Options include a Valentine’s Day cooking class and tips on everything from growing vegetables to replacing water-thirsty lawns

January 19, 2011 (San Diego) -- San Diego River Park Foundation announces a series of events to raise funds for establishing trails, parks, gardens and visitor centers along the 52-mile-long San DIego River.  The events include San Diego Days, San Diego RiverFest, and a Healthy River Run.

January 15, 2011 (Lemon Grove)--In celebration of Women's History Month, the Lemon Grove Historical Society will continue its free "History Alive" lectures series on Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. in the H. Lee House Cultural Center, 3205 Olive, Lemon Grove. Ashley Gardner, past president of the Women's Museum of California, presents the story of women who helped to build San Diego County in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.

January 14, 2011 (Santee) – It sounds like a fish story: Santee Lakes are stocked with 13,000 pounds of rainbow trout during trout season from November through March. This stock includes large trophy trout up to 16 pounds, as well as tagged trout worth cash and prizes. In addition, the lucky fisherman who catches the biggest whopper of a trout on Saturday, January 15th will win a Nintendo Wii.

January 12, 2011 (La Mesa)--The City of La Mesa’s annual Multicultural Festival in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr will be heldr Sunday, Jan. 16th from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. at the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Drive. The 15th annual event, presented by the City of La Mesa Human Relations Advisory Commission, is free and open to the public.

Featured entertainment includes appearances by the Helix Charter High School Bagpipe Band, Moreton Bay Fig Morris, an English Folk Dance Troupe, and Axis Gospel Singers. Dr. James Kitchen, Vice President, Student Affairs, San Diego State University, will serve as guest speaker.

December 2, 2010 (Alpine) – Alpine Boulevard transforms into a winter wonderland on December 3, when the town hosts its annual Alpine Village Christmas celebration.

Santa arrives at 6:30 p.m., riding in the 15th annual Parade of Lights.  Afterwards, Santa and his helpers will light a holiday tree at the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Blvd., and join in a holiday sing-along. Kids and the young in heart are also invited to stay and play in a free mountain of snow, complete with sledding.

November 21, 2010 (El Cajon) - The Mother Goose Parade rolled on despite heavy rainfall this morning in downtown El Cajon, where crowds cheered on heroes honored in the event, including first-responder heroes from the 9-11 Twin Towers collapse in New York City.  

Photographer Dennis Richardson has provided these images from today's parade.

November 14, 2010 (Santee) -- The city of Santee is doing its part to prevent the holidays from becoming ho-ho-ho-hum.A special events team from the Community Services Department has choreographed an event that features some unlikely holiday pairings: Santa Claus, live Doo-wop music, skating on synthetic ice, and an old-fashioned horse-and-carriage ride.

November 10, 2010 (El Cajon)--The Second Annual Jingle Paws Pet Walk and adoption event, sponsored by the ACES Foundation (Animal Center for Education and Services) and Camp Bow Wow, will be held on Saturday, December 4.  The event runs 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Wells Park, 1153 E. Madison Avenue in El Cajon.

Following a brisk 9 a.m. walk around the park, pets and their owners can enjoy Santa's Village filled with fun pet  activities, vendors, goodies, and adoptable pets--just in time for the holidays.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Mark and Miriam Raftery

November 14, 2010 (Escondido)--Knights and knaves, wizards and wenches, pirates and peasants strolled the grounds at Felicita Park in Escondido, where the Renaissance Faire was held on November 6th and 7th.

Thousands of people turned out for this festive annual event, including many community members clad in medieval and Renaissance-era attire.

November 13, 2010 (Alpine) - The public is invited to help support birds of prey at Sky Hunters, an Alpine-based center that takes in injured birds of prey, nurses them back to health and reintroduced them into the wild. 

Water-wise, fire-wise and cool-season gardening resources available

November 8, 2010 (Flinn Springs) – Summers Past Herb Farm invites you to a holiday open house on Thursday, November 11 from 5 to 8 p.m.