PAID
. 9 203
ED FR
PRESORTED STandARD
U.S. POSTAGE
CA
AIL
U M J LI A N
6
O
PERMIT NO. 30 JULIAN, CA
M
50¢
(46¢ + tax included)
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
www.JulianNews.com
Come Have A Wonderfest This Saturday Bob Gordon and Huxley the Harris Hawk (first photo) – among the wonderful Animal Ambassadors is Huxley the Harris Hawk and his friend, Bob Gordon. They will be exhibiting as part of the Wildlife Research Institute’s exhibit, which includes the fabulous replica eagles’ nest which is a grand photo op! Which brings me to… See Volcan Mountain Foundation’s executive director, Colleen Bradly, outfitted with eagle hood and eaglet puppets IN the Wildlife Research Institute’s full size replica eagles’ nest. The Volcan Mountain Foundation leads the way in the back country in preserving our beautiful environment, educating us about preservation and the amazing animals with whom we share our universe, and in managing and promoting Julian Natural Wonderfest!
The Star Party (which starts at dusk) provides a great opportunity for kids and grown ups to explore Julian’s magnificent dark skies. This year we will be enveloped in the glorious Milky Way, and our many astronomers will help guide you on the magical tour of the stars and planets. Our photo pictures Vivek, a young, brilliant astronomer, who studied this summer at the Max Planck Institute in Germany. Kids will love the telescopes, binoculars, and lighted bracelets and necklaces to softly light the grounds at Jess Martin Park. Julian Dark Sky Network will be an important exhibitor and can help you learn to enjoy navigating the Milky Way. Julian’s own Mountain Lion Project (part of the Mountain Lion Foundation) will be at Wonderfest to demonstrate how to build an effective enclosure for our pets and animals, so that we can live harmoniously with the mountain lions in our community. The Julian Mountain Lion Project booth will have interactive games and useful information to help promote the peaceful co-existence of these magnificent animals and our community.
StarFest Returns At Menghini Come and enjoy the largest public star party in Southern California at the Julian StarFest on August 1-3, 2019. The event is hosted by the San Diego Astronomy Association, under the dark skies of Menghini Winery near the mountain resort of Julian (think fine wine and fresh baked hot apple pie)! • Free public star party on Saturday night, August 3 in conjuction with Wonderfest. • Camping availability for tent campers • Exhibits by major telescope and accessory vendors • Food and beverage vendors • Astronomy games and crafts for kids • Raffle for donated astronomy equipment on Saturday • Optional behind the scenes tour of the world famous Palomar Observatory on Saturday, reservations required The Star Party runs from dusk to 10:30 p.m. Saturday. Primitive camping is available for tent campers and RVs for up to three nights at the beautiful Menghini Winery. Camping fees, are $40 per adult, $20 per teen and free for those 12 and under. Send emails to info@julianstarfest.com or visit the Julian StarFest web page for more information about camping, schedule of speakers, the Palomar Observatory tour, and other activities: www.julianstarfest.com
www.visitjulian.com
Fun for everyone at the 3 day StarFest
photos by Michael Vander Vorst
July 31, 2019
Julian, CA.
Volume 34 — Issue 52 ISSN 1937-8416
County Releases Crop Report
By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office
Three of San Diego County’s Top 10 Crops reached their highest total values in the past decade in the annual Crop Report released by the County this week, while total agriculture values dipped slightly after two straight years of increase. The total value of all agricultural crops and commodities slipped by one-quarter of 1% in the new report, which covers the 2018 growing season, decreasing $4.39 million, from $1,774,206,410 in the 2017 Crop Report to $1,769,815,715. However, three of the Top 10 Crops not only surpassed the values they reached in 2017, they reached their highest values in the past 10 years. Ornamental trees and shrubs, the perennial top crop in the county, saw values increase 10% over their 2017 values to $442,808,436. Bedding plants, color and herbaceous perennials, like marigolds and snapdragons, increased 1.7% from 2017 to $259,749,390. And cactuses and succulents continued to climb faster in value than any other top crop in recent years, jumping 34% from their 2017 values to $104,045,836. Two other Top 10 Crops— lemons and tomatoes—also surpassed their 2017 values, meaning five of the top 10 increased in value from the previous year. The annual Crop Report is compiled by the County’s Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures and can be seen online. The report provides a yearly snapshot of an industry that remains a staple of the region’s economy despite challenges like drought, rising water costs, fires, freezes and pests. San Diego County’s Board of Supervisors has taken several actions in recent years to boost agriculture, including: creating a boutique winery ordinance to promote the creation of small wineries; approving a new beekeeping ordinance that allows more beekeeping while protecting the public; adopting an agricultural easement program that preserves agricultural space; streamlining regulations for things like cheese-making, agritourism and onsite horticultural sales. County Supervisor Jim Desmond, whose Fifth Supervisorial District includes a lot of agricultural land, thanked Agriculture, Weights and Measures for compiling the new report and said agriculture is an important industry. “Agriculture is a major part of the region’s economy, making over a billion dollars annually,” Desmond said. “As the supervisor of District Five I have the pleasure of meeting with farmers from all over North County. District Five has a diverse variety of agricultural crops ranging from ornamentals and flowers to strawberries and avocados. I am committed to ensuring our farms and farmers continue to be successful in San Diego.” Other highlights of the 2018 Crop Report, compared to the 2017 report, include: Wine grapes increased 19% to $4,591,032, continuing to rebound after values decreased in both 2015 and 2016. Wine grapes became a trendy crop and soared by over 500% in 2012, two years after the Board of Supervisors approved the Boutique Winery Ordinance to promote the creation of small wineries.
The total value of Livestock and Poultry—cattle, chickens, hogs and pigs, lambs and sheep— increased 3.26% to $18,759,533. Oranges slipped in total value 12.7% to $43,063,782 but remained a Top 10 Crop. Avocados, the county’s bestknown crop, slipped .9% to $121,038,020 but continued to hold down the fourth spot in the
Top 10 Crops. Total Fruit and Nut crop values declined by 2.61% to $322,949,527. Vegetable and Vine crop values dropped 4.15% to $131,260,784. Apiary (bee) Products decreased 9% to $3,437,378 and the Eggs and Chicken Market dropped 14.1% to $33,371,691.
These graphs show the growth of three Top 10 Crops that have reached their highest values in the last decade.
More Major Artifacts Added As National Army Museum Takes Shape (NAPSA) - Two historic helicopters, a WWI-era Liberty Truck, and an anti-aircraft weapon were the latest macro artifacts installed in the National Museum of the United States Army now under construction at Fort Belvoir, Va. Crews recently hoisted into place one of the iconic “Huey” helicopters made
Julian Starfest — at Menghini Winery August 1 - 3 — www.julianstarfest.com
continued on page 12