Anniversary celebration set for Nov. 21

Borrego Springs artist featured in regional landscape exhibition.

The season’s first exhibition will feature artwork inspired by the plants and animals of the natural world. The Borrego Art Institute is inviting artists to submit work for Of Earth & Sky, an exhibition centered on the plants and animals of the natural world. The exhibition will run October 17 through November 29, 2026 , at the Borrego Art Institute gallery, 665 Palm Canyon Drive in Borrego Springs. Artwork in any medium may be submitted. Artists may enter a maximum of two pieces, with work received at the gallery on October 10 and 11 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wall art must have wire on the back so it can be displayed using the gallery’s cable-and-hook system. All work must be clean, presentable and reasonably priced. BAI members pay no entry fee. Nonmembers pay $20 for each accepted work. The institute will not accept artwork that has previously been shown in the gallery. For questions or entry forms, contact Cody at gallery@borregoartinstitute.org. Summer Show Artwork Must Be Picked Up by October 11 Artists with work remaining in BAI’s Celebrating the Summer Show must pick it up no later than Sunday, October 11. Artwork may also be collected before that date. Beginning October 1, gallery hours are: Thursday–Saturday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. BAI Membership Borrego Art Institute members pay no entry fees for BAI exhibitions, with the exception of the Plein Air Invitational. A variety of membership levels are available.  Borrego Art Institute 665 Palm Canyon Drive Borrego Springs, CA 92004

