Articles written by Nikki Symington
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 87
75th District Race – Marie Waldron vs. Randy Voepel
During this year’s political redistricting, Borrego Springs was moved into the 75th State Assembly District. Formerly represented by Randy Voepel of the 71st District, Borrego voters had two candidates running in the June Primary to represent the 75th. They were Voepel (Rep.),... — Updated 6/21/2022
930-mile Cycling Race, Fundraiser for BSHS Graduates
In 2021, Sylvia Maas, endurance cyclist and Borrego Springs resident, had quite a year, winning her two-person division in Race Across the West (RAW), first woman to win the Texas Longhorn 500, crewing the Race Across Oregon (RAO)... — Updated 6/21/2022
BCHF: When Words Don't Match Reality
Borrego Community Health Foundation (BCHF) took another action, “To protect the long-term access to local care,” announcing layoffs of 218 employees, in addition to the 113 terminated on February 1, 2021. The May 25, 2022 announcement was in the form of a press release from... — Updated 6/16/2022
Dave Myers, SD County Sheriff Candidate
Dave Myers, a 35-year veteran of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, and retired Commander of the Rural Divisions, including the fact he served in one, is sensitive and aware of the issues facing the rural outposts. All... — Updated 6/6/2022
CalFire: Overwhelming Vote
The Borrego Springs Firefighters Association, Local 4160, has also voted for consolidation with the San Diego County Fire Protection District. (See press release given to the Borrego Sun, May 20, in the May 26 issue). The five-member Board of Directors of the Borrego Springs Fire... — Updated 6/2/2022
Borrego Health Loses Lawsuit
On March 2, 2022, Judge M. James Lorenz, of the United States District Court of Southern California, declined to exercise Borrego Health’s request for supplemental jurisdiction over state law claims in the Borrego Community Health Foundation v. Inland Valley Investments LLC; Pro... — Updated 5/25/2022
BCHF: True or Not?
To quote Sandra Hansberger, Chair of the Borrego Community Health Foundation (BCHF), “Everything you read in the Borrego Sun is not true.” She’s right. The Borrego Sun often relies on tips from credible sources to ferret out new information. Rumors are like the old saying,... — Updated 5/10/2022
BSFPD or CalFire: Communicating Options
Bruce Kelley became concerned about financial problems facing the Borrego Springs Fire Protection District (BSFPD) after meetings with local paramedics, who were attempting to muster up a grassroots campaign to host a tax increase for the District as a November 2022, ballot... — Updated 5/4/2022
Opinion: Rumor vs. Fact...
The Borrego Sun tries to follow up when someone calls with a concern, question or suspicion. While some are occasionally bordering on the edge of a conspiracy, we still check it out. We do this because we are a newspaper. When wrong information begins circulating, and playing... — Updated 5/3/2022
What's Up, Borrego Health?
Currently, there’s lawsuits piling up against Borrego Community Health Foundation (BCHF) beginning with Mikia Wallis, Borrego Health’s former CEO; Husam Aldairi, winner of the illegal dental sweepstakes, earning $6 million and $8 million annually; two insurance companies; plus... — Updated 4/21/2022
BSFPD: The Decision is Yours
The real question Borrego residents should be asking is not whether there should be a grassroots’ ballot tax increase to solve Borrego Springs Fire Protection District’s (BSFPD) financial and service problems, but whether local taxpayers can afford a first-class fire and... — Updated 4/6/2022
BCHF: What's Going On?
After 11 years at the Borrego Medical Clinic, Dr. James Huot will be retiring in January 2023. Dr. Huot was paid $400,000 annually, and according to sources, actually worked six months of the year. Dan Kramer, publicist for the Borrego Community Health Foundation (BCHF) stated,... — Updated 4/5/2022
Fire Department Crisis Continues
The Second Option for community-based emergency services is for the Borrego Springs Fire Protection District (BSFPD) to officially dissolve the special district and join the San Diego Fire Protection District (SDFPD/CAL FIRE). This is one of two solutions available to solve the... — Updated 3/24/2022
Fire Department Crisis
While community members flock to the Stewardship Council’s, “Dreaming Borrego,” compiling wish lists for the future, the Borrego Springs Fire Protection District (BSFPD), one of Borrego’s most important assets, withers from lack of funding and attention. The District has... — Updated 3/7/2022
"Why Are Strangers Trucking Our Water?"
Curious mind want to know... Water trucks drawing water from a Borrego Water District (BWD) well in the Dry Gulch area drew the attention of residents wondering why trucks not belonging to the BWD were regularly stopping to draw... — Updated 3/4/2022
Polling Places Replaced
Election Surprise... If you’re looking for your polling place to vote in the June Primary, you won’t find it. You will need to mail in your ballot, drop it off at a secure location, or find a “Vote Center,” to vote in-person. The new process begins with the June 7... — Updated 3/1/2022
$10 Million Water Grant Raises Proposals, Temperatures
When it comes to competition for money, count on a fight. The competition for the $7.6 million, Proposition 68 Grant got heated, and tensions mounted as scoring for the 13 entities submitting applications to the state Department of Water Resources (DWR) were made final. Of the... — Updated 3/1/2022
Revitalization Meeting Discusses
San Diego County District 5 Supervisor Jim Desmond opened his monthly Revitalization Committee Meeting by thanking the Borrego Springs residents that took up the battle with the County’s Redistricting Committee over moving Borrego Springs into another Supervisor’s district, an... — Updated 2/11/2022
ABDNHA Webinar Highlights Issues, Updates
The Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association’s (ABDNHA) second community webinar, “Desert Living – Desert Health Webinar 2, Providing Health Care in Remote and Rural Communities,” on January 20, presented a local panel of Borrego Springs’ healthcare providers,... — Updated 2/8/2022
Kendall's Original Uniform
The original waitressing uniform worn by Laura "Burnand" Caminiti in 1968, while working at the Mall Café, now Kendall's Café, is on permanent display in The Mall, at the Café. The framed dress was donated by BJ and Pete Marsh... — Updated 1/27/2022
BSFPD Paramedics...
In 2017, the Borrego Springs Fire Protection District (BSFPD) was in trouble: Not enough money to keep up with the competition in attracting and keeping seasoned personnel, especially paramedics. The trucks, ambulances, and medical equipment had come of age, and passed it. Funded... — Updated 1/14/2022
La Casa Del Zorro's Ruben Bernal Retires
Ruben Bernal is retiring after 30 years as La Casa Del Zorro's Bell Captain. Curly Williams, resident manager, called Ruben Bernal's retirement after 30 years, "An end of an era." "Ruben is an institution at La Casa. He is known... — Updated 1/14/2022
Original Art Made Personally for Christmas Gifts
The Borrego Springs Soroptimist Club and Coldwell Banker Real Estate combined to do a personalized make your own Christmas gifts event with children and adults, painting a variety of Christmas ceramics offered by Tami of Paint it... — Updated 12/21/2021
BCHF: Looking for Good News – An Editorial
There’s been a kerfuffle on Borrego’s social media over how the bad news the Borrego Sun is constantly reporting about the Borrego Springs Community Health leadership is damaging the morale of the Borrego Springs clinic’s employees. Then, there are those who claim to be... — Updated 12/9/2021
Borrego Dreaming: Shaping the Future
The Borrego Valley Stewardship Council (BVSC) is holding a visioning forum for its 50-organizations and all interested parties on the future of Borrego Springs, 5, 10, 20 – 50 years from now, on Dec. 10, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. held at the Borrego Springs Library, 2580 Country Club... — Updated 12/9/2021