By Miriam Raftery

December 27, 2015 (San Diego) - The Martin Luther King Jr. community breakfast will be held on January 18 at 7 a.m. at the Jacobs Center (404 Euclid Ave., San Diego) . The featured speaker will be Rev. Richard Lawrence, a long-time Civil Rights advocate who marched with Dr. King to desegregate Chicago and participated in the Selma walk.

Photo credit to Redden-McAllister on Flickr

East County News Service

December 18, 2015 (El Cajon) -- Country music singer Travis Tritt will be performing at Sycuan Casino & Resort in El Cajon on January 24 at 7 p.m.

December 17, 2015 (Mt. Helix) -- Our holiday parties are legendary! Come join the fun Sunday, December 20 from 2-6 p.m. at our editor's home on Mt. Helix.

• Delicious feast! Glazed ham and yams, cinnamon baked apples, beet/strawberry and eggplant salads from Baba al Hara,  pasta and salad from Olive Graden, desserts from New York Bakery
•  Wine tasting with Grant James Vineyard and Pearson Bros. Winery, plus holiday beverages (21 and up.)
• Live music (folk, rock, and holiday songs) with Paul Nichols, Cindy Burnham, Tim and Marijo Luranc,
• Holiday games, prizes and surprises! Prizes include a mountain vacation,  wine lover’s baskets, dance lessons, silver jewelry, hand-woven shawl from Weaving Works in Santa Ysabel, California Wolf Preserve tour in Julian,  Passes and big-cat feeding for 2 at Lions Tigers &  Bears, dinner at Descanso Junction, Glamour Girlz gift basket, personal trainer for a month at CHN Fitness in Santee, yoga lessons at CHN Yoga, and much more. 
  

East County News Service

December 9, 2015 (Ramona)--The Ramona Valley Vineyard invites you to take a break from the holiday hustle and give yourself and and your friends a unique holiday wine experience.  You can join  Join 15 RVVA member wineries on December 12th & 13th for the second weekend of wine, fun and holiday spirits along the Holiday Wine Trail.

Your “Get Your Merry On” Holiday Wine Trail Passport is your ticket to great deals and festive fun over all four days of the wine trail.  Each participating winery is offering different holiday wine trail specials including heavily discounted tastings and pairings, bottle and merchandise discounts, unique holiday gift items featuring local artisans.

East County News Service

December 8, 2015 (El Cajon) – The IraqiCenter for Dialogue invites you to participate in a " Youth Conference" on December 17 at 11 a.m. at the Royal Palace, 1340 Broadway, El Cajon, CA 92021.

East County News Service

December 1, 2015 (Lemon Grove) – Lemon Grove’s annual community bonfire will be ablaze at Civic Center Park (3200 Main Street) on Friday, December 4 from 5 to 9 p.m.  

Activities also include  hayrides, a rock climbing wall, game booths, photo booth, arts & crafts, face painting and a game truck.  Free hot chocolate, chili, cornbread, cookies, fruit and popcorn will be provided.

Listen to Destination East County by clicking the audio link, originally aired on KNSJ radio.

December 1, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) --This week’s Destination East County includes an array of holiday happenings including major community festivals such as the Alpine Parade of Lights and Snow Festival, Lakeside’s Christmas on Maine, a tree-lighting and sleigh rides in Ramona’s Old Town, Santa at Santee Lakes, as well as holiday music performances and stage productions, plus a Chaldean Christmas Gala to help people in need.

Plus we’ll have previews of coming attractions including La Mesa Shimmers, La Mesa’s Christmas in the Village, a holiday home tour in Alpine, and a holiday open house at an alpaca farm in Descanso. Scroll down for all of these events and more.

Choral members also needed

November 30, 2015 (Rancho San Diego) – The San Diego Festival Chorus performs "Joyous Music for the Season" on December 6 at 3 p.m. in the College Avenue Baptist Church.   The program features an 80-voice chorus and 48-piece symphony orchest in its 15th season, perfoming Mendelssohn's "Hymn of Praise" and a unique arrangement of  holiday music.

Cost: Adults $17, Seniors and students $15, Children under 12 yrs $5, Military free

East County News Service

November 26, 2015 (Lakeside) – Santa and his elves are hard at work getting ready for the Lakeside Chamber of Commerce’s 17^th annual Spirit of Christmas on Maine Ave. in Lakeside.  The holiday tradition takes place on December 5^th from 4 to 9 p.m. and is free to the public.

With an atmosphere of an old-fashioned, hometown Christmas, the event features the sights and sounds of Christmas including local school performances, Santa Claus and photos with Santa, food and drink, kids activities, rides and jumpy jumps, booths, crafters, and lighting of the community Christmas tree.

East County News Service

November 24, 2015 (La Mesa) – The Miracle Worker, a play that depicts the amazing life of Helen Keller, will be presented by Grossmont High School’s drama department December 2-4 and 9-12.

Listen to Destination East County, also aired on KNSJ radio, by clicking the audio link.

By Miriam Raftery

November 24, 2015 (San Diego's East County) --This week’s Destination East County includes a tree-lighting ceremony and ice skating in downtown El Cajon, Pomegranate Days at a camel dairy, and a holiday music festival.

Plus we’ll have previews of coming attractions including a Chaldean Christmas party to benefit local refugees in need,  the Jingle Paws Walk helping shelter pets, sleigh rides and a tree-lighting in Ramona’s Old Town, a holiday party with lions, tigers and bears, Santee at Santee Lakes, and several musical productions. So scroll down for all of these events and more.

East County News Service

November 22, 2015 (Santee) – Santee Santas invites you to join its 4^th annual Waddle & Trot 5K and Fun Run happening at 8:00 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Nov 26th. Runners and walkers of all levels are welcome.

This fast & flat 5K race starts and finishes at the Pathways Center in Santee, and loops around through scenic Santee Lakes. The 1/4 mile Fun Run takes place at the Pathways Center campus. All proceeds benefit Santee Santas and the Santee Food Bank.

November 21, 2015 (El Cajon)—St. Michael’s Chaldean Catholic Church will host its first annual “Gift of Giving Christmas Gala” on Friday, December 4 at 8 p.m.  The 21+ wine and cheese gala will feature a silent auction, raffle items, a selection of wines from local wineries, craft beers and donated foods.

By Sarka-Jonae Miller, Ask an Author columnist

November 17, 2015 (San Diego)--The Cheese Store of San Diego (1980 Kettner Blvd, Ste 30, San Diego, California 92101) is hosting a Je Suis Paris fundraiser on Nov 22 at 6 p.m. to benefit the French Red Cross following last week’s terrorist attacks. Organized by Adventures By the Book owner Susan E. McBeth, the event will feature a candle lighting ceremony and a silent auction for signed books by best-selling authors Jennifer Coburn, Susan Vreeland, Michelle Gable, and more. French foods samples, wine, and desserts will also be available.