January 30, 2026
BSCCA Opens 50th Season with Soprano Lauren Jelencovich
Share
Student Concert and Evening Show at BSPAC
The Borrego Springs Community Concert Association (BSCCA) opened its 50th season on January 27, 2026, with two performances at the Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center (BSPAC): a morning concert for local elementary students, followed by a public evening show.
During the student program, soprano Lauren Jelencovich moved throughout the theater to engage students seated across the room, helping create a shared and inclusive concert experience.
The program featured familiar selections such as “Part of Your World” and *“Popular.” During “Popular,” Borrego Springs Elementary School principal Victoria Baay was brought into the moment as Jelencovich playfully performed the song to her, drawing laughter and attention from the students.
Between selections, Jelencovich shifted briefly into teaching mode, demonstrating how musicians describe dynamics by singing softly and asking students if they could still hear her, then explaining the terms for soft and loud and the word used for very quiet passages. She also connected the lesson to opera, explaining that an aria she referenced comes from Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and noting it is sung by a 14-year-old character.
BSCCA board members and retired music teachers Elizabeth Renner and Virginia “Jinny” Perrin worked with the school on coordination and helped prepare students ahead of time so they understood what they would hear and how to experience a live concert setting.
That evening, the public concert brought community members together at the Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center. Student thank-you notes from the morning program were displayed in the lobby, where soprano Lauren Jelencovich took time to read them before the performance, responding with visible appreciation.
The evening program continued the interactive tone of the school concert, with moments that engaged audience members and reinforced the connection between performers and community.
Student notes included:
“Thank you for inviting us to the musical. It was amazing. The performance was perfect. The piano player was amazing. I hope everyone loved your performance.”
“Thank you, Lauren and Jonathan, for the free performance.”
“Your voice is beautiful.”
“Hi, I’m Ariana. Thank you for the performance. I sang Popular for the talent show. Thank you so much.”
“Thank you for sharing with us.”
Donations to the Borrego Springs Community Concert Association help sustain live performances and student outreach programs, ensuring high-quality music experiences remain accessible to the community. Visit borregoconcert.org for more information.
Learn More About Borrego Springs
A Unique Stop Just Outside Borrego Springs
Emmy-winning mixer Mark Hensley leads development on “Sundown at the Salton Sea,” the first flagship feature from the Blockreel Studios production pipeline EIN Presswire LOS ANGELES — Blockreel Studios, the production and distribution division of the filmmaker-owned operating system Blockreel DAO, announced the development of its first flagship feature film, Sundown at the Salton Sea. The project is being led by founding advisor and Emmy-winning re-recording mixer Mark Hensley (Genius: Picasso, The Last of Us), who serves as the project’s lead creative force. Sundown at the Salton Sea is an elevated gothic horror-thriller that weaves together a tragic 19th-century love story with a modern-day descent into terror. Bound by reincarnation, memory, and an ancient curse, the film explores the terrifying reality behind the myth of Nosferatu. As a group of friends becomes stranded in the California desert, they discover that the classic cinema legend was not fiction but a desperate, plagiarized attempt to exploit a real-world tragedy that has haunted the shadows of history for over a century. “Sundown at the Salton Sea represents a new hybrid model for independent cinema,” said Mark Hensley. “By utilizing Blockreel’s end-to-end production ecosystem during this development phase, we are creating a blueprint that allows for complete creative integrity while accessing a global network of vetted, high-caliber talent. We are building a model for how the next generation of features will be packaged and produced.” A new blueprint for independent production With a target budget of $5 million, the film serves as a lighthouse project for the Blockreel ecosystem. The production leverages Blockreel’s integrated infrastructure, designed to replace legacy industry fragmentation with a unified workflow: Vetted Talent Ecosystem: Utilizing Blockreel’s network of 560+ vetted professional filmmakers, including award-winning talent, to assemble the creative team. End-to-End Transparency: Incorporating decentralized production management to streamline transparent reporting, real-time budgeting, and global distribution workflows from the ground up. Industry-Standard Quality: Ensuring all creative and technical aspects meet the highest standards required by global theatrical and streaming partners. “Independent film is at an inflection point,” says Osman Arslan, founder and CEO of Blockreel DAO. “Hollywood output is shifting, and the next generation of breakout independent hits will come from creators who own their rails. With this feature, Blockreel Studios is moving from the platform layer to the production layer—delivering high-velocity, high-quality IP that the market is starving for.” The project currently serves as the anchor title for the Blockreel ecosystem, creating a closed-loop pipeline from development through to future exhibition.
We’re having a heatwave - 1933, song written by Irving Berlin. Last March brought on unprecedented temperatures here in Borrego Springs, Ca. thus residents sourcing “we’re having a heatwave.” Oh joy! what inspiration and motivation to forecast what’s up ahead this coming summer at The Gallery at The Palms. HEATWAVE : Leslie Duncan, Debbie Gallerani, Mike Horton and Paul McGilly, May 1 - September 27, 2026. Opening reception Friday, May 1 at 5-8 pm. ARTTALK with the artists Saturday, May 2, 3:00 pm ARTWALK Saturday, May 2, 5-7 pm The Gallery at The Palms is open every day!
Free compost and mulch available May 3–9 while supplies last.
Low counts, valuable research, and strong community support.
