East County Happenings, Sept. 25

City councils: El Cajon, 3 p.m. Tuesday; La Mesa, 6 p.m. Tuesday; Santee, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday

School boards: Cajon Valley Union School District (El Cajon), 5:30 p.m. Tuesday

Veteran of the Year nominations open

El Cajon’s Veterans Coalition is seeking nominations for the city’s Veteran of the Year. The award recognizes the accomplishments and contributions of veterans to El Cajon and the greater San Diego area. To be considered, a veteran must have been honorably discharged from U.S. military service or from the National Guard; live in an El Cajon ZIP code (92019, 92020, or 92021); and have made significant contributions to the community since being discharged. Nomination packages must be received by Oct. 19. The package must include the completed application, a copy of the veteran’s DD-214 or NGB-22 (with Social Security number covered), and a summary of the veteran’s accomplishments. The application should include two photos of the veteran; one in uniform if possible, and one current. Original photos will be returned upon request. The El Cajon Veterans Coalition will review the applications, and the Veteran of the Year will be announced Oct. 27. For applications, visit www.elcajon.gov/VeteransCoalition.

Oktoberfests in El Cajon, La Mesa

• The German American Societies of San Diego host Oktoberfest in El Cajon for two weekends, Friday through Oct. 2 and Oct. 7-9, at 1017 S. Mollison Ave., El Cajon. Enjoy authentic German food, and German beers and liquors. Watch traditional folk dancing, compete in games and contests, check out vendor and craft booths, and treat the kids to their own Kids’ Zone. Hours are 4-10 p.m. Fridays, noon to 10 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 9 p.m. Sundays. Open to the public with an entry fee of $15 for adults on Fridays and Saturdays, $5 on Sundays. Free for those under 21, club members with a current membership, and all active military. Info and tickets at bit.ly/3DDgnx8.
• Free German-themed festivities for all ages take place from 4-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Saturday and noon-8 p.m. Oct. 2 at La Mesa Village, downtown along La Mesa Boulevard. Food, beer, wiener dog races, Kinder Karnival, artisan market, polka and brass bands, and more. VIP tickets with access to the biergartens start at $10; visit www.LaMesaOktoberfest.org.

Santee opens banner program

The city of Santee launches a new Hometown Heroes Banner Program to recognize and honor city-approved Santee residents or their family members who have served, or have given their lives in service, in the U.S. Armed Forces. Banners featuring the names and faces of Santee’s approved military Hometown Heroes will be displayed on light pole banners along the Veterans Memorial Bridge. Visit bit.ly/3QBK7xa for full details. Applications are accepted throughout the year; the cutoff period for each cycle will be a month before a cycle to allow enough time to produce the banners. This first round of banners will have a cutoff application date of Oct. 10.

Quartermania fundraiser is Saturday

The Mt. Miguel High School Foundation brings back its Quartermania fundraiser from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the school multicultural event center, 8585 Blossom Lane, Spring Valley. Cost of admission is $25, and all proceeds will go toward Mt Miguel High School Special Projects. The event will have preview shopping at 10:30 a.m., Quarter Auction from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., and a light lunch will be served at noon. Quartermania is a cross between an auction, a raffle and bingo. Reserve tickets by calling JoAnne Burke at (619) 316-3225 with credit/debit card info, or by mail with a check. Make checks out to Mt. Miguel High School Foundation, and send to Mt Miguel High School Foundation, c/o 2910 Buena Vista Ave, Lemon Grove, CA 91945. Tickets will also be available at the door.

Tickets selling for Brews & Bites event

Santee hosts its Twilight Brews & Bites Festival from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Oct 22 at Town Center Community Park East, 550 Park Center Drive. Enjoy unlimited food and beverage samples from area vendors (while supplies last). Live music, opportunity drawings and giving trees. Commemorative sampling cups included. For those age 21 and older. Check-in begins at 5 p.m. and gates open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets start at $50 (designated driver $35) and are available at bit.ly/3f3zg1D. Funds raised will benefit the Santee Teen Center, park improvement projects, and the Recreation Scholarship Program, which provides financial assistance to qualifying Santee children and seniors.

Homeless task force hosts meeting

The East County Homeless Task Force is hosting a meeting about East County housing and homeless programs from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at The Well Community for Women, 5500 Grossmont Center Drive, Ste. 195, La Mesa. Staff from the county’s Office of Homeless Solutions, the city of El Cajon, and nonprofit Home Start will share actions that the county and East County cities are taking to address housing and homelessness. The task force is a community-based program of the San Diego East County Chamber Foundation. Email theechtf@gmail.com.

Sharp HealthCare hosts free event

Sharp HealthCare hosts a free event for seniors and caregivers from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday at the La Mesa Community Center’s Arbor Room. The event will feature resource tables, community partners, an exercise demonstration and panel discussions. Light breakfast and to-go boxed lunch will be provided. The center is at 4975 Memorial Drive. Registration is required at 1-800-827-4277 or visit www.sharp.com/classes.

School district seeks committee members

The La Mesa-Spring Valley School District is seeking volunteers to serve on its Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, which keeps the public informed of the district’s spending of bond proceeds. It also presents an annual report to the school board. Application deadline is Nov. 9. Learn more at lmsvschools.org/bond or apply at https://bit.ly/3BPjUH7.

Blood drive at Grossmont Center

The San Diego Blood Bank hosts a blood drive from 1 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Grossmont Center, 5500 Grossmont Center Drive, La Mesa, near the movie theater. 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.