As in past years, the Mira Mesa High School Sapphire Sound and the Mira Mesa Instrumental Music Boosters (MMIMB) are sponsoring a fundraiser which provides the capital for Sapphire Sound (MMHS’s Marching Band) to survive and thrive despite of the limited (non-existent) funds provided by the school district. The all day event starts with school a clean-up at 7:00am and ends with school clean-up at 11:00pm on November 7, 2009 which will be done by band students and their parents. There will be other events happening throughout the day.

There is a great need for adult volunteers to man parking, campus supervision and direction, communications, concessions and a few others.  With a band and color guard numbering in about 120 students, this feat is a little undermanned.  Parents have already signed-up to work as many hours as they can, but there are still many positions open. We are hoping that you can help us find the manpower to fill these positions.  Any one person can work as little as two hours or as much as a whole day. Thank you for any help you can give us at this time.  Sapphire Sound can only survive with your help and that of the community in which they reside.  This group has been invited to and represented Mira Mesa, San Diego, California and the United States in various world wide events including the Washington D.C. 4th of July Parade and the Opening Ceremonies of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

Any questions can be directed to me at 858-271-1572 or at mgpankau@hotmail.com.
Maria Pankau,Tournament Liaison/Event Coordinator.

Barnes & Noble in Mira Mesa is hosting a benefit book fair for San Diego Junior Theatre on Thursday, Sept. 24. Each time a customer at this store presents a special voucher before their purchases are rung up, Barnes & Noble will donate a portion of that sale to the non-profit group. The vouchers are available online at juniortheatre.com/bnvoucher.pdf.  Open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., the store is located one block west of I-15 at the corner of Mira Mesa Boulevard and Westview Parkway.

San Diego Junior Theatre students and representatives will be there from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. to greet supporters and present a mini-performance of their upcoming production of Oliver!  Founded in 1948, San Diego Junior Theatre is the oldest youth theater in the United States. The organization positively affects students of all abilities, ages 4 through 18, and thrives through show ticket sales, workshop enrollments, and the generosity of its alumni and community members. Contributions made to San Diego Junior Theatre are tax-deductible.

Saturday, September 26 is the Mira Mesa Street Fair. Join us for food, games, rides, music, entertainment and fun that the whole family can enjoy. Our local Military will be present, and there will be projects for the kids at the always popular Vulcan Materials area located near the Mira Mesa Library. The Street Fair is held on Camino Ruiz, which is the North/South street next to the Mira Mesa Branch Library, and extends the entire block from New Salem to Mira Mesa Blvd. (Map). Enjoy a fun filled festival atmosphere that is the perfect mix of entertainment, food and exhibitors. Displays include Arts & Crafts vendors, local businesses and civic groups. Visit the Kid’s Zone and 2 community stages.

Mira Mesa HEROES will be sprucing up the HOPE Adult Day Health Care Center on Saturday, October 10th from 8:00 a.m. until Noon. If you would like to volunteer, all you need to do is show up and the wonderful people from HEROES will supply all the materials, snacks, beverages and direction you need. This is a great way to give back to your community, and help some very worthy folks. HOPE is located at 11239 Camino Ruiz-Suite A, San Diego, CA 92126. For more information, contact Mike Davis at HEROES.

The Mira Mesa Community Planning Group will hold a meeting Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at the Woods Mobile Home Park located at 10770 Black Mountain road at 6:00 p.m. This will be a “working” meeting. From the input given by the community over the last 5 months, and the suggestions submitted via e-mail, several proposed mitigation plans were developed. Attendees at this month’s meeting will have the opportunity to view these plans and to vote on the order of preference (1st choice, 2nd choice, etc.).

The Mira Mesa Chamber of Commerce will hold their monthly Meeting/Mixer at Ashoka the Great on Tuesday, September 15 at 6:00 p.m. Sandy Smith from RC Realty (formerly  Red Carpet Realty) will be the featured Member Spotlight Speaker. We will also discuss our participation in the Mira Mesa Street Fair, and sign up members to run the Mira Mesa Farmers Market Booth for September and October.

Make sure to mark your calendars for the Mira Mesa Street Fair that will take place Saturday, September 26 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. There will be carnival rides, games, food, music, entertainment, and lots of community businesses and non-profit organizations participating in this year’s events. Best of all, it is free to the public! Of course there are plenty of opportunities to purchase food, goods, rides and services from the vendors, so bring your wallet with you and have a great day in the sun!

