HO! HO! CHRISTMAS RESALE SHOPPE IN LAKESIDE
November 14, 2015 (Lakeside)–The Lakeside Historical Society will be hosting its popular Mrs Claus Christmas Resale Shoppe during the month of December. Gently used Christmas decorations and related items and gifts will be sold at bargain prices. The location of the Shoppe is the Olde Community Church, 9906 Maine Avenue (corner of Parkside). Store hours will be Mondays-Thursdays 10a.m.-2p.m. Fridays 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m.-4p.m. Your gently used Holiday related donations will be greatfully accepted. Please call 561-1886 for further information.
PICKWICK PLAYERS PRESENTS A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS DEC. 4-19 IN SANTEE, BENEFITTING PROJECT LINUS
November 13, 2015 (Santee)–You loved them so much last year, Pickwick Players, your East County theatre family, is bringing them back again! Come join Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Snoopy and the entire Peanuts gang as they come to life one more time on the Off Broadway Live stage (9490 Cuyamaca Street in Santee) to look for the true meaning of Christmas in A Charlie Brown Christmas December 4-19. When Charlie Brown complains about the overwhelming materialism he sees among everyone during the Christmas season, Lucy suggests that he become director of the school Christmas pageant. Charlie Brown accepts, but this proves to be a frustrating endeavor. When an attempt to restore the proper holiday spirit with a forlorn little Christmas fir tree fails, he needs Linus’ help to learn what the real meaning of Christmas is. During the run of A Charlie Brown Christmas, Pickwick Players will be encouraging our patrons to make a monetary donation to benefit the Santee Chapter of Project Linus. Project Linus, a non-profit organization, provides homemade blankets to children in need. The blankets are lovingly made by adults and children from all walks of life and many different sources. The blankets are collected locally and distributed to children in hospitals, shelters, social service agencies, or anywhere that a child might be in need of a big hug. Each of our casts has donated a blanket that they made during rehearsals. To learn more about Project Linus please visit their website at http://www.projectlinus.org/ or phone the Santee Chapter at (619) 258-9910 SPECIAL NEEDS PERFORMANCE ON DEC. 5 Pickwick Players is designating a performance specifically offered to families of children with special needs on Saturday December 5 at 2 p.m. We welcome all patrons to our theatre and we want to offer a safe and accepting environment for children with special needs and their families. For this performance: -theatre will open early (1:15 p.m.) for a chance to “meet your seat” and get familiar with the space -lights in the seating area will remain dim throughout the performance instead of the traditional darkness in the house. Children have freedom to move around or come and go from their seats at any time during the performance; -ear plugs provided if needed (please request ahead of time so that we have enough)Contact director Jennie Gray Connard for more information or questions at jennieconnard@gmail.com CAST :(Charlie Brown) Sebastian Palomera, (Lucy) Carissa Shelton, (Linus) Matthew Garbacz, (Sally) Kaitlyn McCormick, (Schroeder) Luke Garbacz, (Peppermint Patty) Bryn Williams, (Marcie) Emma Spencer, ( Snoopy) Heather Kraegel, ( Woodstock) Juliet Garbacz, (Pig Pen) Jake David, (Frieda) Jordan Bockert (Violet) Kara Spencer (Patty) Savannah Rennel( Shermy) Connor Reisch Linus: Matthew Garbacz Sally: Kaitlyn McCormick Schroeder: Luke Garbacz Peppermint Patty: Bryn Williams Marcie: Emma Spencer Snoopy: Heather Kraegel Woodstock: Juliet Garbacz Pig Pen: Jake David Frieda: Jordan Bockert Violet: Kara Spencer Patty: Savannah Rennel SPECIAL NEEDS PERFORMANCE! Pickwick Players is designating a performance specifically offered to families of children with special needs on Saturday December 5 at 2 p.m. We welcome all patrons to our theatre and we want to offer a safe and accepting environment for children with special needs and their families. For this performance: -theatre will open early (1:15 p.m.) for a chance to “meet your seat” and get familiar with the space -lights in the seating area will remain dim throughout the performance instead of the traditional darkness in the house. -children have freedom to move around or come and go from their seats at any time during the performance -ear plugs provided if needed (please request ahead of time so that we have enough)Contact director Jennie Gray Connard for more information or questions at jennieconnard@gmail.com Production Team includes Jennie Gray Connard ( Director), Kevin Davison (Asst. Director), Cameron Williams (Producer), Kirk Valles (Musical Direction), Jim and Merrie Williams (Box Office) TICKETS Adults: $20 Students: $17 Seniors (60+): $17 Active military: $17 Children 12 and under: $14 Groups (10+): $13 (Contact box office: 619-448-5673) THE INFO: Dates- Performances are Friday and Sunday Evenings: December 4, 6, 11,13 and 18 at 7:00 p.m. Saturday Afternoons: December 5, 12 and 19 at 2:00 p.m. www.pickwickplayers.net for information and tickets Add $3 for opening night, which includes a post-show Cookie and Hot Cocoa Reception
PLENTY TO SAVOR AT “TOAST TO EAST COUNTY”
By Miriam Raftery Photo, left: Dulzura Winery owners November 15, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)–At the inaugural Toast to East County event hosted by the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce and San Diego Vintners Association at Cottonwood Golf in Rancho San Diego on November 8th, guests savored a wide array of wines from local vintners as well as foods ranging from artisan cheeses to barbecued meats, Mexican food, olive oil, raw honey and more. Speaking of honey, Pearson Brothers Winery of Dehesa served up Honey Saccharo wine made without grapes. Other vintners offered up samples of more traditional vintages, from cabernet to chardonnay. Rock Canyon poured its latest offering, a dessert port-like wine, while others showed off new varieties for the region such as a Malbec. Plus awards were presented for trailblazers in our region’s fast-growing winemaking industry. Ramona, a premier emerging wine region that now has 36 bonded wineries and tasting rooms, was well represented with