Businesses, community spread holiday spirit, 2010

An Alpine family who appeared to have little to spare gave a lot this year to Jeff Campbell’s 13th Annual Gift Bag Drive for the holidays.
“These people were obviously not well to do, but they wanted to give the most,” said Campbell, owner of Jeff Campbell & Associates in Alpine.
It’s a particularly tough year for the drive. For the first time Campbell has extended it to two months, because there haven’t been many phone calls from donors to (619) 445-3322.
Normally, Campbell said, out of about every 100 big brown bags he distributes about 15 are returned, filled with nonperishable food items, clothing, disposable diapers, personal hygiene items, kids’ videos, blankets, backpacks, toys and art supplies.
This year he’s getting back about one full bag for every 100 handed out, Campbell said.
“The economy directly affects charity,” said the businessman.
However, he said, when he went to collect a filled bag at one Alpine home the whole family ---- mom, dad and 12-year-old son---- was really enthusiastic about giving even though they didn’t seem to have much more than necessities.
“It’s their first time to participate,” Campbell said. “The boy was so excited he said, ‘Hey, Dad, I’d like to donate my bicycle to the drive.’”
The realtor told the boy to stop and think about that, but the whole family insisted so Campbell accepted the youth’s generous gift that will bring joy to another child.
The story didn’t end there.
On Dec. 1, Campbell talked about the kind family at the Hot Topics Networking Breakfast of the Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce.
That inspired Carol Morrison, president of the Alpine Historical Society, to donate a refurbished bike that looks brand new.
“These things happen every year,” Campbell said. “I love it.”
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The number of free Thanksgiving dinners provided through the Alpine Community Center almost tripled this year!
Executive Director Sue Roff, who cooks all the turkeys and prepares all the trimmings (including a fruit salad that’s one of her family favorites), started the ovens the night before the holiday.
The next day 21volunteers delivered 91 meals to Alpine’s elderly, homebound or needy.
“We only had 37 meals last year,” said Roff. “I think the economy has a lot to do with it.”
Last year, she said, there were only seven needy families. This year there were 28.
The Alpine Albertsons supermarket donated turkey dinners for the needy families. Waste Management contributed turkeys for the rest of the meals, and donations from the community paid for everything else.
Roff is hoping people now will call the Community Center at (619) 445-7330 to donate gifts, food and cash for free cooked meals for those who need them at Christmas.
“We’re getting a lot of calls (for dinners),” the executive director said.
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The littlest angel at the home of one business couple this year will be their first grandchild!
Celesta Rannisi Owen and husband Eric Schmid, owners of Celebration of Birth & Live and Jireh Construction, are thrilled to welcome 6-month-old Jace Moniz and his family to their home for the holiday.
“We have little girls that are coming as angels to participate,” Owen said.
She said she wanted to give Jace a fishing pole for his first Christmas but her husband said the infant was too young. Grandma and Grandpa were still working on Jace’s gift list, but Santa is definitely bringing bath toys for the baby.
Although Owen has helped bring many children into the world, Jace is a special gift.
“As a midwife I’ve had the honor of delivering hundreds of babies,” Owen said. “But nothing compares to having your own grandbaby. I did help to catch him when he was born.”