Two amazing movies are coming to BSPAC in September! On September 9 th , we have the winner of last year’s Cannes Film Festival’s Grand Prix, Sentimental Value. And on September 23 rd , it’s John Huston’s finest – The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, for which he won the Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay Oscars, starring Humphrey Bogart and Huston’s father, Walter Huston (who also won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor). It was the only time a father and son both won Academy Awards during the same ceremony! All screenings are held on Wednesday evenings at 7pm at the Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center, 590 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego Springs, CA 92004. Our full schedule for 2026 is posted on the BSFI website: www.borregospringsfilminstitute.org . Please check the website for the most up to date information. Here are the movies coming to BSPAC in September: Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 7pm – Sentimental Value – 2025 – Rated R – 2h 13m Sentimental Value (Norwegian: Affeksjonsverdi) is a 2025 Norwegian drama written and directed by Joachim Trier, the acclaimed Danish-Norwegian filmmaker known for The Worst Person in the World and Oslo, August 31st, in collaboration with his longtime writing partner Eskil Vogt. The film follows sisters Nora and Agnes as they reunite with their estranged father Gustav, a once-renowned director who offers stage actress Nora a role in what he hopes will be his comeback film. When she turns it down, he gives the part to an eager young Hollywood star, forcing both sisters to navigate their complicated relationship with their father while contending with an American outsider dropped into the middle of their family dynamics. The film stars Renate Reinsve and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas as the sisters, with Stellan Skarsgård as their charming but complicated father and Elle Fanning as the Hollywood star dropped into the middle of their world. Sentimental Value won the Grand Prix at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and went on to win the Oscar for Best International Feature Film at the 2026 Academy Awards — the first time Norway had ever won in that category. It also received nine Academy Award nominations in total, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Original Screenplay. In Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, and English with English subtitles. Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at 7pm – The Treasure of Sierra Madre – 1948 – Not Rated – 2h 6m The Treasure of the Sierra Madre is one of the towering achievements of American cinema, widely regarded as John Huston's masterwork and one of the greatest films ever made. Written and directed by Huston and based on B. Traven's 1927 novel of the same name, the film stars Humphrey Bogart, with Walter Huston (John Huston’s father), Tim Holt, and Bruce Bennett in support, along with Alfonso Bedoya as the menacing bandit Gold Hat. The story follows two hard-luck American drifters, Dobbs (Bogart) and Curtin (Holt), who team up with a wily old prospector named Howard (Walter Huston) and head into the Sierra Madre mountains of Mexico to mine for gold — only to find that the treasure they uncover unleashes suspicion, paranoia, and murderous greed. The film is notable for Bogart's extraordinary willingness to subvert his own star image, as his character diminishes steadily into madness and delusion. Huston insisted on filming in the harsh Mexican mountain terrain — making it one of the first Hollywood productions to shoot primarily on location outside the United States — and the rugged setting lends visceral authenticity to the tale. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre was a critical triumph: Pauline Kael called it "one of the strongest of all American films," praising its "powerful cumulative effect." At the Academy Awards, the film received four nominations and won three: Best Supporting Actor for Walter Huston, and both Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for John Huston — the only Oscars he ever won. Notably, Bogart was not nominated for Best Actor, a decision that modern critics and Academy members have since widely condemned. In his Oscar acceptance speech, Walter Huston said, "Many years ago I brought up a boy and said to him, 'Son, if you ever become a writer, try to write a good part for your old man sometime.' Well, by cracky, that's what he did!" And looking forward, here are the scheduled movies coming in October and November: Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at 7pm – Diabolique – 1955 – Not Rated – 1h 47m Directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot and set in a decrepit French boarding school, the film follows the wife (Véra Clouzot) and mistress (Simone Signoret) of a cruel, abusive headmaster (Paul Meurisse) who conspire to murder him — only to find his body mysteriously vanishes after the deed is done. Based on a novel by Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac — whose work would later provide the basis for Hitchcock's Vertigo — Clouzot expertly builds a feeling of mounting dread, culminating in a twist ending that pushes the film into the realm of nightmare. With its unprecedented narrative twists and outstanding performances, Diabolique is considered a benchmark in thriller filmmaking and one of the most influential films of its kind. In French with English subtitles. Wednesday, October 21, 2026 at 7pm – Poor Things – 2023 – Rated R – 2h 21m Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos (The Favourite, The Lobster) and set in a whimsical version of Victorian England, the film follows Bella Baxter (Emma Stone), a young woman brought back to life by an eccentric scientist (Willem Dafoe) who implanted a baby's brain into her body — sending her on a globetrotting adventure of self-discovery with a sleazy lawyer played by Mark Ruffalo. Wildly imaginative and exhilaratingly over the top, the film is considered a bizarre, brilliant tour de force for both Lanthimos and Stone, and it announced itself immediately upon its debut at the Venice Film Festival, where it was awarded the prestigious Golden Lion. At the Academy Awards, Stone won Best Actress for her performance, while the film took home additional Oscars for Best Costume Design, Best Hair and Make-up, and Best Production Design — a sweep that cemented Poor Things as one of the most celebrated and visually inventive films of the decade. Wednesday, November 4, 2026 at 7pm – Babette’s Feast – 1987 – Rated G – 1h 42m Directed by Gabriel Axel and adapted from a short story by Isak Dinesen, the film tells the lovingly layered tale of a French housekeeper with a mysterious past who brings quiet revolution in the form of one exquisite meal to a circle of starkly pious villagers in late nineteenth-century Denmark. The title role of Babette is played by Stéphane Audran — with Birgitte Federspiel and Bodil Kjer as the two devout sisters into whose isolated lives Babette quietly, transformatively arrives. Babette’s Feast became the first Danish film ever to win the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Among its many admirers is Pope Francis, who named it his favorite film of all time. In French, Danish, and Swedish with English subtitles. Wednesday, November 18, 2026 at 7pm – The Daytrippers – 1997 – Rated R – 1h 27m Written and directed by Greg Mottola in his feature debut, the film follows the distraught Eliza (Hope Davis), who discovers a love letter written to her husband (Stanley Tucci) by an unknown woman and turns to her tight-knit Long Island family for help — sending the whole clan, including a strong-willed mom (Anne Meara), a taciturn dad (Pat McNamara), and a jaded sister (Parker Posey) with her pretentious boyfriend (Liev Schreiber) in tow, piling into a station wagon and heading into Manhattan to find out the truth. With its droll humor and bittersweet emotional heft, The Daytrippers announced the arrival of an unassumingly sharp-witted new talent on the 1990s indie film scene. Critics were largely enthusiastic: the Washington Post called it proof that "a great movie isn't a matter of dollars, so much as creativity," while Newsweek noted that "thanks to the superb cast and Mottola's deft touch, this modest-looking comedy proves quite memorable." This season’s BSFI movie screenings are being generously underwritten by the Borrego Valley Endowment Fund (BVEF). See you at the movies!

