Mtn. Empire 4-H Club meets Oct. 13
     PINE VALLEY — The Mountain Empire 4-H Club meets the second Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the Pine Valley Community Center. The next meeting will be Oct. 13. Come meet Jackie and Emily Grisafi and see their successful Pygmy Goat Project.
     For more information, one may call 473-8372 or visit www.angelfire.com/ct3/cutiepieacres. 

Substitute teacher group meets
     SAN DIEGO — All substitute teachers, known as visiting teachers, are invited to get involved with the Visiting Teacher's Association of San Diego County (VTA).
     The group meets the second Thursday of each month at the San Diego City Schools, 4100 Normal Street, upstairs, from 5 to 6 p.m. The next meeting will be Oct. 13. For more information contact Barbara Carey at 295-4736 or Donna Preston at 473-0482.

Java House hosts benefit jam session
     PINE VALLEY — There will be a fund-raiser for the Pine Valley Elementary School PTA on Oct. 15 at the Java House on Old Highway 80 in Pine Valley.
     A bake sale will be held in the afternoon and later the Java House will have it's second free, open “Jam Session.” All local musicians are invited to come and play outside at the Java House, buy some goodies and jam, what more could you ask for?
     For more information contact the Java House at 473-8174 or Pine Valley Elementary School 473-8693.

Yard sale to be held in Descanso
     DESCANSO — A yard sale will take place in Descanso on Saturday, Oct. 15 at the Descanso Library parking area and community room.
     The yard sale will run all day from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the parking lot. Donations of items will be accepted at the sale on Friday, Oct. 14, no clothing please.
     The Friends of Descanso Library are presenting the event. For more information one may contact Molly Jean Featheringill at 445-8377 or Jim Blasy at 659-9891.

Grand opening of visitor information center
     MT. LAGUNA —The Laguna Mountain Volunteer Association will have a grand opening and ribbon cutting for the renovated visitor information center on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 10 a.m., with a reception following until noon.
     The facility has undergone some changes, with the addition of many new interpretive displays, an exterior native plant garden that will be planted later this fall, a new bathroom facility and expanded parking. The visitor center will be a place for people to explore nature, and orient themselves on the mountain.
     For more information or for directions visit www.lmva.org.

Alpine leadership and public service awards
     ALPINE — The Alpine Leadership and Public Service (ALPS) 2005 Gala Awards Dinner will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 19 in the Dreamcatcher Lounge at the Viejas Casino. This Alpine Chamber of Commerce event recognizes those organizations and individuals that have demonstrated community leadership and public service for the benefit of the community.
     The chamber is now accepting nominations for the beautification award, business of the year award, organization of the year, citizen of the year and special recognition award. Nomination forms are available at the chamber, 2751 Alpine Blvd. For more information one may contact the chamber at 445-2722. 

Miracle Mile of Quarters Golf Tournament
     EL CAJON — The 2005 Miracle Mile of Quarters Golf Tournament will take place Nov. 4 at the Singing Hills Golf Club in El Cajon.
     Registration begins at 9 a.m. with a shotgun start at 10:30 a.m. Lunch and drinks will be served all day with cocktails at 5 p.m. The evening will end with dinner and a live auction at 6 p.m.

Moms Club gathers items for homeless women
     ALPINE — During the month of October, the MOMS Club of Alpine and Mountain Empire is collecting travel-sized toiletries, (shampoo, conditioner, lotion, soap, etc.), to create shower kits for homeless women at Rachel’s Women’s Center in San Diego. 
     Donations will be accepted throughout the month of October at the Alpine locations of California Trust & Savings Bank, Alpine Fitness, Curves for Women in the Alpine Creek Shopping Center, and the Alpine Branch Library. 
     For more information regarding this service project, contact Jennifer St. Hilaire at 722-6470 or Christine DeCarlo at 944-7150. For information regarding membership, contact Jennifer Doucet at 665-7287 or jenner@cox.net.

13th Annual Vaquero Days in Descanso
     DESCANSO — The 13th Annual Vaquero Days will take place Oct. 14-16 in Descanso from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
     The event will occur in the original location at the Merigan Barns, home of the Descanso Feed Store and adjacent to McClintock Saddle Shop.
     For more information visit vaquerodays.com or call 445-3946.

Campo fire fund-raiser
     CAMPO — The Campo volunteer fire department will host an open house and spaghetti dinner fund-raiser on Oct. 15 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the firehouse, 437 Jeb Stuart Rd. in Campo.
     Visitors can come see the new firehouse and community emergency operations center. There will also be a silent auction from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for children 12 and under.

Campo/Lake Morena business association slogan contest
     CAMPO — The newly formed Campo/Lake Morena Business Association is looking for a catchy slogan for the area.
     Slogan forms can be picked up at various businesses, organizations and churches in Campo. Fill out the form with a slogan phrase of less than six words, that best describe the area and way of life.
     Turn entries into the business where you picked up the form. Prizes will be awarded: One prize for children ages 12 and under and one prize for adults ages 13 and up. 

Local students invited to design T-shirts
     DESCANSO — Local students are invited to enter the Design a T-shirt Contest sponsored by the Descanso Garden Club and the Descanso Friends of the Library.
Winner will get a $10 gift certificate to Rancho Café in Descanso.
     All designs must be turned in to the Library by Oct. 15.
Details are available at the Descanso branch of the San Diego County Library.

Mtn. Empire celebrates homecoming
     MTN. EMPIRE — Mountain Empire high school will celebrate its homecoming on Friday, Oct. 28 at the school, 3305 Buckman Springs Road. 
     The event will kick off with the junior varsity football game at 5 p.m. The parade of floats will go at 6:30 p.m. followed by the varsity football game with Vincent memorial high school at 7:30 p.m. At halftime the homecoming court will be named and the king and queen will be crowned. There will also be fireworks after the game.
     For more information one may contact the school at 473-8601.

Adult flag football league
     Top Gun Flag Football is now registering five-man all-passing flag football team leagues in San Diego, Carlsbad, El Cajon/Santee, National City and Poway.
Evening and weekend leagues begin in late September. There will also be inter-league playoffs with neighboring counties.
     Players must be 18 or older. League officials are also needed, training will be provided. For more information one may call (877) 846-3178 or visit topgunflagfootball.com.