Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Festival
By the time you read this article, preparations are already underway for the 22nd annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Festival hosted by the Allied Gardens/Grantville Community Council (AGGCC).
The lighting of the Community Christmas tree will take place at the corner of Zion Avenue and Waring Road (commonly referred to as the “Triangle”) on Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 6:30 p.m. It is a short ceremony, but fun as two second grade students from Foster and Marvin Elementary will simultaneously turn a switch to illuminate the decorated tree. To help with the festivities, several students from Lewis Middle School Band will perform some special Holiday songs.
On Thursday evening, Dec. 12, Lewis Middle School, Marvin and Foster Elementary will have students performing at the annual Holiday Festival. The Festival is an hour long program of Seasonal Songs and Dramatic Readings by the students from these schools. The time is 7 p.m. and the location for the festival is the Lewis Middle School Auditorium, 5170 Greenbrier Ave.
We are pleased to have Mrs. Johnson’s students form Marvin Elementary once again performing as well as so many students from Foster Elementary School. It is wonderful to see their performance reflect all the hard work and preparation that the teachers and students have been doing since September.
Finally, the Festival presents the tremendous musical talent of the Junior High Students from our communities who have been working with their teacher, Mr. Josh Prout. Under his guidance, as Lewis Band Director, the students play seasonal orchestral arrangements as well as Jazz compositions and give an amazing performance not to be missed.
Not to be overlooked are all the volunteers from the AGGCC who help with these events. They not only decorate the tree at the Triangle, but string lights along the Waring Road Bridge just to help make our community a little more festive. Volunteers are always welcome, so please come and join us.
Members of the AGGCC wish you and your families a very happy and safe holiday.
—By Marilyn Reed
Montgomery-Gibbs coalition structures as nonprofit
Montgomery-Gibbs Environmental Coalition (MGEC) has announced it is now officially a nonprofit with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code.
According to a press statement released by the group, MGEC is also now eligible to apply for government and foundation grants which will further broaden its access to resources and strengthen its ability to educate the public about the environmental impact of general aviation and how to lessen it, and advocate for the public good.
“Obtaining 501(c)(3) status enables MGEC to continue to provide education for the public about aviation related environmental issues thereby benefiting the community through awareness and action,” remarked MGEC President Quentin Yates.
“The granting of nonprofit status to MGEC is a major milestone for our growing organization. We are excited to expand our environmental efforts to reduce the lead in aviation fuel, help reduce the aircraft noise impact on residents, and improve the safety of General Aviation airports and the planes that use them,” he added.
To help guide the organization and ensure fulfillment of its mission, an executive board of directors was assembled with a combined experience of over 125 years involvement in business and community service. Montgomery-Gibbs Environmental Coalition is located in San Diego, California. MGEC is a grassroots organization and relies on community participation to fulfill its mission to provide educational events and advocate for clean air, aviation safety standards, less noise and tighter airport security.
Del Cerro Fall Festival
Everyone is invited to join us from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday evening, Nov. 16, for family fun, food, carnival rides, vendors and entertainment at the annual 2019 Del Cerro Fall Festival, held on the campus of Hearst Elementary School. Children’s activities include inflatable slides, games and rides for all ages. For additional details about the Festival or vendor information, like and follow Del Cerro Fall Festival on Facebook! This event is made possible by Hearst PTA and our many supporters of parents, friends, neighbors and local business sponsors.
—By Peggy Han
Junior Achievement, UPS Store reopen BizTown
On Oct. 30, Junior Achievement San Diego and The UPS Store, Inc. hosted more than 100 children at Junior Achievement’s BizTown in Grantville for a grand reopening of The UPS Store. Students from both Museum School in San Diego and Jefferson Elementary in Carlsbad visited BizTown, a 10,000-square-foot mini-city in which kids discover how the “real world” works and are “citizens” with real jobs and responsibilities.
Bryan Clements, managing attorney at The UPS Store, Inc., and Sidd Vivek, president and CEO of Junior Achievement, spoke at the ribbon cutting prior to the children beginning their ‘work’ day. The UPS Store, Inc. recently reinvested in its store at BizTown by remodeling it to align with the company’s new store design concept that is currently being tested in San Diego and locations across the country.
All students start their ‘job’ by visiting The UPS Store to gather all supplies and deliveries needed to make their business operational.
JA BizTown “citizens” work in one of 21 businesses, make personal financial decisions as well as for their business, hold business meetings, pay taxes and donate to charity.
The UPS Store, Inc. has been a strong supporter of Junior Achievement for more than 12 years, donating over $25,000 in grants each year totaling more than $600,000.
