International Dark Sky Week: Senate Resolution 76

Finding Faith, Belonging and Purpose Beyond Sunday Services

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.

The Anza-Borrego Foundation (ABF) is asking supporters of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park to attend the San Diego County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, August 18, regarding the Golden Pacific Powerlink. ABF is encouraging people concerned about potential impacts to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park to attend the meeting and make their voices heard. Meeting Information Tuesday, August 18, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. County Administration Center 1600 Pacific Highway, Room 310 San Diego, CA 92101 Those who cannot attend can participate through the County's public comment process.  ABF is directing people who want additional information or ways to take action to theabf.org.

Comment by Aug. 18 on Golden Pacific Powerlink The San Diego County Board of Supervisors is accepting online comments on the Golden Pacific Powerlink through Aug. 18. Submit a comment here: https://sdcounty.granicusideas.com/.../6a7a375d7d79655936

Summer Gathering Brings Borrego Residents Together Over Food, Art and a Spanish Summer Drink

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.

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