A scene from rescues effort and investigation in Northern California at Miranda’s Rescue. Photo courtesy Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office

Planet Ultra steps in with a new 6-, 12- and 24-hour endurance race for Oct. 31–Nov. 1, pending permits

What happens at the Salton Sea over the next decade will very likely have a large effect on Borrego Springs, both environmentally and economically. The biggest immediate concern is air quality. The biggest potential opportunity is economic and tourism spillover from a transformed Salton Sea/Lithium Valley region. Clearly, the downside Borrego should take most seriously is air quality. This isn't hypothetical. San Diego County's own Borrego Springs Community Plan specifically instructs the community to monitor the Salton Sea because windblown sand and chemical particulates can reach the Borrego Valley. California's Water Resources Control Board (CARB) says the retreating shoreline creates public-health risks because dust can be emitted from soils containing decades of accumulated agricultural and wastewater material. CARB is now funding research specifically to determine how much Salton Sea dust reaches surrounding communities, what chemicals it contains, and how climate change could alter those exposures. That makes successful Salton Sea restoration directly beneficial to Borrego Springs. The new Salton Sea Conservancy , launched this year, is particularly important because it creates a permanent state institution charged with restoration, habitat management and air-quality improvement. California is also filling portions of the Species Conservation Habitat project with water and expanding dust-suppression work. If those efforts stabilize significant areas of exposed playa, Borrego could receive an environmental dividend without spending Borrego groundwater to obtain it. Conversely, if Colorado River cutbacks accelerate the Sea's decline faster than restoration can cover newly exposed playa, Borrego could experience worsening regional particulate pollution. Research modeling the shrinking Sea has projected significant increases in regional PM10 as additional playa is exposed. While the future is always unknown, here’s where things get interesting. Lithium Valley could change Borrego economically. The Salton Sea is no longer simply an environmental-restoration story. It is increasingly becoming an energy, minerals and infrastructure story. Controlled Thermal Resources (CTR) announced in March a $4.7 billion transaction intended to finance development of its Hell's Kitchen geothermal/lithium project. CTR is targeting 50 MW of electricity by 2028 and 25,000 metric tons of lithium annually by 2029. The technology still has to prove itself commercially, so those targets should not be treated as certain. Meanwhile, another part of the geothermal industry is looking increasingly toward supplying electricity to AI/data centers. If even a substantial portion of those plans materializes, southeastern California could develop something it has never really had before: a significant clean-energy/critical-minerals industrial cluster. Borrego could become the attractive western gateway to this emerging region. That potentially means more visitors, executives, investors, scientists, journalists, researchers, government officials and environmental organizations moving through the area. Some will want lodging, restaurants, meeting space and recreation without staying at the Salton Sea or an industrial operation. Borrego could offer precisely what the southern Salton Sea cannot: a beautiful, quiet desert destination next to a state park and protected landscape. Tourism could be the sleeper opportunity. There's another development that hasn't received nearly as much attention. California State Parks is developing a new long-term vision for recreation at the Salton Sea, potentially including more trails, camping, interpretation, wildlife viewing and other forms of public access. A draft general plan is expected in 2027. Combine that with Anza-Borrego and you could eventually have a much stronger regional tourism proposition. Imagine Borrego Springs, Gateway to the Salton Sea combining desert ecology, geology, energy technology, wildlife, water recreation, and dark skies. More to come as the Borrego Sun considers a number of plausible future scenarios. References Borrego Springs CP Salton Sea Program What one company’s shift towards data centers says about Imperial County’s lithium industry | KPBS Public Media More hiking trails, campgrounds could come to the Salton Sea

Originally published by KPBS.org on August 20, 2026.

