Featured events

Sore Eye Sudsmas
Saturday, Dec. 19

Sore Eye Sports is hosting this holiday food drive and party at Societe Brewing Company (8262 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.) from 5 – 9 p.m. For each non-perishable food item donated, attendees will receive one entry into a huge drawing for great prizes. Food donations will benefit the San Diego Food Bank. Items requested include: canned chicken and tuna, dry and canned beans, cereal, rice, canned vegetables, infant formula and more. Prizes to be given away include: $100 gift card to Carnitas Snack Shack, $50 to Urban Solace, VIP passes to San Diego Bacon Fest, a 10-person private tasting at Vom Fass in Hillcrest and many more fun items. Visit on.fb.me/1O0uibp for more details.

Winter science camps
Monday, Dec. 21 – Thursday, Dec. 31

Reuben H. Fleet Science Center (1875 El Prado, Balboa Park) will host full-day science camps for grades one through three with themes of interactive play and innovation based on the museum’s latest exhibition Imaginate; and for grades four through six, there will be the Minecraft Computer Programming Camp. Each camp offers fun, educational and hands-on activities. The camps are every weekday through Dec. 31 except Christmas Eve and Day from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Attendees can sign up for single or multiple days. For more information and enrollment visit rhfleet.org/events/winter-camps.

Christmas Eve services
Thursday, Dec. 24

Ascension Lutheran Church (5106 Zion Ave., Allied Gardens) will host a “not so late” family service at 5:30 p.m. with children presenting a play called “Christmas Reunion.” This service will include candlelight caroling and Holy Communion. The “Festive Service” at 7:30 p.m. will include Celtic harp music and soloist Anthony Whittson-Martini singing a Christmas spiritual and the traditional “The Birthday of a King.” This service will be set to music by organist Robert Plimpton. The church choir will lead candlelight caroling and Holy Communion will be served. For more information visit ascension-church.com.

Christmas Eve services at St. Dunstan’s
Thursday, Dec. 24

St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church (6556 Park Ridge Blvd., San Carlos) will host several events as part of their Christmas Eve services. A family communion service with Christmas pageant will begin at 4:30 p.m.; Christmas carols will be sung at 10 p.m.; and at 10:30 p.m. a candlelight communion service will be held with a choir and instrumentalists. Visit stdunstans.org for more information.

New Year’s luncheon
Thursday, Dec. 31

College Avenue Center (6299 Capri Drive, Del Cerro) will host a NYE celebration starting at noon. Lunch will be served along with entertainment by Bob Constantine and his band. Visit Jfssd.org/cac for more information. Note the CAC will be closed Friday, Jan. 1, 2016 in observance of the New Year’s Day holiday.

‘The Rewrite’
Monday, Jan. 4

This movie viewing, starting at 1 p.m. at College Avenue Center (6299 Capri Drive, Del Cerro), will feature “The Rewrite” with Hugh Grant as a washed-up screenwriter who reluctantly takes a college teaching job and meets a single mom (Maria Tomei) who changes his life. Visit Jfssd.org/cac for more information.

‘Lions, Coyotes and Bobcats, Oh My!’
Thursday, Jan. 7

Mission Trails Regional Park trail guide and educator Linda Hawley will visit College Avenue Center (6299 Capri Drive, Del Cerro) with this special presentation starting at 12:45 p.m. Hawley will introduce attendees to San Diego’s native animals by bringing real pets and replicated skulls, tracks and scats. Visit Jfssd.org/cac for more information.

Rose pruning and fruit tree pruning classes
Saturday, Jan. 9

For these free gardening classes, Armstrong Garden Centers will give tips for pruning roses (9 a.m.) and pruning fruit trees (11 a.m.) and teach why pruning keeps plants healthy and blooming. There will be demonstrations of simple principles of pruning. The Mission Valley/Grantville store is located at 10320 Friars Road; there are several other San Diego Armstrong locations. Visit ArmstrongGarden.com for more information.

