Inland Community News Briefs for Friday, Nov. 14

By North County Times | Friday, November 14, 2008 12:14 AM PST ∞

Oceana to hold ballroom dance

OCEANSIDE ---- Oceana will hold a ballroom dance featuring music by The Vidals from 7-9:15 p.m. Nov. 15 at 550 Vista Bella. There will be table seating with finger food and refreshments. Cost is $6.

Tickets are now on sale for a special prime rib dinner dance on New Year's Eve featuring The Vidals. Call (760) 966-6838.

NARFE to meet

OCEANSIDE ---- The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, Oceanside Chapter 706, will meet from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Oceanside Senior Center, 455 Country Club Lane. Barbara Sterlace, Cookie Lee Jewelry representative, will display jewelry items. Call (760) 529-9455.

Dr. King award nominees sought

OCEANSIDE ---- The city of Oceanside is seeking nominees for the 2009 Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Award. This annual award honors residents who have made a significant contribution of time and energy to improve community life, promote positive community development and enhance the lives of individuals and neighborhoods in the city. The award especially recognizes volunteer work and activity done by people outside of a work setting and over a long period of time.

The award is named in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in recognition of the contribution that he and others made to promote positive relationships between people, groups and cultures.

Any resident of the city or MCB Camp Pendleton may be nominated; there are no restrictions as to race, ethnicity, age or type of volunteer service.

Nomination forms are available at City Hall, the library and on the city Web site at www.ci.oceanside.ca.us under Advisory Groups/Community Relations Commission. Deadline to return forms is Dec. 31; the 2009 honoree will be announced in January at the annual ceremony commemorating the life of King. Call (760) 435-3393.

Zeppetella foundation seeks names

OCEANSIDE ---- The Tony W. Zeppetella Memorial Foundation is looking for North County families to sponsor during the 2008 Christmas holiday season. For the second year, the foundation is seeking nominations from the community for families who have gone through a difficult time during the past year and could use a little support making this holiday a bit more special for their children.

Officer Tony Zeppetella was an Oceanside police officer who was killed in the line of duty on June 13, 2003. The foundation was formed to further the work of Zeppetella and to continue his quest to make a positive difference in the community. Last year, the foundation provided Christmas trees, decorations, gifts and a holiday meal to a number of families in Oceanside, Vista and Escondido.

To nominate a family in need of support, submit the information to the foundation at 4225 Oceanside Blvd., Suite M-168, Oceanside, CA 92056 by Nov. 24. Include the names, gender and ages of the children in the family and briefly describe their current situation. Foundation board members will make the final selections. Also include name and contact information of the nominating party.

Driver refresher course offered

VISTA ---- AARP has introduced a new four-hour refresher course for senior drivers who have completed the full eight-hour course within the last 48 months. The course, which teaches safe driving practices, will be held from 12:30-5 p.m. Nov. 18 at the McClellan Senior Center, 1400 Vale Terrace Drive. Cost is $10. Call (760) 639-6160.

Vista Gem and Mineral Society to meet

VISTA ---- The Vista Gem and Mineral Society will meet at 7 p.m. Nov. 20 at the McClellan Senior Center, 1400 Vale Terrace Drive. Member Mark Smith will demonstrate how to create a piece of channel jewelry. Call (760) 724-0395.

Youth basketball registration ongoing

VISTA ---- Walk-in registration for the city of Vista's Youth Basketball Association program is under way at City Hall Building K, 600 Eucalyptus Ave. Boys and girls in grades 1-12 can participate. This noncompetitive program provides youths the opportunity to strengthen their skills, demonstrate sportsmanlike behavior and develop a broad base of knowledge in basketball.

Registration fees range from $65-$84. League play starts in December. Call (760) 726-1340, Ext. 1576.

Center to host meal delivery for seniors

CARLSBAD ---- The city of Carlsbad Senior Center administers a state-funded program that provides nutritious hot meals for homebound seniors who live in Carlsbad, ages 60 and older, and are unable to prepare their own meals. Meals are delivered by volunteers Mondays through Fridays. Donations are $3.75 per meal. Call (760) 602-4652.

