September 13, 2012 (San Diego) -- Six members of the San Diego Storytellers: Cyndy Griffin, Mary Holma, Mindy Donner, Jessica Baris, Li-Anne Rowswell, and Jim Dieckmann, will present, "A Harvest of Stories" in the Outdoor Amphitheater at the Mission Trails Visitor Center on September 15, at 6:00 p.m. These engaging storytellers will be sharing wonderful stories from around the world. The theme will be "Autumn and Nature".

September 7, 2012 (San Diego) -- The Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation will present "Sumi-e Journey," an art exhibit featuring Asian Brush paintings by Iris Lowe-Reiss and Joan Rasp. The exhibit will be on display in the Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center Art Gallery from September 8 through 28, 2012.

The public is cordially invited to a reception for the artists on Sunday, September 16, from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

View more information on the artists and examples of their work here. For directions to the park, visit www.mtrp.org.

August 23, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – A rattlesnake victim at a campground in Mission Trails Regional Park has been transported to a hospital for treatment today, ECM confirmed with a park ranger. Officials have not released an update on the patient’s condition.

For information on how to avoid a rattlesnake attack, please see:

July 21, 2012 (San Diego) – Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation presents the 2nd Annual “Whispers in the Wind” storytelling event on July 22 at 3:00 p.m. in the Visitor Center Theater, One Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego.  The stories are a collection of time-honored Native American folklore and animal tales.

Two of San Diego County’s best storytellers; Mary Holma and Cynthia Griffin, will spin tales to create a sense of appreciation for nature and a people’s oral traditions celebrating it.

 By Miriam Raftery

June 30, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – A new website, www.savemissiontrails.org, has been launched to oppose the Quail Brush Generation Power Plant.  The group asks the public to send e-mails to decision makers and attend two key upcoming meetings, both on July 19. 

June 15, 2012 (San Diego) – The Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation and the California Art Club present Treasures of the Mission Trails Regional Park Art Exhibit and Benefit on July 14 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at 1 Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego.  The event will include fine art, fine wine, cheese and chocolate.

April 25, 2012 (San Diego) -- The Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation is presenting a solo exhibition by award winning nature photography Scott Streit. This exhibition is on display in the Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor’s Center Art Gallery, One Father Junipero Sera Trail, San Diego now through May 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.

Santee Council to weigh resolution opposing power plant March 28;  San Diego Council to consider zoning change to allow facility on April 26

By Miriam Raftery

March 25, 2012 (San Diego/Santee) – Seventeen staffers from the California Energy Commission heard from concerned residents at a standing-room-only workshop on a proposed gas-fired power plant this week at Mission Trails Regional Park.  Over 60 residents filled out speaker cards to oppose the controversial project and dozens more packed the room.  

In emotionally charged testimony, residents pleaded for the project to be withdrawn or approval denied.  They voiced concerns over the dangers pose by wildfire and explosions as well as worries over noise, traffic, air pollution, visual blight, and impacts on wildlife, homes, schools, and Mission Trails Regional Park.

January 21, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) --The Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation (MTRP) will present "Trails", an exhibition January 22-February 10 featuring award-winning plein air artist Margaret Larlham. Many of the works were painted in, and are about, Mission Trails and others are of South Africa where the artist previously lived.

The public is cordially invited to a reception in honor of the artist on Sunday, January 22, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

 By Russell Lindquist

 A Photography Exhibit By Eileen Madell At Mission Trails Regional Park

September 7, 2011 (San Diego) –A man found dead this morning in Mission Trails Regional Park had “small puncture wounds on his lower extremities” that “may have been snake-related,” Lt. Andra Brown with the San Diego Police has informed East County Magazine. An autopsy is pending to determine cause of death.

August 11, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- Join Mission Trails Regional Park's trail guide and resident birder, Jeanne Raimond, for a special evening guided walk in search of resident owls on August 12 and August 19.

Meet at 7:30 p.m. in the dirt parking lot on the corner of Bushy Hill Drive and Father Junipero Serra Trail, across from the Kumeyaay Lake Campground entrance.

Teen who died at falls identified as Joseph Meram, 16, of El Cajon

Sheriff says falls will stay closed until ways are found to protect public safety

By Miriam Raftery

July 8, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – A family outing turned to tragedy when Joseph Meram, 16, hiked ahead of his relatives and wandered onto the wrong trail with his cousin over the weekend. The teen plummeted over an 80-foot cliff into a swimming hole at the base of Cedar Creek Falls.

His death has prompted closure of the falls indefinitely--and debate over the role of government in balancing accessibility vs. safety on public lands. Now Sheriff Bill Gore speaks out on the tragedy, which occurred soon after the U.S. Forest Service improved a trail to make the site more accessible—a move Sheriff Bill Gore says was well-intentioned, but resulted in serious consequences.