By Dianne Jacob | Dianne’s Corner

Our awesome outdoors: Construction recently started on the Santa Ysabel Nature Center, the first attraction of its type in San Diego County to showcase the region’s beautiful backcountry.

Due to open next fall, the 6,000-square-foot, county-funded project is rising on the rolling hills of Santa Ysabel Preserve, near the intersection of state Routes 78 and 79 and northwest of Julian.

Our backcountry is a real treasure, on par with San Diego’s beaches and bays, and this new center will serve as a starting point to educate locals, visitors, school groups and others about all our rural area has to offer. It will include exhibits, an amphitheater and a staging area for hikers.

A big thank you to all those in the community who worked with me and county parks staff to make this project happen!

Other improvements brewing: I continue to work closely with District 2 residents on a wide range of projects that will make East County an even better place.

For example, the county expects to break ground next year on separate projects in Lakeside — a new library and an equestrian center. And I’m working with community leaders in Casa de Oro to nail down a location for a new library.

Stay tuned. Those are just some of the improvements in the works.

Are you ready?: Some of our worst wildfires have come this time of year.

Please check out readysandiego.org, a hub of disaster preparedness information, and also sign up for the county’s AlertSanDiego notification system.

These measures and others can help protect property and save lives.

—Dianne Jacob is San Diego County Supervisor for District 2. For more District 2 news, visit diannejacob.com or follow her on Facebook and Twitter. For assistance with a county issue, call 619-531-5522 or email [email protected].