Ex-Miss Alpine continues to help others

A former Miss Alpine is taking her commitment to community service world-wide.
Brigitte Wesselink, who also wore the Miss Teen Alpine crown for a time, is the daughter of Simon and Barbara Wesselink, owners of Dutchman Cabinets in Descanso.
Since March 1, Brigitte, now 26 and an industrial systems engineer, is a 27-month volunteer with the Peace Corps. She’s living in Costa Rica with families she’s helping.
“She wants to make a difference,” said Barbara Wesselink. “She’s working with a farmer’s market. She’s teaching them computer skills. She’s trying to help them help themselves in business.”
In the past, Wesselink said, her daughter has helped the homeless and others in the U.S.
Brigitte also traveled around the world, where she saw the best and the worst of how people live and she wants to use her skills to make things better, said Wesselink.
“You can’t help but be proud,” she said.
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A recent campout turned into a major memory for Colin Campbell’s family in Alpine.
Campbell, owner of Cal Pacific Mortgage, and his wife, Lisa, are familiar with camping out, but it was a totally new experience for their sons ---- 6-year-old Colin and 3-year-old Nicholas.
“Oh my gosh, they just can’t get enough of it,” Campbell said. “They pitched a tent in the house the other day.”
It was Lisa and the wife of a friend who arranged the campout as a surprise at the family-owned Campbell Creek Ranch.
The two women prepared everything in advance for both families, and then invited their husbands for an evening out. They didn’t tell the men where they were going.
“They drove us around blindfolded for awhile,” Campbell said. “We thought we were going to a concert or something.”
When the ride ended, the men were literally back at the ranch where two dome tents had been pitched near the tennis courts. The women had everything ready in advance, including a fire pit, and their kids.
After a great meal, everyone gathered around the fire to toast marshmallows for s’ mores, tell ghost stories and listen to the night sounds of wild animals under the stars.
“After the campout was over, the boys wouldn’t let us take down the tents,” Campbell said. “It took us three days before we could sneak out there and get the tents down.”
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It’s not too soon to start thinking about the “14th Annual Alpine Village Christmas Parade of Lights & Snow Festival!”
Whether you want to be in the brightly-lit night parade, help sponsor it or watch the wonderful march, everyone is welcome to join the fun on Friday, Dec. 11. The only requirement to be in the parade is that every entry must be decorated with holiday lights.

Comedy class hot headliner at academy
Aug. 2009

They’re getting a lot of laughs while learning something new at the JCS-Alpine Academy in Alpine.
Gary Juleen, coordinator of the Alpine school, said about a year ago three students came to him with a request to start an improvisational class. Juleen agreed to look into what was uncharted territory for him.
“I went on the Internet and found out about the National Comedy Theatre,” he said. “I found out they have a National Comedy Theatre High School League. Twelve high schools in San Diego County belong to it.”
Juleen now has 10 students in an improvisational comedy class at the Alpine Academy, and they’re learning a lot more than acting. The league competition is developing their self-confidence by teaching them to think on their feet while learning what’s really funny.
“We’ve given three shows at the Alpine Community Center and we’re also performing on other high school campuses in the league,” said Juleen.
He has gone to five six-week workshops to help develop the Academy’s class, and even given three performances himself at the National Comedy Theatre in San Diego.
“So basically I’m ready to quit my job here and go out on the comedy circuit,” Juleen quipped.
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If the new neighbor’s face looks familiar in Alpine, you’ll probably be welcoming Congressman Duncan D. Hunter and his family to the neighborhood.
Hunter, 32, is the new Republican representative from East County’s 52nd Congressional District. He, his wife Margaret and their three children have lived in Lakeside since 2007.
Rick Terrazas, Hunter’s district chief of staff, said the family is moving to Alpine this summer.
“He’s just looking for a place to raise his kids,” Terrazas said. “They have a dog, Brownie.”

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Local businesswoman, family welcome returning Marine, July 2009

Susan Manis and her family welcomed home her Marine grandson June 2 from Iraq!
Lance Cpl. Aaron Gardner turned 21 last December while serving his country in the Middle East. He didn’t get a chance to celebrate then, but the awesome homecoming Gardner and his unit received at Camp Pendleton may have helped make up for it.
“We went and greeted them when they came in,” said Manis, owner of Manis & Associates real estate sales in Alpine. “We met 270 returning Marines on seven buses.”
Camp Pendleton staff coordinated the reunion, keeping the families informed of where their loved ones were along the way.
Keeping it comfortable and fun during the four-hour wait for the buses, the base made sure the families had chairs, tables, a bounce house for children, popcorn, cookies, soft drinks and lots of balloons and flags.
As the unit got closer, emotions began rising.
“The level of excitement was just crazy, people were bouncing off the walls,” Manis said.
When the buses pulled in the returning Marines began getting off to move as quickly as they could into the welcoming arms of loved ones.
“Lots of smiling, lots of crying,” said Manis. “It’s wonderful to have him back home.”

