Community news briefs for Thursday, August 14

By North County Times | Thursday, August 14, 2008 12:05 AM PDT ∞

Junior genealogy class scheduled

CARLSBAD ---- A junior genealogy class, sponsored by the North San Diego County Genealogical Society and Carlsbad Library, will take place from 1-2:30 p.m. Aug. 18-22 at the Carlsbad Cole Library, 1250 Carlsbad Village Drive. Students should have completed the fifth grade. The Boy Scout merit badge is available. Free; all materials included.

Call instructor Margaret Read at (760) 757-0528.

Videomakers Club to meet Aug. 20

OCEANSIDE ---- The North County Videomakers Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 20 at the KOCT studios, 3058 Industry St. Learn to make better videos; people of all skill levels are welcome. Call George Sullivan at (858) 484-3903.

Cats available for adoption at reduced fee

OCEANSIDE ---- As the end of kitten season draws near, the North County Humane Society & SPCA has hundreds of cats needing homes.

To encourage adoptions of adult cats, the society is offering a discount on its adoption fee. Now through Aug. 23, any cat over a year old is $30. The price includes spay/neuter, vaccinations and a free month of pet insurance.

Kitten season coincides with hot-weather cycles, and in San Diego County that means mating season will last until late fall, with hundreds of homeless animals entering local shelters. NCHS expects at least 200 more cats and kittens to pass through the shelter in the next two months.

The NCHS is open seven days a week. To view animals, visit www.nchumane.org. NCHS is a nonprofit organization that relies on the public’s donations to help care for the animals in its care.

For information about making donations or adopting a pet, visit www.nchumane.org or call (760) 757-4357, Ext. 1230.

Palomar Cactus and Succulent Society to meet

SAN MARCOS ---- The Palomar Cactus and Succulent Society will meet for its annual picnic Aug. 23 at its garden on the southeast corner of the Palomar College campus, bordering Mission.

Come and experience the garden that was started in 1963 and has grown close to 3,000 specimens. Bring some food to share and a chair. Arrive around 10:30 a.m.

Several tour groups will introduce guests to the garden and to the usefulness of certain plants. Enter on Comet Drive, easternmost entrance before the main entrance and park near the garden.

Information: Vicki Broughton, (760) 741-7553; vmbroughton@cox.net.

North County Deaf Bowling League seeks members

NORTH COUNTY ---- The North County Deaf Bowling League invites new members, deaf or hearing, for this year's bowling league. The league will begin Sept. 20.

A kickoff meeting to discuss this year's league and answer any questions will take place from 6-8 p.m. Aug. 16. For address and directions, contact Mike C. at (760) 580-3562 or irishtattoo13@tmail.com.

Singles group plans luau dinner

ESCONDIDO ---- The North County Singles "Social" Club for "Prime Time Adults" (55 and older) will have its annual Luau Dinner Dance from 5-9 p.m. Aug. 24 at the Escondido Country Club. Live music will be by Our Song Band. Cost is $24. Reservations required.

The club regularly meets for dinner and dancing to live music from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Fridays at the Vista Elks Lodge. Cost is $14.

For membership information and reservations, call Geri at (760) 942-2719.

Progressive Democrats of San Diego to meet

VISTA ---- The Progressive Democrats of San Diego will meet from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Aug. 23 in the Vista Library community room, 700 Eucalyptus Ave. Guest speaker will be Bob Nanninga, progressive columnist, environmentalist and current candidate for Encinitas City Council. Open to public, free parking.

Information: info@mariedjones.com; (760) 736-9370.

San Dieguito River Park to host fundraiser

DEL MAR ---- San Dieguito River Park will sponsor a day of fun at the Del Mar Racetrack Aug. 30. The ticket price of $50 (of which $30 is tax-deductible) includes admission, a full course Cabana BBQ lunch, tips on handicapping from experts, and private trackside seating.

Proceeds go to the San Dieguito River Park for a viewing platform on the Coast to Crest Trail in the Del Dios Gorge area. From the platform, trail users will get a view of the Lake Hodges Dam.

Almost 62 percent of the park was affected by the Witch Creek Fire, and steady progress has been made toward recovery. Many trails have been reopened, and volunteer projects from 8-11 a.m. the second Sunday and third Saturday of each month have been of great benefit to habitat restoration. People who enjoy hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding are encouraged to come out and support this vast open space park.

