North San Diego County Community News Briefs: Chorus to perform singing Valentines

By: North County Times | Wednesday, January 23, 2008 8:34 PM PST ∞

SAN DIEGO -- Quartets and double quartets from the award-winning San Diego Chorus will be available all day Feb. 14 to deliver two songs and a small gift to Valentines throughout San Diego. Cost is $40 for a personal performance and a small gift; $25 for phone deliveries. Cash, check or credit cards are accepted.

Time slots are 8:30 to 11:30 a.m, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. To order, call (858) 451-8869. Spaces fill up quickly; early bookings are suggested.

Women's auxiliary plans dinner-dance

LAKE SAN MARCOS -- St. Helen's Philoptochos, Women's Auxiliary of Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, Cardiff by the Sea, will host "Dancing Through the Decades," a dinner-dance featuring dance demonstrations and instructions with music and dances from the 1920s to the present. The event will take place at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 26 at the Lake San Marcos Country Club, 1750 San Pablo Drive.

Cost is $55 for adults and $25 for those ages 21 and younger. Proceeds will benefit local burn survivors through the San Diego Burn Institute and other charities the auxiliary supports, including Kids 'n' Cancer, Meals on Wheels and the Philoptochos National Cardiac Fund and Children's Medical Fund.

Information: Laure, (760) 929-1974.

Return overdue county library items with no fine

SAN DIEGO -- Fines will be waived on all overdue items returned to San Diego County Library branches Jan. 25. Information: http://www.sdcl.org; (858) 694-2415.

Group for young adults with Asperger's meets

NORTH COUNTY -- A new group for young adults with Asperger's syndrome has formed in North County.

This is a social group for young adults ages 18 through 30 who have Asperger's syndrome; however, the group welcomes young adults with similar conditions and/or their supportive family and friends. Suggested activities include eating out, hanging out and going out. Others are movies, board games, sightseeing and going to amusement parks. The next activity will be miniature golf at noon Jan. 26.

Information: http://aspergers.meetup.com/332/; Lisa James, (760) 743-0577.

Singles event planned for Jan. 29

SAN MARCOS -- Members of the North County Single Travelers and other singles ages 50 and older are invited to a happy hour and travelers meeting at 5 p.m. Jan. 29 at Acapulco Mexican Restaurant, 1020 W. San Marcos Blvd. R.S.V.P. to Rita Love at (760) 721-8412.

Document shredding event planned

SAN DIEGO -- Members of the San Diego chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers will donate their time and organizing skills to organize the local nonprofit agency Father Joe's Villages, also known as Saint Vincent de Paul Village. The outreach effort is in participation with GO Month (Get Organized Month), a national industry-wide event.

In addition to assisting Father Joe's Villages, the chapter has arranged for a mobile document destruction truck to be at the Village's headquarters for individuals to bring their unwanted papers. The event also will provide the public with an opportunity to consult with a professional organizer regarding document retention and how to organize one's filing system. There is no charge for the shredding; however, the chapter encourages the public to make a nominal donation to Father Joe's Villages. The mobile document destruction truck will be provided by Shred-it.

The truck will be at the Village's headquarters, 3350 E St., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 26. For information, call (760) 525-7597.

Palomar College offers preschool programs

NORTH COUNTY -- Palomar College's San Marcos Child Development Center is accepting waiting list applications for summer and fall 2008 semesters. A sliding-fee scale is available for Palomar College students, depending on family size and income.

Also, the Child Development Center at Palomar's Escondido Center has openings in its State Preschool three-hour morning and afternoon programs. The State Preschool program is open to community members regardless of their student or work status. This program is free for those qualified based on family income.

Information: San Marcos Child Development Center, (760) 744-1150, Ext. 2575; Escondido Child Development Center, (760) 744-1150, Ext. 8155.

Waiting list applications, income eligibility guidelines and information are available online at http://www.palomar.edu/childrenscenter.

Pastel artists to meet Feb. 3

SAN DIEGO -- Art teacher Joan Grine will demonstrate her pastel painting technique at a meeting of the Pastel Society of San Diego from 2 to 4 p.m. Feb. 3 at the Mission Valley Branch Library, 2123 Fenton Parkway. Information: Nancy Petitti, (619) 713-1128.

Participants sought for youth advisory committee

NORTH COUNTY -- Leadership at Faith Based Community Development Corp. invites financial institutions to serve on a newly established Financial Literacy for Youth Advisory Committee. In addition, key officers and staff members of these financial institutions (banks and credit unions) are being called upon to serve as teachers and mentors to low-income youths who participate in the FLY program.

The first meeting will be held at 2 p.m. Jan. 30 at the Faith Based Community Development Corp. headquarters, 2195 Oceanside Blvd., Oceanside.

The purpose of the program is to teach youths the importance of planning, budgeting and saving so they are better prepared to make sound financial decisions and avoid getting into trouble through the lure of high-interest lenders and predatory financial service providers.

The classes are currently guided by community mentors or lead Instructors and taught by successful peer graduates or youth instructors. Graduates of the program are also eligible to participate in an Individual Development Account program, a savings match program that provides a match incentive, for every dollar earned while enrolled in the program. This teaches youths the value and importance of saving as a lifestyle choice.

