ACT performs Love Letters
     ALPINE — The Alpine Community Theater will perform Love Letters, by A. R. Gurney, on May 19 and 20, at 7 p.m., and on May 21 at 1 p.m.
     Tickets for these performances are $10 each. The May 20 performance will include wine and cheese and tickets are $20 for this show only. Local residents Judy Grant and Patrick L. Grattan, Jr. will star in this production, which will be produced by Susan Lancaster and directed by Tim Arends. 
     Tickets are available at the Alpine Chamber of Commerce or, by mail at ACT, 1347 Tavern Road, #18, PMB Box 127, Alpine, CA 91901. For further information, please contact alpinecommunitytheater@hotmail.com.

Church of Spiritual Living hosts inspirational speaker from Ghana
     ALPINE — Alpine Church of Spiritual Living will host a very special guest speaker, Brother Ishmael Tetteh, on Sunday, May 21.
     Author of 19 books and popular world speaker, Brother Ishmael is a true teacher of ancient wisdom and universal truths. He will speak at the 10 a.m. service and present a workshop from 12:30 to 4 p.m. on “True Forgiveness.” The cost of the workshop is $35 and includes his “Forgiveness Tape” valued at $15. Brother Ishmael has traveled 7,000 miles from Ghana, Africa.
     For more information one may call the church office at 445-6459 to reserve a seat for the afternoon workshop.

East County Junior Fair to
be held at Lakeside rodeo grounds
     LAKESIDE — The Eastern San Diego County Junior Fair 2006 is under way at the Lakeside Rodeo Grounds, highway 67 at Mapleview, in Lakeside, through May 20.
     Various events will run throughout the week, and will end with a dinner and dance on Friday evening, May 19 and an auction held Saturday at noon.

Learn to dance at the community center
     ALPINE — The Alpine Community Center will hold a “Take the Lead” dance evening on May 26, at 1830 Alpine Blvd.
     Participants will be able to learn the Swing, line dance, two-step and Cha Cha from Luis Sumaya & The Dance Team. Instruction will run from 7 to 9 p.m. and an open dance will be held from 9 to 11 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for seniors over 60.
     For more information one may contact ACC at 445-7330.

Knights of Columbus host luau
     ALPINE — The Knights of Columbus will hold a Taste of the Islands Luau at the Alpine Community Center on Saturday, June 3, from 6 to 11 p.m.
     For more information, and to purchase tickets, one may contact Larry Galm at 445-5750.

Cuyamaca College celebrates 13th annual Spring Garden Festival
     EL CAJON — Cuyamaca College will hold its 13th annual Spring Garden Festival on Saturday, May 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
     The college’s Ornamental Horticulture Department, the Water Conservation Garden, and the Heritage of the Americas Museum, will be open to the public for viewing and plants will be for sale at the nursery. Admission to the event is free of charge.
     There will also be educational opportunities at the “Ask the experts” consultations. Parking for the event is free and free shuttle service will be available.
     For further information, one may visit www.cuyamaca.edu/springfest.

Novelty Dog Show coming up
     ALPINE —The second annual Alpine Novelty Dog Show will take place June 3, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the Tom C. Dyke Park, adjacent to the Tavern Road on-ramp.
This years event will include 16 different classes for participants including , Best Six Legs, The Dog That Ate New York, and Cutest Dog.
     Organizers are currently looking for sponsors to help pay for the event. For more information or to be a sponsor one may contact Becky Kirkwood at 445-6201 or beckybardoo@yahoo.com.

Kiwanis child safety event is June 3
     ALPINE — On Saturday, June 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Alpine Kiwanis Child Safety Event will be held in the Alpine Community Center parking lot, 1830 Alpine Blvd., in Alpine.
     Professionally trained staff members from the San Diego Safe Kids Coalition will inspect and/or install your child's car seat. Child safety advocates say that in 96.7 percent of the San Diego County children’s car seats are installed incorrectly.
     Kiwanians will also be on hand at the location with their Child I.D. Kit Program. Fingerprinting and photographing your child will be free. San Diego Sheriff’s Department Crime Prevention Specialist Paula Dickenson will also be on hand to offer other safety tips.
     For further information, one may contact the Event Chairman, Jim Cate at 890-2283.

Workshop teaches your dog
to help you avoid rattlesnakes
     Quail Unlimited will host a “Snake Break Your Dog” workshop on Saturday and Sunday, June 3 and 4.
     A professional dog trainer will use live, but harmless, rattlesnakes to teach dogs to recognize the sight, sound and smell of rattlesnakes. Patrick Callaghan Enterprises will conduct the workshop to teach dogs how to alert owners of rattlesnakes and avoidance training.
     The cost for the weekend workshop is $70 and proceeds benefit Quail Unlimited, a nonprofit organization. Reservations are required.
     For more information or for reservations one may call 669-3739, or check online at www.SDQU.org.

