May 27, 2026

Sorting Through History: The Borrego Sun

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Preserving History, One Box at a Time

RAM Media Foundation is honored to continue the legacy of the Borrego Sun, a newspaper that has documented life in Borrego Springs since 1949.


As we carefully sort through decades of photographs, film reels, office records, festival materials, newspapers, and personal collections connected to the paper, we are constantly reminded that the history of Borrego Springs was built by people who believed in this desert, loved this community, and worked hard to help it grow.


We want to recognize the generations of residents, writers, photographers, business owners, volunteers, supporters, and community leaders who found Borrego Springs, built it, preserved it, and continue supporting it today.


Part of this historic process includes separating and preparing materials connected to the official Borrego Sun archive acquisition by the San Diego History Center, where important historical records will be preserved as part of the permanent historical record of Borrego Springs and the surrounding desert communities.


At the same time, many items remain with RAM Media Foundation as part of the continuing living legacy of the Borrego Sun. These include materials we are actively organizing, identifying, preserving, and preparing to eventually share with the community through future displays, storytelling projects, and local media efforts.


1984 Bluebooks, 1990s Borrego Days booklets, journalism awards, handwritten notes, photographs, Copley-branded items, film reels, and countless pieces of Borrego Springs history continue to surface as the archives are carefully sorted and preserved.


This is an honor, and it is being taken as such.


Along the way, we have been reconnecting with past employees and families, sharing discoveries, identifying meaningful items, and making sure special personal pieces find their way back to the people connected to them whenever possible. Every box seems to reveal another story waiting to be told.


The kindness, generosity, and consideration shown throughout this process have meant more than words can express.


Those involved wanted this to happen — and it did. The journey over the past 3 years has become a story of its own, and the investment and trust behind it is beyond words.


We are deeply grateful to everyone who cared for this history, helped guide the process, and continues to support the future of the Borrego Sun and Borrego Springs.


There is still much work ahead, and we look forward to sharing the larger story soon.


If you have stories, photographs, memories, questions, comments, or historical information connected to the Borrego Sun or Borrego Springs history, please reach out. We welcome support in many forms as we continue preserving and sharing the stories that helped shape Borrego Springs for future generations.





A Growing Media Network Under Ram Media Foundation


Under RAM Media Foundation, the Borrego Sun, GoToBorregoSprings.com, and KRAM 90.5 FM are becoming a stronger community media network.


GoToBorregoSprings.com, now connected with BorregoSun.com, is helping local content grow toward nearly 10,000 views a month and over 5400 active users (and growing!) through stories, events, tourism information, social media, and daily updates.


Through regular station identification, listeners outside the area hear “Borrego Springs” multiple times an hour while KRAM 90.5 FM brings KPBS, NPR, and public media access to the Borrego Valley.


Together, these platforms create new opportunities for daily local coverage, community storytelling, public media access, and youth internships in journalism, media, and digital communication.


RAM Media Foundation remains committed to daily updates, preserving local history, expanding access to community information, and serving Borrego Springs and the surrounding desert communities every day.




Learn More About Borrego Springs

Martha Deichler Highlighted for Community Leadership in Borrego Springs

By Andrea McKenna • May 27, 2026
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

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Salton Sea | Visiting with Huell Howser

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Borrego Bob Shares Weather Data and History

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Meet Tony Cecena, La Casa del Zorro’s Newest Leader

By Andrea McKenna • May 18, 2026
La Casa del Zorro has named Borrego Springs local Tony Cecena as its new General Manager. A familiar face in the local hospitality industry, Tony brings more than two decades of hands-on experience and a deep understanding of the community he’s always called home. Cecena began his hospitality journey as a high school student working in guest services at La Casa del Zorro. Now, after 22 years at Borrego Springs Resort—rising through the ranks and managing multiple departments—he’s come full circle, returning to where it all started. In his own words, here’s what Tony shared about his background, vision, and commitment to Borrego Springs:

Mount Laguna Observatory summer visitors program starts

By East County News Service • May 18, 2026
May 17, 2026 (Mount Laguna) — Star parties are back at Mount Laguna with the return of the Summer Visitors Program at the Mount Laguna Observatory. The public programs will be held on Saturday nights from 8 to 11 p.m., May 23 through August 15, with a special bonus mid-week viewing scheduled for Wednesday, August 12. Operated by the San Diego State University Department of Astronomy in partnership with the United States Forest Service, the outreach initiative has been connecting the public with the cosmos in various forms since the observatory’s dedication in 1968. According to Dr. Robert Quimby, MLO Director and Professor in the SDSU Department of Astronomy, each event will feature a public lecture at the Harrington Visitors Center. If weather permits, the lecture will be followed by direct stargazing through the observatory’s 0.5-meter (21-inch) Reginald Buller telescope. While MLO boasts larger instruments for deep-space science, the Buller telescope is specifically dedicated to instructional use and public outreach. Nestled in the Cleveland National Forest roughly 45 miles east of downtown San Diego, MLO sits at an elevation of 6,100 feet. The site is highly regarded by astronomers for its pristine dark skies, exceptional atmospheric conditions, and vital distance from city light pollution. Beyond its public outreach, MLO is a premier research and training facility. The mountain hosts an impressive array of cutting-edge technology, including the 1.25-meter Phillips Claud Telescope, which is used alongside the observatory’s 1.0-meter and 0.6-meter Clifford Smith telescopes to collect critical data on the age of and distance to star clusters. MLO also houses one of only two EvryScopes in the world. This specialized multi-camera array monitors the entire accessible sky simultaneously, making it an exceptional tool for detecting stellar activity and eclipsing binaries (co-orbiting star systems). Because the observatory is a functioning research station located in a rugged forest environment, organizers emphasize that safety and preparation are paramount for attendees. Visitors are advised to bring a small flashlight and park at the lower visitors parking lot located on Morris Ranch Road, follow the short trail from the parking lot to Observatory Road, and from there, look for the white dashes painted on the ground and follow them for a quarter-mile uphill to the Harrington Visitors Center. Note that visitors must remain on the designated road at all times. Morris Ranch Road is located off Sunrise Highway (S1) between mile markers 21.5 and 22, directly across from the Wooded Hill Campground sign. All stargazing events are weather-permitting. For daily operational updates, weather delays, or cancellations, visitors should call the observatory hotline at (619) 594-1415 before making the drive up the mountain.
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