SONO PARK HOLIDAY FEST AND CHILIPALOOZA COMING IN DECEMBER
The annual SoNo Park Holiday Fest and Chilipalooza, being held Dec. 4 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., gives San Diegans a chance to buy local and eat and drink local. This free holiday event, a collaboration between San Diego Ceramic Connection and the McKinley Elementary School Foundation, promises award-winning chili as local restaurants face off for chili bragging rights. A panel will be on hand to crown the winners and the public is invited to sample the entries – a $15 donation buys chili tastings in a handcrafted ceramic bowl. The festival, held at 32nd and Thorn streets, will also feature beer and wine from local breweries and vineyards, an assortment of food trucks, holiday gift shopping from local artists and craft vendors, live music on two stages and children’s activities. For a complete list of restaurants, celebrity judges, bands, vendors, food trucks and more event information visit www.sonoparkholidayfest.com.

SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTERS OFFER FUNDRAISING IDEAS FOR HOLIDAY SEASON
Senior Community Centers announced the 365-day “Food From The Heart” fundraising initiative designed to motivate families to engage in community service and support the nutritional needs of low-income seniors in San Diego. With the rising cost of food, the organization needs help from the community to continue serving the seniors who need their assistance. The team at Senior Community Centers has put together an online toolkit with fundraising ideas to help groups and families organize their fundraising efforts and share the program with others. Ideas include collecting donations in lieu of birthday or holiday gifts, hosting a happy hour with friends, colleagues, and family members, or having students create a class project to raise funds and sponsor meals for seniors. More ideas are available at www.servingseniors.org.

NORTH PARK’S EVEOKE DANCE THEATRE TOURS TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
North Park’s Eveoke Dance Theatre’s is going on tour – to the Dominican Republic. This local theater normally does not tour; however, the U.S. Embassy is sponsoring them and the tour. They leave Nov. 26. Their presentation, Las Mariposas, is a story adapted from Julia Alvarez’s book “In the Time of the Butterflies.” Alvarez saw Las Mariposas in North Park, and said she was so moved by it that she thought the people of the Dominican Republic should see it. Within a couple of days she put the studio in touch with the U.S. Embassy, who agreed to sponsor the entire tour. In addition to the performances, they will be teaching classes and visiting cultural sites.

GOVERNOR SIGNS 15 KEHOE-WRITTEN BILLS INTO LAW
Governor Jerry Brown signed 15 bills written by San Diego Senator Christine Kehoe into law, Kehoe announced last week. The bills include: Providing Equal Benefits for LGBT Employees (SB 117), Notifying Conservation Easements (SB 328), Tougher Penalties for Strangulation (SB 430), Expanding Tenant Rights (SB 337), Improving Transit in Interstate 5 Corridor (SB 468), Continuing Water Testing at Beaches (SB 482), Strengthening Family Justice Centers (SB 557), Giving More Funds to Solar Roofs (SB 585), Extending Whooping Cough Vaccine Deadline (SB 614) and Improving Public Disclosure for Appointed Officials (SB 801). To view the text of each, visit www.senate.ca.gov/kehoe and click on “legislation.”

MARINE KICKOFF EVENT TO TAKE PLACE ON USS MIDWAY
The Marine kickoff event aboard the USS Midway will take place on Dec. 3, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. and admission is free with a new, unwrapped toy. Festivities include raffles, prizes and refreshments. The SDSS Toys for Tots booth will be open from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. that day. The drive will continue with a collection at the San Diego Chargers home game scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 11, at Qualcomm stadium. During the toy drive, San Diego Self Storage facilities will also be conducting raffles for a $100 credit toward a new or existing tenant’s storage rental. To enter the raffle, individuals may sign up when dropping off a new, unwrapped toy. The collection ends at 6 p.m. on Dec. 19 and the drawings will be held at each location on Dec. 20.

MISSION HILLS RESIDENTS OPEN FIRST UPSCALE BOUTIQUE FOR FULL-FIGURED WOMEN
Mission Hills residents and husband and wife team, Deirdre and Joel Mick recently launched Curve Couture, an upscale designer boutique in Solana Beach, created exclusively for women wearing sizes 12 and above. The boutque is located at 415 S. Cedros Ave. “I know from experience which looks flatter curvy women and which looks don’t,” Deirdre said. “Just like styling any body type, there are certain styles that work and certain styles that don’t. I want to offer my experience and fashion knowledge to help women feel empowered by their natural beauty, to make women feel confident exactly as they are and for exactly who they are.”

ELOS SHOES LAUNCHES IN NORTH PARK
EloS Shoes, an independently owned and operated retail shoe store focusing on sustainable, artistic and fashionable comfort footwear for men, women and children, opened their new retail showroom in Normal Heights on Nov. 20. eloS Shoes extends their commitment to sustainability by engaging Lisa Lesney, LEED designer of LLID (Lisa Lesney Interior Design), to complete the store’s interior. The store offers footwear and accessories from artistic brands as well as environmentally and socially responsible brands such as Naya, Clark’s, Sanuk, Born, OluKai, BedStu, Keds, Saucony, Miz Mooz, Cushe, Robeez, and See Kai Run.

HBA TO HOST OPEN HOUSE
The Hillcrest Business Association (HBA) is hosting an open house at the Empire House on Nov. 30. The open house will go from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. The main topic of discussion will be solving Hillcrest’s parking issues. The purpose is to come together as a community to find the best solutions. The HBA will also discuss other projects. Empire House, located at 127 University Ave. in Hillcrest, will provide food and drinks for participants.