LOVE IS BLIND
Update: Hear our interview with Amanda Matti, author of A Foreign Affair, (originally aired on KNSJ radio) by clicking the audio link here. A Foreign Affair, by Amanda Matti (W & B Publishers, Kernersville, NC, 2016, 343 pages). Book Review by Dennis Moore December 1, 2016 (San Diego) – Amanda Matti, an El Cajon (San Diego) resident who served six years in the United States Navy, including a 2005 deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, has written a riveting true story of romance and war; A Foreign Affair. Matti provides graphic details of her experience in a war that many in this country felt never should have been. This is a well-written book by Matti that gives rare and personal insight into what it must have been like for our soldiers on the ground, in a very controversial war. She takes the reader to this desolate area by describing the sometimes 120 degree weather and the clear and starless sky, in such a way that one feels as if they are actually there. Can love exist between two diverse individuals whose countries are at war? When Amanda, a 22-year-old US Navy Intelligence Analyst, deploys to Baghdad, Iraq in the summer of 2005, she does her best to prepare mentally and physically to face the horrors of war. What she isn’t prepared for is to fall in love…with someone on the “other side.” For Amanda and her Iraqi translator Fahdi, it’s love at first sight. While serving together near the front lines of the Iraq War, the two realize their connection transcends cultures, countries and politics. Amanda knows she may have to choose between Fahdi and her career in the military, but actually finds herself at the center of an international criminal investigation spearheaded by a trifecta of US government agencies – the NSA, CIA and NCIS. This is a very revealing book about us as a society, about us and human nature, the frailties of life! Matti’s frailties comes across quite succinctly in this heartfelt memoir, which at times seems no different than those of myself or the reader. Yes, A Foreign Affair is a love story in the midst of the Iraq war, but what intrigues and resonates with me is a profound statement made by the author in this book; “Our main mission was to help the Iraqis become self-sufficient in conducting intelligence operations to support their own free government. Our secondary goal was a simple public relations mission to prove we didn’t invade only to kick Saddam’s ass and leave, but that we were genuinely interested in helping Iraq establish a functioning democratic government.” Of course, all this could be considered revisionist history by Matti! Spurred by a draconian double-standard, investigators quickly compile a speculative list of offenses Amanda may have committed; one being having fallen in love with an Iraqi native. Together Amanda and Fahdi defy governments and cause international scandal as they fight for justice and love. A true story of romance and war, but above all, an epic love that overcomes incredible odds. Matti finds herself being accused of violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) Articles #192 and #34 for failing to disclose an unauthorized foreign contact and improper transfer of classified information, due to her falling in love with an Iraqi national. Matti was expected to sign a form presented to her by the government stating: “Due to these violations, I understand that I am suspected of illicit disclosure of classified information and espionage.” All this possibly due to her own naivete, which is what love sometimes does to you! And speaking of naivete and vulnerability, Matti shares in this book a revelation with Fahdi that she had a failed marriage at the tender age of 18, during one of those open and poignant moments that they initially shared with each other in Iraq. Not to appear judgmental, but was Matti really that naïve? Especially considering the revelation she made in her memoir, of her current husband, Fahdi, was once one of Uday Hussein’s personal body guards. Mind you, Uday Hussein was the son of Saddam Hussein! Once this was revealed to Matti by Fahdi, she vehemently stated to him: “I don’t believe this. The simple fact that you’re a native Iraqi has us in deep enough trouble already. The fact that you used to fucking work for Uday Hussein does not help our situation at all!” Incredulously, Fahdi actually admitted to Matti in this book that he enjoyed working for Uday Hussein in a response to her inquiry, by stating: “Honestly, yes. I made good money. I was given privileges and benefits that were really pretty awesome. It was a good time. I got to go to awesome parties and do a lot of cool stuff.” Readers of this insightful and well-written book will draw their own conclusions, as I have, despite and because of what the author has written. The way Matti describes Iraq and her involvement in this book, it was reminiscent of the movie Zero Dark Thirty with Jessica Chastain. Perhaps A Foreign Affair could be developed into a movie also, as the author has provided the type of riveting and emotional material worthy of a screenplay or movie. It has the intrigue and drama seen in a number of movies. Brad Pitt’s new movie Allied also come to mind, with his wife in the movie suspected of being a Nazi spy. This epic memoir could very well have been titled Love is Blind or Sleeping With the Enemy, as opposed to A Foreign Affair. Many people came down hard on Matti besides the government, for her illicit affair with Fahdi, including and especially her ex-boyfriend Shawn. As a matter of fact, Matti indicates in her book that it was actually Shawn that turned her in to the authorities. Shawn indicated that his pride was hurt, due to his finding out through the internet that Matti was sleeping with what he
JOIN US SUNDAY AT OUR FEASTING AND MERRYMAKING HOLIDAY PARTY!
