Wednesday - July 17, 2019

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U M J LI A N

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PERMIT NO. 30 JULIAN, CA

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ESTABLISHED

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

Change Service requested

DATED MATERIAL

For the Community, by the Community.

Wednesday

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JCFPD vs County To Continue In Court

by Michael Hart

Last week proved eventful in the ongoing saga of the Julian Cuyamaca Fire Protection District. Thursday and Friday the County and LAFCO again tried to move the case forward to a resolution only to be stymied by late filings. Superior Court Judge Randa Trapp said she wanted to “read documents that had been filed late in the case,” and she also made it clear she hoped the county and the volunteer district could get together to try and iron out some sort of compromise on at least some of the many issues that separate the two sides. The hearing to decide the issues, including whether the county should take control of money held in a lawyer Cory Briggs trust account that represent assets of the Julian Cuyamaca Fire Protection District, was continued until August 2. A separate hearing dealing with the collection of tax assessments to operate the district and to pay off the loan secured for construction of the fire station, was also continued indefinitely by Trapp. The other issue is the land itself that the station sits upon. On Wednesday Lawyers for the Native American Land Conservancy sent a letter to the County stating: “We understand that on May 31, 2019, the San Diego County Fire Authority (“SDCFA”) obtained a court order to remove JCFPD personnel and interests from the Property in the midst of the legal issues regarding JCFPD’s dissolution. On June 1, 2019, SDCFA utilized this order to evict JCFPD from the Property and prevent, deny and preclude JCFPD from holding any possessory interest, right, or title to the Property. As a result, it is our understanding that on June 1, 2019, whether voluntarily or not, JCFPD effectively and permanently abandoned the Property and NALC’s power of termination was triggered. This is to inform you that on or after July 16, 2019, our client NALC intends to enter the Property you were previously occupying prior to abandonment, and more particularly described in the Fiduciary’s Deed attached hereto. NALC’s right to the Property accrued under the Fiduciary’s Deed, and NALC invokes its power of termination to terminate JCFPD’s estate with respect to the Property due to JCFPD’s permanent abandonment of the Property. JCFPD no longer has any legal claim, right, or interest in the Property. Our client will forthwith be filing and/or recording all necessary documents on the Property to vest the appropriate title in our client and to provide appropriate notice of the transfer of ownership. If JCFPD does not vacate ownership of the Property, we will take the appropriate action including but not limited to, a quiet title action.” This is just another issue to be resoved before the final resoultion of the Fire Station, the JCFPD and ... In the mean time the Fire Authority and CalFire continue to answer all calls,

New Sensor Could Shake Up Earthquake Response Efforts

Berkeley Lab technology could reduce time needed to declare buildings affected by earthquakes safe and sound by Christina Procopiou

Last week’s massive southern California earthquakes shut down Ridgecrest Regional Hospital throughout the July 4 holiday weekend while the tiny town of Ridgecrest assessed the damages. A new optical sensor developed at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) could speed up the time it takes to evaluate whether critical buildings like these are safe to occupy shortly after a major earthquake. The technology – which autonomously captures and transmits data depicting the relative displacement between two adjacent stories of a shaking building – is able to provide reliable information about building damage immediately following an earthquake, and could expedite efforts to safely assess, repair, and reoccupy buildings post-quake. Scientists and engineers at Berkeley Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and the University of NevadaReno began working to design an optical method of measuring interstory drift within buildings in 2015. After four years of extensive peer-reviewed research and simulative testing at the University of Nevada’s Earthquake Engineering Laboratory, the Discrete Diode Position Sensor (DDPS) will be deployed for the first time this summer in a multi-story building at Berkeley Lab – which sits adjacent to the Hayward Fault, considered one of the most dangerous faults in the United States. “Until now, there’s been no

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way to accurately and directly measure drift between building stories, which is a key parameter forassessing earthquake demand in a building,” said David McCallen, a senior scientist in the Energy Geosciences Division at Berkeley Lab and faculty member at the University of Nevada, who leads the research collaboration. The debut of DDPS comes as governments at every level make post-earthquake building inspection and reoccupation a central focus of response planning, and as the highly anticipated next generation of remote connectivity – 5G – becomes reality for rapid data transmission. “We are excited that this sensor technology is now ready for field trials, at a time when post-earthquake response strategies have evolved to prioritize safe, continued building functionality and re-occupancy in addition to ‘life safety,’” McCallen continued on page 10

