Public Input Opportunity The Golden Pacific Powerlink is a proposed 500-kilovolt transmission line being developed by SDG&E. The project would run from the Imperial Valley Substation in southern Imperial County to the border of San Diego and Orange Counties, near the decommissioned San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. Current route materials indicate that the line could pass through or near Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, raising concerns about potential impacts to wilderness areas, cultural resources, wildlife habitat, scenic views, dark skies, and sensitive desert landscapes. SDG&E released a proposed route map on April 13, 2026, and stakeholder feedback is being accepted through early November 2026. A formal CPUC application is expected later, followed by state and federal environmental review. This is an important time for residents, visitors, conservation groups, tribal representatives, ratepayers, and other stakeholders to review the proposal and share informed feedback. The project has been described as important for grid reliability, clean energy integration, and reducing transmission congestion across Southern California’s electrical system. At the same time, many community and conservation stakeholders are asking whether the current route can avoid unnecessary harm to one of California’s most significant state parks. A 500 kV transmission line is major infrastructure. The towers required for this type of line can be far taller and more visually prominent than the existing 69 kV line currently within the Park. That older line was built before the Park was established and before modern environmental review laws such as CEQA existed. The Anza-Borrego Foundation is encouraging the public to learn more, review available materials, and participate in the feedback process. Source: Information summarized from the Anza-Borrego Foundation’s “Park Threat” page: https://theabf.org/park-threat/ Take Action View the Action Toolkit

This video from Make Tech Future explores the changing future of the Salton Sea — a place long associated with environmental decline, toxic dust, and delayed restoration efforts. The documentary looks at how the shrinking lake unexpectedly became an important habitat for migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway, including a record-breaking shorebird count in 2023. It also covers California’s first major restoration ponds beginning to receive water in 2025 after years of stalled projects and debate.  The channel focuses on megaprojects, environmental restoration, and technologies shaping the future of ecosystems around the world.

SDVoyager feature recognizes the leadership behind the Borrego Springs Community Resource Center Martha Deichler, executive director of the Borrego Springs Community Resource Center (CRC), was recently featured by SDVoyager for her years of service helping families, seniors, workers, and individuals throughout the community. In the feature, Deichler shared how the CRC grew from a small food bank effort during the COVID-19 pandemic into a major hub for community support services. As unemployment and hardship spread through the area during the pandemic, local residents began turning to the food bank not only for groceries, but also for help navigating unemployment applications, vaccine appointments, Medi-Cal, transportation needs, and other essential services. What started as emergency food assistance eventually evolved into the Borrego Springs Community Resource Center, which today offers a wide range of programs including food distribution, English and Spanish classes, citizenship classes, grief counseling, transportation assistance, computer literacy support, AA meetings, and caregiver training programs. Deichler described herself in the article as a “connector,” someone who helps match people with resources, services, and support systems. Her background working in the school district and her ability to speak Spanish have helped her build trusted relationships with families throughout the community. One program highlighted in the story addresses the growing need for caregivers for older adults who wish to remain in the area as they age. Through the CRC’s caregiver initiative, local residents can receive training and assistance connecting with In-Home Support Services (IHSS) opportunities, helping seniors remain independent while creating employment opportunities locally. The article also emphasized the generosity of the community and the support that has allowed the CRC to continue expanding services over the past several years. At 77 years old, Deichler shared that she has no plans to slow down, continuing her work to respond to the changing needs of the community and strengthen programs that help residents access food, healthcare, transportation, education, and support services. The full SDVoyager feature can be viewed here: Read the SDVoyager feature on Martha Deichler

Preserving History, One Box at a Time

Helping Senior Dogs and Cats Find Love, Comfort, and Family in Their Golden Years

American Legion Post 853 leads a day of remembrance and tribute

The Borrego Springs Film Institute presents the 2026 Film Series. Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center 590 Palm Canyon Drive, ​Borrego Springs, CA, 92004 BORREGO SPRINGS, CA — The Borrego Springs Film Institute (BSFI) is proud to announce its Summer 2026 screening series, bringing free bi-weekly screenings, every other Wednesday, of exceptional cinema to the heart of the desert. All screenings take place at the Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center (BSPAC), 590 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego Springs, CA 92004 , and begin at 7pm. The full 2026 BSFI schedule (April through December 2026) is now available at www.borregospringsfilminstitute.org . Please note that due to the vagaries of film licensing, all screenings are subject to change — we encourage patrons to check the website for the most current information before attending. 

Community theater production seeks actors and singers ages 16 and up for 2026 musical season

Free summer program for kids ages 3–11, with youth volunteer opportunities

Borrego Ministers Association prepares to help residents stay safe

Every third Monday of the month, the Food Bank at St. Barnabas comes to life as volunteers set up tables and prepare for the truck’s arrival.

Two Young Ravens Capture Local Attention

Borrego Springs Golf Course Featured Among San Diego’s Best

Discover Fr. Michael Plekon’s reflections on ministry and how the Borrego Ministers' Association serves as a powerful example of faith in action. Read more on Living Lutheran.

County Funding Shapes Fire Protection, Roads, Libraries, and Emergency Services in Borrego Springs

May 30, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m

Former San Diego City Manager and Casa del Zorro partner weighs in on county charter reforms that could reach voters this November.

