By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left: Twilight atop Mt. Helix during auction at HeART of Mt. Helix

August 16, 2019 (Mt. Helix) – More than 500 art aficionados, philanthropists, food and drink fans, and people who like to party turned out at the 12^th annual HeART of Mt. Helix  The event benefits the Mt. Helix Park Foundation which maintains the stone-stepped amphitheater, historic cross, surrounding park and wildlife habitat atop the mountain.

By Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo:  Here are some available pets at the County Department of Animal Services that are waiting for you or someone to give them a loving home.

August 15, 2019 (San Diego) - If you’re looking to add a furry friend to your life, consider one of our fabulous felines like Jessie, Damsel, or Joplin. Or one of our devoted dogs like Millie. They’re all at San Diego County Department of Animal Services shelters in Bonita or Carlsbad. And it won’t cost you a thing to take them home this Saturday, Aug. 17, for Clear the Shelters Day.

By Helen Ofield, Lemon Grove Historical Society

August 15, 2019 (Lemon Grove) -- The Lemon Grove Historical Society and the Lemon Grove Library will unveil Christy Hale's new, bilingual book, "Todos Iguales/All Equal," exploring the landmark 1931 desegregation case in Lemon Grove's lone grammar school. Written as an original corrida, the book is geared to all ages, but especially to youngsters.

Published since 2008. Copyright 2019 by Sam Warren,SDWriteWay@gmail.com

"If only the people who worry about their liabilities would think about the riches they do possess, they would stop worrying." --Dale Carnegie

SCROLL DOWN FOR A LIST OF BOOK EVENTS

East County News Service

August 12, 2019 (Santee) – The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum Association (PSRM), a San Diego-area historical and educational nonprofit, will host a free presentation on the history of railroading in San Diego County at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 17th at the Santee Historical Society’s barn building, 9200 Magnolia Ave., Santee. The public is invited to attend.  For more event information, visit www.santeehistoricalsociety.org.

East County News Service

Source:  City of La Mesa

August 8, 2019 (La Mesa) - Continuing with the National Night Out celebration, the La Mesa Police Department and Heartland Fire and Rescue will be hosting the 8 th Annual Safety Fair on Saturday, August 10th, 2019. The event will run from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. in the La Mesa Police Department parking lot.

New Blackhawk helicopter, tactical command vehicle, evacuation planning map books, Information and Community Resource Centers and Wildlife Resiliency Fairs provide protection to customers

Source: SDG&E

August 8, 2019 (San Diego) – San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) announces new upgrades to improve wildfire preparedness and help ensure the safety of everyone in the region. For more than a decade, the company has been adding new monitoring technology, upgrading existing infrastructure and working with first responders. Today, the company unveiled additional enhancements, including a second aerial firefighting asset, as the latest strategic improvement to help ensure public safety.

Day-long event is free and open to the public

East County News Service

August 6, 2019 (Pala) -- The Pala Band of Mission Indians will hold its first annual “Honoring Traditions” Gathering on Saturday, August 31 at the Pala Rey Youth Camp on the Pala Indian Reservation.

While this new event replaces the Tribe’s longstanding Pow Wow Celebration, the Gathering will be dedicated to offering many of the same rich traditions of Pala–including bird songs, shinny games, bow and arrow making, peon lessons and demonstrations, a peon tournament and much more.

East County News Service

August 4, 2019 (San Diego) – You’re invited to join Mission Trails Regional Park volunteers and members from the San Diego Astronomy Association for viewings of the night sky through telescopes on Aug. 16 and 24. 

East County News Service

August 4, 2019 (Pine Valley) – “Wireless Radiation: Keeping Safer in a Wireless World” will be the topic of a free lecture by attorney Dafna Tachover on Tuesday, August 27 at 6:30 p.m. in the Pine Valley Clubhouse (28890 Old Highway 80, Pine Valley). 

By Miriam Raftery

Photos: HeART of Mt. Helix

Listen to our interview, originally aired on KNSJ radio, by clicking the audio link.

August 1, 2019 (Mt. Helix) – Krista Powers with the Mt. Helix Park Foundation shared some fascinating history of Mt. Helix and the evolution of the foundation in an interview on our East County Magazine Radio Show. 

She also talked about the upcoming heart of Mt. Helix food, wine and art festival coming up on August 10^th.  The benefit event features live music and dancing, art demonstrations, a high-value raffle and auction, food tastings from local restaurants, wineries, breweries, distilleries and more – all at the mountaintop amphitheater with 360 degree views. This year, the Old Town trolley will shuttle people to the event.

“They come up the mountain and right away, guests walk into a live art experience,” Powers says. Up to Sunset Peak, you can do tastings and enjoy music, after which there will be a live auction with vacation stays and more, cooking demonstration, and even a new VIP seating area with lounge chairs and continued tastings. After sunset, the Good Mojo band will provide dancing under the stars. 

The event helps fund habitat restoration in the park and a wealth of other events held there, including a Halloween Harvest Festival, yoga, astronomy nights, classes, concerts, and a holiday event that this year will including the annual caroling party as well as an event similar to the Christmas markets of Europe.

By Miriam Raftery

July 31, 2019 (Valley Center) – My daughter and I savored a soothing summer’s eve at Keys Creek Lavender Farm in Valley Center, partaking of an outdoor high tea on a shaded patio--an idyllic way to relax and indulge in some scrumptious treats.

After rambling down winding country roads, we arrived to be greeted with a hand-washing station complete with a lavender sugar scrub that left our hands not only clean, but soft and smooth.  I recommend arriving early to take a stroll past lavender fields, albeit past the peak spring bloom season.  

By Miriam Raftery

July 31, 2019 (Campo) – Campo Creek Vineyards (29556 Highway 94 in Campo) will host a grape picking and stomping party complete with barbecue on September 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event admission ($20 for ages 6 and up) includes barbecue trip tip and chicken provided by Heftyboy BBQ and one beverage.