Governor Gavin Newsom Signs Wildfire Safety and Accountability Legislation

At Signing, Governor Also Announced Appointment of Marybel Batjer as President of California Public Utilities Commission SACRAMENTO – Taking action to move our state toward a safer, affordable and reliable energy future, Governor Gavin Newsom signed wildfire safety and accountability legislation today in Sacramento. The Governor signed the following bills today: AB 110 by Assemblymember Philip Ting (D-San Francisco) – Budget Act of 2019. AB 111 by the Committee on Budget – Wildfire agencies: public utilities: safety and insurance. AB 1054 by Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena) – Public utilities: wildfires and employee protection. For full text of the bills, visit: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. “I want to thank the Legislature for taking thoughtful and decisive action to move our state toward a safer, affordable and reliable energy future, provide certainty for wildfire victims and continue California’s progress toward meeting our clean energy goals,” said Governor Newsom. “The rise in catastrophic wildfires fueled by climate change is a direct threat to Californians. Strengthening our state’s wildfire prevention, preparedness and mitigation efforts will continue to be a top priority for my administration and our work with the Legislature.” Governor Newsom also announced today the appointment of Marybel Batjer as President of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). “Marybel’s deep experience in government administration and sound judgment make her uniquely qualified to take on this important role,” said Governor Newsom. “I am confident she will protect the best interest of all Californians by challenging utilities to embrace reform while providing safe, reliable and affordable service.” Batjer currently serves as the first-ever Secretary of the California Government Operations Agency. In this role, she has led forwardlooking efforts to revamp the way the state approaches data and technology, modernized the civil service system, and has led the implementation of key initiatives to green state government and promote renewable energy. Prior to taking office at CPUC, Batjer will complete her work later this month as head of Governor Newsom’s DMV Strike Team, which has already begun implementation of key changes to transition the California Department of Motor Vehicles into a more customer-friendly and user-centered culture, to better serve Californians. In appointing Batjer to lead the Strike Team, Newsom called her “one of the most accomplished management experts in state government.” Before heading the Government Operations Agency, Batjer was Vice President for Public Policy and Corporate Social Responsibility at Caesars Entertainment Inc., where she developed and promoted corporate social responsibility policy and initiatives and counseled the senior executive team during a public merger on issues pertaining to reputation management and public policy. Batjer also served as Cabinet Secretary to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger from 2003 to 2005, Chief of Staff to Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn from 2000 to 2003 and Undersecretary at the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency from 1997 to 1998. Batjer’s successful and collaborative management style has gained her the respect of leaders in both the public and private sectors, where she has served on several boards and commissions, including as the former Vice Chair of the State of Nevada Colorado River Commission. In her role as Secretary of the Government Operations Agency, Batjer has won several awards, including Governing Magazine’s national 2017 Public Official of the Year, the American Society for Public Administration (Sacramento Chapter) 2018 Liz Hill Public Official of the Year and California Woman Lead: Woman of the Year. Batjer, 64, of Sacramento, has served as Secretary of the Government Operations Agency since 2013. She served as Cabinet Secretary in the Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger from 2003 to 2005, Chief of Staff in the Office of Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn from 2000 to 2003 and Undersecretary at the California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency from 1997 to 1998. Batjer was Chief Deputy Director of the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing from 1992 to 1997 and special assistant to the U.S. Secretary of the Navy from 1989 to 1992. She was a national security affairs special assistant for President Ronald Reagan and deputy executive secretary for the National Security Council from 1987 to 1989. Batjer was assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Defense and deputy secretary of defense from 1981 to 1987 and director of political planning for the National Women’s Political Caucus from 1980 to 1981. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $219,000. Batjer is a Democrat. The Governor also thanked outgoing CPUC President Michael Picker for his decades of dedicated public service. “Michael has brought deep expertise in energy policy and a commitment to advancing the state’s climate goals,” said Governor Newsom. “His knowledge, vision and commitment has been critical as the state examines the role of utilities following recent catastrophic wildfires, and necessary changes in an era of climate change.”

A new sensor developed at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory combines laser beams with a position sensitive detector to directly measure drift between building stories, an essential part of assessing earthquake damages in a building and deeming them safe to reoccupy. (Credit Diana Swantek/Berkeley Lab)

*** A good laugh is sunshine in the house. — William Makepeace Thackeray ***

July 17, 2019

Julian, CA.

