Library to hold forum on local needs
     ALPINE — The Alpine Branch of the San Diego County Library will host a forum at the Alpine Community Center at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 3, to talk about the needs of the community and about how the library can do a better job of serving the community.
     The library wants to learn how to improve services to current customers and how to serve community members who are not currently using the library. 
     A trained facilitator will conduct the forum to be sure that everyone has an opportunity to participate.
     For more information, one may call Connie McKeever at 659-8390.

Biggest rummage sale to take place
     ALPINE — The biggest rummage sale in town takes place April 29 and 30 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Alpine Community Church, 2225 Victoria Drive. It will offer just about everything possible, furniture, clothes, men's, women's and children, housewares including small appliances, yard and garden equipment, tools, sporting goods, toys, linens and bedding, purses and shoes, books, videos and CD's, computer gear, jewelry, and boutique items.
     Lunches will also be available both days from the Kiwanis chuck wagon, manned by Pastor Jim Mowry.

AARP to offer driver safety course
     LA MESA — Sharp Grossmont Hospital Senior Resource Center will host its Driver Safety Course from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., on Saturday, May 7 and 14, at Grossmont Hospital’s Brier Patch Campus, Classroom 16, 9000 Wakarusa, La Mesa. Reservations are required. 
     The cost is $10. Call 641-7020.

Wild Miles relay to finish in Pine Valley
     PINE VALLEY — The inaugural Wild Miles Adventure Relay, a 183-mile running relay set for May 21-22, 2005, will end in Pine Valley. The relay will consist of 250 teams of 10 runners each. The course consists of 30 legs with distances of three miles to a half-marathon on mostly rural roads. 
     The course will start on the desert floor in Borrego Springs and wind its way through or near the communities of Ranchita, Plaster City, Ocotillo, Jacumba, Boulevard, Live Oak Springs, La Posta and Boulder Oaks, and finish in Pine Valley. 
     Teams looking for additional team members or individuals looking to join up with a team are encouraged to post a message on the Wild Miles website message board or to contact the event organizer, In Motion, Inc. 
     The event will benefit the Challenged Athlete Foundation, a non-profit organization which provides opportunities and support to people with physical disabilities to pursue an active lifestyle through physical fitness and competitive athletics.

Historical Society releases new book 
     ALPINE — The Alpine Historical Society recently completed a compilation of the writings of Alpine pioneer Neil Galloway. The articles were published between Feb. 15, 1962 and May 3, 1962 by the Alpine Echo newspaper. Mr. Galloway wrote about his fifty-three years in Alpine and the people he knew.
     Jim Hinds, a member of the Historical Society, painstakingly gathered all the articles, which were re-typed by Carol Walker exactly as originally printed—including typographical, grammatical and spelling errors. The book is $5, and is available at the Chamber of Commerce Office and the Historical Society Museum, 2116 Tavern Road, the last weekend of each month. 
     For further information, or to obtain a copy of the book, one may call Carol Morrison at 445-2544.    

Homemakers offer best deals in town
     CAMPO — The new Mountain Empire Homemakers thrift store, located at 987 Sheridan Rd. across from the Campo Senior Center, is regularly open Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Homemakers use thrift shop proceeds to fund scholarships for local students and donate to other community programs.
     For further information, one may call Sue Fallgren at 478-2149.

Spirit choir accepting new members
     ALPINE — Alpine children between the ages of six and 13 are invited to join the Spirit Choir. 
     Directed by Joanne Ginkel, with husband Ludwig Ginkel as production manager, the youngsters meet every Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. at the Alpine Community Church. There they learn lively new fun songs and rehearse older ones. 
     The choir sings about once a month and on special holiday occasions during the church’s worship service. Contact Ginkel at 445 8480 for more information.

Groups team up to love Alpine clean 
     ALPINE – The Alpine Chamber of Commerce will hold the “I love a clean Alpine” event on Saturday, April 30.
Participants should meet at the triangle in the center of town to pick up vests and trash bags. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with a free continental breakfast and safety demonstration. The Alpine Kiwanis Club will host a free lunch afterward.
     For more information or to register contact the chamber at 445-2722 or e-mail. 
     Backcountry Land Trust will hold a concomitant event at the Wright’s Field Preserve – Alpine’s first nature preserve.
     Volunteers will be working hand-in-hand with local students, who can receive community service letters for hours worked. 

Mother’s Day Hat Parade includes Earth art
     ALPINE — The Mother’s Day Hat Parade, to begin at 9:45 a.m., Saturday, May 7 at the Alpine Woman’s Club, will conclude with a display of visual, audio or written art, such as poetry, with an Earth Day theme. 
    The event culminates with the naming of the Volunteer Mom of the Year and judging of the hats and art entries.
The annual hat parade lets women create and show off fanciful headgear and other community members are invited to bring poetry and visual art or perform expressive art.
     For further information, or to book an entry, one may call 445-5249.

Campo to hold emergency drill
     CAMPO — The San Diego County Mountain Empire Bioterrorism and Disaster Defense Team will hold a drill Saturday, May 21 to test its ability to evacuate area livestock and people in the event of a wildfire.
     Animals will be loaded and un-loaded at designated ranches, pre-requested by the owners and drill team leaders will set up timed incidents to test participants’ ability to use procedures in the group’s disaster plan. Specific incident details will be unknown to the participants prior to the start of the drill. 
     Details about the locations and function of various staging and command centers may be viewed at Disaster Drill.
     The team was formed in 2002 and meets at 9 a.m. the second Tuesday of every month, at the Mountain Empire Community Center, 976 Sheridan Road. The public is invited to attend.
     For further information, one may call Craig Williams at 806-4146 or e-mail craig@craigwilliams .com.

Menopause workshop offered
     ALPINE — There will be a free workshop on women’s health and hormones, 1:30 p.m., Saturday, May 7, at the World of Wellness, 13727 Camino Canada, Suite A-4, in El Cajon.
     Conducted by Dr. Gina Caserma, the workshop will cover topics relating to menopause, including hormone replacement therapy, alternative treatments, PMS, osteoporosis and diet.
     For further information and reservations, one may call 938-1800.

Kindergarten enrollment is underway
     ALPINE — Enrollment for kindergarten 2005-06 began April 11. Enrollment packets are available at Creekside Early Learning Center and at all Alpine elementary schools, the Alpine Union School District office, Viejas Indian School, and Joan MacQueen Middle School.
Children born on or before Dec. 2, 2000 are eligible to attend kindergarten. 
     To register your child for kindergarten, you must provide a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate, a physical dated after April 2, 2005, up-to-date immunization records, and current proof of residence such as an electric bill, propane bill, water bill or tax bill.
     Please call CELC at 659-8250 for further information. 
The Creekside Early Learning Center office is open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Novelty dog show planned
     ALPINE — The Alpine Lions Club will present its First Annual Novelty/Fun Dog Show at 9 a.m., June 4, at the Tom C. Dyke Park on 1000 Tavern Road. 
     There are 20 categories for competition, from Dog Honoree mayor would like to take home but can’t to Dog who ate New York (and looks it too).
     There will be ribbons, food, prizes, and fun!
     For more information, contact Becky at 445-6201 or e-mail her.

Project C.A.R.E. helps those who live alone
     Project C.A.R.E. may be able to help those who live alone or those concerned about a senior who lives alone.
     This is a community program that involves community service agencies and local businesses in providing services to any senior or disabled person. Programs include RUOK, Postal Alert, Gatekeeper, Vial of Life, YANA (You Are Not Alone), Safe Return and more. These free programs help maintain people in their homes. 
     For more information, call 740-4214.