December 16, 2016 (La Mesa) — Join us for East County Magazine’s annual “Feasting and Merrymaking” holiday party this Sunday, December 18 from 3-7 p.m. at our editor’s home on Mt. Helix! Our elves have been busy preparing a fabulous feast, plus we’ll have live music provided by singer/guitarist Paul Nichols and pianist Andrea Ladmer, wines from San Pasqual Winery and a wealth of prizes, holiday games and surprises! Our party is open to our subscribers, donors and friends by invitation. Subscriptions are free! Subscribe here to our newsletter and/or wildfire alerts or donate here. RSVP is required. Call 619-698-7617 or e-mail editor@eastcountymagazine.org to reserve space and get the address to join the fun at our fabulous event–and support award-winning community journalism! Cost: $18, or 2 for $30 ((Editor’s club members who have donated $100 or more this year: $15 or 2/$25)/ Please bring an appetizer or dessert to share. Opportunity drawing and silent auction! Prizes include fine art paintings, wine lovers baskets, Julian Weaving Works scarf, dinners, breakfasts, coffees, tea set, personal trainer, dance lessons, jewelry, chocolates and more! 100% of proceeds will benefit our nonprofit community reporting in the public interest and our wildfire/emergency alerts, helping us keep you safe and informed.
SUPERVISORS APPROVE CHANGES TO ALLOW DEVELOPMENT OF LANDS FORMERLY PROTECTED BY FOREST CONSERVATION INITIATIVE
By Miriam Raftery Next up: Alpine General Plan amendments to be considered in 2017 December 16, 2016 (San Diego’s East County)—By a 4 to 1 vote with Supervisor Dave Roberts opposed, San Diego Supervisors on Wednesday voted to approve a Forest Conservation Initiative Lands General Plan Amendment, along with community plan amendments, rezoning and certification of a supplemental environmental review. The action paves the way for development of parcels in the Alpine and Descanso areas that were formerly protected under the Forest Conservation Initiative passed by voters, but that has since expired due to a sunset provision in 2010. Travis Lyon, chair of the Alpine Community Planning Group, reports that the Supervisors “took all the recommendations ACPG made at the last meeting.” Jack Shu, president of the Cleveland National Forest Foundation, said after the hearing, “The bottom line is that the County has moved to do away with what the voters – two thirds of them—wanted in 1993 to protect our local Forest.” Shu further argued that since the County’s Climate Action Plan was thrown out by the courts due to a Sierra Club lawsuit, “They do not have a General Plan. You cannot amend a GP that is not in effect.” Dr. Michael Soule, climate change expert, SDSU graduate and professor emeritus of environmental studies at UC Santa Cruz, had argued in a written statement that “Cleveland National Forest, which encompasses small communities like Alpine and Julian, is the last foothold for a tremendous diversity of wildlife in the county. It is home to more than 20 plant and animal species that are at risk of extinction.” Preventing division of property into smaller parcels protects key wildlife corridors, he argued. But at community meetings in Alpine, the majority of those who turned out supported changes, arguing in favor of private property owners’ rights to reasonable development of their lands. Many of the properties in question are near already developed properties such as Viejas Casino, proponents argued. Next up, the County’s Department of Planning and Development Services is preparing to update the Alpine Community Plan next year as a continuation of the General Plan 2020 update. Lyon, in a statement released through the Alpine and Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce, elaborated: “The Alpine Community Plan has not been updated since 1979 and a lot has changed in almost 40 years! The Community Plan Update (CPU) process will provide Alpine an opportunity to outline a set of goals, objectives, and principles for what types of public and private goods and services the community needs/wants. This includes planning for improvements to roads, parks, & schools among other things. The CPU process will then review the current land use and zoning for property within the Alpine Community Planning area and determine what updates should be made to achieve that vision. Included in this CPU process will be an infrastructure study for the areas of East Alpine along Alpine Blvd, between the West Willows and East Willows freeway off ramps. A number of town hall meetings will be held regarding this process over the next year. It is important for the Alpine Chamber of Commerce and the entire community of Alpine to be engaged in this process from the beginning. Please come to learn more at the Chamber’s January 10th, 2017 Hot Topic Breakfast.” George Barnett, a member of the ACPG, notes, “The community plan update process, which may take 18 months, will include the input of the County’s special infrastructure study on the 2,000-acre portion of former FCI lands to the east of Alpine township.”