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Lee Kelly, owner of Kelly Professional Appraisals, has discovered that sea shells are not only enchanting treasures from the deep ---- they are also hot items in the auction market.
That came as a surprise to Kelly, who has always enjoyed walking beaches.
“There is one shell that I find very fascinating,” she said. “The Paper (Nautilus) shell is large and pure white with black markings. It is absolutely gorgeous, and it does look exactly like paper!”
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Two foster dogs are getting new homes, thanks to Laurie Hallihan of State Farm Insurance in Alpine.
Hallihan is a member of the Border Collies in Need, headquartered in Phelan, CA. The group helps border collies who have behavior problems, often because they’ve had little or no training or attention under former owners.
“I just love the dogs, and I love training,” said Hallihan. “These dogs have never been taught. We teach them and train them, and find them good homes that are willing to give them the attention they need.”
Maya, a 3-year-old border collie, and Bear, an 11-month-old border collie-Australian shepherd mix, were ready for adoption about mid-June after Hallihan worked with them.
Hallihan said Bear loves to chase balls and Maya “is a little cuddle bug.”
Anyone who is interested in volunteering to help or adopt border collies can reach Hallihan at (619) 659-3239.

Businessman coaching successful local Padres, June 2009

The San Diego Padres might want to start scouting the minor league Mountain Empire Padres.
As of mid-May, the team of 11 boys from Alpine and the Mountain Empire were undefeated in the Mountain Empire League.
“We’re 12 and 0 right now,” said Coach Greg Fletcher, owner of G.J. Fletcher Construction in Alpine. “We’ve scored 173 runs. Only 57 runs have been scored against us.”
Fletcher and the two assistant coaches, Joe Antista and Craig Manion, are also making sure that the boys, ages 9 to 12, also know that there’s more to life than the sport.
“We practice and play games five times a week, but we also have fun,” Fletcher said. “Sometimes it’s just jumping in the pool.”
And team mom Lana Anastasopoulas and the coaches also hold homework nights so the boys will do well in school. The team is also learning how to get along with other children, regardless of any differences, Fletcher said.
“We’re teaching the kids responsibility,” said the coach, whose son, Garrett, 10, is on the team.
With that kind of attitude and atmosphere, the coaches haven’t had to worry about having enough players for every game for a full summer season.
“Every child shows up for a game,” said Fletcher. “Every child plays.”
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Holly Reinert, customer service representative of Kamps Propane of San Diego, discovered recently that her son’s interests have changed.
Her oldest child, Dayvid, 17, had wanted to be a veterinarian since he was 3, Reinert said.
So it came as a surprise when Dayvid, now a senior at West Hills High School in Santee, announced that he has chosen to go to Humboldt College to study physics and astronomy.
“My kids are smarter than me already,” said Reinert. “What can I say?”
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Save the date and get your best tropical outfit ready for the 3rd Annual Luau & Great Duck Race to support Alpine Union School District students!
Presented by the Alpine Chamber Community Foundation, this year’s laid-back “Island Paradise” fund raiser will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, at the historic Campbell Creek Ranch in Alpine.
Enter soon and often at $10 a duck if you’d like to win the Great Duck Race. Winners don’t have to be present to win the $500 grand prize!
Proceeds will help purchase classroom needs that aren’t covered by school budgets. Event sponsorships are available.
Call the Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce at (619) 445-2722 or visit www.alpinechamber.com to buy a race duck, make reservations, be a sponsor or get more information.