BSFI Free Movies Continue at BSPAC with May Screenings of Ordinary People and Mother
By Miriam Raftery www. eastcountymagazine.org April 28, 2026 (Borrego Springs) – “California’s largest state park — and one of the last true wild places in Southern California — could face one of the biggest industrial threats in its history,” states a website set up by the Anza-Borrego Foundation at https://theabf.org/park-threat/ . “A proposed 500-kV transmission line, the Golden Pacific Powerlink, could cut through Anza-Borrego Desert State Park — impacting wilderness, wildlife habitat, scenic landscapes, dark skies, and cultural resources.” SDG&E released a proposed route map on April 13, 2026 and is accepting stakeholder feedback through early November 2026. You can learn more about what’s at stake, and how you can help defend the park, at the ABF’s site. Below are details. As ECM previously reported , including an interview with SDG&E’s manager for the project, the California Independent Systems Operator (CAISO) has identified the high-voltage line as necessary to meet the state’s future electrical needs. The line would begin at the Imperial County substation and end at a new substation to be built in Orange County. SDG&E’s proposed route would cut through the heart of California’s largest state park before traveling northeast along State Route 79 in the Warner Springs and Santa Ysabel areas, then into Riverside and Orange Counties. A 500 kV line is the highest-voltage class of transmission infrastructure built in California. The towers required to carry these lines can stand 150 to 200 feet tall, the height of a 15- to 20-story building with a cleared right-of-way stretching hundreds of feet wide. According to the ABF, “For context, the only existing transmission line within the Park today is a 69 kV line on modest wooden poles, barely visible against the landscape. That line was constructed before the Park was established in 1933 and before the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) existed (1970) — it would not be permitted today.” The cost of the line is an estimated $2.3 billion. Strong opposition to another SDG&E high voltage line, Sunrise Powerlink, led to rerouting of that line, which was also originally proposed to go through the state park. What you can do The ABF’s website recommends several actions for those concerned about the proposed route at https://theabf.org/take-action/ Right Now: Stakeholder Feedback Period (Through Early November 2026) Your participation now helps ensure stakeholders who care about the Park are part of the conversation before the project is formally submitted. Make a Donation : This work is costly and ABF needs your support to ensure we can continue to engage. Attend a Virtual Open House: SDG&E is hosting virtual open houses on May 12 and May 14, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. All sessions present the same content. Visit www.sdge.com/GoldenPacific to register or learn more. Attend an In-Person Open House: SDG&E will hold in-person community meetings later in 2026. Specific dates and locations will be announced. Show up and ask questions about impacts to the Park. Sign up here for updates Submit Stakeholder Feedback to SDG&E: Email the project team at GoldenPacific@sdge.com to share your input on the proposed route and raise questions about project impacts and the clean energy commitment (download letter template here) . Stay Informed: Sign up for email updates to receive the latest news on the project timeline, public meetings, and opportunities for engagement. Spread the Word : Share this page. Talk to your friends, family, and community. The more people who understand what is being proposed, the more informed the process becomes. Download our “Not Through Our Park” graphics to share and use on your social media profile. After the CPUC Application Is Filed (Expected Fall/Winter 2026) Once SDG&E submits its application, the project enters formal regulatory review. This is when the rigorous environmental and public review process begins under CEQA and NEPA, with multiple opportunities for public participation. Submit Written Comments to the CPUC: Email the CPUC at public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov or use the online Docket Card to submit your comments on the record. We will keep you informed when and how to do this when the time comes . File a Formal Protest: Within 30 days of the application filing, anyone can file a formal protest with the CPUC. Attend Public Participation Hearings: The CPUC will hold hearings where members of the public can speak directly to the decision-makers reviewing this project. Your testimony becomes part of the official record. Contact Your Representatives: Share your concerns about this project with your state legislators and the Governor’s office (download letter template here) . Help them understand what Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is, why it matters, and what is being proposed — so that the significance of this landscape is well understood as the project moves through the regulatory process in the months ahead . Find your State Senate and Assembly representatives here. Find your San Diego County Supervisor here. Find your Riverside County Supervisor here. Email Governor Gavin Newsom here. For questions or to get involved or volunteer, contact Anza-Borrego Foundation at info@theabf.org.
End of Season Open House at Studio 628 May 2, 5:00–7:00 PM An End of Season Open House will be held this Saturday, May 2, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Studio 628 , located at 628 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego Springs, CA 92004 . The event will feature the artwork of Robert Landry , along with new work by Kippi Leonard and Wil Gardner . The open house offers an opportunity to view current and new artwork on display at the studio.
New state body will coordinate long-term restoration, habitat management, and air quality work California launched the Salton Sea Conservancy this April to support long-term restoration work at the Salton Sea, California’s largest inland lake. The new conservancy was created through Senate Bill 583 and operates within the California Natural Resources Agency . The Conservancy is responsible for helping manage completed restoration and mitigation projects, including habitat and dust-control work. Its duties include managing land and property rights, including easements and water rights, within the Salton Sea region after projects are built. The Salton Sea has been shrinking as inflows have declined, exposing lakebed that can contribute to dust and air quality concerns in surrounding communities. Rising salinity has also affected habitat for wildlife, including birds that use the Pacific Flyway. State officials say the Conservancy is intended to strengthen coordination, provide long-term stewardship, and help sustain work already underway through the Salton Sea Management Program. That includes restoration projects designed to create habitat, reduce exposed playa, and address public health concerns tied to dust. The launch also included the appointment of a 20-member board with representatives from state agencies, Riverside and Imperial counties, local water districts, tribal groups, and public organizations. The board is expected to guide future planning and project priorities. The creation of the Salton Sea Conservancy marks a shift toward more centralized, long-term management of restoration, air quality, and habitat projects in the region.