Annual rose society auction set for Nov. 18

CARLSBAD ---- The California Coastal Rose Society's annual rose auction will be held at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at Heritage Hall, 2650 Garfield St. Plants will include those that are rare, difficult to find, exotic in nature or ones that have collector's appeal. Many are no longer on the market, while others are so new, they are not yet commercially available. The silent auction will contain approximately 65 specimens and the live auction 35 selections. Information: (760) 967-3856; www.californiacoastalrose.com.

Comedy show to offer help, hope for jobless

CARLSBAD ---- Anti-career experts Kitty Martini and Candice Reed's interactive comedy/show, "Thank You for Firing Me!" will be staged at 8 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Carlsbad Village Theater, 2822 State St. The PG-13-rated stand-up comedy show will offer comic relief for the working world and those worried about being downsized, laid off, fired, pink-slipped or asked to leave their job, while giving audience members the opportunity to vent, tell off and even throw things at the "Boss." Martini and Reed, authors of the humorous blog Jobs4yourfiredass and the forthcoming book, "Thank You for Firing Me," share survival strategies for the changing economy as well as tips on re-creating and adapting job skills to the hottest emerging job markets. Tickets are $18 in advance, $22 at the door. Visit www.after5comedy.com.

College to offer military spouses financial aid

CARDIFF ---- MiraCosta College's Community Services Program is participating in the Military Spouse Career Advancement Account Demonstration Project to provide not-for-credit career training programs to military spouses who apply at the North County Coastal Career Center. Hosted by the U.S. Departments of Labor and Defense, the Demonstration Project is designed to address the educational challenges of military spouses and provide highly skilled, well-trained workers to employers in high-demand industries. To complete their education through MiraCosta College, spouses in the program can receive financial assistance of up to $6,000 over a two-year period. These individual grants may be used to complete programs such as pharmacy technician, clinical medical assistant and a variety of online course work offered in partnership with Gatlin Education that can lead to state-approved credentials. Call (760) 795-6820.

Senior center to host T'ai Chi Chih class

ENCINITAS ---- The Encinitas Senior Center will offer a beginning T’ai Chi Chih class, from 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Fridays at the center, 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive. Led by Pam Towne, the class is designed to teach "Joy through Movement." Register at the center or online. Cost is $5 per class, paid by the month, for students older than 50. Information: (760) 722-9544; www.taichi9.com.

Theater to host acting classes

ENCINITAS ---- Positive Action Community Theater offers free acting workshops to preschoolers, school-age children and teens/adults from 4:15 to 6:15 p.m. every Saturday in studios at 535 Encinitas Blvd. Together, children and parents learn performing arts techniques. Pre-registration is required. Information: (760) 436-4869; info@pacthouse.org; www.pacthouse.org.

School has opening for jazz band musicians

ENCINITAS ---- The Encinitas School of Music Big Band is in search of musicians of all ages to perform in a jazz band setting. Students who have played saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass, guitar and drums for at least two years are invited to join. Saturday sessions continue through the fall with performances at various venues. Information: (760) 612-JAZZ (5299); www.ESOM.org.

Art guild to host 'Small Image' show

ENCINITAS ---- The San Dieguito Art Guild and the Off Track Gallery will host its 14th annual "Small Image" show. Entries must be 12 inches or smaller. All work must be original work of the artist, and all work must be for sale. Entries may be submitted from 5-7 p.m. Nov. 24 and 9:30 a.m.-noon Nov. 25. Award winners will be notified by phone and will be invited to the Dec. 4 awards ceremony and luncheon. For members, the cost is $10 for one entry, $15 for two or $20 for three entries; for nonmembers, it's $15 for one entry, $20 for two or $25 for three entries. Artwork must be hand-delivered to the gallery, 500 Second St., with completed entry forms. Information: (760) 942-3636; www.OffTrackGallery.com.

Be a part of the 2008 Encinitas Holiday Parade

ENCINITAS — Applications are being accepted for the 2008 Encinitas Holiday Parade, which will take place at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 6. This year's parade, "A Storybook Holiday," will celebrate classic holiday stories and their characters. Parade entries will include floats, marching bands and children's groups and will travel south along South Coast Highway 101 beginning at the corner of D Street and finishing at J Street.

Information: (760) 633-2740; www.EncinitasRecReg.com.