Free listings for residents, visitors, and local businesses

Source: PBS SoCal

Congratulations to Borrego Village Association (BVA) on being named a 2026 Career Pathways grantee. This funding will help local high school students gain hands-on training, internships, certifications, and real-world experience at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Read below to learn more about this exciting opportunity for Borrego Springs. California State Parks and Parks California Award $2.4M in Career Pathways Grants to Prepare Next Generation of Park Leaders: Funding supports 13 organizations to provide paid training and expand access to careers in parks and public lands For Immediate Release: SACRAMENTO — California State Parks and nonprofit partner Parks California today announced the award of more than $2.4 million to 13 community and tribal organizations across the state as part of the Career Pathways grants program. The funding will support paid training opportunities expected to prepare approximately 380 participants for careers in parks and public lands and includes seven returning grantees and six new partners. Career Pathways enables statewide training that helps early-career adults and people exploring new directions to see parks as part of their future. The 13 grant recipients will work collaboratively with State Parks, with support from Parks California, to offer experiences and training in park operations and stewardship, such as wildfire resilience projects, trail building, habitat restoration and visitor services. Through hands-on learning, mentorship and career guidance, Career Pathways equips participants with the skills, experience and professional networks needed to pursue meaningful careers in public lands. “Our joint efforts to expand access to the outdoors is doing more than just reducing barriers for visitors – it’s also creating pathways to grow a skilled and diverse workforce of the next generation of stewards,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero . “These grants help plant the seed that will blossom into deeply rooted careers caring for California’s parks and public lands.” Grant funding is supported in part by State Parks’ Waterway Connections Initiative – part of the California Natural Resources Agency’s Outdoors for All Initiative – which focuses on expanding access to rivers, lakes and other inland waterways, including through workforce development. The Career Pathways grants program will provide approximately $5 million through 2029 to support the planning, development and implementation of workforce training programs statewide. “Careers in parks and public lands should be visible and accessible to everyone, not just those who already have a connection to these spaces,” said Kindley Walsh Lawlor, president and CEO of Parks California . “Career Pathways opens doors by creating real opportunities for people to gain experience and build necessary skills. By investing in community and tribal partners, we’re helping ensure future park leaders reflect the diversity of California.” “Expanding access to the outdoors also means expanding access to the careers that care for these places,” said California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot . “Programs like Career Pathways help connect Californians – especially those from underserved communities – to real opportunities to care for public lands, building a workforce that reflects our entire state and is prepared to meet California’s climate and conservation goals.” In addition to providing hands-on experiences, Career Pathways grantees also connect participants to job networks and provide career advice and additional resources, such as equipment, wages, meals and travel reimbursement. 2026 Career Pathways Grantees include: Lomakatsi Restoration Project – Northeastern California – Planning and Development grantee: Works with the Ajumawi Band of the Pit River Tribe and State Parks to develop a tribal workforce training program and restoration plan at Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park, focused on reducing wildfire risk, improving ecological health, enhancing First Foods and other cultural resources, and creating career pathways for tribal young adults. Foundation for California Community Colleges – Statewide – Planning and Development grantee: Works with community colleges and State Parks to create training and internship opportunities that help build pathways to careers in interpretation, education, facilities and maintenance. Borrego Village Association – Inland Empire – Implementation grantee: Provides high school students with hands-on training and internships at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, including field-based learning, park operations experience and industry-recognized certifications. Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps – Eastern Sierra – Implementation grantee: Offers a paid apprenticeship for corpsmembers to work alongside State Parks trail crews on large-scale projects, building leadership skills and hands-on experience to prepare for careers in park operations and conservation. --------------------- “The program allows us to provide an innovative initiative that prepares students and helps them gain the skills needed for careers with California State Parks, as well as in hospitality, public service and environmental interpretation,” said Jim Dion, executive director of Borrego Village Association . “Students in isolated communities such as ours often face limited access to career exploration opportunities, professional certifications and paid work-based learning. With this support, we can address these gaps by providing structured pathways into local and regional employment, particularly in public lands management, tourism and community-based organizations.” -------------------- “The funding from Parks California allows us to design an innovative pilot program to connect California State Parks with nearby California Community Colleges," said Courtney Cagle, workforce development manager at the Foundation for California Community Colleges. “With this support, we can build a robust pipeline of well-trained students to fill needed roles in education and interpretation, and facilities and maintenance at State Parks, while providing them the support to access sustainable and meaningful career pathways.”” A complete list of 2026 Career Pathways grants recipients is available online . Organizations have worked in partnership with selected state parks to implement multi-month training programs that provide participants with on-the-ground experiences. Results Snapshot 2024 Career Pathways grants program by the numbers: $1.7 million-plus invested in local partners. 15 grantees statewide. Approximately 250 participants. 93 percent of participants expressed interest in future parks careers. “I look at this program as a second chance for me and for other people who may not have the same opportunities as others, like getting a high school diploma,” said Julian Garcia, a 2024 Career Pathways participant with grantee Greater Valley Conservation Corps . “I get a lot of hands-on training with a lot of equipment that we run on projects and work sites. This program is really going to help me get to where I need to be in life.” Contact: California State Parks Newsroom@parks.ca.gov Parks California Media@parkscalifornia.org