Volume 34 — Issue 50 ISSN 1937-8416

Julian Theater Company Announces Auditions

Julian Theater Company had a special visit from Star Wars Characters after the showing of the recent release: SOLO. They were there to greet showgoers, take pictures, sign autographs and answer questions. Sorry if you missed it! The Free Movies offered at the Julian High School Little Theater will end the summer season on Tuesday, July 16th and will return in the Fall with more great FREE MOVIES!!! Preparations for the upcoming live production of the musical “The Music Man” are underway! Auditions will be held on July 27th & July 28th starting at 1PM – 4PM at the Julian High School Theater. Needed are characters for this large cast, ages 8yrs-78yrs old. Please join us for this Family Classic! Performance dates are September 6,7,13,14,20,21 & 22. For For more information contact Deb Kinney at 760-765-1688 or e-mail kinpro52@msn.com. See you at the theater!

Preparing For The New School Year

(StatePoint) Teachers, students and families busy prepping for the year ahead all know that having the right supplies in and out of the classroom can help pave the way for a successful back-to-school season. With that in mind, consider these ideas to hit the ground running: • Math Class: There’s no reason math needs to be your most challenging course. With the right calculator, it can be easy to view how mathematical concepts actually work. For example, the fx-CG500 brings touchscreen technology to the graphing calculator. Its extra-large screen allows for more complete and detailed viewing, and its drag-and-drop functionality enables students to quickly and intuitively pull information from one representation into another. Incorporating standard Natural Textbook Display, along with drop-down menus and a soft keyboard, it’s easy to use, so you can concentrate on what matters -- absorbing the material. • New Kicks: Kids are active and growing quickly, which means their shoes are getting worn out and outgrown regularly. The new school year is a good time of year to take inventory of a child’s shoe collection and to replace sneakers and fashion footwear that no longer fit or aren’t in tip-top shape. This can help students return to school comfortably and ready for anything, from the hallways to the playing fields. • Swift Set-Up: Time is of the essence during the school day and educators know how important swift set-up is. Tools that can help teachers transition between classes or components of a lesson plan are critical. Technology, such as the Superior Series from Casio’s LampFree Projector line-up, can help. Using the Moderator Function, teachers can select a presenter from anywhere in a classroom and project their PC onto the screen. Data, classwork and presentations from students’ devices can be shared via a wireless connection with ease. These features are designed to reduce set-up time in the classroom and keep students focused on the curriculum. • Ground Control: Parents can keep everyone organized by creating a central location where plans are recorded, notes are written, to-do lists are made and

Sip of Julian coming up on July 27th Get Tickets Now at www.sipofjulian.com

County Gets Input On Grants For Local Projects Grant funding for community improvements that would help seniors and the homeless was the focus of a meeting at the Library held by the County Planning Department on Friday, July 12. Four Julian residents (four times the number of attendees in Ramona) learned about the grants and shared Julian needs with the presenters. The Julian attendees felt that the grants were generally oriented toward urban areas and that problems here are different. There is a lack of low income rental housing—a lack of rental housing in general—because many homes have been made into vacation rentals. There are barriers to building more housing, especially housing directed toward low income populations, as water resources are finite and there is no public transportation. In the town of Julian the sewer system needs to be expanded. One of the greatest needs, according to one resident, was fire prevention. Many of the long term residents are no longer able to do the clearing and weed whacking necessary to protect their homes and the fire hazard reduction programs currently in place don’t serve them. One possible area where the grants and Julian needs might meet is in the improvement of the corner lot on Washington and Main Streets which a local NGO hopes to make into an attractive small park.

paperwork is organized. Whether it’s in the mud room or kitchen, be sure to select a highlytrafficked location accessible to family members of all heights to reference and update. A wall calendar, paper organizer and chalkboard are just a few of the items to consider including in this space. • Get Creative: Learning to play an instrument is a great idea for any student, as it can jump-start creativity, help students learn to focus and problem solve, and has even been associated with higher test scores. Check out instruments designed to assist in the learning process, such as the portable Casio LK-265 Keyboard, which has the potential to open up a whole world of music with its 400 tones and 150 built-in rhythms, including the all-new Dance Music Mode. Touchsensitive keys feature a lighting system to make learning fun, offering a great introduction to music-making.


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