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By Caprice Harrison

February 22, 2013 (La Mesa) – Bring friends and come on out for some terrific comedy tonight (Feb. 22) at Holiday Inn Mesa Grill,  8000 Parkway Drive to benefit East County Magazine (ECM).  Brew Ha Ha’s hilarious comedy team, Chris Clobber from HBO and Comedy Central and internationally known comic Diane Jean, will perform stand-up comedy for an evening of laughs. Show starts at 7 p.m., or come early to mix and mingle at 6 p.m. with our staff, readers and comics. Win prizes and surprises--including a Viejas gift basket, a winery tour, restaraunt gift certificates and more!

February 10, 2013 (San Diego) - Rain, thunder, chilling wind, and even a hail storm could not stop the Kearny Mesa Lunar New Year Festival from taking place. Yesterday, elected officials and visitors were treated to a tour of the "Asian Village" where they learned about the cultural significance of each village building or structure. The evening concluded after a New Year's Eve concert that featured the top artists from Asia Entertainment Inc, and the Little Saigon Idol.  

Festival organizers said that the Festival will open again today regardless of rain, shine, or ice.  Sunday's entertainment will include an exciting Miss Teen Traditional Dress Beauty Pageant.

February 8, 2013 (San Diego) – Once again Museum Month is happening in San Diego County including five East County Museums.  During the entire month of February individuals can pick up a free Museum Month Pass at any local Macy’s store and receive half-off admission to 42 San Diego County museums.  Guests with passes may bring up to three people with them to any participating museum.

January 27, 2013 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon’s Centennial Historical Speaker series continues for 2013.  The next speaker is Ms. Kate Breece from Helix Water District, with a presentation titled “From the Flume to the Ozone.”

This talk is scheduled for Thursday, February 7th, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Downtown El Cajon Library, located at 201 East Douglas Avenue.  Talks are scheduled for the first and third Thursday of the month.  Light refreshments will also be provided.

January 26, 2013 (Lemon Grove) – The next "History Alive" lecture, sponsored by the Lemon Grove Historical Society, on Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. in the H. Lee House Cultural Center, 3205 Olive, Lemon Grove, will feature Alexander D. Bevil discussing "Angels at 7 o'clock," his illustrated story of pioneering women aviators who made history between World War I and the 1930s when aviation was in its infancy. 

"Faced with gender bias, ridicule and sometimes outright sabotage, these 'First Ladies of Flight' had a single-minded determination to fly," said Bevil, who has been a California State Parks historian since 1998 and is the current president of the Congress of History of San Diego & Imperial Counties.

By Blake Powers and John Chapman

The East County Produce Exchange is kicking off the New Year with an event on Saturday, January 26th. It will be held in the Jamul Hardware parking lot from 3:30-5:00. The Exchange is a monthly event in Jamul, where people come from all over the county to exchange freshly grown fruits and vegetables. The produce exchange is like a farmer’s market, but it is a free event. There is no money involved!

 You set out your produce on a table, and then walk around and take what you want from others, while others will take from you.  This month the exchange expects to have lots of oranges, lemons, chard, cabbage, broccoli, kale,  onions, and herbs.

January 14, 2013 (Campo)--All aboard! Vintage Train Rides and museum tours are offered each weekend in January at the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum, Campo, one of the "eight great" railroad museums in California. 

Ride the museum's "Golden State" excursion train to Tunnel 4 and the Lower Campo Creek Bridge at 11 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. each day. Reservations not required, however reservations are required to ride with the engineer.

January 13, 2013 (La Mesa) -- Tradition holds that Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) ushers in the reflective season of Lent beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 13th.  The United Church of Christ of La Mesa (UCCLM) will be celebrating that tradition on Sunday, February 10, 2013 with a Mardi Gras Sunday worship service. The public is invited to dress up (carnival masks and beads welcome!) and join in this service celebrating the joy of faith.  Music – from “Just a Closer Walk” to “When the Saints Go Marching In!” will highlight both the 8:30am (in Friendship Hall) and 10:00am (in the Sanctuary) services.

January 4, 2013 (Ramona) – HawkWatch 2013 begins on January 5 at 9 a.m. at WRI Headquarters in Ramona on Highland Valley Road.  Observe wintering and resident raptors including Golden Eagles, wintering Ferruginous Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, Prairie Falcons and Red-shouldered Hawks, to name a few.  There are over 19 species of raptors that can be seen at the Ramona Grasslands.