JAYWALKING PEDESTRIAN STRUCK AND KILLED IN EL CAJON
East County News Service December 16, 2016 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police Officers and paramedics responded to the intersection of East Main and Ballard last night at 5:40 p.m. on a call reporting that a pedestrian that had been struck by a vehicle. Upon arrival, paramedics were unable to revive the pedestrian, a man in his 40s, who was later pronounced deceased at the scene. His name is being withheld pending notification of the family. “After a preliminary investigation of the scene and the taking of witness statements, it appears the pedestrian was crossing South on Main Street outside of a controlled intersection when he was struck by an Eastbound Infinity coupe. The driver of the coupe, an adult male resident of El Cajon in his 30s, remained on scene and has been fully cooperative with this investigation,” said Lieutenant Randy Soulard. “Drugs or alcohol do not appear to be factors in this collision at this time.” The El Cajon Police Department is asking anyone with information regarding this collision to call (619) 579-3311. We would also like to remind those who walk at night to obey all traffic control devices, only cross the street at designated, controlled intersections, and wear bright or light colored clothing for visibility. For those driving vehicles during hours or darkness, please pay extra attention to the roadway and be aware of pedestrians that may be entering the roadway to cross.
Q&A WITH ONE OF EL CAJON’S NEWEST COUNCILMEMBERS, STEVE GOBLE
By Jonathan Goetz December 16, 2016 (El Cajon) – East County Magazine sat down with new Councilman Steve Goble, who share his views on the most important issues facing El Cajon, his budget priorities, background, and thoughts on pressing problems such as homelessness, the refugee crisis, the East County Performing Arts Center and marijuana regulation. What is your background? As a three time, successful small business owner, I understand how to lead an organization. From understanding financial statements to building a productive team, I enjoy bringing people together and making good things happen. My leadership has been tested and trusted in community organizations including the Make a Wish Foundation, The Salvation Army, Lutheran Social Services, Greenfield PTA, and Partnerships with Industry, a non-profit organization helping adults with developmental disabilities. What do you believe are the most important issues in El Cajon and how will you strive to address those issues? I see firsthand and hear from numerous residents that the homeless issue needs to be addressed. We need to get as much of the $20 million the County allocated this year so we can strive to help those with substance addiction, mental health issues, PTSD and even those temporarily on the street due to loss of a job. Another important issue is rising crime. When the state, through AB109, transferred convicted felons back to county jails, and then some were released due to overcrowding and because their offenses were non-violent, such as drug offenses, many of these are now on the street. In addition, when Prop 47 changed many drug offenses (went) from felonies to misdemeanors, those selling drugs now know they’ll get a ticket instead of going to jail. Those two factors have contributed to increased crime in the city… What are your budget priorities? Other priorities? My priority in the budget is public safety for all citizens…It’s government’s responsibility to protect the citizens, and the citizens’ rights… Crime affects the quality of life and the attractiveness for business… looking how to increase response times on fire/medical emergency calls; to improve our neighborhoods, keeping roads in good condition, getting rid of graffiti quickly; streamlining regulations to grow and attract business, invest in kids and seniors through arts and recreational programs; and ensuring sound, fiscal responsibility… East County Performing Arts Center (ECPAC) The arts are not only a bridge-builder across cultures, but also across generations. ECPAC is a tool which can help. While I support re-opening ECPAC, it must be done in a way that isn’t a drain on general fund resources which are sorely needed elsewhere. However, perhaps there are opportunities to partner with other venues for larger events they can’t hold on their own properties, or with the school districts who might want a central complex for cost savings instead of the expense of building one on each campus. El Cajon has the highest poverty rate in the county and also a high number of immigrants from the Middle East, Mexico, etc. What are your ideas to reduce poverty, attract employers that offer good paying jobs, and help immigrants work toward a decent quality of life? I