New Years Welcome to St. Barnabas 2026

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

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.

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