The Rescue House and PETCO host an Adoption Fair the Third Saturday each month from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Mira Mesa PETCO. Adoption Counselors are on hand, and in some cases you may take your adoptive cat home the same day. For more information, and to download the adoption application, visit the Rescue House website. PETCO is located at 8290 Mira Mesa Blvd.

October is just around the corner, and that means  construction has begun on the Monster Manor taking place in the Target Shopping Center Parking Lot. Voted best Haunted House in San Diego by the Union Tribune voters, the success of the Monster Manor can be associated with the Mira Mesa Theatre Guild and their dedicated group of volunteers. Each year  these talented individuals create the unique rooms and mazes that make up the Monster Manor, and they teach and train the volunteer theatrical cast that roam the halls during the month of October to the delight of thousands of patrons.

If you want to volunteer, or purchase tickets for your non-profit group through their Share the Wealth fundraiser, please use this link to the Mira Mesa Theatre Guild’s website. Although the Monster Manor is designed for ages 13 and older due to the scary nature of the event, they also run a child friendly version called Lite Frite on weekend days as a non-scary alternative that is family friendly. The theme this year is a Peter Pan themed “The Search for the Shadow. If you have little ones under 13, this is the only haunted house for them in San Diego, and it is awesome. We’ll see you under the big tent in October.

The 11th annual Mira Mesa Street Fair offers family fun from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Camino Ruiz between Mira Mesa Boulevard and New Salem Street. More than 100 crafters, businesses, non-profit groups, and food vendors will have booths at the event. The Street Fair will feature a carnival with rides for children and teens, and continuous entertainment on two stages.

The food court will have an international flair, from Japanese BBQ, noodles and salads to Mediterranean gyros to all-American hot dogs and hamburgers. Special attractions include large earth-moving equipment, military vehicles from MCAS Miramar, and a demonstration of K-9 dogs in action. Vulcan Materials will host a rock-painting booth for children to create their own “rock art.” SDG&E will offer a lamp and light bulb exchange, providing compact fluorescent bulbs and floor or table lamps for the less energy efficient incandescent bulbs and halogen torchiere lamps. Friends of the Mira Mesa Library will hold their biggest book sale of the year.

Enjoy stage performances of Filipino, Hawaiian, and belly dance, martial arts demos, and a variety of vocal artists and bands. Community stage entertainment will be hosted by Ray Pinnock of Strictly Rhythms Entertainment. For more information, please visit the Mira Mesa Town Council website.

We are also looking forward to the grand opening of Kohl’s in what used to be the old Mervyn’s building. They are slated to have the grand opening in the last week of September, and we will keep you posted on the events before they happen. Welcome Kohl’s to Mira Mesa!

There is only one first day of school each year, and I like to capture the moment with pictures. It is a great way to see the progress your little ones have made throughout the year by comparing the first day photo to all the field trips, school plays, and events that take place during the school year. Try to get all the kids to line up for a group shot on the first day, and include their teacher in the photo. We like to make a photo book of all the events that happen each year, and this is a great first entry in the book.

The friends my son made last year in Kindergarten have remained close through the summer, and we are even having an end-of-summer get together with the whole class (Teacher included). Hopefully, several kids will share the same classroom this year, but we also hope my son makes new friends as well. The thought behind the party is to get the kids ready for a new school year, and also to show them that although the first day of school can be scary, look at all the friends you can make through going to school.

I hope everyone had a great summer, and I hope for the families with children that this new school year is one filled with many great experiences and memories. Don’t forget to take pictures and videos, as you only get one chance to capture each moment. Also, make sure to share any events that are taking place within your school, church, or group with our readers, as we try to include upcoming events in The Flash column each week. We also will post your event on the community calendar with a brief definition and link to your website for free. Just send your information to mark@miramesa.com. Thanks for your help in keeping Mira Mesa informed.

Don’t forget to stop by the Mira Mesa Farmer’s Market this Tuesday, from 3-7p.m. and pick up some huge frest strawberries, or any of the wonderful items available at great prices. The Farmer’s Market is located in front of the Mira Mesa High School on the corner of Mira Mesa Blvd. and Reagan Road.

