Alpine library to host local author
     ALPINE — On Saturday, Sept. 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Alpine Branch of the San Diego County Library, 2130 Arnold Way, will host Carlette Anderson, author of a new book, entitled Dysfunctional is Normal. The public is invited to the free program.
     "There is a bit of dysfunction in all of us," according to Anderson. "The book gives a whole new meaning to the word "normal."
     Copies of the book will be on sale and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Friends of the Alpine Library.
     For more information, contact the library at: (619) 445-4221.

8th grade trip to East Coast subject of upcoming information meeting
     ALPINE — A registration meeting will be held by Holt Travel & Tours to share information with Joan Mac Queen eighth grade students and parents about next year’s annual educational East Coast tour. On Thursday, Sept. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Alpine Elementary School auditorium.
     The historical and educational destinations on this eight-day trip are historic Virginia, Washington, D.C., the Amish Country, and New York City. Fund-raising opportunities will also be discussed. The trip will take place during spring break on April 1 through April 8, 2006.
     Space is limited on this trip and is on a first come basis. To reserve your spot now, call 445-9193 or visit Holt Travel & Tours at 2241 W. Victoria Drive from 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. weekdays.
     Registration with deposits will also be taken after the information meeting. If you have any questions about this meeting or the trip, please contact Holt Travel & Tours at 445-9193 or e-mail inquiries to dholt@vacation.com.

Calvary Chapel offers parenting class
     ALPINE — Calvary Chapel of Alpine will be having "Parenting is a Ministry" parenting classes beginning Thursday, Sept. 15 at 6:30 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.. The class will run for eight weeks.
     The class fee is $10 per person or $15 per couple.  The program is the same as one taught by Family Support Foundation.
     For information, one may call 445-2589.

BCLT holds photo contest
     ALPINE — The Back Country Land Trust is holding its first ever photo contest. The group is looking for 12 great images of Wright's Field to use in a 2006 Wright's Field calendar.
     Dust off old photos of the field or snap some new ones and enter the competition. Entries will be viewed by a panel of judges in September, with awards to follow.
     All entries should be sent to the BCLT office at 338 West Lexington Ave., Suite 204, El Cajon, 92020. Upon submission all entries become the property of BCLT.
     The deadline for entry is Sept. 15. Guidelines for entries will be sent to everyone on the BCLT mailing list as well as posted on the BCLT website.

Horseshoe tournament held weekly
     PINE VALLEY — The Pine Valley House Bar, next to the Pine Valley House Restaurant, invites all horseshoe enthusiasts to the its Friday Horseshoe Tournaments.
     The event will be held each Friday until further notice.
     Registration will be completed each evening by 7:30 p.m. and the tournaments are to be held outside in a lighted sports area behind the restaurant and bar.
The entry fee is $5 to play and the winner will be paid out of the total pot.
     For further information, one may call Nikki Boruta at 473-0448.

Local students invited to design T-shirts
     DESCANSO — Local students are invitd 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 $5 gift certificate to Rancho Café in Descanso.
     All designs must be turned in to the Library by Oct. 15, 2005.
     Details are available at the Descanso branch of the San Diego County Library.

Viejas Fun Days coming up in October
     ALPINE — The annual Alpine Viejas Days will be held Saturday, Oct. 1 with various attractions all over town.
     The day starts at 8:30 a.m. at the Alpine Community Park with a pancake breakfast and a car show, and continues throughout the afternoon with a deep pit barbecue, booths, bands and fun.
     The Stagecoach Lions Alpine Viejas Days Parade will step off at 3 p.m. from the Alpine Woman’s Club and march down Alpine Blvd. to the community center. At 6 p.m. Alpine’s first pro wrestling matches will be held at the community center.
     For more information or to reserve booth space one may call 445-2722.

‘Between the Stripes’ plans fund-raiser
     ALPINE — The second annual Between the Stripes fundraiser for Lions, Tigers and Bears will take place Oct. 1 from 1 to 5 p.m. 
     Participants will be able to take part in live and silent auction, various activities and of course eat alongside the big cats.
More than $150,000 is needed to pay for the chain link alone to build the 250 by 150-foot enclosure.
     Tickets for Between the Stripes are only available in advance and numbers are limited. Adults are $75 and children under 12 can get in for $25.
     For more information, to become a member or to buy tickets please call 659-8078 or check online at Lions and Tigers and Bears.

