October 18, 2012 (La Mesa) – The Debbie Berton Walk to end breast cancer will be October 28 from noon to 2:30 p.m. at Lake Murray, 5540 Kiowa Drive, La Mesa.  The public is welcome to participate in this community event.

The walk is a relaxed 1.5 miles starting from the baseball fields at Lake Murray.  Admission is not required, but with a minimum $20 tax deductible advance donation a T-shirt is provided.  Two additional registration levels are also available.  Register online at www.TheDebbieBertonWalk.com by midnight October 25.  Walk-in registrations and donations are welcome the day of the event.

October 17, 2012 (Lakeside) -- Cox Communications and The Trust for Public Land announced Sally Nelson as the 2012 Cox Conserves Hero (click to see video).  Sponsored locally by Think Blue San Diego and radio partners KYXY 96.5 and Energy 103.7 FM, Cox Conserves Heroes honors volunteers who are creating preserving or enhancing outdoor spaces. 

Nelson was nominated by Lakeside's River Park Conservancy because of her commitment to the local environment, education and community awareness. Nelson has been volunteering for over 10 years. She has been active in every event  the River Park has had, from the first purchase of land to the trail opening.

By Kit-Bacon Gressitt

October 10, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--Picture a serene summer night in Phoenix, Arizona, circa 1982.1

I lay on a crinkly table in a cluttered ER, joking with the doc, bribing him with a promise of homemade shortbread if he could fix my face without leaving scars, looking anywhere but in his eyes, and I noticed a police officer nearby.

October 2, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--Keller Williams Realty El Cajon will be a "Gold Sponsor" for the upcoming "Roy Richards Recovery Fund" golf tournament being held on Friday October 5 at the Carlton Oaks Golf Course in Santee. The office is helping to raise funds to help Richards recover from a life-threatening accident that resulted in a skull fracture with major brain injuries. He also suffered a broken rib and broken nose.

October 4, 2012 (Alpine)--The Alpine Woman's Club invites you to participate in a program to help maintain and preserve the historic Town Hall building. It was built in 1899 and is one of Alpine's most significant treasures. In 2006 it was designated an historic site by the San Diego County Register of Historic Places. As Alpine's original Town Hall, it has housed every type of event imaginable - graduations, movie nights, dances, weddings, funerals, Red Cross events during World Wars I and II, and much more.

September 27, 2012  (San Diego)– Three adolescent girls, who suffered severe burns from a Halloween accident, car crash, and kitchen incident, will share their stories during a special fundraising dinner at a private residence in the San Diego area on Saturday, October 6, 2012 from 6 to 9 p.m.

September 22, 2012 (San Diego) -- On Saturday, September 29, hundreds of East County residents will shine their belt buckles and don their best pair of jeans for East County Family  YMCA’s annual fundraiser called The Branding. The event, now in its 19th year, will be held in a western setting at McGrath Family YMCA in Rancho San Diego.

Since The Branding’s inception, thanks to the generosity of community members, sponsors, donors, and dedicated volunteers, The Branding  has raised more than $1.5 million.

Proceeds help fund special programs for San Diegans in need of hospice care

September 16, 2012 (San Diego) – The LightBridge Hospice Community Foundation, a non-profit organization that fulfills special requests from hospice patients and their loved ones, will host its 4th annual Remembrance Walk on Sunday, September 23 at Liberty Station.

September 11, 2012 (La Mesa) -- This year’s Park Appreciation Day is scheduled for October 20.  La Mesa’s parks are the jewels of the city – help make them shine for the centennial.

Individuals of all ages and groups can join in and help their community.  Civic, church or social groups can adopt a park. To find a project that all your members can do, contact us at 667.1300 or community@ci.la-mesa.ca.us.

September 5, 2012 (Lakeside) – The Grand Ladies of the Old West host their annual dance on September 8 at the VFW Hall, Post 5867, 12650 Lindo Lake Lane, Lakeside from 6:00-11:00 p.m.  The “Honky Tonk Kings” will provide live entertainment at the event, which also features dancing, raffles, food and drinks.

The cost is $15 per person or $25 for a couple.  The event will benefit the 2012 donation to “Project Safehouse and Big Sisters League”. 

By Dennis Moore

September 5, 2012 (San Diego)--A NEW PATH, or PATH (Parents for Addiction Treatment & Healing), is a voluntary, non-profit group of concerned parents of individuals suffering from addiction. They partner with health care professionals, the criminal justice system, recovering addicts and concerned members of society to seek better understanding of the illness and to create "therapeutic justice" for substance abuse related crimes. PATH's goals are  to reduce recidivism, save lives, heal families and move toward a healthier society.

On September 8, PATH invites you to the organization's annual “Strut for Sobriety” fashion show celebrating recovery from addiction.  The event, held at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, will also feature a luncheon, awards, silent auction, live entertainment and boutique.( For full details, see http://www.anewpathsite.org/newevents1.html.)

September 5, 2012 (El Cajon) – Home of Guiding Hands is holding the 30th Annual Golf Classic Pro-Am Tournament on September 28 at Sycuan Golf & Tennis Resort, 3007 Dehesa Road, El Cajon.  The event begins at 10 a.m. with registration and a Meet & Mingle with San Diego PGA Members.  The Shotgun start will be at 12 p.m. followed by a buffet dinner at 5 p.m.

August 30, 2012 (El Cajon) – The Bellus Academy is offering complimentary spa services for active and retired servicemen and women September 4-8.  The award-winning salon and spa has three locations in San Diego, El Cajon, Poway and National City.

August 21, 2012 (Rancho San Diego) -- Church members from the Gathering @RSD packaged 3,200 meals to be sent to needy children and their families in the Dominican Republic. The church raised the money through collecting extra change. The effort was coordinated through the organization, Children of the Nations, which reach out to children in need in Africa and the Caribbean.

By Rebecca J. Williamson

August 13, 2012 (Santee) -- Around the world and here in East County, people are saying “yes” to the dress---a pillowcase dress. Sashay, spin, or strut in it! This dress is made out of a pillowcase (new or gently used).