The Mira Mesa Chamber of Commerce is having their monthly meeting / mixer at the Mandarin Garden Restaurant on Tuesday, August 18th at 6:00 p.m. This is an important meeting for members to attend, as we will be securing the positions for the 2010 Board of Directors. This will be a highly interactive meeting, and all members are urged to attend.

Tuesday is also the last day to apply for a booth for the Mira Mesa Street Fair without paying a late fee. The Street Fair will take place September 26, 2009. To find out more information, or to sponser a booth during the fair, contact the Mira Mesa Town Council through their website.

The Epicentre will be celebrating their 10 Years of Youth Service with a huge community open house event on Friday, November 13th from 4-10p.m. There will be speaker presentations, live music, dance demonstrations, art show, raffle, refreshments and more. The event will feature a concert at the end of the open house, and there are still promotional opportunities avialable if you would like to help sponsor this major event. Use this link to download the application for sponsorship of the event.

Finally, Saturday, August 22nd is WEBELOS DAY! All Webelos Scouts are invited to come and learn what Boy Scouts are all about. ~ climb our tower, walk the monkey bridge, shoot the catapults and it is all FREE! Saturday, August 22nd from 1 to 4 pm at the Mira Mesa Recreational Center, 8575 New Salem St, San Diego. Sponsored by Troop 1212, Mira Mesa’s Finest Troop!

Saturday, August 22nd is WEBELOS DAY! All Webelos Scouts are invited to come and learn what Boy Scouts are all about. ~ climb our tower, walk the monkey bridge, shoot the catapults and it is all FREE! Saturday, August 22nd from 1 to 4 pm at the Mira Mesa Recreational Center, 8575 New Salem St, San Diego. Sponsored by Troop 1212, Mira Mesa’s Finest Troop!

A Summer Celebration: Thursday, August 27th at the Bernardo Winery, there will be an elegant fund raiser featuring gourmet foods, fine wines, micro brew beer, chocolateirs, relaxation spa & retreats, mini massages, live entertainment and more. Proceeds will benefit the Poway Unified School District Foundation, and ticket prices are very affordable at :$45 per person, $70 per couple, or $50 at the door. First 250 attendees receive a commemorative wine-tasting glass & plate and Unlimited food & wine tastings for everybody!

To purchase tickets or for more information, use this link at www.lifestylesinfocus.com or call (888) 706-8ACT (8228). Bernardo Winery is located at 13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte, San Diego, CA. 92128. Vendor opportunities are still available. Use this link to download the  event flier.

John Lee Evans has been fighting for our schools, and he has a few offerings that need your help.

Advisory groups: We are forming advisory groups in each community.  The purpose of the advisory groups is  a) to work for the improvement of the neighborhood schools and b) to have a line of communication with the Board of Education.  If you have not already signed up, please contact Carol Hunter, Community Liaison, for more information. clancy47@cox.net We will start having neighborhood meetings in September.

Your neighborhood school needs YOU! At a recent Board meeting Mr. Evans proposed  to make 2009-2010 the Year of the School Volunteer.  We want to recognize those who are already doing so much, as well as to draw in many more from the community to help our schools. We want our schools to be the heart of the neighborhood.  For more information about the new volunteer program contact Carol at clancy47@cox.net.

Proposal to organize schools by community: We will ask the District to assign School Improvement Officers by clusters rather than randomly.  This would allow each community to have a go-to person in the District for all of their community schools.  We need to make sure our elementary, middle and high schools are working together.  We need  the school district addressing us as communities of schools, rather than isolated schools reporting to a central office.  For more information contact John Lee Evans, SD Unified Trustee, District A: johnleeevans@sandi.net.

Good Shepherd Parish is hosting their annual musical extravaganza this weekend, August 7,8 &9 at the Good Shepherd Parish Hall, located at 8200 Gold Coast Drive. Back in Time IX presents “Back to Broadway” which is sure to entertain guests of all ages. The show times are:
Friday and Saturday, August 7&8 at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday, August 9  at 5:00 p.m. Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime, and tickets are available at the door.  For more information, please call (858) 271-0207.

There will be a grand opening ceremony for the Camino Ruiz Trail which will take place this Saturday, August 8 at 10:00 a.m. This is a new access trail which connects the community of Mira Mesa with the Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve. The ceremony is open to the public, and you are all welcome to attend the festivities. The fun takes place at the Camino Ruiz Community Park at the north end of Camino Ruiz.