believe the way up is through education and skill training. I don’t think the federal government has set up our refugee population to succeed. In the 70’s, the Vietnamese refugees got 36 months of federal assistance, but today’s refugees get 9 months, just 25% of the prior amount. If that’s not bad enough, if a refugee moves from Detroit to El Cajon, for example, the federal assistance does not follow them here. So if they move here after just four months, they no longer get federal assistance. How are we helping them assimilate if we’re not setting them up for success with the tools for language training, education, job training, and more? We need to hold our national leaders accountable and demand more if they’re going to land refugees in EL Cajon. As far as attracting jobs, good-paying jobs, the less the government has its hand in the business owner’s pocket, the more he or she has to start, grow and expand a business. Many new businesses are because an individual or a family risks to start, grow and expand a business. Many new businesses are because an individual or a family risked an investment to create jobs, and provide a service or a product. They need every cent they can get to hire more workers, invest in better equipment, and advertise their business. Let’s say that kind of risk is welcome in El Cajon by rewarding them with reduced regulations. What is your vision to help get the homeless off the streets? This fiscal year, the County has allocated $20 million to help get homeless people into drug treatment programs, mental health programs, temporary shelters, veteran assistance facilities, and more. Next year is $28 million. These funds, for example, will pay for a counselor to accompany police in making contact with homeless to see if they want assistance. Already I’ve heard of a family of four finding shelter because the father was a veteran and qualified because of that. I heard of an individual who wanted help with an addiction, and he’s now off the street into a treatment facility. Many homeless people are ready to accept help; they just don’t know where to go. As Councilmember, would you typically vote for, or against, Conditional Use Permits for medical marijuana dispensaries? I don’t believe it’s good for the people of El Cajon to have any marijuana dispensaries in the city. Do you support a police force that (demographically) reflects the community it serves? My understanding is that the police department is having a hard time finding (minority) applicants. They used to receive 400 applicants per year and now that number is closer to 300. Perhaps people’s views towards police are negative, and that’s unfortunate because we need more police officers in El Cajon.
COUNTY OFFERS FREE SAND, SANDBAGS BEFORE STORM
By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office December 15, 2016 (San Diego) – With heavy rains expected, the County Department of Public Works is once again offering free sand and bags to residents in the unincorporated areas to help protect homes, neighborhoods and streets from flooding and erosion. Current forecasts are predicting rain could fall Thursday night and Friday. The region is still suffering through record levels of drought this year. Because of that, rains could trigger erosion and even debris flow, especially in areas that aren’t covered by lawns, trees, shrubs and plants. Water runoff, mud and debris swept downstream by rains can damage homes, clog storm drains and culverts and flood roadways. Locations for free sand and bags are listed below. Just bring a shovel to fill the sandbags and you’ll be good to go. Cal Fire Station 73: 28205 North Lake Wohlford Road, Valley Center Pauma Valley-Rincon, Cal Fire Station 70: 16971 Highway 76 Valley Center Cal Fire Station 50: 1587 Highway 78, Julian Alpine Fire Protection District, Station 17: 1364 Tavern Road, Alpine (Bags only) Ramona Station: 3410 Dye Road, Ramona North County Fire Protection District, Station 4: 4375 Pala Mesa Drive, Fallbrook Cal Fire Station 30: 17304 Highway 94, Dulzura Bonita/Sunnyside Fire Department: 4900 Bonita Road, Bonita Boulevard Fire Department: 40080 Ribbonwood Road, Boulevard Public Works crews will post road conditions on its Twitter and Facebook pages but they will be focused on dealing with the storm so they cannot answer questions on the pages about specific roads, and drivers should be aware conditions can change rapidly. Residents who live in the incorporated areas can contact their local fire departments or cities to see if they are offering sand and sandbags.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: STUNNING SUNRISE
East County News Service December 17, 2016 (Ocotillo) — Jim Pelley captured this image of a spectacular sunrise over the desert in Ocotillo yesterday morning.