Circle of Art Continues a Tradition of Art and Giving in Borrego Springs

New unscripted series highlights the Imperial County micronation created by longtime radio broadcaster Randy Williams Radio veteran Randy “R Dub!” Williams is launching a new unscripted series centered on the Republic of Slowjamastan, the micronation he established in Imperial County. Greetings from Slowjamastan premieres Thursday, August 27 at 5 p.m. PT on Slowjamastan State Television’s YouTube channel. New episodes are scheduled to be released each Thursday. Williams is Vice President of Communications and Media for Z90 and Magic 92.5 in San Diego and is the creator and host of the syndicated radio program Sunday Night Slow Jams. He has worked in radio for more than three decades as an on-air personality, programmer, executive and syndicated host. The premiere episode, “Big Trouble in Little Slowjamastan,” includes radio consultant Tim Richards and follows interactions between Slowjamastan representatives and local government authoritie s.

September 19 from 2–6 p.m.

Celebrating KRAM 90.5 FM and the Local Media Connecting Borrego Springs

The County of San Diego wants to hear from you. Join a virtual community meeting to learn how the County advocates for state and federal legislation and help shape the 2027 legislative program. The County’s Economic Development and Government Affairs (EDGA) office is asking residents to weigh in on the issues that matter most. Your input helps guide the County’s legislative strategy and helps ensure that the strategy reflects real community priorities. The legislative program outlines the Board of Supervisors’ policy goals and directs EDGA’s year-round advocacy on state and federal bills and regulatory actions. priorities. So far this year, the County has taken positions on 16 state and federal bills focused on key priorities: Safeguarding the social safety net Advancing housing solutions Bolstering the behavioral health system Ensuring safe communities Responding to the Tijuana River Valley Sewage Crisis The virtual community forum is set for Tuesday, Aug. 25, from 5 to 6 p.m. on Zoom. Register and learn more at Engage San Diego County . For disability-related modifications, language interpretation, or other accommodations, please email Legislative.Program@sdcounty.ca.gov . The County will record and post the session in full on the Engage San Diego site afterwards.  You can also submit your comments on Engage San Diego County through September 14. Beyond its legislative work, EDGA also drives the County’s economic development strategy, supports small businesses, leads to County’s binational affairs efforts in the California-Baja region, manages County grant programs, and updates and implements the County’s Strategic Plan and governance documents. For details, visit the EDGA website or call 619-531-5198.

Public comments focus on the proposed Golden Pacific Powerlink as Anza-Borrego Foundation is honored by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors Supporters of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park addressed the San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 18 as concerns continue over the proposed Golden Pacific Powerlink. Community members participated in person and virtually, submitted comments and spoke about potential impacts of the proposed project on the park and surrounding communities. Partner organizations involved in the broader advocacy effort include Save Temecula, Save Palomar Mountain, Save Fallbrook and Save Warner Springs. During the meeting, District 5 Supervisor Jim Desmond brought the Anza-Borrego Foundation before the Board and proclaimed Aug. 18, 2026 , Anza-Borrego Foundation Day in San Diego County .

Supervisor Jim Desmond Opposes Proposed Transmission Route Through Anza-Borrego Desert State Park San Diego County District 5 Supervisor Jim Desmond is opposing the current alignment of the proposed Golden Pacific Powerlink, a 500-kilovolt transmission line that would cross parts of North and East County, including Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Desmond says the proposal raises concerns about wildfire risk, environmental impacts, private property and the lack of local control over the project. He is encouraging residents to submit comments during SDG&E’s stakeholder feedback period and participate in upcoming public meetings.