Ramona Ranch Winery and Vineyard Grant James serving up some rich red wines ,notably hearty zinfandel blends, and other vintages. Linda McWilliams from San Pasqual Winery in La Mesa, sporting a T-shirt reading “Think globally, drink locally” gave out samples of some wonderful wines too, including their ever-popular passion fruit wine. Maness Vineyards, which will open a tasting room next year in Jamul, offered tasty jams and hand-made quilts along with its wines. Maness is one of several wineries along the Highway 94 corridor including Granite Lion Cellars, Dulzura Vineyard and Winery, and Deerhorn Valley Vineyards, which recently purchased Dubet Vineyards. Several local brewers brought kegs including Ballast Point, Bolt Brewery, Goose Island, Karl Strauss, and URBN St. Brewing Co. Food offerings included Cheeses from the Cave, artisan cheeses, an array of Jensen Meats, Quisenberry Farms Olive Oils – from jalapeno to blackberry, Culinary Condiments. Local restaurants also brought samples to savor including Black Angus, Hacienda Casa Blanca, Hooley’s Irish Pub & Grill, and other establishments including Cottonwood Golf and Dream Diners. A large crowd turned out, sipping and noshing their way through an outdoor tent at Cottonwood Golf course, also stopping off at vendor booths outside. Greg Maness presented special Trail Blazer Awards on behalf of the San Diego County Vintners Association, dedicated to those who have blazed old and new trails in the local new wine communities and have made a big impact helping, assisting and mentoring new growers and wine makers. This year’s winners were: Bill Schweitzer, one of the first vineyard growers in Ramona, who inspired many families to start growing grapes and helped develop the county’s boutique winery ordinance. He is also a founder who created the new Ramona RVA American Viticulture Area wine growing zone, helping to put Ramona on the map as a winemaking destination. Also a consultant, he has worked with hundreds of clients and is still teaching and learning about vines and wines. Most recently he opened the Ramona Gold Olive Oil Company. Pete Anderson, an award-winning winemaker and vice president of Witch Creek Winery’s winemaking team as well as vineyard consultant, studied viticulture and enology at the University of California, Davis. He is an associate faculty member at Mira Costsa College, teaching vineyard development and management and created a viticulture seminar at California State University San Marcos for new growers. As a private wine maker, he has won gold medals at local tasting events for his estate-grown wines. He also tracks date results for the Italian Winegrape Project or Vite Italiano Project. Lum Eisenman, 86, is a research scientist and physicist, viticulturist, educator and founder of the San Diego Amateur Wine Making Society. He began his work in the winemaking industry in his teens in the Cucamonga Valley and studied viticulture and enology form U.C.. Davis He has won many gold medals for his own winemaking and also has taught course at Mira Costa College ranging from vineyard design to wine judging. He is the author of The Home Wine Makers Manual (available online) and as assistant wine maker at Belle Marie Winery for 12 years. He continues to take pride in consulting and helping local wine makers fulfill their dreams. Supervisor Dianne Jacob, a past Trail Blazer Award winner, was also on hand, drawing praise for her efforts to pioneer passage of a tiered winery ordinance credited with providing fertile seeds to nurture the growth of San Diego’s now-burgeoning wine making industry. There are now 105 wineries in San Diego County – most of those right here in East County.. Cheers!
STRONG WINDS, SHOWERS SUNDAY AND MONDAY
East County News Service November 14, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) –Strong winds across our region are forecast for Sunday afternoon through Monday, with gusts over 70 miles per hour possible on mountain crests and desert mountain slopes and gusts of 35 to 60 mph in mountain and desert areas. Gale force wind gusts of 35 to 40 knots are also forecast over coastal waters, says Stephen Harrison, meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Showers are also forecast, with rainfall light in most areas, though mountains could receive a half inch of precipitation. High winds could make driving difficult especially for high-profile vehicles. Damage to trees and power lines is possible in mountains and deserts. Sign up to receive East County Magazine’s free East County Alerts via e-mail warning of wildfires, severe weather watches and warnings, earthquakes, flash floods, major accidents/road closures, and other perils. You can also follow EastCountyAlert on Twitter. We recommend all of the above, since you can’t know what form of communication will work best in a major regional emergency. We thank our generous sponsor, Grossmont Healthcare District, for supporting our alerts. For latest weather watches, warnings and advisories directly from the National Weather Service you can also visit the Detailed Hazards Viewer. Click here for the latest Weather Stories. Sign up for iNWS (free) to get text message or e-mail notifications of hazards for your specific area(s).
UPDATE ON LOCAL STUDENTS IN FRANCE
Update November 15, 2015: SDSU now confirms that all 34 of its students in France are safe. East County News Service November 14, 2015 (San Diego) – San Diego State University confirms that at least 31 of its 34 students in France are safe, including all eight students studying in Paris. “The other three are in southern France and we are actively reaching out to them, their coordinators and our partner universities,” a press release issued by SDSU today states. However a student from Long Beach State University is among the victims of the terrorist attacks in Paris yesterday. “We are saddened by the tragic events…Our thoughts go out to the victims loved ones and the entire Long Beach community,” the SDSU statement adds. SDSU has asked all students in France about their safety and location, reminding them to let friends and family know that they are okay. Students in France have also been offered counseling if needed. The health and safety of our students is our top priority. We will update our SDSU Newscenter when more information is available,” the SDSU statement concludes.