Around town in East County

FYI Datebook
Best bets
Mother Goose Parade: 10 a.m. Nov. 20 at the corner of East Main Street and Magnolia Avenue in El Cajon. The parade will continue east on East Main Street to Second Street, with marching bands and floats, with Taylor Guitars as grand marshal. The red carpet will begin at 8 a.m., and the Mother Goose Village will follow the parade at Prescott Promenade until 3 p.m. Admission is free. Information: (619) 444-8712 or mothergooseparade.org.

Stargazing: 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 18 at the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Drive. San Diego Astronomy Association. Take the family to look at the stars with local astronomers. Free. Information: (619) 667-1300 or cityoflamesa.com/familyfun.

Holiday fundraiser: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 19 at Liberty Academy, 698 W. Main St., El Cajon. This fundraiser for the school’s senior class will feature local vendors selling jewelry, candles, bath and body products, hair and clothing accessories, custom art, homemade crafts and other items. Admission is free. Information: libertychs.org.

Children’s concert: 3 to 3:45 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Spring Valley Library, 836 Kempton St. Local author/musician Clint Perry will perform songs and stories for children and families. Information: (619) 463-3006.

Family craft: 2 to 3 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Rancho San Diego Library, 11555 Via Rancho San Diego. Make turkey hats for Thanksgiving. Supplies will be provided. Information: (619) 660-5370.

Concert: 2 to 3 p.m. Nov. 19 at the La Mesa Library, 8074 Allison Ave. Alexandra Tibbits will perform on the harp. Information: (619) 469-2151.

Flute concert: 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Potrero Library, 24883 Potrero Valley Road. The Native American Flute Players will perform. Information: (619) 478-5978.

Holiday lighting event: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at Santee Trolley Square, 9884 Mission Gorge Road. This annual event will feature live entertainment by The Bayou Brothers, holiday activities for kids, photos with Santa for $10, skating for $3, horse-drawn carriage rides for $2 and the tree lighting ceremony. There will also be cookie-decorating, holiday tattoos, and a workshop to make ornaments or holiday gift bags. Admission is free. Infirmation: (619) 258-4100 ext. 201 or ci.santee.ca.us.

Art fair: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Descanso Town Hall, 24535 Viejas Grade Road, Descanso. Information: (619) 445-4963.

Community events

Meeting: 10:30 a.m. Nov. 17 at the Junction Steakhouse and Sports Bar, 777 Jamacha Blvd., El Cajon. Foothill Republical Women Federated. Reservations requested. Information: (619) 465-7242.

Meeting: 7 p.m. Nov. 17 at Coco’s Restaurant, 1025 Fletcher Parkway, El Cajon. East County Democratic Club. Connie Frankowiak, candidate for the 50th congressional district, will speak. Information: (619) 447-8986.

Workshop: 6 p.m. Nov. 17 at Lemon Grove Community Center, 3146 School Lane. Express views on the update to the housing chapter of the city’s general plan by helping to identify housing issues and opportunities. Registartion requested at LGHousing.eventbrite.com. Housing information from 2005 to 2010 can be read at tinyurl.com/LGHousing. Information: (619) 825-3805 ext. 3926 or ddevrie@ci.lemon-grove.ca.us.

Opening: 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Boys & Girls Club of East County, 1171 E. Madison Ave., El Cajon. Tour the renovated clubhouse and watch the opening of a time capsule from 50 years ago. Information: (619) 442-0371.

Open house: 6 to 7 p.m. Nov. 18 at Charley Brown Children’s Center, 5921 Jackson Drive, La Mesa. Visit classrooms, participate in activities and meet teachers. Information: (619) 463-5126 or ucclm.org/CBCC.htm.

Free blood pressure screening: 9:30 to 11 a.m. Nov. 18 at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center, 8450 La Mesa Blvd. Information: (619) 740-4214.

Fair trade holiday sale: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 19 and 10 to 11 a.m. Nov. 20 at United Church of Christ of La Mesa, 5940 Kelton Ave. There will be handmade jewelry, kitchen items, decorations, accessories and food. This year, there will also be Hmog crafts from “Mama” Houa. Information: (619) 464-1519 or ucclm.org.

Special exhibit: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Knox House Museum, 280 N. Magnolia Ave., El Cajon. Antique jars, bottles and canning equipment will be on display. Information: (619) 444-3800 or elcajonhistory.org.

Family nutrition and wellness fair: 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 19 at St. Michael Chaldean Church, 799 E. Washington Road, El Cajon. Information: (619) 444-9911.

Electronics recycling: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 19 at El Cajon Valley High School, 1035 E. Madison Ave. Drop off electronic waste as part of the All Green recycling challenge. Free. Information: (800) 780-0347 or allgreenrecycling.com/upcoming-events/el-cajon-mpc-ewaste-event/.

Fundraiser: 4 p.m. Nov. 23 at Savanna Grill, 3773 Willow Glen Drive, El Cajon. Operation Thank a Soldier. Live music, raffles, drink specials, dinner and other activities to benefit Guide On, which provides counseling and support for military families. Cost is $17. Information: (619) 633-8500 or (619) 889-2679.

Meeting: 9:30 a.m. each Tuesday at the Rancho San Diego Library, 11555 Via Rancho San Diego, El Cajon. Needle Art Club. Information: (619) 441-7509.

