Deputies to hold bus crash drill
     CREST — The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and several East County emergency services agencies will conduct a drill on Tuesday, May 24 in Crest from 9 a.m. until noon. 
     The scenario includes a school bus rollover crash resulting in two fatalities and several injuries. Mercy Air and AMR will transport victims to Children’s Hospital.
     The scenario begins with the first 9-1-1 call received by the Sheriff’s Communication Center.
     A bus will not actually roll over and victims will be played by actors strewn across the road to simulate the effect of a crash.
     In addition to actors playing victims, parents of students from Joan McQueen Middle School will also play the parts of frantic parents searching for their children. 
     Road closures will include Mountain View Road between Harbison Canyon and La Cresta. 
     Agencies participating in the drill will include: Alpine School District, AMR, Alpine Fire Department, CHP, Children’s Hospital, San Diego County Department of Public Works, San Diego County Medical Examiner, East County Fire
Mercy Air, Sharp Memorial Hospital, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, Sycuan.

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.

Granite Hills chorus sings pops concert
     EL CAJON – The Granite Hills High School Choral Department will present its annual Pops Concert at 7 p.m., Thursday, May 26, at the El Cajon Wesleyan Church. The concert will feature five outstanding choirs performing a variety of music.
     Tickets are on sale in the Granite Hills choir room, and may also be purchased the night of the concert. Adult tickets cost $8, children (12 and under) and students with a student ID are $6. Proceeds go to pay the rental fee to El Cajon Wesleyan Church, the professional instrumentalists hired for the concert, and two piano accompanists.

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.

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.    

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.

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.

New writers’ group to meet
     ALPINE — A new writer’s group is forming and will meet each Thursday at 1 p.m. in the recreation center of the Creekside MeadowsApartments, 1750 Arnold Way.
     Participation is free and activities will include discussion, support and critique of members’ poems, prose, plays, books, brochures, biographies, or biblical stories.
     For further information, one may call Grace Nichols at 445-2779.

East County NRA meets in Alpine
     ALPINE – The East County NRA is now holding meetings in Alpine at the Bread Basket restaurant. Regular meetings will now be held the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m.
     At the last meeting the group was entertained by retired Fish and Game representative Bob Turner with a slide show of American Mountain lions.
     The chapter would like to extend an invitation to NRA members and people who would like to become members. Bob Maupin at Hi Pass sports will accept applications from new members and those wishing to become active in the NRA.

Soccer sign-ups getting underway
     ALPINE – AYSO Alpine Region 295 invites all girls and boys from ages four through 18 years old to sign-up for the coming soccer season. 
     Sign-up dates are: Saturday, May 14 at Alpine Elementary School from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Tuesday, May 31 at Boulder Oaks Elementary 5-8 p.m. and Saturday, June 4 at Alpine Elementary School from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
     Registration for this season will close July 1 and the fee is $85 with multiple player discounts offered to families registering more than one player. The fee includes 16 weeks of soccer, full uniforms, individual and team pictures, action packed yearbook, and best of all no fundraising is required. 
     A parent/guardian must be present at registration and should provide the name and telephone numbers for their insurance carrier, doctor and a contact in case of emergency. A birth certificate is required if your child did not play last year.
     For further information, one may call 445-AYSO.

Woman's Club accepting scholarship applications
     ALPINE — The Alpine Woman's Club will award five $1,000 scholarships to deserving students who submit their applications no later than May 30.
     Recipients of the awards will be notified by telephone and, along with their parents, will be invited to attend the Alpine Woman’s Club Scholarship Award Presentation on June 21.
     Applications are available at the Alpine Chamber of Commerce Office, the Alpine Community Center, the Alpine Library, Washington Mutual, California First Bank and the Bread Basket Restaurant.
     Applications may also be obtained by visiting the Alpine Woman’s Club website, or by sending a request via e-mail to alpinewomansclub@cox.net.
     To date, over 140 scholarships totaling over $60,000 have been awarded to deserving students. 

Alpine Chorale prepares for spring concert
     ALPINE — The Alpine Chorale invites its friends and neighbors to attend its Annual Spring Concert at 2 p.m., on Sunday, June 5, at Boulder Oaks Elementary School.
Refreshments will be served.

Classic Cruise car show returns to El Cajon
     EL CAJON — The El Cajon Community Development Corporation will host the Cajon Classic Cruise from 5:50 to 8:30 p.m. every Wednesday from May 18 to Sept. 28. 
     The largest weekly classic car show in Southern California, the Cajon Classic Cruise features more than 500 classic, custom and hot rod cars valued at more than $10 million. The free weekly event is centered on East Main Street at Prescott Promenade, just east of the Main and Magnolia intersection downtown El Cajon. 
     A series of special car show events are planned, including an Independence Day celebration on June 29; a Salute to the American Hot Dog on July 20; National Night Out on Aug. 3; a VIP Parade on Aug. 24, and a special.
     Halloween Car Show on Oct. 26. Raffle tickets will be sold every Wednesday for a fully restored 1952-1956 Chevron Short Tohkeim 39 gas pump to be given away at the Sept. 28 show.
     For further information, one may call El Cajon CDC at 401-8858, or visit the on-line event directory at www.downtownelcajon.com.

Community to gather for day of activities
     ALPINE – Alpine will have an All Community Day on June 25.
     Activities include an open house at the Youth/Teen Center, an arts and crafts and plants sale, the Bookmobile will be in town, and a special thank you to those who have been rebuilding their homes and lives. There will also be a barbeque, salad potluck, brownie cookoff and local music.
Judges are still needed for the brownie cookoff. Judges must be not allergic to nuts, not diabetic, and bona fide chocolate lovers.
     For further information, or to sign up, one may call 368-1070.

Chapel of the Hills to host camp out
     Chapel of the Hills Church will host a camp out from 2 p.m. Friday to 2 p.m. Sunday, June 3-5 at the Wooded Hills Group Camp. The area offers great hiking, pine and oak trees and mountain bike trails. The trip offers a variety of activities, meals, and music around the campfire. The cost is $35 per site.
     For more information, including directions and what to bring, contact Chapel of the Hills Church.

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.

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.

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.

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.