Wing-Walking, Skydiving and Stunt Flying in Borrego Springs

Power Outages in Borrego Springs If you live in Borrego Springs, power outages are part of desert life. The electricity goes out, everything suddenly gets quiet, and the waiting begins. Borrego Springs resident and writer Shannon Cheesman , creator of Under the Borrego Sky , recently shared a video showing what one of these outages looks like from a local perspective. When the Power Goes Out Power outages can be especially noticeable in Borrego Springs, where air conditioning and other cooling systems are important during the warmer months. In her video, Shannon takes viewers along during an outage at her home, capturing the sudden quiet and uncertainty that comes with not knowing how long the electricity will be off. It is a simple look at an experience many year-round residents recognize. Managing Electricity in the Desert In a previous Under the Borrego Sky video, Shannon also shared how her household manages summer electric costs. Her strategies include using paid-off solar panels, avoiding laundry during peak hours, raising the thermostat while away, alternating between central air and a swamp cooler, and making monthly payments toward the household’s annual SDG&E bill. Together, the videos offer a practical look at two realities of living in the desert: managing the cost of keeping a home cool and being prepared for times when the power goes out. Under the Borrego Sky Under the Borrego Sky is Shannon Cheesman’s personal chronicle of life in Borrego Springs, California. Her videos feature seasonal nature reports, local discoveries, and everyday experiences filmed in and around Borrego Springs. Sometimes that means spectacular desert scenery. Other times, it is simply waiting for the power to come back on. Subscribe on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@under-the-borrego-sky Read more from Under the Borrego Sky, at: www.undertheborregosky.com

Finding Faith, Belonging and Purpose Beyond Sunday Services

A Charlie Brown Christmas piano concert with pianist, arranger, and conductor Steve Hunter at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church.

Growing this Summer If you have landscaping or a garden, you have probably spent time this summer wondering if your plants are going to make it. There have been many days I’ve walked outside, looked at a plant and said, “Sorry little feller, I feel your struggle!”  Be patient with your plants. In Borrego, nighttime heat is one of the biggest challenges. During the summer, plants need cooler nights to breathe. When night temperatures stay in the 80s, plants struggle because they conserve water by closing their stomata, which are tiny pores used for gas exchange. On hot nights these pores stay closed to prevent plants from losing more water than they can afford. But then they struggle to breathe. Cool nights are what allow desert plants to absorb carbon dioxide so they can create energy. In simple terms, hot nights keep plants from breathing, which slows the creation of sugars they need to be happy and survive. Look at the plants that naturally grow around us. There is a reason so many desert plants have small, thick leaves covered in wax. A smaller leaf has less surface area where water can escape. Waxy leaves create another protective layer that helps hold moisture inside the plant. Creosote and other plants have spent a very long time figuring out how to live wisely in the desert. Other landscape plants are less adapted to living through a Borrego summer. Even cacti struggle with the heat and get sunburned. And when a plant looks stressed, giving it more water is not always the answer. Too much water can complicate problems even further for many desert plants. Summer is a good time to practice patience. Pause for a moment and let the plant tell you what it needs. Sometimes plants need an extra drink and some shade cloth. Other times a little pruning will focus good energy on what is still alive. And when all else fails, slow down for a moment and talk to your plants. They are good listeners and appreciate words of encouragement. It has been a hot summer, and the plants are struggling just like the wildlife and many of us are. Wander outside and offer a little extra attention to everything that is surviving this summer. A few caring words and a little patience can make all the difference.

Smoke from the Church 2 Fire near Campo rises into the sky on Aug. 17, 2026. A brush fire spread over swaths of brushy open terrain in the rural southeastern reaches of the San Diego area Monday, blackening scores of acres and threatening structures as ground and airborne crews worked to subdue the flames. Church 2 FireThe blaze, dubbed the Church 2 Fire, erupted for unknown reasons shortly before 2:30 p.m. off the 36800 block of Church Road in Campo, east of Lake Morena and about a mile south of Interstate 8, according to Cal Fire. Advertisement Within a half-hour, the fire had grown to encompass roughly 20 acres, the state agency reported. The flames were posing potential hazards to some developed areas as firefighters battled the blaze, officials said. As of 3:45 p.m., the size of the burn zone had grown to about 132 acres, Cal Fire advised. EvacuationsAuthorities issued an evacuation order for sparsely populated locales around the intersection of Live Oak Springs Road and Old Highway 80, and advised people living somewhat farther to the east to prepare to clear out of their homes on short order. A temporary shelter for the displaced was in operation at Golden Acorn Casino in Campo.

Wednesday, August 26

Wednesdays from 6 to 7 p.m.

