Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on April 6, 2022

City councils: Lemon Grove, 6 p.m. TuesdaySchool boards: Cajon Valley Union School District (El Cajon), 5:30 p.m. Tuesday; La Mesa-Spring Valley School District, 6 p.m. Tuesday; Lemon Grove School District, 6 p.m. Tuesday

Short-term classes open this week

Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges offer short-term, accelerated classes in person, virtually and in hybrid formats starting Monday for students seeking a variety of ways to advance their education and professional training. Grossmont Colleges list of short-term classes is updated daily at https://bit.ly/3LmoVZB. Find a list of short-term classes at Cuyamaca College at the colleges home page at https://www.cuyamaca.edu. Short-term classes, which help students earn credits quickly, range from four to eight weeks long, much shorter than the 16 weeks usually needed for regular semester-length classes. These short-term classes run from early April to late May, and many earn students the same three credits as the longer-format courses. Tuition is $46 a unit for California residents. Financial aid and the Grossmont-Cuyamaca College Promise program are available to those who qualify. The Grossmont-Cuyamaca College Promise provides two free years of tuition and fees at either college for first-time full-time students. Visit https://www.gcccd.edu/now.

Center offers Ramadan gatherings

The Islamic Center of San Diego East County (El Cajon) hosts several community prayers and gatherings during the holy month of Ramadan, which began April 2. Imam Dr. Saad Eldegwy, director of the center, welcomes everyone to share a special prayer at around 8:45 each evening called Taraweeh, and also a short talk by the imam. Muslims fast from dawn to sunset daily during Ramadan, and break their fasts with an evening meal called Iftar. The center is offering a lite Iftar meal after sunset every night. A big Iftar meal will be celebrated after sunset on April 27. Reserve for that meal to (619) 631-7477. Also, an extra prayer is offered about two hours before dawn each day starting April 20 for the last 10 nights of Ramadan, called Tahajud. A full meal is offered afterward. Ramadan ends on May 2 with a celebration called Eid al Fitr, followed by a prayer and talk by the imam and a light meal. All meals are free on all days and no need for reservations, except for the April 27 meal. These events are open for everyone, said Eldegwy. Come, share, observe. The Islamic Center of San Diego East County is at 833 Broadway, El Cajon. Call (619) 631-7477.

Community Conversation for La Mesa

Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber invites the La Mesa community to a Community Conversation and legislative update from 3-4 p.m. today at La Mesita Park, 8855 Dallas St. Bring your own lawn chair or blanket for comfortable seating.

Synagogue hosts Passover discussions

Tifereth Israel Synagogue hosts several programs this week in preparation for Passover, which begins the evening of April 15:

Tifereth Israel is at 6660 Cowles Mountain Blvd., San Diego. For a list of its Passover programs, services, and more, visit https://tiferethisrael.com/events/passover.

Senior Gleaners seek harvesting help

The Senior Gleaners of San Diego County are looking for help to pick surplus fruit, especially citrus, to prevent it from going to waste. All the food collected by the gleaners is donated to the San Diego Food Bank, Feeding San Diego, churches, food pantries and similar organizations. The volunteer group has more requests for picking trees than current volunteer crews can handle. Most volunteer three to four hours one day per week, but there are no required minimum commitments. Volunteers join crews working near where they live. Some form small groups that set their own schedules. The group also needs people with vehicles that can haul several filled banana boxes of fruit. Most deliveries are within 10 miles of the picking site. To learn more and to register as a volunteer, visit http://www.seniorgleanerssdco.org or call (619) 633-9180.

Earth Day event set for Saturday

La Mesa Park & Recreation Foundation and the city of La Mesa hold an Earth Day Fair from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at MacArthur Park, 4900 Memorial Drive. Free to all ages, activities include a bike rodeo (bring your bike and a helmet), a community garden tour and seed giveaways, electric car displays, fix-it clinic (bring your broken items for evaluation and possible repair), and a tree ID walk. Food truck, kids zone and more. Email friends@lamesaparks.org or call (619) 667-1319; visit https://www.cityoflamesa.us/409/Special-Events.

Volunteers needed for bunny trail

Volunteers are still needed for Santees Hop Down the Bunny Trail from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at Santee Trolley Square, 9850 Mission Gorge Road. The Easter Bunny will be there for photos, along with Primo DJ, fun crafts, carnival rides, and a bunny trail egg hunt. Sign up at https://bit.ly/3qk6MDL. Visit https://bit.ly/3N13Eq1.

Library preparing to extend hours

The La Mesa Branch library will be expanding its open hours starting April 11. The new schedule: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday and Thursday; noon-7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Call (619) 469-2151or visit sdcl.org/lamesa.

Blood drives

The San Diego Blood Bank hosts these blood donation opportunities. Donors will receive a limited-edition T-shirt while supplies last:

Those 17 and older, weighing at least 114 pounds and in good health may be eligible to donate blood. A good meal and plenty of fluids are recommended before donating. Appointments strongly encouraged. Photo ID required. Call (800) 469-7322 or visit SanDiegoBloodBank.org.

Please send items to fyi.east@sduniontribune.com at least two weeks before events are to take place.

Follow this link:

East County Happenings, April 3 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

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