Local marathoner muscles through Boston run - May 10, 2009

Congratulations to Pete Hohnemann for completing the Boston Marathon in time to qualify to run the 26.2 miles again next year!
Hohnemann, co-owner with his wife Marcy of Help-U-Sell Horizons, headquartered in Pine Valley, ran in the age 60-64 class April 20 through Boston and surrounding communities.
“He’s ready to go back and do it again next year, ready for more abuse,” Marcy said later.
About 25,000 runners annually enter the event, which requires a qualifying time of four hours or better. Hohnemann’s qualifying time for his first Boston run was three hours and 56 minutes.
It took him four hours and 43 seconds to finish this year’s 113th run, which requalified him by 16 seconds for next year’s muscle marathon.
“It was a battle,” Hohnemann said. “I just gutted it out the last six miles.”
Although he had a great time at his biggest run ever, the businessman also fell in love with the history “oozing” through the Eastern city and its suburbs.
“Just very, very cool,” said Hohnemann. “Massive sky scrapers next to these old, old historical homes . . . cemeteries, wonderful cathedral churches.”

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It’s a very romantic spring for Jeffrey Carlos Jr. of Edward Jones Investments in Alpine.
The financial advisor and his fiancée, Erika Whitener, are planning a lovely Hawaiian wedding for Aug. 23 on the gorgeous island of Maui.
Carlos and Whitener, who have known each other five years, are inviting family and friends who can make it to the islands.
“We didn’t want to do a big, huge wedding,” Carlos explained. “When we get back, we’ll have a celebration and get everyone together.”
The nuptials probably will be at the popular beach at Makena Cove, where black lava rock and white sand make a spectacular setting.
“We’re going to have the wedding right on the beach,” Carlos said.
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Rod Galloway’s son is becoming a teen-age globe trotter.
Last year Chet Nelson Galloway, now 18, went to France and London, courtesy of a program made possible through Steel Canyon High School, where he will graduate this year.
Parents pay for the travel. This spring Chet went on a 10-day trip to Greece, again through the school program.
“” He went to Athens, swam in the Aegean Sea,” Rod Galloway said. “ I’m kind of living my life through him. I’ve never been anywhere but (North) America.”
Chet’s travels may be more local for awhile. According to his dad, the teen starts working on an economics degree this fall at San Diego State University.

Alpine is hot stop; couple soars for fun

A lot of people like to stop overnight to enjoy Alpine, as the new manager of the community’s Ayres Inn has discovered.
“I had never been here,” said Jason Ward, formerly a hotel manager in Corona. “I like it. I like it a lot.”
Early this month Ward checked in 25 bicycle riders, known as Women Tours, shortly after noon one Friday.
They had just pedaled almost 40 miles ---- the last 12 really uphill ---- that morning to Alpine from Dog Beach in a coastal San Diego suburb.
The next day the group was rolling to El Centro, 87 miles farther east through some mountains that even professional bicyclists find fair-sized.
“Everyone was really in good spirits,” said Ward that Friday afternoon. “They’re ready to go for it tomorrow. They said they’ve been training for it.”
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Ben and Moura Everhart of Comfort Keepers in El Cajon like to do their own flying.
“We got our private pilot licenses a couple years ago,” Ben Everhart said.
Moura soloed in high school. Ben flew as a U.S. Navy crewman for years, and then the Navy told him he was too old to fly when he wanted to be a pilot.
“For me it was ‘let me stick this in your eye’” when he went for his private pilot’s license, Ben said.
The economy has forced the Everharts to sell their Beechcraft twin-engine plane, but they’re still flying high.
“Right now we’re both in the Civil Air Patrol,” Ben said. “I think I’m one flight away from being qualified as a scanner. After I get that I’m going to shoot for being a CAP pilot. I’ve flown two training missions.”
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Jim and Tracy Haseleu recently made their first trip in about 20 years to Las Vegas and discovered that Nevada’s big playground has changed a lot.
The owners of Az U Wish promotions in Alpine took time out from a five-day business-related convention to check out the latest extravagant buildings in Las Vegas and watch sometimes strange people. The Haseleus also discovered the famed city’s slotless shopping malls.
“The (mall) themes were really nice,” Jim Haseleu said. “Right outside The Cheese Factory they have this giant saltwater tank. It’s full of huge big fish, some as big as your head. Really pretty. They’ve got cameras in the tank and you can watch them swim past.”
The Haseleus were especially delighted with their really low room rate ---- $31 a night for a good, clean room at the remodeled Riviera hotel.
However, there were surcharges for electricity use and computer hookup, Jim said.