Military Momma Mondays: 9 a.m. each Monday at La Mesita Park, 8855 Dallas St., La Mesa. Stroller Strides of La Mesa. This weekly fitness class is for any active duty or dependent military mother. The classes involve walking and intervals of toning. Free. Information: (619) 436-7404 or strollerstrides.com.

Divorce Anonymous: 6:30 to 8 p.m. each Friday at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1630 E. Madison Ave., El Cajon. Information: (619) 200-0598, (619) 422-7373 or divorceanonymoussandiego.org.

Farm stand: 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. each Friday at Golden Avenue Elementary School, 7885 Golden Ave., Lemon Grove. Local, organic produce from Bernardino Loera Farm available for purchase each week. Information: (619) 825-5600 ext. 2131.

Meeting: 7:15 a.m. each Friday at Marie Callender’s, 6950 Alvarado Road, La Mesa. La Mesa Sunrise Rotary Club. Information: christine_92121@yahoo.com.

Urban walking trails:

• 8 a.m. each Saturday at Jackson Park, 5870 Jackson Drive, La Mesa; five-mile intermediate walkers.

• 6:15 p.m. each Monday and Wednesday, at Highwood Park, 775 Junior High Drive, La Mesa; three-mile advanced walkers.

Information: (619) 667-1300 or cityoflamesa.com.

Tours of The Water Conservation Garden: 10:30 a.m. each Saturday at the garden, 12122 Cuyamaca College Drive West, El Cajon. Free. Information: (619) 660-0614.

Tours of the Heritage of the Americas Museum: noon each Saturday at the museum, 12110 Cuyamaca College Drive West, El Cajon. Free. Information: (619) 670-5194 or www.cuyamaca.edu/museum.

Lake Murray walking trail: 4 p.m. each Monday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. each Saturday. Led by the Widow or Widower (WOW) Club of San Diego. Call for directions to the meeting location. Information: (619) 644-5318 or (619) 466-0232.

Arts and crafts: 3 to 4 p.m. each Tuesday at Kennedy Park Center, 1675 E. Madison Ave., El Cajon. Participate in various crafts including painting, beaded jewelry, tissue art, holiday art and others. Free. Information: (619) 444-1676.

Tours of the Wieghorst Museum: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at the Wieghorst Museum & Western Heritage Center, 131 Rea Ave., El Cajon. Information: (619) 590-3431.

Skate clinic: 4 to 6 p.m. or 6 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday at Kennedy Skate Park, 1675 E. Madison Ave., El Cajon. Bring skateboard or roller blades and learn the sport at all levels. Cost is $8 per session. Must bring helmet, elbow pads, kneepads and park ID card to participate. Information: (619) 441-1676 or elcajonrec.org.

Support group: 10 a.m. each Wednesday at Wells Park, 1153 E. Madison Ave., El Cajon. TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meetings are open to anyone over 7 years old; support group to help lose weight and keep it off. Information: (619) 562-4966 or tops.org.

Senior club: 9 to 11:30 a.m. each Wednesday at the Boys and Girls Club, 8820 Tamberly Way, Santee. Information: (619) 258-4100.

Al-Anon meetings:

• 7 to 8:15 p.m. each Thursday at Guardian Angels Church, 9310 Dalehurst Road, Santee. Information: (619) 296-2666 or alanonsandiego.org.

• 10 to 11:30 a.m. each Tuesday at Atonement Lutheran Church, 10245 Loma Rancho Drive, Spring Valley. Baby-sitting for young children is available. Information: (619) 296-2666 or (619) 670-7174.

• 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. each Tuesday at First Baptist Church of El Cajon, 190 E. Douglas Ave. “Hope for Parents.” Information: (619) 697-4425.

• 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. each Wednesday at College Lutheran Church, 6650 Montezuma Road, San Diego. “Al-Anon for Parents.” Information: (619) 697-4425.

Gamblers Anonymous meetings: Information: (866) 239-2911 or sandiegoga.org.

• 6 to 8 p.m. each Monday at Vista La Mesa Community Church, 4219 Massachusetts Ave.

• 6:15 to 8 p.m. each Tuesday at Harvest Fellowship Church, 12150 Woodside Ave., Lakeside. This meeting is for women only.

• 7 to 9 p.m. each Wednesday at Christ Church Unity (on the right side of Hammonds Hall), 311 Highland Ave., El Cajon.

• 7 to 9 p.m. each Friday at United Methodist Church, 8964 N. Magnolia Ave., Santee.

• 1 to 3 p.m. each Saturday at Harvest Fellowship Church, 12150 Woodside Ave., Lakeside.

• 7 to 8:30 p.m. each Sunday in room 107 at Sharp Behavioral Building, 1460 E. Main St., El Cajon.

Free medical clinic: 1457 E. Madison Ave., El Cajon. Volunteers in Medicine — San Diego offers free visits and medical help for residents of East County who don’t have health insurance. Call to schedule an appointment. Information: (619) 440-4591 or vimsd@sbcglobal.net.

Send Datebook items at least 14 days before desired publication date to: fyi.east@uniontrib.com or call (619) 293-2503. Or, send to Datebook, The San Diego Union-Tribune, P.O. Box 120191, San Diego, CA 92112-0191.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/nov/16/around-town-east-county/