri-City Christian Thursday, January 18 L 1-4 Home vs Mountain Empire Friday, January 19 L 1-6 High Tech High (NC) Tuesday, January 23 W 2-1 @ West Shores Thursday, January 25 W 4-1 @ Vincent Memorial Wednesday, Jan. 31 W 15-0 @ Borrego Springs Friday, February 2 W 5-0 @ Hamilton Tuesday, February 6 L 11-0 @ Mountain Empire Thursday, February 8 T 1-1 Home vs West Shores Tuesday, Feb 13 W 8-1 Home vs Vincent Memorial Thursday, Feb 15 W 9-0 Home vs Borrego Springs
Girls Basketball
Home vs San Pasqual Academy Thursday, Jan 18 L 33-11 @ San Pasqual Academy Friday, January 19 L 39-17 Warner Wednesday, Jan 24 L 51-27 @ Hamilton Friday, January 26 4:00 Home vs Hamilton Tuesday, January 30 L 27-13 @ Borrego Springs Friday, February 2 W 22-17 @ West Shores Tuesday, February 6 L 46-38 Home vs Vincent Memorial Friday, February 9 L 39-29 @ Borrego Springs Tuesday, Feb 13 W 52-17 Home vs West Shores Friday, February 16 @ Vincent Memorial
Boys Soccer
Thursday, January 18 L 4-2 @ Borrego Springs Tuesday, January 23 L 0-11 @ Calipatria Thursday, January 25 L 0-16 Vincent Memorial Tuesday, January 30 L 9-2 @ Foothills Christian Thursday, February 1 L 16-0 @ West Shores Thursday, February 8 L 8-1 Home vs Vincent Memorial Thursday, February 15 L 9-2 @ Mountain Empire
Julian Historical Society Monthly Meeting - Wednesday, February 28, 2018 7:00 pm at the Witch Creek School Bldg.
Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast - Wednesday - February 21, 8am - Julian Café & Bakery ($10member / $12 non-member)