Recipe contest cooks, cookie sales also hot

They’ve cooked up a recipe for success as well as community involvement at the Descanso Junction Restaurant.
Owner Tammy Cooker said the restaurant’s first “East County Best of the Mountain” recipe competition drew 17 entries for the winter competition. Winning entries are on the restaurant’s menu until the spring contest in April.
Another Chamber member, co-owner Lisa De Mars of the Golden Eagle Guest Ranch Bed & Breakfast in Descanso, won the dessert category with her “Pecan Squares” entry.
The panel of judges ---- two from local churches plus one each from the elementary school, town hall and library ---- also liked Sue Raimond’s recipe for “Robert’s Supreme Chicken” for best entrée. Raimond cooks for the Laguna Mountain fire department.
Corinne Lewis, very involved in Pine Valley community activities, won best appetizer category with her recipe for “Fresh Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppyseed Dressing.”
Each category winner received a $100 gift certificate for the Descanso Junction Restaurant.
Although the Descanso Girl Scout troop’s ‘Thin Mint Cookie Shake” recipe didn’t win, they’re not discouraged.
“There’s several recipes that the Girl Scout cookies can be used for, so they’re going to enter again,” Cooker said.
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Girl Scout cookies are a hot topic again this year at the home of Ray and Peggy Meanor, owners of Write Graphics in Alpine.
Their granddaughter, 9-year-old Kylee Schwenk, has once again earned her way to Camp Samoa in Julian by selling more than 500 boxes of the tasty Girl Scout treats.
Grandpa Meanor said Kylee has sold about 550 boxes toward her personal goal of 650.
“Thin Mints are the biggest sellers, and then Samoas,” he said.
It’s already been a big year for Kylee, who won the contest to name the last remaining full scale fake dinosaur left from the now-extinct Dinosaur Land in Alpine.
Her winning entry was Arnoldasaurus, named for Alpine’s major historical benefactor, Benjamin Arnold.
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It’s almost last call to get in on the biggest and best Earth Day Celebration ever in Alpine!
This year’s annual “I Love A Clean Alpine” on April 25 will sprawl from one end of the community to the other.
Events include the traditional area clean-up, plus recycling and the first “Alpine Tree Town USA” day-long program at the Alpine Woman’s Club.
“Alpine Tree Town USA” will include information about trees and their care as well as a chain saw sculpture demonstration, a commemorative tree planting at Joan MacQueen Middle School and much more.
Call the Alpine & Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce at (619) 445-2722 for information or to participate!

Sons inspire business, skies inspire businessman

There’s a story behind the My Boys and Me Window Washing business.
Three years ago owner Mark Hoffman was a financial planner with more than 22 years of experience and two sons who wanted extra allowance money.
“I had always enjoyed washing windows at my home,” Hoffman said. “The idea came to me while I was washing windows one day.”
Leaving financial planning behind, he developed an Alpine window washing business that now has two full-time employees as well as the part-time help of his sons.
Taylor, 15, and Zachary, 11, are learning about business from the ground up. Their dad goes over banking statements and marketing with them, teaching them things that will be helpful later in life.
Zachary has even developed a niche of his own, specializing in places with senior citizens because he likes to listen to them.
“They talk about what it was like growing up in San Diego,” said Hoffman. “The business is just like a great life lesson above and beyond what I intended. And we’re doing really well!”