MISS LA MESA AND MISS SANTEE PAGEANT APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE NOW THROUGH MARCH 4
East County News Service December 16, 2016 (La Mesa and Santee)–The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce announces that applications are now available for the 2017 Miss La Mesa and Miss Santee Scholarship Pageants. Next year’s pageant will be held on Saturday, March 4th, 2017 at the beautiful new theater at Helix Charter High School. Each year the two cities seek young women between the ages of 12-26 to participate in a program that has become a tradition in the cities since the late 1960s and is an outstanding mentoring program for young women. “We are excited to announce that the pageant leadership team is improving the rehearsal schedule for the 2017 pageant. These changes will ensure that all of the participants learn, grow and develop their skills as a part of the competition process,” says La Mesa Chamber president Mary England. “This will be done by incorporating group and one-on-one training that will enhance interview techniques, stage presence, public speaking, wardrobe consultation and more.” The pageants are sponsored by the local Chamber of Commerce and focus on community service, networking, improving public speaking and interview skills and overall personal growth. “The chosen ladies will have a once in a lifetime opportunity to serve as the ambassador for their city and attend grand openings, parades, summer concerts, business mixers and other chamber functions throughout the year,” England adds. Interested participants can visit the website: http://4pointsevents.com for more information and to download an application.
DESTINATION EAST COUNTY: DEC. 17-JAN. 29
East County News Service December 17, 2016 (San Diego’s East County)–This week’s Destination East County includes full moon fishing at Lake Jennings, a concert of many strings, Santa’s reindeer at Grossmont Center, a winter solstice hike up Cowles Mountain, a holiday homes tour and more. Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including excursions to Split Mountain in the Anza Borrego desert, a New Year’s Eve party at Viejas, and a wintertime walk up Mt. Helix. So scroll down for all of these events and many more! A CHRISTMAS CAROL: THROUGH DEC. 17 IN JULIAN Julian Theater Company will present Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” at the Julian Town Hall with a final performances on December 17th. This classic holiday tale reveals the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge, who discovers the holiday spirit after visits by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and future. (Tickets cost $15 adults, $8 children 12 and under) For tickets and more information visit http://www.juliantheatercompany.com. FULL MOON FISHING DEC. 17 AT LAKE JENNINGS You can fish beneath a full moon and stars at Lake Jennings in Santee on Saturday, December 17th, when the lake will remain open until 10 p.m. A full-sized lantern is required after 5 p.m. For more information, you can visit www.LakeJennings.org. GUITARIST JIM EARP DEC. 17 AT SAN PASQUAL TASTING ROOM Fingerstyle guitarist Jim Earp will entertain guests at the San Pasqual Winery Tasting Room in La Mesa (8364 La Mesa Blvd). on December 17th from 7 to 10 p.m. He performs original material in a Hawaiian-slack-key-meets-Celtic guitar vein- plus sings a host of covers from The Police to 70’s folk-rock a la Neil Young and James Taylor. For details visit www.SanPasqualWinery.com. JINGLE! SAN DIEGO GAY MEN’S CHORUS AT SYCUAN DEC. 17 The San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus will present “Jingle!” a holiday concert at Sycuan’s Live and Up Close Theatre. This festive musical event will take place on December 17th at 6:30 p.m. and again at 9 p.m. For tickets and details, visit www.Sycuan.com. A RENTED CHRISTMAS THROUGH DEC.18 IN LA MESA Lamplighters Theatre in La Mesa presents the musical “A Rented Christmas” continuing through December 18th. A bachelor and prominent businessman has a challenging job for a rental shop proprietor. He wants to rent a Christmas complete with a wife, a family, and all of the happiness for which he has been secretly longing. A ’rented’ Christmas soon turns into a new life for all concerned, making this a warm and special holiday treat. For tickets you can visit http://www.lamplighterslamesa.com. MANY STRINGS CONCERT DEC. 18 AT MISSION TRAILS Mission Trails Regional Park will present a (free) “Many Strings” concert on December 18th at 3 p.m. featuring hammered dulcimer and guitar. Their instrumental music is a delightful mix of Renaissance, Celtic, American and classical melodies. Many-Strings performs in San Diego’s finest art galleries and, on a weekly basis, performs for Scripps La Jolla and Mercy hospitals. For details, visit the Mission Trails website at www.MTRP.org. SANTA’S REINDEER AT GROSSMONT CENTER DEC. 18 Grossmont Center welcomes some special visitors from the North Pole! On December 18th, two of Santa’s reindeer will be in the center courtyard from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Of course, youngsters can also visit with Sant Claus, too! For more information, visit www.grossmontcenter.com. KENSINGTON HOLIDAY HOMES TOUR DEC. 