This week in The Alpine Sun

Lead Stories

High School and Powerlink will bring big changes in 2010  
     For many 2010 is going to be their year. As Alpine looks forward to ongoing projects, we can picture the Alpine High School moving ahead, on schedule, according to the Project Manager Katy Wright of Gafcon/Harris for the Grossmont Union High School District. In addition, we see the Sunrise Powerlink on the horizon as well as some changes to our town of Alpine in the form of improvements to Alpine Boulevard.  

MUP and reclamation plan approved for Turvey granite mine
     The county’s Planning Commission voted 7-0 Dec. 18 to approve a Major Use Permit and reclamation plan for a small granite mining operation in the 16200 block of Alpine Boulevard.

Alpine offers a place for all on Christmas Day
     On Christmas Day, Dec. 25, the Alpine Community Center was a gathering place — a gathering of fellowship; to listen to Christmas carols; and to enjoy a warm, nutritious meal during the annual Christmas Day Community Dinner.   

Start the New Year with a healthy approach to eating
After indulging during the holiday season, many people start the new year with the best intentions to eat well. But imposing a too-strict New Year’s resolution diet can backfire and when you don’t see immediate results, it’s easy to slip into unhealthy eating habits.  

MHCS celebrates Christmas in a big way in Back Country
Mountain Health & Community Services (MHCS) was able to celebrate Christmas in a big way this year. Continuing with a 15-year tradition of Mountain Health and Community Services, Santa arrived in Jacumba and Campo with his bag filled with toys. 
 
Supervisors approve Neighborhood Reinvestment Program policy  
A new San Diego County Board of Supervisors policy will cover the county’s Neighborhood Reinvestment Program.

California Complete Count effort offers grants to fund census outreach
The California Complete Count effort recently announced the availability of $1 million in grants to fund outreach efforts in 13 counties. The funding will be offered to County Complete Count Committees in the top 13 Hardest-to-Count (HTC) counties – allowing targeted funds to reach 80 percent of the HTC population in the state.
 

Columns/Opinion

My Turn with Duncan D. Hunter: Freshman congressman looks back at rewarding first year

Spiritual Sunrise with Merry Murray: New Christians with old habits

Laura on Life with Laura Snyder: Love, hate relationships with the refrigerator

Veteran News with Fred Langston: The creation of the Vietnam Veteran

Purple Mountain Sage with Sharon Courmousis: A thinking time of year

Happy Tails with Rachel Amado: Your people-friendly pooch