Thrift shop holds famous bag sale
     CAMPO — The Mountain Empire Homemakers Thrift Shop, located on Jeb Stuart Road in Campo near the Community Building, will hold its famous — and always a surprise — bag sale on Thursday and Saturday Sept. 8 and 10, and 15 and 17.
     Grab your bag of applicable items for only $4 per bag.

Alpine VFW Auxiliary to meet
     ALPINE — The Alpine Bert Fuller VFW 9578 will have it's monthly meeting for the auxiliary at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10. The Post meeting will be at 11 a.m. the same Saturday.
     Every Monday night, beginning Sept. 12, there will be football with hot dogs and chili. There will also be a fish fry every Friday night.
     The POW/MIA Candlelight Ceremony will take place Saturday, Sept. 17 at 5 p.m. with two guest speakers.
The annual Deep Pit barbecue will take place Saturday, Sept. 24 with Karaoke from 1 to 8 p.m.

Lamb’s Players Theatre visits Clover Flat
     BOULEVARD — Clover Flats Elementary School will host the Lamb’s Players Theatre of Coronado on Monday, Sept. 12.
     The theatre group will present a 40-minute show on conflict resolution entitled Bash. The performance deals with cooperation, imagination, options to avoid getting in fights, and working as a team to solve problems. The show uses percussion, movement, and audience participation to communicate a message about conflict resolution. 
     Students are shown how they can channel their energy in constructive, creative ways that benefit everyone—rather than destructive, selfish ways that hurt others and, ultimately, hurt themselves, too.
For more information one may contact Clover Flat Elementary School at 766-4655.

Alpine Garden Club Luncheon
     ALPINE — The Alpine Garden Club will meet on Friday Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. at the home of Carlette Anderson, 2451 Night Star Court in Alpine. There will be a tour of her garden followed by a potluck luncheon.
     The community is invited to join the club and contribute ideas on how we would like to see Alpine develop over the next ten years.
     Linda Richards will facilitate a survey discussion that will be submitted to the Alpine Revitalization for Community Development.
     For more information, one may call Carlette at 445-5716.

MHCS seeking school supplies for needy
     ALPINE — Mountain Health and Community Services is hosting a Back to School Drive through Sept. 9.
     School supply  donations are being accepted to benefit needy children of Alpine and Mountain Empire Schools. Pencils, pens, paper, notebooks, erasers, calculators, backpacks and other school supply items are sought.. Please bring your items to Alpine Family Medicine, located in the new Alpine Regional Center at 1620 Alpine Boulevard, Alpine. Also, if your child needs immunizations, school and/or sports physicals and well-child exams, Mountain Health can help.
      There are also donation drop-off locations in Campo and Jacumba.
     For further information, one may call Stephanie Ross at 445-6200 ext.166.

Antique yard sale to be held in Descanso
     DESCANSO — An antique appraisal and yard sale will take place in Descanso on Saturday, Oct. 15 at the Descanso Library parking area and community room.
     The antique appraisal will go from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. participants can have their antiques appraised by a certified appraiser for $5 each piece. There will be a limit of two items per person.
     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.

Local farmers, artisans invited to Alpine Farmer’s Market
     ALPINE — The Alpine Farmer’s Market is looking for local residents who grow their own crops or livestock and have a little surplus to sell at the Farmer’s Market Cooperative in Alpine.
     The market is also looking for local artists and musicians.
     For more information, one may contact 445-5249.

Book donations sought by FOL
     ALPINE — The Alpine Library Friends Association is asking for book donations to fill the shelves at its upcoming Book Sale to take place Oct. 1 and 2.
     Through the generosity of Gina Aubin, Property Manager of West Core Properties, ALFA will have an official storefront at the Alpine Creek Shopping Center in the old Hallmark store.
     Volunteers are also needed to man the store, sort books, and to work the book sale weekend. Call 722-1277 or e-mail info@alpinelibraryfriends.org.

Rural gardening class offered
     EL CAJON — Grossmont Adult School is offering a 12-week class entitled “Flower Gardens: Year-round Color with Annuals, Perennials, Bulbs and Old-Fashioned Roses.”
     The class begins Thursday morning, Sept. 1, in room 12 at Foothills Adult Education Center, 1550 Melody Lane, El Cajon. The three-hour classes will begin at 8:50 a.m. Instructor Betty Newton who started her teaching in Alpine 28 years ago is aware of some the special challenges of gardening in this community.
     Registration for the class is $29, to be taken during the first class. Several texts are available. For more information please contact 401-4122.