December 29, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--After a warm visit with my grown son, I tell him “Good bye !” He hugs me and jumps into his car. We wave back and forth and I still do not go back into the house until the curve fades away his presence. Life is so precious and, when you think I could have died decades ago, at age sixteen, the memories of that evening still give me goose bumps. ..My son, Christopher, would have been just an undefined wish of energy wandering in this infinite universe.
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A La Mesa woman seeks an angel investor to buy her home—saving her disabled mother and a recently homeless friend from being thrown out in the streets
By Miriam Raftery
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December 11, 2011 – By just eight votes (15,885 to 15,877), Project Wildlife captured first place in the SDG&E Eco Ambassador’s People’s Choice Award. Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation, which won second place, will receive a $10,000 grant.
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December 11, 2011 (San Diego) -- On Saturday, December 3, the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation held its annual Arbor Day by planting 10 oak trees and 10 shrubs along the Oak Grove Trail.
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Global humanitarian organization served over 230 people, including 160 children, with holiday gifts and community health resources
December 8, 2011 (San Diego, CA) -- PCI (Project Concern International) and the Strong, Healthy Empowered (SHE) group of PCI volunteers hosted their third annual Santa party and health fair in collaboration with PCI’s California Border Healthy Start (CBHS) Program on December 7, 2011 at the Jacobs Market Creek Plaza. Other community agencies that participated include Logan Family Health Center at Logan Heights, American Red Cross WIC, La Maestra Family Health Center at National City, and the Family Health Centers at Lemon Grove.
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The center for adults with developmental disabilities urges supports to give BIG on December 14-15
December 7, 2011 (San Diego) -- St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, the non-denominational adult day-training facility for adults with developmental disabilities, is participating in giveBIG 2011. On December 14-15, the public will have an opportunity to make online donations to the non-profit. The total donation amount will be matched by The San Diego Foundation, which strives to make San Diego a better place to live, work and play.
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The mission is to strengthen and enhance services to those with developmental disabilities in San Diego County
December 7, 2011 -- Home of Guiding Hands (HGH), which provides quality services, training, and advocacy for people with developmental disabilities, their families, and others who will benefit, has announced plans to assume the operations and assets of The Charles I. Cheneweth Foundation (CICF).
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August 31, 2012 (Alpine)--Earlier this week, the infamous Glendale bear known as "Meatball" returned to the La Cañada Flintridge area near L.A. to scavenge for food and was filmed in at least two locations and seen in a homeowner's swimming pool.
In response, the California Fish & Game Department dispatched a game warden to set culvert traps baited with bacon and honey to capture the bear. The compassionate decision was made to re-locate Meatball rather than to euthanize him, which is often the fate of what DFG calls an "habituated" bear - one that's not afraid to enter areas of human habitation.
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November 29, 2011 (Chula Vista) -- Even in challenging economic times, people do the right thing. On June 30, 2011, a construction worker at Sharp Hospital in Chula Vista found $700 in cash. He brought the money to a hospital staff member, who notified police.
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November 25, 2011 (Alpine) -- Gretchen Rossi of Bravo's hit reality series "The Real Housewives of Orange County" will join 11 other local celebrities at Viejas Casino on Monday, November 28 in a Celebrity Slot Tournament at Viejas Casino. 100 percent of the winnings from the tournament, which begins at 10:30 a.m., will be donated to the local Salvation Army.
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Firefighter who saved kitten will adopt it, if owner not found
Story by Miriam Raftery
Photos by El Cajon Police Captain Jim Redman
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November 24, 2011 (San Diego)—Do you have an extra meal to spare as a Thanksgiving dinner for a homeless person?
Jennifer Hughes, a local attorney, is partnering with friends at a local Buddhist temple to deliver Thanksgiving dinners to the homeless.Hughes has offered to arrange pick up of meals before 4 p.m. today to deliver them to those in need. For pickup, call 619-840-7797.Alternatively, donated food may be delivered to the temple before 5 p.m.