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Merv Banks lives in the mountains past Descanso for a reason.
The owner of Alpine Financial, representing Farmers Insurance, is an amateur astronomer who loves the dark night skies so free of light pollution at about 4,000 feet.
“It’s like the sky is on fire at night, there are so many stars you can see,” Banks said.
Since he began developing his long-time interest about nine years ago, Banks has upgraded his telescopes to his current one with a lens 14 inches in diameter.
Last year he watched a comet explode in a burst of glory, and sometimes he also safely peeks at the sun.
“I can see the big gas jets that go out hundreds and thousands of miles from the sun,” the businessman said. “One sun spot is as big as the earth.”

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Sallie Brown of Mary Kay Cosmetics has a husband with an unusual pastime.
Larry Brown defends the bird seed the couple sets out from marauding squirrels.
“We set the seed for the birds outside our bedroom, but the squirrels come,” Sallie said. “When we go to bed, he starts shooting at the squirrels. Sometimes he hits the squirrels, sometimes he hits the wall.”

Emu handles coyote problem for ranch

The phrase “Big Bird” takes on a whole new meaning at the family ranch of Ted Wharton, owner of Moonshadow Satellite in Jamul.
The ranch breeds goats, which can be a tasty treat for coyotes.
Not at Wharton’s family ranch, where a big, tall emu with razor-sharp claws and a protective attitude hangs out with the herd of 11 goats.
“Emus kill dingos, wild pack dogs, in their native Australia,” Wharton said.
He said the emu showed up, apparently orphaned and in a sad state, after the Harris Fire in the fall of 2007. At the time the ranch had a coyote problem.
“My goats were upset then, because he was sticking his head through the fence to get their food,” Wharton said.
Now the goats and the emu, known sometimes as “Mu Mu,” are buddies.
“They like him, and he likes people,” said Wharton. “We don’t have a coyote problem any more. The big super chicken out there scares them off. He’ll grumble and puff his chest feathers up, and they leave.”

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Another wedding, another daughter-in-law for Jan Morse, co-owner of On Line Bookkeeping & Tax Service in Alpine.
Last year Morse attended the first wedding of one of her children, son Mark Helmantoler, in Santiago, Chile.
This time she also traveled, but not far. Her oldest son, Eric Helmantoler, married Jamie Slater last fall in a lovely backyard wedding at the beautiful Escondido home of Helmantoler’s boss.
Morse said the couple have been together 10 years and have a four-year-old son, Marley.
“They’re (musician) Bob Marley fans, so they named their son after him,” said Morse.

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Save the date for the next “I Love A Clean Alpine” on Saturday, April 25!
Bring your own gloves if you’d like to have fun while helping to make Alpine more attractive and environmentally friendly by clearing away trash and debris.
The cleanup event starts at 8:30 a.m. at 8:30 a.m.at the Triangle at 2157 Alpine Blvd.
More information will be available later from the Alpine & Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce!

