CDF no-burn proclamation is terminated
     SAN DIEGO — The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has lifted a no-burn proclamation that had been imposed in San Diego and Imperial Counties.

ALFA bookstore hours have changed
     ALPINE — The Alpine Library Friends Bookstore has new hours. Wednesday hours now extend 10 a.m. until 7 p.m., enough time for commuters to pick up a book on their way home from work or if stopping at Daniel's Market. Store hours Thursday and Friday are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed Monday and Tuesday.
     “In August, the Wednesday half price sale will apply to a specific category each week,” said Gary Weinstein president of the friends of the library. “Stop in on Wednesdays to find out the featured category.”
     The store, located in the Alpine Creek Town Center. For more information, one may contact the Alpine Library Friends at the bookstore by phone at 722-1277, or visit the web site.

Alpine VFW hosts luau
     ALPINE — The Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 9578 will host its annual Luau, at 1 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 16 at the VFW Post, 844 Tavern Rd.
     Proceeds from the event will benefit San Diego Hospice’s Cancer Program, as well as other projects for veterans, their families and the community. Live music will be provided by Uncle Bob and the Earthmovers, from 1 to 5 p.m. 
     Tickets at the door or in the canteen are $7.
The VFW Ladies Auxiliary meets the first Saturday of each month at 9:30 a.m. the post meeting is the second Saturday of each month at 11 a.m.

Relay for Life goes next weekend
     ALPINE — The Alpine Relay for Life will step off Saturday, Aug. 19 on the track behind Joan Mac Queen Middle School. The event will run for 24 straight hours.
     Opening ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday and will include an official proclamation from District 2 Supervisor Dianne Jacob’s office.
     At 6 p.m. there will be a survivor ceremony to honor cancer survivors, with dinner to follow. At 9 p.m. a luminaria ceremony will take place to remember cancer victims.
     There will 24-hour entertainment, food and fun for all of the relay participants and supporters. Organizers are still looking for volunteers to help in many different roles throughout the event.

Alpine Historical Society luncheon
     ALPINE — The public is invited to attend the Alpine Historical Society’s bi-monthly meeting at 1 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 20 at the Alpine Woman's Club, 2156 Alpine Blvd.
     Come for lunch or come just for the speaker. You'll learn some Alpine history and visit with friends and neighbors and hear stories told by Wayne Brown about his life in Alpine.

Viejas to host music awards
     ALPINE — The San Diego Music Awards is scheduled Monday, Sept. 18. at the Viejas Concerts In The Park venue.
     Online balloting ends Aug. 31 at sandiegomusicawards.com.
     Check the web site for information about nominees and categories.

Alpine Viejas Days Parade
     ALPINE — The Alpine Stagecoach Lions are looking for participants for this year’s Alpine Viejas Days Parade, which will step off at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct.7.
     Deadline for entries is Sept. 20, and Aug. 25 to include a feature story in the parade booklet.
     For further information, one may contact the Chamber of Commerce at 445-2722.

Calling poets, authors and journalists
     ALPINE  — The Alpine Writer’s Guild is in the process of organizing a writing group for teens. If you are a local teenager and have an interest in writing, please contact Lillian Fisher at 445-5537.

Help protect big cats through fire season
     JAPATUL — Lions, Tigers, and Bears, a safe haven for big cats located in Japatul, needs funds and equipment to keep its cats safe through the rest of this fire season.
     After evacuating the animals during the Horse Fire, needs persist for generators, commercial gauge water hoses, a van with cages, stock or horse trailers and transfer cages.
     Lions, Tigers, and Bears, is a 501 (c) (3) non profit organization. For further information one may visit their web site, or call 659-8078.

Mountain Empire creative arts meeting coming up
     PINE VALLEY — The Mountain Empire Creative Arts Council will hold its next meeting Tuesday, Aug. 15 at 6 p.m. at the Pine Valley Library, 28804 Old Highway 80 in Pine Valley.
     Featured artists are musician Bryan Butler and poet Judith Deem Dupree.

College-bound students must register for ACT exam by Aug. 18
     The next ACT test will be administered on Sept. 1. College-bound high school students who wish to take the exam must register by the Aug. 18 deadline. Registrations postmarked between Aug. 18 and 25 are charged a late registration fee. Registration forms are found online and high school guidance counseling offices.
     The cost is $29 for the traditional ACT and $43 for those who choose to take the optional ACT writing test. Some colleges require a writing score, but many do not, so students should find out the requirements of prospective colleges before completing test registration.
     ACT’s web site has helpful information as well as sample tests and test preparation materials.

Alpine Mountaineers to play at the Q
     SAN DIEGO — The Mitey Mites team of the Alpine Mountaineers Pop Warner football league will play an exhibition game before the San Diego Chargers versus Seattle Seahawks game scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 26 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.
     The pre-season Chargers game is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. The Mitey Mites are expected to kick off at about 6 p.m., against a team from Tierrasanta. For more information or to get tickets one may contact Art Hayes, league president, at 277-8551.
     The Alpine Mountaineers are also holding a fund-raiser dinner at the Viejas Dreamcatcher Lounge on Sept. 8, from 5 to 8 p.m. Tickets for the dinner are $25.
     Organizers are looking for donated items to be auctioned at the dinner. Donations must be received prior to Aug. 26. For more information one may call Debbie Burnett at 659-9153.

New school year is coming up
     Alpine schools begin the new school year on Tuesday, Aug. 29. School offices open August 14 for registration. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Alpine Elementary School, Boulder Oaks Elementary School and Shadow Hills Elementary School. Creekside Early Learning Center is open 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Joan Mac Queen Middle School office is open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
     Classes for high schools of the Grossmont Union High School District begin Monday, Aug. 21, including El Capitan, Steele Canyon and Granite Hills high schools.
Students who have not yet turned in registration information, please contact the counseling office at your high school.
     In the Mountain Empire School District, classes start Tuesday, Aug. 29.

Hispanic Heritage Month Events
     JACUMBA — The Jacumba Branch library will be celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by having a series of events in September.
     Saturday, September 2, a movie about Alejandro de la Vega fights injustice and cruelty by battling an evil mastermind behind a terrorist plot to destroy the United States, will begin at 1 p.m.
     Tuesday, September 12 at 6 p.m., poetry readings by Gary Soto, Ana Castillo, Kathleen Ann Gonzalez, Denise Chavez ad Esmeralda Santiago. 
Tuesday, September 19 at 6 p.m., a movie; a true tale of how Mexican Revolutionary Pancho Villa allowed a Hollywood crew to film him in battle.
Thursday, Sept. 21, will be a pre-school Hispanic story hour with Hispanic crafts and snacks.
     For further information, one may call 766-4608.