November 24, 2014 (Lakeside) – The Lakeside Community Presbyterian Church will host a series of free concerts open to the community.  The church is located at 9908 Channel Road in Lakeside; doors open 30 minutes before the concerts begin. Below is a schedule of concert events:

November 24, 2014 (El Cajon) – The San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce will hold its next First Friday Breakfast  at the Ronald Reagan Community Center in El Cajon on December 5 at 7:15 a.m. Hosted and Sponsored by Viejas Casino & Resort, this special Holiday First Friday includes collecting toys for the East County Toy Drive established by Stoney’s Kids and the Salvation Army.  Bring an unwrapped toy like a soccer ball, curling iron, a bicycle, or a gift card for teens or tots and for each gift valued over $10, Viejas will give you a drawing ticket to win great prizes including an overnight stay package at the Viejas Hotel.  Go Here to reserve your seat for breakfast.

East County News Service

November 25, 2014 (San Diego) - On Monday, City Councilmember Marti Emerald and Rabbi Laurie Coskey cooked and delivered a Thanksgiving meal to fast-food worker Nicolas Cervantes and his family.

By Leon Thompson

(Photo: Jeff Berkeley, left, performs with former Padres player Tim Flannery, right)

November 23, 2014  (Poway)--A sold-out crowd of tie-dye wearing, long-haired hippies with flowers in their hair descended on the Poway Center for the Performing Arts Saturday night to revisit Woodstock, the celebrated concert that changed the music world.  The music and an enthusiastic crowd rekindled the spirit of the original Woodstock, which I attended back in 1969.

Local musicians including Jeff Berkeley,  Eve Selis and former Padres’ Tim Flannery joined The Back to the Garden Band to re-create the iconic three-day outdoor concert that rocked the world in '69 with such greats as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, the Who, Sly Stone, Joe Cocker, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Jefferson Airplane, Credence Clearwater Revival, Santana and Richie Havens, to name a few.

East County News Service

November 24, 2014 (Washington D.C.) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that most women should not have hysterectomies or removal of fibroids using a morcellator device, because it can spread cancer.

Photo: SDSU News Center

November 22, 2014 (Mt. Laguna)—At first, astronomer Robert Quimby almost deleted an e-mail which began,  “Congratulations, you have won $33,000.”  Then the director of San Diego State University’s Mount Laguna Observatory read further and learned that the money is real—his share of a $3 million prize for his research that helped prove expansion of the universe is accelerating.

November 22, 2014 (Dulzura) – If you’re waiting on a UPS package, you might be out of luck.  A UPS delivery van filled with parcels caught fire and was destroyed Wednesday in Dulzura.

East County News Service

November 24, 2014 (San Diego)—San Diego State University campus police warn that a female student has reported that she was sexually assaulted at a party in the 5500 block of Hardy Avenue. The alleged attack occurred between 10:30 p.m. and 2:30 a.m.

November 22, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a fire weather watch for San Diego County’s inland valleys and mountain areas through Tuesday due to warm temperatures, low humidity and gusty winds up to 80 miles per hour forecast.  Monitor the news for possible red flag warnings.

By Miriam Raftery

November 23, 2014 (San Diego) – Families who no longer need to live in fear of separation or deportation have much to be thankful for following President Barack Obama’s immigration reforms announced last week. Locally, immigration activists are sharing their reactions, including Border Angels founder Enrique Morones, who was with President Obama during his historic executive action speech at Del Sol High School in Las Vegas.

“It was wonderful to join old friends that have fought and continue to be with us in the struggle for humane immigration policies, and as we discussed, we still have a long ways to go,” Morones wrote in a letter thanking supporters.  “As I told President Obama, `Gracias, this executive action is why many of us voted for you,” Morones added. “We have much more work to do, more to be included, Si Se Puede!’”

East County News Service

November 23, 2014 (San Diego)—San Diego State University has issued a safety alert for students after a report of an attempted kidnapping shortly after midnight.

An SDSU student was walking home at 55^th Street and Aztec Walk at 12:35 a.m. when she dropped her phone.  Before she could retrieve it, a man in a gold or silver Toyota Camry with a sunroof picked up the phone and went back to the vehicle, which had several passengers. Minutes later, that vehicle returned and the man offered the phone back to the victim. As she approached the vehicle, one of the occupants tried to pull her into the car.

East County News Service

November 23, 2014 (La Mesa) – Each year, La Mesa’s downtown village transforms into a Victorian-style winter wonderland. This year, La Mesa’s downtown village merchants are hoping for a big attendance to help offset business lost during the downtown village streetscape project. 

Chirstmas in the Village will be held on Friday and Saturday, December 12 and 13 from 5 to 10 p.m.  A holiday parade will be held each night at 5 p.m., with a pre-parade at 4:30 featuring a Salute to America honoring 50^th anniversary Vietnam War veterans. The festival also features strolling minstrels, carolers and street entertainers, live music on multiple sages, and bonfires filling the boulevard.  Plus kids can free visits with Santa at the Goodwill Plaza (8250 La Mesa Blvd.) after the parade up until 10 p.m. and also enjoy carnival rides,, ponies and puppet shoes.

November 22, 2014 (San Diego) – So — how long are you planning to thaw that turkey? (24 hours for every five pounds of weight.)

And what's the best way to cook the stuffing? (Separately, of course.)

Thanksgiving is the biggest home-cooking event of the year. You want everything to be perfect—and safe. The last thing anyone wants is uninvited bacteria, party-crashers like salmonella, listeria and E. coli that could make your guests sick.

Never fear--here are five steps from the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health to make this your best and safest Thanksgiving meal ever: Plan Ahead, Clean, Separate, Cook and Chill.

By Kathleen Jorgensen

November 22, 2014 (Borrego Springs) -- Soroptimist International of Borrego Springs will hold its Holiday Home Tour on Saturday, December 6 from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.  You will tour five lovely homes in the Borrego Valley, each uniquely adorned for the holidays. From "ultra-modern" to "old school", each home will reflect the distinct decorating style of the homeowner.

East County News Service

November 21, 2014 (Jacumba Hot Springs)--Jacumba Hot Springs closes out its centennial year on Saturday, December 6^th with a Feliz Navidad celebration. The event takes place at the Highland Center, 44681 Old Highway 80 from 2-5 p.m. Admission and parking are free.