Teen hatches possible business from bird’s demise

Twelve-year-old Ashley Wiley knows a potential business opportunity when she sees one.
The daughter of Chris Wiley of Primary Residential Mortgage Inc. of Alpine and his wife, Julie, isn’t daunted by the untimely death of the family’s last chicken in a neighbor’s driveway.
The Wileys bought a small flock of six birds about three years ago, but two of them fell ill and died. The remaining birds produced half a dozen eggs daily at their peak, prompting the Wileys to search for recipes to keep up with the output.
Then late last fall three of those chickens suddenly disappeared without a trace.
“The last one survived for 30 days on its own,” Wiley said. “Pretty lonely. It hung out with the Rottweiler. They were pretty good friends.”
Now, Wiley said, Ashley wants to get a flock of 25 chickens and start selling the eggs to neighbors.
“She’s going to do all the research before investing in this venture,” and she won’t need a loan, he said. “She has savings to do this.”
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By his own account, Roy Athey of the Descanso, Alpine & Pacific Railway in Alpine isn’t “one for sea cruises.”
However, his wife found one recently that was a winner.
Athey said he was willing to go along with her at first just because the cruise started at Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and ended in San Diego, “so even if I got sick, we’d be close to home.”
He didn’t get sick as they cruised to the Grand Cayman Islands; Cartagena, Colombia --- “we didn’t get shot at or anything;” Costa Rica, the Panama Canal and Mexico.
“The Panama Canal was unbelievable, how it functions and lifts those boats up and down,” said Athey.
And when he got to ride with the Spanish-speaking brakeman on the small stretch of railroad still left in Costa Rica, Athey discovered railroaders have something in common.
“Neither of us spoke the other’s language,” Athey said, “but he did just what we do in the U.S. ---- waved at all the kids, the ladies cooking in the kitchens of their homes, everybody along the way.”
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Football widows and others looking for something to do besides watch the Super Bowl on Feb. 1 have a new option.
Diana Shea of the Golden Acorn Casino said the casino is offering a special drawing that day for a $300 gift card, good for a special spa day at Oscar and Company in Alpine.
Tickets will be issued from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. that Sunday only at the casino.
The “Football Widows, Now It’s Your Turn, Pamper Yourself!” drawing will be at 7:30 p.m., and ticket holders don’t have to be there to win.
“If a man hates football and wants to come up, he can enter, too,” said Shea. “The tickets are transferable.”

Gaza war, dinosaur, economy are hot topics

The latest Gaza war involving Israel and Hamas in the Middle East has new meaning for Tereasa Pittman of Century 21 Award.
Pittman toured the area late last fall with her mother’s church group.
“It was a trip of a lifetime,” Pittman said last week. “I’m glad I got the opportunity to go, but it sure made me appreciate the U.S.”
The 10-day tour of Israel and Egypt, including a view of the Gaza Strip, made her appreciate how much Americans tend to take their security for granted when they travel in this nation, the businesswoman said.
Everyone they met in the two countries was very gracious, Pittman said, but there was an armed guard on their bus throughout Egypt.
“The children in Israel had armed guards for their field trips,” she said. “I was a little overwhelmed at that.”
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Children in the Alpine area still have a couple of days to name the last dinosaur left in the community.
Carlette Anderson of Save-A-Heart, who is writing the children’s history book “My Alpine,” and the Alpine Historical Society are in charge of the contest, which ends Saturday, Jan. 17.
“Alpine is the only (regional) community that had a gorilla and a dinosaur,” Anderson pointed out.
Both creatures were man-made, so they never posed a hazard to the community.
The fiberglass gorilla, named Rorie, now hangs out in the eucalyptus trees at the Alpine Historical Museum.
The unnamed dinosaur survivor is the last of 10 life-size dinos that populated Dinosaur Land in the early 1960s in Alpine. The huge mock beast is on the Alpine Mobile Home Estates property.
Anderson and the Historical Society are urging children 12 and under to submit names now.
They can be put in a contest box at Albertsons at 2955 Alpine Blvd.; e-mailed to myalpinehistory@aol.com or sent to Name the Dinosaur Contest, PO Box 2331, Alpine, CA 91903.
Albertsons is giving a free dinosaur toy to each child who enters there!

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You can meet Attorney Jeff Isaac, the well-known “Lawyer in Blue Jeans,” this evening at the free ACRES Real Estate and Financial Quarterly public town hall meeting in Alpine.
Everyone is invited to the event, presented by the Alpine Chamber Real Estate Services (ACRES) committee of the Alpine & Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce.
US Bank is the partnering sponsor for this meeting, which is aimed at helping residents and businesses chart a safe course through the current economy.
A panel of ACRES professionals will present the current real estate market report for the East County.
The panelists and Isaac will be ready to answer questions during the event, which starts at 5:30 p.m. at Fuller Hall at 2225 W. Victoria Drive

