News briefs

County OKs condo projects

The county Board of Supervisors has approved the final map for Paseo Village Townhomes, a condominium project just north of state Route 67 and bordered by La Brea, Day and Vermont streets.

The condo project by Ramona developer Steve Powell will consist of 31 dwelling units on 2.28 acres and include street improvements.

Also at their June 22 meeting, supervisors approved the final map to convert Boulder Ridge Villas, 1918 and 1922 Kelly Ave., to condominiums.

CWA approves water rate hikes

Increases start Jan. 1

San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors has adopted rate increases of 6.4 percent for untreated water and 5.9 percent for treated water in 2017. The new rates will take effect Jan. 1, and member agencies, including Ramona Municipal Water District, have the option of absorbing the increases or passing them on to customers.

A statement from the water authority said the increases primarily driven by higher costs from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, though the agency also incorporates higher costs for water supplies from the Carlsbad Desalination Plant. Also affecting the increases were by state-mandated reductions in water use that decreased sales more than earlier projections.

GriefShare to start July 25

GriefShare, a weekly seminar and support group to help and encourage individuals after the death of a loved one, will be conducted Monday evenings beginning July 25.

The program will be held from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m. at Mountain View Community Church, 1191 Meadowlark Way off state Route 78 and Ash Street.

For more information or to register, call 760-789-4798 or 760-805-5722.

Christmas in July

Friends of Ramona Library are holding a Christmas in July sale in the Friends Bookstore. All Christmas items are half price. Paperbacks are 50 cents each and hardbacks are $1. The sale does not include books over $1.

Books in the following categories are half price: Art/classics, cookbooks, home improvement, foreign language and humor/crafts/poetry. CDs and audio tapes are also half price. Miscellaneous/self-

help/biographies/reference/health/parenting/religion/travel books are 10 cents unless priced over $1.

The bookstore is off the front lobby of Ramona Library, 1275 Main St. Proceeds benefit library programs, new books and new CDs and DVDs.

Mountain Lion Foundation

The Mountain Lion Foundation will present An Evening with Rodney Jackson with the Snow Leopard Conservancy in Julian Town Hall on Friday, July 15, at 6:30 p.m. The title of his talk is titled “Are the Cuyamacas like the Himalayas?”

Admission is free. Julian Town Hall is at 2129 Main St. in Julian.

For more information, call the Julian Mountain Lion Project at 760-230-3301 or see mountainlion.org/events.

Water conservation continues

Ramona Municipal Water District customers are among county residents who stepped up water conservation efforts in May, state water officials reported last Wednesday.

Nearly all of the two dozen water agencies in San Diego County posted large reductions in use compared to the same month in 2013, which the state uses as a benchmark..

The Ramona district showed a drop of 37.1 percent in consumption in May. Among other districts showding a drop are: Valley Center Municipal Water District, 42.8 percent; city of Poway, 39.1 percent; Rincon Del Diablo Municipal Water District, 35.9 percent; Santa Fe Irrigation District, 34.4 percent; Padre Dam Municipal Water District, 32.4 percent; and Lakeside Water District, 32.1 percent.

Statewide, consumption fell 28 percent in May compared to three years ago.

“Rain or shine, drought or no drought, state-mandated target or not, Californians should keep conserving,” said Felicia Marcus, state water board chair. “While conditions improved for urban California’s water supply with the rain and snow we got last year, we are still largely in drought and saving water can extend urban water supplies off into the future if this next winter is dry again.”

Community Event Permit Workshop

Persons interested in learning details of the county’s community event permit process are welcome at a Community Event Permit Workshop in the Ramona Library Community Room, 1275 Main St., on Tuesday, July 19, from 8 to 9 a.m. Those planning to attend are asked to call 858-694-3614 to RSVP.

Chamber mixer

Ramona Chamber of Commerce’s next mixer will be in front of the chamber and Resurrected Rustic at, respectively, 960 and 948 Main St. on July 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. Cost is $5 for chamber members and $10 for others. More information is at 760-789-1311. Recent chamber mixers have been held on Main Street in conjunction with Ramona American Graffiti Cruise Night.