March 16, 2012 (El Cajon) – The El Cajon Rotary will be holding its 21st Annual Charity Auction on Friday March 30 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at the Toyota of El Cajon Showroom, 965 Arnele Avenue, El Cajon. 

March 13, 2012 (Jamul) – Nine Girls Ask? is holding its Tee-Off for Ovarian Cancer golf tournament on May 4 at Steele Canyon Golf Club, 3199 Stonefield Drive, Jamul.  The event registration will begin at 11:30 a.m. and the tournament will start at 1:00 p.m.

February 27, 2012 (Ramona) – San Nicolas Island is best known as the setting for the novel Island of the Blue Dolphin.  But the isle in California’s Channel Islands was also used by the Navy—and a colony of wild cats believe to be descended from pets of naval personnel  were hunting wild birds and lizards, endangering native species including foxes. 

The Navy was prepared to kill all of the feral cats—until the Humane Society and the Fund for Animals stepped in. 

February 22, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) -- ECM columnist Cate Sacks, owner of the local shelter rescue and dog training company, Shelter Dogs to Dream Dogs, is no stranger to odd animal antics. But bad behavior hit close to home when Scooter, her seven-pound pet Maltese, was mauled by a stranger dog while out in public with the family.

The attack left a two-inch hole in Scooter's chest cavity and lungs. He also almost lost his eye and more.

February 21, 2012 (Jacumba) – Three-year-old Destiny Pierce is a survivor. Born with no trachea and with organs on the wrong side of her body, she defied doctors’ predictions that she would not live 24 hours and survived heart surgery. 

"Mr. Pierce left his job and stopped his education of becoming a nurse so that he could stay at home and take care of his little angel, Destiny," 

said Lorrie Ostrander, a Jacumba resident who started a fundraiser to help the family in this small high-desert town in East County. Anthony Pierce needs a car to transport his "miracle" daughter to her medical appointments.   

By Kate Malatino

RSVP by Feb. 21  for “lunch and learn” with prizes and more

February 10, 2012 (San Diego) – If you’re an active senior or retiree with plenty of free time and a desire to make a positive difference in people’s lives, you’re invited to a free “Lunch and Learn” at Alvarado Hospital  on Saturday, February 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

February 9, 2012 (Santee) – The Randy Jones “5K For Independence” walk and fun run will be held on February 18 at Santee Lakes.  The event benefits Home of the Guiding Hands, which assists developmentally disabled adults and which has been hard-hit by state budget cuts.

Participants are invited to stay at Santee Lakes for a day of family fun, picnic lunch, beer garden, and awards ceremony.

 
February 8, 2012 (Santee) -- Pathways Community Church will be offering gently-used clothing in infant through adult sizes Saturday, February 18 from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Even people who don’t have clothing to donate, can come in and stock up. Everyone welcome!

 
February 4, 2012  (Rancho San Diego, Jamul) -- Local Cub Scouts and their fathers volunteered on Saturday, January 28th to help maintain a nesting site for endangered California Least Terns at Mariner's Point in Mission Bay. They spent three hours clearing the nesting site of invasive plants so the terns can use the site for nesting and rearing their young during the next breeding season (from mid-April to August). 

2011 Cultural Diversity Partnership Culminates with Annual Local Heroes Awards Celebration

 
Presented by Delta Kappa Gamma Society at the The United Church of Christ of La Mesa (UCCLM) 

 No?  Susan Conniry and Tom Beasley, authors of Ready or Not: A Disaster Survival Handbook, can help.

 
February 1, 2012 (El Cajon)--The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is all about being prepared for a disaster, such as an earthquake, firestorm or house fire. This FREE preparedness education program offers residents the knowledge and tools they'll need in the event of a disaster.  The first academy is now full, but there are two more academies being offered for 2012.  Pick the one that best fits your schedule, and call (619) 441-1737 to register.  Please leave your name and best contact phone number.  Hurry, classes will fill quickly.  

January 31, 2012  (Alpine) -- On Saturday, March 25, 2012 the communities of Alpine and Mt. Empire will host one of their traditions, the Miss Alpine, Miss Mt. Empire, and Miss East County Scholarship Pageants.

 
January 30, 2012 (El Cajon) -- The City of El Cajon Teen Coalition would like to recognize youth for making a difference in our community.  If you see, hear, or know of a youth who has gone the extra mile to improve the quality of life in our community, please take this opportunity to acknowledge and reward that effort. 

 
January 30, 2012 (El Cajon) -- The El Cajon Police Department is now accepting applications for the 2012 Citizen's Police Academy. The Citizen's Police Academy is an eight week program that allows members of the community to learn how their police department functions from the inside - out. 

Creations will be displayed at Parkway Plaza and auctioned; entry deadline extended to Feb. 15

January 26, 2012 (El Cajon) --Hoping to make its first "Barkitecture" competition, the ACES Foundation asks your help to design the uldimate "doggy dream house" or "cat condo." Companies, nonprofit groups and individuals are encouraged to let their creativity run wild by designing, building and donating their most delightful and original dog and cat dwellings to the ACES Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit whose mission is to assist the El Cajon Animal Shelter.

 
January 25, 2012 (San Diego) -- As part of its ongoing commitment to cultural diversity and responsible banking, Union Bank, N.A., has partnered with KPBS to honor 17 local individuals who are making a difference to enrich the lives of others.  The honorees were announced as part of the 2011 Cultural Diversity Partnership, which recognizes and pays tribute to local heroes from eight diverse communities who are making a difference by improving their workplace, profession, neighborhood, community, region and the world.  The year-long celebration of diversity culminates with an awards ceremony on  February 8, 2012, where recipients will be formally recognized.

 
January 21, 2012 (Santee) – The 2012 holiday season may be almost a year away, but Santee Santas are getting an early holiday gift.  The all-volunteer, non-profit organization that has been bringing the spirit of the holidays to the Santee community for more than fifty years was informed that they will be the recipients of a $1,000 cash donation from Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market.

By Miriam Raftery

January 21, 2012 (Spring Valley) –More than 70 homeless people in San Diego have a clean, dry mat to sleep on – thanks to the tireless efforts of Wilma Groh. 

The 89-year-old Spring Valley woman, who is nearly blind and suffers from arthritis, has trained volunteers to weave sleeping mats, hats, purses and other items from plasttic grocery bags.  Her efforts have drawn local and national media attention—inspiring more people to get involved.