Curie Elementary School provided Red Ribbon Week activities during the last week of October. Through generous community contributions, including from the University City Community Association, every student at Curie received a pair of earbuds with this year’s theme “Send A Message, Don’t Do Drugs!” The earbuds were attached to a drawing contest that showed off Curie students’ ideas of healthy choices. At the end of Red Ribbon Week, Curie hosted the Red Ribbon Week Field Event and the students were able to meet officers and employees from the Marines, Customs and Border Protection, Coast Guard, Marque Urgent Care, MADD, San Diego Police, School Police, Fire Department, and Air and Marine Branch of the CPB. Highlights of the day were the Air and Marine helicopter landing and taking off, the Fire Department’s ladder truck extending its ladder, the Marine ARFF spraying water on the field, demonstrations of K9 dogs at work, sitting in Coast Guard rescue equipment, looking at the cool police motorcycle, and trying on police gear. Students also wrote healthy choices on red ribbons and got great Healthy Choices swag like pencils and bubbles. Red Ribbon Week is an annual alcohol, tobacco, drug, and violence prevention awareness campaign observed the last week of October in the United States, which began as a tribute to fallen DEA special agent Enrique Camarena in 1985. More info about Red Ribbon Week can be found at redribbon.org. 
 
ADOPT A FAMILY 
The University City High School PTSA is holding its annual Adopt-A-Family program, whereby selected student families are provided gifts and food items to help them celebrate the holidays. To make a donation, go to uchsptsa.org. To coordinate adopting a family or providing gifts/gift cards, contact [email protected]. 
 
‘A STREETCAR NAME DESIRE’ 
The University City High School Performing Arts department has a new name – Centurion Theatre. The technical theater class is proud to announce a completely revamped logo at ucperformingarts.org. And their next production is the Tennessee Williams play “A Streetcar Named Desire.” The shows will be on Dec. 3-6, starting at 7 p.m. “A Streetcar Named Desire” is considered one of the greatest plays in American history, and take this local opportunity to relive the story of Blanche, Stanley, Stella, and Mitch. Tickets are priced from $7-$13 and can be purchased at the school’s Finance Office or at ucperformingarts.org. Centurion Theatre is located at 6949 Genesee Ave. 
 
HOME FRONT SAN DIEGO 
The San Diego OASIS program promotes healthy aging through lifelong learning, active lifestyles, and volunteer engagement. An upcoming program “Home Front San Diego in World War II” is being held from 1-2:30 p.m., Dec. 3, at the University Community Branch Library, located at 4155 Governor Drive. The event will feature a slide show with newspaper headlines, photos and newsreel footage. San Diego was profoundly changed by WWII, with the population doubling between 1940-1943 with 1,500 people per week moving into the city. Balboa Park was transformed into a naval training base and San Diego became a hub of military activity. 
 
JEWISH MEN’S CHOIR 
Back by popular demand, the San Diego Jewish Men’s Choir will be performing at the UC Library on Wednesday, Dec. 4, starting at 6:30 p.m. The event is part of the library’s concert series, held the first Wednesday of each month. The Jewish Men’s Choir will sing a variety of well-loved Jewish songs in the Hebrew, Ladino, English, and Yiddish languages. The UC Library is at 4155 Governor Drive. 
 
SWINGIN’ WITH DEAN 
Enjoy an afternoon with musician Dean Ratzman on Sunday, Dec. 8, starting at 3 p.m. He will be singing and playing various instruments, including keyboard and trumpet. Dean plays music featuring jazz, swing, big band, blues, and soul hits of American artists. The musical performance will be held at the North UC Branch Library, located at 8820 Judicial Drive.  
 
UCCA NEW OFFICERS 
The University City Community Association elected new officers. Congrats to: Barry Bernstein, president; Mark Langston, vice president; Don Hotz, treasurer; and James Beshears, secretary. The positions are held for two years. For more info about UCCA, including membership, go to universitycitynews.org.