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PERMIT NO. 30 JULIAN, CA
ESTABLISHED
An Independent Weekly Newspaper Serving the Backcountry Communities of Julian, Cuyamaca, Santa Ysabel, Shelter Valley, Mt. Laguna, Ranchita, Canebreak, Sunshine Summit, Warner Springs and Wynola.
Julian News
PO Box 639 Julian, CA 92036
1985
Change Service requested
DATED MATERIAL
The Newspaper of Record.
Wednesday
For the Community, by the Community.
Testing Still Available In Back County You can schedule a test through the County's website <coronavirus-sd.com> or by calling 2-1-1 and making an appointment for one of these locations: Fridays - July 17 & 31 Julian, County Fire - Julian Library 3407 CA-78, 92036 9 AM - 2 PM Wednesday - July 22 Borrego Springs, County Fire - Borrego Springs Library 2580 Country Club Rd, 92004 9 AM - 2 PM Friday - July 24 Warner Springs, County Fire Warner Springs Fire Station 52 31049 Highway 79, 92086 9 AM - 2 PM
County Board Approves Small Business Stimulus Grant Program By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office Local small businesses and restaurants suffering financial losses due to COVID-19 can now apply for a grant from the County of San Diego. The Board of Supervisors approved a new Small Business Stimulus Program Tuesday during a Board meeting that also included a report on the behavioral health aspects of COVID-19. The Small Business Stimulus Grant Program is funded by Board of Supervisors allocated federal CARES Act funding. The goal of the Small Business Stimulus Grant Program is to provide a lifeline grant to many local small businesses to get them open, keep them open, and help prevent more from going out of business. The County of San Diego’s Small Business Stimulus Grant Funding is to provide economic assistance to help businesses and nonprofit entities impacted by COVID-19. Financial assistance will be allocated to eligible, qualified small businesses and nonprofit entities with final award recommendations made by individual district offices based on the availability of funds, program guidelines, and the submission of all required information and supporting documentation. Small Business Stimulus Program: • For-profit and nonprofit businesses can apply for grant money if they can show losses and costs are a direct result of the pandemic. To qualify businesses must have: • 100 or fewer employees • Headquarters in San Diego County • A minimum 1-year operating history as of Feb. 14, 2020 • Documentation of financial hardship because of COVID-19 • Board of Supervisors had approved using $17 million in CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund funds last May to help restaurants and small businesses. Tuesday, the supervisors approved the implementation of the program. Businesses are urged to apply early. Applications are available now through Oct. 16 – subject to available funding. For more information and the application, visit the stimulus website<https:// w w w. s a n d i e g o c o u n t y. g o v / stimulusgrant/>.
July 15, 2020
Julian, CA.
Volume 35 — Issue 50
www.JulianNews.com
ISSN 1937-8416
Hit The Dimmer Switch – Corona Virus Surging When Governor Newsome announced his reopening plan for the state he stressed one thing: “that we are driven by the science,” he went on to say that if the virus outbreak should start to return he would be “hitting the dimmer switch and dialing back the reopening.” Well, science tells us the virus is running rapid throughout the County, the State and all over the Country. Julian and the majority of the back county has for the most part escaped any major outbreaks, yet we are not immune. We also have major outbreaks occurring all around us with both Borrego and Ramona having double digit increases in the past week (as of Sunday Ramona = 114, Borrego = 14, Julian = 4). Why? All indications point to human behavior! People simply believing false information about face covering, frustration with being told how to act, the desire to “get back to normal.” Back in April we wrote about the FAKE NEWS that was circulating on the internet, the misinformation being spread, and now we all get to endure restrictions once again because we wouldn’t follow directions. Public Health Officer Dr. Wilma Wooten updated the Board of Supervisors on the COVID-19 situation in the County. Due to the region’s high number of COVID-19 cases, the County is now on the State’s Watch List for at least three weeks. As of midnight July 6, San Diego County was required to close indoor activities at: • Restaurants and bars • Wineries and tasting rooms • Zoos and museums • Movie theaters • Family entertainment centers • Card rooms Outbreaks of COVID-19 in community settings continue to pop up throughout the region, prompting County health officials to remind San Diegans to take precautions to slow the spread of the virus. Five new community outbreaks were confirmed July 7, bringing the seven-day total to 24, the highest number over the sevenday period. The new outbreaks represent 137 cases, but since the outbreaks are still active, the
figure might increase. An outbreak in a community setting is defined as three or more COVID-19 cases in people of different households. One of the County’s “triggers,” or metrics that could lead to additional restrictions, is that there be no more than seven outbreaks over a seven-day period. That measure has been mostly in the red since it was hit June 17. “Community outbreaks occur when people don’t follow the public health guidance,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “We can’t be complacent and think that we can go back to living our lives before COVID-19. The pandemic is not over. The virus is still here.” A lower number of COVID-19 community setting outbreaks was being reported at the beginning of the pandemic. During the first three months of the pandemic, 27 outbreaks were reported in the region. More community outbreaks began to be confirmed as the economy reopened. Thirty-four outbreaks were reported in June, and 23 during the first week of July. The great majority of community outbreaks have been reported in restaurants with bars. The County Department of Environmental Health continues to work with restaurants to make sure they are following the public health guidelines. County strike teams will soon be deployed to other businesses and worksites where outbreaks are confirmed. County health officials continue to urge San Diegans to follow the public health guidance to protect themselves and others. People should: • Wear a face covering • Keep six feet apart • Practice good hand hygiene and sanitation • Not have house parties or gatherings • Stay home if they are sick “When people gather at home, they tend to put their guard down because they are with family and friends,” Wooten said. “If they follow the guidance given, we can help slow the spread of COVID-19 and can save lives.” Although Dr. Wooten talks about saving lives, maybe she continued on page 11
The Chamber / Town Hall is Offering to Exhibit the Items Local’s Intended for Fair. Email: chamber@julianca.com to register
by Michael Hart
ESTABLISHED
1870
YEARS