Special gifts, ‘Tree’ debut brighten holidays Dec 2008

The owner and family of Henderson Sculptural Arts, Inc., in Alpine have much to celebrate this holiday season.
Dave Henderson’s wife of 15 years, Claudette, gave him one of her kidneys this fall.
“My wife’s part of me now in a big way,” the grateful Henderson quipped.
He spent 10 months enduring dialysis before it was determined that Claudette would be able to donate one of her healthy kidneys.
A doctor told him that the new anti-rejection drugs to help survive organ transplants are so good now that a donor only needs to have one of the seven matches required, and the Hendersons had one, said the businessman.
Henderson said he was out of the hospital about four days after the Sept. 30 surgery and Claudette has recovered.
“I think I have to do the dishes for about another 40 years, take out the trash and do a lot of other things for her,” the appreciative husband said. “I’m her willing slave right now.”

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Jamie Hobbs, owner of Grossmont Escrow in La Mesa, is giving herself an early Christmas present.
She’s joining the Kiwanis Club of Alpine.
Hobbs, a former La Mesa Kiwanis Club member who also does volunteer walks for multiple sclerosis and breast cancer organizations, said she likes the camaraderie of the Alpine club.
“I’m really interested in working on the Vintage Alpine wine tasting event and their bike program, where they give a bike away each month to a school child,” said the businesswoman.

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The Living Christmas Tree performance Dec. 5 and Dec. 6 at the annual Balboa Park December Nights holiday event in San Diego was a major first for Valerie Watts of La Mesa.
The owner of Comfort & Joy Vocals gave her debut performance as one of the singers in the tree featured at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.
“This is my very first time,” Watts said on the day of dress rehearsal, just before the big weekend. “I’ve never even seen it before!”
No stage fright though for Watts, who has plenty of experience as a soloist for weddings, funerals and other events. She’s also done considerable chorus and classical work.
“This is not exactly classical, but it’s a lot of fun,” said the businesswoman.

Special gifts, ‘Tree’ debut brighten holidays, Dec. 2008

The owner and family of Henderson Sculptural Arts, Inc., in Alpine have much to celebrate this holiday season.
Dave Henderson’s wife of 15 years, Claudette, gave him one of her kidneys this fall.
“My wife’s part of me now in a big way,” the grateful Henderson quipped.
He spent 10 months enduring dialysis before it was determined that Claudette would be able to donate one of her healthy kidneys.
A doctor told him that the new anti-rejection drugs to help survive organ transplants are so good now that a donor only needs to have one of the seven matches required, and the Hendersons had one, said the businessman.
Henderson said he was out of the hospital about four days after the Sept. 30 surgery and Claudette has recovered.
“I think I have to do the dishes for about another 40 years, take out the trash and do a lot of other things for her,” the appreciative husband said. “I’m her willing slave right now.”

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Jamie Hobbs, owner of Grossmont Escrow in La Mesa, is giving herself an early Christmas present.
She’s joining the Kiwanis Club of Alpine.
Hobbs, a former La Mesa Kiwanis Club member who also does volunteer walks for multiple sclerosis and breast cancer organizations, said she likes the camaraderie of the Alpine club.
“I’m really interested in working on the Vintage Alpine wine tasting event and their bike program, where they give a bike away each month to a school child,” said the businesswoman.

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The Living Christmas Tree performance Dec. 5 and Dec. 6 at the annual Balboa Park December Nights holiday event in San Diego was a major first for Valerie Watts of La Mesa.
The owner of Comfort & Joy Vocals gave her debut performance as one of the singers in the tree featured at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.
“This is my very first time,” Watts said on the day of dress rehearsal, just before the big weekend. “I’ve never even seen it before!”
No stage fright though for Watts, who has plenty of experience as a soloist for weddings, funerals and other events. She’s also done considerable chorus and classical work.
“This is not exactly classical, but it’s a lot of fun,” said the businesswoman.