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Samoan Independent Pentecostal Church feeds Lemon Grove needy, with help of Mt.Miguel football team.
By Bill Pogue
November 21, 2011 (Lemon Grove) -- The largest, annual free food distribution in East County occurred on Friday, November 18, was made by the Samoan Independent Pentecostal Church, where they rent church accommodations from the Lemon Grove Lutheran Church at 2055 Skyline Drive. This is the 8th consecutive year that Pastor Ulalei Tausaga, his wife Mai and son Smith, and their congregation performed this feat.
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November 20, 2011 (Santee) -- Parker, the puppy whose former owner paid $1,000 for her at a pet store only to abandon her a few weeks later when she broke her leg, was adopted into a new home on November 18. The energetic Beagle/Boston Terrier mix pup, marketed by a pet store as a “Boggle,” is recovering from specialized surgery for a broken leg.
Her new owners, a Santee couple, took her home and will provide lots of love and any ongoing care she needs.
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November 19, 2011 (La Mesa) -- Danamarie McNicholl-Carter is not your average La Mesa teenager. Besides being an honor student and athlete at the Academy of Our Lady of Peace, she spends her spare time playing the piano and volunteering in her community.
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November 17, 2011 (San Diego) – Wells Fargo & Company announced today that its team members donated $545,000 to nonprofit organizations and schools in San Diego, Imperial, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties as part of the company’s annual Community Support and United Way Campaign. All donations were funded personally by team members. This year’s campaign resulted in a 22% percent year-over-year increase in donations from 2010.
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San Diego-based humanitarian organization launches 2012 gift-giving catalog to promote worldwide health and economic empowerment programs
November 17, 2011 (San Diego) -- PCI (Project Concern International) launched its 2012 symbolic gifts catalog, Gifts of Life. The catalog allows the public to give unique gifts that support PCI’s global programs and the people they reach in some of the most impoverished regions of the world.
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November 17, 2011 (La Mesa) -- In October, Catherine Hill of the League of California Cities presented the City of La Mesa with a 2011 Helen Putnam Award for the highly successful Rides4Neighbors transportation program. Helen Putnam was active with the League of California Cities. Throughout her life as a mother, teacher, principal, mayor, and county supervisor, she viewed meeting one’s potential as the greatest measure of success.
To the League and to all the cities in California she defined excellence and the highly competitive award named in her honor recognizes excellence in local government projects each year.
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November 16, 2011 (El Cajon) – Kaitlin Ortmeier, 16, a Junior at Granite Hills High School, was promoted to NSCC Cadet Chief Petty Officer at a ceremony at the Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado on November 13. The rank of the Chief Petty Officer or CPO is the highest rank a cadet can earn, and the equivalent of Scouting’s “Eagle” rank.
Naval Sea Cadet Kaitlin Ortmeier, 16 has the anchors of a Chief Petty Officer pinned on her by her grandfather, Frank Ortmeier, who served in the Navy as a Gunner’s Mate from 1958 to 1963.
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November 12, 2011 (San Diego)—Over a hundred women walked from the other side of Third Avenue downtown, pushing wheelbarrow and carrying trash bags filled with supplies such as dry socks. The rain came down hard, soaking them. Many East County women were among the crowd, including a Jamul mother and her son.
They chanted “We are the ninety-nine percent,” and “Banks got bailed out, we got sold out.” The occupiers peeked out from under plastic tarps, or came out from whatever cover they were allowed by San Diego Police, and cheered. To them, it was a surprise. A few faces, filled with emotion, had tears. View a video:
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November 10, 2011 (Spring Valley)--Veterans were remembered with honor on the morning of Wednesday, November 9, as the Mount Miguel High School JROTC held its 22nd Annual Veteran’s Day Ceremony. More than 175 JROTC Cadets participated in the ceremony honoring all military personnel who have served our country throughout history.
