Ramona, CA

New Owners Making Improvements at Kountry Kitchen      By Laura Calverley The Kountry Kitchen restaurant on Main Street has undergone some positive changes since Sarah and Scott Hine bought the restaurant from Doreen Harvey a little over a year ago. Word is spreading that the eatery is more than just a weekend breakfast hot spot. More ... Planning Group Faces Challenges in the New Year      By Jim Evans The Ramona Community Planning Group elected its officers for the new year at its Jan. 5 meeting. Chairman Bill Jenkin is joined by vice chair Helene Radzik, and longtime board member Kristi Mansolf was re-elected as secretary for her sixth term. More ... Ramona/Julian Dance Studio Helps Parent in Serious Accident      By Laura Calverley When Kristine Griffin, owner of the Ramona/Julian Dance Academy, heard that Nanette Pedersen, the mother of one of the dancers at the studio, was in a serious auto accident, she knew she wanted to do something to help. More ... PORTRAITS FROM THE PAST Local Photographer Seeks Families of Subjects in Vintage Negatives      By Jim Evans Ken Petsch has been a photographer for more than 30 years, so there isn’t much he hasn’t experienced in the world of photography. But even Petsch admits that his pending photographic project will be pretty challenging.You see, Petsch recently obtained some 40,000-60,000 vint More ... What is a City? Photos by Jennifer Jenkin      Commentary by E.A. Barrera ‘Communities may incorporate as cities for many reasons — to control population growth and development, to gain local control of tax money, to provide services, to promote special interests, to solve specific problems, More ... Ramona Growers Granted Federal Distinction      By Ruth Lepper A new wine label is on the market that means a feather in the caps of local vineyards. The winemakers, members of the Ramona Valley Vineyards Association, will now be labeling their wines “Ramona Valley.” Ramona vineyards have been designated an American Viticultural Area More ... Protecting Ramona’s Grasslands at Heart of Annual ‘Hawk Watch’      By E.A. Barrera They are followers of the osprey; the American kestrel; the merlin. On a brisk, winter’s morning, you’ll see them gathered together — eager and avid — with eyes sharply gazing over the landscape of the Ramona Grasslands. Their eyes follow the sky — follow the currents of More ... Hawk Watch 2006      Every Saturday in February from 9 a.m. to noon. Meet at WRI Headquarters, 18030 Highland Valley Road by 9 a.m. You will observe wintering and resident hawks, owls, and eagles. Learn, from a WRI biologist, identification and life histories of birds of prey. You can see up to 13 different speci More ... Ramona Racers Finish on Top      By Johnny McDonald Nothing better than a season-winning start to get you revved up for what’s ahead as two Ramonans engaged dusty and man-made potholes in the recent 12th annual SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge. More ... Black Pioneers to be Remembered Feb. 12      By Ruth Lepper Plans to honor Julian’s black pioneers switched to Feb. 12 due to a conflict with the original date. More ... A Crossbow Incident Rattles Banner Resident      By Bobbi Zane Julian residents living in the Banner Canyon area have been advised by wildlife officials to be on the lookout for someone who is targeting animals using a crossbow, a dangerous and illegal practice. More ... Headstones to be Placed on Graves of Civil War Veterans      By Ruth Lepper Many years after they were buried in Nuevo Memory Gardens, Civil War soldiers Jerome Love and Abraham Hatfield will have headstones placed on their graves. John Vargas, superintendent at the cemetery, and Jacqueline Beck, former secretary, researched military records to co More ... WYNOLA’S IRON MAN Renowned Artist Works in Anonymity      By Jim Evans His medium is metal, and his “Art-of-Iron” is a testiment to his artistic talent. His metal sculptures and other metal creations are recognized throughout the world, yet he works in relative anonymity from his modest home in Wynola. More ...