Celebrate Father’s Day with Italian buffet
     ALPINE — Christ The King Episcopal Church will hold an Italian night on Saturday, June 17, at 5:30 p.m.
     Tickets for the dinner are $15, which includes an Italian buffet dinner including beverage and desert. Kids get in for free. There will also be live entertainment, door prizes and an auction.
     For more information one may call 445-8968

Meet the cats at Lions, Tigers and Bears
     ALPINE — Lions, Tigers and Bears, the big cat rescue located in Japatul, will host a free members-only celebration on Saturday, May 20, from 1 to 5 p.m. 
     Visitors will have a chance for an up close and personal afternoon with all the animals who live at the rescue, including four Bengal tigers, an African serval, two bobcats, and a leopard, as well as a menagerie of farm and ranch animals. There will also be a backyard barbecue featuring hot dogs, hamburgers, salads, lemonade, cake, ice cream, beer and wine.
     Although the facility is open to members only, it's easy to join. Individual memberships start at just $35 ($20 for seniors), family memberships at $100. Members will also be allowed to bring guests to this event for a nominal fee. 
     For more information, one may call Bobbi Brink at 659-8078 or visit www.lionstigersandbears.org.

Friends of the Pine Valley library
to host annual rummage sale
     PINE VALLEY — The Friends of the Pine Valley Library will be hosting its annual rummage sale on Saturday, May 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the Pine Valley Clubhouse on Old Highway 80.
     Organizers are now accepting donations of gently-used items for the sale. Someone will be on hand at the clubhouse on Friday, May 19, for donation drop-offs.
     For more information one may call Ann Stickel at 473-8388. All proceeds from the rummage sale will benefit the Pine Valley Library.

Shadow Hills hosts open house, art show
     ALPINE — Shadow Hills Elementary school will host its annual open house and art show on Wednesday, May 24, in the gym.
     The evening will start with food served at a PTA meeting at 6:15 p.m. The art show and open house will be directly following the meeting. Artwork by Shadow Hills students will be on display.
     For more information one may contact the school at 445-2977.

Memorial bench to be dedicated to Noble
     ALPINE — Friends, family and co-workers will join together on Memorial Day, May 29 at 11 a.m. to honor the late Elizabeth “Betty” Noble and to dedicate a carved-stone park bench placed near the flag pole in the veterans’ memorial area of the Alpine Cemetery.
     The dedication ceremony will be part of the annual Memorial Day service at the cemetery, presented by the American Legion and The Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Sgt. Major Noble was one of the first women in the country to enlist in the United States Marines in 1943 during World War II.
     After her death on June 3, 2005, in Hilton Head, N. C., where she had been playing golf in a marine tournament, many memorial gifts were sent to the Alpine Historical Society and the Alpine Woman's Club, organizations in which she was an active member.
     Following the ceremony, all the guests are invited to the VFW club house, 2495 Victoria Drive, for a reception and lunch.

Woman's Club accepting applications from local students for $1,000 scholarships 
     ALPINE — The Alpine Woman's Club is again offering $1,000 scholarships to Alpine high school seniors who are enrolling in college. 
     Applications are available at area high schools, California Bank & Trust, Washington Mutual, Janet's Café, Alpine library, Alpine Chamber of Commerce, ALFA book store, Bread Basket Restaurant and the Alpine Community Center.
     The deadline for submitting applications is May 31 and recipients will be notified during the first two weeks in June.

Local schools participate in essay contest
     ALPINE — The Alpine Historical Society is conducting its third annual essay contest during the month of May.
     All local third grade teachers were invited to participate and include the essay contest as a part of their local history unit of study. Entries must relate to one of three topics: Life in Alpine 100 years ago (an imaginary letter to someone who lives in another part of the country), my favorite historical person in Alpine, my favorite historical place in Alpine.
     Certificates and cash prizes will be given to the top three winners in each topic category. First place winners will be invited to read their essays at the Alpine History Days Celebration on June 3.
     For more information, one may contact Don Tarr at 659-1378 or send an e-mail to alpinehistory@cox.net.

Sharp Healthcare hosts stroke education
     ALPINE — The Grossmont Hospital Foundation and Sharp Healthcare will hold a stroke smart education and screening event on Wednesday, May 31 at the Queen of Angels Parish, 2569 West Victoria Drive.
     The class is free. For more information or to register for the event one may contact (800) 827-4277.

Alpine Church presents SoulVoice
     ALPINE — On Saturday evening, June 3, four soulful women will lift hearts and spirits through song, at the Alpine Church of Spiritual Living.
     SoulVoice is a women’s a capella quartet begun by Val Cooper in October 2004. The quartet consists of Val Cooper, Susie Hall, Claudia Previn Stasny and Trish Marr. 
     Tickets are $15, and the concert begins at 7 p.m., at the Alpine Women’s Club, 2156 Alpine Blvd. Tickets are available from the Alpine Church of Spiritual Living, SoulVoice members, or at the door.
     For more information , or to purchase tickets, one may contact the church at 445-6459 or visit www.alpinechurch.com.

Bloodmobile to visit Alpine Elementary
     ALPINE — The San Diego Blood Bank bloodmobile will accept blood donations at an open to the public blood drive sponsored by The Alpine Kiwanis at Alpine Elementary School, 1850 Alpine Blvd., on Saturday, June 10, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
     All donors at this drive will be awarded a specially designed San Diego Blood Bank T-shirt; a voucher for a free oil change, courtesy of Evans Tire and Service Centers; a free 5 x 7 Photo Enlargement with any “In store” processing courtesy of Longs Drugs; a voucher for 50 percent off Longs Brand items; and a voucher for a free car wash, courtesy of Genie Car Wash.
     For more information or to make an appointment, one may call the San Diego Blood Bank at 1-800-4MY-SDBB or visit www.sandiegobloodbank.org.