Buy tickets online at www.sdrp.org, or send for them by mail to: San Dieguito River Park, 14103 Highland Valley Road, Escondido, CA 92025.

Elfin Forest Reserve plans fall photo contest

ENCINITAS ---- The Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve is kicking off its third annual photo contest for amateur photographers.

One of San Diego County’s most precious natural resources, the reserve offers about 11 miles of hiking, mountain biking, equestrian trails, primitive picnic areas, and scenic mountain viewing points, plus native plant communities such as oak riparian, oak woodland, coastal sage scrub and chaparral. The contest is open to photographers of all ages; winners will have their photos publicized. Photos must be taken within the Reserve from any authorized trail or have the Reserve as their subject.

Go to www.omwd.com and click on the Reserve link for a trail map, contest details and a downloadable entry form. Photos may be submitted by mail or dropped off at the Olivenhain Municipal Water District office, 1966 Olivenhain Road, now through Oct. 25.

The winners will be announced Nov. 3, and awards will be given at the 4 p.m. Nov. 12 District board meeting. Categories are (color/scenic view, color/water scenery, color/people in action, color/ plants and animals, black and white, and youth division).

The 750-acre open space park and recreational area was developed by the Olivenhain Municipal Water District with the San Diego County Water Authority and the U.S. Department of the Interior-Bureau of Land Management. To arrange a Ranger-led tour of the reserve, call (760) 632-4212.

The district includes more than 48 square miles, and serves about 58,000 residents. The district includes portions of Encinitas, Carlsbad, San Diego, Solana Beach and San Marcos, as well as Olivenhain, Leucadia, Elfin Forest, Rancho Santa Fe, Fairbanks Ranch, Santa Fe Valley and 4S Ranch.

Information: www.omwd.com.

Preparations under way for annual quilt show

NORTH COUNTY ---- Excitement is building as quilts are completed to be a part of the 23rd annual Quilt Show/ Auction of the North County Quilters' Association Oct. 18 at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 Escondido Blvd.

The annual auction features more than 100 quilts from mini to king-size. Doors open at 9 a.m. for quilt viewing, with a silent auction closing at noon and the live auction beginning at 1 p.m. Parking is free. Admission and bidding numbers are free.

There will also be a vendor mall with both sewing and non-sewing booths and a door prize of a Wii Entertainment Center. Tickets are free at the door; winner must be present.

Proceeds from the auction benefit North County Times Charities, St. Claire’s Home, Serenity House, The Elizabeth Hospice, Escondido Humane Society and other organizations.

Call Carole Glowacki at (760) 715-1984 or Terry Herzing at (760) 747-5603.

Big dog adoption event scheduled

SAN DIEGO ---- The second annual "Big Dogs Rock!" event hosted by the San Diego Animal Support Foundation will be from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 17 on Fiesta Island across from Fenced Off-Leash Beach near the Over the Line area.

The event will feature only dogs weighing 50 pounds or more, and puppies that will eventually be big dogs. It brings together dozens of local rescues and shelters featuring 100 large dogs all in one convenient location.

"Due to the economy and foreclosure market, it seems everyone is dumping their big dog in a shelter or rescue these days," said event spokeswoman Darlene White in a news release.

"We have a housing market that discriminates against big dogs, and therefore a general public preference for smaller dogs. It’s no wonder most dogs euthanized in shelters are the bigger breeds."

To help transition the dogs to their new homes, all dogs will go home with a doggie bag filled with goodies, from quality health food to grooming products, toys, coupons, and gift certificates.

People are encouraged to bring their own dogs to play on Fiesta Island’s Off Leash Dog Beach, and maybe take home a new best friend.

Call (619) 847-8755.

Publishers and Writers group to host discussion

ENCINITAS ---- The Publishers and Writers of San Diego will hold their monthly meeting from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Aug. 30 at the Encinitas County Library, 540 Cornish Drive.

"Everything You've Always Wanted to Ask About Publishing" will be the topic of the open group discussion and question-and-answer forum.

Anyone interested in or involved in writing, editing, publishing, designing, or anything related to books is welcome.

Cost for the meeting is $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers. R.S.V.P. through the Web site at www.PublishersWriters.org.

First name only. Comments including last names, contact addresses, e-mail addresses or phone numbers will be deleted. Attempts to misrepresent your identity or impersonate any person will not be approved. All comments are screened before they appear online, so please keep them brief. Comments reflect the views of those commenting and not necessarily those of the North County Times or its staff writers. Click here to view additional comment policies.