Saturdays from 11 to 1 p.m

Monthly

Celebrating Young Artists and the Future of Creative Education 

The San Diego Superior Court has ordered the conditional release of Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) John Phillips. If you live in the community of Borrego Springs, the California Department of State Hospitals (DSH) has recommended the placement of Phillips at 1619 Zuni Trail, Borrego Springs, CA 92004. He was convicted of lewd and lascivious acts on a child and sexual battery dating back to 1992 and 2002. THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE AND THE SAFE TASK FORCE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SELECTION OF THIS LOCATION. THE SELECTION PROCESS IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HOSPITALS. THE SELECTION BY STATE MENTAL HOSPITALS REQUIRES APPROVAL BY THE SAN DIEGO SUPERIOR COURT. With the hearing scheduled for September 24, 2026, the SAFE Task Force will be accepting public comments about the proposed placement to be included in the formal response to the court and the Department of State Hospitals. This is your opportunity to support or object to the proposed placement before it is finalized. The District Attorney's Office and the SAFE Task Force will submit your comments to the court for the court’s consideration. Comments will be accepted between the dates of August 25, 2026 and September 7, 2026. You can e-mail your comments regarding placement to: sdsafe@sdsheriff.org. You can also call (858) 583-7238. You can mail your comments to: SVP/Release/SAFE Task Force 9425 Chesapeake Drive San Diego, CA 92123 Oral comments may be accepted subject to court ruling during a hearing on: September 24, 2026 9:00 a.m. Honorable Theodore Weathers San Diego Superior Court Department 1702 1100 Union Street San Diego, CA 92101 For more information about the legal designation, treatment and release from confined facilities of sexually violent predators, visit the San Diego County District Attorney's website. You can also visit the Department of State Hospital's website. To learn more about the SAFE Task Force, click here. 

UCI Nature Chief Administrative Officer Job Posting 

www.youtube.com/@under-the-borrego-sky

BASIC (Basic Assistance for Students in the Community) is hiring a Managing Director to lead programs, fundraising, operations, and community partnerships that support education for students and families in Borrego Springs. This is a visible, hands-on leadership role for someone who can build trust, get things done, and champion BASIC's C2G cradle to graduation mission. Key Responsibilities Partner with the Board to set priorities and support strong governance. Manage general daily operations, including use of technology, tracking data and written information, running meetings and supervision of a small staff. Guide BASIC programs, including the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Learning Academy, and Scholarships. Manage fundraising and communications (external and internal). Build strong partnerships and serve as a trusted community ambassador. Ideal Candidate Bilingual in Spanish and English Proactive, organized, and comfortable in our small community. Strong communicator (written and verbal) and relationship-builder. Leadership experience in nonprofits, fundraising, programs, administration, education or community service. How to Apply Send your resume to basic2026job@borregobasic.org by September 15, 2026 Learn more about BASIC: www.borregobasic.org

By Dennis Mammana Week of Aug 16-22, 2026 It was 20 years ago that our solar system lost a planet. Well, it didn't really go anywhere, but Pluto is no longer a planet because it's been reclassified. I'm sure you figured out in school that scientists love to classify things. Rocks, clouds, plants and, yes, even stars and planets. So why did they feel the need to reclassify Pluto? Because Pluto doesn't seem to fit the pattern of the rest of the major worlds of our solar system. First, it's a world not even 1,500 miles across; in other words, if we could bring it to Earth, it would fit inside of Mexico. Its orbit is tipped about 17 degrees to the orbits of all the other planets and is so elongated that every 240 years it crosses the orbit of Neptune. In addition, Pluto is an icy world with only five known moons, yet it exists in the realm of the gassy, ringed giants, around which hundreds of moons orbit. This is one strange world, so on Aug. 24, 2006, when the International Astronomical Union reclassified it as a "dwarf planet" — one of five currently known — some folks became quite upset. I hear people say all the time, "Pluto was a planet when I was in school, and by God, it's still a planet!" But that's not how science works. As we learn more about nature, we find characteristics and patterns that don't match up with our previous notions. Sometimes when that happens, we must change the way we think. It's all good science, and it happens more frequently than you might imagine. Ages ago, anyone on the high seas would have considered whales as fish. Though whales were known to have characteristics different from fish, it wasn't until 1758 that the 10th edition of Carl Linnaeus' "System Naturae" officially branded them as mammals. I'd be willing to bet that if the internet had existed back then, folks would have been screaming for Linnaeus' hide, and proclaiming, "Whales were fish when I went to school, and by God, they're still fish!" But here we are, three centuries later, and no one's upset any longer. No, Pluto just doesn't fit the patterns of all the other planets, so for that reason, it seems to me, Pluto cannot legitimately be categorized as a planet. So if Pluto's not a planet, what is it? A moon of one of the outer planets that broke free? A monster comet? A weird missing link? Good questions, all. Unfortunately, we just don't know. It was in 1930 that Clyde Tombaugh found Pluto, and some of his ashes were carried onboard the New Horizons spacecraft as it sped past and explored this distant world in 2015. Those who are more sentimental than scientific believe that this reclassification is an insult to the man who was so very proud of being the discoverer of the last planet of our solar system. I knew Clyde, and I'm pretty sure this wouldn't bother him one bit. In fact, I suspect he would be even more honored to be the discoverer of the first of an entirely new class of worlds! Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com .