For information about the FLY Advisory Board, the FLY program or related volunteer opportunities, call (760) 721-2117, Ext. 302, or go to http://www.fbcdc.org.

Alpha Chi Omega to meet Jan. 29

RANCHO SANTA FE -- The North Coast Alumnae chapter of Alpha Chi Omega invites local alumnae to its annual Mardi Gras party at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 29 at the home of chapter President Gerrie McDonald. A potluck dinner featuring shrimp Creole will be served at 6:30 p.m. For reservations and information, call (858) 756-7789 or (760) 634-3739.

The alumnae chapter assists the Alpha Chi Omega collegiate chapter at UC San Diego. Alpha Chi Omega is a 122-year-old national women's sorority with 131 collegiate chapters. The UCSD collegiate chapter was chartered in 1992.

Watch & Clock Collectors to meet

VISTA -- The National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors Club, Palomar Chapter, will meet at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 26 at the Gloria E. McClellan Senior Center, 1400 Vale Terrace Drive. Members will compete in an "ugly clock & watch" display. Call Walter Yahn at (760) 598-5352.

Bird-watching field trips offered

NORTH COUNTY -- The Palomar Audubon Society will offer these bird-watching field trips. Information and directions: http://www.palomaraudubon.org (Field Trips).

8:30 a.m. Jan. 26: Sweetwater River, National City.

8:30 a.m. Feb. 2: Dos Picos County Park, Ramona.

8:30 a.m. Feb. 16: Guajome Regional Park, Oceanside.

Rug hooking group to meet

FALLBROOK -- For those interested in the art of traditional rug hooking, the North County Woolgatherers, Southern California ATHA chapter, meets the last Saturday of each month at the Fallbrook Public Utilities District offices, 990 E. Mission Road.

The next meeting will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 26. Bring a project to work on or come and get ideas for a new project. New members are welcome.

Information: Val Ewan, val@rawhideranch.com; (760) 758-0083, Ext. 103.

Hosteling group offers travel workshops

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Council of Hostelling International USA will present "World Travel 101" workshops at REI stores throughout San Diego County.

The free workshops provide inside tips and resources for the independent traveler, including packing tips, personal safety, budgeting and cultural awareness. All workshops start at 7 p.m.

Upcoming workshops are scheduled for Feb. 26 at REI Encinitas, 1590 Leucadia Blvd.; and Feb. 27 at REI San Diego, 5556 Copley Drive.

REI is an outdoor fitter. For information, go to http://www.rei.com.

Hostelling International USA is a nonprofit organization that provides overnight accommodations for travelers with more than 60 hostels nationwide. For information about HI-San Diego hostels and programs, go to http://www.sandiegohostels.org or call the council office at (619) 338-9981.

Organizations partner to inform women voters

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego County League of Women Voters and SanDiegoMama.com, both nonpartisan organizations, have formed a partnership to engage women of all ages in San Diego County in the 2008 local elections using the power of the Internet.

According to the United States Census Bureau's 2004 Current Population Survey, 40 percent of women chose not to vote in the 2004 presidential elections. Of those, 37 percent said they did not vote because they were too busy, not interested or did not like the candidates or issues.

"Women have a lot of demands placed on their time and may not be able to access the best information to make informed election decisions so they choose not to vote," said Emily Wignall, creator of SanDiegoMama.com. "We are excited to partner with the League, because they have remained a reliable voice to voters for decades and can help San Diego women more easily understand complicated election issues."

Nancy McCleary, County League President said, "We are working together to give San Diego women easier access to reliable, unbiased, factual information so they can make the best decisions for their families and communities. As San Diego women feel better informed about the issues, we hope they will voice their opinions at the polls and in conversations with family and friends."

Beginning with the Feb. 5 primary and running through the November elections, the San Diego League of Women Voters and SanDiegoMama.com will provide information about election issues affecting women and their families in San Diego County. Topics will include immigration, health care, ballot measures and local candidate information.

All information will be posted on SanDiegoMama.com under the MamaVote link, as well as on the blog at http://www.sandiegomamas.blogspot.com. Facts sheets about each topic will be available to the public and to the media, and spokespeople from both organizations are available for interviews about each topic. The San Diego Mama site will link to the popular voter information site sponsored by the League called "Smart Voter."

SD history lecture series to begin Feb. 21

SAN DIEGO -- The Save Our Heritage Organization's Third Thursdays Authors Series, a 10-month series of lectures about San Diego's history, architecture and its culture, will begin Feb. 21.

The one-hour lectures include a 15-minute question-and-answer period followed by a book signing session and light refreshments. SOHO has partnered with Arcadia Publishing to produce a lively series of lectures. Authors will discuss their passion, and guests will learn how each community or topic is uniquely San Diego's own. Featured communities include Balboa Park, Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, Little Italy and Escondido.

The series runs from February through November. Lectures will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the SOHO-operated city museum, the Adobe Chapel, at 3950 Conde St. in Old Town San Diego.

Cost is $25 in advance or $35 at the door, which includes lecture and book. Cost for the lecture only is $15 at the door. To purchase tickets, call (619) 297-9327. For information, go to http://www.sohosandiego.org.