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MissionValleyNews.com — December 2010
FAITH & VALUES OLD TOWN CELEBRATES 60TH LAS POSADAS EVENT ON DECEMBER 12 The Las Posadas procession is a walking reenactment of the biblical story of Mary and Joseph’s search for a birthplace for the Christ child. Everyone is invited to join the candlelit procession and sing traditional holiday songs in both Spanish and English as the players go from inn to inn, asking for symbolic lodging. The procession culminates with a live nativity scene in front of Casa de Estudillo and a piñata party at El Fandango Restaurant. “This event combines the Anglo custom of caroling with the Hispanic tradition of the procession and breaking of the piñata,” said Chuck Ross, owner and operator of Fiesta de Reyes. “Las Posadas is a long-standing tradition in many Latin cultures and we hope to recreate the same kind of celebratory day that everyone can enjoy.” The Las Posadas procession will be led by professional actors in period costume, including Willie, the acting donkey. Before the procession begins at 5 p.m., this event will feature a daytime celebration and pre-show with live music, performances and activities. A This year marks the 60th annual Las variety of local music and performing Posadas event in Old Town, a candlelit arts groups such as Metro Dance and procession that re-enacts the biblical story of Mary and Joseph’s search Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church for a birthplace for the Christ child. will perform from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For children’s entertainment, between 2 and 5 p.m., there will be free craft activities that include making pioneer-style cloth dolls, corn-husk dolls and paper holiday flowers. Hot cider, pastries, Mexican baked goods, tamales, hot soup and more will be available for purchase from El Fandango Restaurant and Barra Barra Saloon. At end of the festival, a bonfire will be lit in the middle of the state park and El Fandango Restaurant will host a piñata-breaking party following the Las Posadas procession at 6 p.m. For more information, phone (619) 297-3100.
Puppy, from page 2 any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the abuse. If a suspect is identified, they will face a felony animal abuse charges which could include prison time and fines. The puppy will continue to receive veterinary care that will be covered by the Department’s “Spirit Fund.” Anyone interested in donating to the “Spirit Fund” can do so at any of the three County animal shelters or online at www. sddac.com/donations.asp. The Department of Animal Services will notify the public when the puppy becomes available for adoption.
Mission Trails, from page 5 Become a friend of Mission Trails Regional Park on Facebook by December 31. One lucky Facebook friend will receive a free 90 minute guided tour of Mission Trails for a party of four, conducted by a Senior Park Ranger. Visit www.mtrp.org for more information and events calendar or call (619) 668-3281.
Bird Count, from page 5 The organization welcomes new participants, but expects them to be experienced birders. The count entails a commitment to be in the field at least from sunrise to 1 pm, to count or estimate numbers of all species to the best of one’s ability, and to support the identification of any unusual bird with written notes and/or photographs. The count circle extends west to the tip of Point Loma, north to Balboa Park and Chollas Reservoir, east to Sweetwater Reservoir and Southwestern College, and south to the Tijuana River valley. More information regarding specific locations that will be surveyed is available on the San Diego Audubon Society website at http://www.sandiegoaudubon.org/cbc.htm. Contact Phil Unitt by e-mail at the Natural History Museum at birds@ sdnhm.org, or by phone at 619-255-0235, or Rich Breisch, rsbreisch@san.rr.com to sign up for the 2010 CBC.
Safety Seats, from page 4 With the new grant, the Pacific Safety Council will extend the program through September 2011. In addition to providing the car seats to low-income families, staff will conduct 90 safety education classes and 40 child passenger safety check-up events, as well as five, one-day classes on passenger safety for public safety workers. “The proper use of child safety seats, booster seats and buckling up will save children’s lives,” said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety. “Doing it right every trip, every day, will make it a habit they will carry into adulthood.” The goal of this grant is to increase the proper installation and appropriate use of child passenger safety seats and seat belt usage by families. “By using age-appropriate, vehicle safety seats, parents and caregivers can make a lifesaving difference,” said HHSA Director Nick Macchione. “Children should always be appropriately secured.” For more information about the “Keep ‘Em Safe” program, contact Noemi Dueñas at Pacific Safety Council at (858) 621-2313 ext. 114.
Father Sets Out to Make Online Classifieds Safer After the Mysterious Disappearance of his Daughter Three years ago, on June 23, 2007, San Diego State University sophomore, Donna Jou, vanished after meeting up with a man who responded to her tutoring service ad on an online classifieds site. The man turned out to be John Steven Burgess, a three-time convicted sexual predator. Because Donna’s body has not been found, Burgess was only charged for involuntary manslaughter and is currently serving a five-year prison sentence. He is due to be released next year. “Half of me is gone,” said Reza Jou, Donna’s father. “I don’t feel like a whole person. My family and I have lost our young and precious daughter forever, and we just cannot get over our loss. I want to make sure this doesn’t happen to anybody else’s daughter.” Reza is on a crusade to improve Internet safety. He has invested in a new website, SafeList.com that provides an online classifieds platform based on its Verified Identity technology. Unlike other online classifieds sites where buyers and sellers remain anonymous, SafeList.com requires its users to confirm who they are before gaining access to the site’s core features. To become a verified user, individuals must submit themselves to a series of questions based on their personal life history that the system pulls from a comprehensive public database. They must correctly answer these questions within 240 seconds. Failure to respond correctly will keep the person at the basic user level. SafeList will also report See SafeList, Page 13
CHURCHES IN OR NEAR MISSION VALLEY For your convenience
Holy Angels Byzantine Catholic Church 2235 Galahad Road 858-277-2511 First United Methodist 2111 Camino Del Rio South 619-297-4366 First Assembly of God 8404 Phyllis Place 858-560-1870 Calvary Southern Baptist 6866 Linda Vista Rd. 858-277-7078 Immaculata Catholic Church University of San Diego Campus 8998 Alcala Park 619-574-5700 Immaculate Conception Old Town 2540 San Diego Avenue 619-295-4148 Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala 10818 San Diego Mission Road 619-283-7319 Joyful Living Church 3505 Camino Del Rio South 619-521-4800 Holy Family Catholic Church 1957 Coolidge Street 858-277-0404 St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral 2728 Sixth Ave. 619-298-7261 Linda Vista Presbyterian Church 2130 Ulric Street 858-277-0523 University Christian Church 3900 Cleveland Ave. 619-295-4146 St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church Del Cerro 6556 Park Ridge Blvd. 619-460-6442
Gethsemane Lutheran Church 2696 Melbourne Drive 858-277-6572
Your Church or Synagogue can be listed here. Please call 619-291-0200 or send an email to Info@MissionValleyNews.com.