Thursday from 11 to 11:30 a.m

Saturday, September 5

The world champion who races in Borrego Springs trains all summer in a Saskatchewan village Fred LaCroix, a French handcyclist and a familiar sight on Borrego Springs roads, was recently featured by CBC News for his racing in Borrego Springs and his summer training base in rural Saskatchewan. LaCroix, 65, is from the French Alps and has competed in the 6-12-24 Hour World Time Trial Championships in Borrego Springs. He won the 24-hour men’s handcycle event in the 60–69 age division, finishing despite mechanical problems. A former helicopter pilot who worked in 62 countries, LaCroix’s life changed dramatically in 2016 when a virus caused him to lose the use of his legs. The disability ended his aviation career and made him a wheelchair user. He later turned to adaptive sports, first racing in a wheelchair and then discovering handcycling, which allowed him to train for longer distances and endurance competition. LaCroix was looking for somewhere in Canada with flat roads and elevation slightly higher than the Borrego Springs course. He landed in Cadillac, Saskatchewan, a small village about 146 miles southwest of Regina , by chance. This is his third summer there. The village has taken to him. CBC News reported that residents gathered during his interview , and local officials said LaCroix has become part of the community. He has volunteered at fundraiser barbecues and even helped by watering newly planted trees at the village campground. Regional Saskatchewan news outlets have also reported on LaCroix’s training and his preparations for racing in Borrego Springs. His regular appearances on local roads have made LaCroix a familiar figure in Borrego Springs, creating an unexpected connection between this desert community and a small prairie village more than 1,500 miles away.

Wednesday, September 16

Friday, September 11

FY 26/27 application and instructions will be available on July 1, 2026.

New communications tower supports stronger local connectivity

www.youtube.com/@Desertusa

Historic protections proposed amid Lithium Valley development.

Cool Down at the Library

October 17–18

By Cassie N. Saunders, County of San Diego Communications Office Nearly 200 older adults will start receiving a $500 a month in rental assistance next year through the County’s third round of the Shallow Rental Subsidy Program . The County is now accepting applications and will continue until 195 qualified households are accepted. Monthly payments to landlords are expected to begin in early 2027. The program offers $500 a month for 18 months to low-income older adults age 60 and older who are struggling with rising rental costs and are at risk of losing their housing. “This rental support gives older adults a better chance to stay in their homes and avoid homelessness. It is a practical step toward meeting the needs of our aging community,” said Dijana Beck, director of County Office of Homeless Solutions. To qualify, applicants must be severely rent burdened with a household income at or below 30 percent of the Area Median Income .

Help restore and preserve one of Borrego Springs' most treasured gathering places Christmas Circle Community Park began repairing and upgrading an aging irrigation system in early August 2026. This work will not only get our irrigation system working more efficiently, but also begin to transform the look of the park. The Board of Directors is making an appeal to the Borrego Springs Community and visitors to the park to make a generous one time donation to help fund this project. Our goal is $25,000 by December 31, 2026. Please consider making a donation and keeping the Park we all love and enjoy looking its best now and for years to come.