CASA volunteer information sessions
Tuesday, Jan. 12, Wednesday, Jan. 20 and Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016:

These sessions provide information on becoming a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for Voices for Children. CASAs advocate for a child’s best interests in court and in other aspects of their lives, such as education, health, and living arrangements. CASAs gather information from files and reports and communicate with social workers, family members, school officials, and other professionals to identify and address a child’s needs. They also visit the child (or a set of siblings) at least once a month to provide a reliable adult presence that is both supportive and consistent. Must be 21+. No experience is necessary. Training and support provided! To learn more or RSVP to an information session, call 858-598-2230, email [email protected] or visit www.speakupnow.org. The location of the sessions will be given upon registration. Volunteer opportunities are available throughout the county.

Patrick Henry High School parent/student articulation meeting
Thursday, Jan. 14

A meeting for eighth grade students who will be attending Patrick Henry High School (PHHS) in the fall and their parents. PHHS counselors will present important information regarding the articulation process into high school. Enrollment packets for students of out of the district will be available at this meeting. Note: Lewis and Pershing students do not need to reenroll. This meeting will be at 6 p.m. in the Cafetorium at PHHS (6702 Wandermere Drive, San Carlos). A visit to the campus for eighth graders is scheduled for Tuesday, March 15, 2016. Call the counseling office at 619-286-7700 ext. 2222 with any questions.

RECURRING EVENTS

Mondays:

Rock Star Karaoke with Jae: 9 p.m. Let your inner rock star shine. Pal Joey’s, 5147 Waring Road, Allied Gardens. Paljoeysonline.com.

Tuesdays:

Feeling Fit Club: 8:30–9:30 a.m., free class for seniors 60 years and up to improve balance, strength and flexibility. Cohen Social Hall at Tifereth Israel Synagogue, 6660 Cowles Mountain Blvd., San Carlos. Tiferethisrael.com.

Brilliant Babies Storytime: Noon, recommended for pre-walkers. Allied Gardens/Benjamin Branch Library, 5188 Zion Ave., Allied Gardens.

Chair Yoga: 2:30–3:30 p.m., free class where yoga stretches are performed sitting on a chair. No mats needed. San Carlos Branch Library, 7265 Jackson Drive, San Carlos. Sancarlosfriendsofthelibrary.org.

Mission Valley Persuasive Speakers meeting: 6:30 – 8 p.m., toastmasters club weekly meetings. 4444 Zion Ave., Grantville. 701611.toastmastersclubs.org.

Wednesdays:

Feeling Fit Club: 1–2 p.m., free class for seniors 60 years and up to improve balance, strength and flexibility. Wesley United Methodist Church, 5380 El Cajon Blvd., College Area. Call 858-495-5500 ext. 3.

Locals Night: 3–8 p.m., residents of 92120, 92115, 92116, 92123 and 92108 are eligible for $2 pours of the brewery’s “beer of the day.” Benchmark Brewing, 6190 Fairmount Ave., Suite G, Grantville. Benchmarkbrewing.com.

Game Night: 6–9:30 p.m., bring your own or play what’s available while enjoying traditional and vegan donuts. Donut Panic, 6171 Mission Gorge Road #113, Grantville. Facebook.com/DonutpanicSD.

Thursdays:

Karaoke: 9 p.m., hosted by Erica at your favorite neighborhood haunt. Pal Joey’s, 5147 Waring Road, Allied Gardens. Paljoeysonline.com.

Fridays:

Curbside Bites: 5–9 p.m., gathering of gourmet food trucks at Westfield Mission Valley mall, 1640 Camino Del Rio N., Mission Valley. Curbsidebites.com.

Saturdays:

Lake Murray walking trail: 8:30 a.m., led by the Widows or Widowers (WOW) Club of San Diego. Call for directions to the meeting locations. 619-448-6088 or wowsd.org.

Sundays:

Karaoke: 9 p.m., karaoke to close out your weekend. Camel’s Breath Inn, 10330 Friars Road Suite 106, Grantville. Camelsbreathinnsd.com.  

—Want to see your event listed on our community calendar? Send event details to [email protected].