18 On Sunday, December 18, 2016 from 12:00-4:00 p.m. the Kensington Holiday Homes Tour will present a tour of five homes in Kensington, each decorated by professional interior designers. This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to see some of San Diego’s unique and historical homes that showcase elegant architectural features in their original settings. The tour benefits the San Diego Center for Children. For tickets and details visit www.CenterforChildren.org. CELIA LAWLEY, THE SINGING AND CLOGGING FIDDLER DEC. 22 Celia Lawley, a singing and clogging fiddler, will be performing at Parkway Plaza shopping mall in El Cajon on December 22nd. You’re invited to clap and dance along with this talented local songwriter and performer from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Center Court under the Christmas Tree. For details on this and other holiday concerts you can visit www.ShoppingParkwayPlaza.com. COWLES MOUNTAIN WINTER SOLSTICE WALKS DEC. 20-22 To experience the winter solstice, the Mission Trails Regional Park Trail Guides will lead pre-dawn hikes to the area of the solstice observatory atop Cowles Mountain on December 20th and 22nd. On the 21st, Canyoneers of the San Diego Natural History Museum will lead the hike. The age of the site is unknown. The Kumeyaay Native Americans used similar sites across Southern California. For all three hikes, visitors may be rewarded by seeing the rising sun split by a peak on the eastern horizon. All hikes start at 6 a.m. The solstice site is approximately one mile up the trail. The ascent will be in the dark, so good shoes and a flashlight are recommended. Meet at the Cowles Mountain Staging Area on the corner of Golfcrest Drive and Navajo Road. Plan on a two hour hike to and from the solstice site. LA MESA CONVERSATIONS HOLIDAY MIXER DEC. 21 La Mesa Conservations invites you to a holiday mixer on Wednesday, December 21 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Centifonti’s Bar & Restaurant, 8365 La Mesa Blvd . in La Mesa. The evening will be an opportunity to meet neighbors, talk about the new changes at City Hall, and discuss the progress in La Mesa as we approach 2017. Get details and RSVP (it’s free!) at www.LaMesaConversations.org. NOW FOR A PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS… SPLIT MOUNTAIN EXCURSIONS: THURSDAYS IN DEC. AND JAN. Winter is a wonderful time to warm up with a visit to the Anza-Borrego Desert. California Overland Adventures will be leading excursions to Split Mountain in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park each Thursday in December and early January starting at 10:30 a.m. The adventure begins with an off-road ride in a military truck that rumbles into Split Mountain, where you’ll see the enormous slot canyon and towering rock walls where earthquakes and flooding split the
SIMULATED CONGRESSIONAL HEARING AT GROSSMONT COLLEGE SET TO DRAW 400 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Source: Grossmont-Cuyamaca College District December 15, 2016 (El Cajon) — More than 400 middle and high school students from throughout San Diego and Riverside counties will converge at Grossmont College Dec. 15 and 16 to compete in a series of simulated congressional hearings testing how well they know the Constitution. Eleven middle and high schools are taking part in the innovative educational program titled We the People… The Citizen and the Constitution, which is now in its 29th year. The program is sponsored by the Center for Civic Education, Grossmont College, and the Cuyamaca College Constitution Education Committee. The Elks Lodge of El Cajon provides major funding for the event. The competition gets under way at 9 a.m. both days, with an awards ceremony to follow at 12:30 p.m. Events will take place in the 500 building, just north of Griffin Center, at Grossmont College, 8800 Grossmont College Drive, El Cajon, 92920. Students who have completed a curriculum focusing on the Constitution will ‘testify’ on various Constitutional issues during the simulated congressional hearing before a panel of judges comprising educators, attorneys, legislators, business owners and members of the Elks Lodge. Classes from the 11 schools are divided into six teams of three to seven students each. Teams, before the event, were assigned questions to address, all of which will lead to four minutes of prepared testimony followed by six minutes of questioning from the panel of judges. Teams are scored on how well they respond to the assigned questions and on their application of Constitutional principles. “By making the formal oral presentations and working cooperatively as a class, students enhance their knowledge of the Constitution and develop a real appreciation for their rights as American citizens,” said Tony Zambelli, who coordinates the program. The winning high school team will move on to a statewide competition in the spring for a chance to compete at the national competition in Washington, D.C. All participants receive a certificate of achievement signed by their local state representatives. For more information about the program, contact coordinators Tony Zambelli at (619) 660-4318, Janet Mulder at (619) 588-5672, or the Center for Civic Education at (818) 591-9321.