The Grand Opening of Dance & Company, Performing Arts Studio begins Monday July 27th. They will be open from 10a.m. until 8p.m. for this week only to answer any questions, or for pre-registration and viewing the studio spaces. Please visit their website at www.danceandcompany.com to view class schedules, and for all other informationregarding Grand Opening Week. They will be offering free classes the entire week of July 27-August 1, so feel free to come and try any and every class you’d like! Mention this add, and also receive $10 off your membership fee. They are located at 6635 Flanders Drive, Suite D, San Diego, CA 92121. Phone (858) 750-3021.

Thursday, July 30 is a No Cook Night at Pat and Oscars in Mira Mesa! Our summer long promotion of family dining for a cause brings us to Pat and Oscars, located next to the Edwards Cinema Theaters at 10673 Westview Parkway. Print out the flyer and bring it with you and the Mira Mesa Boys Water Polo Team will get 20% of your order to help fund the team. Present the flyer when you place your order, and you may either dine in or take your meal to go. Special thank you to Pat and Oscars for their support.

Join Councilmember Carl DeMaio for another one of his Community Coffee meetings at the Mira Mesa Library this Thursday, July 30th from 6-7p.m. Carl will be there to share your views and issues for Mira Mesa, and it is a great way to get to know our District 5 Councilmember face to face. Admission is free, and everyone is welcome to attend.

Coming in August:

The grand opening of the of the Camino Ruiz Trail is going to be August 8th at 10am. The entrance to the Camino Ruiz Trail is conveniently located at the Camino Ruiz Park. If you are a nature lover, you will enjoy this trail. If you are new to geocaching like I am, this could be a great place to hide your geocache! To find out more about geocaching, look for my article in the Family Section of Mira Mesa.com.

The next Mira Mesa Town Council general membership meeting will be held on August 3, 2009 at the Mira Mesa library at 7 p.m. Congressman Brian Bilbray will attend and tell us what is happening in Washington D. C.

The 2009 Mira Mesa Street Fair will be Saturday, September 26, 2009. The deadlines are approaching soon, so if you would like to participate as a booth vendor during the Street Fair, or as a sponsor for the event, please visit the Mira Mesa Town Council website for more information, vendor application, or sponsor application. We will see you at the Street Fair in September!

Kohl’s will be opening in September! Their grand opening will take place around the same week as the Street Fair, so stay tuned for more details as the date approaches. Kohl’s took over the old Mervyn’s building in the Mira Mesa Mall.

Tuesday, July 21 will be a busy day starting with the Farmers Market located in front of the Mira Mesa High School from 3-7 p.m. After picking up some fresh organic produce, you can head over to Callahan’s for the Mira Mesa Chamber of Commerce meeting at 6:00 p.m. The meetings usually lasts until 7:30, so it is a great time to meet fellow business members and discuss how we all can benefit from joining forces and promote our businesses locally.

Councilmember Carl DeMaio will host his State of the District and Vision Speech on Reforming City Government Tuesday, July 21 from 7-8 p.m. It will be open to the public, and will be held at the Thurgood Marshall Middle School in Scripps Ranch. It is located at 9700 Avenue of Nations, San Diego, CA. 92131.

Moving forward a few days to Thursday, July 23 Carl DeMaio will host a Water Conservation “How To” workshop at Hourglass Park Field House from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. This event is also open to the public, and everyone is encouraged to attend. The Field House is located at 10440 Black Mountain Road, San Diego, CA. 92126.

Last but most importantly, the First Annual Mira Mesa Health and Wellness Fair will be taking place on Friday, July 24 from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. This free event will be held at the Country Inn and Suites and will feature free samples, demonstrations, and plenty of information on healthy, green living. This event is brought to you by Lifestyles INFOCUS and your Mira Mesa Chamber of Commerce, in addition to several local merchants for the benefit of all living in our community.

As an added incentive to our Mira Mesa Businesses, the company that brings in the most employees will win a Team Building Exercise valued at $1800.00 courtesy of Café Merlot. Bring in a copy of the flyer with your business card and you will automatically be entered into the drawing. We want this event to be a success, so please help us to spread the word and attend the Mira Mesa Health and Wellness Fair this Friday!