A firsthand account of the Beaty family's homestead, ranching life, the original Borrego school, General Patton's desert training, and the people who helped shape the Borrego Valley.

Anza-Borrego Night Hike Experience Anza-Borrego after dark on a guided 2–3 mile hike across natural desert terrain. Participants may observe shifting shadows, nighttime sounds, and nocturnal wildlife such as bats, owls, and scorpions. Event Details Date: Saturday, August 29, 2026 Time: 6:30–9:30 p.m. Meeting Location: Anza-Borrego Foundation Store, 587 Palm Canyon Dr. #110, Borrego Springs Cost: $28 ABF members, $33 non-members, $17 students The group will meet at the ABF store and carpool or caravan to the trailhead. The hike will be led by Wilderness First Responder Matt Nagy. Bring sturdy closed-toe shoes, a flashlight or headlamp, at least 2 liters of water, and snacks. Register Today Space may be limited, so early registration is recommended.  >> Register Here

The Perseid meteor shower is expected to peak during the predawn hours of Thursday, Aug. 13.

Former agricultural land near Anza-Borrego Desert State Park could be restored with native wildflowers and desert vegetation A proposal would restore approximately 261 acres of former agricultural land at Bauer Ranch into native desert habitat as part of a potential California Proposition 4 climate grant project. Bauer Ranch is a Borrego Water District property located adjacent to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park , within the Borrego Palm Canyon and Clark Lake area north of central Borrego Springs. The project documents identify the site as fallowed agricultural land that is no longer in production because of groundwater-use reductions. The project is titled “From Fallowed Fields to Wildflowers: A Desert Revival & Restoration Initiative.” The Anza-Borrego Foundation would serve as the lead applicant, while the Borrego Water District was asked to consider participating as the landowner and co-applicant. California State Parks is anticipated to become the long-term owner and steward of the restored habitat if the proposal moves forward. Restoring former farmland Agricultural production on the property was discontinued as part of efforts to reduce groundwater pumping in the Borrego Springs Subbasin. According to the proposal, the former fields would be restored with native wildflowers and other desert vegetation to improve ecological function and long-term landscape resilience. The project documents explain that large areas of exposed, fallowed farmland can contribute to dust, higher surface temperatures and degraded soil conditions. Restoring native vegetation could help stabilize the soil, reduce dust and improve habitat near the state park. Proposed project goals The proposal identifies four main goals: Restore approximately 261 acres of fallowed farmland to native desert habitat. Increase vegetation to reduce exposed soil, dust and extreme-heat impacts. Evaluate opportunities to support groundwater recharge through soil improvements and land recontouring. Include Tribal consultation, community education and long-term stewardship in the planning process. The restoration could include soil work, land recontouring, native seed development, habitat establishment and long-term monitoring. Hydrologic, biological and cultural studies would also be completed during the planning process. Proposition 4 funding Funding would be sought through California’s Proposition 4 Extreme Heat Grant Program , which supports projects intended to reduce extreme-heat impacts and improve community resilience. The Anza-Borrego Foundation approached the Borrego Water District about the grant opportunity. Helix Environmental Planners was selected to assist with developing and submitting the application and to explain the responsibilities and possible costs associated with the Water District serving as a co-applicant. Potential model for other fallowed land The proposal describes Bauer Ranch as a possible model for restoring former agricultural land throughout the Borrego Valley and other groundwater-limited desert regions. Project documents estimate that approximately 9,000 acres of agricultural land in the Borrego Valley could be fallowed by 2040 as groundwater pumping is reduced. If successful, the Bauer Ranch project could demonstrate how those lands might be managed to reduce dust, restore habitat and improve climate resilience. The Bauer Ranch project remains a proposal . The Borrego Water District was asked to receive an overview and consider whether it should participate as a co-applicant in the grant process. The project documents do not establish that restoration work has been approved or funded. Source: Borrego Water District July 14, 2026 Board Package

Saturday, December 12