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November 9, 2011 (El Cajon) -- Imagine working for the President of the United States, consulting with him personally and being responsible for the artwork and design of his whole reelection campaign. Josh Higgins doesn’t have to pinch himself awake from the dream. He’s living it.
Higgins studied graphic design at San Diego City College from 1999 to 2002. He has done design work for Fender Guitars, Hewlett Packard and Perry Ellis International. His artwork has helped San Diego County fire victims. Now he’s the Design Director for Barack Obama’s 2012 campaign.
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November 9, 2011 (San Diego)-- Computers 2 San Diego Kids, known as C2SDK, refurbishes used computers and distributes them to eligible families at little or no cost to the recipients. If you or your business is upgrading equipment, you can donate your previous models, helping families in need and assisting children to learn literacy skills.
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November 8, 2011 (Lemon Grove)--A crew of 300 eager volunteers are expected to join with representatives from the Sheriff’s Lemon Grove substation on Saturday, November 19 to clean up the community for the holiday season.
"We're going to make our downtown sparkle,” said Jim Wiebolt, crime prevention specialist.
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November 6, 2011 (Santee) -- The Santee Firefighters and the San Diego County Sheriff's Department are sponsoring a the 13th Santee Breakfast in honor of Veterans Day. All of the proceeds will benefit the Warrior Care Inititive Armed Services YMCA.
Have breakfast at the fire station from 7:00am to 10:30am.
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November 3, 2011 (Ramona) -- This year’s 31st annual Ramona United Methodist Church (RUMC) Turkey Dinner will be held on Sunday, November 6 from 12 – 5 p.m. at the Ramona Community Center, 434 Aqua Lane. Proceeds will help to feed needy families in our area.
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November 3, 2011 (El Cajon)—The City of El Cajon’s Special Events Committee needs your support for its drive to collect items for care packages that will be distributed to overseas military members before the holidays. Donations of items and funds are needed before the November 11 deadline.
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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
October 29, 2011 (El Cajon) – A crash on September 30 at Chase Ave. and Jamacha Rd. in Rancho San Diego has left two men battling major injuries. Josh Zelt remains hospitalized in very serious condition, while Heath Holley was recently released and is beginning his recovery from home, according to the San Diego Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK).
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Travels in time to Bucuresti, Romania 
By Miriam Raftery
Photos By Miriam Raftery
The center for adults with developmental disabilities urges supports to give BIG on December 14-15
November 29, 2011 (Chula Vista) -- Even in challenging economic times, people do the right thing. On June 30, 2011, a construction worker at Sharp Hospital in Chula Vista found $700 in cash. He brought the money to a hospital staff member, who notified police.
Samoan Independent Pentecostal Church feeds Lemon Grove needy, with help of Mt.Miguel football team.
November 20, 2011 (Santee) -- Parker, the puppy whose former owner paid $1,000 for her at a pet store only to abandon her a few weeks later when she broke her leg, was adopted into a new home on November 18. The energetic Beagle/Boston Terrier mix pup, marketed by a pet store as a “Boggle,” is recovering from specialized surgery for a broken leg. 
November 16, 2011 (El Cajon) – Kaitlin Ortmeier, 16, a Junior at Granite Hills High School, was promoted to NSCC Cadet Chief Petty Officer at a ceremony at the Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado on November 13. The rank of the Chief Petty Officer or CPO is the highest rank a cadet can earn, and the equivalent of Scouting’s “Eagle” rank.
Story by Nadin Abbott
By Ray M. Wong
By Millicent Arko
November 6, 2011 (Santee) -- The Santee Firefighters and the San Diego County Sheriff's Department are sponsoring a the 13th Santee Breakfast in honor of Veterans Day. All of the proceeds will benefit the Warrior Care Inititive Armed Services YMCA.
November 3, 2011 (Ramona) -- This year’s 31st annual Ramona United Methodist Church (RUMC) Turkey Dinner will be held on Sunday, November 6 from 12 – 5 p.m. at the Ramona Community Center, 434 Aqua Lane. 
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